Trinity Together | January 2018

A MONTHLY LOOK AT our life with God,
one another, and our neighbors

IT WILL BE A NIGHT TO SHINE ON FEBRUARY 9

Trinity is proud to be an official host church for the 2018 Night to Shine, sponsored by the Tim Tebow Foundation. Night to Shine is an unforgettable prom night experience, centered on God's love, for people with special needs, ages 14 and older. The event will take place at more than 350 churches around the world on February 9, 2018, including here at Trinity from 6–9pm.

Every guest of Night to Shine will be paired with a companion for the evening and will enter the prom on a red carpet complete with welcoming, friendly paparazzi. Once inside, guests will receive VIP treatment including hair and makeup touch-up stations, shoe-shining stations, corsages and boutonnieres, food, a karaoke room, and of course, dancing!

Many volunteers are needed, with a variety of time commitments and skills, including preparation and setup beforehand. To learn more, click the Volunteer Registration link below.

Click here for GUEST REGISTRATION

Click here for VOLUNTEER REGISTRATION

session summary: DECember

Amidst the normal routine of our meeting of December 14, we elected and welcomed Walter Kim as our Moderator, acknowledging with gratitude the fruitful service of Fitz Green whom Walter is replacing.

We also approved November minutes, elected commissioners to the January Presbytery meeting, and happily received our 42 (!!) most recent new members.

Walter led us in a discussion of an upcoming gathering of the congregation at which we will present the budget for the coming year and report on ministry highlights and objectives. Keep an eye out for the announcement and mark your calendars for February 4.

In response to requests and inquiries about memorials, we asked a new committee to form and present recommendations for a memorial garden where the memory of deceased loved ones could be honored with a plaque.

Deacon and Finance Committee Chair Stu Scott presented the committee’s work to date on the budget for 2018. At the time we didn’t know the extent of your generous   year-end giving, but in hopeful expectation the committee asked us to consider a significantly larger budget for next year. You can learn the details at the meeting on February 4.

Finally we reviewed and discussed at length and ultimately approved a second letter to you from the Session regarding race. Please do read it if you haven’t already.

Have a question about our Session? Email session@trinitycville.org.

meet ELDER BOB BYRNE

A native of upstate New York, Bob Byrne first visited Charlottesville when he brought his wife, Lauren, here from their home in Tidewater to celebrate their first anniversary. At the time he was clerking for a judge and she was working as a lawyer. They had met as students at Regent University School of Law in Virginia Beach. Later Bob saw a job advertised in Charlottesville and, thinking they might like to live here, he applied and was offered the position. They moved to the Zion Crossroads area and Lauren, who was then expecting their first child, began working from home for the same Tidewater judge Bob had previously served. In their new community, following their previous church background, they became part of a Baptist church plant. Soon after that their son Robbie was born.

Two years later, with a second child on the way, Bob and Lauren faced the most difficult period of their lives when Robbie died accidentally just short of his second birthday. This was a time that challenged their faith but also led them to new avenues of spiritual growth. In looking for guidance Bob was drawn to the teaching and writing of Tim Keller, which then led him to an interest in learning about reformed theology. That in turn brought them to visit Trinity and to closely connect with the Gilliam family, who had suffered a similar loss. Bob and Lauren now have five children, ranging in age from two to ten. Bob joyfully speaks of appreciating each of his children as these little people mature and demonstrate their own big personalities.

After five years of telecommuting Lauren suspended her legal career. She has since helped lead a ministry for moms of preschoolers, and she and Bob have been part of the team teaching some of Trinity’s parenting classes. Two years ago Bob’s widowed mother moved to this area, and her help with their youngest child has allowed Lauren to return to part-time practice of law as well as to join the teaching team for Women Together in the Word.

Bob works as a civil trial attorney with the MartinWren firm. In 2014 he was nominated to become an elder at Trinity and after training under John Cunningham he was ordained the following year. He has served in several capacities with the Session, currently on the Ruling Elder Oversight Committee and as the East Parish Point Elder. Bob has a particular interest in helping our large church become smaller by building community and fellowship opportunities through small groups and parish activities.

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