TRINITY UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
meet our pastor:
Rev. Tiffany Newsom is an ordained elder who holds membership in the Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church (UMC). Tiffany has lived a life dedicated to building a future for the UMC where all people are valued and loved exactly as God calls them to be.
PASTOR’S MESSAGE
“As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”—Proverbs 27:17
The Book of Proverbs is full of catchy phrases of wisdom like this one that are intended to guide our lives together. This one is prominent in my mind today. There is this age old debate centered on the question: Can someone be a Christian in isolation? If one were to take the strictest definition of Christian to be “one who believes Jesus Christ is the son of God.” Then the answer has to be, yes. However, I believe to be a Christian is more than simply to believe Jesus is the son of God. It is also to accept God’s grace freely given and in response to that gift to be in community with one another, loving God and loving people. Personally, I find it difficult to believe that any individual or congregation can do this in isolation. It takes community and connection to do it well.
In the Methodist tradition, we believe that each disciple—that’s you reading this—is called to move on toward perfection in love. This means being in relationship with one another to sharpen ourselves, to hone the edges of our weakness and to celebrate our gifts and talents. No one of us can do everything one our own, we are meant to be a team, inspiring one another to greater love and compassion. It is, and has been, my prayer that we can continue to do this work together at the congregations of Brookside, Calvary, and Trinity and as a charge. You all are amazing disciples of Jesus Christ and you have remarkable love to share with one another, the world, and thiscommunity. I look forward to seeing where the Spirit leads us this fall.
Blessings,
Pastor Tiffany
Sunday Worship
Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, September 6, 2026
Scripture Story: Exodus 12:1-14 and Matthew 18:15-20
Sermon: Conflict
Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Sunday, September 13, 2026
Scripture Story: Exodus 14:19-31 and Matthew 18:21-35
Sermon: Grace
NEWS TO USE:
Our Saturday morning book study, led by Mary Sweet, resumes Saturday, Sept 12th. The study begins at 10:30.
Learn and Grow, together, our Sunday book study, led by Jim Wolcott, resumes Sunday, September 13th immediately following coffee time after worship.
Caregivers Support, led by Sandy Hite, resumes meeting in September
October 10th, Interfaith Meal, can you help prepare and serve dinner at the Interfaith Shelter? Would you prefer to do one or the other? See Joy Anderson to participate in the amazing outreach.
Looking further ahead…November:
Jackson Christmas Parade…date to be determined
Hanging of the greens…November 22, immediately following worship.
“The United Methodist Church forms disciples of Jesus Christ who, empowered by the Holy Spirit, love boldly, serve joyfully, and lead courageously in local communities and worldwide connections.”
God created all things and called them good. Acknowledging the brokenness of the world and the ways the Church has condoned that brokenness through it’s own silence, we trust in God’s abiding love and extravagant welcome. At Trinity, we welcome everyone as full participants in the life and sacraments of Christ’s church. Everyone includes people of any age, economic status, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, race, sexual orientation, faith background, life experience or physical, emotional and mental capability. Simply put: everyone, everyone, everyone is welcome. No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.
