The Chili Cook-Off

Sponsored by the Board of Christian Education

Sunday, February 14th, 2010 from 11:30am-12:30pm

If you think you have the best chili... enter the contest for only $5!

First prize = $25 Chili's gift card!

If you'd like to be a judge (or simply eat!), you'll sample 4 different chili's for only $1!

Any ?'s: Contact Janie or Christine at 708-484-1818

Church Shopping?

We look forward to your visit...

We are Trinity Community Church, United Church of Christ. We are a local UCC church serving Berwyn, Illinois and the larger Chicago-land area. Some of our members walk to church - others come from miles around including - Brookfield, Cicero, Riverside, North Riverside, Lyons, Addison, Lockport, Darien, Stickney, Westchester, Villa Park, Oak Brook, and Chicago.

Together we create a caring and supportive community that encourages self-discovery and discernment. In addition to worship on Sunday mornings at 10 AM we also have a wonderful and free Sunday School program (meets during worship September to June) - and many of our young adults (teenagers who became full members after Confirmation) are actively involved in lay leadership positions on our Church Boards (Christian Education, Deacons, and Membership Development). We also feature a "Red & Wild Ladies of Trinity Community" group (women only) where women are invited to forget about life for a while in Christian fellowship. Trinity Community offers a number of other activites and fellowship events for individuals and families - check out our calendar!

Who might you meet at Trinity Community?

Although our church is 125 years old - our average member age is about 50 years old.

Average female age is 52 and average male age is 47.

46% come from Berwyn.

54% come from outside of Berwyn, with the largest percentage from towns bordering Berwyn or a town that borders a town that borders Berwyn.

52% are married folk - and 48% are single

The largest group that gathers for worship by age on a Sunday? The 50 year olds, followed by those in their 60s, then the 40s and 30s.

79% of our membership attend on a very regular basis!

Statistics from Trinity Community's 2008 Congregational Report.

In the Know...

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Swimming Fun at the YMCA in Berwyn!

2947 S. Oak Park Avenue

 Saturday, February 20th, 2010 from 6-8pm

Sponsored by the Board of Christian Education

Come & Swim with the HUGE inflatable Clifford!

Price is only $10 per family & $5 per individual.

We'll swim for an hour and then enjoy refreshments for an hour afterwards.

Please join us at the "Y" & invite your friends!

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Thank you Jewel-Osco!

Trinity Community Church, UCC was proud to recieve from the North Riverside Jewel-Osco a $1,000 donation on behalf of the CBS (Cicero, Berwyn, Stickney Food Pantry) Food Pantry in honor of Jewel-Osco's Grand Reopening on November 19, 2009. Trinity and the CBS Food Pantry have had a long relationship. Today CBS distributes over 700,000 pounds of food each year and in 2008 served 11,674 families. For more information about CBS or to contact them to make a donation see their website at CBS Anti-Hunger Foundation.  In addition, Trinity was instrumental in working with the North Riverside Jewel-Osco Store, the Stickney Jewel-Osco Store, and the CBS Food Pantry to orchestrate the delivery of many complete Thanksgiving meals to our neighbors throughout the near-western suburban area. Many thanks to all the folks at both stores who gave so that others could enjoy. Pictured left to right: the store managers of North Riverside Osco and the North Riverside Jewel, Ms. Joyce Schmidt the Director of Trinity's Missions Board at Trinity Community Church, UCC and the Pastors (Pastor Penny and Pastor Bill). Once again THANK YOU JEWEL-OSCO!

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Trinity Community's Over-Nighter

The dawn was just breaking and the sanctuary was still dark except for the glow of Christmas lights as this picture of goofy-ness was captured by some still very tired over-nighters. Many thanks to our Youth Leader Julia Irmis who organized our recent "Over-Nighter" at Trinity Community Church, UCC. The over-nighter was a mix of goofyness and learning. The group enjoyed: making cookies to enjoy during a very late night cookies and milk at the Altar where we shared the story of St. Nicholas; baking several loafs of bread for the early morning communion service with the over-nighter group as well as for the entire community at our regular 10 AM service; a time for creating artwork for the sanctuary that has become part of our Christmas decorations; a period of fun and games; and a visit from St. Nicholas who arrived sometime during the middle of the night to fill all the shoes that were left under the Christmas tree. Many thanks to Julia and to everyone (especially St. Nick!) who made the night a wonderful success!

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Grandparent's Club

Trinity Community Church is proud to sponsor a ministry for Grandparents & others raising children. Regular meetings will take place the 2nd Thursday of each month from 10-11:30am. All are invited. Please contact Adrian Charniak through the church office 708.484.1818 with any questions.

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Welcome...

No matter who you are,
no matter where you are on life’s journey,
you’re welcome here… tu está bienvenido/a aquí!

We look forward to meeting you at worship on Sundays @ 10 AM.

The Rev. Penny Taylor & The Rev. Bill Ressl
(aka Pastor Penny & Pastor Bill)
The wife and husband clergy team serving Trinity Community Church, UCC

The Basics…

Trinity Community Church, UCC

Our 125th Year!

We offer Weekly Children's Sunday School: Meets during worship September to June - free of charge! On the first Sunday of the month (Communion Sunday) Sunday School is cancelled so families can join together at the Lord's Table.

... and a Free Nursery: A nursery is provided free of charge so that parents can have a little time together with their God and know their children are being cared for. Baby changing facilities are provided in both the women's and men's restroom. And as always... children are invited to remain with their parents during worship - the nursery is simply available for your convenience.

We celebrate two Sacraments: Baptism and Communion.

Baptism: Baptism is once in a life-time and available to everyone (infant, child, or adult) who has never been baptised. Folks interested in baptism should contact the Pastors to arrange a date. Baptisms are free of charge (although a cake to share at fellowship is requested). Baptism at Trinity Community always takes place when the community gathers for Sunday worship.

Communion: Open to all – open to you - members and non-members alike – including children if their parents believe they have some understanding of the sacrament. Celebrated on first Sundays of the month.

We are part of the United Church of Christ: A Christ centered self governing community in covenant with the broader United Church of Christ, the 7th largest Protestant denomination. Within the UCC the local congretation is governed by a local Church Constitution that the members write. Local UCC churches are autonomous from each other but agree to remain in covenant, in dialogue and discussion to explore how Christ is alive and still speaking in our times. Visit UCC.org for more details.

Our Mission and our Vision: Trinity Community Church's Mission and Vision statements were discerned through over 18 months of prayer and Bible study and developed by the Visioning Team. They were approved by unanimous vote of the Congregation, January 27, 2008.

Mission Statement

To make God known,
while growing in faith and
serving in Christ’s love.

Vision Statement

The vision of Trinity Community Church, United Church of Christ, is to be an open and welcoming church that cares for one another through acceptance, encouragement, and development of Christ-centered relationships by:

• Making God known, living prayerfully, and growing in faith.

• Being a place for individuals and families to serve in Christ's love.

• Guiding children and youth, as well as embracing all people in faith, love, music, and prayer.

• Responding to the community and beyond through missions, outreach, and special events.

• Providing a safe space for everyone to be part of Christ's community.

We pray Trinity Community Church becomes your church!

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We look forward to your visit!

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The 2009 Christmas Tree Decorating at Brookfield Zoo

It was a surprisingly warm November morning when this first group of folks from Trinity Community decorated our Christmas Tree #296 (not far from the elephants!) at the Brookfield Zoo. A second group arrived later to add more to the tree. Many thanks to our Board of Missions for organizing and making the event possible. The tree stands as a testimony to the many mission projects our church is a part of and encourages all to remember the real reason of the season - sharing the love of Jesus Christ with all. Thanks to our Board of Missions and all who came out to decorate this year's tree!

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