Our Christmas 2024 Debt Jubilee Campaign set a goal of $15,000 to attempt to buy about $2 million of medical debt in Forsyth and surrounding counties. We ended up raising over $25,000 – 150% of our original goal! With that, we were able to purchase $2,552,730.39 in past-due medical debts (yes, that’s $2.5 MILLION!) owed by 2,393 of our neighbors! This Sunday, February 9, we will symbolically burn a list of the debts during our 11 am service. We expect a number of special guests as well as media. You should be there, too!
The second Sunday in February is traditionally Scouting Sunday, so Troop and Pack #716 will take part in the service — and in the debt burning! Plus, the Scouts will host a delicious spaghetti luncheon following worship – so plan to stay and enjoy good food and fellowship!
The Moravian Church continues a round-the-clock prayer watch for our ministries and missions. Each church in the Unity takes a turn. Trinity has been assigned Monday, January 6, 2025 from 4:00 pm until midnight. Please sign up for a prayer time and download the PDF Prayer Topic Guide.
Our October-November newsletter is out! You will be receiving a hard copy in the mail, or you can access the updated version here online. Just click the link below to download!
SPECIAL SCREENING – ONE SHOWING ONLY – JUNE 23 – 7:00 PM
Captain John Newton
John Newton was a sailor so profane that the others on the ship called him “The Great Blasphemer.” Sold into slavery in Sierra Leone by his captain, Newton was eventually rescued and bought out of slavery, and given a commission on a slaving ship. He soon rose to captain, treating captive West Africans with the same brutality he himself had endured. But his spiritual quest came to a head during a terrible storm, and the “Great Blasphemer” found a new peace in God – and a dramatically new direction for his life. He taught himself Greek and Latin, eventually becoming a pastor and one of England’s great advocates for the abolition of the slave trade. He wrote the poem Amazing Grace while pastor at Olney, a poem that has become one of the great beloved hymns of all time.
Director John Jackman on the tall ship “Hector”
Filmed in Nova Scotia and North Carolina, this award-winning film captures Newton’s tumultuous life as he recalled it in his memoirs. Several actors who appeared in the movie will be at the screening! There will be a Q&A afterward with the director, the Rev. John Jackman.
Popcorn and sodas will be available. Admission is FREE but donations will be welcome; the profit will benefit Trinity’s Debt Jubilee Project to purchase and forgive medical debts of poor NC residents.
This movie has not been rated by the MPAA. Some intense scenes would not be suitable for younger children.
Newton’s Grace Trailer
Trinity Moravian Church’s Reich Fellowship Hall is equipped with Dolby Surround Sound and DLP cinema projection for an immersive movie viewing experience.
The Trinity newsletter for Holy Week and Easter is ready online — and in the mail to households! You can read it here, it’s also available in our Facebook group and will soon be in members’ mailboxes.
March 1st is observed as the anniversary of the founding of the Unitas Fratrum in 1457. Each year on this date, Moravians across the world join together to support the work of the Unity through a special offering. This year, we are invited to give in support of Ukrainian refugees in Germany and the Czech Republic. WE WILL TAKE A SPECIAL OFFERING ON SUNDAY MARCH 3 AT TRINITY. Learn more at UNITY OFFERING.
Please submit gifts through your local congregation, directly to the Northern Province, or through the MMFA Giving Portal at GIVING PORTAL.
On Sunday, January 28, a list of 2,973 debts was symbolically burned during our worship service, representing $6,560,412 in crushing medical debt owed by poor families in Wake County, NC. Our Christmas campaign for the Debt Jubilee Project planned to raise $20,000 over six weeks — but ended up raising $43,169! We partnered with Raleigh Moravian Church, The Table Moravian Church, Fries Memorial Moravian Church, and the Men’s Fellowship of Ardmore United Methodist Church. Many individual donors from all over the state helped push us over the 200% mark. We were aided by a surprise front-page column by Scott Sexton, Aiming High At A Pile of Debt on Dec 31.
Th Debt Jubilee Project has purchased all the available medical debt in Forsyth and surrounding Piedmont counties. In an investigative article, NC Medical News recently revealed that Atrium and Novant, the major health systems in our area, have decided to no longer sell medical debt. We will be working to change this policy so that we can continue to help poor families in our area.
Trinity has been honored with the HERRNHUT AWARD by the Moravian Church Board of World Mission. This is a recognition of congregations in North America that are doing exemplary mission and service work both in their local communities as well as in global mission efforts. This award has been given to only one other Moravian Congregation at this point.
The Rt. Rev. Chris Giesler and Rev. Angelica Regalado presented the award in our January 28th service, not only to recognize the recent Debt Jubilee Project, but also LOGOS, our children’s ministry, our support of Anthony’s Plot. and our founding of Sunnyside Ministry. To read the entire proclamation, click HERE.
This Sunday, Jan 7, Trinity is responsible for eight hours of the worldwide Unity Prayer Watch – from midnight until 8:00 am. We have divided the eight hours into 16 half-hour slots. Please click on this link:
Thank you for being a link in this unbroken chain!
Pastor John
P.S. The free version of Signupgenius which we are using will probably present you with several “free” offers after you sign up. I recommend you decline these unless you are really interested in one.
