On Wednesday, December 24th, 2008, the Sunshine Hour Volunteers and the Breckenridge Retirement Community celebrated a special Christmas Service. Reverend Donald Grauer, Chaplain at Breckenridge Village, joined us for a warm welcome and prayers.

Notice the man in the red suit. The Sunshine Hour attracts many well-known people to our Lyons Chapel Services.

The Sunshine Hour Ministry wishes all our friends a Happy New Year!

Breckenridge Village honored their volunteers with a luncheon at St. Noel’s on Thursday, Oct. 2. Those from the Sunshine Hour attending the luncheon enjoyed the meal and the entertainment. We were told that in the year 2007-2008, over 33,000 hours had been logged by the many Breckenridge volunteers.
On Wednesday, Nov. 26, the Sunshine Hour will join Breckenridge Village for our 3rd combined Thanksgiving celebration. This year four ordained ministers, including Pastor Schuler, will take part in the service. Please join us in Lyons Chapel for the 10:15 a.m. service.

Thirty-three people attended our “Christmas in August” luncheon at Dubrovnik Gardens. The meal was delicious and a good time was had by all!

Our Historian, Carolyn Cooper, took pictures of our celebration. You can view these pictures by clicking HERE

Over the past few months we have averaged 75 people joining us at Lyons Chapel for our Wednesday morning Sunshine Hour service.

We welcome Debora Erska-Adams, the new Director of Cultural Arts at Breckenridge Village. The Sunshine Hour volunteers look forward to working with Debora.

“Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always.” 1 Chronicles 16:11

A Sunshine Hour Volunteer

As July rolls around, we think of our Fourth of July celebrations and the freedoms we enjoy as citizens of the United States of America.

Our Sunshine Hour “Senior Saints” love to sing “God Bless America” after each of our chapel services. You can feel the warmth they have for their country!

When the Declaration of Independence was approved on July 4, 1776, the people of the young republic celebrated with bonfires, fireworks and the reading of the Declaration of Independence.

We as Christians can celebrate our freedom in Jesus Christ 365 days a year!
When Jesus died for our sins he freed us from the devil, sin and death.
John writes in Chapter 8, Verse 36: “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”
Let us enjoy our Fourth of July freedoms as God continues to bless us and our families.
May God Bless the United States of America!

A Sunshine Hour Volunteer

Here is a brief slideshow of some pictures that were taken at the annual volunteer luncheon for the Sunshine Ministry, May 2008. It was also a celebration to honor Janet Hetman, on her retirement from Breckenridge. She is the volunteer co-ordinator for Breckenridge.

These pictures are also available for viewing or downloading in the Trinity Photo Albums

Here it is June, and we at Trinity will be holding our Vacation Bible School during the week of June 9-13.

The program this year is “GOD’S BIG BACKYARD.” Our theme is to look at the word SERVE. The children will learn about serving: Family, Friends, Neighbors, Community, Jesus.

The Bible verse for our VBS program is from Mark 12:29-31. The religious leaders are questioning Jesus about the greatest commandment. Jesus replies, “The first of all the commandments is: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ This is the first commandment. And the second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”

No matter one’s age, we as Christians are to serve our God by serving others.

Who or what do you serve?

- A Sunshine Hour Volunteer

P.S. Please pray for our VBS staff and support team as they prepare for our big week! Also pray for the children as they learn more about Jesus.

The Sunshine Hour volunteers would like to encourage members of Trinity to join us during our worship service. We meet each Wednesday morning from 9:30-11:30 in Lyons Chapel on the grounds of Breckenridge Village in Willoughby.
The Sunshine Hour volunteers conduct a worship service for the residents of Breckenridge Village as well as the Adult Day Care facility.

Just what are some of our volunteer responsibilities? Members of the Sunshine Hour:

Transport residents from Fairmont Nursing Facility to Lyons Chapel.
Help residents with hymnals and motion songs.
Participate in the morning worship service by singing and praying with the residents.
Help by playing the organ, running the elevator and providing a message.

The Sunshine Hour volunteers bring hope and the love of Jesus Christ to the residents of Breckenridge Village. Please consider joining us as we need your time and talents! If you have any questions, call the office or see me.

Thank you and God’s Blessings!
Linda Urban

So much seems to take place in February. This year Lent begins on February 6 followed by Valentine’s Day and then Presidents’ Day.

My thoughts will focus on Valentine’s Day. The symbol of this day seems to be the heart. Hearts represent love and romance. In this heart-conscience world much has been done and written to help us keep our hearts healthy.

What about the Christian’s heart? Surely it needs to stay healthy so the Christian can witness and work for the Lord.

Much has been written in the Bible using the heart as a part of the Christian’s spiritual life. Here are some examples showing the importance of the heart:

Romans 10:10 “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness.”

Samuel recorded his thoughts about the heart in Proverbs 3:5, “Trust the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

One time a Pharisee asked Jesus, “What was the greatest commandment of all?”. In Matthew 22:37 Jesus responds: “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with thy soul, and with all thy mind.”

How can we describe the healthy Christian Heart: Here are some thoughts:
* It is a heart that loves God and man.
* It is a heart that serves God by helping others.
* A healthy Christian heart is kind, gentle and patient.
* The Christian heart waits for the Lord to return.
* The healthy heart of a Christian is filled with the Holy Spirit.

To keep our hearts healthy we need to be nourished by: the Word of God, the Will of God, the Love of God and His Holy Spirit.

So, how is your spiritual diet working in 2008?

Happy New Year! Happy New Hope!

I read the following poem and thought it was a good way to begin the new year.
When our resolutions fail us and we are unable to follow through. . . . .

New Hope

Teach me Your loving ways, Oh Lord,
As I journey across the land,
Help me to always remember,
That I am held in your precious hands.

I might not always do the things
That you have taught to me,
But I try to be the best Christian
That you would want me to be.

I know Your love sustains me,
And you give me the strength to cope
With life’s trials and tribulations,
Because you fill me with new hope.

Please be patient with me Lord,
As I grow closer to You each day,
And I pray that I will never fail You,
As I walk life’s perilous ways.
---Shirley Hile Powell

No matter where we are in life’s journey, we all need hope. May 2008 be a year of renewed hope in our Lord Jesus Christ and His unfailing love for us.
Happy New Hope!
---A Sunshine Hour Volunteer

As you know, the Sunshine Hour celebrated 25 years as a ministry. A brief history of our 25 years had also been compiled and written.

Jack Braunlich, volunteer at the Lake County Historical Society, took a copy of our history to place in the Lake County Historical Archives. We thank Jack for helping to make the Sunshine Hour a part of Lake County History.

Wednesday, November 21, found the Sunshine Hour and Breckenridge Village joining hands as we celebrated our 2nd combined Thanksgiving service at Lyons Chapel.

We thank Pastor Schuler for taking part in this special service.

God’s Blessings, Dear Trinity Friends, as we prepare for the birth of Jesus Christ. May the NEW YEAR bring you closer to our Lord!