Looking Toward the Future

It would be interesting to know just how many people learned to swim in the Trinity pool in the seventy plus years it was operational.  Chances are it was well into the thousands, if not hundreds of thousands.  The pool was used by Forest Park Jr. High / Middle School for years for their physical education classes.  In addition there were water babies, swim, and lifeguard classes there.  It fulfilled the vision of the founding fathers as an asset for the community.  Unfortunately, as the pool aged, the maintenance became too expensive and the pool was closed.

As Trinity looks to the future, the current leadership is hoping to stay true to the vision of the founding fathers by converting the pool space into a handicapped accessible community room with handicapped accessible restrooms attached. To this end, the church launched a capital funds campaign last year.  Thus far approximately $100,000 of the $400,000 needed for this project has been pledged.  We are continuing to apply for grants since this will be earmarked for community use.  Donations to Trinity on Valley Gives Day will help speed the process of making this dream a reality.

How will this new room be used?  The vision includes an expansion of the after school program for Forest Park Middle School students, additional ESL and Citizenship classes for the immigrants in our community, availability of the room for Springfield Senior Services, the Golden Agers, and the American Red Cross for blood drives.  Undoubtedly, many more uses will make themselves known in the future.

Just as the founding fathers of Trinity tried to make the community building available to meet the needs of the neighborhood, current leaders are attempting to meet the changing needs of the community.  The world around us is changing, as are the demographics of the Forest Park area. Trinity is looking to meet the needs of our neighbors as we go forward with our urban ministry and outreach.

We still hear people comment that they learned to swim in the Trinity pool.  It is our hope that in the future we will hear people say such things as:

"I learned to speak English at Trinity"

"I spent my after school hours in a safe place learning about the arts"

"I enjoyed time spent with my peers at Golden Agers meetings."

You can help make this new community room a reality by making a donation to Trinity on Valley Gives Day, Dec. 12.  To make your donation to Trinity or to read more about our story, go to the Trinity Valley Gives page.

Thank you for helping us continue to be a strong presence in the Springfield area and to provide the services our neighbors need.

Community Outreach

The community building at Trinity United Methodist Church is a busy place every day of the week.  Numerous groups use the building for meetings.  Trinity has a partnership with Jewish Family Service to provide ESL and Citizenship classes regularly.  Another partnership is with Square One for an after school arts program for Forest Park Middle School students three days per week.  The Children's Chorus of Springfield practices there weekly and holds seasonal performances in the Sanctuary.  These are but a few of the ways Trinity reaches out to the community by sharing the building.

The Children's Chorus of Springfield provides an opportunity for Springfield children from all schools plus the home-schooled community to foster their creative talent under the leadership of music educators.  There are more than 70 members of the chorus from 25 different schools.  Chorus members are selected by audition each fall.

Trinity donates space for rehearsals and concerts.  In doing so, the church supports the arts in the community and gives this diverse group of talented young people the opportunity to study music and develop the ability to sing in a group. You can learn more about the Children's Chorus of Springfield and the role they play in promoting the arts among Springfield's youngest citizens by checking out the Children's Chorus website.

Another unique partnership that Trinity has fostered is one with Sumner Ave. Elementary School.  Trinity members mentor students there weekly.  Church members have donated to provide needed school supplies and uniforms for students whose families can't afford them.  Last year Trinity members worked with students to produce a photo exhibit of pictures taken in the neighborhood. The pictures were mounted and displayed in the Chapel at Trinity for all to see. When the school had to be evacuated for part of a day last year, the students took shelter in the church building so they wouldn't be outside in the cold.  In the spring, Trinity provided space for the performance of the end of the year musical. The Community Hall was filled with proud parents and family members.

Another example of Trinity's support of arts program in the Springfield Schools was the hosting of an exhibit entitled "Springfield Gothic: Student Reflections."  Student work was on display in the chapel.

Trinity is seeking donations through the Valley Gives Day campaign on December 12 to build a new handicapped accessible Community Room to further increase the opportunities for community outreach.  Space is currently limited so the middle school after school program can't meet on the day the Children's Chorus practices.  The additional room will eliminate this conflict and enable Trinity to expand the number of ways the church can enrich the lives of those living in the neighborhood.

Please give generously on Dec. 12 by making an on-line donation at the Valley Gives website.  If you aren't available to make a contribution that day, you can schedule your gift in advance.  

School Partnerships

Trinity is creating a strong presence in the Forest Park Neighborhood through its After School Arts Program for Forest Park Middle School Students.  Trinity's partner for this program is Square One and together they are making a difference in the lives of the students who participate.  There are over 30 students registered for the 3 day per week program.  

When the students arrive, they are greeted by the director, two staff members, and at least one Trinity volunteer.  They have a snack, talk about their day, receive help with their homework, and then participate in the activity of the day.  That activity might be a field trip to Forest Park, a cooking lesson, a chance to burn up some energy playing sports in the gym, an arts lesson, or other special programs.  They all enjoyed a visit from the Springfield Police K-9 Unit. 

The students recently completed a photography project which culminated in a gallery showing in the Trinity Chapel. The middle schoolers took walks to Forest Park and around the neighborhood and took pictures of objects, animals, and people.  Each student produced a portfolio of their work on this project.  Their favorite pictures were printed, mounted, and displayed in the chapel for a week.  They hosted an opening reception where they greeted guests, served refreshments, and explained their pictures to visitors.  They were perfect hosts and hostesses to the parents, church members, teachers, and neighborhood people who visited.

Participants were asked to share their thoughts on what this after school program means to them.  Some of their comments were:

"They help me with my homework"

"The leaders help us with our problems"

"The photography project and exhibit were really exciting"

"It gives us something to do after school and keeps us off the streets and out of trouble"

"I've met a lot of new people"

"I stay active after school instead of going home and laying in bed"

"We love the cooking program, trying new recipes, eating what we cook, and taking the recipes home to make them there."

"We loved the demonstration by the police K-9 Unit"

"The staff helps us with growing up so that when we enter the real world we can be successful.  When I get in high school I would love to be a mentor to help the kids out."

"I hope the program stays open a long time so we can actually have a chance to compare the growth and activities from the first time we set foot in this program."

One of the parents at the art exhibit expressed gratitude for the program because it gives her daughter something to do after school in a safe, supervised environment.  She was particularly thankful for all the different creative activities and the chance it provides for her daughter to have new and different experiences.

Because Trinity is used for other activities in the afternoons, the after school program is currently limited to 3 days per week.  The addition of a new community room would increase space available and open up the opportunity for expanding the program.  Your contribution to Trinity on Valley Gives Day will help expedite the construction of this room.

Visit the Trinity's Valley Gives Day page to learn more about our story or to schedule a donation.  All money received from this day will go toward the construction of the new handicapped accessible community room.

Meeting the Needs of our Neighbors

Springfield as a city and Forest Park as a neighborhood are changing.  The mayor brought media attention to the large number of immigrants and refugees who are living in our city recently.  Many of them are living in the Forest Park area.  

In keeping with the vision of the founding fathers of Trinity who wanted the building to be available for the community, Trinity is currently attempting to meet the ever-changing needs of the neighborhood.  Many of our neighbors in the Forest Park area are recent immigrants and refugees so Trinity has forged partnerships with two groups to help meet the needs of these newest residents of Springfield.

One of the groups bringing refugees into the Springfield area is Jewish Family Service.  A few years ago they approached Trinity and asked for space to help their sponsored refugees learn English as a Second Language, participate in driver training classes, and generally learn to assimilate into their new home and culture.  JFS also offers Citizenship Classes for any immigrant wishing to participate.  Trinity agreed to this partnership and has made space available.

Last year Trinity became home to twice monthly legal clinics sponsored by JFON (Justice for Our Neighbors) to assist all immigrants find help for navigating the system.  The local chapter of JFON is sponsored by the national organization and provides legal services for all sorts of issues from obtaining a green card to applying for citizenship.  

Currently Trinity is maxed out for the amount of space it can provide for these programs.  The addition of a new handicapped accessible community room would allow space for additional ESL, GED, and other adult education classes.  There is a great need in the community for these services and the new room would help Trinity fill this void.

Trinity believes that it is important to minister to any and all members of the community.  As we examine the changing demographics of the city and neighborhood, we are creating programs and services to help meet the needs of our neighbors.  Your donation to Trinity on Valley Gives Day, December 12, will help expedite the construction of the new handicapped accessible community room and make the expansion of these essential programs a reality. 

Please mark your calendars to donate on Dec. 12.  If you are not available then, you can schedule a donation in advance.  You can also learn more about Trinity's story and why we're asking for donations,  by going to their website VALLEY GIVES DAY.

Visions

In the 1920s when Trinity was planned and built, the church leaders had a vision that it would be an integral part of the community. For that reason, they built a large community hall and also included a swimming pool and a gymnasium, both of which were unheard of in a church in those days. The pool served the church and the community well for over 70 years. One doesn't have to search long to find someone who says they learned to swim in the Trinity pool.

Approximately eight years ago maintaining this ancient pool became an impossible financial task. At that time church leaders reluctantly decided to close the pool. It has been an unused space since that time.

Current church leaders also have a vision. Their vision is to build a handicapped accessible community room with adjoining accessible restrooms in the space where the pool used to be. The plans for this room are a part of the current Capital Campaign. It is estimated that the total cost for this room will be approximately $400,000. To date, we have raised about $100,000 and are in the process of applying for grants to complete the project. We are seeking funding through Valley Gives 2013 to expedite this process and help make this vision a reality sooner rather than later.

A part of this vision is that future generations will say they attended an after school program, or learned English as a Second Language, or sang in the Children's Chorus of Springfield, or participated in citizenship classes at Trinity. All of these programs are currently happening at Trinity, but the new community room will expand the possibilities for these programs and will enable the creation of new opportunities as a part of Trinity's on-going urban ministry. Our neighborhood is undergoing change and in order to be a viable part of ministering to the the needs of the community, Trinity needs to grow and change. The addition of this handicapped accessible community room and the creation of new programs are two ways we are attempting to meet the needs of our neighbors.

Details of our current outreach programs, the impact they are having, and our visions for them in the future will be the subject of future postings over the next couple weeks.

To contribute to this campaign, click HERE.