TRINITY UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST
131 East Perry St.
Tiffin, Ohio 44883
Phone: 419-447-3191
Website: www.trinityucctiffin.org
email: officeadmin@trinityucctiffin.com

Pastoral Update

Grace and peace to the Body of Christ in Tiffin, Ohio!

It is hard to believe, but we experience the season of Advent this month. We welcome a new liturgical year and look toward the birth of God in human form, Jesus-the-Christ.
Advent is a season of waiting, openly, patiently, in the sparse darkness before the sunrise, for the movement of God’s Spirit, for the birth of light and new life. We will honor this season through lighting our Advent candles and holding Wednesday evening prayer services. Please join us as we engage this spiritual discipline of waiting expectantly this Advent season.

As we look ahead, I would also like to offer you a couple of reflection questions:

What newness have you seen God birthing into the world?
What may God be nurturing within us at this time?

Though, I, like many others, find myself “doom scrolling” stories and news of all the terrible things happening in the world, I also recognize a desire in my heart and other’s hearts for something different to happen. This desire for greater peace and understanding, for something new, other than tribalism and violence, is the work of God’s Spirit within me and within you. Maybe God has kindled a similar desire within you or maybe something else.
As we prepare to tell again the story of Christ’s coming, I invite us all to reflect on where we have seen and experienced the movement of God’s Spirit and the newness of life God has placed in our hearts.
May the Spirit of God bless you with greater Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love this holiday season.

Peace be with you,

Pastor Karsten

Pastor Karsten Snitker

6A child is born to us, a son is given to us, and authority will be on his shoulders.
He will be named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.

Isaiah 9:6 CEB

MISSION EMPHASIS

Crossroad Child & Family Services

Crossroad is a faith-based, nonprofit treatment provider for troubled children and their families. Behind that simple description is an extensive list of therapy, education, and family support services provided both to children who live on its campus and in the surrounding community. Located in Ft. Wayne, IN, it provides services for children in the tri-state area of IN, OH and MI. Crossroad is one of the largest providers for treating seriously troubled children and families in the Midwest.
Crossroad provides a team consisting of a chaplain, case managers, teachers, therapists, housekeepers, cooks, nurses, and others – working together to build promising futures for children. They come to Crossroad through a variety of avenues. Judges, mental health professionals, public service agencies, pastors, counselors, and educators may refer children to Crossroad to receive services. Some youth come to us through and with their families.
The German Reformed Church in the United States, a predecessor of today’s United Church of Christ, established Crossroad in 1883 as “The Reformed Orphan’s Home of Fort Wayne, Indiana.” Trinity has been a longtime supporter of Crossroad. Your donation will support these children during this Christmas season.

Thank you for your support,

Trinity Mission Committee

Christmas Fund

The Christmas Fund has been caring for active and retired clergy and lay employees of the United Church of Christ for over one hundred years, providing emergency grants, supplementation of small annuities and health premiums, and Christmas “Thank You” gift checks each December to our lower-income retirees.United Church of Christ congregations and members have blessed the Christmas Fund with their generosity for many years. This year, your care and compassion will be especially appreciated by those servants of the church who are facing a time of need. A donation to the Christmas Fund is a way of thanking those who provided spiritual guidance and development throughout our lives.

Advent Series

Remember the "reason for the season" by participating in our Advent series to be held at 6:30 p.m. on Wednesdays, Dec. 3, Dec. 10, and Dec. 17. Each evening will provide a time of relaxation and renewal through music, liturgical prayer, and engagement in various spiritual practices. Please join us for this special way of preparing our hearts and minds for Christ's coming.

COUNCIL REPORT

CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING
The following is a report of the October Council meeting.

Christian Education – next family movie night is December 13. A children’s choir may be formed for Christmas.
Communications – The mission committee will be reporting contributions in the Seneca
News Daily to publicize TUCC activities.
Mission – Recent gifts include Grace Community Center ($1,000) and FISH ($200).
Shepherd’s Family – recent stewardship brunch was well-received, 40 people were served, with help from Shepherd’s Family and Trinity Women Together.
Worship and Music – Hanging of the Greens will take place on Sunday, November 23.
Lights on the pulpit and lectern are being evaluated.
Pastor’s Report – PK shared a report of recent activities and schedule updates. Advent prayer services will be held on Wed. Dec. 3, 10, and 17. Christmas Eve service on Dec. 24 at 6:45 p.m. PK will meet with Donna Gross about possibly hosting community movie nights next year. Questions to be raised include food, cleaning, technology, location (upstairs or downstairs).
Ecumenical Sunday services occur on 11/30 (First Lutheran) and 12/28 (Old Trinity Episcopal).
Old Business – TSCCC intends to move out during Thanksgiving Week. We will recognize our long-time relationship in some form during worship on November 23. TSCCC will soon place a large dumpster in the parking lot during cleanout. TSCCC will perform a “deep clean” of their space as they exit.
Sam Palm of UIS is still looking for a new property insurer.
New Business – Joan reports that we have insufficient deliverers for Sunday altar flowers. We will solicit new volunteers to keep this ministry going; we value this contact with our shut-in members. Also consider: are there enough recipients for weekly delivery? Artificial vs cut flowers? Why is the Altar Flower Fund showing a deficit? No action taken, while Larry Kisabeth will talk with the Office Administrator and Treasurer about these items.
Next regular Council meeting is December 10, 2025, at 7:00 pm (after 6:30 prayer service), with devotions by Kurt Huenemann.
Meeting adjourned at 7:45 pm.

Music notes

Once again as the leaves fall and the time changes, we wonder how another liturgical year has passed so quickly! Advent is nearly upon us, and we will observe the First Sunday of Advent this year in one of our ecumenical services. November 30 is the fifth Sunday of the month, so the congregations of First Lutheran, Presbyterian, Old Trinity Episcopal, and Trinity UCC will gather at the First Lutheran Church, 300 Melmore St., Tiffin, for a joint 10 a.m. service. Singers from all churches will rehearse at 9 a.m. for a shared anthem. Bell ringers from several churches will combine for a handbell piece.

We look forward to preparing and presenting our offerings throughout Advent at Trinity.

I would like to highlight several special holiday events.

On Sunday, November 30, at 4 p.m. Heidelberg University will present TubaChristmas at the First Lutheran Church, 300 Melmore St. Tuba players from around the area, directed by Dr. Ben Herrick, will decorate their instruments and meet for the afternoon to play Christmas carols and seasonal music. The audience is invited to join the merriment. There is no charge for this event.
[see TubaChristmas poster]

Tiffin University will present its annual “Christmas at the Ritz” program on Saturday, December 6, at
7 p.m. This will feature all of their ensembles, including the Marching Band, Wind in my Hair (funk), Dance Team, Up in the Air (pop), Higher Ground (a capella), Spotlight (musical theatre), and more. Tickets are $12 each, $5 for all students. They are available at the Ritz box office.

Heidelberg University School of Music & Theatre will present its annual Christmas program, “Gift of the Season.” at the Ritz Theatre on Sunday, December 7, at 3 p.m. in addition to performances by the Symphonic Band, Chamber Singers, and Concert Choir, there will be scenes from O’Henry’s “The Gift of the Magi.” The program will conclude with excerpts from Part I of Handel’s “Messiah.” Tickets are $10; $5 for Berg Bravo members. They are available at the Ritz box office.

The Toledo Symphony will be playing a holiday concert on Saturday, December 20, at 7:30 p.m. at the Ritz Theatre. Tickets are available at the box office.

Enjoy the sounds of the season!

We always welcome another music-maker!
Vicki Ohl, Music Coordinator and Chancel Choir Director

THANK YOU!

Dear Trinity,

Thank you for the altar flowers that were delivered to us by Shari Beidelschies and given by James & Lin Koehl for our 58th Wedding Anniversary. They were very pretty and we had a nice visit with Shari. Thanks again.

Bob & Virginia Sherman

Dear Trinity,

Thank you to Pat and Beth McKibben Nee for the beautiful altar flowers. They brightened up my house. Also thank you to Shari Beidelschies for the wonderful visit.

Rosemary Bishop

TubaChristmas Sunday, November 30, 2025
| 4 PM First Lutheran Church |
300 Melmore St., Tiffin, OH 44883 Conducted by Ben Herrick

Come join us “oom-pah” our way into the holiday spirit either by participating or as a member of the audience!
$15 registration for participants—2:00 pm.
Rehearsal—2:30 pm Open to the public. A freewill offering will be taken.

Ritz Theatre
30 S. Washington St., Tiffin, OH 44883
General Admission—$10

Faculty, Staff & Berg Bravo! Members—$5
Heidelberg Students with ID—Free

Including scenes from O’Henry’s short story The Gift of the Magi
and highlights from Part I of Handel’s Messiah.

KROGER COMMUNITY REWARDS

Did you know that you can earn money for the church just by buying groceries? Use your existing digital Kroger Plus Shopper’s Card (or sign up for a free Kroger Plus shopper’s card) to convert a percentage of your grocery spending into a donation to the church.

Go to the Kroger.com website; Community; Kroger Community Rewards;

• Create a digital account and pick your preferred Kroger store;

• link your Kroger Plus shopping card to a selected organization (in this case click on Trinity United Church of Christ, Tiffin and enter the NPO.

• Any transaction using the shopper’s card number associated with your digital account will be applied to the program at no cost to you. Quarterly contributions from your purchases will be forwarded to Trinity Church.

Poinsettia Order Form

The Art Gallery is empty. Please bring your paintings, photography, poetry, recipes, needlework, crafts or any other hand-made items to share.For more information, contact Lynn Huenemann through the church office at 419-447-3191 for more information or to display items.