Blog

by Alyssa Robinson tmumc.org/christmas In the United Methodist Tradition, the season of Advent represents the beginning of the new year in the Christian calendar. It is marked by the four Sundays leading up to the birth of Jesus, Christmas Day. Our hope is to use this time to prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. But if I’m being honest, I usually use Advent to prepare for the coming of Christmas. My calendar books up with Christmas parties, community events and... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson I love Jonah, Chapter 2. This Psalm of Thanksgiving rests smack in the middle of Jonah’s story. At this point of the story he has been in the belly of a whale for 3 days and 3 nights, but takes time to express his gratitude to God for saving him. I think this is a fitting chapter to examine on the week of Thanksgiving, not just because it’s literally called the “Psalm of Thanksgiving,” but because it’s a beautiful reminder to be... Read More

a letter from Rev. Daniel Humbert In this month of gratitude, I give thanks for you and the ministry of Trietsch Memorial United Methodist Church of which we are all a part. Our mission of leading people into a growing relationship with Jesus Christ remains our central focus for everything we do. I know there are some who are concerned about what’s going on in our larger denomination, The United Methodist Church. In May of this year, we held congregational gatherings to... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson My grandmother, Jeannine Johnson, died the day after Thanksgiving in 2020. As she took her last breaths, we were gathered around her as a family praying, singing, and telling her we love her. It has become one of my most meaningful memories. Her death was what many people hope for their own passing; to die at home at an old age, surrounded by the people you love: but even so, her death brought a deep pit of grief. My grief still emerges in unexpected ways. It... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson Jonah 1:1-3 Jonah Tries to Run Away from God Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai, saying, “Go at once to Nineveh, that great city, and cry out against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid his fare and went on board, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson What if we gave generously? This is a big question that I think about often. What if everyone in the world who claimed to follow the teachings of Jesus gave generously? What would that look like? I read an article from Relevant Magazine that outlined the impact of every Christian donating 10% of their income (a traditional tithe). If every Christian in the world gave a full tithe, that would equal $165 billion for churches to use and distribute. Then they... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson I have trust issues. My default setting is to assume that someone is trying to take advantage of me or manipulate me in some way. My guard is always up. Don’t worry - I know it’s not a healthy trait, and I’m working on it. But this means preaching to me is really hard, especially when it comes to money. Talking about money makes us uncomfortable, and it’s understandable! Dealing with money is stressful. According to a recent CNBC... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson I love personality tests and self-discovery books. Myers Briggs, Strengths Finder, Enneagram…I just can't help myself. I feel like I always learn something new about myself, but more importantly I learn how I best relate to and connect with others. So when I started learning about spiritual gifts, the natural question came up, "What are my gifts?" I took the Gifted to Serve Discovery to dive into my spiritual gifts, ministry style, and explore... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson John 20:11-18 (NLT) Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her. “Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” She turned to... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson When I start something new, I go a little too hard. If I’m going to start a new exercise routine, I buy all the gear and create an unsustainable workout plan. When I try to eat healthier, I over plan my meals and leave no room for cheats. Trying a new hobby? I’ll spend hours on it every day until I feel like I’ve mastered it. Baby steps just aren’t part of my lifestyle. And that usually means any new habit that I try to instill... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson Prayer is a mystery to me. Sometimes it comes so naturally that I feel like I’m in a constant state of prayer, and other times it just feels rote. One thing I wish I was taught about prayer growing up that I’m just now beginning to understand is prayer is a journey. I was under the illusion that everyone else was getting something that I wasn’t. People would tell me about the power of prayer and how they felt God’s presence, but I just... Read More

by Alyssa Robinson Have you ever had the wind knocked out of you? It can be a terrifying experience. The first time it happened to me I was 8 years old. As I was swinging across the monkey bars during recess, I tried to test my abilities by skipping bars and broadening my swing. My hand slipped on a bar, and I fell flat on my back. I remember staring up at the clear blue sky when the realization set in that I couldn’t take a breath. I panicked. Looking back, it felt like... Read More