A United Methodist Presence in Poquoson
Trinity United Methodist Church sits at 1294 Poquoson Avenue in the small city of Poquoson, Virginia, where it gathers neighbors around the motto "Transforming Lives through Faith, Family and Service." The congregation is known in the community for a busy week that begins with two distinct Sunday morning services, threads through choirs, classes and Bible studies, and reaches outward through a long list of hands-on mission partnerships.
A Two-Service Sunday Rhythm
Sunday looks different at Trinity depending on the week. On the first Sunday of every month, the day centers on Holy Communion: a First Sunday Breakfast runs from 8:30 to 9:45 am, the Wesley Fellowship adult Sunday school class meets at 9:00 am, and the 10:00 am Worship Service includes the sacrament. Everyone is welcome at the Lord's table, regardless of age or church affiliation.
On the second through fifth Sundays of the month, the morning becomes a back-to-back pattern. A Contemporary Worship service begins at 8:45 am, Sunday school meets at 10:00 am between the two services, and a Traditional Worship service is held at 11:00 am. The blended style gives visitors a choice of music and tone in a single morning.
First-time guests will find practical help waiting for them. Disabled parking spaces and a ramp entry are located behind the church, reached by the driveway on the right side of the building, with additional parking across Poquoson Avenue and at the corner of Church Street and Poquoson Avenue. The church asks only that people wear whatever makes them comfortable, from coats and ties to t-shirts and jeans.
Children's Worship, Nursery, and Sunday School
Trinity builds its children's ministry around the 8:45 am Contemporary service and, once a month, the 10:00 am Holy Communion service. Children begin the morning in the sanctuary with their parents, then exit after the Children's Moment for a program tailored to their age. Preschoolers ages 3 through kindergarten experience God's love through age-appropriate lessons, crafts, music and activities, while first through sixth graders take part in Kids Worship, a dynamic program that uses Bible stories, songs, skits, videos and themes drawn from their everyday lives.
A nursery for infants and toddlers is available during Sunday school and worship hours and is also open for special services.
On the second through fifth Sundays, Sunday school convenes at 10:00 am between the two worship services. The program includes a Preschool class (ages 3 to kindergarten) with crafts, music and a light snack; the BASIC (Brothers and Sisters In Christ) class for adults; a Wesley Fellowship class that follows the Cokesbury Adult Bible Studies (9:00 am on the first Sunday, 10:00 am otherwise); and graded classes for 1st through 4th grade, Tweens 5th and 6th grade, and Youth 7th through 12th grade. Lessons emphasize Scripture memorization and age-appropriate application to daily life.
Youth and Tween Ministry on Sunday Nights
A relatively new Tween Ministry for 5th and 6th graders runs alongside the existing Youth Ministry for 7th through 12th graders. On the first Sunday of each month, both groups meet at the same time but in separate locations within the church. One group studies a lesson while the other takes part in a service or mission project with a short game or activity, then they switch. For the rest of the month, Tween and Youth Ministries gather on select Sunday evenings, and the Tween Ministry also meets on certain Poquoson Schools half-days.
Bible Studies Through the Week
Trinity keeps its Bible study calendar busy. On Wednesday nights at 6:00 pm, the Wednesday Ladies group meets in the church library to study authors such as David Jeremiah, Lee Strobel, Max Lucado, Jennifer Rothschild and Beth Moore, and all are welcome. A Wednesday Men's group follows at 6:15 pm. On Wednesday nights at 7:00 pm, a Zoom gathering called The Wake-Up Call brings members together to discuss the week's devotions; each weekday morning, participants receive an email with a Scripture, a reflection, a prayer and a few short questions to reorient the day around Jesus. On Thursday mornings from 9:30 to 10:30 am during the school year, the Thursday Ladies group meets in the youth 180 room to study books of the Bible and occasional topical studies.
A Full Music Ministry
Music is a visible part of Trinity's life. The Chancel Choir rehearses on Thursdays at 6:00 pm in the Choir Room, leads the 11:00 am Traditional service, and performs a Christmas and an Easter Cantata. The George Amos Men's Choir rehearses Monday nights at 6:30 pm and sings on the fourth Sunday of each month. The Handbell Choir rehearses every Monday at 5:30 pm and plays on the third Sunday. Alter Call, a family-style band that includes piano, keyboard, harp, guitar, mandolin, banjo, bass, Cajon, conga, drums, flute, trombone, trumpet and tambourine, rehearses Thursday evenings at 7:30 pm in the sanctuary and is open to anyone who wants to join.
One of the most distinctive groups is Stick With God, a performing arts ministry started in 2001. Using dowel rods, fabric and sign language, the group's 19 members (currently ages 9 to 16) interpret Christian contemporary music in settings that range from the sanctuary to concert crowds of 3,000.
Missions at Home and Around the World
Trinity's mission work stretches from Poquoson to the wider world. The church partners with the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), the humanitarian relief and development arm of the United Methodist Church, supporting relief, response and long-term recovery grants for communities facing famine, hurricanes, war, floods and fires.
On a more local level, the Little Free Food Pantry sits next to the Crossroads Building in the Poquoson Avenue parking lot. It serves people facing hunger or food insecurity with no questions asked, and donations can be dropped off at the Poquoson Avenue doors on weekdays during office hours. The church also supports Thrive Peninsula, a non-profit that provides food, emergency financial assistance and financial coaching to Peninsula families. A monthly American Red Cross Blood Drive is hosted in the Multi Purpose Room with volunteer support.
Seasonal mission projects include Food For Feathers, a Thanksgiving effort that delivers meals to 20 to 25 local families each November, and the Angel Tree, which fills Christmas gift requests from local families. The congregation also builds Flood Buckets for hurricane and flood response and contributes new stuffed animals to HUPTIsmiles, a comfort-gift program for children completing treatment at Hampton University Proton Therapy.
Trinity Christian Preschool
Trinity Christian Preschool operates as part of the church's ministry to families in Poquoson.
Giving, Connecting, and Staying in Touch
Trinity welcomes gifts in several forms. Offerings can be brought forward in the Sunday morning plate or mailed to the church office; online giving by credit or debit card, including recurring payments, is available; many banks' Bill Pay services can be set up with the church address; and gifts of stock can be arranged through a member's broker. Beyond giving, the church keeps an open door for prayer requests, sermon requests and membership inquiries through its Connect page and the office@trinitypoquoson.org inbox.