The Trumpet

Earlier this month, I read an article by Thom Rainer titled “Why Pastors Should Encourage Members to Carry Their Bibles to Worship.” His article struck a chord with me, and I want to share some of what he said with you and why I agree with him.

Most people nowadays say something like, “I don't really use a Bible anymore because I have a Bible on my smartphone.”

Rainer says, “This moment reminded me how easily something essential can disappear gradually. No one announces it. No one plans it. Over time, a generation can lose the discipline of bringing God’s Word.”

Here are some reasons why using a physical Bible is important.

First, carrying a Bible cultivates personal ownership. When members bring their Bible, they shift from passive to active in worship. The screen shows a passage; a personal Bible fosters ongoing relationship. Carrying a Bible helps members see Scripture as “my Bible,” not just “the verses on the screen.” This ownership boosts familiarity, trust, and connection. Over time, it encourages locating passages, revisiting them, and building confidence. Ownership isn’t automatic; it’s cultivated with practice.

Second, physical interaction enhances engagement. Engaging physically with a Bible—turning pages, underlining, taking notes—creates a mental map of Scripture. Screens are convenient but promote quick consumption. A Bible encourages reflection and lingering over verses. Most of us remember more through interaction. Handling Scripture reinforces the message beyond a screen. To help members carry the word, we must foster meaningful engagement. That is best done through using a physical Bible.

Third, carrying a Bible reinforces Scripture's authority. In worship, elements like music and visuals exist. When Scripture is only on a screen, it feels like part of the presentation. A Bible changes this. Opening it reminds us that it’s the foundation and authority. Encouraging Bible use signals that God’s Word is above all else, not dependent on screens or moments. It shapes how we view and respect Scripture.

Fourth, carrying a Bible models discipleship for youth. Children observe how adults engage with Scripture. If it’s only on a screen, they may never develop the habit of opening a Bible themselves. But when they see adults bringing and engaging with their Bibles, they learn that God’s Word is personal, worth carrying, and studying. Visibly practicing Bible engagement sets a powerful example.

And finally, carrying a Bible extends worship into daily life. A screen disappears after the service; a Bible stays with the worshiper. Members are more likely to revisit passages, review notes, and incorporate verses into personal devotion. This keeps the worship alive beyond Sunday.

So I encourage you to carry and use your physical Bible. Sometimes, small habits influence deep convictions. Bringing the Bible back is a vital step.

- Freddy Fritz

We hosted 71 lads and lasses amidst the lush landscapes of the Emerald Isle at TBPC’s VBS. Along with 50 on-site volunteers, our VBS kids memorized Psalm 23 and learned about God’s character and about Jesus through King David’s life. We learned neat facts about Ireland, our animal pals, and a dozen different kinds of sheep. We tried slinging golf balls, took on strongman challenges, made colorful night lights, and munched on raven’s nests. And we saw how, like sheep, we need the Good Shepherd to lead us on the right path towards peace through God’s comfort, gratitude for His provision, and assurance of His promises.

The boys won the friendly fundraising competition for the MTW Haiti Love One Mission, but the real blessing was that our VBS-ers surpassed our $500 goal on Day 4 of VBS, raising $853.54 overall for the Docine Christian Academy!

Your prayers, time, donations, talents, and support contributed to a successful VBS that shared the gospel with our community and told children about Jesus. Thank you!

Next summer, we’ll take our kids to Spy University, where they’ll learn to recognize the one true God of the Bible.

- Toni Cacioppo

This past July 18-25, I had the incredible opportunity to serve on the 2026 Belize mission team. It was such a blessing to see how God is faithfully working in Belize, especially through the church in Belmopan. One of my favorite parts of the trip was spending time with the children and their families, sharing God's love and building meaningful relationships with them. I was also blessed to form friendships with an amazing group of people from South Carolina that I truly hope will last a lifetime. Looking back, I can clearly see God's hand in every part of this journey. From opening the door for me to go on the trip to working out every detail, he was faithful every step of the way. This trip strengthened my faith, taught me how to minister in new ways, and reminded me of God's love for his people. It is an experience I will always remember.

- Morgan Sauls

(Photo/Martine Extermann)

The Worship and Children's Choirs enjoyed a wonderful time of fellowship at our summer choir party on Saturday, July 11. It was a joyful morning filled with delicious food, meaningful conversations, laughter, and encouragement as choir members spent time connecting outside of regular rehearsals.

One of the true highlights of our time together was pausing to pray for one another and for the upcoming choir season. We are incredibly thankful for the unity God has given our music ministry, and we look forward to serving him together when rehearsals resume in September.

If you have ever considered singing with the Worship Choir, we would love to welcome you! No audition is required, only a heart to serve the Lord through music and a desire to worship him alongside fellow believers. Whether you have sung in choirs for years or are simply looking for a new place to use your gifts, we invite you to come and be part of this ministry as we begin our new season this fall.

- Yanet Bermudez Ortiz

Given today's consumer mindset, children can struggle with passive listening, expecting to be entertained, or relying on external stimulation to keep them engaged in worship. As we begin another school year, some children will be attending more –or all– of the worship service for the first time. That transition can be challenging for families, especially when it comes to helping children engage during the sermon.

I recently read a blog on worshiping with children that reminded me how important it is to train both our children and ourselves to engage intentionally, recognize when our minds begin to wander, and learn how to refocus. While we shouldn't expect children to maintain perfect attention throughout an entire sermon, meaningful participation in corporate worship develops with intentional practice.

Without actually diving into the purpose of worship itself, here are a few practical tips to help children engage with the sermon specifically:

• Give them something to listen for once you know the passage or title of the sermon. Children are more likely to focus if they have a specific purpose.
• Spend time talking about preparing for God's word. Discuss why Freddy asks the congregation to prepare their hearts and minds and ears for the reading and hearing of it. What does that mean to prepare? How can they do that?
• Keep a sermon journal for the parent and child to use back and forth during the sermon. The parent can write a question to help the child think things through, but even better, the child can ask the parent questions about what's being said instead of waiting until after, when questions are usually forgotten.
• Encourage doodle notes directly related to the sermon. These are words, phrases, symbols, and images that capture not only what's being said but also the impact and connections.
• Resist providing distractions unrelated to the sermon. Providing a book, device, or even a scratch paper for random doodling may send the message that active listening isn't expected and a sermon is just something to endure.
• Discuss the sermon with your children over lunch or dinner. Ask questions that address the content, Freddy's applications, and more personal family applications. Always focus on seeing Jesus!
• Make sure your child learns how to listen (behavior), sure, but more importantly, make sure they learn why they listen.

Remember, our goal is not merely well-behaved children, but children who grow to love hearing the voice of their Shepherd.

- Holly Mickler

Our high school youth had a blast at the RYM retreat! For one week, we stayed at the Laguna Beach Christian Retreat Center and enjoyed solid Reformed teaching, beautiful times of worship, challenging small-group discussions, and many fun, informal interactions along the way. We played multiple, hilarious games of basketball (one in the rain!). And our evening excursion to Seaside, FL was filled with good food, a bustling atmosphere, and (of course) USA World Cup soccer.

I believe several of our youth matured through this retreat experience. There was evident spiritual growth and interest. And a couple of youth grew closer to the group than they were before. I am a big believer that long overnight trips like these forge stronger relationships and allow our youth to open up in ways they seldom do in more routine settings. It's trips like these that provide a big boost in building relationships and fostering a closer community within our youth group. But more importantly, the hope and expectation is that the teaching and preaching they received resonates strongly and speaks to the practical concerns they are actively wrestling with.

We plan to go back to RYM next year, July 5-9, 2027! If you have a child who is entering 8th grade, they will be eligible to join us. I'll begin advertising and collecting deposits in October.

- John Revell

(Photo/Ashleigh Kemp/Holly Mickler)

Dolapo and Uchenna Anyanwu have been attending TBPC for a few months. They found TBPC while looking online for a local church where they could worship and fellowship.

Tell us a little bit about your family.

We’re new to Tampa. We moved from Massachusetts to FL in December of 2024. We’re empty nesters with two adult boys.

What careers have you had over the years?

We’ve worked as missionaries in West and North Africa. Uchenna is currently a missions mobilizer with Frontier Fellowship and a mental health counselor. I’m (Dolapo) a postdoctoral researcher in cancer prevention and control at Moffitt Cancer Center.

How do you like to have fun?

We like to take walks, watch movies, and travel.

What do you enjoy about TBPC?

The dedication of the teaching elders and the warmth of the brethren.

What lesson has God been teaching you?

He is teaching us to patiently wait for him in seasons of uncertainty.

What is your favorite hymn?

We have many!

What is your favorite Scripture?

Also many, depending on the situation. We are thankful for Philippians 3:14.

Which person in the Bible (other than Jesus) do you think would make the best dinner guest - and why?

David, not necessarily as a king, but as a wanderer.

If you could instantly master any skill or talent, what would you pick - and why?

Surgical Oncologist – to keep more people alive to live out their God-given purpose.

Do you name your cars or plants? If so, tell us about this!

No, but we once had a motorcycle called Grace!

A couple of years ago, I completed a 7-part series on original sin and total depravity. Since then, I have posted several additional articles based on my readings in the Synopsis of a Purer Theology, or Leiden Synopsis (1625). We don't like to talk about sin, but without a robust understanding of sin, the good news of the gospel becomes quite bland.

Furthermore, in our circles, we tend to settle into ideas and beliefs about sin that are as radical as they are imprecise. It's one thing to affirm the strong statements of Scripture, but it's quite another to take those biblical statements in a direction that strikes at the vitals of Christian anthropology. I think many would be shocked (in a good way) to discover the rich nuances of the Reformed tradition on this doctrine in particular.

I invite you to dig into these articles on my Substack. The article linked below is precious to me because it contains nuances that culminated in a foundational paradigm shift. That was many years ago, but I constantly see the downstream consequences of this doctrine in my ministry. If you under-emphasize sin, the gospel ceases to be good news. If you over-emphasize sin, humanity becomes evil to the point of being nearly unredeemable. Where do you fall on this spectrum?

- John Revell

"From all that dims Thy Calvary, O Lamb of God, deliver me."

Amy Carmichael (1867 – 1951) - Irish Christian missionary in India and Founder of Dohnavur Fellowship, a mission and orphanage.

- Submitted by Eileen Fritz

This month, the Diaconate successfully got the windows for the doors of the church tinted. This included tinting the main entrance doors, the door at the NTCA entrance, and all the doors going into the grassy area. We hope that this will achieve 2 functions – additional safety for the members of our congregation and reducing the electricity bill by keeping the church cooler.

We also helped with the set-up and take-down for VBS, July 6 - 10. We appreciate all the people involved with VBS, as it was exceptionally well-run by the coordinators and volunteers, as well as extremely enjoyable for the children in attendance.

As you have likely heard, the Diaconate has started a Safety Team and would like to know if anyone is interested in being considered for this role. This team is to provide safety support on Sunday mornings, with either medical assistance should a medical need arise and/or men to be observers in the narthex during the Worship service. Please contact Mike Rush (813-995-5865) with questions or to be considered for either role on the team.

- Mike Rush

As the deacons continue to serve in the areas of benevolence, mercy, and the upkeep of the church’s facilities, we always welcome any assistance. If you have an area of expertise and are willing to offer your services (plumbing, electrical, landscape, etc.), we would appreciate any and all help. You can contact any of the deacons (David Cross, Michael Rush, and Derk Shultz - Deacon in Training), or either of the deacon assistants (David Lehmann and Ken Smoot), or email us by using the button below.

Click on the title above to be taken to the TBPC Calendar.

Saturday, August 1

(See Brian Carrier)

Sunday, August 2 at 5 p.m. (Cacioppo Home)

Sunday, August 16 at 5 p.m. (Church)

Sunday, August 23 at 5 p.m. (Schultz Home)

Sunday, August 9 at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 16 at 12:30 p.m.

Sunday, August 16 at 3 p.m.

Sunday, August 16 at 5 p.m.

Thursday, August 20

• Diaconate 5:30 p.m.
• Session 6 p.m

Sunday, August 30 at 12:15 p.m.

We are excited to share that our church is now on Instagram. Follow us at @TampaBayPresbyterianChurch for updates on services, events, and church life. Please consider sharing our page with others to help extend our ministry. Scan the QR code or click the link to check it out!

It is the goal of The Trumpet staff to provide articles for learning and growing, news for connecting with our church family, and information on opportunities for service and participation. The views and opinions expressed in The Trumpet have not been reviewed or endorsed by the Session.