Weekly Email

November 13, 2019: This Sunday, November 17, is the annual congregational meeting (see below for details). Like a birthday or anniversary, the annual meeting provides an opportunity to acknowledge another year in the congregation’s life, which has included occasions to celebrate, mourn, and learn.  Hopefully, we learn from our past and reach toward the future as best we can see it, knowing that we will be surprised along the way.  On Sunday we’ll (s)elect persons to lead, commit ourselves to…

November 8, 2019: Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall HOPE We begin a three-session series on HOPE including hope for the nation, religion, and the world.  Each session will begin with a video presentation.  This Sunday’s video will feature Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks as he presents remarks titled:  “How Can We Face the Future Without Fear?” Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary Sermon - Reductio ad Absurdum Text - Luke 20:27-38 Veteran’s Day Acknowledgment Faith Formation, 11am, Trinity Hall Nursery Care and Classes for Children…

November 6, 2019: The day after the election might be a good time for, among other things, prayer. Consider the following… Gracious God: Now that the election is over and the ballots counted, May the headiness of victory give way to the humility of service; May the bitterness of defeat yield to the generosity of cooperation; May partisanship be replaced by the common good; May campaign wounds be healed by civility. These prayers seem like an unrealizable dream to many.…

November 1, 2019: ALL SAINTS’ SUNDAY Sunday Conversation, 10am, Trinity Hall Creation Care We continue conversation regarding first steps in our Creation Care  initiative, with particular attention to trees (including Walnut Hill trees) as a source of learning and inspiration. Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary Sermon - Witnesses Text - Acts 1:1-11 The Sacrament of Holy Communion Celebration of Saints Prayers for the Persecuted Church Faith Formation, 11am, Trinity Hall Nursery Care and Classes for Children and Youth Children are invited to proceed…

October 30, 2019: This Sunday, November 3, is All Saints’ Sunday, an occasion to celebrate the “communion of saints,” both known and unknown to us.  Traditionally, among the saints, martyrs (literally “witnesses”) have received special acknowledgment for their faith and courage. We will use the day to reflect and pray for those persons, ancient and modern, who have borne witness to the gospel in spite of cost and danger to themselves. For now, consider this prayer… Almighty and everlasting God,…

October 25, 2019: REFORMATION SUNDAY Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall Creation Care Initiative This Sunday we review possible Creation Care actions as suggested in recent brainstorming sessions.  There are plenty of wonderful ideas from which to choose for our lives together and individually. Come and help us get started caring for the creation that is our home and of which we are part. Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary Sermon - Where Are We Standing? Text -Luke 18:9-14 Reformation Sunday Reflections Faith Formation,…

October 23, 2019: This Sunday, October 27, is Reformation Sunday, an annual remembrance of the persons and events that had such a profound effect upon both the church and the world.  The German reformer, Martin Luther, is one of the most immediately identified characters of the Reformation, particularly his thoughts about “justification by faith” and its relationship to “good works.” Luther wrote… Our faith in Christ does not free us from works, but from false opinions concerning works, that is,…

October 17: BOONE CREEK SAFARI Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall What Keeps Us Apart? We will explore the challenge of bringing together persons of different ethnic/racial backgrounds, particularly in voluntary associations such as religion/church.  One factor might be our lack of genuine acquaintance with our neighbor’s experience.  You might want to view a 2014 Bill Moyers interview with Ta-Nehisi Coates (Moyers and Company) in anticipation of Sunday’s conversation. Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary Worship Leader/Preacher - The Rev. Susan Warren Faith Formation,…

October 15, 2019: The notion that all human beings are created in the “image of God” is central to our faith tradition, and hopefully informs our relationships with others.  But what about those persons in whom the “image of God” is hard for us to see because they are different from us, disagree with us, or seem disagreeable to us? Dietrich Bonhoeffer shares some thoughts about the image of God. God did not make others as I would have made…

October 11, 2019: Sunday Conversations, 10am, Trinity Hall The Sound of the Genuine We’ll talk about, listen for, the sound of the genuine as identified by Howard Thurman and described in his 1980 baccalaureate speech to students at Spelman College. Visit “The Sound of the Genuine" for the full text of the speech. Morning Worship, 11am, Sanctuary Sermon - Faith at the Border Text - Luke 17:11-19 Faith Formation, 11am, Trinity Hall Nursery Care and Classes for Children and Youth After Worship Gathering, Noon,…