From the Assistant Rector

Happy 2017, and God’s blessings on this new year ahead! It’s that time of year when many of us consider New Year’s resolutions, even if we don’t plan to take one on for the year ahead. I must admit that I am not a big fan of resolutions because they so often are unattainable. We set goals that are so high that the first time we slip up, we feel there’s no getting back on track. Nevertheless, I find that we, as human beings, do like to challenge ourselves.

The blessing of the Christian faith is that we have the reassurance that our mess-ups and our failures do not determine our identity. We have been called daughters and sons of God (John 1:12-13), and in our Baptisms, our identity is recreated through the Holy Spirit. No matter how often we fall short, we are reminded that forgiveness is freely offered when we turn our sights to God. We are offered a clean slate again and again.

One of the things of which we are reminded in a new year is that there is a clean slate, a new beginning. This past year has been a difficult one in many ways for many people. We are looking for a sign of hope, something or someone to help guide us. No matter what we face, our hope in this year ahead must lie in Jesus.

This does not mean we choose complacency in the new year. Choosing to place our hope in Jesus means we give our attention to the greatest commandment, love the Lord God and love our neighbors. Consider in the year ahead how you might live into this commandment more fully. If you choose to join a Bible study or Adult Sunday School, or choose to increase your worship attendance, you will likely find that you’ll grow in your faith and love of God. I find that every time I read Scripture, it is new and fresh, and there is always something I didn’t catch in my previous reading. I challenge us all to grow in our reading of the Bible. If you choose to add a service component to your week, you could join in the SOME ministry on a Friday morning in Washington, D.C., serving our homeless brothers and sisters. You will likely find they offer more than we could ever offer them. Any of these are good opportunities for growth in faith and love in the new year.

These goals are not mutually exclusive. Often, when we find a way to connect more fully with our neighbors in need or choose to grow in our faith through study, we will find that we grow in love of both God and neighbor. I pray that in this new year, we set our sights on God, knowing that whatever goals we set, as individuals and as a world, our identity is first and foremost in Christ. His love and His mercy are much bigger than the biggest goals we could set for ourselves. May we not forget this in 2017, no matter what comes our way. 

Welcome to 2017

Welcome to 2017. I have great hope, and grace-filled expectations, for our congregation in the coming months. 

One of those expectations has to do with the continued strengthening of our efforts in the areas of the Christian education and spiritual formation. When discussing what signs pointed to the life of a thriving church at our Annual Meeting back in October, I included these: 

1. When the congregation is growing in it’s understanding of what it means to live as Christians, following Jesus more nearly, day by day. This is the true nature of discipleship. 
2. When we are faithfully connecting our children, youth, and young adults to the Gospel (Good News) about Jesus Christ. 

These goals will not be achieved by way of osmosis. In order to thrive, we will need to invest our time, talents, and participation. Thus, in addition to Church School at 9:30 AM on Sunday mornings, here are some other opportunities you can look forward to: 

A Confirmation Class for all teenagers in the eighth grade and above will begin with an introductory session on Sunday, January 8 at 9:30 AM. It will culminate with Bishop Ted Gulick’s visit to Trinity on Sunday, May 7. These discussions will help each participant better understand and appreciate what we mean when we call ourselves “Christians”. Rachel and I will take turns leading the class. For further information, please contact The Rev. Rachel Rickenbaker. 

An Inquirer’s Class for adults interested in being confirmed will also be offered. This will take place primarily in the context of a weekend retreat (a Friday evening and then all day on Saturday.) I am presently looking at the weekend of April 7 and 8, with Palm Sunday being April 9. Please contact me if you think you would like to take part. 

The Christian Parenting Class will continue in the New Year. Various topics will be covered. This discussion coincides with our Church School, meeting from 9:30-10:15 AM on Sunday mornings. 

On Sunday mornings during the Epiphany season (January 8-February 26), I plan on offering an Introduction to the Good News about Jesus. Specifically, we will discuss both the background and the major themes found in Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. If ever you wanted to understand what these texts are about, and where they come from, but were too shy to ask, here’s your opportunity. We will also meet on Sunday mornings from 9:30-10:15 AM. 

During Lent, Rachel will lead a class for adults on Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM, while yours truly will lead a program on Wednesday evenings in conjunction with a simple supper. More details will be forthcoming. 

In addition to the above, our Wednesday morning Bible Study continues. We meet from 10:30 AM until 11:45 AM in the living room of Peard House. I also plan on continuing with the Pilgrim Course on Monday evenings. I am certain other opportunities will arise and we will keep you posted! 

Yes, our lives are incredibly busy. Nonetheless, if we believe that our faith in God is important, and our growth in the same is our goal, then spending time together in conversation about the essentials is required. Indeed, our souls, and our lives, depend upon it! I look forward to our time together in the months ahead. 

From the Assistant Rector

Dear People of Trinity Church, God’s peace be with you!

We’ve now entered into Advent, a time where we are called to be alert, watch, prepare, and wait for the Lord. While we look forward to celebrating Jesus’ birth, with worship, songs, decorations, and a Christmas pageant, we know that the world around us continues to be in turmoil. If you leave the news on even for 5 minutes, it can be overwhelming.

Furthermore, with the results of the election in, I have seen and heard awful things coming from people, things I would never expect. I have seen friends turn against friends and family members cut down other family members, especially on social media. When we are separated from others by a computer screen or by our own barriers, it seems so much easier to condemn and criticize and label, without any sort of listening.

How are we as Christians supposed to be alert, watch, prepare, and wait for the Lord, when our very lives feel so frantic? We can each disconnect from social media and talk with people face-to-face. Invite someone with whom you have not spoken in a while to lunch or coffee. Introduce yourself to someone at coffee hour, especially if you’ve never seen or spoken to them before. Take the time for quiet, as I discussed in last month’s Genesis article. Connect with family members over a new tradition, such as a nightly Advent devotional or serving a meal to a family in need. Create space to listen for God.

As the words of Isaiah and the popular Advent hymn say, “Comfort, comfort, ye my people.” Like the context in which these words were first spoken, as the Israelites were returning home after the Babylonian exile, we, too, may find them helpful now. In the midst of such a busy time of year and so much chaos in the nation and world around us, we need the reassurance that God is in control and is with us all. This season is the perfect time to renew our faith and trust in God, not in human hands.

This does not mean we sit passively as we await the Lord’s return. When we feel that the two greatest commandments from our Lord (love God and love your neighbor) are being tested, we must stand up for God and for our brothers and sisters, including those in generations to come. Yet, everything we do, we are to do in love. Not out of fear or anger or a need to retaliate. No, as Christians, we are to be known by our love.

That love is what we await this Advent season, the love that came into the world in the person of Jesus Christ, the love that was poured out for us upon the cross. As we watch for Christ’s return, may we all seek to share the love of Christ now wherever we go and with whoever we meet.

God’s peace,

The Rev. Rachel Rickenbaker

Welcome to the New Year!

Friends,

Welcome to the New Year!

No, I have not forgotten the month of December. According to the Christian calendar, the new year begins with the first Sunday in Advent. This year, that was November 27. 

Furthermore, Advent is a holy season in which we are invited to be still, to pray, and to remember. I realize that this invitation stands in diametric opposition to the excesses in extravagance that the world encourages at this time of year. But please know that Advent came well before “Black Friday” and all that Wall Street and Madison Avenue hold so dear. Advent is about gift-giving, but it is about a gift that you will never find in online catalogues or at the mall.

What we are called to remember and pray for during these four weeks is the threefold promise that God has made to the world. First, it is about preparing our hearts and minds for the birth of a child, who will be called Emmanuel, “God with us”. Secondly, this child, before he dies, declares that when the time comes, he will return in glory to judge and rule the cosmos. Finally, there is the promise that in the meantime, right here and right now, the Holy Spirit is already at work in the world. The reconciliation of God and creation through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus is already underway. Advent is the season in which we joyfully embrace all of the above.

These promises of God will be our primary focus here at Trinity throughout the season. In worship and in prayer, in preaching, anthems, and hymnody, we will recall the true meaning of Advent, right up until that moment when we gather on Christmas Eve for the great celebration.

We will also add an opportunity for keeping this holy season. On Wednesday evenings, November 30, December 7, and 14, I invite you to a simple supper at 6:30 PM here at the church, followed by an hour-long program and concluding with the brief night office known as Compline. Making use of guidelines offered by a group calling itself “The Advent Conspiracy”, we will discuss the themes of 1) Worshipping Fully, 2) Spending Less/Giving More, and 3) Loving All.

Lest we ever forget, Jesus really is the reason for the season. I hope that we will all keep that truth in heart and mind in the coming weeks and will encourage those around us to embrace this truth as well.

Faithfully in Christ,

Rev Rob Banse