Beloved Friends,
Taped to the inside page of my monthly planner is a tattered piece of paper with these words from Methodist pastor Ted Loder:
Empower me to be a bold participant, rather than a timid saint in waiting,
in the difficult ordinariness of now; to exercise the authority of honesty;
rather than to defer to power, or deceive to get it;
to influence someone for justice, rather than impress anyone for gain;
and, by grace, to find treasures of joy, friendship and peace
hidden in the fields of the daily you give me to plow. Amen.
Shared with me by a friend in seminary years ago, I have read these words often over the years as they help remind me that listening to God’s call is not just about figuring out what to do in the world, but perhaps even more importantly, first figuring out who I am called to be in the world and then, from there, take the gentle next steps to “align my doing with my being.”
Hard to believe we are at the beginning of February and another month of staying connected but apart on Sunday mornings as we continue with the single offering of Trinity@Home for perhaps just one more month. There is so much that tugs at my heart as we walk this path- both challenges and blessings each day. I absolutely hate not being together especially on Sunday mornings in the still familiar way that only proximity affords. And yet I love that we continue to be a progressive, inclusive, creative expression of the Way of Love through Trinity@Home. Doing both, in my opinion, making the decision to wait just a little longer for Trinity@316 (in-person) worship and continuing with Trinity@Home (online) worship are outcomes of aligning our doing with our being. Both feel like authentic attempts to walk in the Way of Love Jesus called us to follow.
We have had two big weekends of being bold participants as many of you joined us two Sundays ago for the annual Budget presentation and conversation and then last Sunday for our Annual Meeting. Both were so well attended and your engagement is heartwarming and helps us look forward together with hope.
As we move through the rest of February, I hope you will consider joining us for one of the many ways we are gathering to stay connected building beloved community. Check out our events page on the Trinity website to see what would make your heart sing.
I pray we will feel deeply reminded of the power that comes not solely from self-agency but from the deep realization we have been made in the image of God. That is the simple and powerful reality of who we are, and our work this day and every day is to source that love from the deepest parts of our being, and then, and only then, align our actions with that identity.
Come home to Trinity in any number of ways to be fed and formed; to be reminded we are better together than we ever could be alone and that the world needs us- every single one of us, made in the image of God to shine our beautiful, brilliant, and fearless love out into the world!
May you never forget that you are loved,
Priest Lisa