‘Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.” Hebrews 12:1 NLT
[James and John, two of Jesus’ disciples asked Him] “When you sit on your glorious throne, we want to sit in places of honor next to you, one on your right and the other on your left.” Mark 10:37 NLT
Dear Members and Friends of Trinity Downtown:
An ancient saying attributed to the Jewish people asks “Why did God create humans? Because He likes a good story!” I don’t know if that saying is true, but I can certainly agree that enjoying a good story is an important part of being human. Just look at how much money Hollywood spends making movies, or how much time we spend watching fictional TV series. We all love a good story.
Psychologists and teachers tell us that we often absorb information much faster by hearing a story instead of trying to absorb a list of facts. Stories let us peek into the lives of someone who may be confronted with a situation or a problem which we are facing, invite us to ponder our situation more deeply, builds an emotional connection and provides examples that we can emulate.
One of the (many) reasons I believe the Bible is true is because it is full of embarrassing stories about people that, today, we might label as “saints.” Take James and John’s request as recorded by Mark in the text above. Not a very flattering way for future Apostles of the Messiah to behave!
So what lessons CAN we learn from the stories of the saints that have preceded us? Might they teach us what worked, and provide us important clues on pitfalls we should avoid?
This weekend at Trinity Downtown, we’ll be discussing three lessons we can learn from saints in the New Testament, and how their stories can help us deepen OUR relationship with God. You can join us in our contemporary service on Saturday at 5:00 pm, and/or the traditional worship service on Sunday at 9:00 am. Or, you can watch the “live stream” of our Satellite Service at 5:00 pm on Saturday, or our traditional service on Sunday at 9:00 am by clicking here. And, of course, you may also participate by watching either of these services “on demand” by clicking here.
Our doors will open 30 minutes before the start of each worship service, and you may enter from any door. As always, we ask that if you are not feeling well, please stay home and participate with us online.
You can watch the “live stream” of our Satellite Service at 5:00 pm on Saturday, or our traditional service on Sunday at 9:00 am by clicking the button below. And, of course, you may also participate by watching either of these services “on demand” at any time. To enhance your worship this weekend, we’ve placed this weekend’s Order of Worship and our updated prayer list below.
Please note that Drive-up Communion will be back on its original schedule and is being offered on Saturday and Wednesday of each week.
Mark your calendars now for Trinity’s Fall Kick-off on August 21/22! We are planning a good, old-fashioned celebration as we resume normal in-person activities on the weekend of August 21st and 22nd.
Here’s the rundown:
Mark your calendars now for August 21st and 22nd and be thinking which friends you’ll invite to come with you to Trinity’s Fall Kick-off. It’s time to come back to church! We can’t wait to see you.
We continue to be deeply thankful for the God-inspired work of our medical professionals who developed and are distributing the COVID vaccines, and who continue to care for those afflicted with this disease. We are constantly reviewing our COVID-related safety protocols so that we’re in line with current government regulations and the evolving scientific guidelines. Our guidelines for this weekend’s services will be unchanged from the prior week:
Please take advantage of our nursery, which is now open to care for children 2 years old and younger on Sunday mornings.
Learn how placing our expectations, past sins, worries, hopes, plans and fears in the hands of Jesus can lessen our stress load and bring deep transformation in our hearts. Celebrate with us the depth of Jesus’ love for us and find out how you can live a life of significance, filled with meaning. Discover how following Jesus can help you and your family navigate around the minefields of life.
This weekend come get a fresh jolt of spiritual energy at Trinity Downtown. It will make a tremendous difference in your life.
Your Pastor,
Michael Dorn