[Jesus said] You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit… John 15:16a ESV
The Power of Being Chosen
Picture this: you’re in your fourth grade PE class, and the PE instructor has asked two members of your class to each select players for a dodgeball team. (Yes, I know that dates me!) How long does it take before you are selected to be on one of the teams? How does the selection process make you feel?
Have you ever put your name forward to participate in an election among your peers? Perhaps for class president, head cheerleader, Grand Poo-bah of a social club, teacher, group facilitator, Governing Board member or union steward? Did you succeed? Do you think the selection process was fair? How did winning or losing impact your life?
Defining who gets to participate in a group, and what role they will play is, of course, a common activity. Every group needs a facilitator or leader to make sure things get done in an orderly way. Even canines, elephants, dolphins and other intelligent animals create social systems to define their group’s pecking order.
God is in the process of building His “team” too. The Old Testament describes how God chose the people of Israel to receive the revelation of God’s Law. Even though Jesus the Messiah was specifically sent to the Jewish nation to begin His ministry, the New Testament depicts how God dramatically expanded His outreach to the Gentile nations. A message that was once selective became Good News available to the entire world.
This weekend at Trinity Downtown we’ll be celebrating the Ascension of our Lord and exploring what being “chosen” by God means to us, today. You can participate in-person at our contemporary worship service on Saturday at 5:00 pm or our traditional worship service on Sunday at 9:00 am. 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.
To enhance your worship this weekend, we’ve placed this weekend’s Order of Worship and our updated prayer list on Trinity’s website. You can download them by clicking here.
On Thursday, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) eased masking wearing restrictions for those who are fully vaccinated. This is welcomed news and we continue to pray that God would rid our land of the pandemic. In light of the CDC’s announcement, we have revised the COVID-related safety protocols at Trinity Downtown:
- Those who are fully vaccinated are no longer required to wear a mask on campus. We ask that you continue to use the marked entrance doors and be sure to sign in at one of our “check-in stations for worship. We’ll have volunteers available to assist you with navigating the check-in process.
- Masks are to be worn at all times on campus by those who have not been vaccinated. We are requiring this in keeping with the CDC’s guidelines and for the safety of our members and guests. This will be on the honor system and between you and Jesus!
- Open seating for worship in the Sanctuary except for the back pews on the pulpit side. We are reserving the back pews on the pulpit side for those who prefer the option of social-distancing. Please be considerate of others who may not be comfortable with people sitting next to them.
- Open seating for Satellite worship with chairs spaced out. The chairs will continue to be placed as they have been over the last several months to accommodate those who prefer social distancing.
- Continue to monitor your health. If you are not feeling well, please don’t come to Trinity Downtown. Hand washing is still recommended, and we’ll have hand sanitizer available throughout our facilities.
- Coffee and snacks are available outside the sanctuary under the porte cochere following the Sunday morning worship service.
Doors will open 30 minutes before the start of each service, and I’d suggest that you arrive a bit early for the worship service as we all become accustomed to our new check-in stations.
Come relish the joy of being chosen by God this weekend; come reconnect with Jesus and your church community. Let His compassion flood your heart and refresh your soul so you can share His love and peace with everyone!
Your Pastor,
Michael Dorn