When God Surprises You

Trinity Downtown > Blog > When God Surprises You

Behold, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a beast of burden. Matthew 21:5b ESV 

Advent devotional booklets for adults and children are available in the Narthex and Gathering Space.
Don’t forget to pick up copies for your family!

Watch your email for links to our daily Advent devotional videos starting next week.

Dear Members and Friends of Trinity Downtown:

Now that Thanksgiving is past, the turkey has been converted into leftovers, and the pies and cakes fully consumed, we turn our thankful hearts toward the season of Advent. We wait for the arrival of our King.

It seems we’re always waiting for something, doesn’t it? We’re always looking toward the next milestone on our journey. If we’re in high school, we wonder what college will be like. If we’re in college, we envision (perhaps a bit fearfully) getting our first “real” job. If we’re single, we wonder if marriage is in our future. If we get married, we often plan for children, and when the kids turn into teenagers, we fantasize about when they will go off to college. We’re always waiting, always anticipating, always refining our expectations about what’s next.

Just like us, while waiting for the coming of the Messiah, the children of Israel had developed their own set of expectations. Surely, they thought, the Messiah would come in power, kick the godless Romans back to where they belonged (which was anywhere besides Palestine!), re-create a united Jewish nation, and re-establish justice and peace in the Holy Land under the strong right arm of the Lord.

Just like us, their expectations had more to do with their own comfort, convenience, and position than it did with God’s plans. So, when Jesus the Messiah showed up riding a donkey, many were caught mentally unprepared.

The same thing often happens to us. God shows up in ways we don’t expect, doing things we don’t prefer and through methods that are often painful.

This Sunday at Trinity Downtown

(November 28th)

This weekend is the start of Advent, and we’ll be beginning a new sermon series on “Christmas Around the World” as we start our countdown to Christmas. We’ll discover the different ways Jesus’ arrival is celebrated around the world, and what we need to do in our own hearts to get ready. You can join us in our traditional worship service on Sunday at 9:00 am, or the contemporary service at 11:15 am. Or, you can watch the “live stream” of either service by clicking here. And, of course, you may also participate by watching the “on demand” video of our contemporary or traditional services by clicking here.  You can enhance your worship experience by viewing the traditional service’s worship folder by clicking here. Our weekly prayer list can also be found by clicking here.

Our new in-person Sunday School, Youth and Adult Bible classes on Sunday morning are overflowing.

Come see what everyone is talking about at 10:15am each Sunday Morning.

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. 

Our “stock sale” benefiting our Youth program is open for investment! Come by the table in the Gathering Space on Sunday to see how your investment will expand the number of youth that may participate in the National Youth Gathering in July 2022. 

Watch Online

You can watch the “live stream” of our traditional worship service on Sunday at 9:00 am OR our contemporary worship at 11:15 am by clicking here. And, of course, you may also participate by watching the “on demand” video of either service by clicking here.  You can enhance your worship experience by viewing the traditional service’s worship folder by clicking here. Our weekly prayer list can also be found by clicking here.

houston online worship

Starting December 5th, we will return to our normal method of distributing Communion at the traditional worship service.

Drive through worship communion
Drive-Up Communion

Starting December 1st, Drive-up Communion will no longer be offered on Saturday and Wednesday of each week. However, you may call Pastor Black at 713.229.2917 to arrange a time to receive Drive-up Communion at a convenient time.

Please take advantage of our nursery, which is now open to care for children 2 years old and younger on Sunday mornings.

COVID-19 Updates

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. Please keep the members of our congregation who serve in these capacities in your daily prayers that God may grant them strength, courage and a robust immune system.

Our annual Christmas Eve Pageant is back! Mark your calendars now to attend one of two Christmas Eve services being held at 4:00 pm or 6:00 pm. And our Christmas Day worship service will be held at 9:00 am on Christmas Day. Please note that on the Sundays following Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, we will have one worship service at 9:00 am and our Sunday School and adult Bible studies will take those two Sundays off.

This Sunday come learn how placing our faith and fears in the hands of the humble King 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.

Come get ready for the arrival of our King at Trinity Downtown this weekend. It will make a tremendous difference in your life.

Your Pastor,

Michael Dorn

Skip to content