Beloved Friends-
It is wonderful to be back among you after a few weeks away enjoying a time of sabbath rest. And now we are “off to the races” again as we welcome the season of Beginnings– school starting, cooler weather and a new program year at Trinity. This Sunday marks our two-year anniversary together! I cannot begin to express the depth of my gratitude to God for orchestrating our meeting, discernment and call. There is not a doubt in my mind or in my heart, that this was and is the very place I am meant to be, surrounded by people and opportunities to grow further into a kinship with each other transforming us all day by day.
My life is so much richer and more meaningful now that we have found each other and continue to travel this road together. September has always been one of my favorite months growing up as I loved the start of school year after year- the chance to begin again and the combination of seeing familiar faces and also making new friends. So, maybe this year, as we come home to Trinity for the beginning of a new program year, we can do the same- look forward to the familiar while also anticipating there will be the new as well- in both people and experiences.
I can hardly contain my excitement as I think about all that is being asked of us and all we are being called to live into together this year with God’s help. This is a very exciting and busy time as we continue to work on the process to discern a 2030 Trinity Vision; thank you for all the work many of you have done to date.
What I am coming to know, deeply, is that we are in it, all of it, this messy beautiful life together, and that is the source of great joy and hope. And when that is truly the way, then nothing can stop God’s love and power from moving us forward towards deeper kinship and commitment to live out the gospel. Step by step we are on our way, and I give thanks we make this way by walking together. Together is better indeed.
May you never forget that you are loved.
Lisa
Help Me to Believe in Beginnings by Ted Loder, Guerrillas of Grace, Prayers for the Battle
God of history and of my heart, so much has happened to me during these whirlwind days:
I’ve known death and birth;
I’ve been brave and scared;
I’ve hurt, I’ve helped;
I’ve been honest, I’ve lied;
I’ve destroyed, I’ve created;
I’ve been with people, I’ve been lonely;
I’ve been loyal, I’ve betrayed;
I’ve decided, I’ve waffled;
I’ve laughed and I’ve cried.
You know my frail heart and my frayed history – and now another day begins.
O God, help me to believe in beginnings and in my beginning again,
no matter how often I’ve failed before.
Help me to make beginnings: to begin going out of my weary mind into fresh dreams, daring to make my own bold tracks in the land of now;
to begin forgiving that I may experience mercy;
to begin questioning the unquestionable that I may know truth
to begin disciplining that I may create beauty;
to begin sacrificing that I may accomplish justice;
to begin risking that I may make peace;
to begin loving that I may realize joy.
Help me to be a beginning to others,
to be a singer to the songless, a storyteller to the aimless,
a befriender of the friendless;
to become a beginning of hope for the despairing,
of assurance for the doubting,
of reconciliation for the divided;
to become a beginning of freedom for the oppressed,
of comfort for the sorrowing,
of friendship for the forgotten;
to become a beginning of beauty for the forlorn,
of sweetness for the soured,
of gentleness for the angry,
of wholeness for the broken,
of peace for the frightened and violent of the earth.
Help me to believe in beginnings,
to make a beginning, to be a beginning,
so that I may not just grow old, but grow new each day of this wild,
amazing life you call me to live with the passion of Jesus Christ.