Trinity Stories

Dear Friends,

In this week’s lectionary readings, we find a conversation and ritual between God and Abram. This is a passage for which I have a deep love. We read the details: God promising Abram not just an offspring but the land of the Canaanites. What we really see is something even better. Abram, who has long arranged sacrifices in a specific way, FALLS ASLEEP waiting on God to seal the covenant between the two.

Why is that a big deal?

In the Ancient Near East, animals were slaughtered as a way to seal an oath. Two people would walk down this bloody path, and if one of them broke the oath, a curse was accepted along the lines of, “if I am to break this oath, may I become like the slaughtered animals.” Abram, waiting to walk down this path, falls asleep, and CAN’T MAKE THE PROMISE. So instead of leaving Abram and his offspring cursed and solely responsible for the future, God does the unexpected. God appears like a smoking pot and pillar of fire (two incarnations we see God as in the exodus) and goes down the path by Themself and takes responsibility for the future. This is why I love this passage. So often we read parts like this in the Old Testament and skip over the incredible history and imagery behind it. It’s a perfect example of the beauty and mystery in the poetic nature of God.

Friends, we have been on a long journey to get to where we are this week, and at times, in the silence, some of us may have felt like Abram. Accidentally falling asleep waiting for God to show up and do what God said God would, afraid of the repercussions of choosing or doing the wrong thing. And what happens when Abram falls asleep? God shows up, and God takes responsibility for Abram’s future. Even here, this is our God of hope and promise.

Trinity in two years has had three priests, and we have not ceased praying for this community because we believe in hope. We have not stopped the momentum over the past two years of what God is opening our hearts to do in this community because we believe in promise. And my friends, the Spirit has brought us home to this Sunday. We did not have a smoking pot or pillar of flames, instead, a search committee and a vestry, guided by the Spirit to this weekend. And for that, we, like Abram, give thanks to the Lord.

Grace and peace,
George

Dear Friends,

This weekend, we will usher in Daylight Savings Time at 2:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 9th, by “springing” our clocks ahead an hour. With it comes extended daylight hours and the anticipation of warmer weather. Spring is approaching.

Like all changes, there are challenges even when we anticipate and welcome them. We switch our external clocks an hour forward while our internal clocks lag a bit, trying to catch up. For many of us, our biorhythms take much longer to adjust to this hour shift.

Time, or the changing times, seems to have that effect on us. Whether we’re adjusting the hands of a clock or witnessing history unfolding before us, we can all agree that change is often an unsettling yet undeniable constant. Still, it endures, just as we do.

Lent is also upon us, just before our time change on Saturday. A sacred time of sacrifice, giving, and prayer. One could imagine no bigger change or uncertainty than Jesus’ experience as he walked into the desert ahead of his impending death. Alone, weary, tired, hungry, tempted, afraid, yet persisted for us and with us.

As we walk through our metaphorical clocks springing forward, watching the world in all its chaos swirl, let us be reminded of the persistence, faith, and hope of Jesus during his 40 days and nights in the desert. That the loss of an hour is no comparison to the loss of a life for us and our sins. However, we choose to sacrifice, give, or pray during this Lenten season, a time of change and a change of time, let it be knowing that we can do so with the assurance that no more tremendous sacrifice was made than that which he made for us. And he will rise, as will we. Through trials and uncertainties, chaos and hatred, he suffered, died, and was buried…but rose again. So shall we.

Karen Keune

Dear friends,

It is hard to believe that March is Saturday. After January lasting for three years, and February seeming to fly by, we look forward to the season of Lent and a time of exciting change. If, somehow, you have not heard, our new Rector Jon M. Richardson, and his husband Michael arrive on the 16th for their first Sunday. But before we get there, we have some exciting news about a new team member!

This Sunday you will see a few new faces around our humble corner of Adams and St. Clair, specifically in our nursery. I am excited to announce that Trinity has hired a new Nursery Attendant, and her name is Nichole Ramirez. Nichole is a Toledo native and is a graduate of Performing Arts School of Metro Toledo and went on to Albion College on a preforming arts scholarship.

Having worked at Children’s Discovery Center for a long time, Nichole has a lot of experience working with children from pre-school to middle school ages. She also has a little one of her own who will be here from time to time. Aside from spending all this time with children, Nichole really enjoys reading, attending live theatre, art museums, but really enjoys her time with her partner, daughter, and four cats. We are thrilled to say to Nichole and her family, WELCOME HOME!

Dear friends,

We’re coming up to my favorite liturgical season: Lent. Reading that, you probably fall into one of two camps: What’s Lent? or Lent’s Your Favorite? Really

What’s Lent? Even if you haven’t observed Lent in the past, you probably have heard stories of people who have. The stories I heard growing up were from Catholic friends, most commonly “I’m giving up chocolate for Lent.” When I asked my friends why they gave chocolate up for Lent, they invariably answered, “I’m suffering because Jesus suffered.” Back then, I knew very little about church traditions. What I’ve since learned is that Lent is the season that leads up to Easter, from Ash Wednesday through Maundy Thursday. Traditionally, this was a time of preparation for people wishing to be baptized at Easter and is associated with penitence and fasting. There are many spiritual practices associated with Lent: giving something up, taking something on, being intentional in spiritual reading, donating money to charity, and changing eating habits on some or all days of Lent.

If you made it this far, you may now be leaning to the other camp.

Lent’s Your Favorite? Really? Penitence and fasting don’t sound like much fun, so why is Lent my favorite liturgical season? Life is full of distractions, even distracting me from God. Lent lets me refocus my attention on God: Where am I falling short? What have I made more important than God? Where is God calling me to new life? Over the years, my lenten practices varied, such as coming to Wednesday soup suppers at church, being more intentional about daily prayer. Every year, I stumble over the same obstacles, like taking on the most challenging disciplines, so I can prove to God I’m serious, then feeling bad when I give up halfway. (Of all the things to give up for Lent, the hardest is ego-centered thoughts.) Lent is an intentional invitation to all of us to look at our relationships with God at the same time. Our faith community supports us, beginning with the imposition of ashes on Ash Wednesday (March 5).

Whether you are brand new to Lent or are looking for a refresh, join the Spiritual Formation Committee on Sunday, February 23, for What do you mean I don’t have to give up chocolate? An introduction to Lent. (It’s helpful to RSVP, but not required.) Grab a snack at coffee hour and meet in the Walbridge room. Bring your curiosity and your questions.

Maybe you’ll find your way to the third camp: Oh, Lent is My Favorite Season Too!

Jolene Miller
Chair, Spiritual Formation Committee