From the Rector

Embarking on a Holy Journey

Beloveds of God!

Welcome back to the program year at Trinity Episcopal Church. I hope you are rested and ready, because we are embarking on a holy journey together this fall.

In July, our Presiding Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, invited all Episcopalians to engage in “The Way of Love: Practices for a Jesus-Centered Life.” These practices are a capacious vision of the communal and individual disciplines that make up our common life as Episcopalians.

The Presiding Bishop’s Rule of Life incorporates many practices in which we already participate, at Trinity and on our own. They are a pattern that invite us to:

Turn: Pause, listen, and choose to follow Jesus.

Learn: Reflect on Scripture regularly, especially on Jesus and his teaching.

Pray: Dwell intentionally with God daily.

Worship: Gather in community to thank, praise, and dwell with Go.

Bless: Share faith and unselfishly give and serve.

Go: Cross boundaries, listen deeply and live like Jesus.

Rest: Receive the gift of God’s grace, peace, and restoration.

It’s been an exciting and busy summer. The Episcopal Church convened its triennial General Convention in Austin, TX. The Implementation Team of Trinity Haven, our home for LGBTQ youth, has shown perseverance and vision building a new and needed ministry. Our Trinity staff has undergone considerable change. Your Vestry and Endowment Trustees, Stewardship Team and Properties committees continue to engage as visionary stewards of Trinity’s material abundance.

This Fall we are rolling out and renewing some Trinity programs that might help you to follow this Way of life. Whether through a Discipleship Group or a Wednesday Adult Learning Group, regular communal practices of contemplation and study will propel you to Turn, Learn, and Pray together and on your own. New Wednesday and Friday Eucharists will be additional opportunities for regular corporate Worship during your week.

Outreach opportunities abound at Trinity including our Trinity Sunday Dinner, Mid-North Food Pantry, and other campus and partner ministries where we might bless others and be blessed in the process. We will continue to Go out in the world, in service and evangelism to tell and hear stories of Good News.

And we will seek to Rest together and relish one another, in fellowship events, new community suppers, on retreats and pilgrimages, so we can be recharged and nourished to continue our journey in Christ.

A Christ-centered community following common disciplines is the core of life together as a Church. Through our practices together we can build new relationships and enliven longstanding ones. As we embark on our 100th year together doing ministry on this corner, I invite you to journey together in the Way of Love, at Trinity and in all parts of your life.

With blessings and great Love,

The Rev’d Julia E. Whitworth, Rector

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