We’re forgetting that Jesus had a great imagination.
Jesus invited his disciples to imagine a new world as he guided them into what that world would be: the Kingdom of God Kingdom of God
It’s that new possibility that gets him into trouble–he challenges the way things are with the way things could be, and the ruling powers are not amused. Before this new vision can gain any traction, they must stop it, and they do. But they can’t. In Jesus’ resurrection, this new vision is vindicated—it’s not just wishful thinking, there’s a reality here.
Now to Trinity: Trinity is on a mission!
OK, we’re always on a mission, but this particular mission has its own twist. During this Easter season, we are spending time discussing and considering the specific realities that make Trinity unique. Why do we do what we do? Yes, our Christian identity is the answer, but dive in a bit deeper and consider the Trinity difference.
In the last two years, through conversations ranging from the Annual Meeting to the vestry, from the Rector’s Forum and a task force specifically formed to take on this task, we’ve been considering the ways God has called Trinity in particular to live as a church at this time. We call those ways, values. They were written by the task force, but in many ways they were written by all of us.
But before we consider those, let’s return to Jesus’ story, and put the whole thing together. Today we heard part of the story of Peter, who finds himself speaking about Jesus to the very same powerful men who sent him to the cross. Probably in a million years, Peter never imagined himself in this place. If Jesus had invited Peter to imagine this future, he probably would have gone back to his boats and never turned around. Peter, an ordinary fisherman and family man, now challenging some very dangerous people—how did he get here?
What happened, of course, is Jesus. Following Jesus, Peter has had a taste of that alternative world, the place where peacemakers are blessed, and life wins out over death. The way things are is not the way things have to be. He imagines a new reality. Imagine what it will be like when that message spreads.
That’s where Peter is—inspired by that new reality—a reality that gives Peter the courage to confront Jesus’ killers, and a reality that will send him all the way to Rome
Now, let’s get back to our story—it’s not martyrdom we’re imagining for Trinity. We have a description of what we are and could be, and here it is:
Trinity’s Values:
God’s Good News IS Good News
• Faith is a journey, not a line to be crossed, and we welcome you at any point inyour journey.
• The saving work of Christ is for all people – whether within our walls or without.
Welcome
• Trinity is a place for people of all ages, genders, ethnicities, sexual orientations,
abilities, political beliefs, and marital/family status.
• We foster community by spending time, eating, worshiping, and working together.
Wisdom
• The gifts, insights, and interests of our individual members constitute our
community’s authority, trusting that “Where two or three are gathered…”, the
Spirit of Christ is present with us.
• The stability of our Anglican tradition informs and inspires us.
All Is Done to God’s Glory
• Our thoughtful words and actions are what make God’s goodness more real in our families and communities.
• We choose gratitude as a way of life, recognizing that all good gifts come from God.
• We freely offer our effort and our work enthusiastically, unselfconsciously, and fearlessly for the sake of God and others. We welcome loud mistakes!
Imagine the possibilities.
Like Peter, we don’t need to get caught up in details and unknowns—those can be scary. But this alternative world—this place of welcome and wisdom, of Good News and risks taken to God’s glory–we have tasted it and we know: it could change everything, if we allowed this message to take hold of our lives. So let’s imagine the message taking hold.
What’s the difference? How are you inspired?
Like Peter, we don’t need to get caught up in details and unknowns—those can be scary. But this alternative world—this place of welcome and wisdom, of Good News and risks taken to God’s glory–we have tasted it and we know: it could change everything, if we allowed this message to take hold of our lives. So let’s imagine the message taking hold.
What’s the difference? How are you inspired?
3 Responses
I LOVE this! I can't believe no one has posted anything yet?! I don't have anything profound to share, but I “feel” that all those things are true about our Trinity community because I have experienced them all…and the joy and sense of belonging that I see as a gift (which I receive over and over with my whole heart), gives me the desire to “imagine this message taking hold of my life”. ~Stephanie
Imagining a new world takes thought and action. I love the direction Trinity is taking, especially summed up in the last paragraph: “Our thoughtful words and actions are what make God’s goodness more real in our families and communities.” The KEY word for me is “thoughtful” and I like to remember this with the acronym T.H.I.N.K. before speaking or acting: “Is it Thoughtful, is it Honest, is it Intelligent, is it Necessary, is it Kind?” I often get caught up in, “is it necessary?” Mostly, whatever I am about to say or do in reaction mode is not. 😉 “We choose gratitude as a way of life, recognizing that all good gifts come from God.” A good practice for this is to do an inventory at day's end to see how I've responded to life and notice what there is to be grateful for, even if it's simply to recognize a mistake that allows me to learn more about myself and, hopefully, make me a better person. “We freely offer our effort and our work enthusiastically, unselfconsciously, and fearlessly for the sake of God and others. We welcome loud mistakes!” This speaks to me of our willingness to be God's servants and become living examples of our gratitude; of stepping outside of our comfort zones to do things that may turn out to be exciting growth experiences; and lastly, forgivenss of ourselves and others by welcoming loud mistakes because they keep us humble.
SW
hey, TRINITY , I imaginesed a church that had everything that that I was searching for and found it at TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH in Escondido. GOD is so GOOD!! To begin with, there is such a great community of believers, a community that holds our children so dear and wants to teach them and bring them up in our faith community, including our music tradition. What I have found at Trinity is the place where GOD has been leading to me for all these years I have found a community of christians that fill me with the love of GOD, a desire to serve and do the most that I can possibly do to serve and be a witness to CHRIST”S love. As some of the members of TRINITY will recall, it was the spirit of Dick Mette that led me to TRINITY, so what I am trying to say is that you never know who you might touch in your life, GOD has a reason and HE is in charge and leading us to touch the people in our lives. It may not be right now as we would want it to happen, it might be years, but it happens . I am so thankfull that I have been led to TRINITY! I am so blessed to have such a great community of believers and to have MEG as our spiritual leader!!. My only regret is that it took so long to find this great community!!