17
Jun 2021
“Church talks about Jesus.” It’s hardly newsworthy stuff is it, the sort of thing that would ‘go viral’ on twitter or hit the front pages of the local newspaper. And yet that’s what we’re going to be doing over these next few weeks at our Sunday gatherings. We’re going to spend some time looking through the I AM sayings in John’s gospel, encountering Jesus as the bread of life, the light of the world, the true vine etc. I hope along the way to have our focus refined and our faith strengthened. For a nation in need, for a Church finding her feet in a brave new world, for the sake of our lifelong and whole-life journey of faith, there is no greater gift than to see Jesus with......
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11
Jun 2021
11
Jun 2021
Some of the staff team have spent the day sitting in the garden together. There were six of us enjoying time with each other, building team together, and doing some training alongside a few other churches from across the UK as part of “Lead Academy.” If nothing else it has been such a joy to be ‘in person’ rather than on ZOOM. But an even greater joy has been to think about some really important aspects of our life together. “Discipleship” has been the big theme for this part of the training, reflecting around how we can help encourage a culture of whole-life discipleship across Trinity Churches. What might it look like to live the way of Jesus everyday, in our Monday to Saturday lives as well as Sundays?......
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03
Jun 2021
We’ll keep this a briefer email than most weeks – think of it like a bank holiday week edition. So alongside the main reminder that we’d love to welcome you – in person or online – at one of our gatherings this weekend, we’re adding a catch-up feature on the book of Philippians, a reminder about Cafe Connect, and our usual offer to pray with you and for you. This last item really isn’t an afterthought, but is very much central to who we are and what we do. Our thanks to the team in particular who pray across Trinity, and those many others who show love and support both practically and prayerfully. This comes – as always – with our gratitude and our prayers as together we are......
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27
May 2021
I was reading a while ago about some of the different traditions associated with Pentecost: processions through the streets, blowing trumpets during the service, throwing rose petals from the ceiling, bringing flowers and green branches into church to representing the fresh life of the Holy Spirit. I gather in Bavaria a wooden dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit, would be lowered through the church roof to hover over the congregation. What makes it particularly lovable was that as the dove was lowered choirboys up in the roof spaces would pour buckets of water over the congregation to literally drench them with the spirit. It does feel a far cry from physical distancing, no singing, signing in systems and face-coverings with which we celebrated Pentecost last week! I must admit......
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21
May 2021
20
May 2021
Were you with us yesterday morning for our 11am gathering? “Let’s finish the service outdoors and have communion alongside the children and young people” we said to ourselves, and a careful check of the forecast and the skies seemed to confirm that decision even five minutes before we headed out. And then…. well, the picture might describe it best. “Grace and love like might rivers, poured incessant from above” sung the music group sheltering under a tree. They seemed apt words! This is, perhaps, something of where we find ourselves at this stage of our COVID journey across Trinity Churches. There’s a longing to meet together across the ages. We see a desire to try new things and experiment. And there’s an ability to laugh when things don’t quite......
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16
May 2021
13
May 2021
We seem to be going from some fairly quiet months to some busy few weeks ahead. In particular you’ll find below details of our APCM this Sunday evening, and the link to the 2020 APCM report. It’s a good read, I do encourage you to take a look through it, and even better come and join us on Sunday evening at 6.30pm. You’ll also find news below of two new midweek small groups kicking off, how to join us this coming Sunday, and a reminder about Christian Aid week which is taking place this week. Meanwhile the PM’s announcement today of further ‘lifting’ from next Monday will hopefully open up some new possibilities for many of us, and we’ll become expert at navigating some new rules and regulations. How......
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