Pastor Brian's Blog

What will make your Christmas holiday bright? The four weeks of Advent leading to Christmas are a time of looking for light, even as the days get darker. "Light of Lights" is a new series at Trinity Church to help you discover the gifts of hope, love, joy, and peace.  These gifts of God indicate the deep meaning of Christmas. Christmas is not only a celebration of the birth of Jesus.  It is also a reminder of our hope in Christ's return and the consummation of his reign in all things.   Christmas is an acknowledgement of God's love for each and every person.  You and I are beloved children of God, and God sent Jesus to bring salvation, because of God's love for the world.   Christmas is an occasion for joy.  The baby Jesus and the risen Christ point to the joy of new life that comes from God.   Christmas is a time for peace.  Many of us are so busy in this season.  Learning to let go of trivial things can be hard to do.  Thro...

Dear Members and Friends of Trinity Church, On Tues., Sept. 9, 2014, I attended a meeting for active clergy with Bishop Sally Dyck on “What We Can Do” regarding same-sex weddings in the Northern Illinois Conference.  The time was ripe for this conversation, due to recent events such as the enactment of marriage equality in Illinois, and charges against United Methodist clergy for participating in same-sex weddings.  It was an inspirational day emphasizing the variety of covenants in which United Methodist clergy live: baptism, ordination, and ministry to all.  These covenants affirm our relationship with Christ, one another, and the whole world.  Although we do not always live into these covenants perfectly, still God is faithful.  The bishop pointed out several biblical covenants which were made, then broken, and then revised.  Throughout the conversation, I was moved by the bishop’s thoughtful and sensitive leadership, as well as the sincerit...

If you introduce yourself, you will probably use your name ( My name is Brian ).  You may describe how you are related to another person ( I am Cliff and Sally’s son ).  Your job title or position may also say something about you ( I am the pastor of Trinity Church ).  The things you like to do can color the picture even more ( I am a kayaker ).  These simple statements express who we are and what is important to us.  This fall Jesus will introduce himself to us, in a new series based on the “I AM” sayings of Jesus.  This 12-week series is also inspired by the 12 “I AM” windows in the narthex (foyer) of the Sanctuary.  It will be a window into the identity of Jesus, telling us who he is and what is important to him.  The germ for this series was accidental.  This spring, for Doris Paterson’s funeral, I gave a homily based on the “I AM” sayings in John 10.  After the service, I was in the narthex and happened to see the...

This fall Trinity Church will serve as a  Teaching Site  for a 3rd year student at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.  His name is Sin-Gyo Jung (pronounced Shin Gee-oh, and Jung with a hard "J").   His field education experience with Trinity Church will begin the first week of September, although you may see him attending worship sometime during August.  The internship will conclude in May 2015. His father is a pastor in the Korean Methodist Church, which makes Sin-Gyo a "pastor's kid" or PK.  Soon he will begin the formal steps for becoming a  candidate for ordained ministry  in The United Methodist Church.   Although he is not a regular church employee, I will supervise Sin-Gyo and Trinity will pay him a stipend during his internship.  To grow in his calling as a pastor, he will need to be exposed to various roles in pastoral ministry, including regular assignments for preaching, teaching, and pastoral care. ...

Trinity's annual Ice Cream Social is Thursday, July 10 from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. on the east lawn. The Wilmette Community Band will be playing. Children's activities will be offered. Donations accepted. Come and enjoy the sweet taste of fellowship and ice cream....a Trinity tradition since the 1920s! Trinity United Methodist Church 1024 Lake Ave. Wilmette, Illinois 60091 www.trinitywilmette.org a welcoming community of compassion & faith

Putting into practice our spring series on "A Hopeful Earth," ten hearty souls from Trinity Church spent a day in June restoring the Scuppernong River near Milwaukee, Wisconsin.  Mike Jacobs coordinated the effort with the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.  Our purpose was to create favorable habitat for trout by altering the watercourse. We thought we would be removing invasive buckthorn, bundling it, and lining the river banks with it.  But instead of relatively "light" buckthorn, we were placing much larger and heavier logs in the river bank.    Our Pumpkin Patch training made us well-prepared to work as a team.   It was a gorgeous day to work, and we were gratified to see the fruit of our labors.  The river became immediately swifter and deeper and colder in the areas we worked.     In the words of our supervisor, Paul Mozina ("Buckthorn Man"): " I can say unequivocally that this was  t...

Celebrate  Dr. Julia David’s first ten years as Trinity’s Director of Music on Sun., June 1 at 4:00 pm with a special concert followed by a potluck meal.  We’ll welcome the incredible Oakdale Christian Academy Choir—a children’s gospel choir from the South Side of Chicago, about to depart for their first major international tour.   This is a very family-friendly upbeat group—bring friends and neighbors!  For the potluck, bring salads, side dishes, or desserts.  Chicken and beverage will be provided.  Besides her work with Trinity Church, Dr. Davids is a professor at North Park University and director of the North Shore Choral Society and the Canadian Chamber Choir ( click for more information ).  She is co-author of Vocal Technique: A Guide for Conductors, Teachers, and Singers with Steve LaLour, which just won the  2014 Outstanding Choral Publication award from Choral Canada. A free-will offering in Julia’s honor...

In the weeks after Easter, I will lead a new series on the environment and care of creation based on Bishop Sally Dyck's book A Hopeful Earth .  Too often we think that spiritual matters are unrelated to physical and natural life.  When I was a kid, I learned Psalm 24:1: "The earth is the Lord's and all that is in it."  The very first utterance of the ancient Christian creeds is: "I believe in God the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth."  Creation is God's first act of grace, but what is our response to God's good gift?  Humans are befouling it in the name of profit and progress.  Through deforestation, harmful agricultural, mining and extraction practices, and overconsumption, we are polluting the water and air we need to survive.  The climate is changing and a sixth mass extinction of species may be underway.  But there is hope.  The God who raised Jesus from the dead can lead us aw...

This week, as we commemorate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, I met with a United Methodist missionary now leaving Jerusalem after 20 years of service in the Holy Land.   Janet Lahr Lewis, a lay woman from Ohio and a civil engineer, stopped for lunch with a small group at Trinity Church to share joys and concerns about working for peace and justice in the Holy Land.  Janet said that if one wants to take sides, it should be on the side of justice, on the side of human rights, on the side of international law.    She mentioned a 2009 call for awareness and action in the Kairos Palestine document .  Janet is concerned that the conflict is pushing Palestinian Christians out of their homeland (along with Palestinian Muslims).  Christians have lived in the Holy Land since the time of Jesus, but their future is threatened.   More information on her work is available on her page at the General Board of Global Ministry .  Please pra...

Easter Sunday...  Is it all about beautifully colored eggs and chocolate bunnies...or are you looking for something more? Unconditional love, for instance. What about a second chance? A more fulfilling life? Trinity United Methodist Church wants to help you find what you're looking for by opening our hearts; reaching out to others, and embracing the miracle of God's love. Easter/HolyWeek Schedule Palm Sunday, April 13 Worship @ 8:30  & 10:30 a.m. Procession with Palms Dedication of Imagine No Malaria pledges Maundy Thursday, April 17 Worship at 7:00 p.m. with Choir & Holy Communion Good Friday, April 18 Worship at 7:00 p.m. Tenebrae with Quartet & Violin Easter Sunday, April 20 Worship at 8:30 & 10:30 a.m. Easter Breakfast at 9:30 a.m. Egg Hunt at 11:45 a.m. Following Easter Sunday, I will lead a new series called " A Hopeful Earth ," focusing on the environment and the care of creation. 

Every 60 seconds someone dies from malaria, a preventable and treatable disease. “Imagine No Malaria” is a mission campaign of The United Methodist Church to save lives. Achieving this goal requires an integrated strategy against the disease.   As a life-saving ministry, Imagine No Malaria aims to empower the people of Africa to overcome malaria’s burden.   We fight malaria with a comprehensive model. To learn more, visit www.imaginenomalaria.org . Trinity’s $50,000 Challenge Last fall the Trinity Church Council accepted Bishop Sally Dyck’s request to become a Challenge Church for the Imagine No Malaria campaign.   After hearing about the campaign, an anonymous donor from Trinity Church pledged to match actual gifts received by the end of 2014, up to $25,000. That could result in over $50,000 to save more than 500 lives! On Palm Sunday, April 13, you will be given an opportunity to pledge your financial support. You can make a one-time gift or make ...

According to Jesus, "Every good tree produces good fruit" (Matthew 7:17).   By practicing five practices of fruitfulness, we fulfill our purpose in Christ. In March I will lead a new series on  Five Fruitful Practices , based on the good work of United Methodist Bishop Robert Schnase . In addition to the sermon series, make plans to attend the all-church retreat and read the companion daily devotional book for Lent. ALL CHURCH RETREAT "Five Fruitful Practices" Sat., March 15 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. DAILY DEVOTIONAL Forty Days of Fruitful Living Obtain your copy (paperback or eBook) from Cokesbury.com.   The Church Office has a limited number of copies for $10.  Radical Hospitality : offering the gracious invitation welcome and hospitality of Christ so that people experience a sense of belonging. Passionate Worship : shaping souls and changing minds through worship and creating a desire grow closer to Christ. Intentional Faith Development : nurt...

The Sermon on the Mount contains some of the most inspirational words attributed to Jesus.  It is a timeless message that deals with common human concerns – despair, resentment, temptation, superficiality, dishonesty, materialism, anxiety, and more.   In February, Rev. Smith will be leading a new series at Trinity Church on the Sermon on the Mount, which has been described as the heart and soul of the Christian faith and a new ethic for the world.  According to John Wesley, the Sermon on the Mount shows us the way to heaven, for in it, Jesus "is teaching us the true way to life everlasting."  Feb. 2 "Blessed" Matthew 5:1-12 Feb. 9 "Salt & Light" Matthew 5:13-20 Feb. 16 "Yes or No" Matthew 5:21-37 Feb. 23 "Extra Effort" Matthew 5:38-48 Mar. 2 "Do Not Worry" Matthew 6:24-34 Ash Wednesday, Mar. 5 "Treasure of the Heart" Matthew 6:1-21

On Sun., January 12 we celebrated -- with noise-makers, applause, and cheering -- the good news of being able to fulfill 100% of our 2013 apportionment.   It was no small feat: $69,540 ! But then, we will have no small impact:  (1)  reaching new people; ( 2)  improving health globally;  (3)  engaging in ministry with the poor; and  (4)  developing principled leaders for the church and the world .   Apportionments are the "portion" of our gifts that are "meant" for serving others through our global United Methodist connection.   Together, through our connected congregations, we accomplish what no single church, district or annual conference ever could hope to do alone.  We combine our efforts to make a significant difference in the lives of God's people. Plus, Rainbow Covenant Status! We gave more than the minimum.  Through second-mile giving to local, regional, national, and international mission efforts, we achie...

As the new year begins, I would like to share with you a very special message of peace from the Wilmette Interfaith Religious Leaders (WIRL).  Each of our faith communities contributed a message of peace from the sacred writings of our tradition for a greeting card to be shared with our community leaders.  For Trinity Church's contribution, Catherine Petersen and I selected Paul's teaching from Romans 12 in which he urges us to do everything in our power to choose to live in peace with all people.   Read all of Romans 12 to see what this involves.      We are also proud that original artwork by Maya VanderKamp was selected for the cover of the greeting card.    Maya is a 7-year-old from Trinity Church! Here's the full text of the greeting card...    The religious traditions of Wilmette wish to share their common yearning for Peace with you. ·          “May the One ...