From the Pastor - January 2015

By -
Dear Friends in Christ,

Although we are putting away the Christmas decorations, the new life we have in Jesus Christ continues.  Sunday, January 11 is the commemoration of the Baptism of the Lord.  On that day, we are planning a congregational reaffirmation of baptism, reception of new members, stepping forward with Confirmation students, and the sacrament of baptism for at least six people.  In baptism, we gain new life with Christ by dying to the old ways of sin and living fully for God.  Remember your baptism and be thankful.

This theme of renewal fits the arrival of a new year, which is an opportunity to make changes in our lives or take up something new.  That is certainly true for me in a significant way in 2015. 

In January I am going back to school.  With the support of our Staff-Parish Relations Committee and our District Superintendent, I have enrolled as a doctor of ministry candidate at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois.  My application was greatly improved by the endorsement of our friend, Dr. K. James Stein, a distinguished retired GETS faculty member. 

I have selected the Congregation Leadership track.  This doctoral program will allow me to remain as the pastor of Trinity Church and integrate my studies with our church’s ministry.  My advisor is our own Dr. Mark Fowler.  The program will last for 3-4 years, when the degree will culminate with a project that involves Trinity Church.

Classes meet twice a year for 2-week intensive sessions in late January and late June.  During those intensive periods, I will not be available for preaching, meetings, or pastoral calls.  However, I will make sure these areas are covered. 

Even though I love to learn, I would ask for your prayers as I adjust to being a doctoral student in the 21st Century (I had to apply online, and the last term paper I wrote was on a Smith-Corona typewriter).  I also ask for your understanding as I try to balance coursework requirements with the duties of ministry. 

It is my hope that Trinity Church will be enriched through my coursework.  I also hope to strengthen the bond between Trinity and the Seminary. 

As the new year begins, it is my prayer that everything we do will be for the glory of God.  Happy New Year!

Yours in Christ,
Rev. Brian C. Smith

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Wholeness of Being" Series 2026

By -
Image
“Wholeness of Being” Series Summary for Eastertide (April 12-May 24) Easter reveals God’s commitment to the wholeness of the world.   T heologian Ilia Delio argues that science and faith are not rivals but essential partners in understanding the mystery of life and God's ongoing work.  She says: “We are one body, and we seek one mind and heart so that the whole may become more whole, more personal and unified in love” ( The Unbearable Wholeness of Being ).   Join us this spring as we explore connections between science and faith for a season of becoming whole so that we can live as agents of love’s unfinished future.  Apr. 12 | Easter 2 - Communion  LOVE IS COMMUNITY: One is the loneliest number, according to the 60s ballad.   In Luke 24:13–35 , Jesus accompanies the disciples to Emmaus and eats with them.   Resurrection is discovered in relationships, not isolation.   Delio argues that, in an evolving universe, Christ is found in communal belongi...
Read more

"Healing Wounds" Series 2026

By -
Image
  “Healing Wounds” Series Summary (Feb. 18-Apr. 5) What do we do with wounds that won’t close—grief that lingers, shame we carry quietly, a world that feels fragile?   In Lent, we will take those questions seriously through an encounter with Jesus, not as a distant savior but as a wounded healer who knows pain firsthand.   Guided by Erik Varden’s Healing Wounds and a medieval devotional prayer by Arnulf of Leuven, we will linger with Christ’s scarred body and discover how God’s love works not by erasing suffering, but by entering it and transforming it.   Each week, we will recommend a different prayer posture.   Join us this Lent for a season of honest prayer and surprising hope as we open ourselves to the promise that what hurts most can become the place where new life begins. Feb. 18 | Ash Wednesday AFFLICTION: We are wounded people living in a wounded world.   In Mark 8:31-35 , Jesus says that following him means taking up a cross rather than chasin...
Read more

“Faith and Film” Series 2026

By -
Image
  “Faith and Film 2026” Series Summary (May 31-June 28) Movies can be modern parables that reveal our deepest longings, struggles, and hopes. They not only reflect who we are, but they can also offer glimpses of God’s presence in our world.   In our annual Faith and Film series, we will explore how some of this year’s Oscar-nominated films speak to the human desire for healing, justice, and reconciliation.   The films that were chosen by Trinity Wilmette members include Hamnet , F1 Sentimental Value, Train Dreams, KPop Demon Hunters .   They reflect the stories that resonate most with our community. Join us in June as we engage these films through the lens of faith, discovering how they challenge, inspire, and point us toward God’s truth.   May 31 | Trinity Sunday HAMNET : In the wake of devastating loss, Agnes and William Shakespeare embody the disorienting, uneven journey of grief. Their story invites us to honor sorrow not as something to rush past, but ...
Read more