Pastor Brian's Blog

  “The Promise of Christmas” Series Overview We often have high hopes for happy holidays, but all the festivities can feel rather empty without the underlying promise of Christmas.   In December, we will revisit the inspiring message of Jesus, who came to fulfill God’s promise of hope, peace, joy, and love.   Discover how the story of Christ’s birth can make Christmas the most wonderful time of the year. November 28 – Advent 1 WORLD: God’s love for the whole world expands our perspective.   We feel concern and a sense of responsibility for the wellbeing of people beyond our immediate circles.   In 2 Corinthians 8:1-9 , Paul urges the church to help those in need beyond their borders.   Do you have friends in other countries? Dec. 5 – Advent 2 GOD LIFTS THE LOWLY : Sometimes the world seems set against us, but God is for us.   In Luke 1:46-55 , Mary gives thanks for God’s promise to bring justice to unjust world.   What uplifts you this season?...

  “Faith & Life” Series Overview In the Wesleyan tradition, faith is about incorporating the gospel of Jesus Christ into our daily lives.   Through personal and communal practices, our faith leads to spiritual growth and service to others.   The stained glass windows in Trinity’s Sanctuary present various biblical and theological beliefs that inspire and inform us.   The north windows focus on basic sources of Christian faith such as the Trinity, the Bible, the Cross, and the Church.   The south windows represent various settings for living faith, including Prayer, Home, Work, and the wider World.   This fall, through the beauty and truths of Trinity’s windows, God can illuminate our inner spiritual lives and encourage us to shine with the light of Jesus Christ. October 3 - World Communion TRINITY : In Jesus Christ, we encounter the divine Three-in-One: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.   The baptism of Jesus in Matthew 3:13-17 offers a trinitarian po...

    “Creation Sings ” Series Overview The world is singing!   Did you know that sperm whales sing through their noses?   Or that meadowlarks have a range of three hundred notes?   Even earthworms make faint staccato sounds.   Physicist-musician Arnold Sommerfeld notes that a hydrogen atom emits more frequencies than a grand piano.   Science writer Lewis Thomas muses: “If we had better hearing, and could discern the descants of sea birds, the rhythmic tympani of schools of mollusks, or even the distant harmonics of midges hanging over meadows in the sun, the combined sound might lift us off our feet” ( The Lives of Cells , 21).   Through our “Creation Sings” series, we will explore the glorious music of God’s wondrous creation and open our hearts to the delightful harmony all around us.   As the prophet Isaiah perceived it: “All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” (Isaiah 6:2).   September 5 CICADAS: The whirring, whining chan...

  This fall Trinity Church will serve as a teaching site for a new student intern from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary.  His name is Chad Hornsby.  Chad’s pastoral field education experience with Trinity will begin on September 7.  The internship will conclude in May 2022.      Chad grew up in rural Eastern Arkansas working for his dad on their family rice farm. He was an active member of Brinkley First United Methodist Church, and as a high school student felt a call to ordained ministry. In college, Chad worked as the engineer for the radio station, KHDX, and hosted two shows. He spent one summer working for the Arkansas Conference's Center for Vitality resourcing small churches for laity led worship and the next summer working for the Methodist Foundation of Arkansas which led to a new scholarship for Deacons in Arkansas going to seminary. Chad graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas, with a degree in biblical linguistics. ...