Pastor Brian's Blog

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 ...