Pastor Brian's Blog

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...