Pastor Brian's Blog

Do you ever wonder if God is absent from your life?  When terrible things happen in the world, have you felt that God seems indifferent? Fear not.  God is faithful, says the prophet Isaiah. In January, I will lead a new series for Trinity Church called "Fear Not."  It explores the ministry of all baptized Christians in light of the Old Testament prophet Isaiah. The prophet's poetry uses potent imagery like fire and water to paint a picture of the Lord who delights in the people, who is their strength, and who calls them to participate in the divine purpose. To me, the image of the Ludington lighthouse being scoured by waves in a storm evokes two aspects of baptismal living: faith and freedom.  The lighthouse stands on the firm foundation of faith and shines as a beacon of hope and help to others.  The freedom and power of the Holy Spirit, always moving upon us and propelling us. In conversation with Walter Brueggemann, one of my favorite biblical s...

Dear Friends in Christ,   What is the church?  Throughout the year, I’ve been exploring the church in terms of our location, nature, redemption, shape, ministry, mission, inclusivity, strength, and our challenge.  According to Everist and Nessan in Transforming Leadership , we may also describe the church in terms of gift.  Dietrich Bonhoeffer believed that a faith community is a concrete unity.  Our center of attention is not with each member, but in all the members together.  Of course, our life together is not always easy.  We can be demanding of each other.  We sometimes fail to listen to one another.  We wear each other out.   Yet Jesus calls us to repentance and turn to a new reality rooted in love.  God’s Spirit nudges us to be aware of ways we are alienated from one another and to realize our need of Christ’s forgiveness.  God’s grace heals us and restores our relationship with one another.  I...

Handel's Messiah is one of the most familiar musical compositions of all time.  The librettist, Charles Jennens, used passages of the King James Version of the Bible and the Book of Common Prayer.  With musical and theological awareness, Jennens has stitched the texts seamlessly to tell the story of salvation.    This Advent I will lead a series on Part One of Messiah  (the Christmas section).   Part One begins with a word of "Comfort" and concludes with the fulfillment of that promise: the burden of sin is replaced by the yoke of grace. *On Sun., Dec. 6, Trinity's Chancel Choir, accompanied by organ and chamber musicians, will offer Part One of Messiah during 10:30 a.m. worship.  Handel wrote Messiah in less than a month (August 22-September 14, 1741), just one year before John Wesley wrote "The Character of a Methodist."  According to one story,  just after the completion of the "Ha llelujah" chorus,  Handel's servan...

Pray for those in Paris tonight during a series of violent attacks, especially for Catherine Inserra's daughter Celia as well as Ross and Rosann Jones' daughter Carrie. Be our light in the darkness, O Lord, and in your great mercy defend us from all perils and dangers of this night; for the love of your only Son, our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.

Dear Friends in Christ, What is the church?  A variety of aspects describe the church, such as our location, nature, redemption, shape, ministry, mission, inclusivity, and strength.  According to Everist and Nessan in Transforming Leadership , we may also describe the church in terms of our challenge.  Christians in the Western world have long had to resist a dualistic worldview that presumes that the world in which we live is not the realm of God.  Dualism separates Heaven and Earth.  It suggests that people of faith should be concerned only with “heavenly” things.  Whom does this dualistic view benefit?  Certainly, it does not help the poor, the sick, the hungry, and those who are being crushed by the effects of globalization.  Some would offer the promise of heaven as thin theological hope for those who struggle in this life.  Asking people to settle for “pie in the sky” in “the sweet by and by” is not an adequate Christian re...

On Sun., Nov. 29, Bishop Sally Dyck will visit Trinity.  She will preach at both worship services and lead a forum discussion in the Parlor at 9:30 a.m. as part of Trinity’s exploration of becoming a Reconciling Church in ministry with people of all sexual orientations and gender identities.     Consecrated as a bishop in 2004, Bishop Dyck’s first episcopal assignment was the Minnesota Area, then she was assigned to the Chicago Area in 2012.  Even bishops are told where to go.  Her leadership priorities are based on the Great Commandment and the Great Commission: to guide people to love God with their whole selves and daily practice spiritual disciplines and to share God's love with those who do not know God. At the time of her election as a bishop, she was the District Superintendent of the Cleveland District in the East Ohio Conference.  She is a graduate of Boston University School of Theology and United Theological Seminary in Dayton, ...

On Sun., Nov. 8 our District Superintendent Dr. Zaki L. Zaki will preach at Trinity during both worship  services.  He will meet with the Staff-Parish Relations Committee immediately after 10:30 worship, and then preside over the annual Charge Conference of Trinity United Methodist Church at Noon.   Please make reservations with Beth Swann if you would like to order lunch.   To most people the word “conference” means a boring meeting.  But from the beginning of Methodism, “conferencing” was a means of grace, a way of encouraging one another in the power of the Holy Spirit.  We are held in the bonds of God’s love by our practice of conferencing, whereby we renew our faith in Christ and take responsibility for our mission. Here’s a summary of a Charge Conference: it is the connecting link between the local church and the general Church and has general oversight of the Church Council.  The primary purpose of a Charge Conference...