Pastor Brian's Blog

  “Living Faith” Series Overview What would you say if someone asked: “What is faith?”   How would you describe what faith looks like?   Sometimes we want to put faith in a box – a Sunday morning church box.   Or, we think that faith is about saying, thinking, and believing the right things.   But there is so much more to faith than that.   In the Bible, we see that faith is about being rooted in a relationship with God that shapes the way we live and has the power to change the world.   John Wesley, who started the Methodist movement, summarized faith in three principles: (1) Do no harm; (2) Do good; and (3) Love God.   As we trust in God’s promises to transform us, let’s awaken our living faith in all that we say and do.   August 7 GENUINE FAITH : Faith not only affects your personal life but also produces change in the world.   In James 2:1-7, 14-17 , James mocks those who favor the wealthy over the poor.   As Christians,...

  “Certain Signs of Grace” Series Overview In the Sacraments, God’s love becomes visible.   The physical becomes a vehicle for the spiritual, a means of grace.   Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are the only two Sacraments in the United Methodist tradition.   These “sign-acts” signify God’s gracious involvement in the events of history and in our human lives.   They affirm God’s faithfulness and prompt a faithful response from us.   In this series, we will explore the Sacraments from a Wesleyan perspective and discover how they are not merely symbols but “certain signs of grace” through which God strengthens our faith in Jesus Christ.   July 3 OPEN AND WELCOMING: Unlike the secret rituals of some groups performed in private, the church’s Sacraments are celebrated openly and made available to all.   Prevenient grace welcomes us to the font and to the table.   In Titus 2:11-15 , Paul insists that God’s grace makes salvation available to all p...

“Faith and Film 2022” Series Overview The true power of a movie is its story, even more than its celebrity cast, special effects, and soundtrack.   A movie can speak to who we are, where we come from, and what we are to do.   It may even reveal something about God.   In our “Faith and Film” series for June, we will consider the significance of several Oscar-nominated films for 2022, including CODA , Luca , Belfast , and Encanto .   Trinity Wilmette members voted for the films and the titles receiving the most votes are included in our series.   Our Faith and Film invites us to reflect on our search for meaning and struggle for dignity. June 5 CODA : Ruby’s deaf family depend on her as a hearing person.   When the music teacher discovers Ruby’s musical talent, she faces a choice between her family and her dream.   In Romans 15:1-7 , Paul encourages us to help those who are weaker.   When have you faced a hard choice? June 12 LUCA is a “sea monste...

  “Bearing Witness to Life” Series Overview We were not around on the first Easter to see the resurrected Jesus, and yet we are called to be witnesses of new life.   Bearing witness is more than simply saying we saw something.   It is about claiming a responsibility for it, sharing the experience, extending the gift we’ve been given, inviting others to be part of a dynamic and diverse family of faith.   Our neighbors’ struggles affect us, and bearing witness involves being present for and with one another.   As we join God’s response to suffering and injustice, the moral witness of the church is our deliberate effort to participate in God’s desire to reconcile all creation.   Christ is leading us to proclaim a more just world for the flourishing of life. April 17 – Easter Sunday C GOD RAISED HIM : We know about the risen Christ because people like Peter have shared their story.   In Acts 10:34-43 , Peter overcomes his past fears and bears witness to th...

“From Pain to Possibility” Series Overview Pain presents perplexing questions.   What does pain mean?   How will I survive?   What do I do with it?   The good news is God can help us in our pain.   Lent is a season of spiritual reflection that invites us to tend our longing for healing, restoration, and fulfillment.   Although Lent is traditionally a time to give up something, our series for Lent this year encourages us to give in and make meaning from our woundedness.   Pain is not something that needs a quick fix.   It calls us to acknowledge both our wounds and the wounds of others for the sake of healing and peace. March 2 – Ash Wednesday IN PARCHED PLACES (Isaiah 58:1-12): Each year Christians gather on Ash Wednesday to mark the beginning of Lent.   We mark this day by marking ourselves with ashes.   As we do this, we know that we do it in preparation for Easter.   We might ask ourselves why we do it.   Is there somethi...