Pastor Brian's Blog

“Faith and Film” Series Summary Movies can help us see who we are, where we come from, and what we are to do.   They may even reveal something about God.   In our annual Faith and Film series, we will consider the significance of several Oscar-nominated films for 2024, including The Holdovers , Killers of the Flower Moon , Oppenheimer , The Boy and the Heron , and Elemental .   Trinity Wilmette members voted for the movies, and the titles receiving the most votes are included in our series.   Join us in June for our Faith and Film series as we reflect on desire for meaning, belonging, and wisdom.     June 2 THE HOLDOVERS: Three loners must stay at a boarding school over the holidays.   Being stuck together, they risk taking a path from their wounds to healing.   In Luke 19:1-10 , when Jesus invites himself to the home of Zaccheus, the social outcast finds redemption.   Who gives you a feeling of belonging? June 9 KILLERS OF THE FLOWER ...

“On Our Way” Series Summary We all struggle with how to live a whole life.   At the center of everything is a loving God.   If you believe it, God loves each of us and wants us to love one another and all creation, how does this loving God shape your life?   Join us for worship this spring as we explore practices that help us on our way to living a whole life attentively, together, in the real world, for the good of all, in response to God. Apr. 7 | Easter 2 FRIENDSHIP: True friends accept us.   They allow us to let down our guard and help us take risks.   Friendships build trust through honesty, attentiveness, and respect.   In John 15:9-17 , Jesus affirms his friendship with us.   How do friendships grow over time? Apr. 14 | Easter 3 PEACEMAKING : Making peace requires a deep love for others.   In Matthew 5:43-48 , Jesus teaches us to love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.   How does God’s love lead to peace? Apr. 21 | Ea...

  “The Lord’s Prayer” Series Summary Christians of nearly every stripe know some version of the prayer Jesus taught, but it may be so familiar we overlook its hopeful notes and revolutionary tone.   John Dominic Crossan calls it “a prayer from the heart of Judaism on the lips of Christianity for the conscience of the world” ( The Greatest Prayer , 2).   Join us in Lent for a fresh look at the Lord’s Prayer and what it means for us today. Feb. 14 | Ash Wednesday TEACH US TO PRAY : We want a deeper connection with God.   In Luke 11:1-4 , the disciples ask Jesus to help them pray.   When has the Lord’s Prayer helped you? Feb. 18 | Lent 1 OUR FATHER: There are many ways to address God.   Jesus offers the image of a loving parent as a unifying name for God.   In Acts 17:22-29 , Paul's suggests that God is not unknown but intimately known to us.   When did you memorize the Lord’s Prayer? Feb. 25 | Lent 2 HALLOWED: Our names identify who we are. The p...