The Blessed Trinity Parish Post
BLESSED TRINITY PARISH POST Good Shepherd~Pleasant Hills~Ridgewood UMCs
August 2026
Vol. 1 No. 7
Parish Family, Can you believe school is starting in just a few weeks? Every year, the end of summer seems to arrive even faster than expected. One moment we are settling into summer rhythms… then, suddenly, backpacks are being packed, calendars are filling up, students are wondering what the new year will bring, and families are trying to remember how the fall schedule works. As we come to the end of summer and begin looking toward fall, I find myself excited for what’s ahead. It’s been a full summer in the life of our parish. And now, as we turn toward the fall, I find myself feeling like God is just getting started with us. One of our big focuses this fall will be around discipleship and faith formation: how do we grow as disciples of Jesus, both individually and together as a community? We know that this kind of growth happens in many ways - through worship and prayer, through study and conversation, through serving our community, through building ever deepening relationships across the congregations, through asking those deep questions of faith and working through them together, through the ways the Spirit moves both our heads and our hearts - and this fall, we’re hoping to find ways to grow all of us. As the fall kicks off, we will be offering a membership drive, including a Membership 101 class for those who have mentioned interest in joining, those who may be curious about membership, or those who simply want to learn more about what it means to belong to one of our congregations and to this cooperative parish. Out of the energy and connection of our (Grown) Girl Talk gatherings, we’re looking to offer a few new small group opportunities in the fall, including a book, movie, or documentary group, as well as a potential walking group. These groups will give us more chances to connect, reflect, laugh, learn, and grow together in faith. We’re also preparing to begin a Confirmation Class this fall, giving some of our young people the opportunity to explore the Christian faith, ask questions, learn about the church, and consider what it means to claim their faith as their own. We’ll also be handing out Bibles to our elementary-aged kids, a reminder that the story of God’s love belongs to them, too. In September, we’ll begin a second Group Spiritual Direction group. This is a meaningful space for listening to God, paying attention to the movement of the Spirit, and reflecting together on where God may be at work in our lives. Our 3rd Wednesday of the month Prayer Group will also continue, offering another steady space for prayer, reflection, and community. And for those who are looking for a practical starting place or a refresher in the basics of Christian discipleship, we’ll offer another Discipleship 101 session. This time we’re moving online. All of this matters because discipleship is not a program; it is a way of life, how we continue to learn and grow into the people God is calling us to be. And it’s how our parish becomes not just a collection of congregations, but a community of people being formed together for the sake of the world. One of the first ways we’ll mark this season of growth is with our Back to School Blessing. On Sunday, August 16, during worship at each congregation, we will pray for our students of all ages, as well as parents and guardians, teachers, school support staff, and all those who help make learning possible. Whether you are beginning preschool, elementary school, middle school, high school, college, graduate school, or technical training, OR if you’re teaching, supporting students, raising children, or simply remembering what this season feels like, we want to surround you in prayer. continued on next page August 2026
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