spring summer 2017
Trinity Life issue 8
Welcome to Trinity Life As we stand winter-worn and on the cusp of spring and the promise of warmer weather, welcome to a very colorful issue of Trinity Life! Our guest writer, Tim May (and guest speaker at the recent Young Adults Retreat), poses a prophetic challenge for us: to find the confidence to stand out as followers of Jesus, but not to stand off. How do we learn to live in the tension of being sent into the world without losing our Christ-centered distinctiveness? This is a challenge and a question for each of us to wrestle with. I am so grateful to Tori Barnett, Scott Simon and Chris Festog who have each humbly shared something of their own response to this challenge. Chris shares how the Lord has led him more deeply into His love through grace that he found in the spiritual disciplines and deeper fellowship. Tori and Scott share how their faith has deepened as they have followed God’s call to serve and reach out to others with His love. I particularly refer you to Tori’s prayerful sense of the Lord’s encouragement to her: “Tori, I do not want you to be self-confident. I want you to be Christ-confident. I don’t want you to be confident in yourself. I want you to have My confidence in you, and to live out of an abundance of the Holy Spirit inside of you.” I believe this is a word for all of us as we seek to grow in His love and be His hands and feet to a hurting world. Scott Simon writes with the same heart, “We don’t help others in order to get God’s love and approval. We have already been approved. He loves us. It is God’s love that inspires us to go out and be His hands and feet.” In myriad ways, I see the love of God growing in us. I see a new boldness in reaching out with His love wherever He leads us, including a soup kitchen in Stamford, the streets of New York City, and the slums and rural villages of Uganda. I see a beautiful re-centering of our focus upon Jesus, His living Word and His continuing ministry to the broken, the hurting and the lost. This issue celebrates His life in us and invites each of us to go deeper and wider in His love. In His great love, Drew Williams Senior Pastor
F me irep et roo ou f rm 2 t h fut e p iss Co ur at h i o n ed nt wa pa the ist r y en bea inct be 8 tner ts s: me con ive ing jen et G p 1 ga o d’s ben roj 7 6 ves va e ct len up sel d t i n at 12 e e 2 22 0
Get Connected Part of being a follower of Jesus is to continue taking your next, right step as you become more and more like Him. At Trinity Church, we want to equip you to partner with God, and with us, in seeing the world transformed by His love. What is your next, right step as you connect with God and others, grow in your faith and serve the community?
welcome breakfast Meet members of the staff and church family, learn more about Trinity and discover your next steps. Register at trinitychurch.life/events
April 23
June 11
Sept 10
alpha Explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions. The next course will begin in September 2017. Learn more at trinitychurch.life/alpha
join a group Intentionally connect, grow and change our world through the love of God. There are many groups, for many types of people. Find one that works for you at trinitychurch.life/groups
serve Serve on a Sunday team at Trinity, out in the community and across the world. Learn more at trinitychurch.life/serve
f o o r p e Fir drew williams
Friedrich Nietzsche infamously said, “That which does not kill us makes us stronger.” With respect, I profoundly disagree. My experience is “that which does not kill us” still has the power to bend us out of shape. It can leave us bewildered and broken, and wondering where God is and what on earth we have done to deserve such an unrelenting beating. That which almost kills us can leave our hearts hardened and consumed with pain. That which might not kill us outright still has the power to enter and poison our souls, and bring us to despair. I recall a conversation many years ago with a close friend. I was relaying some act of injustice that had injured me. I confess, I was a little heated. My friend listened patiently and then quietly told me, “What you are describing is very wrong. It is grossly unjust and I truly feel your pain. You are clearly in the heat of the furnace, my brother. But Drew, you can’t let the heat get inside of you.” I knew this was the right advice, but how do you do that? How can you be spiritually “fireproof”? Chapter 3 of the Old Testament book of Daniel gives us some extraordinary insights. Here we find Shadrach, Meshach and
“ Wher
he t t e g e w e did
a ke t n a c e w i d e a t h at es v l e s r u o f c a re o ut o h t i w y l l spiritua ip?” h s w o l l e f true
Abednego in intense heat — and yet somehow the heat was not in them. This fiery ordeal is not the first trial they had encountered. These young Hebrew men had been taken into exile, their homes turned to rubble, family and friends killed. After a three-year training program, during which they were essentially imprisoned in the Babylonian palace and daily force-fed Babylonian culture, the king had chosen them to “stand before him.” We’re told, “And in every matter of wisdom and understanding about which the king inquired of them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters that were in all his kingdom.” (Daniel 1:20). In time, they were promoted to be “over the affairs of Babylon.” (Daniel 2:49). Prior to this particular incident, they had already risked death by refusing to eat from the king’s table because of their faith. Their faithful worship of God is what singles them out for more persecution. We are told that “certain Chaldeans” alerted King Nebuchadnezzar that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego had disobeyed the king’s explicit instruction for all people to worship the golden statue that the king had erected
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for his own glorification. The penalty for such defiance was spelled out: “And whoever does not fall down and worship shall immediately be cast into a burning fiery furnace.” (Daniel 3:6). Their accusers said, “These men, O king, pay no attention to you; they do not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up.” (Daniel 3:12b). Before this story is concluded the temperature of the furnace would be increased — figuratively and literally — on account of their decision to only worship God. Daniel 7:25 talks about the “persecution of the saints…” To “persecute” here literally means “to wear out” or “to wear down.” You could think of it as the dogged persistence of all the things that daily come against us. I don’t think we have to have experienced the wrath of a Babylonian king to understand persecution. So what is it that made the faith of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego spiritually fireproof?
The FelLOwship Of the Spirit These three men had suffered — together. They now stand accused and on trial — together. Long before this current trial, God had first united them in the fellowship of His Spirit. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego worshipped and prayed together. And in their worship and prayer they drew strength from each other. And so these unlikely heroes of the faith, three civil servants, speak with one heart and one voice. Together, they demonstrate extraordinary courage and strength. They enter the court of the king together, knowing they have a lot to lose. Where did we get the idea that we can take care of ourselves spiritually without true fellowship? Ecclesiastes 4:12 tells us, “A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.” The power of God is of course available to us individually, but there is yet more power available to us through the fellowship of the Spirit. Where is God leading you into deeper fellowship? The Lord would fireproof our faith through the fellowship of His Spirit — a fellowship that is grounded in the promises of the Spirit.
The PrOmises Of the Spirit Despite being given a second chance by the king to bow before the statue and save their lives, together the three men hold their ground. The king says to Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, “And who is the god who will deliver you out
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Fireproof
of my hands?” And with one heart, they give their answer: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image you have set up.” (Daniel 3: 16-18). How could they speak with such courage? There is such a confidence and humility. How is this possible? It is possible because their fellowship in the Spirit is firmly grounded upon the Word of God. Here is the Lord’s promise that they are holding fast to: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…do not be afraid, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 43: 2-3, 5). And upon the fullness of that promise, their response to King Nebuchadnezzar — which really is a kind of prayer — could be summarized in this way:
1 W e k n o w t h a t G o d c a n s a v e u s .
2 W e p r ay t h at H e w i l l . B u t e v e n i f H e d o e s n o t, m ay i t b e 3 a cc o r d i n g t o H i s p e r f e c t w i l l . This is a profoundly beautiful and powerful prayer. And it is one that I commend to you. “We know that God can deliver us” is like a kind of first gear. Then the prayer picks up more speed and moves into second gear, “We pray that He will deliver us.” Both of these gears are faithful and God-honoring pleas. But then the prayer enters into third gear. Here their confidence in God remains unshaken but their prayer is not bounded by their limited understanding of what they hope God will do. In this third gear there is surrender to God’s perfect will. You may even recognize this prayer. Jesus, knowing He was about to be betrayed and handed over to death, prayed: “Abba, Father, all things are possible for you. Remove this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what You will.” (Mark 14:36). Can you hear the same gear changes?
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Fat h e r , I k n o w t h at Y o u ca n .
2
i p r ay t h at Y o u wo u l d .
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B u t e v e n i f Y o u d o n ’ t, m ay i t b e a cc o r d i n g t o Y o u r w i l l .
The fellowship of the Spirit, grounded upon His Word, will always encourage us to embrace this third gear in prayer. It is not an easy prayer. It is often a painful prayer (we’re told that Jesus sweated blood). It is a prayer of surrender and naked trust, but it is completely fireproof. Fireproof faith is forged in the fellowship of the Spirit, grounded in the Word and, finally, made real by the presence of the Spirit.
r e v e n l l i w I “ r o n u o y e v a e l ” . u o y e k a s r fo 13:5 s w e r b He
The PresenCe Of the Spirit The king, in his fury, orders the furnace to be heated seven times hotter than usual, and the three men are bound hand and foot and thrown into the furnace. The fire in the furnace is so intense that we’re told the flames killed several of the mighty men who tossed them in. And then the king exclaims, “But I see four men unbound, walking in the fire and they are not hurt and the appearance of the fourth is like a son of the gods.” (Daniel 3:25). Astonished, the king calls out to the men, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here!” Within the fire, they had walked free. Out of the fire, they walked completely unscathed. There has been a lot of debate around the precise identity of this fourth figure. Was it an angelic form? Was it the pre-incarnate Jesus Christ? We are left to make up our own minds. The vital thing is that God fulfilled His promise. It was the promise given to Moses: “I am the God of your Father — the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob … I will certainly be with you.” (Exodus 3: 6, 12). It is the same promise that Jesus gave to His disciples: “…and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20). How fireproof is this promise? Do we see the infinite lengths to which Jesus went to join us in our “furnace”? Tim Keller writes, “When we remember that Jesus had been living in unimaginable glory for all eternity — we realize that His entire earthly life was, for Him, like walking in a furnace.” And when it came time for Jesus to enter the supreme furnace of affliction that was the Cross, there was no one to walk through that furnace beside Him. Dr. Iain Duguid, a professor of Old Testament Studies, reminds us, “When the fire of God’s wrath against our sin burned Him to the core and blazed unchecked over Him, He was entirely alone.”
we could be free and know His presence now and eternally. And the same mercy and love that He poured out for us on the Cross now distinguishes His living presence in the furnace of our lives. His promise is secure, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Hebrews 13:5). We will all face our own furnace of one type or another. Scripture tells us, “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…” (2 Timothy 3:12). But God’s desire is always to strengthen us in our faith — to make us fireproof by uniting us in fellowship of His Spirit, grounding us in His Word and meeting us by His Spirit.
Drew Williams
Fireproof Fireproof Fireproof Fireproof Fireproof Fireproof
is Senior Pastor of Trinity Church. Drew’s ministry has been directed toward helping people find and deepen an intimate relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Prior to ordination in the Anglican Church in 2000, he practiced as a litigation attorney. Drew and his wife, Elena, came to the U.S. in 2009 to lead and serve Trinity.
Why? Why would God be with these three Jewish exiles but not His only begotten Son? The answer is that Jesus was suffering not only with us but for us on the Cross. Jesus went through the fire of punishment that our sins deserve so that
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meet our mission partners: jenga, Uganda “ We had an amazing time in Uganda. It is such a privilege to serve the work of JENGA, and just to spend time in such a beautiful country. A highlight of the trip was spending time in Namatala slum where, despite the reality of living lives of desperate A team from Trinity went to Uganda
poverty, the gift of a simple balloon
in February to visit Trinity missionaries
will bring a pure and indescribable
Alan and Christy Valentine, and to
joy to the face of a young child. It was
work with JENGA, one of our overseas
such a blessing to witness.�
partner organizations.
If you are interested in future Trinity mission trips to Uganda email Ruth May, Mission & Mobilization Pastor, at ruth.may@trinitychurch.life, or keep an eye on trinitychurch.life/serve. You can learn more about JENGA at www.jengauganda.org
Alan and Christy have recently purchased some land in the foothills of Mount Elgon. This land will provide a domestic source of income for JENGA, and will also teach good farming practices to the local community, demonstrating the viability of farming as a micro-business. The team had a lot of fun “helping� to plant the first crop of Matoke (savory bananas)!
We spent time ministering in a number of midweek prayer groups, Bible studies and services, and it was humbling to see the hunger people have for the Word of God. We saw incredible healings during the ministry time; perhaps most powerful was witnessing the restorative and healing touch of the love of God to people living in real desperation.
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Chris Festog Being a Christian was supposed to be easy. I had grown up in a Christian home and there was never a time when I could remember not going to church or having a Bible to read. But my parents had a quiet faith about them. There was little practical instruction on how to walk with God. So, when I became a Christian in my freshman year of college the instruction for growth was “read your Bible and pray.” I remember sitting in church being exhorted to grow with Christ, to draw near, but still I didn’t receive much more guidance than to read my Bible and pray. While I did both, I really did not know how to do either (and I grew up in a Christian home!).
In John Bunyan’s classic allegory, Pilgrim’s Progress, Christian, the lead character, is instructed to stay on the path as he makes the journey to the Celestial City. His path was God’s provided way for Christian to find God. And so, I found that the spiritual disciplines were, in fact, God’s means of grace to me. They provided the pathway, a very practical manifestation of what it means to walk with God. Within the pages of Celebration of Discipline, there were indeed the practices of reading your Bible and prayer. But there were also meditation, fasting, solitude, silence, submission, service, confession, worship, guidance and celebration. In each of these, there is a different expression of how God speaks to us and leads us. As I began to study these pathways and to put them into practice, I felt that I had finally begun the journey for which I had longed. But there was still something else needed.
Then one day, my older brother who had also become a Christian was teaching a small group using a little book called Celebration of Discipline by Richard Foster. For the first time, I had insight into how to experience my life in Christ. My life has never been the same.
When I was a young man I moved to Bermuda for two years, sight unseen (or, perhaps more clearly, God called me to Bermuda — yes, suffering for Jesus!). I trusted that God would meet me there. I had been growing in Christ but still found my walk a struggle. Drawing near to God was still not easy, even with a list of disciplines. I found that though I could read
study prayer meditation fasting simplicity solitude 8
of them I struggled to know them fully. What I did not know was the piece I was missing: someone to help show me how to walk with God in the disciplines. Shortly after arriving, I met a man, not much older than myself, to whom the Word and prayer and solitude and submission were alive and vibrant. He was the first man I met who knew God and walked with Him authentically. Though I am sure there were others prior, he was the first to engage with me in a way that changed my life. We would meet and pray together, and he would bring words from Scripture from his quiet times that he believed God would have me receive. We would have dinner and discuss God and life, and stop in the middle of dinner and pray. He showed me that God’s means of grace — the spiritual disciplines — were not simply something that we should do but were truly God’s ways to Himself. And so I prayed expecting to hear from God. I read the Word, being transformed by it. I spent hours on the beach alone, meditating upon God, His Word and the beauty of His creation. I lived simply and in community with other believers, and was transformed by the grace of God. I discovered that the spiritual disciplines were not another thing to do on the long list of being a good Christian. They were instead truly the pathways to know
God Himself. Life in Christ became alive to me as I began this newfound journey with Him. Each time I was in the Word I anticipated hearing from Him. As I spent time in prayer, I spoke to God as a friend of my life and would listen for His guidance and care for me. My favorite times were always on the beach, where I would just sit and listen to the waves and worship or cry or talk to God about life. When I was young, I had often heard that being a Christian meant having a personal relationship with Jesus. For the first time in my life, this finally made sense and became a reality for me. God would meet me, encourage me and teach me in the spiritual disciplines as each one led me to know God more dearly, more intimately, more powerfully. In Celebration of Discipline, Richard Foster wrote of how disciplines are part of God’s circle of life to us. As we walk in the spiritual disciplines, as we walk in the means of grace God has given to us to find and know Him, we
submission service confession worship guidance celebration 9
find joy in our journey and celebrate. As we celebrate our life in Christ, and walk in our joy of the Lord, we are given strength to live a vital, real relationship with Him. This strength gives us the ability and desire to walk in the disciplines, not as an end to themselves but as a living, active way to God Himself. And then we return to the spiritual disciplines in joy and in strength. And so, the journey continues. The disciplines lead to joy, joy and celebration to strength, strength to walk in the disciplines of grace, returning to joy and celebration. It has been one of my life’s privileges to introduce people to this precious truth of the spiritual disciplines. I have been forever encouraged as I witness the transforming effect these means of
grace have had not only in my life but in the life of my family and in those with whom we have had the opportunity to share them. What I have found through the years is that many people have experienced a similar struggle in their walk with Christ and I am so grateful to be able to pass along this precious gift of the pathways to God. The Bible tells us that God is the founder and perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Yet in His love for us, He has provided a means of grace to find Him if only we will seek Him with all of our hearts. It is my prayer that all might find Him and know the joy of this journey.
Chris Festog and his wife, Karen, joined Trinity three years ago and are currently leading Draw Near, a small group that focuses on growing disciples of Jesus. Chris and Karen have been called to serve in the workplace and also as lay leaders and teachers for the past 30 years and have been involved in planting and growing churches in five states and two countries. They have one daughter, Skye, who is currently attending the University of Colorado.
coming this september
alpha
Alpha is an opportunity to explore the big issues around faith and unpack the basics of Christianity in a friendly, informal environment over ten weeks and a day retreat. Each session includes good food, a short talk designed to encourage conversation, and time to share thoughts and ideas on the topic in a small group. Alpha is just an open and honest space to discuss questions together. Alpha is a worldwide phenomenon. You’ll find courses running in 169 countries and in all 50 U.S. states, in 112 languages, and across denominational lines… meeting in churches, homes, prisons, coffee shops, and even bars. More than 29 million people have taken the Alpha course. Might it be your turn? For more info or to register for this free course, go to http://trinitychurch.life/alpha
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Being God’s Vessel
One of the joys of being in a church family is getting to hear each other’s stories. In past issues of Trinity Life, we’ve interviewed people about how they stay connected to God in the midst of a full and busy life, how following Jesus shapes their efforts as a business owner, and how they have felt connected to the Trinity family. The question this time: “ How has your faith deepened as you serve and reach out to others?”
tori Barnett
by counselors and staff and accepted Jesus into my heart on a bunk bed at camp when I was nine years old.
I’m Tori Barnett. I’m married to Andrew and we have three children: two sons, Turner (6) and Charlie (4), and a daughter, Sutton (3). I grew up in Vero Beach, Florida and also lived in Greenwich for a few years when I was young. Before moving to Darien seven years ago, my husband and I lived and worked in Washington, D.C. and New York City.
After college at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, I went to work for a woman who I fully believe God divinely placed in my life. Twenty years my senior, Rebecca was a working mom with three young kids, living out her faith. She mentored me, discipled me and loved me (Titus 2). I am eternally grateful that she gently guided me back to my faith that was fragile post-college. I thank God our friendship continues to this day.
My parents planted the seed of faith in me at a very young age. But also, a very formative part of my faith journey was attending Camp Greystone, an all-girls Christian camp in North Carolina, for five weeks each summer for nearly a decade. I observed faith in action
Another marker in my faith journey was attending Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, hearing Tim Keller’s amazing teaching, as well as being part of a women’s small group. Before we moved out of the city, my small group prayed earnestly that God would provide a strong faith community for us in Connecticut and God answered our prayer tenfold.
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we are trinity Upon moving to Darien in 2010, I found a Community Bible Study (CBS) group meeting less than a mile from our home. I showed up with a two-week-old baby in hand and these women wrapped their arms around me and provided a community that was dedicated to studying God’s Word together. I’ve been a part of CBS ever since and this year God called me into the role of teaching director for our class (Darien/New Canaan). It’s a humbling gift and joy. God miraculously provides a way for me to teach — with my time, with my kids, and giving me the words to say. After hearing wonderful things about Trinity from friends, we visited one Sunday and we haven’t stopped — that was over two years ago. God clearly laid on our hearts that this was where He wanted us to be. The Holy Spirit is alive and present in worship. It feels like home and a “soft place to land our plane” each week. And our kids love the children’s ministry. Our friendships run deep and, as iron sharpens iron, we see the Lord transforming us within this community. (“Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another” - Proverbs 27:17). Recently I’ve joined the Missions, Outreach and Justice committee. It’s been a gift to see all the ways Trinity is outward-facing, serving the local community and serving abroad, such as our mission partnership with JENGA in Uganda. I’m also excited about The Beacon Project, another outward-facing way to disciple more people in our area. Jesus tells us that He wants us to spread the gospel to all corners of the earth (Matthew 28:19). I love the idea that this is the heart of Trinity. Teaching the Word of God and loving your neighbors can be really challenging. But it’s what we’re called to do. Trinity does such an excellent job of sharing the timeless message of the gospel in a timely way. I believe we should do everything we can to keep multiplying and dividing, and seeking more people for His Kingdom.
Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. - Ephesians 3:20
As I serve at Trinity and at Community Bible Study, God continues to reveal more of Himself and His message of grace is clear: “Tori, I do not want you to be self-confident. I want you to be Christ-confident. I don’t want you to be confident in yourself. I want you to have My confidence in you, and to live out of an abundance of the Holy Spirit inside of you.” I’m learning that it is not about what I can do in my own power but in His power.
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scott simon I’m Scott Simon. My wife, Margaret, and I live in New Canaan and we’ve been married for 37 years. We have four grown children and two grandchildren, with a third on the way this summer. My story of how I came to Trinity is a lot like many men: my wife led the way. In 1998 Margaret started attending what would become Trinity Church. As I started to attend on a more regular basis, I realized that Trinity had introduced me to a relationship with Jesus. It was so much more than just a service to attend so I could check the box. Once I realized that what I needed was a relationship with Jesus, I became more intentional in seeking it out. Trinity has provided many different venues for me to dig deeper into my relationship with Him. There have been several milestones in my faith journey, one of which was 9/11. I lost my brother and many very, very close friends. I could have turned away from God because it was such a tragedy. Instead, I found myself being attracted to and relying more and more on the Holy Spirit. Several years later, I had a very intense baptism in the Spirit and I can now see how the trajectory of my faith had increased. At Trinity, I have found there is space for the Holy Spirit to flow freely, allowing for a complete transformation of lives. I don’t mean temporary relief that feels good on Sunday and wears off by Monday or Tuesday, but a complete transformation. For me, Trinity has been instrumental in this transformation. I started getting more involved at Trinity, initially as a greeter on Sundays, helping to set up the lobby before the services, collecting the offering,
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Serving people in prayer and coming alongside them as a Stephen Minister gives you a front row seat to how faithful God’s love is, and how powerfully He works, even through a vessel like me!
we are trinity and eventually serving on the Communion team. The Men’s Bible Study was one of the first groups I became part of. I am still actively involved and, as it has grown, I now help lead one of the four midweek groups. I have participated in two First Loved to Love weekends, one as an individual and one with Margaret. These experiences deepened and broadened my understanding of how Jesus loves me, and us. The Scripture came alive for me and took on new meaning: “We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19). I joined the Men’s Local Social Outreach group after being cornered by several men in the hallway one Sunday morning and I ended up running the group for a season! One of our projects was at Elinor Martin Residence, a residence for homeless single moms who either have children or are pregnant. I instantly took to that ministry and became actively involved; one Saturday a month several of us would prepare and serve breakfast for the women, then gather for a topical Bible study with them. Hearing the women’s stories — the courage, the grace and the faith that they had — was truly amazing and it increased my own faith. It let me see how Jesus works in people’s lives. I am now doing something I never thought I would do: praying out loud — in ministry! I took the Prayer Ministry Training Course, and now serve on the Prayer Team. I pursued further training in Healing Prayer. I am a Stephen
Leader and Stephen Minister. Serving people in prayer and coming alongside them as a Stephen Minister gives you a front row seat to how faithful God’s love is, and how powerfully He works, even through a vessel like me! Recently I’ve become involved in Prison Ministry at the men’s facility in Bridgeport, helping to facilitate an Alpha Course for 16-24 inmates. Seeing the men’s faith and desire to know Jesus and asking Him to come into their lives, their knowledge of the Word, how they are seeking God to lift them out of the pit that
We don’t help others in order to get God’s love and approval. We’ve already been approved. He loves us. It’s God’s love that inspires us to go out and be His hands and feet. they’re in while taking ownership of what they did wrong has enabled me to see that God is everywhere — especially in the pit with us when we have seemingly nothing else to lean on. It is God who provides us strength and guidance to get through difficult times. This experience has been an eye-opener for me. I am also more appreciative and aware of the love of God and the gift He has given me to pass that love onto others. Looking back at my journey at Trinity, I can see a progression — from helping out on Sundays to going deeper in my faith to stepping out in serving in more radical ways. Early on I was doing good works, but under my own power. Now I look back and see it is because of faith and the love that God gave me that I can even do these works. We don’t help others in order to get God’s love and approval. We’ve already been approved. He loves us. It’s God’s love that inspires us to go out and be His hands and feet. You can’t just sit still and go to church and expect your faith to grow. You have to listen to the Holy Spirit and say yes when He tells you to move to the next level. Step out of your comfort zone. Don’t be afraid. Take the risk and trust the Lord to guide and provide.
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SUMMERQUEST
summer 2017 TRINITY KIDS & YOUTH
SQ 20 17
JULY 31-AUGUST 5
http://trinitychurch.life/events
trinity kids & stanwich kids
4y
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s-
5 th gr
ad
june 27 - 30
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2017
more info: www.skycampgreenwich.org
F uture Tim
May
D istinctive Tim May
is helping to lead a church in London while he prepares for ordination in the Anglican Church. He
and his wife, Lulu, were the speakers at our Young Adults Retreat in March. This article has been adapted from a piece previously published in “New Wine” magazine.
I like to ask questions. I like to then answer
flavor of church, if you will, is like some kind of famous foreign
them in a slightly longer than average way.
delicacy; there may well be something good in it but it can
Essentially, I talk too much and my wife has
seem quite hard to get used to when it’s just such a different
learned the importance of the question, “Is it
flavor. On the other hand, and perhaps in reaction to that
relevant?”
old flavor, comes a very popular and contemporary flavor, the
This idea of relevancy seems to be something the global Church has historically struggled to navigate, and it still seems to be an issue that leaves us uncertain of the right path. On the one hand, there is the all too common caricature of rigid traditionalism with its images of Anglican vicars in flowing robes with wispy voices, seemingly so far from the realities of many people’s lives. This scene seems to attract the term “irrelevant.” This
Church seeking to be “relevant” by using the words, phrases and touch-points of popular culture. However, this can sometimes taste to me like MSG — a bargain buffet of Chinese food bound to lead you into a dissatisfied stomach-aching fullness before a surprising sudden hunger pang not too long later. While this appeals to our immediate tastes, the most nutritious parts of food are neglected — the parts of food that are often the most challenging for the palate but are actually the most important and healthiest part of the meal. Sometimes our smoke machines and stage lights hide who Jesus is just as much as our traditional forms of church seem to abstract Him. Our
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professionals would say His statement is irrelevant but I guess with Jesus, and therefore the Church which represents Him, relevancy is a matter of perspective. The man is healed; the obvious need is dealt with but something bigger has also taken place. So we can say, the Church is irrelevantly relevant and relevantly irrelevant to the very core of humanity and to the heart of society. We don’t need to be a bad version of the entertainment industry or a volunteer version of social services. The Church should be confident with its own song and its own story — neither abstractly unearthed nor so similar that we cannot see contrast. We need to similarity to contemporary culture can become just as fundamental a stumbling block to communicating who Jesus is as our differences can.
recover the confidence to stand out but not to stand off. We must learn to live in the tension of being sent into the world without losing our distinctiveness (John 17: 14-19).
However, Church is always relevant. As
In the U.K., we live in the memory of a
George Ladd wrote, the global Church “is
Christian country that has been declining
the primacy agency of the Kingdom of God,”
since my grandparents were young. This edifice
and it is leaking a taste of heaven on earth
creates an excitingly blank canvas to paint a
now, giving glimpses of glory unknown by
picture of what Church is to a new generation.
any other means. It highlights the deepest
Of course, there is still some cultural memory,
needs we have: to know and be known by
much of which solicits negative responses,
both others and by the Lord Himself. But
but there is also an increasing lack of even the
the Church is never relevant by seeking to
most basic knowledge of faith for most people.
be relevant. The Church’s relevancy comes
Do you see this around you in the Northeast
from its ability to be different and to offer
as well? This sociological situation is why the
something that is different, and this requires
opportunity for the Church to be distinctive is
proximity. Think of Dietrich Bonhoeffer
by far the most important to seize and, in fact,
opposing Hitler, William Wilberforce opposing
frames all other opportunities in front of us.
slavery, the early Christians caring for plague victims when everyone else had left the towns.
So what does it look like to be distinctive? Let’s
That proximate difference is the genius and
take just one example: technology. We are
relevancy of the Church.
living in a time when arguably technology has become ontological rather than just functional.
The Church acts out its identity when we lift
In other words, up until now, technology has
people beyond what is obviously relevant
served a functional purpose. Years from now,
to what is ultimately relevant. This is so
we will talk about 2012, the year when the
often done through responding to what is
Internet became primarily a mobile thing, and
immediately relevant. I’ll give an example.
I will tell stories of when I was 14 and we first
When we read in Mark 2 of Jesus being
got Internet in my house, but my niece will
encountered by a paralyzed man, curiously the
never know a world where she is not digitally
first thing Jesus says to him is “Son, your sins
connected. She learned to use an iPad before
are forgiven” when we would all expect Him
she could even speak and the foundational
to say “Your body is healed.” Many healthcare
neurological imprinting that will go on for her
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until she is around aged seven will now take place alongside the presence of and through the function of a mobile Internet device. In the presence of a new relationship with technology, what does it mean for the Church to be distinctive? It doesn’t mean to abandon technology. I’ve never been the most techtrendy person but I’ve come to believe that the Church must posture itself towards leveraging the Kingdom of Heaven through technology. All my life the Church has been late with technology. Many churches were hesitant to interact with the web, believing it to be a hindrance to “real relationships” — but there aren’t many churches now that aren’t thankful for the “real relationships” facilitated on and though their websites. What about robots? Tipped to be a major feature of the next 20 years, how would you feel if robots helped serve coffee at your church? What if we dreamed
in Jesus can belong? What about a big basket
with God about what emerging technologies
at the front of church where we park our
could do, not just for the Church but for the
phones for the duration of our worship
world? What jobs could be created and what
services to switch off from the digital so
lives made better?
that we might switch on to God and people in an embodied way?
At the same time, what if part of our distinctiveness was to switch off from
Here, perhaps, in the interplay between
technology? We treat the Sabbath like the
engagement and challenge we see the
cutest commandment of the ten. The others
distinctive witness of Christianity to the
such as “do not steal” and “do not murder”
world. What if we pursued a similar attitude
seem sensible. If we took those as lightly as
of distinction with how we use our homes,
we do the Sabbath, then there’d be a lot more
how we eat food, how we bring up our kids,
crime in the world. Christians are known for
what we do with our trash or how we speak
taking strong moral positions, reading the
about our bosses behind their backs? The
Bible and going to church buildings but what
opportunities for being distinctive are limitless
if we were famous for helping society to rest
because the Kingdom is not of this world;
from technology? The mindfulness movement
the opportunities to be relevant are endless
demonstrates a growing desire for retreat and
because the Kingdom is for this world.
rest, but our faith was already drenched in this tradition of retreat and rest. How can we make
As I look out of my window in London at a spot
our traditions of silence, prayer and reflection
where addicts wait to buy drugs, I can hear
places where those who do not yet believe
one man coughing and in-between coughs he’s crying. Is the gospel relevant to him? Yes. Do I just offer what the world has to offer? No. I want to be part of a Church that engages with the greatest problems and the greatest opportunities society affords. But in that task, what we have that is distinctive is what will make all the difference.
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5 River Road Launched in 2016, The Beacon Project is a strategic initiative to resource and strengthen our Greenwich congregation and, as God raises the desire and commitment in people’s hearts over time, multiply our Kingdom impact by launching new congregations in other towns as a multisite church.
“... the grace that is reaching more and more people...”
The heart of The Beacon Project is that more and more people might experience the grace of God, in the person of Jesus, through Trinity Church. We’ve been experiencing that grace more and more on Sundays and in our various ministries, and we are seeing God at work behind the scenes as we take steps toward our broader vision. Together as a community, we want to go deeper in this new season — in our faith, in our community and in our service. And we also want this transformative faith to be experienced by others, both in Greenwich and further afield.
(2 Corinthians 4:15)
The Beacon Project includes:
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The Ministry Center at 5 River Road in Cos Cob The plans are drawn, the permits have been issued and renovations are beginning on what will be our midweek home — a place not only for current ministries, but where you and others can gather to engage in and even launch new Trinity initiatives. We anticipate it will be ready for use in the second half of 2017.
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Trinity becoming one church in multiple locations Many of you have been praying and dreaming with us about where God might be calling us to establish our first multisite Trinity congregation — a Sunday gathering in a nearby town in Fairfield or Westchester County. We are still in the discernment phase, but are seeking to determine soon where we feel the Lord might be leading us. We value your thoughts and ideas, and you are welcome to reach out to Ben Valentine, Associate Pastor, with your input and/or questions.
To receive a periodic email with updates on The Beacon Project, subscribe at http://eepurl.com/cH28Oj Learn more at http://trinitychurch.life/beaconproject
(Left) Steel beams being loaded in on March 31
(Right) Preparing for the cathedral ceiling on the second floor
heat map trinity
h e at
map
Trumbull
New Canaan
Ossining
Stratford FairďŹ eld
Darien
Greenwich
Pelham
From Trinity’s earliest days, people from across the area have been drawn to this faith community that places a high value on worship, social justice, and children Manhattan
and students. Here is a representation of where active Trinity family members live.
Brooklyn
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meet
ben valentine associate pastor
Tell us about yourself
it’s been a privilege to walk alongside some of them in their time of need and point them toward hope.
I grew up in western New York, Connecticut, the south of France and even in India (for a very short time as a baby). I feel so fortunate to have experienced different cultures in my upbringing, but when someone asks me where I’m from, I’m never sure what to say! My mom’s side is actually from Greenwich, going back many generations, so I feel a rootedness in this area. After meeting in college, Anne and I were married in 2007 and then immediately packed up the car and drove out to California, where I attended Fuller Seminary for my Masters in Theology. We were quite young at the time (early twenties) and in many ways it feels that we’ve “grown up” together. One of the great privileges of our lives has been welcoming our daughter Eden (who recently turned two) into our family. We love spending time together as a little family. I have three siblings. My sister lives in California with her husband, and my two younger brothers live with my parents, Alan and Christy, who work with JENGA, one of Trinity’s international ministry partners, in Uganda. Here’s something many people might not know about me: I’ve served for the past six years as a chaplain in the Army Reserves. In this role I help care for the spiritual needs of soldiers and their families. Many soldiers have been through incredible hardships, and
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Tell us a little about your faith journey I grew up with faith all around me from my earliest memories. I was a pastor’s kid, which you sometimes hear bad stories about. My experience, however, was really positive and formative. I saw the great potential of the Church, what can happen when a group of people are all headed in the same direction. Most significantly, I witnessed genuine, life-giving faith in my home from my parents. I would attribute my faith in Jesus today to their influence and gentle witness over the years. Having faith around you as a child is a real advantage, I think, but it doesn’t mean it will automatically “stick.” I struggled significantly with doubt and questions for pretty much all of my teenage years. I remember being very confrontational about Christianity and would go to church out of a sense of duty that I placed on myself. My parents didn’t force me when it came to faith, but I knew that they were praying for me. Most importantly, their love and acceptance wasn’t dependent on my behavior or faith “status,” which was definitely the most incredible gift they could have given me. I’d say it was really in college that I owned my faith in a new way and
began to feel a more solid draw toward vocational ministry.
What were you doing before you came to Trinity? This question just makes me think about how fast time has gone by! This spring marks five years of being on staff at Trinity. Before coming here, Anne and I served at churches both in Connecticut and in California while I was a seminary student. Through family, I heard about an amazing church in Greenwich. After one visit, Anne and I both felt a sense of being “home.” The Lord confirmed this sense when He made a way for us to join the Trinity staff team in the following months.
I believe that in the days to come, the Lord is going to invite us to leverage our gifts for even greater purposes and astound us with how He uses them.
I’ve absolutely loved serving with Anne as partners in ministry. Anne currently serves parttime as a High School Coordinator, co-leading our high schoolers. She also enjoys volunteering in the worship ministry.
I’m now an Associate Pastor with a fairly broad role, from teaching to helping lead our young adults. In addition, I now have a special focus on leading our initiative to see Trinity congregations start in neighboring communities.
How do you see God at work in Trinity? I sense that God is bringing us into a whole new season, the next chapter of what Trinity is called to be. I feel that God is inviting the people of Trinity to continue to discover and unleash their gifts, whether in the community, workplace or inside our church itself. I’m also excited about Trinity growing in our heart for worship and mission. Multisite is probably the most exciting single thing for me right now, imagining Trinity becoming “local” for more and more people, allowing us to welcome more people into this incredible church family. It’s clear that Trinity is uniquely positioned to make a difference, both locally and even in big, global ways. God has given us enormous social capital — connections and relationships — and resources. I believe that in the days to come, the Lord is going to invite us to leverage our gifts for even greater purposes and astound us with how He uses them.
What is your role here? My role has certainly changed over the years! I’ve already had a number of jobs at Trinity, mainly on the Student Ministry team. Two years ago, though, my role began to shift, and
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“ First Loved to Love brought me into
a deeper “ For me,
it was about being given tools that allowed me to clear some of the debris that came between me and the love of God. ”
“ This retreat will change
revelation of God’s personal love for me. It’s the difference between
your ability to experience the love of God for yourself and, out of that, to
‘knowing’ Scripture and
‘living’ Scripture. ”
“ Highly experiential , and so much more than a lecture or Bible study. ”
love others better. ”
F irst L oved to L ove retreats April 28-30 in Connecticut — Sept. 1-3 in Maine Learn more at http://trinitychurch.life/events
this summer
trinity reads A beloved American corporation with an explosive secret. A disgraced former journalist looking for redemption. A corporate executive with nothing left to lose.
Join us this summer as the Trinity community reads a single book, gathers to discuss it in small, location-based groups, and grows together through the shared experience. Jump in (and out) as needed, based on your availability.
“ Through his broad, intelligent research and insightful writing, Addison prods the conscience, trumpeting justice while acknowledging that the cost of a globalized society is incalculably higher than the price of a T-shirt.” — Publishers Weekly
This summer we will read A Harvest of Thorns, a novel by Corban Addison. Buy the book, join a group, invite some friends, and discover how your choices impact the global fashion industry.
R e g i s t r at i o n o p e n s i n e a r l y J u n e 24
what’s new Classifieds
Think of it as an online “community bulletin board.” Donating or selling a piece of furniture? Looking for housing? Want to make others aware of a great event in the area? Check it out under the Connect section.
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F i n d o pp o r t u n i t i e s t o s e r v e
The “jobs board” style search engine will enable you to easily identif y ser ving opportunities on a Sunday morning, within Trinity, in the local area or further afield, and connect directly with leaders. Head to the “Find Opportunities” page in the Ser ve section.
check it out: trinitychurch.life
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on the website
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