Dear People of Trinity,
In just a couple of weeks I will have been here at Trinity for three years. I can say without hesitation that my tenure here has been the most unusual of any congregation I have served.
In some ways it feels like I’ve just arrived, and in other ways it feels like a decade. Much has happened in just a short period of time.
I certainly didn’t know when we came together in 2019, that within months we would undergo one of the most profound events that many of us would ever experience. Who had ever heard of churches being closed for in person worship, or holding worship virtually by Zoom or YouTube. In addition, no one realized just how long the pandemic would go on, and how it would change our work, social, and worship patterns.
Nevertheless, I am reminded of the words of the Prophet Jeremiah, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for your good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
We could, if we were so inclined, spend a lot of time lamenting the past two years, and the physical, mental, and spiritual pain so many have experienced. These cannot be ignored, yet we are called to the future. As a congregation we are facing some challenges, the call process has been exceedingly slow, and our financial stewardship has declined during the pandemic. However, I have confidence that this is temporary.
My hope, as your pastor, is that we don’t allow Covid to continue to assert itself thoroughly in our worship life. The pandemic forced isolation upon us, and many of us could not (and some still cannot) attend in person worship. Given that when this all started, I had only been here for six months, there are many of you I still barely know, and on many Sundays now, I am meeting people again for what seems like the first time. I hope this happens a lot in the coming weeks, and that you will return, as you are able, to join us for in person worship.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Peter
In just a couple of weeks I will have been here at Trinity for three years. I can say without hesitation that my tenure here has been the most unusual of any congregation I have served.
In some ways it feels like I’ve just arrived, and in other ways it feels like a decade. Much has happened in just a short period of time.
I certainly didn’t know when we came together in 2019, that within months we would undergo one of the most profound events that many of us would ever experience. Who had ever heard of churches being closed for in person worship, or holding worship virtually by Zoom or YouTube. In addition, no one realized just how long the pandemic would go on, and how it would change our work, social, and worship patterns.
Nevertheless, I am reminded of the words of the Prophet Jeremiah, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for your good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope."
We could, if we were so inclined, spend a lot of time lamenting the past two years, and the physical, mental, and spiritual pain so many have experienced. These cannot be ignored, yet we are called to the future. As a congregation we are facing some challenges, the call process has been exceedingly slow, and our financial stewardship has declined during the pandemic. However, I have confidence that this is temporary.
My hope, as your pastor, is that we don’t allow Covid to continue to assert itself thoroughly in our worship life. The pandemic forced isolation upon us, and many of us could not (and some still cannot) attend in person worship. Given that when this all started, I had only been here for six months, there are many of you I still barely know, and on many Sundays now, I am meeting people again for what seems like the first time. I hope this happens a lot in the coming weeks, and that you will return, as you are able, to join us for in person worship.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Peter
