Due to the weather, the Ash Wednesday Service is canceled. Click the button below to download a liturgy to use with your household at home.
Getting Through the 2022 Twin Cities Marathon
This Sunday the runners in the Twin Cities Marathon will be going through our neighborhood via Summit Avenue. Our Sunday Gathering will still be at 10am. In general, if you're coming to the Sunday Gathering from north of Summit, then you'll have no problem getting to the church building. However, if you're coming from south of Summit, then you may have some of your typical routes blocked off.
Here is the route:
Here are the relevant notes about road closures:
Miles 15-21 - Shut down approximately 6:40 a.m. Reopened approximately: 12:00 p.m.
Take nearest thru street to freeways
Lake Street crosses the course without delays
Miles 21-26 - Shut down approximately 6:40 a.m. Reopened approximately: 2:30 p.m.
Take Ayd Mill or Grand Avenue into downtown Saint Paul to go around State Capitol area
Ford Parkway crosses the course without delays
I-35E through Downtown Saint Paul is an alternate route around the course
Loving Your Neighbor(hood) Challenge: Take Initiative to Meet Others
The leaders at Trinity City Church are working with Sara Joy Proppe to launch the Loving Your Neighbor(hood) Challenge. Sara Joy is the founder and director of the Proximity Project. For even more practical guidance on neighborhood engagement, listen to Sara Joy’s podcast The Embedded Church.
Whether you're new to your neighborhood or have been in the same place for a long time, it's sometimes hard to know practical ways to get to know your neighbors. Here is some guidance so that you can take the initiative to meet others in your neighborhood.
Fill out a block map. Put in your address on Google Maps and see if you can identify the names in each household around you. Who do you know and who do you need to get to know?
Spend time in your front yard once a week. If your habit is to unwind inside the house or the backyard, then try spending some time in the front yard. You may have the opportunity to meet someone new or catch up with a neighbor.
Hang out once a week at the same place / time. Go to the same coffee shop, park, etc. and meet some folks who also frequent those places.
Volunteer with a neighborhood organization. Every neighborhood in Saint Paul has organizations with different teams or committees where one can serve. Reach the non-profits, ministries, or district councils in your neighborhood and consider volunteering for one.
Participate in National Night Out on Tuesday, August 2nd. Go to the local webite (see https://www.stpaul.gov/departments/police/administration-office-chief/community-engagement-division/national-night-out) to see if your block or a block near you is participating.
Union Depot Chalk Art. | Source: City of Saint Paul
Loving Your Neighbor(hood) Challenge: Walk With Intention
The leaders at Trinity City Church are working with Sara Joy Proppe to launch the Loving Your Neighbor(hood) Challenge. Sara Joy is the founder and director of the Proximity Project. For even more practical guidance on neighborhood engagement, listen to Sara Joy’s podcast The Embedded Church.
Over the last two years, many of our households were at home more than out in our community. With COVID rates down and warm weather going up, we're going to give the congregation monthly tips for engaging our city and neighborhoods a little more.
The next tip: Walk with intention!
Draw a map of a two-block radius of where you live: When drawing your map, consider it your "prayer radius." While two blocks is suggested, there isn’t an exact science to this. Rather, think about it in terms of the density of neighbors around you and/or a manageable walking distance that provides you opportunities to pray for those around you.
Pray for particular people within your walkshed: Think about your neighbors in broad and creative categories. Your neighbors will certainly include people living in houses or apartments around you, but they can also include business owners of nearby shops, management companies of neighboring apartment buildings, and so on.
Take pictures of things while you walk: This exercise will encourage you to "see" your neighborhood in a new way. Paying attention to the nuances is how you begin to know your neighborhood. Ask God to reveal the good and the broken places where you might participate in his work. God is on the move in your neighborhood. Pausing and observing helps you see this.
Check out Sara Joy’s article for the Evangelical Free Church - Praying with Proximity.
Lake Como. (Photo courtesy of the City of Saint Paul)
Trinity Partners - David Melms Q&A
David is the Collegiate Director of the Twin Cities' Fellowship of Christian Athletes. If you'd like to connect with David you can do so at dmelms@fca.org.
Prayer Needs:
-Ultimate Training Camp at the U of St Thomas (May 29-June 4) - There are about 125 athletes throughout the country (including 50 from the Twin Cities) seeking to make Christ more central in their sports experience and life in general.
-FCA Sports Camp (June 28-July 1) and FCA Leadership Camp (July 28-31) - Recruitment of college student-athletes to serve as camp counselors to middle and high schoolers at these camps.
-Staff and discipleship group volunteers - Laborers are needed in the form of equipped student leaders, volunteers and staff to meet the discipleship needs of the sports teams.
-Summer rhythms - Pray that students and staff would experience a summer of growth spiritually and personally as well as professionally for staff.
Praises:
-Cross campus events returning to normal.
-Community growing together and the healthy hunger for it.
-The Lord connecting the Melms family with a great minivan.
Loving Your Neighbor(hood) Challenge: Identify Your Neighborhood Leaders
The leaders at Trinity City Church are working with Sara Joy Proppe to launch the Loving Your Neighbor(hood) Challenge. Sara Joy is the founder and director of the Proximity Project. For even more practical guidance on neighborhood engagement, listen to Sara Joy’s podcast The Embedded Church. Here are the previous challenges:
One of the greatest impacts you can have on your neighborhood is getting involved at the local level. It's easy to be consumed by national and international news, but the (seemingly) small decisions that are made on the street level within your community are oftentimes what impact your daily life the most. Council members, district councils, and neighborhood associations vote on things like approving the construction of new affordable housing, deciding where a new bike path might be routed, or locating where new street trees are planted. Connecting with these groups and using your voice is a great opportunity to advocate for city plans that benefit people of all walks of life. All too often the least of these are ignored when it comes to creating healthy and good places that encourage flourishing.
Every city is set up differently, but if you do a little online research you will likely find one or more of these leaders / forums present in your community. Take the time to learn the names of those who are leading in your community and begin to pray for them. You might even consider reaching out to get coffee or sending an email to ask about community concerns and ways you can be involved. Many council members host coffee hours that allow for local citizens to meet with them. Consider signing up for your Council Member's e-newsletter to stay in the know about local happenings.
If you show up to be a part of the good stuff, you will have more credibility when you have concerns to share. Don't wait to show up at a neighborhood meeting only when you're angry about a proposed change! Start now and identify your neighborhood leaders.
Council member - If you live in St. Paul, you can Find your CM / Ward / District Council
District Council - In St. Paul, the District Council is the same as the Neighborhood Association
Saint Paul Neighborhood/District Map. (Source: Wikipedia)
Loving Your Neighbor(hood) Challenge: Learn About Your Stomping Ground
The leaders at Trinity City Church are working with Sara Joy Proppe to launch the Loving Your Neighbor(hood) Challenge. Sara Joy is the founder and director of the Proximity Project. For even more practical guidance on neighborhood engagement, listen to Sara Joy’s podcast The Embedded Church.
Over the last two years, many of our households were at home more than out in our community. With COVID rates down and warm weather going up, we're going to give the congregation monthly tips for engaging our city and neighborhoods a little more.
The first tip: Learn about your stomping grounds!
It's so easy to be like fish swimming in water, totally unaware of the environment that surrounds us. We often overlook the context of where we live in the bustle of our daily lives. But an important part of living out our call to love our neighbors involves recognizing how our physical places affect our flourishing. Learning about your neighborhood is a simple first step to begin seeing the connections between the place where you live and the livelihoods of neighbors who are living, working, and playing in proximity to you.
Read your community newspaper. The Villager (Highland, Merriam Park, Summit) Park Bugle (Saint Anthony Park, Como Park, Falcon Heights, Lauderale) Saint Paul Monitor (Midway, Como, & Frogtown), Community Reporter (West End), St. Paul Voice (West Side / Downtown) or others! Local newspapers are a great resource for learning about new development that is happening in the neighborhood and understand community needs around things like affordable housing, small business efforts, environmental concerns, volunteer opportunities, etc.
Read some of your neighborhood plans. Neighborhood plans are drafted by local residents just like you, and serve as the guiding document to prioritize neighborhood change and improvements into the future. This is a great resource for understanding the goals expressed by your community when it comes to things like housing, parks, education, and economic development.
Learn your “walkscore” at walkscore.com. Walkscore is a tool that maps out the basic services and transit options available by foot within a 1/4 - 1/2 mile radius from your address. This can be an eye-opening exercise to understand how walkable your neighborhood is and consider whether a person with a limited income and no car would have the ability to do life in your neighborhood. It's easy to take owning a car for granted, but a large portion of people in our cities do not have easy access to reliable transportation, which limits housing and job options for them.
Attend a Distritc Council (aka neighborhood association) meeting. If you live in Saint Paul, look up your District Council. This step can feel intimidating, but most of these meetings consist of everyday people like you who are simply interested in making the neighborhood a good place to be. You can always be a fly on the wall and just listen -- you will likely learn a lot about your neighborhood!
The Blair Arcade Building in St. Paul. (Wikipedia)
2022 Lent and Holy Week
Lent is here! At Trinity City Church, we started the season of Lent with an Ash Wednesday service. Things kick into high gear during Holy Week when we'll be gathering for Maunday Thursday meals, a Good Friday service, a community egg hunt, and finally celebrating Easter with baptisms. Keep an eye on our events page for more details as we get closer to Holy Week.
What is the meaning and significance of this time in the church calendar? Let's consider some of the explanations from The Worship Sourcebook (the rest of the post quotes The Worship Sourcebook under each heading).
The Season of Lent
The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ are at the heart of the Christian gospel, and Good Friday and Easter are two of the most significant celebrations of the Christian year. Lent is a season of preparation and repentance during which we anticipate Good Friday and Easter. Just as we carefully prepare for big events in our personal lives, such as a wedding or commencement, Lent invites us to make our hearts ready for remembering Jesus’ passion and celebrating Jesus’ resurrection.
The practice of a forty-day preparation period began in the Christian church during the third and fourth centuries. The number forty carries biblical significance based on the forty years Israel spent in the wilderness and Jesus’ forty-day fast in the wilderness. The forty days of Lent begin on Ash Wednesday and continue through holy week, not counting Sundays (which are reserved for celebratory worship). In practice, many congregations choose to focus Sunday worship on the themes of repentance and renewal. As a period of preparation, Lent has historically included the instruction of persons for baptism and profession of faith on Easter Sunday; the calling back of those who have become estranged from the church; and efforts by all Christians to deepen their piety, devotion, and readiness to mark the death and resurrection of their Savior. As such, the primary focus of the season is to explore and deepen a “baptismal spirituality” that centers on our union with Christ rather than to function only as an extended meditation on Christ’s suffering and death.
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday is the first day of Lent. By the fourth century the Western church had determined that the Lenten period of fasting and renewal should correspond to Christ’s forty-day fast (Matt. 4:2), and, by counting forty days back from Easter (excluding Sundays, which remain “feast” days), arrived at the Wednesday seven weeks before Easter. At one time Lent was primarily viewed as a period during which converts prepared for baptism on Easter Sunday, but later the season became a general time of penitence and renewal for all Christians. Thus Ash Wednesday became the day that marked the beginning of the Lenten renewal.
The aim of Ash Wednesday worship is threefold: to meditate on our mortality, sinfulness, and need of a savior; to renew our commitment to daily repentance in the Lenten season and in all of life; and to remember with confidence and gratitude that Christ has conquered death and sin. Ash Wednesday worship, then, is filled with gospel truth. It is a witness to the power and beauty of our union with Christ and to the daily dying and rising with Christ that this entails.
The imposition of ashes is often central part of the worship service. Ashes have a long history in biblical and church traditions. In Scripture ashes or dust symbolize frailty or death (Gen. 18:27), sadness or mourning (Esther 4:3), judgment (Lam. 3:16), and repentance (Jon. 3:6). Some traditions also have considered ash a purifying or cleansing agent. All these images are caught up in the church’s use of ashes as a symbol appropriate for Lent. In Christ’s passion we see God’s judgment on evil; in our penitence we express sorrow and repentance for our sins; in our rededication we show that we are purified and renewed. The ashes, which often are the burnt residue of the previous year’s palms from Palm Sunday, are often mixed with a little water and carried in a small dish. As the leader goes from worshiper to worshiper, or as worshipers come forward, the leader dips a finger in the moist ash and makes a cross on each person’s forehead (the “imposition”), saying words such as “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return,” or, “Consider yourself dead to sin and alive in Jesus Christ.”
In some contexts, the imposition of ashes may be a barrier to thoughtful Lenten worship because of its newness or because it may be misunderstood. Most important is that worshipers rend their hearts (Joel 2:13). Decisions about whether or how to practice the imposition of ashes should always take into account that the service should build up the body of Christ.
Palm Sunday
The events framed by Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and his resurrection are some of the most dramatic and theologically important of the entire scriptural narrative. These days feature not only the drama of the triumphal entry, trial, last supper, and crucifixion but also poignant prayers and prophetic teachings of our Lord. John’s gospel devotes eight of its twenty-one chapters to this week alone! The week begins with Passion/Palm Sunday and ends with the “three days” (also called the Triduum, from sunset on Thursday to sunset on Easter Day), the period during which we mark Jesus’ trial, death, and resurrection.
The first Sunday of Holy Week is commonly called either “Palm Sunday” or “Passion Sunday.” Those who call it “Palm Sunday” tend to focus on the entry of Christ into Jerusalem to shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!” (Mark 11:9). Those who refer to the day as “Passion Sunday” tend to focus on Jesus’ suffering. This is especially appropriate in contexts in which participation in midweek services on Maundy Thursday or Good Friday is difficult or minimal, and, as a result, worshipers would sing “Hosanna” on one Sunday and “Christ arose” on the next, with little attention to Jesus’ suffering and death in between.
But even for congregations that celebrate the day as Palm Sunday, it’s important to capture the irony of the day. This is the day on which Jesus entered the city in triumph, but as a part of his journey to the cross; this is the week in which crowd’s cries of “Hosanna” would soon turn to “Crucify him!” One helpful approach to Palm Sunday worship is to begin by focusing on the procession into Jerusalem and then to concentrate on the suffering and passion of Jesus.
Maundy Thursday
On Maundy Thursday the church remembers the last evening Jesus shared with his disciples in the upper room before his arrest and crucifixion. Maundy Thursday marks three key events in Jesus’ last week: his washing of his disciples’ feet, his institution of the Lord’s Supper, and his new commandment to love one another.
The name “Maundy Thursday” comes from the Latin mandatum novum, referring to the “new commandment” Jesus taught his disciples (John 13:34). In other words, this is “new commandment Thursday.” Maundy Thursday worship naturally features the Lord’s Supper and, in some traditions, an act of foot washing or another sign of mutual love and dedication.
Celebrations of the Lord’s Supper can call attention to the many theologically rich dimensions of the Last Supper itself, including its attention to communal love and its clear eschatological orientation (its focus on hopeful anticipation of the coming kingdom).
Good Friday and Easter
Good Friday marks the death of Jesus Christ. It’s called “good” because of what Jesus’ death means for the redemption of the world. Worship on this day may focus on three aims: (1) to narrate and remember the events of Jesus’ death, (2) to open up the meaning of these events for our understanding of God and the redemption accomplished by the cross, and (3) to invite worshipers to renewed prayer and dedication.
All the hopes and expectations of Christians are realized in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, making Easter the most celebrative day of the church year.
Trinity Partners Q&A — Renee Kim
Trinity City Church exists to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ who join in the renewal of our city and world through the power of the Holy Spirit. This means we seek to partner prayerfully and financially with those who are making disciples of Jesus Christ in our city and in the world.
Renee Kim is one of those partners and she currently serves in a variety of roles related to mobilizing missions for God’s kingdom. We contacted Renee to get to know more about her, the context of where she serves, and how Trinity can continue to bless her through prayer and giving.
Trinity City Church [TCC]: First of all, tell us about your current ministry context. Where are you? What are you doing? How long have you been doing it?
Renee Kim [RK]: I am a Mobilizer for God's Kingdom. God has given me a heart and a deep desire to awaken His church (all believers) to His global purposes. The Bible may be 66 different books, and two testaments, but it all leads to one story!
I currently work for a Ministry based in Minneapolis called Engage Global. This ministry began in 2012 and I started volunteering there in 2013. In 2016, my husband and I began raising support and joined staff full time the summer of 2017. At EG we, "catalyze churches to engage unreached peoples through Global Christian Training and Global Christian Resources.” We do this by hosting teams of churches from all over the country every weekend at our training center. We cover God's Word, God's World, and God's Work. We begin with the Biblical basis of God's heart for all peoples. We then send teams out to visit and interact with people from the five major world religions (Tribal, Hindu, Unreligious, Muslim, and Buddist). The team's go out as learners, they are not going to share the gospel as that would not be possible without knowing language and culture. By the end of training we go over "God's Work" and show that EVERY believer has a role to play in God's Kingdom work!
I also coordinate the "Perspectives" courses in the Twin Cities. I am on the Area Team and am the Loop Coordinator, meaning I assist other coordinators throughout Minnesota in getting their classes up and running. I first took the Perspectives course in 2007. I moved up to Minnesota in 2008, joined a coordinating team, and began coordinating classes in 2009. I have done this every year since!
Lastly, I am on the Equipping Team through "OMF," a mission's sending agency. I am a "Mission's Coach" and I help prepare people before they move overseas to plant churches in the least reached areas of the world.
I love all of these roles, however, my biggest and most important role is "mom" to two beautiful children. I have a ten year old son and an eight year old daughter. I am a single mom (widow) and only get by every day by God's grace, mercy, and strength.
TCC: How did you connect with Trinity? What has your partnership with Trinity looked like? How has Trinity come alongside you and provided help?
RK: My husband and I were a part of the launching team at Trinity City Church back in 2010. He was sort of "recruited" to help lead worship, and since we were dating TCC was stuck with me too. We were actually the first wedding ever at TCC, so we have been connected to them since the very beginning.
In the beginning our partnership with Trinity was mostly financial. We did do a short time of sharing after service one Sunday in the chapel that a few people attended. I also met with Pastor Bryan, Charlie, and Timothy last January and hosted them at Engage Global. I wanted them to see our training center in person and hear all that we do. The desire is to get an initial team from TCC to come to an EG weekend, and then ideally TCC will continue to send teams 1-2 times a year.
TCC: What fruit have you seen from the Lord in the last few months?
RK: Doing God's work is never boring. There are daily surprises and I find no greater joy or honor than being a part of His work. In 2021 we had over 60 students graduate from the Perspectives course and go out and engage in God's work. We also continue to have teams every weekend at Engage Global and each weekend we see God working in people's lives. So many questions, new relationships made, and coaching happening. We have also helped send people to many nations all over the world including, most recently, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, and Chad. We still have many people waiting to go overseas as well due to the continued pandemic. God is always working, if you look closely you can't miss it.
TCC: What are some of the challenges you have faced in the last few months whether personally or in the ministry or in the community?
RK: COVID is always bringing challenges. Our registrations for the Perspectives course beginning [January 18, 2021] are the lowest they have ever been. I have never needed to cancel the course due to low numbers, but that may happen this year. We have also needed to cancel EG teams every now and then due to people having COVID.
Personally, my life as a single mother is exhausting. I pray every day for God to bring me a partner and someone who can love my children as their own. I also have a chronic health condition called Mast Cell Disease that can be very debilitating. Given all that I have going on, asking for a partner isn't always just a want, but a need. I also have been a nurse for 14 years (I resigned from the hospital after my husband passed away) and I am currently in school to become a Holistic Health Practitioner. So far God has helped me to manage my time well, and I pray that will continue.
TCC: What are some of the ways the people of Trinity can help this ministry? Financially or spiritually or otherwise?
RK: Prayer. We can't do anything without people faithfully praying for us. I would also love a team of people to come to an Engage Global weekend! Giving money can be easy, giving time requires more commitment. (Not that I don't appreciate the financial support! OF COURSE we do!) I feel that the joy and excitement to give will change dramatically when people know and understand what they are giving to.
TCC: Specifically on Perspectives, can you tell us a little about the class and then why someone should take it?
Perspectives is a 15 week discipleship course on God's heart for the world. It is divided into four sections, the Biblical, Historical, Cultural, and Strategic basis of God's heart for all nations. It will help you discover your place in His kingdom work and how you can use the gifts He has given you to bless all peoples. You will read your Bible with fresh eyes and your relationship with God will deepen in a way you never thought possible. We joke that this course is like trying to drink out of a fire hose, which sounds scary, but it will change your life in the best possible way.
If you would like to connect with Renee or learn more about any of the ministries she is involved with, please email her at Renee@engageglobal.org. If you are interested in giving financially to her or signing up for her newsletter, please visit https://missionstream.org/missionary/kim.
1 Corinthians Sermon Series
This Sunday (11/28), which is the first Sunday of Advent, we begin a new sermon series on 1 Corinthians.. What is 1 Corinthians all about? Watch the 1 Corinthians overview video by The Bible Project.
We’ll be going through most of this sermon series between now and the summer. In July and August, we’ll take a brief pause from 1 Corinthians to preach through Psalms 71-80 for the Summer in the Psalms series. In the fall, we’ll finish up the last section of 1 Corinthians (chapter 15) and the final remarks (chapter 16).
The Story Behind The Narthex Artwork - Tyson Phipps Interview
Our Deacon of Creative Arts Tyson Phipps created a beautiful work of art for display in the narthex. The laser-engraved and hand-painted in gold sign was inspired by Revelation 21:5 where God declares, “Behold, I am making all things new.” The sign was installed on November 20, which coincided with the conclusion of our Wonderful Works of God sermon series the following Sunday.
Bre Strobel conducted an interview with Tyson on Sunday about the artwork and what went into this five-year creative process.
Bre Strobel: Tell us about what this is, the purpose you’re working to convey. How does the art accomplish that?
Tyson Phipps: This illustration is based on Revelations 21:5, which says, “And he who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’” Trinity’s leadership asked me to create art for the Narthex that reflected this verse, and I believe this verse was chosen to reflect Trinity’s mission statement, which is: “we exist to glorify God by making disciples of Jesus Christ who join in the renewal of our city and world through the power of the Holy Spirit.” As we thought about the concept, we wanted to have art in the entryway that acted as a reminder of Christ’s promises every time you walk in — this would join in Trinity’s weekly liturgy and practices.
So, when sketching and coming up with the concept for this illustration, I decided to take a look at the context surrounding this verse. Revelations 22 depicts leaves of healing and fruit. Also, as I thought about the idea of “making new”, I thought about how plants and greenery are a picture of life and flourishing throughout the entirety of the Bible. This, paired with the differing plant imagery built into our building’s architecture and design, drove me to choosing florals as the visual language for this illustration.
Additionally, Revelations 21 depicts a city, and in this city there are 12 jewels that form the foundation of the walls. Revelations 22 also depicts 12 differing kinds of fruit, and 12 is an important number throughout the Bible. Thus, I wanted to incorporate this number somehow, & I chose to include 12 different plants/flowers to make up the illustration to represent the 12 jewels.
As a sidenote, the plant I chose for the corners of the illustration is the one that represents the tribe of Judah. Because Jesus is seen as the Lion of Judah in Revelations, and because He is called the “cornerstone,” I placed Judah’s plant in the corner of the design.
Finally, the front of the sanctuary here has a golden pattern and cross on top of a dark background. These colors are imitated in the design of the illustration to allow for continuity between the entryway and sanctuary.
BS: How long did it take you to make? What were some challenges you faced in the process?
TP: Bryan [Lair] first approached me about this project in the Summer of 2016, which has taught me two things: 1, that I’m a procrastinator, and 2, Bryan is very patient. But yeah, so sketching, drawing this design by hand, and recreating it by hand digitally took well over 100 hours. I did experience quite a lot of challenges with bringing this design to life, however. I reached out to countless printing companies to get this design gold-foil printed, but I couldn’t find anyone that could print at such a large size. Also, along the way, my computer got stolen, so I almost lost all of the digital files, but thankfully I had sent a file to one of the printing companies so I recovered it that way. Finally, after about a year of no success, I decided to have the design laser-engraved in wood by a local shop called Uptown Woodworks in Minneapolis. Once this was done, I hand-painted the gold engravings at home over course of 3 months & got installed!
BS: How did your love for God and love for art come together in making this?
TP: It was definitely a growth process for me. I studied both theology and graphic design in college, but I had never combined the two with such intentionally before. I was highly encouraged and inspired by a couple podcasts I listened to that discussed the intersection of Christianity and art. Additionally, the main aesthetic inspiration for this illustration was Dana Tanamachi, who created and designed an illustrated ESV Bible. The reason I mention those 3 inspirations is because I think it was really important for me to find spiritual and artistic mentors who have created art through their faith in Christ.
I’ve also been paying a lot more attention lately to nature and the way God created the four seasons. It’s just such a beautiful picture to me that a seed dies and is buried before it grows, or that as the earth gets further from the Sun or “light” nature dies, but as it moves close to the light, it causes growth, renewal, and life. So yeah, I really enjoyed the experience of creating this art because it caused me to pay attention to God’s Word closely, apply the skills He has given me to reflect His promises, and then carry that into the rest of my life.
My hope is that this art reminds the viewer weekly that Christ is actively renewing and restoring this world and how sweet of a reminder that promise is.
Trinity Faces - Austyn and Mike McElroy
This month we will be getting to know Austyn and Mike McElroy in our effort to learn more about the people that make up Trinity City Church. Be sure to check out Instagram and Facebook to see the McElroy’s life from their point of view.
What neighborhood do you live in?
Summit-University, near Selby/Victoria.
What’s your vocation?
Mike (aka Coach Mac) coaches college football at Bethel University. We originally moved to Minnesota so he could coach at the University of Minnesota (and then we ended up staying here). He's also coached at Concordia-St Paul.
Austyn is a user experience researcher at U.S. Bank. She's found a vocation where she can get paid to professionally people watch, ask a lot of questions, and present her (well-researched) opinions. Hit her up for coffee - she works from home and should probably socialize more LOL.
What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you?
We are high school sweethearts; we started dating before we could drive. We went to college in different states though, so that throws people off.
What's your favorite thing about living in the Twin Cities?
Big city opportunity with smaller city feel. And we can walk to many, many coffee shops and bakeries in our neighborhood. And the public parks here are fabulous.
How long have you attended TCC?
Since 2015; we joined a community group before attending a church service!
What’s something you appreciate about TCC?
The churches we grew up in and attended prior to TCC were Bible churches, mostly non-denominational. TCC introduced us to more formal liturgy, which has helped us appreciate church history and diversity in approaches among protestant churches.
We also love that most of our friends from church live within our neighborhood - it makes it much easier to be part of each others' everyday lives.
“In the fall, we spend a LOT of Saturdays at football stadiums [Asa (4) and Ira (1)] cheering on Mike's team.”
Getting Through the 2021 Twin Cities Marathon
This Sunday the runners in the Twin Cities Marathon will be going through our neighborhood via Summit Avenue. Our Sunday Gathering will still be at 10am. In general, if you're coming to the Sunday Gathering from north of Summit, then you'll have no problem getting to the church building. However, if you're coming from south of Summit, then you may have some of your typical routes blocked off.
Here is the route:
Here are the relevant notes about road closures:
Miles 15-21 - Shut down approximately 6:40 a.m. Reopened approximately: 12:00 p.m.
Take nearest thru street to freeways
Lake Street crosses the course without delays
Miles 21-26 - Shut down approximately 6:40 a.m. Reopened approximately: 2:30 p.m.
Take Ayd Mill or Grand Avenue into downtown Saint Paul to go around State Capitol area
Ford Parkway crosses the course without delays
I-35E through Downtown Saint Paul is an alternate route around the course
A Wonderful Life: Waking Up to the Glorious Light of Restoration
This Sunday, September 12th we begin a new sermon series called A Wonderful Life: Waking Up to the Glorious Light of Restoration. It’s a sermon series about experiencing the fullness of life. This wonderful life occurs when God’s light in Christ through the Holy Spirit shines on every area of life.
Here are the ten sermons in the series:
Sept 12: Our Highest Good
Sept 19: Created with Purpose
Sept 26: Ruined by Sin
Oct 3: The Good News of Restoration
Oct 10: The Mission of Restoration
Oct 17: The Restoration of Relationships
Oct 31: The Restoration of Work (Oct 24 will be a stand-alone sermon)
Nov 7: The Restoration of Culture
Nov 14: The Restoration of Public Life
Nov 21: Grace Restores All Things
Many different voices in the Christian faith inform this sermon series. The greatest inspiration, however, is the Dutch Reformed theologian, pastor, and politician Herman Bavinck (1854-1921). The sermon graphic for the series, created by Tyson Phipps, comes from a new edition of Bavinck’s book The Wonderful Works of God. Artist Jess Hiatt designed the sun graphic on the cover “to show that it is the small, everyday life-tasks that God uses to showcase His wonderful works.”
So how do we have a wonderful life? I’ll close with Bavinck’s answer:
[In Acts 2:11] the disciples of Jesus began to proclaim the wonderful works of God in all understandable languages as soon as the Holy Spirit was poured out on them. With these wonderful works of God we certainly do not, as is sometimes the case elsewhere, have to think about a particular fact—such as, say, the resurrection of Christ—but we have in view the whole economy of salvation, which God achieved through Christ. The Spirit was poured out precisely so that the church would come to know these works of God, to glory in them, and to thank and praise God for them.
Herein lies the thought that the Christian religion does not exist merely in words, in a doctrine, but that it is a work of God, in word and fact, which was accomplished in the past, is being worked out in the present, and will be fulfilled in the future. The content of the Christian faith is not a scientific theory, nor a philosophical formula of an explanation of the world, but a recognition and confession of the wonderful works of God, which have been wrought through the ages, cover the whole world, and await their fulfillment in the new heaven and new earth, where righteousness dwells.
Trinity Faces - Maureen Cunningham
This month we will be getting to know Maureen Cunningham in our effort to learn more about the people that make up Trinity City Church. Be sure to check out Instagram and Facebook to see Maureen’s life from her point of view.
What neighborhood do you live in?
I live in the Merriam Park neighborhood of St. Paul, just two blocks from Trinity.
What’s your vocation?
I work at Bethel University as the Manager of Annual Giving.
What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you?
Something not a lot of people know about me is that I was stung by a jellyfish in the Mediterranean Sea. It was quite the experience!
What's your favorite thing about living in the Twin Cities?
One of my favorite things about living in the Twin Cities is the proximity to green space - the river, state parks, neighborhood gardens. I also love that it is a big metropolitan area with a small town feel. I especially feel that in St. Paul and it helps me feel at home here.
How long have you attended TCC?
I have attended Trinity for 3 years.
What’s something you appreciate about TCC?
At Trinity, I appreciate the devotion to church history and liturgy, while incorporating sermons and ministries that face head-on our current realities. I appreciate how the Gospel is at the center of everything that is done and lived out in the lives of the members in many different ways.
Ruth Sermon Series
A new sermon series on the Old Testament book of Ruth begins Sunday, May 9th. Ruth is a story about a bitter life that becomes a blessed life, which is represented in the series graphic made by Tyson Phipps (Deacon of Creative Arts). Here is an overview of the series:
May 9 - Ruth 1:1-5
May 16 - Ruth 1:6-22
May 23 - Ruth 2
May 30 - Ruth 3
June 6 - Ruth 4
Here is a good overview of the book of Ruth from The Bible Project.
Guest Speaker: Joshua Williams
On Sunday, May 2nd our church has the pleasure of having Joshua Williams preach at our Sunday Gathering. Josh is the Church Planting Resident at Christ Community Church. He is married to Lindsay and together they have three children: Soren, Florence, and Barrett. His family and team are preparing to start a new church in West Saint Paul. They “desire to plant a gospel-centered church that lives out God’s mission of redemption and restoration in community with other Christians.” For more information about supporting this church plant, go to this website.
2021 Easter Baptism Testimonies
Here are the testimonies for those getting baptized this Easter!
Anna Lehn
The Christian faith has always been a big part of my life. I had many years growing up in a Christian home that taught me to love the Lord and live my life for Him. I accepted Jesus into my heart at a young age. In recent years as my family has gone through some hard changes, I realized that my relationship with God wasn’t something I relied on when life was going well. I started leaning into my own personal relationship with God. He showed me that He will never let me down and that I desperately need His grace and love. I want my faith to be a top priority through all the ups and downs that life brings. As I get married later this year and enter an important new chapter, I also want to publicly celebrate my union with Christ through baptism and to continue living a life centered on Jesus.
Davaris Cheeks
I am blessed for this opportunity to be renewed in Spirit and brought into the light of our Lord and Savior. My intermediate family does not have the history of going to a traditional service every Sunday morning, and as there is much separation and spiritual disconnect I hope and pray that my baptism will rejuvenate my family's relationship with the Lord as well as my own. My personal faith journey and walk have had many pivotal turns and redirections, but I am thankful to be saved by His grace. I am committed to surrendering my life to serve Him and His people. I wholeheartedly trust God and know He will use me for His intended purpose. I am beyond blessed to be taking this step in my faith.
Trinity Faces - David & Abbie Nelson
This month we will be getting to know the Nelson’s in our effort to learn more about the people that make up Trinity City Church. Be sure to check out Instagram and Facebook to see the Nelson’s life from their point of view.
What neighborhood do you live in?
We currently live in Bloomington, but we're moving into the Lairs' attic space, which I believe is the Lexington-Hamline neighborhood.
What’s your vocation?
David serves as the pastoral resident at TCC and Abbie serves both as a medical-surgical nurse at UMMC West Bank and as a NICU nurse at Children's-St. Paul. Wally the dog is our hound in training.
What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you?
Despite her warm and outgoing personality, Abbie is not a hugger. David once appeared on the Big Ten Network to color-commentate a Gophers men's basketball game. Wally snores and sleeps on his back.
What's your favorite thing about living in the Twin Cities?
David's favorite thing about the Twin Cities is the lakes and the natural beauty here. Abbie's favorite thing is all the fun food and restaurants around the metro. Wally likes going for walks.
How long have you attended TCC?
We've been attending since mid-October, so a little more than four months.
What’s something you appreciate about TCC?
It's been awesome to attend corporate worship after so many months without it over this summer. We both appreciate how much care TCC has put in to make sure we can meet together safely on Sundays. We also enjoy the thought-provoking sermons from Pastor Bryan.
Trinity Faces - Al & Sonia Morrall
This month we will be getting to know the Morrall’s in our effort to learn more about the people that make up Trinity City Church. Be sure to check out Instagram and Facebook to see the Morrall’s life from their point of view.
What neighborhood do you live in?
We live in the Northrop neighborhood in South Minneapolis.
What’s your vocation?
Sonia is a Hospice Social Worker, Al is a Financial Advisor
What’s something a lot of people don’t know about you?
Al bought Sonia's engagement ring with winnings from a poetry contest. We were engaged at 12,000 feet in Colorado's backcountry. Sonia dove into this adventure with no prior camping experience.
What's your favorite thing about living in the Twin Cities?
Our favorite thing about living in the Twin Cities is the access to both city life and beautiful nature within a close radius. We also love to eat, so we thoroughly enjoy the good restaurant scene in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul.
How long have you attended TCC?
We have attended TCC for about 7 years. We started attending as a dating couple when we were in college.
What’s something you appreciate about TCC?
Something we appreciate about TCC is the effort people make to create an authentic Christ-centered community. We value how people go out of their way to support each other. We love that Trinity brings together people of diverse backgrounds and perspectives to worship God.
