Trinity News & Updates
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Worship * Remaining Connected * Notes from the pastor (scroll down)
Pastor’s Notes
Sunday, May 10 I invited worshippers to suggest titles for the sermon I preached. I have always found this kind of feedback helpful and informative.
The first time this happened it took me by surprise.
I was serving a small Presbyterian church in Chicago after finishing seminary, before ordination. Every time I started to preach there, Bud would get up from his seat and leave by a side door. The first time this happened I figured Bud felt a coughing fit coming on or he needed to go to the bathroom. But it kept happening. I would step to the pulpit and Bud would step out the side door.
I had three hypotheses:
Bud didn’t like sermons;
Bud didn’t like MY sermons; or
Bud’s bladder was somehow synced to the worship service at Ravenswood Presbyterian Church.
Then one Sunday, Bud showed me a cassette tape. He’d written the date, my name and the title he thought went with the sermon he’d just heard. Without any fanfare Bud recorded the sermon every week, made about a half dozen copies of it and delivered them to people who would not be in church that week. Bud gave me immediate feedback; I knew what he thought the sermon was about. It was a huge gift.
When I served a church in Baltimore, they ran an ad in the Saturday paper every week with the sermon title and the preacher’s name. The Sun needed that information ten days in advance. I would rack my brain and come up with a few words that the text suggested to me. No one ever commented about the sermon title. I never got a “Pastor, that title really captured what you said!” nor a “What was you thinkin’?” In fact, in nearly 40 years of preaching no one has ever commented on a sermon title without my prodding.
I served a church once where it was very important to one vocal member that there be a sermon title in the bulletin. I explained my reasons for not wanting to name a sermon prior to preaching it. She was adamant. I resisted the temptation to title a sermon “Untitled #347,” and provided a few words that I was likely to say during the coming worship service.
No one noticed.
Following my sermon on May 10, 2026, some worshippers suggested these titles:
A lifetime of commitments
The novelty of God
Seeds grow best with a little fertilizer
How the word spread
We need each other
Who we are is what we Do (not how well we argue the point)
Paul—the Influencer
The Proof Is in the Pudding
Lend me your ear
Message received
The Man in the Mirror
The Message that Fell on Deaf Ears
The Philosopher’s Stone
Different Moments, Different Decisions
One God, giving countless opportunities
The God Who Keeps Turning on the Light
Paul & how to work the crowd
— Pastor Tom
To weigh in on possible sermon titles for Pastor Tom’s sermon on May 10, 2026: watch the sermon here
Worship for February 19, 2023 - Transfiguration, Christ and Us
We are delighted to welcome the Rev. Dennis Winzenried as he leads us in worship today. He will be reflecting on the Transfiguration of Christ, and I know you will be blessed by his words.
Worship for February 12, 2023
We are delighted to welcome the Rev. Barry Williams as he leads us in worship today. He will be reflecting on Jesus teaching in the Sermon on the Mount, and I know you will be blessed by his words.
Worship for February 5, 2023 - Letting Our Light Shine
Today in worship we continue exploring the teachings of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount, today looking at what it means to let our light shine.
Worship for January 29, 2023 - Finding Ourselves Blessed
Today in worship we begin a three week series exploring the Sermon on the Mount as we reflect on the Beatitudes, and what it might mean to find ourselves blessed by God.
Worship for January 15, 2023 - Encountering the Light
Have you ever met someone and knew right away that they were going to change your life? The gospels tell us that was how some of the early disciples experienced Jesus - someone they just knew was going to change their life. Whether your experience of faith has been like that, or a more gradual journey, we are all learning day by day what it means to be followers of Christ.
Worship for January 8, 2023 - Baptism of the Lord
Today is an exciting day for our congregation! During worship we will be ordaining and installing our new officers for 2023, as well as celebrating communion. This is all within the context of remembering the baptism of Jesus, and our own calling into the family of faith.
Christmas Morning Worship at 10:45 AM
This morning we have an exciting worship service planned! We are being joined by our friends from Brentwood to host a joint Christmas Morning service. We've polled both congregations on our favorite Christmas songs and our service will focus on telling the stories of these wonderful songs. Please note our special time of 10:45 AM.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion Service
Tonight we will gather for our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion service, and I cannot wait to share in worship with you! Our service will be filled with songs of the season, the retelling of the Christmas story, communion, and singing Silent Night by candlelight. Please note our new time this year of 5:30 PM.
Worship for December 18, 2022 - Christmas Carol Celebration - Fourth Sunday of Advent
For the first time since before the pandemic we are hosting a full Christmas Cantata, featuring our choir and orchestra. A host of musicians from Trinity and the community have prepared a service of beauty and hope as we get ready for Christmas.
Worship for December 11, 2022 - Finding Hope in Mystery - Third Sunday of Advent
If you are like me, sometimes the mystery of our faith can be frustrating! What if, instead, we thought of it as life-giving? Today we explore how to find hope in mystery, especially during this holiday season.
Worship for December 4, 2022 - Bearing Good Fruit - Second Sunday of Advent
Today is an exciting day in worship as we celebrate both sacraments of the church: baptism and communion.
Worship for November 27, 2022 - Expect Transformation - First Sunday of Advent
We begin a new church year today as we celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, the season of preparation for Christmas and the coming of Jesus. With the changing season we also are seeing some changes in our worship service with new music and new patterns.
Worship for November 20, 2022 - An Unexpected King
Today we celebrate Christ the King Sunday, the day in the church year when we look forward to the coming reign of Christ. In scripture, however, we find an unexpected king. What does it look like to follow the Prince of Peace instead of a king of conquest? Today we also conclude our 2023 Pledge Campaign with Pledge Sunday. Thank you for prayerfully considering your pledge of financial support.
Worship for November 13, 2022 - Future Hopes, Future Fears
Today we hear two scriptures that look to the future - a future of hope and fear. We will explore how our faith forms our view of, and planning for, the future.
Worship for November 6, 2022 - All Saints' Sunday
Today in worship we will be remembering with hope those who have entered the Church Triumphant this past year and then coming to the table to celebrate communion.
Worship for October 30, 2022 - Reformation Sunday
Today we celebrate Reformation Sunday, hearing a familiar story of God's surprising encounter with a tax collector -- a familiar story which tells us of God's constant, yet surprising, love.
Worship for October 23, 2022 - Finding Joy and Humility in God's House
What do you experience when you come to church? Today we explore a story told by Jesus about two people who come to the temple and how differently they respond to being in God's house.
Worship for October 16, 2022 - Wrestling with God
Have you ever felt like your faith was more like a wrestling match than calm moments of transcendence? Today in worship we will explore several stories in scripture where people wrestle with God for a blessing, and what it might tell us for our own faith journey.
Worship for October 9, 2022 - Gratitude Comes from the Heart
Today in worship we are delighted to welcome the Rev. Bill Havens as he reflects on gratitude.