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 August 6, 2023
Today, on August 6, Pastor Chris returns to the pulpit from his three month sabbatical! We have missed him and look forward to worshipping with him again. Our combined Sunday School class will hear from Pastor Chris about his summer study, renewal, and projects this morning! We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. If you are worshipping with us online, make sure to have your communion elements close by. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for July 30, 2023
Today, on July 30, guest preacher Rev. Dennis Winzenried will be preaching. Our combined Sunday School class will hear from Sarah Muegge on our children’s programs this morning! We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for July 23, 2023
Today, on July 23, we will learn about the clean water ministry, Living Waters for the World. Our combined Sunday School class will hear from Rev. Bill Havens this morning! We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for July 16, 2023
Today, on July 16, guest preacher Rev. Barry Williams will be preaching. Our combined Sunday School class will hear from Rev. Bill Havens this morning! We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for July 9, 2023
Today, on July 2, guest preacher Rev. Dennis Winzenreid will be preaching. Our combined Sunday School class will not meet this morning. We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for July 2, 2023
Today, on July 2, guest preacher Rev. Dennis Winzenreid will be preaching. Our combined Sunday School class will not meet this morning. We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for June 25, 2023
Today, on June 25, guest preacher Rev. Bill Havens will be preaching. Our combined Sunday School class will meet this morning, at 10:15am, in the Fellowship Hall and online. Nate Shlueter from Eden Village will be speaking to the class this morning! We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for June 18, 2023
Today, on June 18, guest preacher Rev. Barry Williams will be preaching. Our combined Sunday School class will meet this morning, at 10:15am, in the Fellowship Hall. Jaimie Trussell from the Crosslines Ministry will be speaking to the class this morning! We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. If you are worshipping with us online, please prepare your communion elements to have during service. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for June 11, 2023
Today, June 11, Nissa Krier will be preaching. Our combined Sunday School class will begin meeting for the summer this morning, at 10:15am, in the Fellowship Hall. Rebekah Thomas will be speaking to the class this morning! We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. If you are worshipping with us online, please prepare your communion elements to have during service. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for June 4, 2023, Trinity Sunday
Today, on Trinity Sunday, Rev. Dennis Winzenried will be preaching. Our combined Sunday School class will begin meeting for the summer this morning, at 10:15am, in the Fellowship Hall. Melinda Spencer will be speaking to the class this morning! We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. If you are worshipping with us online, please prepare your communion elements to have during service. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.
Worship for May 28, 2023, Pentecost
Today, on Pentecost, Rev. Barry Williams will be preaching. Due to the holiday weekend, we will not have Worship & Wonder during worship for children. There will be goodie bags available for children who attend worship. We gather in the Sanctuary and online today at 11:30am for worship. As always, our online service is recorded and available later in the week to watch and share with others.