[Jesus said] “You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men.” Mark 7:8 ESV
Cutting off the end of the ham
Cutting off the end of the ham // Fall Kick-off details // Be sure to bring your child’s backpack
Dear Members and Friends of Trinity Downtown:
A husband and his wife were in their kitchen. The husband was sitting at the kitchen table reading the newspaper while his wife was preparing a ham for dinner. Looking up from reading, the husband noticed that his wife cut off about one inch from either end of the ham before placing it in the baking pan.
Husband: Why are you wasting a portion of this expensive ham?
Wife: well, that’s the way my mom always prepared her ham.
Husband: But why did your mom cut the ends off?
The wife didn’t really know, so she called her mom and then her grandmother to get the answer.
Grandmother: oh, so the ham would fit properly in the small baking pan that I had.
You may have heard this (perhaps apocryphal and arguably sexist) story. It’s silly, but it illustrates a universal truth about humans and human culture: rules and customs are created that make a great deal of sense in their original context, but perhaps not so much as the years go by.
The lesson is clear: we need to watch what we teach our children, especially when it comes to being precise about what God has instructed us all to do and to be. We don’t want to “cut off the end of the ham” of God’s Word.
This weekend at Trinity Downtown
(August 21st & 22nd)
As the new school year gets underway around our community, this weekend at Trinity Downtown’s Fall Kick-off we’ll recognize and pray for those among us who carry the role and responsibility of teaching in our congregation. Here are the details:
- Our normal worship times of 5:00 pm on Saturday and 9:00 am on Sunday morning will continue. We’ll carry on streaming our services for those that prefer that option;
- We’ll be resuming in-person Sunday School and Adult Bible classes at the new start time of 10:15 am;
- We’ll be blessing our students’ backpacks, so please make a note to bring them with you to our worship service;
- Your students will enjoy the “refreshed” Student Underground and Fellowship Hall environments for Sunday School and Youth Bible study;
- Our Sanctuary Choir will be leading the congregational singing during our worship services;
- Snacks and coffee will be available in our Gathering Space on Sunday morning, and warm cookies will again be available preceding Saturday’s Satellite service!
- Best of all, we’ll have a BBQ lunch with meat prepared by the Holy Smokers ready to serve in the gym at 11:30 am on Sunday. Everyone’s invited. A generous donor has sponsored the costs of the fixin’s and the serving, so we can all enjoy breaking bread together!
- We’re keeping COVID in mind by having gloved and masked servers distribute the food. In addition, our facility is large enough to allow us to spread out the tables and the seats.
Our doors will open 30 minutes before the start of each worship service, and you may enter from any door. As always, we ask that if you are not feeling well, please stay home and participate with us online.
In response to the increased number of infections, this weekend at Trinity Downtown we’re making some changes in our recommendations and seating arrangements designed to lower the chance we’ll inadvertently spread the infection further.
Watch Online
You can watch the “live stream” of our Satellite Service at 5:00 pm on Saturday, or our traditional service on Sunday at 9:00 am by clicking the button below. And, of course, you may also participate by watching either of these services “on demand” at any time. To enhance your worship this weekend, we’ve placed this weekend’s Order of Worship and our updated prayer list below.
Drive-Up Communion
Please note that Drive-up Communion is being offered on Saturday and Wednesday of each week.
COVID-19 Updates
We continue to be deeply thankful for the God-inspired work of our medical professionals who developed and are distributing the COVID vaccines, and who continue to care for those afflicted with this disease. Please keep the members of our congregation who serve in these capacities in your daily prayers that God may grant them strength, courage and a robust immune system.
In response to the increased number of COVID infection in our community, please follow these recommendations and seating arrangements designed to lower the chance we’ll inadvertently spread the infection further. Specifically:
- We are encouraging everyone over three years of age to wear a mask while on Trinity’s campus. (Please note that is NOT a mandate, just a heart-felt recommendation;)
- We also would encourage you to get vaccinated if you’re eligible and haven’t already done so; and
- We’re increasing the size of the sanctuary seating area designated as “socially-distanced”. A large portion of the Pulpit side will be marked so that only every other row is available for seating.
- As always, if you’re feeling unwell, please stay home and take advantage of our streaming alternatives
Please take advantage of our nursery, which is now open to care for children 2 years old and younger on Sunday mornings.
Let’s learn how to focus our time and attention on what God has revealed to us in His Word, and how leaning on His provision and care can lessen our stress load and bring deep transformation in our hearts. Celebrate with us the depth of Jesus’ love for us and find out how you can live a life of significance, filled with meaning. Discover how following Jesus can help you and your family navigate around the minefields of life.
This weekend come get a fresh jolt of spiritual energy at Trinity Downtown. It will make a tremendous difference in your life.
Your Pastor,
Michael Dorn