From Pastor Andrea…
As we approach Thanksgiving, we are invited to reflect on the many blessings God has entrusted to us. We give thanks for the people who have shaped our faith, the relationships that sustain us, and the opportunities we have to share God’s love.
Gratitude also invites us to ask an important question:
What does Holy Trinity look like when we are at our best?
Over the years, Holy Trinity has identified seven guiding principles that describe our shared values: growing spiritually, caring for one another, giving generously, engaging our community, building relationships, serving joyfully, and welcoming others.
These values remain important. They remind us of who we are and challenge us to become more fully the congregation God calls us to be. Our guiding principles are not simply words on a page. They help shape our relationships, ministries, and decisions.
Our purpose statement reminds us that we are called to “share faith, hope, and love with each other, our neighbors, and the world.”
As we look toward the future, I invite us to consider bringing our seven guiding principles together into five commitments.
When you see Holy Trinity at our best, you will see us:
1. Growing in Faith
We give thanks for opportunities to grow in our relationship with God through worship, prayer, learning, and following Jesus. Whether we gather for Saturday evening worship, Sunday morning worship, Bible study, or other activities, we are strengthened in faith and sent to live that faith throughout the week.
2. Caring for One Another
We are grateful for the people who make Holy Trinity a caring community. We celebrate life’s joys, support one another through challenges, and remember those unable to worship with us in person. Whether we gather on Saturday evening, Sunday morning, or remain connected through visits, prayer, and friendship, we belong to one another in Christ.
3. Building Relationships and Welcoming All
We give thanks for the relationships that make Holy Trinity a place of belonging. We welcome newcomers, strengthen friendships across generations, and build connections with our neighbors. Hospitality is more than opening our church doors. It is opening our hearts and making room for others.
4. Serving Our Neighbors with Joy
Gratitude becomes visible when we share God’s love through action. We give thanks for our community partnerships and opportunities to serve alongside our neighbors. Jesus calls us to love others, and our service is one way we respond to the grace we have received.
5. Sharing Generously for God’s Mission
We give thanks for the gifts God has entrusted to us: our people, time, talents, financial resources, and church building. These gifts are blessings because of the ministry they make possible. Generosity is our grateful response to God’s generosity, helping us care for our congregation and serve our wider community.
Gratitude That Guides Our Decisions
Gratitude is not only about remembering what God has done. It also shapes how we respond to what God is doing today.
As we consider new ministries, community partnerships, building needs, and financial commitments, our guiding principles can help us ask:
- Does this decision reflect who we are and who God is calling us to become?
- How will this decision help us share faith, hope, and love with each other, our neighbors, and the world?
- Are we simply preserving what we have, or are we using our gifts to strengthen the ministry God has entrusted to us?
These questions invite us to honor our past while remaining open to the future. We can be deeply grateful for our traditions, worship opportunities, building, and history while also exploring new ways to serve.
Moving Forward with Thankful Hearts
The Apostle Paul encourages us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thessalonians 5:18). Gratitude does not mean everything is easy or that we have no challenges. It means recognizing God’s faithfulness even as we face uncertainty and change.
As we enter this season of Thanksgiving, I am grateful for the many ways Holy Trinity shares faith, hope, and love. I am grateful for those who worship on Saturday evenings and Sunday mornings, those who serve quietly behind the scenes, those who care for one another, and those whose prayers continue to sustain our congregation from home.
My hope is that our guiding principles will help us celebrate these gifts while discerning where God is leading us next.
May our gratitude for what God has given us inspire generosity in what we share, joy in how we serve, and faithfulness in how we move forward together.
Serving Christ with you,
Pastor Andrea
