September 20, 2026

WELCOME AND LITURGY OF GATHERING

Leader: Reading of Psalm 78.1-8 (FNV).  This is the word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

Trinity is fostering a haven of belonging where wanderers and wonderers 

gather to discover and embody the love of Jesus in the world.

COMMUNAL SINGING

This is my Father’s World

This is my Father’s world, and to my listening ears,

All nature sings, and round me rings

The music of the spheres.

This is my father’s world; I rest me in the thought

Of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hands the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world, The birds their carols raise,

The morning light, the lily white,

Declare their Maker’s praise.

This is my Father’s world; he shines in all that’s fair;

In the rustling grass I hear him pass,

He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world, O let me ne’er forget

That though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father’s world; why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King, let the heavens ring,

God reigns, let the earth be glad!

Holy, Holy, Holy

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!

Early in the morning our song shall rise to thee;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide thee

Though the eye of sinful man thy glory may not see;

Only thou art holy, there is none beside thee

Perfect in power, love, and purity

Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!

All thy works shall praise thy name,

In earth, and sky, and sea;

Holy, holy, holy! Merciful and mighty

God in three persons, blessed Trinity!

COMMUNITY CONFESSION

Leader: Why is it so easy to boast of our achievements, yet so hard to humbly come to God with the mistakes we make? This is the place where we stand in the presence of the One who longs to shape us into new people.

ALL: Forgive us, patient God, for taking note of those around us with limited human perceptions, and not perceiving each person as created in your image. We judge people instead of acknowledging and treating each person as your loved child. As you shape us into new people, give us new clarity, new hearts, new lives to follow Jesus.

Leader: This is the good news: Christ has come to transform our old ways and to fill us with new life.

ALL: We are forgiven and free to live as God’s beloved. Thanks be to God! 

BLESSING AND PASSING THE PEACE 

Adults: The Lord be with you!

Children and Kids Ministry Leader: And also with you! 

During this time we greet one another, recognizing that we are all a part of the body, as PreK-5th grade children are led to their ministry space. Younger children and youth remain, and are welcome, in the Gathering. Materials for toddlers are available and we understand that their presence means they will be heard, no need to worry about their vocal contributions.

SERMON NOTES

Forming a People

A People Delivered

Exodus 3.1-12 (Matthew 22.31-32, Mark 12.26-27, Luke 20.37-38)

• Reflecting on the week’s text. Where do you see Christ showing up today in a similar way? 

• In this week’s text, what eternal truth are you re-membering? If it helps, revisit the words of the historical Jesus as he references or speaks the text. 

• In the stories of the people you have been a part of, what is a truth you still hold dear? In this season, how are you/we re-membering - ourselves, God, and community.

• In what ways have you seen a community practice repentance (a turning/changing one’s mind)? How might we as individuals and as a people be attentive to where we have turned our gaze away and to turn back to our calling?

• In what ways is the Spirit reminding you today that we (as humanity and the people of God) have been here before? How does the story of life with God reveal what is next?  

*Through small and large group conversations, we’ll be voicing what resonates with us and reflect that back to the group(s).

* Description Card

*For additional discussion prompts visit the series page here.

LORD’S TABLE LITURGY

ALL: Pour out your Spirit of rest and shalom upon this bread and this cup, that these gifts might nourish us. As we find our rest in you, may we become restless in service to your children; as we engage with you in solitude, may we build a community of justice and righteousness; as we listen to your silence, may we speak out for all whose voices are ignored by the world. Then, when we gather with all who have found their rest with you at the Table of the Lamb, we will sing your praise for all eternity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, God in Community, Holy in One.  Amen.

Leader: The Table of the Lord is open for all who would seek and accept the forgiveness Christ offers us.

*communion elements are gluten and alcohol free, not allergen free

RESPONSE & OFFERING OF WORSHIP                                                                                                                                    

The Offering Basket 

Prayer requests may be posted in the Zoom chat (Zoom participants) or written and placed in the offering basket.

Beneath the Cross of Jesus

Beneath the cross of Jesus

I fain would take my stand,

The shadow of a mighty Rock

Within a weary land;

A home within the wilderness,

A rest upon the way,

From the burning of the noontide heat,

And the burden of the day.

Oh, safe and happy shelter!

Oh, refuge tried and sweet!

Oh, trysting place where heaven’s love

And heaven’s justice meet.

As to the holy patriarch

That wondrous dream was given,

So is my Savior by the cross

A ladder up to heaven.

I take, O cross, thy shadow

For my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than

The sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by,

To know no gain nor loss,

My sinful self my only shame,

My glory all the cross.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Closet Clean Out. After the Gathering TODAY September 20th we’ll clean out the Trinity storage closet at COhatch. Stick around and help sort, toss, and assist with cleaning (bring rubber gloves if you’ve got them). It will be so cathartic.  

Sermon Series. Check out the sermon series page to see where we’re headed. Reflection and discussion prompts as well as resources have been included.

Trinity Seasonal Small Groups for the fall of 2026 will be a “choose your own adventure” style as we dive into the way in which God has always been forming a people - a kindom. Surveying the Old Testament, and the words referenced by the historical Jesus, we locate ourselves in the trajectory of the story of God, seeing how we are still being formed today. Each small group gathering will determine their own course. We’ll be spending balanced time relationship building, care, and conversation around the theme of the week. It is OK if you can’t attend every session. Join as you are able, but please let your facilitator/host know at the beginning of the season when you can’t attend. If you need assistance accessing or acquiring materials, please let your facilitator/host know. Everyone is asked to commit to Expectations for healthy conversation. Please contact the group host for more details and to generally RSVP. You are welcome to join the group that fits your schedule/needs. You are not bound by geographical location/parish. 

Mondays 12-1pm - Fishers/Zoom starting September 14th

Wednesdays 7-9pm - Midtown/Downtown starting September 16th

Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm - Queer Affinity starting September 17th

Every other Fridays 6-7:30pm - Broad Ripple starting September 11th 

Civic Action Group. Join us for our next Civic Action Group (CAG) meeting Sunday, September 27, at 11:30 AM, right after the Gathering. We’ll meet in person at COhatch and virtually via Zoom for those joining remotely.  Together, we’ll clarify our vision, explore next steps, and discern how we can best locally realize God’s call for justice and transformation. 

• The midterm election is upon us, with a need to ensure that we are registered to vote (Sept) and prepared to cast our ballots (Oct).

• It is also budget season, and we need to make sure that the city funds life-saving initiatives rather than resource-guzzling data centers.

• We also need to stay on top of our police department as they continue to muddy pathways to transparency, both around mass surveillance and officer violence.

Whether you're new to CAG or have been with us from the start, we invite you to be part of this conversation as we seek to build the Kin(g)dom of God in tangible ways.  Want to stay connected? Sign up for the CAG info list by filling out this info form! Contact joel@indytrinity.org with questions.

THE BENEDICTION

Leader: May you live each day 

ALL: with sacred intuition to the terrors of this world. 

Leader: But may you never be swallowed by them. May you find peace as you let the divine guide you 

ALL: into inner rest in the face of all that might destroy. 

Leader: May you tremble, 

ALL: but never alone. Amen!

Leader: Go in Peace.

(Some liturgies adapted from enfleshed.com and https://holdfasttowhatisgood.com/liturgy/prayer-of-confession/; Black Liturgies) 

Remain in the Gathering space for general connection and prayer.

GATHERING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

Guide and Service Dog Training. As we welcome Guide/Service Dogs at Gatherings, please familiarize yourself with resources under on these two websites https://www.guidedogs.com/resources/blindness-and-guide-dog-etiquette and https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/best-practices-when-around-a-service-dog/  and discuss main points with those in your household. If you or anyone in your household has severe allergies or any fear of dogs, etc. please contact us (contact@indytrinity.org) so we can do our best to keep Gathering spaces welcoming for all. 

Land Acknowledgement. We acknowledge that the land on which we gather for worship was stolen from Native peoples, who were driven out of the area and of their native lands by genocide, force (through broken treaties and laws imposed upon their nation), and systematic disposession.  The Myaamiaki, Kaskaskia, and Kickapoo peoples* and their sovereign Nations have cared for, and are deeply a part of, this land - past, present, and future. (ref: Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, Trinity Church)