September 14th

WELCOME AND LITURGY OF GATHERING

Leader: Reading of Psalm 98.1-5. 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!

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father

There is no shadow of turning with Thee

Thou changest not, thy compassions, they fail not

As Thou hast been, thou forever will be

Great is Thy faithfulness

Great is Thy faithfulness

Morning by morning new mercies I see

All I have needed Thy hand hath provided

Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest

Sun, moon and stars in their courses above

Join with all nature in manifold witness

To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love (chorus)

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth

Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide

Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside (chorus)

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

Monster Petting Zoo: On Safari with God

When Heaven Comes to Earth

Genesis 6:1-4, Number 13:33, Ezekiel 32:27 

• What does the myth or monster in today’s text look like for you/us today?

• What is causing discomfort in this week/season? How might you/we make a home for it?

• How might the Spirit be inviting you/us to make friends with fear? What fears are being turned into wonder this week/season?

• Describe what you feel was previously inaccessible to you and explore how it may be becoming more accessible today.

• In what ways is God allowing you to move through or lean into something rather than “escape it”? 

• How are you engaging the mysterious/monstrous as a part of your spiritual life in this season? How is this helping you locate yourself in the larger trajectory of the story of God?

*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 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.

Let Us Break Bread Together

Let us break bread together on our knees

Let us break bread together on our knees

When I fall on my knees, with my face to the rising sun,

Oh Lord, have mercy on me

Let us drink the cup together on our knees…

Let us praise God together on our knees…

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming Community Conversations and corresponding surveys. The Leadership Team would like to check-in to gain a better pulse on the health of our faith community as we pursue our common mission and live into our vision. As we consider who we are continually becoming as a faith community, we want to posture ourselves with curiosity, assessing if what we do and how we function are aligned with what is needed in the season ahead. What a joy it is to be in this position and we are honored to engage and open up the conversation with everyone! In order to pace ourselves, facilitate, and prepare for upcoming Community Conversations (September 28th, October 12th, and November 9th), three separate (and shorter) surveys will be sent. Please check your email inboxes for those surveys. If you are not receiving emails or have questions, please email contact@indytrinity.org. 

Equity Funds. Rolling submissions for 2025 Equity Funds will be accepted in phases: through May 4th (past) and now again through November 2nd. This form is to be used to submit proposals and taken to the remaining Community Conversation on November 9th where equity funds will be communally discerned. After that conversation, more solidified proposals (discerned through the larger group conversation) will then be taken to the Leadership Team for final disbursement requests. We ask that you use this form to prepare for presenting at a Community Conversation or if you are unable to attend the Equity Funds conversation the proposal will be taken to the group in your absence. Please refer to your emails for additional information. If you didn’t receive an email and would like to be on the list, please send an email to contact@indytrinity.org.

Trinity Seasonal Small Groups for the fall of 2025 will be a “choose your own adventure” style (on many levels) as we dive into the mysterious and monstrous throughout the Old Testament, during the sermon series this fall: “Monster Petting Zoo”. 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 8th

Tuesdays 7-9pm - Midtown/Downtown starting September 23rd

Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm - Queer Affinity starting September 11th

Fridays 6:30-8pm - Broad Ripple starting September 5th

Civic Action Group. Join us for our next Civic Action Group (CAG) meeting Sunday, September, 21st, at 11:30 AM, right after the Gathering. We’ll meet in person at COhatch and virtually via Zoom for those joining remotely.  

We will:

• Check-In

• Recap this year

• Plan for next year

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: Beloveds, though there is much in this world we cannot control, 

ALL: the power we have is Sacred and True.

Leader: In partnership with God,

through practices of honesty and confession,

through extensions of mercy,

through resistance that heals and transforms,

ALL: we glimpse the heavens and the Kindom draws near. 

In the company of the Spirit,

we are sent to join the menders of the world.

Leader: Go in peace.

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

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. 

Health Guidelines. Gatherings can look differently according to the needs of our leaders and community if health concerns take effect. We ask that everyone remain flexible if and/or when this is the case. If a Gathering is going to be virtual, we will send an email by 8am on Sunday, or earlier. If you are experiencing fever, coughs, or other clear signs of illness, please remain home and join the Gathering via Zoom. If your symptoms are not highly contagious or you are unsure about exposing others, please wear a mask. Specifically, if you have been exposed to or have symptoms of Covid-19 or the Flu, you can follow the guidelines from the CDC to determine what are your best precautions to take.

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)

Gathering Hosting Schedule. As an act of service and care, please join staff, leaders, and others from your parish in hosting Sunday Gatherings. These are great times to connect and welcome others to converse while serving as well. Arrival at 9:45am is great, 9:30am is super helpful for assisting with audio equipment and/or indoor set up. Cleaning up on the back end should only take 10-15 minutes. The hosting checklist is in the Trinity office. Thank you!

September

7th: Fishers

14th: Broad Ripple

21st: North/Carmel

28th: Midtown/Downtown

October

5th: Fishers

12th: Broad Ripple

19th: North/Carmel

26th: Midtown/Downtown