May 3rd

WELCOME AND LITURGY OF GATHERING 

Leader: Reading of Psalm 31.1-5, 15-16 (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

All Creatures of Our God and King

All creatures of our God and King

Lift up your voice and with us sing

Oh, praise Him, Alleluia

Thou burning sun with golden beam

Thou silver moon with softer gleam

Oh, praise him

Oh, praise him

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Thou rushing wind that art so strong

Ye clouds that sail in heaven along

Oh, praise him, Alleluia

Thou rising moon in praise rejoice

Ye lights of evening find a voice

Oh, praise him

Oh, praise him

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Let all things their Creator bless

And worship Him in humbleness

Oh, praise him, Alleluia

Praise, praise the Father praise the Son

And praise the Spirit Three in One

Oh, praise him

Oh, praise him

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia

Come Thou Fount

Come, thou fount of every blessing,

Tune my heart to sing thy grace

Streams of mercy, never ceasing,

Call for songs of loudest praise

Teach me some melodious sonnet, 

Sung by flaming tongues above

Praise the mount, I'm fixed upon it,

Mount of thy redeeming love

Here I raise my Ebenezer, 

Hither by thy help I've come

And I hope by thy good pleasure, 

Safely to arrive at home.

Jesus sought me when a stranger, 

Wandering from the fold of God, 

He to rescue me from danger,

Interposed his precious blood

Oh, to grace how great a debtor

Daily I'm constrained to be

Let thy goodness, like a fetter,

Bind my wandering heart to thee

Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it - 

Prone to leave the God I love,

Here's my heart, Lord, take and seal it, 

Seal it for thy courts above. 

COMMUNITY CONFESSION

Leader: Day or night, it is always the right time to come before God,

ALL: For God already knows what lies in our hearts.

Leader: Let us offer up our hopes yet unmet:

ALL: For peace, for reconciliation, for grace.

Leader: Let us offer up the wrongs we have done:

ALL: Our greed, our apathy, our meanness.

Leader: Let us offer up the good we have left undone:

ALL: Forgiving another, offering mercy, choosing compassion.

Leader: And in silence, let us offer God the whole of our hearts.

Silence

Leader: Hear the good news: we are forgiven!

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

Attentive People - What the Hell?

Psalm 102

*For discussion prompts visit the series page here.

PRAYER OF THE PEOPLE AND LORD’S TABLE LITURGY

Leader: Benevolent God, we come before you today to lift our prayers for aching hearts across the world. 

ALL: For all touched by the horrors of war, we pray. 

Leader: For all who suffer in the midst of health crises, natural disasters, and human-made catastrophes.

ALL: We pray that aid and vast webs of communal connections meet the needs of the most vulnerable.

Leader: For Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders whose human dignity has been disregarded and rights violated.

ALL: Lord, we pray that you would illuminate hatred and weave the stories of their lives into the fabric of shared existence, moving us toward justice.

Leader: We lift prayers for all those who have been targets of police brutality, ICE raids, and gun violence in our city and across the country. 

ALL: Move us to action, pursuing justice as we join in speaking up against unjust systems and laws that perpetuate violence. 

Leader: For women and transgender siblings, who are always last to have a say about their bodies and whose medical care is restricted by unjust and hateful laws. For abortion providers and gender-affirming care clinic staff who take risks to care for these siblings when others will not.

ALL: Lord, we pray for their courage to tell their stories and to remember their belovedness.

Leader: For each person who shows up to vote in the coming days.

ALL: May voices be used to advocate for kindom-oriented justice across the land.

Leader: For the elected officials in our local and federal government. 

ALL: May the Holy Spirit provide wisdom as they lead humbly, with integrity and with all of creation’s best interests in mind.

Leader: During these times of endings and new beginnings, we lift prayers for those who are graduating. 

ALL: May those who have been students not be defined by a degree, but continue to grow and be shaped into all that you intend, throughout their lives. 

Leader: Lord, we give thanks for those all over the globe who love and care for our world.

ALL: We give thanks for your provisions, through those who mother us and give of themselves in birthing new life. 

Leader: We lift prayers for your Kindom, Lord. 

ALL: For all whom the sun touches, for all who breathe the air, for all whose hearts beat, for all things of your creation. 

As followers of Jesus, may we be a light, may we be love, may we be a different way of experiencing the world. 

Leader: As we remember God’s constant presence with us, we choose to respond - to lean in, to worship. As we remember God’s persistence in offering grace to us, and celebrate the joy of following Jesus, we speak of the mystery we know as faith:

ALL: Christ died for all our sins; Christ was raised for all; Christ comes, to lead us into God’s presence. Lord, we ask that as we partake of the bread and the cup, your Holy Spirit bless these gifts and transform us, your gathered people, to settle in the Spirit as we faithfully love you and our neighbors with all our being.

Leader: Let us commune at the table of the Lord; it is open to all who seek life in Christ.  

*communion elements are alcohol and 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.

Amazing Grace

Amazing grace, how sweet the sound 

That saved a wretch like me 

I once was lost, but now I'm found 

Was blind, but now I see 

Twas grace that taught my heart to fear 

And grace my fears relieved 

How precious did that grace appear 

The hour I first believed 

Through many dangers, toils, and snares 

We have already come 

'Twas grace that brought us safe thus far 

And grace will lead us home 

The Lord has promised good to me, 

His word my hope secures;

He will my shield and portion be, 

As long as life endures

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Proposed Bylaw Changes. The Trinity Leadership has reviewed the bylaws and drafted changes regarding gendered language as well as the provision of new Apprentice Elders. Please see your emails for more details. Any questions or comments shall be directed to the Leadership Team, via email (contact@indytrinity.org) or in person, by May 10th.   

The sermon series is posted. Reflection and discussion prompts as well as resources are included. Trinity’s practices may be found on the website. As a reminder, Trinity believes the values and beliefs we hold are best lived out in practice as we embody our mission and move toward our vision. 

First Nations Version of Psalms and Proverbs. Copies are now available for each household. Please pick up your copy at the Gathering and sign off that you’ve received one.

We're going back to Sex Ed! On May 3rd, TODAY, IYG's Angie Tarr will return to Trinity to lead our adults through a sex ed class after the Gathering. Many of us weren't blessed with the opportunity to have comprehensive sex education when we were young and don't feel prepared to lead our young people through this incredibly important part of their lived experience. The Youth will go on a fun adventure on their own while our grown-ups are in class. Please reach out to Britney for questions at britney@indytrinity.org.

Summer Retreats. Our first retreat will be Friday, May 29th through Sunday, May 31st.  Check  your emails! The Youth invite you to our Spring Retreat May 29-31 at White River Campground and Strawtown Koteewi Park! Please utilize the sign up for camping sites and extra activities for fun and community. Questions can go to Britney at britney@indytrinity.org. A second retreat will be held Friday, August 28th through Sunday, August 30th. 

Baptism and Family Covenants. We plan to hold baptisms at the retreat Gathering on Sunday, May 31st  as a part of the Gathering. If you are interested or have questions about baptism, please contact Melissa Millis at melissa@indytrinity.org. If you’re interested in a Family Covenant please contact Britney Foster at britney@indytrinity.org. 

Mark your calendars for special (and off site) Gatherings this summer. More information to come on special Gatherings!

• Memorial Day Weekend Brunch Gathering on Sunday, May 24th. Bring a dish or two to share as we Gather for shared liturgy and around the table in fellowship. Feel free to bring lawn games, etc. 

• Indy Pride Parade/Festival June 13th. Everyone is invited to join folks from Trinity at the Pride Parade! We will arrive early with coolers of water and snacks to help folks stay hydrated and fueled as they enjoy the Pride Festivities downtown.
  🗓️ Visit the event page for carpool and meetup information.

• Pride Brunch Gathering on Sunday, June 14th. Pride month (June) is rapidly approaching! Pride celebrations are holy, as they represent a casting off of chains and embracing of joy. A jubilee! To practice our own Pride jubilee, we will host a brunch Sunday on June 14. If you would like to join in the jubilee, please bring a dish to share. A cake and a dozen GF Pride cupcakes will be provided for this celebration. We will also have some tabletop games available for play! If any questions, please reach out to Emily (emily@indytrinity.org).

• Special Off-site Gathering on Sunday, June 21st. Mark your calendars as we prepare for a special Gathering to include the Haughville Walk and Talk with Sampson Levingston at Through2Eyes, Sunday, June 21st. Plan to arrive by 9:45 for brief liturgy before we walk and talk. More details to come! 

• Special Off-site Irvington Counseling Collective (ICC) on Sunday, July 12th. More details to follow. 

• Special Off-site Gathering at Octavia’s Visionary Campus (OVC) with Kheprw on SATURDAY, July 25th. (No Sunday Gathering on the 27th.)

• Special Off-site IYG on Sunday, August 16th. More details to follow. 

• Retreat weekend and Gathering Sunday, August 30th. In the works. Stay tuned. Please email contact@indytrinity.org if you’re interested in lending a hand in the planning.

THE BENEDICTION

Leader: May God grant us
ALL:  the imagination for what could be.

Leader: May our creative sparks 

ALL: be renewed in the presence of rest and beauty,

Leader: That we would not destroy ourselves in order to create. 

ALL: And may our crafts be honored with the gentle passage of time. 

Leader: Go in peace to create without burden. Amen!

(Some liturgies adapted from lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com, enfleshed.com, and 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. 

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!

May

3rd: Broad Ripple

10th: North/Carmel

17th: Midtown/Downtown

24th/Memorial Day weekend Brunch: Fishers

*31st/Retreat Gathering: Broad Ripple 

June

7: North/Carmel

14/Pride Brunch: Midtown/Downtown

*21/Walk and Talk - Fishers

28: Broad Ripple

* Indicates dates we plan to be off site and don’t really have hosting duties. However, we’d like to have a parish scheduled in the event plans shift.

First Nations Version of Psalms and Proverbs. We understand that the Spirit has no gender. While the FNV does use the word “Grandfather” for the Great Spirit, and we at Trinity might more naturally gravitate toward a feminine or gender-inclusive term for the Spirit, we have chosen to read from this version to open ourselves to the diverse humanlike depictions of Creator and hear these sacred texts in new ways. No translation is perfect. If you’d like to read what the translators of the FNV have to say about their choice regarding gender and the Great Spirit, you are welcome to read the excerpt at the front of this Trinity Gathering copy (it is marked).