November 24, 2024

WELCOME AND LITURGY OF GATHERING

Leader: In possibility, wonder, and mystery, 

ALL: we gather.

Leader: In grief, burnout, and apathy, 

ALL: we gather.

Leader: With community, creativity, and intention, 

ALL: we gather. 

Leader: With anger, questions, and heartbreak, 

ALL: we gather. Hallelujah, God welcomes it all!

Leader: Let us worship 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

Is He Worthy?

Do you feel the world is broken?

(We do)

Do you feel the shadows deepen?

(We do)

But do you know that all the dark won’t stop

The light from getting through?

(We do)

Do you wish that you could see it all made new?

We do)

Is all creation groaning?

(It is)

Is a new creation coming?

(It is)

Is the glory of the Lord to be the light within our midst?

(It is)

Is it good that we remind ourselves of this?

(It is)

Is anyone worthy? Is anyone whole?

Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave

He was David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave

Is He worthy? Is He worthy?

Of all blessing and honor and glory

Is He worthy of this?

He is

Does the Father truly love us?

(He does)

Does the Spirit move among us?

(He does)

And does Jesus, our Messiah hold forever those He loves?

(He does)

Does our God intend to dwell again with us?

(He does)

Is anyone worthy?

Is anyone whole?

Is anyone able to break the seal and open the scroll?

The Lion of Judah who conquered the grave

He is David's root and the Lamb who died to ransom the slave

From every people and tribe

Every nation and tongue

He has made us a kingdom and priests to God

To reign with the Son

Is He worthy? Is He worthy?

Of all blessing and honor and glory

Is He worthy? Is He worthy?

Is He worthy of this?

He is!

Is He worthy? Is He worthy?

He is!

He is!

We Will Run

Create in me a clean heart, a clean heart

For I have turned my face from You

Save us from our ways oh God, oh God

For we have turned away from You

Lord have mercy

We will run to you, we will run to you

Turning from our sin we return to You

Father heal your world, make all things new

Make all things new

Your love and mercy build and shape us

Break down and recreate us now

Lord have mercy

We will run to you, we will run to you

Turning from our sin we return to You

Father heal your world, make all things new

Make all things new

Oh, bring us back to you

Oh, bring us back to you

Oh, bring us back to you

COMMUNITY CONFESSION

We pray, declaring that individualism is destructive, so:

ALL: Send greed and selfishness away.

Leader: That learned refusal to acknowledge

your own need for help –

ALL: let it be gone as well.

Leader: When possible,

counter all impulses towards privatized survival

with acts of love – collective and expansive –

with caring for others and accepting care.

ALL: Remember we need each other.

Remember the needs of your neighbors (literal and metaphorical).

Remember the vulnerable.

Remember, we are in this together, even when we don’t act like it.

Leader: People depend on your choices –

you depend on the choices of others.

This, a Sacred and terrible truth woven into our flesh.

ALL: So let this time be an opening

to all the sources of connection we have lost in this era of

pushing-down,

pushing-through,

pushing-away,

and pushing-the-pace.

Leader: Let all that is soft, all that is slow, all that is gentle,

all that is kind, all that is care-ful,

be welcome home in each of us.

ALL: We have such creative, powerful, generous and brave capacities within us.

We can choose to do things differently, to be different. 

BLESSING AND PASSING THE PEACE 

Leader: The Lord be with you!

ALL: 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

Finding Rhythm: Rhythms of Being in Time - Mourning + Sabbath

Revelation 21.4 + 2 Corinthians 3

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

• Where do you need to experience new rhythms or have old rhythms disrupted?

• What do you desire to be restored or made whole as you/we anticipate a time when cycles will come to an end and the life of beauty and harmony is actualized? 

* Visual Description Card

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

*For additional discussion prompts visit the series page here.

LORD’S TABLE LITURGY

Leader: The Holy One be with you

ALL: And also with you

Leader: Open your hearts to the One who is Love

ALL: We open our hearts to you, O God

Leader: Let us give thanks to God, our life-breath

ALL: To the One who sustains us, we rejoice in your presence!

Leader: With gratitude, O God, we remember that it is through you we are made truly alive. Every creature and creation – the tiny ones, the scaley ones, the human ones, the leafy ones – all that is has been shaped by you. There is nothing on this earth that has not been touched by your Sacred hand. In your love for us, you claim us – individually and as a whole – as your beloveds. You will for us life abundant and you invite us into co-working with you towards a world where harmony among all life is restored.

ALL: In the life of Jesus, Love enfleshed, we are shown that the invitation to join in your work of transforming and healing and restoring is always open. No matter our past. No matter our regrets. No matter the wrong done to us or the wrong we have done to others, you keep calling us back to you.

Leader: This relentless invitation of yours that entices with freedom and joy and forgiveness is such a threat to empire that it still attempts to crucify every incarnation of your love today. And so, we are reminded of the example given to us in the person of Jesus.

On the night of his arrest, he gathered around table with his companions.

He took bread, blessed it, broke it, gave it to his disciples and said,

“This is my body which is given for you.

Do this in remembrance of me.”

He did the same with the cup after the supper, saying,

“This cup that is poured out is the new covenant.”

ALL: And so in remembrance of the One who never gave up on love, we pray that the Spirit would make us one in our commitment to the liberation of all your creatures and creations. Pour out your Spirit on this bread and this cup, that through these ordinary gifts, we might taste a glimpse of your Kindom. May they be for us a reminder of what we are capable of becoming and what we are capable of accomplishing together. Amen.

*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.

What A Friend We Have In Jesus

What a friend we have in Je-sus,

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to car-ry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit;

Oh, what needless pain we bear

All because we do not car-ry

Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and tempta-tions?

Is there trouble any where?

We should never be discouraged

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful

Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden,

Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do your friends despise, forsake you?

Take it to the Lord in prayer.

In his arms he’ll take and shield you;

You will find a solace there.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Thanksgiving Weekend Brunch. We’ll have a hybrid brunch Gathering on December 1st. Bring a dish or two to share as we join for liturgy, singing, and fellowship with the start of Advent. 

Thanksgiving Address. This week we acknowledge that while many of us do still observe Thanksgiving, we are pretty terrible at practicing gratitude and have much to learn from indigenous siblings who have been here on this land for centuries. As we connect with Creator and return to the ‘adamah, consider greeting the natural world, a practice of gratitude, with the Thanksgiving Address - a gift from some tribes to those of us that haven’t been given the opportunity to love and learn about Creation in this way. You may find various versions online, but here is one to read.

Advent. The Advent season is nearing. You may access the Advent series page here, along with other resources. 

Holiday Schedule: 

Christmas Eve Gathering @ 5:30pm

NO Gathering Sunday, December 29th - enjoy gathering with friends and family

January 5th - Brunch Gathering

The Holy in the Night. Copies are now available for each household. Please pick up your copy at the Gathering and sign off that you’ve received one. If you need a more accessible version, please email us at contact@indytrinity.org. 

Equity Funds Disbursed for round two of 2024. After the Equity Funds discussion, we’ve disbursed $1000 to each the Irvington Counseling Collective, IYG, and The Avenue Foundation. Any questions may be directed to contact@indytrinity.org. Thank you to everyone who submitted proposals and engaged in conversation!

Where the Money Went Q3 2024 and 2025 Budget. The financial report for the third quarter of this year and the 2025 Budget have been made available via email and in Church Documents on the website. If you need access to either of these, please let us know (contact@indytrinity.org). Any questions about numbers may be directed to Steve Edinger at finance@indytrinity.org and questions about the investments may be directed to Jay Howard at jay@indytrinity.org. 

THE BENEDICTION

Leader: The One who raises the sun each morning

and lifts high the moon at night,

ALL: ushers us too,

through cycles of rising, falling, and rising again.

Leader: Though we stumble, 

ALL: God lifts us.

Leader: Though we doubt, 

ALL: Jesus remains.

Leader: Though we get weary, 

ALL: Spirit revives.

Leader: And so, we rest in this assurance. And now,

ALL: we go into, and among, the known and unknown of the days ahead.

Leader: Go in peace.

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

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)

Visual Description Guide. To help more of our community feel welcome and included, please take a moment to consider this card. This will help our visually impaired and blind attendees get a sense of who is present with them. Each section is optional to share with the group, so please provide only what you're comfortable sharing.

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!

November 

3rd: Broad Ripple

10th: North/Carmel

17th: Midtown/Downtown

24th: Fishers

December

1st/Brunch: Broad Ripple

8th: North/Carmel

15th: Midtown/Downtown

22nd: Fishers

24th/Christmas Eve: Elders

29th: No Gathering