March 22nd

Fifth Sunday of Lent

WELCOME AND LITURGY OF GATHERING 

Leader: Reading of Psalm 40.5-10 (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

Because He Lives

I believe in the Son

I believe in the risen One

I believe I overcome

By the power of His blood

Amen, Amen

I’m alive, I’m alive

Because He lives

Amen, Amen

Let my song join the one that never ends

Because He lives

I was dead in the grave

I was covered in sin and shame

I heard mercy call my name

He rolled the stone away

Because He lives

I can face tomorrow

Because He lives

Every fear is gone

I know He holds my life, my future in His hand

Fairest Lord Jesus

Fairest Lord Jesus

Ruler of all nature

O Thou of God and man the Son

Thee will I cherish, Thee will I honor

Thou, my soul’s glory, joy and crown.

Fair is the sunshine, 

Fairer still the moonlight, 

And all the twinkling starry   host; 

Jesus shines brighter, Jesus shines purer

Than all the angels heaven can boast.

Beautiful Savior!  

Lord of all the nations!

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,

Now and forevermore be Thine.

COMMUNITY CONFESSION AND LENTEN CANDLE READING

Leader: Plant in us, O God, your visions of restoration. 

We long to be a field where all your hopes blossom;

ALL: Make our hearts a place of refuge,

for every shattered dream of peace.

Let our imaginations run wild,

as dreams of Justice are birthed from within.

Leader: We don’t want to waste this life shackled by despair, confined by fear,

a stranger to the miracle of being alive.

ALL: We want to be fully awake to all the beauty that surrounds.

We want to be determined in hope – a relentless pursuer of what could be.

We want to be messengers of belonging, to every soul that weighs heavy

under narratives of bigotry or hate.

We have known what it is to be a stranger to joy.

Leader: But this ancient story of love,

sustaining generation after generation,

in labors of liberation –

it frees us from our fear.

ALL: No longer will we view life on evil’s terms.

No more will we submit to rules of dominance.

But in the freedom of Christ, you make our spirits rise.

Leader: In the depths of darkness and despite our slowness to change, God has only love for us. 

snuff out the Lenten candle

ALL: 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

A People Re-Membered: In the Sorrow

Entering Sorrow, as People

Luke 14.25-35

Discussion/Further Wonderings:

• What is Jesus revealing to you about entering sorrow?

• In this week’s text/story, where might the Spirit be inviting us into a space for play amidst the sorrow? 

• How are you losing and finding yourself as you step into the text/story this week? What has been forgotten? What are you being called to re-member?

• How might God be inviting you/us to be fully human in this season? How might that overflow to those around you/us? How does this week’s text/story point toward being a people of God?

* Description Card

*Womanism and Womanist Theology Resource Paper

*For additional discussion prompts visit the series page here.

LORD’S TABLE LITURGY

Leader: Gentle One, in the midst of all the world’s noise,

we struggle to hear your whispers of care.

“Come and rest,”

You beckon.

ALL: Our never-ending lists, days too short, pressures so high, they make us weary.

Whether our labor is paid, or the search for work is our toil.

Whether we tend with care to the needs of our loved ones at home

or gift time to the collective cries for justice,

there are so many ways we grow tired.

Leader: Reaching out, patient and inviting.

“Come and rest,”

you beckon, again and again.

ALL: To trust in You is to remember limitations,

release control, and let our earnest offerings be enough.

Leader: You do not ask any one person to lift the burdens from the world.

The Sacred labors of life

belong to all of us and none of us.

For everything that doesn’t get done…

For all that we desire to protect but cannot…

For every hurt we cannot tend…

Fill us with a deep assurance,

of your presence that abides in all things,

Through all things.

You abandon no one in their struggle.

ALL: Let your Sabbath be our renewal

of body, of mind, of spirit.

Leader: Now, we come around the Lord’s table, speaking these words to one another: 

ALL: Come, if your faith is blossoming and full, and come, if it is but a tiny seed planted in your heart; come, if you always show up for this Meal, and come, if this is the your very first taste; come, if you have always walked with Christ, and come, if you have stumbled along the way. But come - for our God awaits to serve you with joy, with affirmation, with hope, with peace.

Leader: For all who seek to experience new life in Christ - eat and drink – the body of Christ broken for you and the cup of the new covenant shed for you.

*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.

With You (Paradoxology)

Beneath the surface
Of my anxious imagination
Beckons a calmness
That is found in you alone
It washes over every doubt, every imperfection
Jesus your presence is the comfort of my soul

There's nowhere I'd rather be
When you're singing over me
I just wanna be here with you
I'm lost in your mystery
I'm found in your love for me
I just wanna be here with you

Here in the waiting
I won't worry about tomorrow
No need to focus
On the things I can't control
All my attention
On the wonder of this moment
Jesus your presence is the comfort of my soul

So let all that I am
Be consumed with who you are
Oh the glory of your presence
What more could I ask for?

You're all I've ever needed
You're everything to me

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Civic Action Group Meeting - Join us for our next Civic Action Group (CAG) meeting on Sunday, March 22nd, at 11:30 AM, right after the gathering. We’ll meet in person at COhatch and virtually via Zoom for those joining remotely. Want to stay connected? Sign up for the CAG info list by filling out this info form! Contact joel@indytrinity.org with questions.

Sermon Series. The sermon series and resources for our new year series are posted online at www.indytrinity.org/sermon-series. In conjunction with the sermon series, Trinity Seasonal Small Groups in the winter will form around All The Black Girls Are Activists: A Fourth Wave Womanist Pursuit of Dreams as Radical Resistance by ebonyjanice. The free audio book (and e-book) is available on Hoopla and Libby. 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 (every other) 5:45-7:15pm - Broad Ripple starting January 26th

Mondays 12-1pm - Fishers/Zoom starting February 9th

Wednesdays 7-9pm - Midtown/Downtown starting February 4th

Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm - Queer Affinity starting February 5th

Lent resources, along with Trinity’s Guide to Lent, can be found at the bottom of the sermon series page. 

Holy Week. We will make our way through Holy Week together by gathering virtually in the morning to center ourselves as we approach the end of the Lenten season the days leading to Christ's crucifixion (March 30 - April 3) . Each morning we will be participating in morning prayers, reflecting on art around this season, and listening to music that Trinity Church is sharing throughout this season. Join us weekday mornings at 7am on Zoom  or catch up throughout the day on FB or YouTube. Questions? email joel@indytrinity.org.

On April 3rd, join us for our Good Friday service at COhatch Broad Ripple at 6:30 p.m.  Good Friday marks the betrayal of Jesus and his death at the hands of the state.  In this time we will walk with Jesus in his last days on the way to the cross. Join us at COhatch in the "Big Room" as we continue to make our way through Holy Week.  If you aren't able to join us in person, you may also join via Zoom. Contact joel@indytrinity.org with any questions.

Save the Dates! Summer Retreats. Mark your calendars for Friday, May 29th through Sunday, May 31st AND Friday, August 28th through Sunday, August 30th. More details to come. 

THE BENEDICTION

Leader: The liberating Spirit of Christ binds us together 

ALL: with all the saints who have labored in faith 

Leader: that we might be the people of God:

ALL: Unwavering in practices of justice.

Leader: Resolute in pursuit of Wisdom that nourishes. 

Courageous in telling truths that set free.

ALL: Encouraged through love for one another, 

may God’s grace lead us from this place.

Amen.

Leader: Go in peace!

(Some liturgies adapted from lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com and enfleshed.com - Rev. M Barclay)

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!

March

1st: Fishers

8th: Broad Ripple

15th: North/Carmel

22nd: Midtown/Downtown

29th: Fishers

April

5th/Easter: Broad Ripple

12th: North/Carmel

19th: Midtown/Downtown

26th: Fishers

First Nations Version of Psalms. 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).