Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that man should be alone…” Genesis 2.15

It is no accident that the Bible’s first recorded human emotion is loneliness. With very few exceptions, all life depends upon the existence of others. We’re just hard-wired to be in community.

Ironically, so many of the forces at work in our society try to teach us otherwise.

In “the world” we are taught that we don’t belong if we’re fat, or anything less than Vogue beautiful, or Einstein smart, and the list goes on. And yet, the Gospel of Jesus Christ teaches us that a godly definition of belonging must be extraordinarily generous. In Jesus we see someone who was unafraid to cross the social customs of his day to extend a radical welcome into the Kingdom of God. No outcast, no enemy, no culture, no ‘untouchable’ was excluded from his loving invitation to belong.

This sense of belonging is at the heart of what membership means at Trinity Church.

You might then think we’re perfect. Far from it, actually. But it is our honest (and earnest) hope that all who come through our doors will find the Way of God lived here to be of life-changing value.

The decision to become a member of Trinity Church is usually (but not always) made after a newcomer has attended one of our Foundations courses. This course is offered frequently throughout the year, but it does require pre-registration. During the course we talk, as the name suggests, about the foundations of our Christian faith, about what it means to be a contemporary follower of Jesus, and about how the Holy Spirit leads us and guides our life, work and service to others. There are fun parts too … like the chance to ask the Rector questions that begin with “Why do you crazy Episcopalians do THAT?” We end the course with a Ministries Fair, where various members are on hand to describe the types of service activities that may interest you.

Membership involves several commitments. It is expected that you will find joy in regular Sunday worship with us. It is expected that you will give of your time and talents for the building up of our common life. And yes, it is expected that you will pledge a financial contribution to help us all meet Trinity’s real-world and mission obligations.

If you would like to belong, we wish to respond. Send e-mail to the Rector here or contact him through the parish office, 788-6290.