TrinityCast

Luke 19:1-10

Reverend Max Hill reflects on his experience growing up honoring the deceased every year, by re-enacting the life of a resident of his town. Come to find out, they were also a reverend, and this discovery leads Max to ponder his connection to them.

We read the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector (Luke 18:9-14)

Seminarian Hannah Nutt explores why we pray a "Prayer of Confession," and calls on the congregation to quit hiding our sins underneath our "Sunday Best."

Scripture texts: Genesis 11: 1-9, Acts 2: 1-13

The Rev. Dr. Damayanthi Niles preached on two Scripture texts: The Tower of Babel and the Day of Pentecost, when many people began "speaking in tongues" but understanding each other.

Dr. Niles explores why the authoritarian or imperial version of "peace" carries with it a cost much like that portrayed in the story of Babel. Are we as Christians supposed to always understand people who are different than us? Do we let people speak their native tongue, or do we force them to speak "American?"

Guest pastor Hannah Nutt explores why we as Christians still ignore the signs that we are to live like Jesus did. Jesus claims that the rich man, who ignored the plight of Lazarus, had all the signs he needed. Living in this world without compromising our Christianity is, to put it lightly, very difficult. So... how do we do it?

Guest pastor and Seminarian Hannah Nutt led worship this past Sunday, known as "Native American Sunday" in the PC USA. Hannah talked about the history of the land on which Trinity is built. This land is important, and was important to the indigenous Osage nation that was displaced many years ago.

The scripture reading was connected to this sermon, as it told of Joshua gathering the tribes of Israel on land that, Joshua discovers, is already being occupied despite God's promise that it would go to the descendants of Abraham.

Genesis 32: 22 - 31

The Reverend Dr. Damayanthi Niles joined Trinity's worship to talk about Jacob, a verified trickster, wrestling with God all night until dawn. Rev. Niles explains how Jacob is blessed yet has to wrestle with God to realize his blessings. So too must the Trinity Congregation wrestle with our blessings to come out stronger, and to be who we were meant to be.

Hebrews 11:29-12:2, Luke 12:49-56

Guest Seminarian Hannah Nutt describes our Christian relationship to division. Hannah talks about her own identity being a woman, queer, and an alumni of a small college. She describes the ways in which division from a larger "norm" can be embraced and respected without smug superiority or judgement.

Isaiah 1:10-20 & Luke 12:32-40

Guest Seminarian Hannah Nutt, longtime friend of Trinity, discusses how often we treat Jesus' comeback as no more than a story. Hannah describes an example from her life, waiting until the last minute to do journals in a Bible Studies class. Not only would it be easier on her psyche to do them throughout the semester, but her procrastination is exactly what we do as Christians more often than not.

We treat Jesus' coming like it will happen... eventually.

It can wait until tomorrow, we think... Or next week, since we still have those season tickets to Six Flags and would really like to go one more time... But the Bible does say, "the Son of Man is coming at an unexpected hour." Are we ready?

Reverend Wagner this Sunday explored the relationship between Judah and Joseph, as one having to do with loss. Judah experiences loss after allowing and even aiding the Midianites to take Joseph. Reverend Wagner talks about how, when people describe things like love and acceptance, they often do so by explaining the times they felt unloved and rejected. In order to understand one, we often must truly experience the other.

The Book of Genesis often explains "why" something is the way it is, and the pastor left the congregation with some questions to ponder.

Why are we the people we are now? What has happened or not happened to us to shape us?

What connections might we be able to draw from our greatest losses to our greatest achievements?

Are there experiences of loss in our lives that have gone un-examined? Can we examine them?

Genesis 25:19-24

The Reverend Dr. Johanna Wagner calls upon a theory that, in understanding the conflicts in culture and society, we are not to blame poverty or violence for those who suffer. Rather, there is a simple explanation: The snake born from a chicken's egg. The "Basilisco" is a mythical creature that can kill with a stare. The basilisco here is used as an idea that people can kill by using only a few words to describe someone else. People are described simply, and their humanity is then pushed out of the picture. The basilisk, although a small creature, is something to be avoided and feared at all costs. More importantly, the basilisco is meant to never be looked at or understood further.This scripture, however, is a "basilisco-busting" story. These two siblings were related and connected despite their entire history of conflict. We all have a basilisco that we tend to dehumanize. What stories have we told about them?