journeys-page

Recently I spoke with a married couple who were both raised in the United Methodist Church. When they moved to a new town, they attended a non-denominational church for a time, and got involved in some of their ministries. To make a long story short, returning to a Methodist church felt like “coming home” for them. During the youth-led service, Pastor Geoffrey gave advise to our young people about transitioning to college. He told them to remember where they came from, and to whom they belong. (Check out the 4/18/21 worship on our YouTube channel or Facebook page if you missed it!) How does the church create a place where young people feel they belong? How can the congregation nurture them so returning feels like coming home? Worship is the center of the church. Although many other ministries are of great importance, worship is both a personal and a community experience with God. It helps equip us and centers us to offer our gifts in those ministries. The book of Acts describes the early church: “The believers devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching, to the community, to their shared meals, and to their prayers.” Acts 2:42. We know that worship is the heart of Trinity because it is the one thing that kept going, without interruption, during the pandemic. When all else came to a screeching halt, and even the church office was closed, our pastors, staff, and volunteers found a way to bring worship into your homes. As one parent told me, worship on Sunday morning was the only reliable entry on the family calendar. If worship is the center, it is logical that creating a sense of belonging should start there. With no Sunday School this past year, Trinity has fully welcomed our children to worship. Now that we are meeting in person, families worship together. When children attend the service, whether they are old enough to understand the content or not, they are learning how “church” works. As they grow, they will witness baptisms, take communion, learn the music, recognize the pastors and get to know some people in the congregation. One of my favorite memories of being a foster mom was taking “Sam” to worship. He was only a year old when he started standing up on the pew during the greeting time and shaking hands. We never told him to, he just learned by watching others and he loved it! As we continue on the path to a “new normal,” let’s make Trinity UMC a home for all ages, both in and out of worship. -Christina Director of Youth and Family Ministries