Rector’s Update (October 17)

Dear Friends,

I look forward to seeing you on Sunday in person or online. The good news is that we are returning to a regular Sunday schedule. 

We now have water at the church. We can’t drink it but we can use it for most other needs. We have plenty of bottled water for drinking. Our bathrooms are all working. 

In summary, the church is fully operational with power, internet, and water. We only lack phone service. Staff member phone numbers are listed on the Hurricane Helene blog—and other appropriate places on our website. Please feel free to call them directly. 

• Our full Sunday Breakfast returns

• All Sunday School programming for children, youth, and adults returns

• Nursery returns

• Our 5:30 service returns

We are planning a Trinity volunteer day next week. Please keep your ears and eyes open to learn more. 

I’m overwhelmed by the generous response to our Hurricane appeal. Thanks in part to the many gifts we have received, we assist those in need in various ways, including financial assistance. Members and friends of our parish are displaced, enduring damage to their homes, lost jobs, struggling to find places to stay, need child care while school is out, and much more. We have been able to respond and continue to do so. If you or someone you know has immediate financial or other needs, please contact me or any clergy member at Trinity. Our email addresses are our first name, followed by @trinityasheville.org. 

Yesterday, our Director of Youth Ministries took some 22 of our youth out for lunch and a fun day in Greenville, SC. While school is out, our youth need to remain connected healthily. See the post in this blog.

Our Director of Children’s ministries is planning an outing for Club 345 on Friday, Oct. 25th. Stay tuned for details. 

The Church of the Advocate is meeting. Many Advocate members are absent since our city is currently filled with free meals and lodging. Yet, the Church of the Advocate remains and will be called to respond as intense recovery efforts subside. 

On Sunday, November 3, Trinity’s Chancel Choir will lead a profound service of All Saints Candlelight Evensong: A service of Lament and Hope after Helene. Here, we will have the opportunity to grieve together, thank God for the helpers, and nourish our hope for tomorrow. As is our tradition, we will process to the memorial garden following the service to remember those interred therein and those who have died from Helene. See the post in this blog. 

Lastly, I’ve been thinking a lot about the nature of Christian witness and love. I’ve added a thought or two below.

Scott+

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They Will know We Are Christians By Our Love

Many of you know the old Christian folk song "They’ll Know We Are Christians by Our Love. " I’ve been thinking a lot about it lately. It’s not that only Christians are loving, and it’s not that God loves us because we are loving. The song speaks to the truth that Christians, having been loved by God, are indeed called to love one another. The disaster that is Hurricane Helene is enough to test anyone’s faith. And the generosity of humanity has been on display beyond anything that words can describe. Being a disciple of Jesus starts with God's love toward us, but it doesn’t end there. God’s unconditional love toward us is a call to us that we would then extend that same love to others. A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; even as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34, 35)

Together, we give thanks for the love of the other displayed in these past weeks. And I give thanks for being a part of the community of Trinity church, where the love of Christ is the center that binds us together in our joys and trials. 

We are one in the Spirit, we are one in the Lord;

We are one int he Spirit, we are one in the Lord;

And we pray that all unity will one day be restored.

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;

We will walk with each other, we will walk hand in hand;

And together we'll spread the news that God is in our land.

We Will work with each other, we will work side by side;

We will work with each other, we will work side by side;

And we'll guard each one’s dignity and save each other’s pride.

All praise to the Father, from whom all things come;

And all praise to Christ Jesus, His only Son.

And all praise to the Spirit who makes us one.