Have you memorized our new Vision Statement yet? “Trinity is a Christian community inviting all to gather in love, grow in faith, and give back in joyful service .”

In all the elements of our new vision, why is “joyful” attached to this one — one that seems to refer to giving money and time? Are people really joyful handing over money and working on mission projects? Isn’t that just propaganda? Look at all the happy people giving to the church!

I understand and sympathize with that question. Think of other times when you’ve received a pitch over-promising what you will get for an investment they are ‘selling.’ For instance, I am wary of any commercial that suggests I can have fun and health and friends and… everything if I just buy their product! But that’s just not how it works.

I challenge you, though: whenever you’ve heard someone telling about a mission they were a part of aimed at helping the poor, were they… smiling? It didn’t matter if it was easy or hard, they seemed grateful to participate. Do you think they were faking it? And usually they reported that they got so much more out of the work than they contributed.

Also, do you know anyone who tithes (gives ten percent of income back to God’s work)? Are they sour, resentful, wish they had the money back? I’ve not met everyone, of course, but I have yet to meet a dour tither. Do you think I’m making that up? Or is there something to that?

\One of the primary scriptures about how we respond to the call of God to give back is the image Jesus gives of the final judgement ( Matthew 25:31-40 ). Note that there are no religious questions at this judgement, just questions of faith and mercy and compassion. Does that strike you as odd? What does that tell us about Jesus and all who follow him?

The Lord is consistently presented in the Bible as not only caring about those who are desperate or hurting but also WHY they are. For instance, are they being harmed by on-going injustice, not just regrettable events or bad luck? Here is just one of the many pronouncement by God on that ( Amos 5:21-24 ). What do you make of that? Will you and I be judged by how our community behaves?

I’m excited about the possibilities of worship this Sunday. (Don’t forget your gifts to Food for Thought!) I will be sharing in the contemporary service at 11:00 and, of course, we also have the traditional service at 9:00. Both can be shared in-person, live-streamed, or later while viewing the recoding. I would love to get your comments or questions before or after the service. Just click here.