October 12th

WELCOME AND LITURGY OF GATHERING

Leader: Reading of Psalm 66:1-12. This is the word of the Lord.

ALL: Thanks be to God.

Trinity is fostering a haven of belonging where wanderers and wonderers 

gather to discover and embody the love of Jesus in the world.

COMMUNAL SINGING

Love Divine, All Loves Excelling

Love divine, all loves excelling, 

Joy of heaven, to earth come down;

Fix in us thy humble dwelling, 

All thy faithful mercies crown. 

Jesus, thou art all compassion, 

Pure unbounded love thou art;

Visit us with thy salvation, 

Enter every trembling heart!

Finish then thy new creation; Pure and spotless let us be

Let us see thy great salvation, Perfectly restored in thee.

Changed from glory into glory, 

Till in heaven we take our place, 

Till we cast our crowns before thee, 

Lost in wonder, love and praise!

Beautiful Savior 

Beautiful Savior!

Lord of all the nations!

Son of God and Son of Man!

Glory and honor, praise, adoration,

Now and forevermore be Thine.

Doxology

Praise God from whom all blessings flow,

Praise him all creatures here below

Praise him above, ye heavenly host

Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost

Amen

COMMUNITY CONFESSION

Leader: Let us bring to God those harmful words we spoke, the chances to help we refused, and the foolish choices of our lives. Offer them to the One who longs to hear us, trusting that God will forgive us. 

ALL: God our Light, we admit that by our actions we tear Christ apart – a piece here to support our politics, a part there to undergird our economic views, the rest to bolster our fears of others. We fail to let your Spirit lead us. We confess that we turn our backs on those around us. Forgive us for dragging our feet as Jesus' disciples. 

Leader: Together, we pray for those who have been recipients of our hurtful words.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For those whose lives we’ve oppressed by the choices we’ve made, perpetuating systemic injustice in our community, country, and world.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: For those around us who have suffered, including ourselves, because we have refused your Spirit’s prompting.

ALL: Lord, hear our prayer.

Leader: God hears our words, God sees our changed hearts, God's steadfast love is poured out upon us!  

ALL: May we go to all the uncomfortable places to bring hope. May we proclaim with our lips, but especially with our lives, that the kingdom of love is near, brought by Jesus Christ, our Lord. We will trust in God, in whom our salvation rests. Thanks be to God, we are forgiven!

BLESSING AND PASSING THE PEACE 

Adults: The Lord be with you!

Children and Kids Ministry Leader: And also with you! 

During this time we greet one another, recognizing that we are all a part of the body, as PreK-5th grade children are led to their ministry space. Younger children and youth remain, and are welcome, in the Gathering. Materials for toddlers are available and we understand that their presence means they will be heard, no need to worry about their vocal contributions.

SERMON NOTES

Monster Petting Zoo: On Safari with God

Seven Deadly…

2 Kings 1:1-17

• What does the myth or monster in today’s text look like for you/us today?

• What is causing discomfort in this week/season? How might you/we make a home for it?

• How might the Spirit be inviting you/us to make friends with fear? What fears are being turned into wonder this week/season?

• Describe what you feel was previously inaccessible to you and explore how it may be becoming more accessible today.

• In what ways is God allowing you to move through or lean into something rather than “escape it”? 

• How are you engaging the mysterious/monstrous as a part of your spiritual life in this season? How is this helping you locate yourself in the larger trajectory of the story of God?

*Through small and large group conversations, we’ll be voicing what resonates with us and reflect that back to the group(s).

* Description Card

*For additional discussion prompts visit the series page here.

LORD’S TABLE LITURGY

Leader: As we gather to celebrate this day, as we remember the gifts Jesus shared, we proclaim that faith which is a mystery:

ALL: Christ died, his last breath stolen from him; Christ was raised, the Spirit’s breath bringing new life; Christ will come, breathing new grace and hope in our lives.

Leader: Here, where the bread and the cup wait, breathe your Spirit upon these gifts. Here, where the young long for visions, and the old whisper their memories, breathe your Spirit upon us, Holy God. Let us not be content simply to eat the bread, but be strengthened by it. Let us not just sip from grace’s cup, but be inflamed by its passion for justice, to breathe new life into all who have lost that last bit of hope. 

ALL: Breathe on us, very Breath of God, so we may take in great gasps of grace, to forever praise your name, God in Community, Holy in One.

*communion elements are gluten free, not allergen free

RESPONSE & OFFERING OF WORSHIP                                                                                                                                    

The Offering Basket 

Prayer requests may be posted in the Zoom chat (Zoom participants) or written and placed in the offering basket.

Jesus, Messiah 

He became sin who knew no sin

That we might become his righteousness

He humbled himself and carried the cross

Love so amazing, Love so amazing

Jesus Messiah, Name above all names

Blessed Redeemer, Emmanue.

The rescue for sinners, the ransom from heaven

Jesus Messiah, Lord of all

His body the bread, his blood the wine

Broken and poured out all for love

The whole earth trembled and the veil was torn

Love so amazing, Love so amazing

All our hope is in you

All our hope is in you 

All the glory to you, God

The light of the world 

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Upcoming Community Conversations and corresponding surveys. The Leadership Team would like to check-in to gain a better pulse on the health of our faith community as we pursue our common mission and live into our vision. As we consider who we are continually becoming as a faith community, we want to posture ourselves with curiosity, assessing if what we do and how we function are aligned with what is needed in the season ahead. What a joy it is to be in this position and we are honored to engage and open up the conversation with everyone! In order to pace ourselves, facilitate, and prepare for upcoming Community Conversations (September 28th, October 12th, and November 9th), three separate (and shorter) surveys will be sent. Please check your email inboxes for those surveys. If you are not receiving emails or have questions, please email contact@indytrinity.org. 

Equity Funds. Rolling submissions for 2025 Equity Funds will be accepted in phases: through May 4th (past) and now again through November 2nd. This form is to be used to submit proposals and taken to the remaining Community Conversation on November 9th where equity funds will be communally discerned. After that conversation, more solidified proposals (discerned through the larger group conversation) will then be taken to the Leadership Team for final disbursement requests. We ask that you use this form to prepare for presenting at a Community Conversation or if you are unable to attend the Equity Funds conversation the proposal will be taken to the group in your absence. Please refer to your emails for additional information. If you didn’t receive an email and would like to be on the list, please send an email to contact@indytrinity.org.

Trinity Seasonal Small Groups for the fall of 2025 will be a “choose your own adventure” style (on many levels) as we dive into the mysterious and monstrous throughout the Old Testament, during the sermon series this fall: “Monster Petting Zoo”. Each small group gathering will determine their own course. We’ll be spending balanced time relationship building, care, and conversation around the theme of the week. It is OK if you can’t attend every session. Join as you are able, but please let your facilitator/host know at the beginning of the season when you can’t attend. If you need assistance accessing or acquiring materials, please let your facilitator/host know. Everyone is asked to commit to Expectations for healthy conversation. Please contact the group host for more details and to generally RSVP. You are welcome to join the group that fits your schedule/needs. You are not bound by geographical location/parish. 

Mondays 12-1pm - Fishers/Zoom starting September 8th

Tuesdays 7-9pm - Midtown/Downtown starting September 23rd

Thursdays 6:30-8:30pm - Queer Affinity starting September 11th

Fridays 6:30-8pm - Broad Ripple starting September 5th

THE BENEDICTION

blessed are you who are raging.

blessed are you who are mourning.

blessed are you who feel numb.

blessed are you who feel sick. and tired. and sick and tired.

blessed are you who refuse to turn away.

blessed are you who need to turn away.

blessed are you who keep breathing deep.

blessed are you who are tending to your own needs.

blessed are you who are tending to the needs of another.

blessed are you who have been calling.

blessed are you who have been organizing.

blessed are you who have been testifying.

blessed are you who have been hearing.

blessed are you who have been resisting.

blessed are you who feel broken open beyond repair.

blessed are you who are raw beyond words.

blessed are you who are working hotlines and crisis care centers and bearing witness to the forces of violence and trauma unleashed and unloosed.

blessed are you who are marching.

blessed are you who are weeping.

blessed are you who preach and know that divinity resides in despised, abused, violated flesh.

blessed are you who know deep in your bones that you are good. and beautiful. and beloved. and sacred. and worthy. and believed. and held. and capable of healing beyond your wildest imagination.

blessed are you who remind others they are good. and beautiful. and beloved. and sacred. and worthy. and believed. and held. and capable of healing beyond their wildest imagination.

blessed are we when we dare to dream of a world without sexual violence, without white supremacy, without misogyny, without police brutality, without anti-trans and anti-queer violence.

blessed are we when we stay tender.

blessed are we when we stay fierce.

blessed are we when we dare to imagine repair, and transformation.

blessed are we when we labor together to make it so.

(Some liturgies adapted from Modern Beatitudes from enfleshed.com and Communion Blessing/Christopher Peters and lectionaryliturgies.blogspot.com) 

Remain in the Gathering space for general connection and prayer.

GATHERING RESOURCES AND INFORMATION

Land Acknowledgement. We acknowledge that the land on which we gather for worship was stolen from Native peoples, who were driven out of the area and of their native lands by genocide, force (through broken treaties and laws imposed upon their nation), and systematic disposession.  The Myaamiaki, Kaskaskia, and Kickapoo peoples* and their sovereign Nations have cared for, and are deeply a part of, this land - past, present, and future. (ref: Repudiation of the Doctrine of Discovery, Trinity Church)

Gathering Hosting Schedule. As an act of service and care, please join staff, leaders, and others from your parish in hosting Sunday Gatherings. These are great times to connect and welcome others to converse while serving as well. Arrival at 9:45am is great, 9:30am is super helpful for assisting with audio equipment and/or indoor set up. Cleaning up on the back end should only take 10-15 minutes. The hosting checklist is in the Trinity office. Thank you!

October

5th: Fishers

12th: Broad Ripple

19th: North/Carmel

26th: Midtown/Downtown

November

2nd: Fishers

9th: Broad Ripple

16th: North/Carmel

23rd: Midtown/Downtown

30th/Brunch + First Sunday of Advent: Fishers

Guide and Service Dog Training. As we welcome Guide/Service Dogs at Gatherings, please familiarize yourself with resources under on these two websites https://www.guidedogs.com/resources/blindness-and-guide-dog-etiquette and https://www.guidedogsofamerica.org/best-practices-when-around-a-service-dog/  and discuss main points with those in your household. If you or anyone in your household has severe allergies or any fear of dogs, etc. please contact us (contact@indytrinity.org) so we can do our best to keep Gathering spaces welcoming for all. 

Health Guidelines. Gatherings can look differently according to the needs of our leaders and community if health concerns take effect. We ask that everyone remain flexible if and/or when this is the case. If a Gathering is going to be virtual, we will send an email by 8am on Sunday, or earlier. If you are experiencing fever, coughs, or other clear signs of illness, please remain home and join the Gathering via Zoom. If your symptoms are not highly contagious or you are unsure about exposing others, please wear a mask. Specifically, if you have been exposed to or have symptoms of Covid-19 or the Flu, you can follow the guidelines from the CDC to determine what are your best precautions to take.