Trinity Church, Cheneyville, La

Trinity Church, Cheneyville, La Established in 1859 as a mission, it soon became a church parish and the present building was constructed in 1860. Montford Wells; the vestrymen, Dr. W. P.

A National Register of Historic Places in the U.S. site, it is a Civil War skirmish site and church services are held on Sunday at 7:30 a.m Anecdotal History Trinity Church

The Mission at Cheneyville was an enterprise of the larger Episcopal Church in Alexandria, LA, some 20 miles north of the small town, in 1856. Following a period of some uncertainty as to clerical support it was decided in 185

8 to make the mission independent. A number of the plantation owners of that day organized a parish under the name of Trinity Church on April 25, 1859. The first wardens were Dr. Samuel Slaughter and Gen. Marshall, Thomas Helm, Dr. Kenneth Clark, Gen. Keary, and Branch Tanner. Money was raised for the building of a church in the spring of 1860 and in the summer and fall of 1860 construction was undertaken. The first service was held in the new building on January 1, 1861. The church was built by the labor from the plantations - slaves - who were an integral part of the life of the early church in Cheneyville. Services were had for the servants every Sunday afternoon, either at the church in Cheneyville, or at one of the two plantations in the vicinity. Above the sanctuary of the church is a gallery where the slaves of the day sat and joined in the worship. Records of the church reflect the marriages and baptisms of the slave population and their children. Trinity's life in the 1860's reflected the life of the community and times during and following the War Between the States. The area suffered greatly from the ravages of the war, but always there was the Church. Even in 1868 when lightening struck the church and destroyed the tower and wall, the congregation in spite of great loss from the War, found resources to rebuild their Church. The church and its people persevered through the times following the War, the economic depressions of later years until this very day. As the rural South declined from a farming area with large populations of labor to one of farms with equipment needing fewer persons, so likewise, did the Church decline from a congregation of 30 to 40 persons to just 3 active members, as little as 5 years ago. Those 3 members continued to have services each Sunday, modestly maintain the building and keep the doors open. Then some 5 years ago, miracles began to happen, 2 more came, then a child, then a family of 4 moved back to the area, attracting a single mother with 3 children, followed by an older couple. The congregation of 3, had grown to a Sunday attendance of 18 persons - with a Sunday School [the first in some 45 years] having 4 children, all under the age of 6 years. The average age of the communicants had, in 2 short years, gone from age 80 to 40 years. On special holiday services this little church on the bayou has in the last year attracted as many as 175 persons on the last All Saints Day service and 110 at Christmas services all coming from surrounding communities and different faiths. Now life began to flow and a restorative drive begun to raise some $250,000.00 to save Trinity, a National Register of Historic Places in the U.S. building. Following a four year period of fund raising, planning and ultimately construction a $300,000.00 restorative program was completed. An effort culminating in the complete restoration of the church proper, and with a refurbishing of the small mission hall attached to the rear of the church which had not been included in the original project.

- Dated June 2004

06/07/2026

Trinity's message for you today, June 7th, the 2nd Sunday after Pentecost, delivered at services:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a simple pattern that appears again and again in Scripture.
First, God calls,
Second, someone responds.
And in that moment - between the call and the response - faith is revealed.

We see it in the story of Abram in the Old Testament lesson from Genesis. God speaks to Abram: "Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you."

Notice what is remarkable here. God does not give Abram a map. He does not show him the destination. He simply says, "Go".

And the next line is one of the most powerful acts of faith in the entire Bible:

"So Abram went, as the Lord had told him."

Abram trusted God enough to step forward before he could see the whole path. Faith, in other words, is not having everything explained in advance. Faith is trusting the One who calls us.

The same spirit of trust echoes in the Psalms. In Psalm 50, God says:

"Call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify me."

God does not promise that life will be free of difficulty. Scripture is far too honest for that. But, God promises something deeper: that when we call, God hears. And when God hears, God acts.

Faith is not just believing that God exists. Faith is believing that we can call on God, right now, in the middle of whatever we face - and God will respond.

This promise is carried forward in the words of Paul to the Romans. Paul reminds the church that the promise given to Abraham did not come through the law, but through faith. Abraham became the father of many nations not because he perfectly followed a set of rules, but because he trusted God's promise.

In other words, the story of Abraham becomes our story. The promise God began with him stretches across generations until it reaches us [you and I].

We too are invited to live by faith.

And then we come to the Gospel of Matthew, read today, where we see this same pattern again. Jesus walks along and sees a tax collector sitting in a booth - a man named, Matthew. In that society tax collectors were not admired. They were considered collaborators and sinners.

But Jesus simply says two words:

"Follow me".

That is all. ["Follow me"].

No explanation. No long sermon. Just a call.

And Matthew does something that echoes Abraham across the centuries. The Gospel says:

"And he got up and followed him."

Matthew leaves his table, his money, his security, and he follows Jesus.

Abraham left his homeland.
Matthew left his tax booth.

Both stepped into the unknown, "Why?"; because they trusted the One who called them.

And that same voice still calls today.

God calls people in quiet ways and surprising ways. Sometimes through Scripture. Sometimes through a moment of conviction. Sometimes through a deep sense that God is asking something of each of us - perhaps to forgive, to serve, to reach out, or simply to trust.

The life of faith is not about knowing every step ahead. It is about taking the next step when God calls.

And here is the beautiful promise that ties all of these readings together:

"When we follow, we are never walking alone."

You see, The God who called Abraham walks beside us.
The God who hears our cries in the Psalms listens to us.
The God who fulfilled his promise through Christ calls each of us by name.

And like Matthew, like Abraham, the question before us is very simple.

When the Lord says, "Follow me",
what will we do? [what will we do?]

May we have the courage of Abraham to go where God leads.
May we have the trust of the Psalmist to call upon the Lord in every trouble.
And may we have the readiness of Matthew to rise from where we are and follow Christ.

Faith - my friends - is trusting in the promises of God.

Amen.

06/02/2026

Message for Trinity Sunday, May 31st:

Today is Trinity Sunday.
And if we are honest, the Trinity can feel mysterious.
One God — Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
Not three gods. One God in three persons.
A God who exists in relationship, love, and unity.

And today’s Gospel from Gospel of Matthew gives us one of the clearest pictures of that mystery.

Jesus stands before His disciples and says:

“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”

Not just “go preach.”
Not just “go build churches.”
But go and bring people into the life of God Himself.

And strangely enough, that command connects all the way back to Moses.

In the Old Testament, God told Moses:
“You shall not wrong or oppress a stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.”

God reminds His people:
“Never forget where you came from.
Never forget what it felt like to be the outsider.
Never forget the days when you needed mercy.”

That is a powerful word for us today.

Because the church can sometimes forget that we were all strangers once.

Every one of us came to God needing grace.
Needing forgiveness.
Needing someone to open the door for us.

Somebody welcomed us.
Somebody taught us.
Somebody prayed for us.
Somebody showed us kindness when we were unsure, broken, or lost.

And now Jesus says:
“Go do the same.”

That is Trinity Sunday in everyday life.

The Father creates and loves the world.
The Son reaches out and saves the world.
The Holy Spirit draws people into the family of God.

And now we are sent out in that same spirit of love.

Not with arrogance.
Not with anger.
Not with closed doors.

But with open hearts.

Because Christianity is not a private club for perfect people.
It is an open invitation to weary sinners, lonely souls, wandering hearts, and searching people.

Out here in small towns and rural communities, we understand something about welcoming strangers.

You can still find places where somebody waves from a tractor.
Where neighbors bring food when somebody is sick.
Where people notice when someone new walks through the church door.

That matters more than we realize.

Because a visitor may walk into church carrying burdens nobody can see.
A young family may be searching for hope.
An older man may be looking for peace.
A hurting person may simply need someone to say,
“We’re glad you’re here.”

And when we welcome others with grace, we reflect the very heart of the Trinity.

The Father who welcomes.
The Son who redeems.
The Spirit who gathers.

My friends , we do not just believe in the Trinity.
We are meant to live the Trinity —
living in love,
living in unity,
living with open arms.

Jesus did not tell the disciples to stay safely on the mountain.
He said, “Go.”

Go to the forgotten.
Go to the outsider.
Go to the stranger.
Go to the neighbor who thinks nobody cares.
Go to the people who believe church is no longer for them.

And bring them into the love of God.

Why? Because once, we were strangers too.

But by the grace of the Father,
through the mercy of the Son,
and by the power of the Holy Spirit,
we were welcomed home.

And now it is our turn to hold the door open for somebody else.

In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen.

The door is always open at Trinity Episcopal Church; 7:30 a.m. Sunday service, come visit and worship with us. We love having you.

Preparing for Pentecost Sunday, Trinity Episcopal Church, Cheneyville, LA - Service at 7:30 a. m Sunday
05/23/2026

Preparing for Pentecost Sunday, Trinity Episcopal Church, Cheneyville, LA - Service at 7:30 a. m Sunday

Trinity Sunday is May 31, 2026; the 1st Sunday after Pentecost. Trinity Sunday is a Christian feast day that celebrates...
05/17/2026

Trinity Sunday is May 31, 2026; the 1st Sunday after Pentecost. Trinity Sunday is a Christian feast day that celebrates the doctrine of the Holy Trinity—that God is one being in three persons: the Father, the Son (Jesus Christ), and the Holy Spirit.

It’s observed on the first Sunday after Pentecost, so the exact date changes each year (usually late May to mid-June).

What it means

Trinity Sunday isn’t about a single event in the Bible. Instead, it focuses on a core Christian belief:

* One God
* Three distinct persons
* All equally divine and eternal

Also, this is a time when we at Trinity Episcopal Church celebrate our founding.

167 Years of Faith – Trinity Episcopal Church, Cheneyville

On a quiet piece of Louisiana ground, in the spring of 1859… a handful of faithful people planted a seed.
They built a church—Trinity Episcopal Church of Cheneyville—trusting God would do the rest.

They couldn’t see 167 years ahead…
but they believed.

Through war and peace… through hard seasons and good harvests… this church has stood.
Not because the road was easy—
but because the faith was steady.

These walls have heard it all—
baptisms and farewells…
Sunday hymns rising into the air…
and quiet prayers whispered when life felt heavy.

Generations have come and gone.
Children have grown, families have changed…
but the light of Christ has never gone out in this place.

And now… here we are.

On Trinity Sunday, May 31, 2026, we gather not just to look back—
but to give thanks.

Thanks for those who came before us…
who kept the doors open and the faith alive.
Thanks for the life of this church today…
and for the future God is still writing through us.

Because this—this is more than an anniversary.

It is a testimony.

A testimony that God has been faithful here for 167 years…
and He is not finished yet.

Come… be part of the story.

Our service at Trinity is at 7:30 a.m. each Sunday, come worship with us, we would love to see you.

05/03/2026

Today's message from the service at Trinity Church, Cheneyville, today:

5th Sunday in Easter – Year A [May 3, 2026]

“Let Not Your Heart Be Troubled”

Scripture Readings:
John 14:1–14
Psalm 31:1–2, 5–6

There are seasons in life when the weight of the world presses hard against the heart. Seasons when the future feels uncertain, when fear creeps in quietly, when the questions outnumber the answers. Scripture never pretends those moments don’t exist. Instead, it speaks directly into them with honesty and hope.

In Psalm 31, David begins with a cry that many of us have whispered in our own moments of struggle:
“In you, O Lord, I seek refuge; let me never be put to shame; deliver me in your righteousness.”

David is not speaking from a place of comfort. He is speaking from a place of need. He is reaching for God as a refuge—not an idea, not a ritual, but a shelter he can run into.
Then he says, “Incline your ear to me; rescue me speedily.”

That is the prayer of someone who needs God not tomorrow, not eventually, but right now. David is honest enough to say, “Lord, I need You quickly. I need You to hear me. I need You to act.”

And then comes one of the most profound statements in all of Scripture:
“Into your hands I commit my spirit.”

It is a prayer of surrender. A prayer of trust. A prayer that says, “Lord, I cannot hold my own life together, but Your hands can. I cannot control what comes next, but You can carry me through it.”

Centuries later, Jesus speaks to His disciples in John 14 with that same heart of reassurance. He knows their world is about to be shaken. He knows the cross is near. He knows fear is rising in their hearts. And into that moment He says,
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me.”

Jesus doesn’t say, “There is nothing to be troubled about.”
He says, “Don’t let trouble rule your heart.”
He acknowledges the reality of fear, but He refuses to let fear have the final authority.
Then He gives them a promise:
“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places… I go to prepare a place for you.”

Jesus is telling them—and telling us—“Your future is not fragile. Your hope is not uncertain. I am preparing something for you that cannot be shaken.”

But Thomas, honest as ever, says, “Lord, we don’t know where you’re going. How can we know the way?”

And Jesus answers with words that have echoed through the centuries:
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life.”

Not a map.
Not a set of instructions.
Not a philosophy.
But a person.

Jesus is saying, “You don’t have to know every step. You just have to walk with Me. I am the way.”

When we place Psalm 31 beside John 14, a beautiful truth emerges:
The God who holds our spirit is the same God who prepares our future.
The God who is our refuge is the same God who is our way.

David says, “Into Your hands I commit my spirit.”
Jesus says, “Let not your heart be troubled.”
Together they teach us that trust is not passive—it is an active surrender to the One who leads us.

So what does this mean for us [you and I] today?

It means that when fear rises, we can place our spirit in God’s hands.
When uncertainty grows, we can trust the One who prepares a place for us.
When the path ahead is unclear, we can follow the One who is the way.
It means that our peace does not come from having all the answers.
Our peace comes from knowing the One who holds all things together.
It means that our hope is not built on circumstances, but on Christ Himself.
And it means that even when life feels unstable, God remains our rock, our refuge, our steady foundation.

My friends, today, whatever weighs on your heart—whatever burden you carry, whatever fear whispers in the quiet places of your mind—hear the voice of Jesus saying, “Do not let your heart be troubled.” Not because life is simple, but because He is present. Because He is faithful. Because He is the way, the truth, and the life.

This day, and the days to come, may we have the courage to pray with David, “Into Your hands I commit my spirit,” and the confidence to walk with Jesus, trusting that He will lead us home, to that place He has already prepared for us!

Amen.

Please join with us a worship next Sunday, at 7:30 a.m., and each Sunday at the same time, we want you to come!

05/02/2026

If all we have to give is love, what will God give?

That’s a beautiful question—and it cuts right to the heart of faith.

If all we have to give is love, then we are already giving God the one thing He asks for most. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God and love one another. Not success, not perfection—just love.

And what does God give in return?

God gives Himself.

He gives grace when we feel we don’t deserve it.
He gives strength when ours runs out.
He gives peace when life feels uncertain.
He gives forgiveness when we fall short.
He gives presence—never leaving us alone, even in our darkest moments.

It’s not a transaction, like we give a little and God gives more. It’s a relationship. When we offer love—however small, however imperfect—we open the door. And God fills that space with something far greater: His mercy, His guidance, His Spirit at work within us.

In a way, love is the seed we plant… and God grows it into something we could never produce on our own.

So if all you have is love, you’re not coming empty-handed.
You’re coming with exactly what God can transform into everything.

Be at peace, and share your love.

Service at Trinity is at 7:30 a.m. Sunday; come join us at worship, we don’t have a dress code, we just want you as you are.

04/25/2026

If all we have to give is love, what will God give?

That’s a beautiful question—and it cuts right to the heart of faith.

If all we have to give is love, then we are already giving God the one thing He asks for most. Jesus says the greatest commandment is to love God and love one another. Not success, not perfection—just love.

And what does God give in return?

God gives Himself.

He gives grace when we feel we don’t deserve it.
He gives strength when ours runs out.
He gives peace when life feels uncertain.
He gives forgiveness when we fall short.
He gives presence—never leaving us alone, even in our darkest moments.

It’s not a transaction, like we give a little and God gives more. It’s a relationship. When we offer love—however small, however imperfect—we open the door. And God fills that space with something far greater: His mercy, His guidance, His Spirit at work within us.

In a way, love is the seed we plant… and God grows it into something we could never produce on our own.

So if all you have is love, you’re not coming empty-handed.
You’re coming with exactly what God can transform into everything.

Be at peace, and share your love.

See you Sunday, 7:30 a.m. At Trinity Episcopal Church in Cheneyville. Know you are most welcome, no particular dress code, come as you are.

04/19/2026

3 rd Sunday of Easter – Year A: Trinity Church, Cheneyville, Our Message for Today:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be always acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

“I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication… because he has inclined
his ear to me whenever I called upon him.”

The psalmist speaks these words with deep emotion. This is not polite religious language. This is
the voice of someone who has cried out in desperation and discovered that God was listening.

Notice the image the psalmist gives us: God has inclined his ear. It is the picture of someone
leaning closer so they will not miss a word. The Almighty God of heaven and earth bends down,
listens carefully, and hears the cry of one human heart.

Many of us know that moment.

The moment when prayer stops being routine. When the words are no longer memorized lines
but a desperate whisper: Lord, help me.

Whether in a hospital room.
During a sleepless night.
In a time of loss, fear, or uncertainty.

And in that moment we discover something extraordinary: God was listening all along.

So the psalmist asks the natural question that follows such a discovery:
“How shall I repay the Lord for all the good things he has done for me?”

What could we possibly give back to the God who has given us life, mercy, forgiveness, and
hope?

That same question echoes through our reading from Acts. After Peter stands up on the days
following the resurrection and proclaims the risen Christ, the crowd is shaken to the core. They
suddenly realize what God has done in Jesus.

And they cry out, almost desperately:
“Brothers… what should we do?”

You can hear the urgency in their voices. They know something profound has happened, and
they do not want to miss it.

Peter’s answer cuts straight to the heart:
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ… and you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.”

In other words, the response to God’s grace is not repayment—it is transformation.

We cannot pay God back. But we can turn toward Him. We can open our lives to the new life He
offers.

Repentance means turning around—leaving behind the old path and stepping onto the road that
leads toward Christ.

And baptism marks that turning. It is the moment when a person steps into the great promise of
God’s mercy.

And listen carefully to what Peter says about that promise:
“It is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away.”
That promise stretches across generations. It stretches across continents. It stretches across
centuries—until it reaches even us, here and now.

But perhaps the most moving picture of that promise comes in the Gospel story of the road to
Emmaus.

Two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem. Their hopes have been shattered. The one they
believed was the Messiah has been crucified. Their future suddenly feels uncertain and dark.

As they walk, a stranger joins them on the road.

They talk together. They share their grief. The stranger explains the Scriptures to them.
Something about his words stirs their hearts—but still, they do not recognize him.

When they reach their destination, they invite the stranger to stay with them. And then something
remarkable happens.

They sit down at the table.

The stranger takes bread.
He blesses it.
He breaks it.
And he gives it to them.

And suddenly—like lightning breaking through the darkness—their eyes are opened.

It is Jesus.

The risen Lord had been walking beside them the entire time.

In that very instant everything changes. Their despair turns to joy. Their confusion becomes
clarity. The road that once led them away from hope now sends them running back to Jerusalem
with good news.

And that story tells us something beautiful about our own lives.

Very often Christ walks with us before we recognize him. He walks beside us in moments of
confusion, in times of grief, and periods of uncertainty. He listens when we cry out. He guides us
even when we cannot see the way.

And again and again and again, he reveals himself—especially in the breaking of bread, at the
table where the Church gathers in his name.

There, just as on the road to Emmaus, our eyes are opened.

And when that happens, we understand what the psalmist meant when he said:
“I love the Lord… because he has heard the voice of my supplication.”

So how shall we respond to such grace?

We turn toward God.
We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We gather at Christ’s table.
And we walk with Him -- on the road of faith.

Because the good news of the Gospel is this:

The same Jesus who walked that dusty road to Emmaus -- is still walking beside his people [you
and I] today.
And the same God who inclined his ear to the psalmist still leans close… and listens… whenever
we call: “Lord, help me!”.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Sunday services area t 7:30 a.m. each Sunday; please come and worship with us, and let us meet you. A coffee period follows each service, with a light breakfast, please come!

04/19/2026

3 rd Sunday of Easter – Year A - The Message for Today:

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be always acceptable in your sight,
O Lord, our strength and our redeemer. Amen.

“I love the Lord, because he has heard the voice of my supplication… because he has inclined
his ear to me whenever I called upon him.”

The psalmist speaks these words with deep emotion. This is not polite religious language. This is
the voice of someone who has cried out in desperation and discovered that God was listening.

Notice the image the psalmist gives us: God has inclined his ear. It is the picture of someone
leaning closer so they will not miss a word. The Almighty God of heaven and earth bends down,
listens carefully, and hears the cry of one human heart.

Many of us know that moment.

The moment when prayer stops being routine. When the words are no longer memorized lines
but a desperate whisper: Lord, help me.

Whether in a hospital room.
During a sleepless night.
In a time of loss, fear, or uncertainty.

And in that moment we discover something extraordinary: God was listening all along.
So the psalmist asks the natural question that follows such a discovery:

“How shall I repay the Lord for all the good things he has done for me?”

What could we possibly give back to the God who has given us life, mercy, forgiveness, and
hope?

That same question echoes through our reading from Acts. After Peter stands up on the days
following the resurrection and proclaims the risen Christ, the crowd is shaken to the core. They
suddenly realize what God has done in Jesus.

And they cry out, almost desperately:
“Brothers… what should we do?”

You can hear the urgency in their voices. They know something profound has happened, and
they do not want to miss it.

Peter’s answer cuts straight to the heart:
“Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ… and you will receive the
gift of the Holy Spirit.”

In other words, the response to God’s grace is not repayment—it is transformation.
We cannot pay God back. But we can turn toward Him. We can open our lives to the new life He
offers.
Repentance means turning around—leaving behind the old path and stepping onto the road that
leads toward Christ.

And baptism marks that turning. It is the moment when a person steps into the great promise of
God’s mercy.

And listen carefully to what Peter says about that promise:
“It is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away.”

That promise stretches across generations. It stretches across continents. It stretches across
centuries—until it reaches even us, here and now.

But perhaps the most moving picture of that promise comes in the Gospel story of the road to
Emmaus.

Two disciples are walking away from Jerusalem. Their hopes have been shattered. The one they
believed was the Messiah has been crucified. Their future suddenly feels uncertain and dark.
As they walk, a stranger joins them on the road.

They talk together. They share their grief. The stranger explains the Scriptures to them.
Something about his words stirs their hearts—but still, they do not recognize him.

When they reach their destination, they invite the stranger to stay with them. And then something
remarkable happens.

They sit down at the table.
The stranger takes bread.
He blesses it.
He breaks it.
And he gives it to them.

And suddenly—like lightning breaking through the darkness—their eyes are opened.
It is Jesus.

The risen Lord had been walking beside them the entire time.

In that very instant everything changes. Their despair turns to joy. Their confusion becomes
clarity. The road that once led them away from hope now sends them running back to Jerusalem
with good news.

And that story tells us something beautiful about our own lives.
Very often Christ walks with us before we recognize him. He walks beside us in moments of
confusion, in times of grief, and periods of uncertainty. He listens when we cry out. He guides us
even when we cannot see the way.

And again and again and again, he reveals himself—especially in the breaking of bread, at the
table where the Church gathers in his name.

There, just as on the road to Emmaus, our eyes are opened.
And when that happens, we understand what the psalmist meant when he said:
“I love the Lord… because he has heard the voice of my supplication.”

So how shall we respond to such grace?

We turn toward God.
We receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
We gather at Christ’s table.
And we walk with Him -- on the road of faith.

Because the good news of the Gospel is this:

The same Jesus who walked that dusty road to Emmaus -- is still walking beside his people [you
and I] today.
And the same God who inclined his ear to the psalmist still leans close… and listens… whenever
we call: “Lord, help me!”.

Thanks be to God.

Amen.

Trinity Services are at 7:30 a.m. each Sunday; please come, worship with us, and know that we have no dress code, we just want to meet you. A coffee, light breakfast period follows each Sunday in our Mission Hall. Please come!

04/16/2026

“If God is for us, who can be against us?” — those words from Romans are not a slogan to hang on a wall; they are a declaration meant to steady a trembling heart.

Let us begin here: life does not always feel like God is “for us.” There are days when everything seems to lean the other way. The diagnosis comes. The job disappears. Relationships strain and fracture. Prayers feel like they rise no higher than the ceiling. And in those moments, the question presses in: Is God really for me? Paul’s words in Romans 8 are not spoken from comfort, but from the middle of struggle. He writes to people who knew persecution, uncertainty, and fear. And yet he dares to say, not timidly but boldly, “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Notice what he does not say. He does not say, “Nothing will ever come against you.” He does not say, “You will not face hardship.” We know that is not true. What he says is something deeper: whatever comes against you does not have the final word. Opposition may rise, but it will not prevail. Why? Because God has already acted. “He who did not spare his own Son… will he not also with him freely give us all things?” The cross is the proof. The empty tomb is the answer. God is not distant, not indifferent—God is decisively, sacrificially, eternally for you.

And that changes how we stand in the world. When Paul asks, “Who can be against us?” he is not denying the presence of enemies, struggles, or even our own doubts. He is declaring their limits. Accusation cannot condemn us, because Christ intercedes for us. Fear cannot paralyze us, because Christ has overcome the grave. Even suffering cannot defeat us, because in Christ it is transformed—not meaningless, but woven into a larger story of redemption. “In all these things,” Paul says, “we are more than conquerors.” Not by our strength, not by our willpower, but through the love of the One who holds us fast.

So what does this mean for us—today, in our own lives?

It means we do not have to live as if everything depends on us. We do not have to carry every burden as though we are alone. God is for us when we are strong, and God is for us when we are barely holding on. It means that when voices rise—whether from others or from within—telling us we are not enough, not worthy, not forgiven, we can answer them with a deeper truth: God has already spoken. And God’s word is mercy, grace, and belonging.

It also means we are called to live differently. If God is for us, then we can face what comes with courage. We can step into difficult places with hope. We can forgive when it is hard. We can love when it costs something. Because the question is no longer, “What if I lose?” The question becomes, “What can separate me from the love of Christ?” And Paul answers it—nothing. Not hardship, not distress, not anything in all creation.

So when you leave this place and step back into the noise and uncertainty of the world, carry this with you: God is not waiting to be convinced to love you. God has already chosen you. God is already for you. And if that is true—truly, deeply, eternally true—then nothing that stands against you can ultimately stand at all.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Services at Trinity Episcopal Church are at 7:30 a. m., each Sunday, you are most welcome, come, there is no dress code, just come, and know you are welcome.

Address

1060 Bayou Road
Cheneyville, LA
71325

Opening Hours

7:30am - 7:30am

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