Trinity United Methodist Church

Trinity United Methodist Church To bring people to Jesus Christ so that we may be transformed into his faithful followers. Bring your own chairs or blankets. Many precautions are required.

Appointments to speak with the Pastor can be arranged via email or by calling the church and leaving a message for a return call. The Administrative Board of Trinity United Methodist Church met Sunday, June 14, to discuss re-opening our church for in-person or in-house worship. The consensus was to remain closed for the rest of June, but to re-open on Sunday, July 5. During the month of July, weat

her permitting, we will worship outdoors, on the parsonage lawn next to the church, maintaining a social distance of 6 feet between families. By worshiping in the open air, we believe that it will be safe to include a couple hymns, responsive readings, and unison prayers in the service. If we move indoors because of inclement weather, these items will be omitted from the service because we emit virus particles into the air while speaking or singing. Masks are recommended but are optional. Masks will be available as worshipers arrive. Re-opening isn't simply unlocking the doors and resuming where we left off in March. Consequently, worship will not be exactly the same as it was for quite some time. We ask for your understanding and patience and concern for the safety of all persons. For those who would be uncomfortable attending church in July, because of age or underlying health conditions, an abbreviated service will still be available on Trinity's page and YouTube. Please do not attend if you are sick or have flu-like symptoms. It is essential that everyone read the guidelines below which give more detailed information on what we all need to do to re-open Trinity United Methodist Church for worship and safeguard the health and lives of all people. Ed Peterson, Pastor


Church Re-opening conditions for the month of July beginning Sunday, July 5, 2020:
- Outdoor service in parsonage yard if weather permits
- Bring your own lawn chair, blanket and water bottle
- Keyboard will be used with a couple of familiar hymns printed on bulletin insert
- Special music options
- Restrooms for emergency use only
- Offering drop box will be used
- No communion for the month of July
- No children up front for children’s sermon
- Social distancing between families required
- Masks are optional
- Masks will be available if anyone wants one
- Attendance will be taken by an usher at each service

If weather is an issue we will have church in the sanctuary w/the following conditions:
- Deep cleaning of sanctuary and fellowship area prior to July 5
- Handicap entrance is the only entrance available
- Entrance door to remain open
- Masks and hand sanitizer will be available
- Masks are optional
- Social distancing between families required – 6’ distance
- No hand shaking
- Pews will be taped off
- Pew cushions will be removed
- Pew bibles, hymnals and attendance charts removed
- No fellowship before or after unless 6’ distancing
- No coffee or refreshments
- Offering drop box will be used
- No communion the month of July
- Hymns and responsive readings will be omitted
- Tables and chairs removed from fellowship area
- No one allowed downstairs – other than to count offering
- No acyolytes – Ed will light the candles prior to church service
- No children up front for children’s sermon
- Kids bags will be removed
- Air conditioner will not be running
- Water bottles allowed
- Bathrooms for emergency use only
- Attendance will be taken by an usher at each service

Other items of importance:
- Do not come to church if you have or have had any cold, flu or other illness symptoms
- If you come down with the virus – call Ed or Cindy immediately with date of attendance
- Sermon will continue to be available through email and Facebook until further notice
- No outside groups are able to meet in the church until further notice
- No small group gatherings – Adult or Childrens SS, Youth group, etc.
- No Vacation Bible School
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Here at Trinity United Methodist Church you will find a church and a church family that you can relate to. Trinity is a small church that acts like a large church. There are a number of activities throughout the year that allow for fellowship and recreation. We have a woman's group, called the United Methodist Women, as well as a very unique men's group. Here you will find a place where faith, family, and friends intersect in a most wonderful way. Our worship service is at 9:30am on Sunday, and fellowship and light refreshments follow. Sunday School is September through May after worship. Appointments to speak with the Pastor can be via email or by calling the church and leaving a message for a return call.

09/06/2026

In Psalm 98, it points us to the joy that flows through all of God’s creation. The psalmist imagines that the seas and the hills join us humans in rejoicing in God’s steadfast love. We have every reason to be joyful, for God’s faithfulness and goodness never fade.
Well, we are now into a few weeks into school. I am sure we all had fun during the summer. We had family vacations, camps, playing sports and games, staying up late and probably lots of other things. Then it is school time and early to bed and giving up some of the things we did in the summer but as we go into the new school year and into fall and we find that new things are replacing some of the old things that we had enjoyed in the summer. Life seems to be more structed and a whole new schedule of interesting activities we seem to have. Life has a rhythm. We feel that rhythm at this time of year when we all think about fall and back to Sunday School and church. We humans are the only creatures who are born with virtually no instincts. We have to learn everything. We spend all of our lives in both formal and informal education. We are molded by our family, school, and church all working together. This process never ends. The rhythm of your life may be different from mine, or you may experience that rhythm differently. One of the things that really gets us through the ups and downs of life is enjoyment – a capacity to have fun. When we can find enjoyment in our jobs and in our educations and in even mundane tasks, everything just naturally flows better. We are much happier and healthier than we would otherwise be, and we help others to be happier as well. Psychiatrist William Glasser says that we humans have five basic needs, and one of these is having fun (the others are survival, love and belonging, power and freedom). The ability to have fun is essential to good health. Without it our lives are not satisfying or productive, and they go off track. Life is to be enjoyed the high point of Jesus’ great prayer in John 17 is that his followers “may have my joy made complete in themselves.” Little enjoyments are the building blocks by which we arrive at Life’s great joys. We learn such joys in the family, at school, and in the church by the way we nurture one another. Something as simple as looking around at God’s creation or watching little children play and laugh. Can you remember those times when you were smaller and maybe you caught lighting bugs, maybe you swing way up in the air, and had family vacations are a part of growing up. I can remember when cousins would come we play in the haymow We had such fun. We found eggs in a nest so we decided that we formed two teams and would run and through at each other. We had a blast. Well, it didn’t end the best. We were using rotten eggs and my cousin’s mother was not happy. Somehow the joy was taken out of our having fun. She hung their shirts out the window on the way home but needless to say we sure had fun. –
Now As we now look at Matthew 18, There was a church where the pastor and the minister of music were not getting along. As time went by, this began to spill over into the worship service. The first week the pastor preached on commitment and how we all should dedicate ourselves to the service of God. The music director led the song, "I Shall Not Be Moved." The second week the pastor preached on tithing and how we all should gladly give to the work of the Lord. The director led the song, "Jesus Paid it All." The third week the pastor preached on gossiping and how we should all watch our tongues. The music directorledthesong,"ILovetoTelltheStory."
With all this going on, the pastor became very disgusted over the situation and the following Sunday told the congregation that he was considering resigning. The musician led the song, "Oh Why Not Tonight?" As it came to pass, the pastor did indeed resign. The next week he informed the church that it was Jesus who led him there and it was Jesus who was taking him away. The music leader led the song, "What a Friend We Have in Jesus.
Chapter 18 in Matthew is a chapter for Christian Ethics, it deals with those qualities which should characterize the person relationships of the Christian. In the first part of Matthew 18 it is about the quality of humility. Then going on in the chapter it talks about the quality of responsibility. We all realize that we are responsible for our own choices in life, our deeds, our words, and how we set an example. For each of us every individual should be important. We are all children of God. The passage from Matthew 18:15-20 was intended to give the early church guidance about how to deal with conflict and broken relationships.
The first step toward reconciliation involves listening. Jesus instructs his disciples on how to handle the painful time when the community of faith falls short of the unity, peace, and love to which we have been called. Jesus instructs us to focus on reconciliation and restoration. We are to treat our brothers and sisters with the same mercy and compassion and with the same spirit of grace and forgiveness as God did. Jesus’ entire ministry revolved around bringing outsiders into the kingdom by reconciling them to God. Mathew’s congregation is now having some conflicts and Matthew does not like this at all - he wants everything to be perfect. In this passage, Jesus lays out a step-by-step plan for how one Christian should handle a disagreement with another member of the community. He provides instruction on how to be a community of believers. He teaches humility. In this reading, he is giving what almost appears to be legal advice to the church that will follow in his name. His prescription is to talk about things openly, honestly and directly, person-to-person. Paul’s call to the Romans to “love one another.” For, Paul says, “the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. The commandments, ‘You shall not commit adultery; You shall not murder; You shall not steal; You shall not covet’; and any other commandment, are summed up in this word, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law.”
This kind of love is about care for the other person’s well being. Wanting what is best for the other person, even when he or she has made you angry. If we have that sort of love for each other, we will always want to be reconciled and will always accept each other’s apologies – because that’s what people who love each other do. That’s what Christ did – and does – with us every day. Let me ask you What makes a Christian? Jesus says it is how we go about addressing and resolving these issues. Paul’s call to the Romans to “love one another.”
But far more importantly Jesus promises us that he is present, that his presence is real for us, when we are gathered in his name -- both in agreement, and in sin. Community is a place where you're accepted for who you are, where you're never lonely, and where, everyone knows your name. But the really difficult thing about community is that it's made up of people! And people, can be difficult, challenging, selfish, and unreliable. Jesus promises, when you gather with honesty and integrity, you are a kind of a community that he likes. So what kind of community do we want? Do we want a place that can both encourage us and hold us accountable? Are we looking for a place we can be honest about our hopes and fears, dreams and anxieties? Are we looking for a place we can really make a difference? Amazing things can happen because Jesus is with you, right there, in your very midst, forming and being formed by your communal sharing. Ultimately, the only rule that appears fool-proof here is the final promise. If we gather as the church, Jesus is with us. If Jesus is with us, on our side, do we not then need to approach the other side as he did? "Father, forgive them," he spoke, even when his offenders did not repent. We may seek scriptural strategies for dealing with our adversaries. But finally, it comes down to this: we are the church, and Christ is with us. A community that regularly prays the familiar petition on forgiving in the Lord’s prayer will link its own experience of forgiveness to the way in which it forgives those who sin. The Gospel of Matthew, you realize that the heart of the church is to help each other to deal with our sinfulness. The church, the friends at church becomes a family and we as a church family are to help each other with our imperfections, our unhealthy patterns, and the way we sin against each other and ourselves. The church is to become a family that helps each other with one’s flaws.
For where two or three are gathered together in my name (presence), there am I in the midst of them. We know that God’s presence is with us when we gather together, knowing that God has promised to be with us. We remember that at his birth, Jesus was given the name, “Immanuel,” which means, “God is with us.” We know the many experiences of life when Christ has been with us, especially when we feel the comfort and strength of other people around us. There is power in praying with a small group of two or three people, especially when we are praying for God to help us. May we by our words and actions, be bearers of our kingdom, in the name and Spirit of Christ. Amen

08/30/2026

In Chapter 12 of Romans, Paul the Apostle gave us a “quick start” guide for how the individual is to live with God, with himself, and with those around us.
The story is told of a church that had recently called a new pastor. On his first Sunday in the pulpit, the sanctuary was packed. Hopes ran high as the folks prepared to hear his first sermon. Naturally, they prayed that their new pastor would be a dynamic, gifted preacher. They were not disappointed. His text was from John 13, verse 34, where Jesus said, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you…” The sermon was splendid. The new pastor proclaimed God’s Word with eloquence and grace. When it was over, everyone – especially the members of the Pastor Nominating Committee – breathed a sigh of relief and exchanged glances of approval. The next Sunday, the people gathered in anticipation of another great sermon, but, to their dismay, he repeated the sermon from the week before: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you…”At first, the folks were stunned. “Didn’t we just hear this sermon last week?” they thought to themselves. Then they began to reason: “No, it was certainly similar, but there must have been subtle differences from the week before. Ah, clever fellow! He used the same text, but altered the sermon ever so slightly so as to emphasize yet another point. Next time we’ll listen more carefully. Wow, what a preacher!” Sure enough, the third Sunday the people gathered as before and, unbelievably, the new pastor preached the exact same sermon from the previous two Sundays, word for word: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another, just like I have loved you…” This time there was no mistake – he was clearly repeating himself. The elders gathered hastily after church and demanded an explanation. “What in heaven’s name is going on?” they asked. The new preacher replied, “Going on? What do you mean? Jesus was clear: ‘That you love one another, just like I have loved you.’ Well, when you do this, I’ll give you my next sermon.”
It’s just a story, but it contains an element of truth: Unless we’re willing to love one another, we need not expect to go on to the next level. Love is the basis of the Christian life. If we don’t live in love with one another, nothing else matters. This is what Paul said so long ago:
“If I speak with the languages of men and of angels, but don’t have love,
I have become sounding brass, or a clanging cymbal.
If I have the gift of prophecy, and know all mysteries and all knowledge;
and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but don’t have love,
I am nothing.” (1 Corinthians 13:1-3)
There’s no greater experience in the world than to be loved unconditionally, to be valued purely and simply for who you are and not for how you look or for what you can do.
And to love others in that same unconditional way is the greatest gift you can give, and the most powerful testimony as to what it means to be a follower of Jesus Christ.
He talks about how the Christian, with a renewed mind, is supposed to live in society. Not only does he say that we should obey the laws of the land – but obey even when those laws don’t make sense. In the process he reveals principals for getting along in the world. He says to let no debt remain outstanding except the continuing debt to love one another for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law. Paul is really saying about owing love – the one debt we can never repay. Paul is talking about the people’s role in society – Paul says, be responsible, obey the law, pay your taxes, give the government respect – but even when you’ve done all those things and think you’ve fulfilled all of your obligations to society, there is one debt you can never pay back – and that is the debt of love. We should never stop loving. Why than is love for others called a debt. We are permanently in debt to Christ for the lavish love he has poured out on us. The only way we can begin to repay this debt is by loving others in turn. In these verses the apostle writes of the need to love our neighbor. He points out that love is the key to all godly obedience, because love fulfills God's law. Love one another is the basic principle of the Christian life. The new commandment Jesus gave His followers is "that you love one another, even as I have loved you that you 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). Love is the theme of John's first letter. He admonishes, "Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God for God is love" (1 John 4:7-8).
To love one another also applies to our neighbors even if they are unbelievers and not just those who are likeable and friendly (Mt. 5:44). The expression, "you shall love your neighbor as yourself," merits a word of explanation. Somehow many of us have gotten the idea that self-love is wrong. But if this were the case, it would be pointless to love our neighbors as ourselves. Even if you have low self-esteem, you probably don't willingly let yourself go hungry. You clothe yourself reasonably well. You make sure there's a roof over your head if you can. You try not to let yourself be cheated or injured. This is the kind of love we need to have for our neighbors also. One of the hardest things we as
Do we see that our neighbors are adequately fed, clothed, and housed? Are we concerned about issues of social justice? Loving others as ourselves means to be actively working to see that other people's needs are met and not just our own. human love has its origins in God, for God is love. It taps into the transforming power of the cross and finds God's empowering to fulfill the words of Jesus spoken just a few hours before His crucifixion. "A new commandment I give you, that you keep on loving one another, just as I have loved you, that you keep on loving one another"). Only in Christ can a person meet this or any of the other demand of the Law (8:4). When we speak of the church being one, we speak of its unity. We are speaking of its need to care for and love one another. When we love each other, we make each other bigger. We establish the dignity and the importance of the other. What amazes me is how easily hurt we are!
What amazes me is how hurtful we can be!
What amazes me is that though we have been given so much love, we still love. Paul says that our highest obligation toward men is our obligation to love them.
This doesn’t mean that other commands and other obligations don’t apply.
Instead it means that when we love, when we are motivated by love, we are going to get the rest of them right. We will do good. We will reach out.
We will be a help. For from the cross, Jesus said very simply to you, “I love you.”
Love God…make Him your priority, for when you do, all the matters and relationships in your life will find the right perspective;
Love one another…make those around you a priority to love, for when we do, others will be attracted to the community of faith and desire to join;
Love your neighbor…do good to those around you, share the good God has shown you; draw them and win them that they may know the joy of a life secure, now and for eternity. According to John Wesley’s notes loving on another is a never-ending Christian obligation. It is the essence of Christian ethics and behavior. Christians have to deal with is people who don’t like us and who do bad things to us. We think we know how to react but Paul turns life upside down as he gives us the real way to overcome our enemies.
Wesley’s general rules of doing no harm avoiding evil and doing good every possible sort are ways to help us practice love in our lives. When we love another, the underlying spirit of the law is fulfilled. Obeying what he commands, so that love is the only law in our relationships – with oneself, with neighbors, with enemies, with creation, and with God. Wesley’s “going on to perfection” love is expressed in works of piety, our devotion to God, works of mercy, and our compassionate treatment of others. To love one another is to want what’s best for the other as much as you want what’s best for you. To love one another is to be there for each other in times of need and to lend a helping hand, whatever the cost may be. Jesus lived in such a way as to show us how to love one another. And he died for the forgiveness of our sins in order that we might free to love one another in his name.
Amen

07/26/2026

Matthew 13:m31-33; 44-52 In today’s scripture, Jesus is sitting by the Sea of Galilee, surrounded by a large crowd of people eager to hear His teachings. The sun is shining brightly, casting a warm glow over the scene as the gentle waves of the sea lap against the shore. Jesus is telling the crowd about the kingdom of heaven. He is telling it to a mixed crowd of fishermen, farmers, merchants, housewife all doing everyday things who have come from near and far to listen to the words of this teacher.
Jesus speaks of the parable of the mustard seed—a beautiful image of how faith begins and how He longs for it to grow within us. This seed was first planted in our hearts at baptism. And just as we grow in years and wisdom, we grow in faith—so that we may be witnesses of His love and truth to others. Jesus desires It begins in the quietest of ways—like a tiny seed planted deep within us. At first, it may seem small and insignificant. But when we nurture it with prayer, soak it in the wisdom of the Bible, and remain faithfully, it begins to grow. Slowly, gently—little by little—it flourishes. And when it does, it becomes a source of blessing, not just for us, but for those around us. A mustard seed, though tiny, grows into a large tree, symbolizing the Kingdom’s humble beginnings and exponential growth. This imagery reminds us that even small acts of faith and kindness can have significant impacts, the mustard seed’s transformation into a mighty tree. Just as a small community service project can blossom into a movement that positively impacts a whole community, our seemingly insignificant efforts can contribute to the growth of God’s Kingdom.
Now, the mustard seed is not the smallest seed in the world, although it is the smallest seed commonly planted in Israel. A mustard seed is only one millimeter in diameter. It takes about 750 seeds to equal one gram. A gram is one twenty-eighth of an ounce, so we multiply 750×28, and it takes about 21,000 mustard seeds to make an ounce. And Jesus says the kingdom of heaven is like one of these tiny mustard seeds which a man takes and plants in his field.
God’s kingdom may start small, but it will grow surprisingly large. We read in verse 32: “Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.” This image of a tree with the birds of the air resting in its branches is a common image for a kingdom in the Old Testament. So yes, the mustard seed is a very tiny seed, but it grows into a very large plant. And that’s why Jesus used it for this parable. God’s kingdom starts small, but it will grow surprisingly large, and just as the parable of the mustard seed teaches us that God’s kingdom starts small, the parable of the yeast teaches us that God’s kingdom remains hidden at first. Look at the first part of verse 33: “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour.” the parable of the yeast illustrates how the Kingdom of Heaven transforms the world from within, much like yeast leavens the entire batch of dough. This metaphor highlights the quiet yet powerful influence of God’s Kingdom, working behind the scenes to bring about change.
This reminds of an old television show I Love Lucy the episode on television where Lucy puts too much yeast in the bread and ends up baking a huge loaf of bread that just keeps coming and coming out of the oven. The yeast remains hidden at first, but it is working away on the bread, spreading through the whole batch of dough.
The important thing about the yeast or leaven in this parable is that it is such a small amount compared to the flour and that it remains hidden at first. You can’t see the yeast in the flour at first, but it is still there, and it is the yeast that gives the bread the potential to grow. So that’s the meaning from the first part of the parable of the yeast. God’s kingdom remains hidden at first. As Christians we are to share the gospel far and wide. And we are to allow God’s Spirit to make us more like Christ so that we can be a witness to those around us as believers living a new life in Christ transformed by the Holy Spirit.
/the kingdom of heaven is more valuable than anything else we can have, and a person must be willing to give up everything is obtain it. /the man who discovered the treasure in the field stumbled upon it by accident but he knew its value when he found it The situation of the second parable is very different. A wealthy merchant has been looking for a flawless pearl for years. He already has a valuable collection of pearls. Yet, when he finally finds the pearl he has been looking for, a pearl more valuable than the rest of his collection put together, in his joy he immediately sells everything he own to purchase this pearl. /the merchant was searching for the pearl of great, value and when he found it he sold everything he had to purchase it, We are precious to God. He has found and surrounds us with love, peace, and joy. To Jesus, we are the pearl of great value, the treasure hidden in a field. He desires that we want to increase what He started. One of the facets to do so is to immerse ourselves in deep prayer and silence with God.
The parable of the fishing net has the same meaning as the parable of the wheat and weeds Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a dragnet cast into the sea that brings in a haul of all kinds. When it is full, the fishermen haul it ashore; then, sitting down, they collect the good ones in a basket and throw away those that are no use. This is how it will be at the end of time: the angels will appear and separate the wicked. We are to obey God and tell others about his grace and goodness, but we cannot dictate who is part of the kingdom of heaven and who is not, Thus sorting will get done at the last judgement by those more qualified more than us.
Scatter the seeds of love and joy and peace. And even if they seem too small to do much good, trust in the Lord. Trust that these little seeds will grow, and one day provide shelter for another. The kingdom of heaven works like that. Because Jesus works like that. Trust him. Follow him. Right now, Jesus stands at the door of our hearts, offering us His mercy, love, and forgiveness. He is not condemning us—He is calling us. He longs to embrace us, to heal us, to restore us. Grow with him. And see the kingdom of heaven growing all around us. Until it catches all in its grace. What small influence or resources do we possess that could have—or maybe already do have—a significant, meaningful impact for the common good in our families, neighborhoods, and societies?
We need to see the kingdom as the greatest treasure, and we need to see missing out on the blessings of this kingdom as the most significant loss. I heard of a guy in Arkansas who had an inheritance given to him. He could either invest it in some up and coming company or buy a piece of land. He purchased the land to be safe. It turns out that the company was Walmart. He missed out on the opportunity of a lifetime. Don't miss out on this opportunity. Buy into this kingdom before it is too late and hold on to that investment until the very end. Disconnect from this world emotionally, and connect to God.
One day Christ will be revealed, and his kingdom will come in all of its glory. All that is wrong will be made right, and all wickedness and evil will be judged. Every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. And on that day, we will marvel at how God’s kingdom has grown. From Christ’s humble beginnings in Bethlehem, to his death on the cross, to his adoration in heaven, to his glorious return – like a seed growing to harvest, like the yeast working its way through the dough, God’s kingdom will fill the whole earth. And together we will praise our great God and King forever and ever .Amen

05/31/2026

Genesis 1:1-2:1-4 provides a foundational account of creation, stating that God created the heavens and the earth in the beginning, establishing Him as the ultimate Creator. The chapter details the orderly process of creation over culminating in the creation of humanity, and emphasizes the goodness of all that God made. Today Trinity Sunday is present in each moment of creation, making humankind in God’s image and likeness and the holy spirit to bring God’s peace and love to all. Trinity Sunday emphasizes the oneness of God though manifesting God’s self in distinct realities. Today’s scripture in Genesis tells us how we are to understand God. God is one. God is a universal God not a God of any one people, nation, or race. The Bible begins by announcing In the beginning when God created the world. God makes the sun to rise not just on Christins or Americans or Europeans, God causes the sun to rise and the rain to fall on all humans, animals, and plants. God blesses all creation
We take so much for granted. We walk outside and experience the world around us, often without any thought of its majesty and grandeur. We see the sky, the trees, the rivers, any of which is immense enough to overwhelm us as we try to consider its beauty and magnitude. There has never been a time when those things did not exist. However, there was a time they did not exist. In fact, there was a time when nothing existed at all - nothing, that is, except the God that made all we see and experience. And, it is His existence and activity that should cause us to marvel to an even greater degree. God's creative acts, both in what and how He created, inform us about His character and nature. Many questions we still can’t answer. Did time begin when God created the heavens and the earth or did time already exist before the creation? When was the beginning? The first three days God created structure, light, sky, water, land, and plants. The next three days he creates the light bearers, birds, and the sea creatures and finally land animals and human. Passages such as Psalm 19 provide insight into God's rationale for creating, indicating that, at least in part, God created in a way to demonstrate His glory through the things He made. "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands" . We see in creation His work to bring order out of chaos. God took that which was without form and empty and gave it both form and substance. By His powerful Word He created the world, and by that same Word He holds all things together. God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good. And there was evening and there was morning, the sixth day. Thus, the heavens and the earth were completed, and all their hosts. By the seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made.” We were made for this: to live with God in unbroken fellowship and enjoy the fullness of life He offers. God wanted to establish a pattern for mankind, and that pattern was you work six days and you have one day when you set it aside to rest, and replenish your body, and focus on worshiping God. God chose to do it in six days to set a pattern for us. God’s work of creation set the pattern for man who bears his image; six days you work and one day you worship. Henry Morris in his book The Genesis Record says, “God called the light day and the darkness he called night. As though in anticipation of future misunderstanding God carefully defined his terms
"So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them." (Genesis 1:27) This is the highpoint of God's creation. We are created in His image, endowed with intellect, emotion, and will. We are His representatives on earth, reflecting His glory. God bestowed blessings and responsibilities upon humanity. We are called to be stewards of His creation, to care for the earth and its inhabitants. we are reminded of the God who not only created the world but also longs to be with His creation. His Word can reshape the chaos of our lives, and the invitation to rest in His presence is open to all who come to Him. Let us focus on Jesus, fulfilling God’s promise to dwell with us. He is the light in our darkness, the peace in our chaos, and the life we were created to enjoy come and go, but Jesus remains.
The awesome God who exists and who created has made it possible to know Him personally. While we can see and understand things about Him through His creation, we can only know Him personally through a faith relationship with His Son, Jesus Christ. God’s eternality means that He exists outside of time, with no beginning and no end. This attribute assures us that God is unchanging, faithful, and sovereign, providing a foundation for our trust in Him. Believing in God as the Creator affirms His ownership and authority over all things. It shapes our understanding of our purpose, our relationship with God, and our role as stewards of His creation.
The vast galaxy we live in it spinning at the speed of 490,000 miles an hour. Our galaxy needs 200 million years to make one rotation and there are over one billion other galaxies just like ours in the universe. Some scientists say that the number of stars in creation is equal to all the grains of all the sands on all the beaches of the world. God did not need to create the universe he chose to create. Why did he do this- because God is love. So, God created the world and people as an expression of his love. This chapter not only provides an account of how the world came to be but also offers profound insights into the nature of God, humanity, and the world we inhabit. It invites us to reflect on our relationship with the Creator, the responsibility that we bear toward creation, and the intrinsic value of life. this chapter tell us the shaping the understanding of God’s character and His plans for humanity and the world.
Trinity Sunday is a designated day observed in honor and contemplation of the triune nature of God-Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Traditionally celebrated on the first Sunday after Pentecost, it underscores the biblical truth that God is one Being revealed in three co-eternal Persons. Although the exact term “Trinity” does not appear in Scripture, the concept arises from the consistent testimony of the Bible, reflecting the Father’s will, the Son’s redeeming work, and the Holy Spirit’s active presence in believers. Reading from Matthew today it is the end of the gospel story and the last words of Jesus to his disciples. His last meeting with them he told them of three things. He assured them of His power. Nothing was outside the power or Him who had died and conquered death. He gave them a commission. He sent them out to make all the world His disciples. The commission of Jesus is to win all men for himself. And then He promised them a presence. They were being sent out – as we are – on the greatest task of the world, but with them there was a greatest presence in the world. Go make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely, I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Trinity Sunday serves as a vibrant celebration of the one God who exists in three co-eternal Persons. Observing this day reminds us of our baptismal calling and the reality that our relationship with God the Father, through Christ the Son, is empowered by the Holy Spirit. Throughout church history and within the pages of Scripture, the tri-personal nature of God stands as a central truth-guiding worship, shaping doctrine, and knitting believers together in unified devotion. The observance of Trinity Sunday is thus both a celebration and a confession, uniting believers around the joyful conviction that “our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ” (1 John 1:3), through the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Amen

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