Trinity Congregational Church

Confirmation Retreat at Gonzaga, Eastern Point Retreat House. ❤️

Please keep our siblings in Christ at the First Congregational United Church of Spencer UCC in your prayers. Their church building apparently was struck by lightning today and suffered a horrific fire. May the love of God and the kindness of neighbors support them in this tragedy.

Lightning may have sparked fire inside Mass. church, pastor says Photos from the scene show smoke and flames coming from the tall steeple structure at the front of the church.

Trinity members in the news! ❤️

Rare blue lobster finds new home at Maritime Gloucester Capt. Robert Porter of F/V Hamer Lacey caught a bright blue lobster in one of his traps in the waters off Stage Fort Park on Friday.

Check out UCC camps if you are looking for some grandparent-grandchildren time, time away for yourself, or an away camp experience for a child. Go for a few days or a week! The Horton Center in Gorham, NH, is a fabulous place in the beautiful White Mountains, and voted one of the best camps in the country!

Horton Center has been voted one of America's Best Summer Camps by Newsweek! What an honor to be included!
https://www.newsweek.com/rankings/americas-best-summer-camps-2023

Beautiful article about the Grace Center in today's Glo Daily Times.

Portraits of grace Those who attended Grace Center’s recent open house for its new space at 264 Main St. may have noticed the finely crafted watercolor portraits gracing the walls of the day

For All That Will Be, Yes!
by Talitha Arnold | published on Apr 11, 2023
The One on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And also: “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” – Revelation 21:5 (adapted)

“For all that has been,
Thanks!
For all that will be,
Yes!”

Dag Hammarskjold wrote this affirmation in January 1953, a few months after becoming the second Secretary General for the 8-year-old United Nations. He wrote it as the world was still recovering from the devastation of World War II and as new wars broke out from Korea to the Middle East, Africa to South America. He wrote it also as he dealt with his own life and experience of oppression as a gay man coming of age in the 1940s and ’50s.

“For all that has been,
Thanks!
For all that will be,
Yes!”

Hammarskjold’s affirmation echoes John’s vision at the end of his Revelation. In his own time of oppression and war, John saw the One who proclaimed, “Behold, I make all things new.” The One whose word was and is “trustworthy and true.” A word to which we can say “Yes!”

Before we get too far past Easter, I invite you to consider John’s assertion and Hammarskjold’s affirmation. As you look back on “all that has been” of Lent, for what do you give thanks?

As you look ahead to Eastertide and “all that will be,” to what will you say “Yes”?

Most of all, will you (and I) have the courage to trust the One who has the power to make all things new? The courage to believe the One who still says “Yes!” to us and to our world?

Prayer
For all that has been, Thanks! For all that will be, Yes! Amen.

Talitha Arnold
About the Author: Talitha Arnold is Senior Minister of the United Church of Santa Fe (UCC), Santa Fe, New Mexico. She is the author of Mark Parts 1 and 2 of the Listen Up! Bible Study series and Worship for Vital Congregations.
© United Church of Christ 2023.