Groans that Words Cannot Express
Image: Holger Schué from Pixabay
Dear Trinity Church,
The horror of what happened this week to Paityn, Evelyn, Olivia, and the valley of the shadow of death their mother Whitney is now walking is beyond words. As I write this little letter, I am sitting at our kitchen table. My three daughters will soon be with me. I am lost for words. And the Holy Spirit is helping me grieve.
Two Scripture verses are releasing this grief, both from this week’s Lectionary for Pentecost. First is Romans 8:26 “For the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” If all you can do is groan this week, or cry out in anguish, know that these prayers are given by the Holy Spirit.
The second passage is John 14 through chapter 16, especially verse 33. Before I write what Jesus says, remember what we often say at Trinity from the communion table over bread and wine: Jesus always gives more than words. You won’t find sermons by Jesus trying to make sense of suffering. Jesus doesn’t say things to make sense of evil. Jesus doesn’t explain evil. Jesus overcomes it. And he promises we will need to do the same. Jesus always told the truth, including truth we don’t want to hear. Nearing his own unspeakable death, Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” As we grieve this week over many things in our world, let’s not try to explain them. Let’s wait for the Spirit to come and lead us in grieving, groaning, and in time, overcoming.
As followers of Christ, we do not take comfort in mere words, we take comfort in the Word made Flesh and Blood. We take comfort in God becoming one of us: being WITH US in the valley of the shadow of death. Words will not atone. Words are never enough. But there is one Word we do trust. And his beautiful life, his horrific death, and his death-destroying resurrection will make all things new.
If that’s too much for you to believe in, or imagine right now, that’s okay. It is enough to raise groans that words cannot express. This too is the work and cry of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost.
This Sunday, in the power of the Holy Spirit,
May Christ’s peace surpass our understanding.
Pastor Matt
PS There will be some changes to the way our liturgy flows to accommodate our grief and hope, starting with the opening sung Psalm Carson will lead “Save me, O God have mercy, for the flood sweeps me away.” Please be on time and enter prayerfully.
The horror of what happened this week to Paityn, Evelyn, Olivia, and the valley of the shadow of death their mother Whitney is now walking is beyond words. As I write this little letter, I am sitting at our kitchen table. My three daughters will soon be with me. I am lost for words. And the Holy Spirit is helping me grieve.
Two Scripture verses are releasing this grief, both from this week’s Lectionary for Pentecost. First is Romans 8:26 “For the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express.” If all you can do is groan this week, or cry out in anguish, know that these prayers are given by the Holy Spirit.
The second passage is John 14 through chapter 16, especially verse 33. Before I write what Jesus says, remember what we often say at Trinity from the communion table over bread and wine: Jesus always gives more than words. You won’t find sermons by Jesus trying to make sense of suffering. Jesus doesn’t say things to make sense of evil. Jesus doesn’t explain evil. Jesus overcomes it. And he promises we will need to do the same. Jesus always told the truth, including truth we don’t want to hear. Nearing his own unspeakable death, Jesus said, “In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart, I have overcome the world.” As we grieve this week over many things in our world, let’s not try to explain them. Let’s wait for the Spirit to come and lead us in grieving, groaning, and in time, overcoming.
As followers of Christ, we do not take comfort in mere words, we take comfort in the Word made Flesh and Blood. We take comfort in God becoming one of us: being WITH US in the valley of the shadow of death. Words will not atone. Words are never enough. But there is one Word we do trust. And his beautiful life, his horrific death, and his death-destroying resurrection will make all things new.
If that’s too much for you to believe in, or imagine right now, that’s okay. It is enough to raise groans that words cannot express. This too is the work and cry of the Holy Spirit this Pentecost.
This Sunday, in the power of the Holy Spirit,
May Christ’s peace surpass our understanding.
Pastor Matt
PS There will be some changes to the way our liturgy flows to accommodate our grief and hope, starting with the opening sung Psalm Carson will lead “Save me, O God have mercy, for the flood sweeps me away.” Please be on time and enter prayerfully.
Pentecost Picnic
Join us this Sunday, both for the service and the BBQ/picnic down at Methow Park after second service (around 11:30am). Please bring a side to share (in addition to a side, you can also bring a dessert)
Newcomers Dinner
June 14 @ 6pm
Come enjoy dinner together with Pastor Matt and other newcomers at the home of Mike and Karin Abbott. We will get to hear Trinity Church's backstory, have time to share about how we all came to be at Trinity, and ask Pastor Matt anything.
Godly Play Update
New digital check-in starting June 22
Families, please be aware that we are switching to a digital check-in process for children on Sunday mornings beginning June 22nd. As our church continues to grow, keeping children safe is one of our utmost concerns. This digital check-in will help us in these efforts.
There will be a station set up in the Narthex, with a designated person available to assist you. When you get to the station, simply touch the screen, follow the prompts to enter your phone number, select the children you are checking in, and print name tags. It will print a name tag for each child you checked in, and a pick up tag for you. You will need the pick up tag if you have children in nursery and preschool. Other children will be escorted back to service by our adult volunteers. We will have handouts and video tutorials coming soon.
Before you check in children for the first time, please update your family's registration using this link: Kids Registration. You will only need to fill out the form one time, unless something changes for your family.
There will be a station set up in the Narthex, with a designated person available to assist you. When you get to the station, simply touch the screen, follow the prompts to enter your phone number, select the children you are checking in, and print name tags. It will print a name tag for each child you checked in, and a pick up tag for you. You will need the pick up tag if you have children in nursery and preschool. Other children will be escorted back to service by our adult volunteers. We will have handouts and video tutorials coming soon.
Before you check in children for the first time, please update your family's registration using this link: Kids Registration. You will only need to fill out the form one time, unless something changes for your family.
We are looking to equip more spaces for our growing population of kids - if anyone has comfy chairs, bookshelves, or a small to medium desk they'd like to donate, please reach out to Kelsee at kelsee@trinitywenatchee.org or 509-607-0785.
Building Presentation
with Alex the English Architect
Monday, June 9 @ 6pm
Pizza @ 6pm
Presentation @ 6:30pm
Alex will be flying in from England for his second trip to Wenatchee to present schematic plans for the building renovation! Come and see the first glimpse of the schematic design. Here’s the story so far…
Phase one was really imagining what could be. Those were the town meetings, the drawings many of us made, and the priorities we listed.
Phase two then translated what we imagined, and began see what is possible. That's the phase we are just finishing, and I hope you will come see the fruit.
We are now entering phase three, which is discerning what to do. This discernment process is just that. We are not obligated to do anything. We are free to choose what we discern to be best. (Philippians 1:10). We are free to wrestle with what God might want, what we believe should happen next, and how to fundraise to make these things possible - but only after we discern a vision that we believe in. So keep praying. Keep wondering, just like the Brethren did 100 years ago. And come and see what happens next.
Childcare will be provided.
Please indicate your need in the signup.
Presentation @ 6:30pm
Alex will be flying in from England for his second trip to Wenatchee to present schematic plans for the building renovation! Come and see the first glimpse of the schematic design. Here’s the story so far…
Phase one was really imagining what could be. Those were the town meetings, the drawings many of us made, and the priorities we listed.
Phase two then translated what we imagined, and began see what is possible. That's the phase we are just finishing, and I hope you will come see the fruit.
We are now entering phase three, which is discerning what to do. This discernment process is just that. We are not obligated to do anything. We are free to choose what we discern to be best. (Philippians 1:10). We are free to wrestle with what God might want, what we believe should happen next, and how to fundraise to make these things possible - but only after we discern a vision that we believe in. So keep praying. Keep wondering, just like the Brethren did 100 years ago. And come and see what happens next.
Childcare will be provided.
Please indicate your need in the signup.
Budget Update
May 2025
With one month to go in our budget cycle, we wanted to give you an update on how things are looking. This past year, we increased our budget by 3.7% over last year’s actual income in order to meet the needs of our growing church. But with two months to go, we’re $71,000 behind where we need to be. Our overall budget for this year is $550K. Please consider giving a gift today!
You can give on our website or the new church app.
Giving Options:
**Have your bank automatically send recurring checks to Trinity Church as a “bill pay” recipient. This option avoid the fees, and it’s automatic so that you don’t have to remember to write checks every month.
You can give on our website or the new church app.
Giving Options:
- No fee: Recurring Bill Pay via your bank**
- 1%: ACH
- 2.3%: Credit/Debit Card
**Have your bank automatically send recurring checks to Trinity Church as a “bill pay” recipient. This option avoid the fees, and it’s automatic so that you don’t have to remember to write checks every month.
Mailing address:
Trinity Church
535 Okanogan Ave
Wenatchee, WA 98801
Trinity Church
535 Okanogan Ave
Wenatchee, WA 98801
If you’d prefer giving by cash or check, we have a basket in the lobby each Sunday where you can place your gift before the service begins.
Trouble setting up a gift? Contact Susannah Kellogg at (509) 710-5071 or susannah@trinitywenatchee.org
Trouble setting up a gift? Contact Susannah Kellogg at (509) 710-5071 or susannah@trinitywenatchee.org
Coming Up at Trinity Church
Bulletin Board
Our bulletin board is a place where you can express a need to our church body (ex: housing, items needed, jobs wanted, etc.) so that others can reach out and respond. Have a submission? Please email hello@trinitywenatchee.org for us to review.
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