Trinity Sunday

Catherine Blackwood,
a member of St. John's J2A group, preaching during youth Sunday.

Trinity Sunday, officially "The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity," is one of the few feasts of the Christian Year that celebrates a reality and doctrine rather than an event or person. Trinity Sunday is all about relationships. All about the alliance between the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. It details the mystery of our belief that is best explained as God is one, yet God is three. Three totally different things working together to make something that amazes and connects believers all over the globe.

It’s almost like the atomic theory, about which most people learned in school. That everything in the universe is made up of atoms, which are made up of tiny particles called protons, neutrons and electrons. That protons and neutrons together make up a nucleus, and that the electrons orbit around this nucleus sort of like the planets in our solar system orbit around the sun. Imagine the same idea, but with the nucleus being made of the Father and Son, and the Holy Spirit surrounding the two, holding them together with an indestructible force.

Or, imagine this relationship similar to the one found here in St. Johns between today’s youth, previous generations, and the ideology in which we all learn and practice. It’s something like a miracle. I mean, you can look around the world today and see how the youngsters of the globe are so much different than their predecessors, but then you see that they still follow the same Lord and God. The same almighty powers connecting us all.

Now, if you haven’t noticed already, the youth of this congregation are playing major roles in today’s Eucharist. We would like to show you that we are an equal part of the Trinity that is St. Johns. For all my life, I’ve been part of the assemblage of people known as Episcopalians. Over these 15 years, I’ve heard so many stories of the church’s past that I would be lucky to remember half of them. But also over this time, I’ve developed some of my own stories to pass along, easily one of my favorites being that of visiting Prayer Hill in Peterkin for the first time. In case you haven’t ever visited or had one of the kids tell you about it, Peterkin is all about tradition. Prayer hill is no exception. Prayer Hill belongs to the campers, created as a place of worship and meditation on the peak of a nearby hill.  Nothing is ever done on Prayer Hill unless the young people do it. Everything from planting the trees to building the altar was done by young people.  The upkeep depends on the young people.  The young people even created the rules of Prayer Hill.

My memory involves such a peace with nature and a connection to God in this zone of worship that it was no surprise when I found out it had remained a huge of Peterkin for more than 25 years. It had stayed intact through all the generations of visitors, renovations of the other centers, and changes of ministry. This is when it struck me that the most special of things can withstand the most powerful of changes. So on this Trinity Sunday, look around you, around the people next to you, in front of you, and even behind you, so that maybe you can see part of what is holding you all together. Just maybe you’ll see part of the Most Holy Trinity in action.

More than a two months ago, we began planning who would do what in the main areas of the service, each of us eager to take part in everything we could. Needless to say, it took more effort than I ever could have imagined. From the selection of hymns and other musical pieces to who would assist in greeting and ushering, there were so many decisions necessary! I don’t think I’ll ever come back to a service and not be thankful for those who put their time and energy into making it possible.