This week we are called to think about the Holy Trinity. The concept of the Holy Trinity can be overwhelming.

The good news is you don’t have to be a biblical scholar to commune with the Holy Spirit, to praise the Father and be saved by the Son. Not understanding is ok; you don’t need to be able to teach it to someone else.

Right now our church is going through the process of becoming an RIC congregation. Thoughts, Prayers, Action just started the dialogue with us, and there is a lot of information to sort through. This can feel overwhelming and complicated. Some of the ways to talk about gender and identity can feel awkward and new, but that’s ok. You don’t need to be a member of the LGBTQIA+ community to be an advocate and ally. If you want to expand your knowledge and understanding, there are plenty of opportunities, and I encourage everyone to come out and be at our informational meetings. I also want you to know it’s ok not to get it. It doesn’t hurt the cause or make you an outcast here if you're not up to date on all the terminology.

This is why I think the RIC Ministry and the teachings of Jesus work so well together. When I think of Jesus’ teachings and message. I think back to those books that were popular in the late 90’s the _____ for Dummies series. Where they would take complicated things and explain them in a way that almost anyone could understand I think Jesus wrote how to be a good and faithful disciple for Dummies. He took all the Laws and teachings and distilled it down into a few simple rules and ideas. He condensed powerful and revolutionary ideas into parables that spoke to our core values even to this very day. Yes, it’s interesting to get into the details and minutia of the gospels but to follow and understand them you don’t need to dig so deep.

To be a good ally is simple, you're already probably doing it. You treat everyone with respect and if they ask to be addressed in a particular way you honor the request. That’s pretty much it, I don’t want you to feel left behind because we have already been ahead of the curve this moment; when new people come through our doors is what we have been preparing for this whole time. This isn’t a change that comes with RIC certification, it is a validation of all the love and kindness we have nurtured in these halls from the beginning.

The Trinity is one of the biggest principles our faith is built on regardless of if we know all the intricate details, we can still understand its importance. Inclusivity and compassion are a foundational part of our congregation. So much of the Expand the table initiative was based around this fact. We know that purposeful welcoming is important regardless of our knowledge or experience with other communities.