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2025 Giving Campaign:
“Songs of thankfulness and praise, Jesus, Lord, to thee we raise…
Praises be to thee addressed, God in flesh made manifest”
As I have been considering our common work over these past three years of our “gut rehab,” the hymn quoted above has been playing in my mind. It is an Epiphany song about the many ways Christ is “made manifest” among us: as a newborn child, in his baptism, at a wedding feast, in his healing ministry, through his transfiguration. We might think of those moments as part of Jesus’ story only, but as his followers they are also part of our own stories. In our ministry, we at Trinity have opened the way for Christ to be manifest through our willingness to try new things and welcome new arrivals, and in the generous giving of our time, talents and treasure. How can we continue and expand upon that presence through our ministry at Trinity?
In these years, Christ has certainly been manifest in children, such as little Olivia, our first newborn in the post-COVID time. Her baptism was one among many that have added new members to Christ’s body. Beyond baptisms, children have joined us in different ways, including those who now use our stage or attend the Tri-Con preschool. And there have been weddings, too, including that of two of our members who will take that step on New Years’ Eve. Christ made manifest indeed.
Jesus’ ministry of healing has been part of our work as well, as we have welcomed those battered by war or social upheaval in their homelands, some of whom were indeed ill when they arrived. We have provided a place of safety and healing for our newly arrived friends by helping them to find homes of their own. Christ made manifest once more.
As for transfiguration, who might have guessed our campus would bustle more and more with daily users, people coming to learn, to dance, to act and sing, to hear poetry and literature, to enjoy music? Our efforts to open our campus to others are slowly transforming our place in the community—Christ made manifest in ever-new ways.
Our continued ministry of making Christ manifest depends on our continued generosity to our common work. As we raise our “songs of thankfulness and praise,” I hope you will join me in making a generous pledge to continue our work together in 2025. May Christ made manifest continue to surprise us as we raise our song together.
Bryan Cones, priest-in-charge
Trinity Episcopal Church
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