Sermon Notes: The Last Laugh of the Year

The following are sermon notes from this past Sunday, titled “The Last Laugh of the Year.” The main scripture is Ecclesiastes 3:1-4: “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to weep and a time to laugh.”

As the year comes to a close, life often feels messy. Plans went sideways. Resolutions were forgotten. Joy and grief intertwined. And yet, even in the chaos, God’s care remains constant. Life unfolds in seasons, and every emotion has its place. There is a time to weep—and a time to laugh. Laughter is not denial; it is trust. It is the recognition that God is present, even when life doesn’t go as expected.

Everyone experiences moments when faith feels strong and moments when it whispers. Even in challenges, there is grace at work, meeting people where they are, carrying them through struggles, and shaping hearts with patience and mercy. Life’s blunders, frustrations, and unexpected twists can become blessings when met with trust, hope, and joy.

The central claim is this: because life rests in God’s faithful care, every season can be faced with honesty, trust, and even holy laughter. As the new year begins, the invitation is to name the season honestly, give thanks for the moments of joy, embrace laughter as an act of faith, and trust God with what comes next. Love always has the last word, and even when life doesn’t go according to plan, God’s story continues.

Devotional: Holy Laughter for a New Year

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens… a time to weep and a time to laugh." — Ecclesiastes 3:1-4

As we step into a new year, we carry the memories of the past: the joys, the losses, the surprises, and the lessons. Life is a series of seasons, some heavy and some light, and God meets us in every one. Even when plans go awry, laughter reminds us that we are not in control—God is. Holy laughter is a mark of trust, gratitude, and hope. It transforms ordinary moments into glimpses of God’s presence and grace.

This year, let us embrace both the tears and the smiles. Let us thank God for sustaining us through challenges, for the unexpected joys, and for the gentle reminders of love that appear in the simplest moments. Let us carry forward the gift of laughter and the courage to trust God with what comes next.

Prayer:
Gracious God, thank You for guiding us through the past year with patience, mercy, and love. As we enter this new year, help us to trust You more deeply, to rejoice in Your blessings, and to find holy laughter even in challenging times. Fill our hearts with gratitude, hope, and joy, that we may reflect Jesus’ love to those around us. Amen.

Devotional: Love in the Smallest Places

 

"In these last days, God has spoken to us through the Son." — Hebrews 1:1-2

Christmas reminds everyone that love often comes in the smallest, most unexpected forms. God chose to enter the world as a baby—vulnerable, dependent, and tender—so that hearts could be softened, attention could be drawn to what truly matters, and love could flow freely. Even the tiniest presence can awaken compassion, mercy, and care.

This season, pay attention. Notice the fragile, the overlooked, and the lonely. Let every encounter become an opportunity to reflect Christ’s presence through kindness, service, and attentive love. The way hearts are treated leaves a lasting mark far beyond gifts or words. In caring for others, even in small ways, people participate in God’s relentless love and grace.

Prayer:
Loving God, thank You for coming near in the tenderest way through Jesus. Open hearts to notice the vulnerable and overlooked. Help every action, word, and glance to reflect Your mercy and love. Teach everyone to serve with kindness, to love without hesitation, and to embody the presence of Christ in all places, great and small. May this season awaken gratitude, joy, and a deeper commitment to live Your love in the everyday. Amen.

Sermon Notes: The Smallest Presence, the Greatest Love.

The following are sermon notes of a sermon preached this past Sunday, titled “The Smallest Presence, the Greatest Love.” The main scripture is Hebrews 1:1-2, which reminds us that God speaks to humanity through the Son.

Christmas is a season that draws attention to the smallest, most vulnerable presence—a baby. There is something irresistible about innocence and fragility. People lean in, hearts soften, and love flows effortlessly. This is no accident. God comes into the world not in power or spectacle, but as a tiny, dependent infant, inviting everyone to experience divine love in its most tender form.

God’s love is relentless, seeking humanity even when we turn away, embracing us despite our failures, and calling us toward transformation through mercy and grace. The incarnation shows that true power is found in humility, and true presence is found in attention to the weak, overlooked, and vulnerable.

Everyone is invited to notice these moments of vulnerability—not just in babies, but in neighbors, the lonely, and those on the margins. Each encounter is an opportunity to reflect Christ’s presence through care, kindness, and service. Every act of attention leaves a lasting imprint, shaping hearts in ways that gifts or words cannot.

Imagine communities where everyone treats each other with the same reverence given to a newborn. Workplaces, schools, churches, and homes could become spaces of compassion, mercy, and grace. God’s coming as a baby is not a distant story; it is a call to live love in tangible ways here and now. When hearts open, and hands reach out, the kingdom of God emerges in ordinary life.

This Christmas, lean in, laugh a little, love deeply, and notice the smallest presence, for in that vulnerability is the greatest love.

Sermon Notes: Favored Ones: When God Chooses the Ordinary.

The following are sermon notes of a sermon preached this past Sunday, titled “Favored Ones: When God Chooses the Ordinary.” The main scripture is Luke 1:26–56.

Christmas reminds everyone that God often chooses the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Mary, a young woman from an insignificant town, engaged to a humble carpenter, received a visit from the angel Gabriel with words that changed history: “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” She wasn’t a princess, a scholar, or a leader—she was ordinary. Yet God’s grace chose her, seeing what others overlooked and empowering her to respond with trust.

Everyone lives in their own “Nazareth”—places that feel small, invisible, or mundane. Jobs go unnoticed, routines feel ordinary, and life can seem insignificant. But God’s favor doesn’t depend on status, talent, or perfection. God shows up in ordinary lives, inviting people to participate in something larger than themselves.

The message is clear: God’s grace is for everyone—prevenient grace that seeks, justifying grace that embraces, and sanctifying grace that transforms. Trust doesn’t remove fear or uncertainty, but it allows God’s power to work through ordinary moments. Faithful obedience can turn small, everyday acts—listening, helping, showing kindness—into conduits of mercy and transformation.

Like Mary, people are called to say yes, even when it’s scary or unclear. Ordinary lives become stages for extraordinary acts of love when attention, care, and service are guided by God’s grace. Communities, families, and workplaces transform when ordinary people respond faithfully, letting mercy, compassion, and hope lead. Even spilled coffee or quiet routines can become moments for God’s love to shine.

This Christmas, hear the angel’s words in your heart: “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” And may the response be: “Here am I; let it be with me according to your word.”

Devotional: Extraordinary in the Ordinary

"Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." — Luke 1:28

God has a way of choosing the ordinary to accomplish the extraordinary. Mary’s story reminds everyone that significance isn’t measured by status, talent, or recognition. Even in small towns, ordinary jobs, or quiet routines, God’s grace is at work, inviting hearts to trust, to serve, and to love.

This season, notice the ordinary moments around you: a smile that brightens a day, a neighbor in need, or a small act of kindness. These moments are stages for God’s love to flow, and every act of attention, care, or mercy participates in God’s plan. Ordinary lives, embraced with faith, become vessels of transformation for communities, families, and the world.

Prayer:
Loving Creator, thank You for choosing ordinary people for extraordinary purposes. Open hearts to see where Your grace is at work, and equip every person to respond with trust, courage, and love. Help everyone to notice the small opportunities to serve, to show mercy, and to embody Your presence in everyday life. May ordinary moments become extraordinary expressions of Your love, and may faith guide every action this season. Amen.

Trinity's News

TRINITY'S ANNOUNCEMENTS & PRAYER LIST

AFTER-CHURCH FELLOWSHIP LUNCH

Join us on Sunday, December 21st, right after the worship service, for a warm time of fellowship and a delicious lunch in the Fellowship Hall.

All are welcome. Come share a meal and connect with our church family!

 

COMMUNION SUNDAY SPECIAL - OUTREACH OFFERING

This January, we are collecting a special donation. Your generosity will help us share God’s love with our community.

 

CANNED FOOD DRIVE FOR TASK

We are collecting canned goods for the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen (TASK) to help stock their food pantry. Please bring a can or two to share with our neighbors in need. Collection baskets are in the narthex. All nonperishable items are welcome, but please no glass containers. Together, we can feed both body and spirit with God’s love.

 

BIBLE STUDIES: Tuesdays at 11 am & Wednesdays at 5 pm

Regular Bible studies will take a brief, refreshing pause. Please plan to join us when we happily resume on Wednesday, December 3rd!

 

COFFEE WITH PASTOR RICHARD.

This gathering will take a brief pause. It will resume on Dec 3.

 

LEADERSHIP MEETINGS: TBD

BIRTHDAYS IN DEC.: Anita S., Jade D., Noelle L., Ron E., Nancy G., Alex A.

 

PRAYER REQUESTS

Let's extend our hearts in prayer for the following beloved individuals:

Jayda LaBenz. Requested by Ginny.

Doris Hodges. Requested by Elaine.

Sharon and Bob, for health and strength.

Nancy C., Kristin R., Marilyn C., James F., Lea R., Anita S., for health and strength.

 

In our prayers, let us remember the following people, who passed away, asking for comfort for their loved ones and peace for their soul:

Ray Watson’s brother, Cornelius Watson; Emma’s sister, Watla Menjor; Dot Morris; Kathryn’s brother-in-law and Carl’s sister.