The city has no need of sun or moon to shine on it, for the glory of God is its light, and its lamp is the Lamb. The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their glory into it. Its gates will never be shut by day—and there will be no night there. (Revelation 21:23-25)

I travelled hundreds of miles to Sarasota this past weekend because I was invited to speak at a church that is in the middle of a congregation-wide study of my Lenten devotional book, Reaching Toward Easter.

Church of the Trinity, MCC, was my brother Geoff’s spiritual home. It was the place where he was able to find the sense of faith-based community he had struggled to experience for years; it was the place where he was able to find peace in his relationship with God; it was the place where he was loved – generously and enthusiastically – through the last months of his life.

The congregation comprises a colorful assortment of people who have found it almost impossible to find a home in more traditional worshipping communities. The church is very clear about its commitment to a door that is propped wide open.

Interestingly, while I didn’t choose my New Testament scripture on that basis, it didn’t escape my notice that Sunday morning’s reading from Revelation (21:22-22:5) points out that, “The gates of the Holy City will never be shut.” Why? Because, “The glory of God gives it light.” And – consequently – “There will be no night there.” When we stand in God’s light, the doors are always going to be wide open.

The worship style reflected the rich hybrid of Christian traditions represented in the congregation; I sense a deep spiritual hunger at Trinity as well as enthusiasm for the Good News of the Gospel of Love.

COMMUNION: The two morning services were at once both serious and joyful, and the church celebrates The Lord’s Supper every time it meets.

• “We invited you because we want to hear your message,” I was told; “but if you choose not to join us for communion we’ll understand.”
• “If I didn’t come forward for communion that would send a stronger message than the one I travelled so many miles to share,” I said.

I took the bread and the cup with my brothers and sisters, children of the same God and recipients of the same grace.

AUTHENTIC WORSHIP: During the 9:00 service I looked out over the congregation as we sang the Lord’s Prayer together. Row upon row of people, nearly filling the sanctuary, joining hands across the aisles and lifting voices with a genuine passion for God.

When we got to “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory….” we all raised our hands – still joined – toward heaven….

It was in that moment that I found these words, the spirit of which I shared with the congregation during my Q&A presentation over lunch:

“I’m one of many people who still struggle, still wrestle, with how to respond in face of the sweeping social changes that continue to precipitate so much angst, and questioning, and judgment, and reactionary politics, and division, and heartache in mainstream Christianity. I often joke that I disagree with myself on a regular basis – and on many questions. But all I can say this morning, having been a part of this faith community for the weekend, is that God is here, and that Church of the Trinity worships in spirit and in truth.”

In love, in humility, in Christ, in spirit, and in truth – DEREK