Celebration

Everyone loves a celebration! Not least the people of God. The Bible clearly teaches us that God is a God of new beginnings; He makes all things new. So it was appropriate, and with much rejoicing, that on the 24-25th October Trinity Church, Brentwood celebrated the church’s new name: Trinity.

The name ‘Trinity’ serves as a testimony and constant reminder to all of us that God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are the source of our salvation and lives. We are thankful for all God has done and continues to do in our lives.

God’s universal church is a family and is expressed as such in local units. With this in mind, the activities that were arranged as part of the celebration not only catered for all ages but also emphasised that we are part of the world wide family of God. On Saturday afternoon, embracing the China theme that would continue into the evening, the teenagers tried their hand at sumo wrestling, suitably attired in inflatable sumo wrestling suits! At the same time, the younger children enjoyed an action packed party led by a children’s entertainer. Both events culminated in all the children going outside to let off blue and white balloons, each with a name attached. At the precise moment that the balloons were released in the light breeze that would carry some of them as far away as Belgium and Germany, the rain stopped, the sun came out and we were treated to the glorious sight of a double rainbow; one could not help thinking that our Heavenly Father was watching over the proceedings. 

In the evening, the church was challenged and inspired by a missionary whose work takes him into mainland China. Listening to a firsthand account of the incredible growth of the church in China, albeit not without persecution, left the church members with a fresh sense of the greatness of our God and a desire to see God move again in our nation. That people had been inspired by the talk was evident in the conversations that took place during the time of fellowship after the meeting at which Chinese pastries were served and enjoyed by all.

The Sunday morning service was a wonderful culmination of the celebration events. The presence of God was tangible throughout the service: as the congregation praised, the newly expanded choir sang ‘Thou O Lord, are a shield for me’ and Canon George Kovoor, Principal of Trinity College, Bristol and Dr William Kumuyi from Nigeria preached on the Twenty Third Psalm. It was a truly blessed time.