Trinity has adopted the following statement of our identify and mission:
“Trinity is a diverse, vibrant community of forgiven sinners sharing the unconditional love of Jesus with all.”
“Trinity is . . .” To be honest, we know that we’re not there yet. But this statement reflects who we want to be and serves as a vision by which we live now and seek our future.
“Trinity is diverse . . .” As Christians, we take seriously the mission given to us by God, “who desires everyone to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Tim. 2:4) Cully is the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in Portland. The Apostle Paul, in writing to the church in Corinth declares that the diversity of the Church’s spiritual gifts is meant to serve “the common good.” (1 Cor. 12:7). We at Trinity value this diversity and we welcome all who seek comfort, hope and peace in this place.
“Trinity is a diverse, vibrant . . .” By “vibrant” we mean that we aren’t simply doing “the same old thing” because “that’s the way we’ve always done it.” What we do is always tied to our mission. As such, we prefer not to wait for people to seek us out, but to be constantly reaching out to others, seeking to make a difference in the world around us.
“Trinity is a diverse, vibrant community. . .” As a community, Trinity is a gathering of Christian people who reflect the love of Jesus by the ways in which we love each other and the ways in which we direct the love to those outside of our congregation, particularly those in need. We expect that “they will know that we are Christians by our love.”
“Trinity is a diverse, vibrant community of forgiven sinners. . .” We are sinners. As Christians, both as a body of believers and as individuals, we know that we have said and done things which belie our profession to be followers of One who calls us to love others as he has first loved us. Yet we are also forgiven sinners, not because of anything we have done, but because of God’s own unconditional love revealed in the cross and empty tomb of Jesus Christ.
“Trinity is a diverse, vibrant community of forgiven sinners sharing the unconditional love of Jesus with all.” We are Lutheran Christians, seeing the good news of forgiving love as the very heart and center of our identity as God’s people, and we want to share that Good News with YOU, and with the world.
We invite you to join us as we work to serve God together here at Trinity. You are always welcome!
– Pastor and People of Trinity Lutheran Church