Looking ahead: themes from April 26 Open Forum
Eighteen Holy Trinity members met on Saturday, April 26, 2025 for the fifth Open Forum hosted by the Transition Team. The goal for the morning was to answer the question: Why does Holy Trinity exist?
After centering ourselves in the image of Jesus as the vine and ourselves as the branches called to bear fruit (John 15:1-5), the Transition Team presented a summary of the Self-Study and Visioning Process* work that Holy Trinity has done. We reviewed the learnings from each step of the process (CAT results; Holy Trinity’s history; discerning Holy Trinity’s “Why?”)
The group then brainstormed words and phrases to describe why Holy Trinity exists. More than 30 ideas were generated. Below is a listing of common themes and phrases from this brainstorming session.
- relationship
- education
- growing
- serving
- faith
- grace
- community
- worship
- pray
- hope
- celebrate
- offer solace
- comfort/consolation in times of distress
- give God’s grace to others
- fruitful ministry
- trust God’s promise
- act boldly
- loved for who we are
- offer God’s love to others
- inclusive
- God working through you
- community of faith
- work with other people
- ecumenical
- interfaith
- intentional
- active
- lead in difficult times
- lead by example
- courage/confidence
- willing to grow
- flexible
- claim who we are
- stand by others who are not welcome
- serve people on fringes without fear
- go beyond walls, living your faith,
- local
