My Trinity

By Noelle Celeste

As the song goes, “Summertime, and the livin’ is easy.” Summertime is my time to slow down, dress casually and enjoy my family and friends. That probably doesn’t really make you think of going to church. Admit it. Like most of us, you think of going to church when the holidays come around, maybe when life gets a bit challenging or when you face loss. But at Trinity Cathedral, summertime is another perfect time to visit.

No one will mistake me for being a devoutly religious person, but when I discovered that I wanted to explore my spiritual truth, Trinity Cathedral came into my life. I choose it because I knew that even if my spiritual dedication were to waver, the mission of Trinity Commons would sustain me, and the messages that Dean Tracey Lind shares would inspire me.

I like that Trinity is an open and welcoming space in our downtown neighborhood, not just spiritually, but physically. I’ve spent countless evenings and weekends there in support of various nonprofits, and attended meetings at Café Ah Roma. I was already a fan of the urban garden and curious about their other community services. The more I learned about Trinity Cathedral, the more I grew to love what it provides and means to the community. So I took a leap of faith and joined.

When my first summer as a member came around, I found another reason to love my new spiritual home. As the days grow long and we all yearn to savor every drop of sunlight, Trinity changes, ever so slightly, to reflect the season. My usual 9 a.m. Sunday service switches to 10, giving me an extra hour to linger with my coffee and paper. Or, when it suits me, I can still show up at 9 and join others in yoga or tai chi. These classes aren’t filled with spandex and endless repetitions, but instead, they are gentle, welcoming classes, where even my husband can try his hand at stretching for a downward dog or two. The time spent moving together is a perfect warm-up before service where you can walk in dressed in your t-shirt and shorts and be welcomed with a smile as others join you in equally relaxed attire.

There in the small sea of khaki shorts and breezy sundresses, you’ll find families and neighbors worshipping together. There is no pretense. All are welcome—really. Whether you’ve got a baby who might need to nurse midway through the sermon (that’s me), or you’ve never had a Sunday dress (also me) or you’re not really sure how far along you are on your spiritual journey and where it is leading (yeah, that’s me again)—you’re welcome at Trinity.

So consider yourself invited to stop in this Sunday and discover what slowing down, dressing casually and enjoying family and friends can be all about at Trinity Cathedral.