A Huge Opportunity
March Briefing
A huge opportunity: historically
We believe there is a huge opportunity at this moment in history, using the best of church history, as we seek to proclaim the Lord Jesus.
Each one of us needs to deal with the objective moral failings of our own soul, and we need the forgiveness and love of God (see interview with Ben Sasse in bonus section below). At the same time, there seems to be a ‘way in’ with a coming generation who are struggling with their identity, or more precisely their lack of identity, who see the attraction of the deep rootedness arising from connection to the church throughout history. And as the Lord Jesus is the Lord of history, his gospel is not simply a philosophical idea, but a historical reality being worked out in history, what they will find with the Lord Jesus and his people is the true identity, history, reality, relationship, body - all of which they were made to inhabit. In bowing the knee to Jesus as Lord we do not have the tyranny of having to create our own identity, but the liberation to receive the one we were made for.
Therefore, one of our aspirations at Trinity Church Westminster, in a similar way to what Gavin Ortlund’s articulates below, is to lean into some history and liturgy from our own evangelical tradition, both to encourage those of us who already know the Lord Jesus and to actively embody this historical rootedness to those who are searching for something more. In practice this will not look hugely different to the shape of many evangelical church gatherings, but will include a few more of the liturgical elements that have dropped out of popular church practice in recent times. These elements included the singing of psalms, biblical based set prayers and scripture responses. (Please find an example service sheet here).
A huge opportunity: geographically
Given our aim to reach and serve Londoners - particularly those who work in West Central London and those who can easily commute into there, there can scarcely be a better place to gather than our Church Hall venue on Castle Lane in Westminster. It is within around a 10 minute walk from the tube stations pictured above, at the crossroads of the working centres in Westminster (which is populated by 1 million people on a working day). These factors make it an easy place to come for a Bible study or event after work on a Wednesday evening, and an easy place to get to on a Sunday.
Furthermore, with people coming to London from all over the UK and all over the world, and many then going back to places all over the UK and all over the world, our prayer is that, under God, he might use this church over time to play a small part in reaching people across the country and the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
If you know people moving to London to work in Westminster, or moving somewhere within easy reach of Westminster, who might like to partner with us, please share our website:
A huge opportunity: practically
Please come and join us for our next Prayer and Planning Meeting is on Sunday 26th April at 16:15-17:30 in St Michael’s Cornhill Rectory (access via the Rectory Garden behind the back of the church building). Anyone who would like to find out more or who would like to support the plant in any way is welcome. It is a great chance to meet some of the team, to hear about and contribute to developing plans, and to pray!
If you cannot make it and would like to find out more, please get in touch:
A huge opportunity: to pray
That we would continue to gather a core team to launch the church plant
For gifted musicians to serve us in singing
For unity, prayerfulness, protection, gospel passion and perseverance amongst those in the plant team
For growing relationships with workers in Westminster who we can partner with evangelistically
That the Lord would provide all we need financially and practically as a church
To keep up to date with plans and to receive this monthly briefing with prayer requests please subscribe here:
Bonus: A huge opportunity not to be wasted
Ecclesiastes tells us that although we are commanded to enjoy the good gifts of God in life: “Go, eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart, for God has already approved what you do” (9:7), if we are seeking to live wisely, we will pay close attention to reality of death: “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting, for this is the end of all mankind, and the living will lay it to heart” (7:2). This thoughtful testimony from Ben Sasse below, who is likely facing death this year, is a word of wisdom to those following Jesus, and a word of hope to those who do not yet know him.