Dear Friend,
And yet—while we must take reasonable measures to protect our families from the toxic culture—our homes, our Trinity Houses, are meant to be on mission. Called to love our neighbors and even welcome strangers, our homes are meant to be beacons of light. In fact, if we do Levels 1-4 right, in a way that makes God’s life overflow, we won’t be able to hide the light. So, in months when we have a 5th Tuesday, we turn our focus to the “crown” of a Trinity House: Hospitality & Service (Level 5).
To share the Gospel such that more and more people come to worship God and live with Him in heaven is the ultimate task of the Christian. And if it stops with our children, we are surely giving them a faulty message. Because, in the case of the Gospel, we must share it in order to keep it and grow in it. If we’re not hosting, serving, evangelizing…then arguably, we are not living out our faith in its fullness; we are not taking up the Great Commission. Or as Jesus taught, “Give, and it will be given to you…For the measure you use will be measured back to you.” (Lk. 6:38)
A Barna Group study (Households of Faith) underscores the truth of this paradox: Children brought up in Christian homes that host frequently and serve the community together are more likely to hold on to their faith in adulthood. In addition to other key qualities, the “spiritually vibrant household” is one that “welcomes non-family guests regularly.”
The Barna findings make great sense because children in homes that host and serve have the priceless opportunity of seeing the faith take on relevance in the world outside their family and close friends. Their family’s faith does not hide from the world’s brokenness, but it instead offers and applies healing. It is a great satisfaction for children to see that what their family most values “works” to solve problems in the real world.
And so as we enter into Advent—a time of heightened prayer, penance, and charitable works—we encourage you to embrace this paradox of your Trinity House:
- In your own interior life of prayer, give more generously to the Lord: of your time, your attention, your acts of service.
- As a family, look for opportunities to host and serve your neighbors and community together this Advent.
- Give generously to ministries, worthy causes, and of course, your church.
> It’s easy to forget that Advent is a penitential season. In “Opening the Word,” Fr. Joshua Whitfield (OSV News) writes, “It’s a reminder that, as Christians, our first task is penitential…we should first welcome Christ into our hearts, which is a matter of repentance, the forgiveness of our sins.”
> “6 Foolproof Advent Ideas for Failures Like Me” by Tom Hoopes (Aleteia) offers some good food for thought for families in this first week of Advent. Idea #4, the “Advent Mercy Jar”, is very much in keeping with Level 5 of a Trinity House. More Hospitality & Service Tools…
> We’re eager to share with you not only the impact Trinity House Community has had in the lives of so many individuals and families in 2021, but also our top 5 ministry goals for 2022. Please take some time to read our year-end letter and 2021 Ministry Report on this page.
> Want to know an easy way to help spread the ministry of Trinity House Community? Share this Heaven in Your Home Letter with a friend!
> In addition to copies of a beautiful prayer card that features a prayer to the Holy Trinity by St. Elizabeth of the Trinity, we also have holy cards that feature the Trinity icon of St. Andrei Rublev. Just drop us an email at contact@trinityhousecommunity.org with your mailing address, and we’ll be happy to put both cards in the mail to you.
“It’s great to see and hear how the Trinity House ministry is growing and impacting the lives of many in the community. We’re happy to be part of that growth and community outreach!”
– Rick & Wendy Wagner
