Dear Friend,

We are now entering an in-between phase of re-opening and staying closed, of wanting to resume ‘normalcy,’ but needing to remain cautious. It’s a confusing mindset. It’s easier to either be in “lockdown” or “normal,” but we’re in between.

Our family is wrestling with this uncertainty. “I’m ready to go back to school,” our 5th grade daughter said late last week. The older ones want to be reunited with friends. “When can Grammie come for a visit?” the littlest asked last week. We’re not sure of the answers in this new world.

But if we really think about it, this in-betweeness isn’t that unusual. In fact, life in Christ has always been like this. We are “in” but not “of” the world. We are fully present here, yet we know that we are destined for eternity. We are saints-in-the-making, not perfect, but also not content with the status quo.

So, how can our faith life help us in the slow search for a new normal? And especially in not returning to unhelpful habits of our pre-pandemic life? Amidst all of this in-between tension, we need anchor points. We need signposts. And a key one is the altar in your domestic church, your home.

As we mentioned last month, the Faith Life (Level One) of your Trinity House requires at least a prayer corner — or whatever you call the place where your family gathers for prayer. Some call it their oratory, or chapel, or icon stand. Above you see a picture of ours.

Here are a few practical suggestions for an inspiring space:

• Use beautiful objects to inspire beautiful prayers! Take care in selecting sacred art and sacramentals to nourish your family’s prayer life.
• Gather your prayer materials – rosaries, bibles, hymn books, devotionals, holy cards – so it’s easy to get started. Whether you’re doing a rosary, a bible study, a hymn sing, or morning prayer, it’ll help to have everything you need right there.
• Use candles! Nothing signals the presence of Christ and the sacredness of the moment more beautifully.
• Gather daily in your prayer space, even if it’s only for a few minutes.
• Set the tone by spending your own time there. The kids will sense the holiness, and be drawn to spend time there too.

We stand at the threshold of an uncertain future. We want to reclaim the richness of communal life without sacrificing the peace and joy that should characterize Christian family life. Our prayer corner can serve as both anchor and guiding light, centering our Trinity House as a little taste of the heaven we are moving toward on this pilgrim journey.

GivingTuesdayNow

• Will you consider a Giving Tuesday gift today of $25, $50, $100, or more to support the ministry of Trinity House Community? We have joined other non-profits in the one-day Give Choose campaign, with a $5K goal which was already 20% funded by mid-morning today! One supporter emailed us recently, “Honestly, your ministry is more important now than ever.” To make a tax-deductible gift, visit our GiveChoose online profile page here.

Don’t Miss…

We have now hosted three livestreams in the COVID-19 era, and each one has been such a blessing. We’ve learned so much from the participants—many of whom are couples, listening together at the end of a long day—and as you can see from the testimonial below, the workshops are bearing fruit.

Haven’t joined us yet? Consider signing up for one of our upcoming LIVESTREAM opportunities to attend the Heaven In Your Home Workshop: How to Turn a Crisis into a Time of Grace for Your Family & the World:

Thu., May 7th, 8-9:30 p.m. ET
Wed., May 20th, 8-9:30 p.m. ET
Learn more and register here, and then spread the word by forwarding this email to your friends. A number of participants are hearing about the workshop through Facebook, so consider taking a moment to share the FB event page here.

Heaven In Your Home Toolkit

• Check out “Seize the Hope that is Before Us,” a reflection on our need to pray together as spouses, prepare well for Mass, and have Christian art in our homes.
• The Catholic Information Center will host a livestream event, “Theology of Home: Finding the Eternal in the Everyday,” from 6-7 p.m., this Thursday, with authors Carrie Gress and Noelle Mering.
• Fr. Justin Freeman at the National Catholic Register offers practical tips for the “Renewal of the Domestic Church.“
• Dr. John Cuddeback offers suggestions to dads in “Quarantine: A New Chance to Be a Father.”
• For those near Leesburg, there’s still time to pick up free copies of the May issue of Magnificat on the side porch of Trinity House Cafe (which is still temporarily closed) in a marked box. Since we put them out last week, over 100 have already found their way into good homes! Feel free to take copies for your family and friends too.
• Thanks so much to those who have already helped the ministry of Trinity House Community by choosing us as your AmazonSmile non-profit recipient. To do this, just go to to your Smile.Amazon.com page, and under “Your Account,” choose “Your Amazon Smile” and select “Trinity House Community” as your recipient. Thank you!

Ministry Testimonials

• “Heaven in Your Home Workshop is a tremendous testimony to the incredible love and mercy our God has for us, and the importance of looking to the relationship in the Trinity as an example of how to thrive together as families in faith.” —Workshop Participant

Please Join Us In Prayer

We invite you to keep the following needs in prayer:
For all families and couples, that this time of trials might also be a time of renewal in their daily journey of faith.
For all senior citizens, doctors, nurses, and essential workers.
For the unemployed, the underemployed, and all those facing difficult financial decisions in these days.
For all participants of our upcoming and recent workshops, that their family life may be blessed and encouraged in this difficult time.
For wisdom for our leaders, as they make decisions about reopening our economy.

In Christ,

Soren & Ever Johnson
Co-Founders & Directors
Trinity House Community
Making Home a Little Taste of Heaven