The Communion of the Holy Trinity

I am excited about our new church name. United Convergence Church, the name we are changing from, really didn't convey to people what or who we are. "Convergence" refers to a blending, or convergence, of the 3 "streams" or traditions of the early Church, which when combined makes for a balanced and relevant Church today--evangelical, liturgical/sacramental, and charismatic. By "charismatic," we mean the filling and life of the Spirit. The emphasis isn't on a particular gift or gifts--it's on the life of the Spirit, which includes the fruit and gifts of the Spirit. "Spirit-filled" would probably better describe that aspect. We are still convergence in our beliefs and practice. Our basis is the Anglican tradition, the tradition of the Church catholic as it developed in the British Isles. We enjoy aspects of the Roman and Eastern traditions as well.

So, our convergence worship hasn't changed. A huge thing that also hasn't changed is our main emphasis--our emphasis isn't Anglicanism, liturgy, theology, church polity, arguments over which Prayer Book is the best--none of that. Our emphasis is the Lord God Almighty, Who our liturgy and theology and traditions are to point to. I think sometimes we lose focus--we major on the minors, so to speak. Liturgy is important insomuch as it points us to God and facilitates our corporate, participatory worship. I frankly disagree that use of the 1928 or 1662 liturgy is somehow more Anglican, or more theologically sound than the 1979 Prayer Book--the arguments simply don't hold up. If anything, the 1979 Book of Common Prayer was more of a return to the ancient Church, in my opinion (email if you'd like to discuss why). Also, our understanding of God's sovereignty and eschatology is finite and simple at best--and not to be a test of intelligence or of good hermeneutics. True Anglicanism is a blending of ancient Celtic (which is monastic in root) and Roman traditions, and is based on the Church being shepherded by a plurality of bishops who hear God and the voice of the whole Church--what we would call "consensus" government of the Church. It has a Biblical base (the primary authority) with apostolic tradition. It is liturgical and Eucharist-centered, but liturgy is not a test of true Anglicanism. The above is. The Anglican tradition is, at its best, God-centered, not man-centered.


All this having been said, we are changing the name of our church (I don't like the word "denomination") to The Communion of the Holy Trinity because it simply states Who is our focus. The word "communion" denotes a fellowship, a sharing--of what? The life of the Trinity, and the sharing of that life with all Christians--here and in heaven.

This Sunday is Trinity Sunday. So we're obviously going to celebrate. If you're in the area, come join us. Our worship is contemporary, yet rooted in the ancient Church. We will worship our great God together in music, prayers, confession and receiving of forgiveness, reading and preaching from the Bible, and receiving our Lord Jesus Christ in the special way we do in the Bread and Wine. Then we'll have lunch and fellowship.

And if you're in the area, the Order of St. John the Beloved offers Morning Prayer here at Mercy House Tue-Fri mornings at 7 am. We're usually done around 7:30. You are welcome--come pray with us before work.

We pray your worship this weekend is good.


under the mercy,
br. francis