Lent and Easter

Lent is a 40-day period in the church calendar where we set aside time to focus on Jesus’ life up to his death and resurrection. We ponder the fact that Jesus, the son of God, was willing to suffer and die for our sake and for all human beings. We believe that we are all created and beloved by God. In the Lenten season, we take time to remember the pain and suffering that led up to Jesus’ death and resurrection.

Lent is not practiced by all Christian denominations, but it has its roots in the very early church. The PC(USA) views it as an invitation to deepen our relationship with God and observes its practice.

Lent lasts 40 days, beginning on February 22, Ash Wednesday, when we are reminded of our human limitations and mortality as we are marked with a cross on the forehead made from the ashes of last year’s Palm Sunday palms. Lent ends with the celebration of Easter, when we are reminded in Jesus’ resurrection that mortality is not a threat because God is greater than human death. 

This year our Sunday worship brings a repeated call to look away from the world’s demand for perfection and reflect on God’s love for us in the midst of our imperfections.  

You may have heard someone say they “were giving up chocolate for Lent.” One of the most common Lenten practices is fasting, choosing to share in Jesus’ suffering in some small way by giving up something we love. But Lent is not just about fasting; it’s about trying to grow closer to God. For some, Lent can be a time of adopting a new practice such as engaging in walking prayer, Bible study, or some other active habit that trains us in a certain direction and focuses us on Christ.

Whether this is your first experience of Lent or your 90^th, join us as we prepare our hearts and lives for Easter!

Ash Wednesday
Join us Wednesday, February 22 at 7 pm for our Ash Wednesday service in the Great Hall as we begin our journey of Lent. This services includes the imposition of ashes. Child care will be available for kids 2nd grade and younger.

Youth Sunday

February 26 is our Youth Sunday worship service. A unique worship opportunity, this service is completely written and led by Trinity’s youth and culminates their 30 Hour Famine weekend. For more information, click here.  

Palm Sunday

Palm Sunday is Sunday, April 2. On Palm Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem, the religious and political center of his people. He did not come in with power or might, but humbly, riding on a donkey. Nonetheless the people spontaneously gathered to praise and even to worship him, recognizing that he was no ordinary man. Was he the Messiah, come to save them from the domination and oppression of the Roman Empire? Join us at 8:30 am or 11 am as we recognize this important moment in Jesus’ ministry.

Maundy Thursday

The Thursday before Easter is known as “Maundy Thursday.” This is the day that Jesus gathered with his disciples in the Upper Room, sharing a special Passover meal with them, and giving them a New Commandment, to love one another (John 13:34). The word “Maundy” is derived from the Latin word for Commandment. Following their meal together, Jesus and his friends went to the Garden to pray, and it was there that he was arrested and subsequently executed. If we skip the observance of this solemn day, we miss the full power and joy of Easter morning. Join us on Thursday, April 6 at 7 pm in McCoy Chapel.

Easter Sunday

Join us on Easter Sunday, April 9 as we proclaim, “He is risen! He is risen, indeed!” Both the 8:30 am and 11 am worship services will be held in the Great Hall. There is no Sunday School on Easter Sunday but childcare is available. It is our tradition to bring a flower to decorate the cross in the Celebration Garden.

How often do you find yourself reading a news article that promises the 5 sure ways to…

Lose weight,

Get organized,

Make friends,

Be successful?

Maybe it’s time to look for a better way—a kinder way, a more realistic way, a way that actually fits how we’re made. 

This Lent we are learning to live the Good Enough Life, a life that gives us room to breathe, to love, to live, to grow in our own way. We will be using Dr. Kate Bowler’s book, Good Enough as a community both on Sunday mornings and throughout the week.

You can buy Kate Bowler’s book, the basis for our sermon series, on Amazon or sign up here to receive daily devotionals. These daily devotionals are exercises that can be done individually each day to connect with God and others.

No. Trinity welcomes all, wherever you are on your spiritual journey. From longtime Presbyterians to people uncertain about God, our halls are filled with people from all backgrounds and perspectives.

Being a PC(USA) church means honoring God’s stated desire to work through and in all people (Joel 2:28).  We are intentionally inclusive and we believe that God uses the leadership and teaching gifts of all genders, ethnicities, and backgrounds.

We invite you to join us just as you are!

At Trinity, we strive to offer radical hospitality throughout the year. If you are new to joining us in worship, we want to provide information on the accommodations we are offering at this time:

• There are three wheelchair accessible entry points. If you are attending a service in the Great Hall, please enter through the south or west entrances. If you are attending a worship service in McCoy Chapel, you can find a wheelchair entrance on the northeast side of our building;
• Accessible restrooms can be found in our main hallway;
• In the Great Hall, there are rocking chairs for use by new parents;
• Written sermons and large-print bulletins can be found outside the Great Hall and McCoy Chapel;
• Fidget toys are welcome in service and are available to borrow at our Welcome Desk;
• There are two gender neutral bathrooms that can be found at the northeast and southeast entrances;
• The majority of the chairs in our worship spaces do not have armrests, however, we do offer chairs with armrests for those who need them. If you need a specific type of chair, please ask an usher who will be happy to assist you.

If you have any questions or if we can offer further accommodations to you or your family, please email contact@tpcmckinney.org.

Every year our youth participate in 30 Hour Famine. An event open to all youth, 30 Hour Famine involves worship, mission, and activities while fasting to support world hunger. This year famine weekend will be February 25-27. Throughout the weekend, the event tries to make youth feel the physical pains of hunger and make others aware of hunger related issues in the world. Youth also raise money before the event through World Vision to help hungry children all over the world. Trinity youth have raised over $170,000 in their fight against World Hunger. In 2022 alone, Trinity youth raised over $22,000! How much will they raise this year?

There are two ways to give:

You can donate by writing a check to Trinity with “Famine” in the memo line, or via Realm by selecting “Giving” and then “Mission of the Month”. You can also donate by clicking “DONATE” below.

Little Free Pantry is our mission for April and May.

You can donate by writing a check to Trinity with “Pantry” in the memo line, or via Realm by selecting “Giving” and then “Mission of the Month”.

You can also bring non-perishable items and drop them in our drop box locations around our building on Sundays. Find their most current needs here.

The three programs supported by One Great Hour of Sharing – Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, the Presbyterian Hunger Program, and Self-Development of People – all work in different ways to serve individuals and communities in need. From initial disaster response to ongoing community development, their work fits together to provide people with safety, sustenance, and hope. We will take this offering on Easter Sunday.