What Is the Church?
You may remember the old Sunday School rhyme, complete with hand motions: “Here is the church. Here is the steeple. Open the doors, and see all the people.” I loved this as a child, and Marcia and I taught it to our children as well. It's a simple way to introduce the idea of church, but it can also leave us with the impression that “church” is just a building we go to on Sunday mornings. In truth, the Church is far more than that.
At Trinity Episcopal Church in Muscatine, we gather for worship each Sunday at 10 am. We also offer a monthly Rite I service at 8 am and a monthly Saturday Celtic service at 6 pm. These services are important, but they are not the only way to find God. Prayer is not only individual, but simultaneously communal, recognizing that we cannot afford to be islands of faith in a hurting world. As Jesus said, “Where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them” (Matthew 18:20). What we do know is that worship, with or without Eucharist, is about you AND the people around you, finding new and creative ways to share the Mystery of God.
We grow together in faith through our Sunday morning and Wednesday evening formation opportunities, where we explore scripture and reflect on how our faith shapes daily life. We share meals at coffee hour and potlucks. But we also recognize that many people who call Trinity home may never attend those gatherings.
Our building is a place of welcome every day of the week. Crossroads offers day habilitation services here five days a week. The Jubilee Community group meets on Tuesdays. Narcotics Anonymous gathers three times each week. Pearl City Players Children’s Theatre rehearses in our parish hall. Over the years we’ve hosted recitals, tutoring sessions, community meetings, baby showers, and more.
Trinity is an active parish, remarkably so for our size. But our ministry does not end at our doors. We go out into the community through acts of service and compassion. Some of these include Laundry Love, our Blessing Box offering hygiene items, monetary support to MCSA’s shelter and food pantry, and emergency help through the clergy discretionary fund and Jubilee Committee. We also connect with people online through our worship livestreams.
All told, Trinity Episcopal Church touches the lives of roughly 265 people every week. When I share this number with colleagues from larger parishes, they’re often surprised. And yet, it is true. That reach is something to be grateful for, but there’s always more we can do.
And let us remember: we are not alone in this work. Trinity is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Iowa, a fellowship of congregations across the state. That diocese is part of The Episcopal Church, which spans the United States and several other countries. And The Episcopal Church itself belongs to the worldwide Anglican Communion: millions of Christians joined in prayer, worship, and mission across cultures and continents.
When we pray on Sundays for our companion dioceses of Brechin (Scotland), Eswatini (Southern Africa), and Nzara (South Sudan), we are reminded that we are one part of something larger. As Paul wrote to the Corinthians, “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Corinthians 12:27). That body stretches far beyond our walls, and yet every person and every act of love matters.
So, what is the Church? It is not just a steeple or a Sunday morning tradition. The Church is the people of God, gathered and scattered, serving, praying, and growing together. It is this congregation. It is the diocese. It is the national and international body we belong to. And ultimately, it is the presence of Christ made known through our life together.
If you have an idea for how Trinity can better serve others, and if you’re willing to help lead, I hope you will let me know. Our shared theology tells us that we are meant to walk this life together. When we do, we help build the Kingdom of God, right here, right now.
Kevin+
