Trinity Family & Friends:

This Sunday marks the conclusion of Discovery Weekend, the biggest youth event of the year at Trinity! Discovery Weekend is a fun and meaningful retreat for our middle school students, led by our high school students. Throughout the weekend, students participate in worship, small groups, games, and powerful messages designed to help them begin the new school year with focus and faith.

This year’s theme is “Chosen,” based on Isaiah 43:1. Our students will be reminded that they are known, loved, and chosen by God, and that they have a place in God’s family and in the church.

We will continue that theme in worship on Sunday. I will preach in Traditional Worship at 9 am., and Kristi Sanford, our Director of Youth Ministry, will preach in Cross Connect, our contemporary service, at its new time of 11 am. This will be the first Sunday of our new worship schedule. We will also celebrate the Blessing of the Backpacks and enjoy Back-to-School Biscuits together.

In Isaiah 43, God speaks to people who have experienced uncertainty, loss, and displacement and reminds them of who they are: “Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are mine.” We often think of being chosen as being selected over someone else. But in Scripture, being chosen is not primarily about privilege or superiority. It is about belonging to God. Before we accomplish anything, prove anything, or get everything right, God knows us, loves us, and calls us by name. Our deepest identity does not come from our success, reputation, possessions, or the roles we fill. It comes from the God who created us and says, “You are mine.”

Small Group Questions

1. What words or phrases stand out to you in Isaiah 43:1–4, and why?
2. What does it mean to you that God calls you by name?
3. Where do people most often look for their identity or sense of worth?
4. How is being chosen by God different from being chosen over someone else
5. What “waters,” “rivers,” or “fires” are you currently facing?
6. How have you experienced God’s presence during a difficult season?
7. What might change in your life if you fully believed God’s words: “You are precious in my eyes, you are honored, and I love you”?

This week, please pray for our youth and leaders during Discovery Weekend. Pray that every student will know they are loved, chosen, and that they have a place in God’s family and the church. And may we all remember God’s promise: “I have called you by name; you are mine.”

See you Sunday!
Dedric