Welcome to
COMPAÑEROS!

a process for exploring faith, discipleship and church membership

Thank you for expressing an interest in exploring membership at Trinity Presbyterian Church. We believe that God is doing something exciting in your life now! We hope we can help you respond to God in growing ways, as you explore this new community of faith. Our membership exploration process includes the following components:

1. Public welcome in worship: You will be welcomed as friends on a journey towards baptismal renewal and church membership. The congregation will be encouraged to keep you in prayer.

2. Weekly conversations with an assigned “companion”: You will be paired with a companion, an active church member, who will befriend you, talk with you about the faith, introduce you to the life and ministry of the church, and help you identify gifts and interests for Christian service.

3. Two group gatherings: You and your companion will attend two meetings for conversation with the pastors, along with others concurrently exploring membership and their companions. One meeting will be at the beginning, the second 4-6 weeks later.

4. Lectio class: On Sunday mornings, you and your companion are encouraged to attend the Lectio Sunday School class together at 9:00 am. This class, led by one of the pastors, will teach a particular way of engaging Scripture, by inviting reflection on one of the texts to be read in worship. The class is open to the whole congregation.

5. Confirming, by you, that Trinity Presbyterian Church is where God is calling you to be in ministry, and by the Session that the church is ready to receive you into membership.

6. Reception into church membership in worship, in a service of thanksgiving recalling baptism.


COMPAÑEROS

The basic covenant compañeros are asked to make to each other, for 8 weeks, involves these practices:
        PRAY for each other daily
        WORSHIP and STUDY with the church weekly
        MEET together weekly for a conversation about some aspect of the Christian life

Compañeros are asked simply to share experiences at living the life of discipleship, experiences which may include both successes and failures, understanding and questions.

Our hope is that this companion relationship will:
    - help you get fully integrated into the life of the church
    - build friendships that strengthen the whole body
    - take seriously what God is doing in your life now
    - encourage honest sharing, asking questions, talking about faith
    - start where you are on your spiritual journey and help you take next steps
    - help you consider where God is calling you into fellowship and service
    - strengthen all participants in faith and discipleship

THE ‘MEETINGS’

6 weekly conversations: You and your companion will meet weekly, at a time and place of your choosing, to consider an aspect of the life of discipleship. Conversation starters will be prepared on topics like vocation, prayer, stewardship, forgiveness, worship, service.

2 group gatherings: You and your companion will join other compañeros for a presentation and conversation led by one of the pastors, one at the beginning, and the other 4-6 weeks later:
    The Bible in 1 Hour
    Credo: What Presbyterians Believe

In WORSHIP & with the SESSION

The church is formed by baptism. Each of us becomes part of the church at our baptism. Joining a new community of faith links us to that basic baptismal identity. Receiving new members into the church reminds the whole community of our common baptismal calling.br />
Both the public recognition in worship at the beginning, and the reception into membership at the end, will gather compañeros (you and your member companions) around the baptismal font after the sermon, for a simple liturgy of promises and prayers. The reception into membership will include a thanksgiving for baptism, or if you have not been baptized, the sacrament of baptism.

In a Presbyterian church, the Session is charged with receiving new members. If you are currently active in another congregation, you will be received by transfer of membership. If you have previously belonged to another church, you will be received by reaffirmation of your faith. If you have never been baptized, you will be received by profession of faith and baptism. At the meeting with the Session, your companion will introduce you to the elders, and you will be asked to speak about your faith and your desire to unite with Trinity.