Our mission statement is:
“To guide America back to God through the teachings and Marriage Blessing of True Parents.”
We are a local branch in Durham, NC of FFWPU (Family Federation for World Peace and Unification).
We have Sunday service at 11:00am.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Jan. 11, 2026
Music Offering
Sermon:Costly Grace
The speaker opens with a personal anecdote about leading a serious workshop, where the atmosphere was initially lifeless until a heartfelt story about pregnant sisters revitalized the group’s spirit. They then shift to a profound reflection on faith, contrasting “cheap grace” and “costly grace,” concepts popularized by the German pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who opposed Nazi tyranny and was executed for his resistance. “Cheap grace” is described as superficial, ritualistic faith lacking true conviction or sacrifice, while “costly grace” involves deep personal sacrifice, responsibility, and active cooperation with God. The speaker emphasizes that true faith is not mere activity or external appearance but requires honest internal transformation and a willingness to face trials.
Drawing on biblical references such as John 1:6, the story of Job, and the novel Silence, the speaker illustrates how suffering and silence from God can lead to authentic faith and spiritual maturity. They highlight how conformity and fear of conflict can suppress individuality and honest expression, leading to a spiritually dry and hollow faith experience. The speaker stresses the importance of genuine unity centered on God’s will rather than blind obedience to human authority.
The talk then personalizes these lessons through reflections on True Mother’s life and teachings, portraying her imprisonment as an embodiment of costly grace that inspired hope, joy, and gratitude despite adversity. The metaphor of amber formation—where tree resin undergoes transformation under pressure to become a precious gemstone—is used to symbolize how tears and suffering, when united with divine grace, can become a lasting legacy of faith and love. The speaker concludes with a hopeful and joyful vision for the future, encouraging honesty, mutual support, and gratitude as keys to living a free and fulfilling spiritual life.
Highlights
Personal story revives workshop spirit after initial dead silence.
Introduction of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, pastor who resisted Nazis and symbolized costly grace.
Critique of “cheap grace” as formalized, superficial faith that lacks true conviction.
Danger of conformity and suppression of individuality for the sake of social comfort.
Costly grace requires sacrifice, human responsibility, and cooperation with God.
Amber metaphor: suffering and tears transform into precious legacy of faith.
Hope and joy for the future rooted in honest expression, love, and gratitude.
Sunday School: Moral lesson from Japanese folk tale Crane Gratitude
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Jan. 4, 2026
Music Offering
Sermon:Report On Victories and Challenges In 2025
The sermon captures a reflective and community-oriented address at the Triangle Family Church, centered on reviewing the past year 2025 and looking ahead to 2026. The speaker begins by explaining the significance of the Sunday of the Epiphany, which celebrates the revelation of Jesus as the Savior, typically observed on January 6 or the closest Sunday. The speaker then transitions to a detailed recount of the church’s vibrant activities in 2025, highlighting key events such as peace rallies, family workshops, religious forums, and cultural celebrations. Emphasis is placed on collaboration with other churches, engagement of young people and families, and responding to social issues like religious persecution.
A major theme is the importance of prioritizing health and family, especially for senior members, as foundational to sustaining community efforts. The speaker recognizes the tireless work of church leaders and volunteers, stressing that the church’s accomplishments are collective achievements. Several special events are described, including the “Peace Starts with Me” rally, a special grace ceremony that drew infrequent attendees, and a well-received Christmas celebration that successfully attracted young families through a warm, inviting atmosphere.
The speaker also highlights the first-ever winter workshop aimed at third-generation members, noting its success despite logistical challenges and chaotic moments. This workshop is seen as a crucial step toward nurturing the future of the movement and strengthening faith transmission across generations. Looking into 2026, the speaker acknowledges the many challenges ahead but expresses confidence in the church’s unity and divine guidance. The address closes with a heartfelt prayer, invoking Heavenly Parent’s support to unite the community and lead them through a hopeful future grounded in love, truth, and resilience.
Highlights
- Explanation of the Epiphany Sunday and its significance in celebrating the revelation of Jesus as Savior.
- God’s guidance to prioritize health and caring for one’s spouse as foundational responsibilities.
- “Peace Starts with Me” rally showcased successful collaboration among multiple churches.
- Special grace ceremony and Christmas celebration helped attract young families and infrequent attendees.
- Forum on religious persecution highlighted global Christian struggles and the importance of solidarity.
- The first winter workshop for third-generation members fostered faith education and community bonding.
- Closing prayer emphasized unity, hope, and reliance on Heavenly Parent for guidance in 2026.
Sunday School - Bible Study: Parable of Talents
God gave each of us unique talents. Use them to please God and True Parents.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Dec. 28, 2025
Sermon: We have hope!
The speaker, a second-generation member of the Unification Church and a sociologist, shares reflections from a recent trip to Japan and Korea amid the church’s current crisis. Originally planning to discuss personal faith, the speaker instead focuses on the resilience and hope observed within the Japanese and Korean Unificationist communities, particularly the activism of a second-generation group called Nabi in Japan and the intense prayer vigils in Korea’s Chongyang center. Despite external persecution, including a potential dissolution order against the church in Japan, these communities demonstrate spiritual vitality, unity, and determination. The speaker highlights the deepening gratitude between generations within the church, the courage of second-generation members publicly affirming their faith, and the renewed devotion of first and third generations in Korea. Professor Oh's stories of transformation and reconciliation, including struggles to accept True Mother’s leadership following True Father’s passing, underscore a broader theme of hope anchored in prayer, action, and spiritual connection. The speaker concludes with a call to deepen understanding of True Mother, to unite in prayer for her release from detention, and to embrace the church’s current upheaval as a necessary divine process of purification and renewal.
Highlights
Introduction of the speaker’s background and purpose of the trip to Japan and Korea.
Introduction of the Nabi group in Japan, second-generation activists publicly sharing their faith despite persecution.
Notable narrowing of the generational gap between first and second generation members in the Japanese church.
Powerful testimony of a young second-generation leader’s profound prayer experience connecting him to God.
Description of the Chongyang prayer vigil in Korea as a spiritually overwhelming and unifying experience.
Story of a devoted first-generation theologian’s struggle and eventual acceptance of True Mother’s leadership.
Closing message: enduring the church’s current crisis through prayer and action as part of spiritual purification.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Dec. 21, 2025
Music Offering
Sermon: Miracles
Miracles are central to faith, especially during the holidays, emphasizing God's power, the potential of believers, and the importance of recognizing life's everyday miracles.
Key Insights
Miracles and Faith: Miracles serve as a testament to God’s power and a reminder of our potential through faith, encouraging believers to recognize and manifest extraordinary outcomes.
Scriptural Foundations: Biblical verses illustrate that nothing is impossible for God, reinforcing the belief that miracles can occur in our lives if we remain faithful.
Categories of Miracles: Understanding the different types of miracles—healings, nature, provision, and resurrection—helps us recognize the diverse ways God's power can manifest.
Manifestation Principles: Aligning intentions, emotions, and actions is crucial in manifesting miracles, emphasizing the importance of a positive mindset and trust in a higher power.
Modern Miracles: Contemporary stories of healing, such as miraculous cures, highlight that miracles continue to happen today, inspiring hope and faith in believers.
Trust and Surrender: Surrendering attachment and being open to possibilities increases our chances of experiencing miracles, encouraging a mindset of gratitude and positivity.
Significance of Awareness: Recognizing that life itself is miraculous encourages a deeper appreciation for everyday moments and divine interventions in our lives.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Dec. 14, 2025
Music Offering
Sermon: Stay Warm
This sermon encourages creating warm environments despite life's challenges, emphasizing resilience, positivity, and community support during the holiday season.
Key Insights:
Creating Warm Environments: The sermon stresses the importance of fostering warmth and support in our communities, especially during challenging times. This notion highlights how connections can counteract life’s adversities.
Statistics of Trauma: By presenting statistics on childhood trauma and domestic violence, the speaker emphasizes the need for awareness and open discussions about mental health, which can help individuals feel less isolated in their struggles.
Resilience in History: The message reflects on humanity's resilience to overcome disasters and personal hardships, encouraging listeners to recognize their strength in facing current challenges.
Communication as Healing: The three-step approach advocates for open dialogue about personal struggles as a means to foster healing, demonstrating the power of sharing and community support.
Laughter as Medicine: Highlighting humor's ability to shift perspectives, the mention of comedians serves as a reminder that laughter can alleviate stress and unite people through shared experiences.
Belief in Transformation: The story of "The Music Man" showcases how belief in potential and community can lead to transformation, reinforcing the idea that positivity can inspire change.
- Inspiration from Great Minds: Referencing figures like John Steinbeck and Reverend Moon illustrates the importance of idealism and the pursuit of perfection, motivating individuals to aspire to higher ideals in their lives.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Dec. 7, 2025
Music Offering
Sermon
The speaker reflects on a recent experience of serving an elderly woman named Mary Shelton, displaced by eminent domain, and how this service became a spiritual journey rich with lessons about compassion, patience, and divine purpose. The talk begins by referencing Romans 1:20, emphasizing how God’s invisible qualities are revealed through creation and lived experiences. The catalyst for the talk was a request for help moving Mary, a senior with physical ailments and dementia, who faced the anxiety and loss of being uprooted from her longtime home. Through several days of travel from North Carolina to Las Vegas, the speaker cared for Mary and her comfort dog, Blessing, exemplifying a mindful and heartfelt approach inspired by True Mother’s example of caring service.Throughout the journey, the speaker navigated challenges such as Mary’s rambling, confusion, and fatigue while maintaining a spirit of patience and love. The speaker shares observations about the Western landscape, engaging Mary in meaningful moments that connected her past experiences as a stewardess to the physical realities of the ground she had flown over for years. Upon arrival, the speaker highlights the vulnerability of aging and memory loss as Mary struggles to orient herself in her new home.A significant part of the journey was meeting Corey, a mover who shares a flight back with the speaker. This encounter allowed for a deep, open conversation about faith, free will, and the root causes of human suffering, framed through the Divine Principle and the concept of the Fall. Corey’s quick understanding and receptiveness to spiritual truths demonstrate the power of genuine dialogue and divine timing.The speaker concludes by reflecting on the meaning of true value as “what you leave in people’s hearts,” inspired by a movie about a young man with cancer and his dog. The talk closes with a prayer expressing gratitude for life, challenges, and the opportunity to serve others, invoking the spirit of True Parents and the ideal of leaving a positive spiritual legacy within others.Highlights
Romans 1:20 introduces the theme of perceiving God’s invisible qualities through creation and experience.
Mary Shelton’s eminent domain case and her frail condition set the stage for a story of compassionate service.
Blessing, Mary’s comfort dog, plays a crucial role in alleviating her anxiety during the move.
The challenges of long-distance travel and disrupted sleep patterns highlight the physical and emotional toll on caregiver and cared-for alike.
Sharing knowledge about juniper trees and the western landscape creates meaningful connections and moments of joy.
Meeting Corey, the mover, leads to a spontaneous and profound spiritual conversation about human suffering and free will.
The key takeaway: true value lies in what we leave in people’s hearts, not material possessions.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Nov. 30, 2025
Music Offering
Sermon - Let’s Talk about Love
In this heartfelt and insightful talk, the speaker explores the essential role of love and relationships in achieving happiness and fulfillment in life. Beginning with a warm holiday greeting, the speaker introduces the central theme: relationships, framed through a creative metaphor called the “theory of warm and cold water.” This theory illustrates how the quality of our interactions—whether harsh and cold or kind and warm—directly impacts the health and longevity of our relationships. Drawing from personal experiences, spiritual teachings, and scientific studies, the speaker emphasizes that beyond basic survival needs like food, shelter, and technology, meaningful relationships are fundamental to human happiness. The talk references the Divine Principle, highlighting the spiritual goal of attaining happiness and avoiding misfortune through harmonious relationships with both God and others. Through a story of professional struggle and recovery, the speaker demonstrates how warm water—expressed as kindness, affirmation, and love as action—can revive and nurture relationships, leading to personal and communal flourishing. The message concludes with an encouragement to practice warm water in relationships, especially during the holiday season, to foster joy, healing, and connection.
Highlights
Introduction of the “theory of warm and cold water” as a metaphor for relationships.
Recognition of technology and internet as essential modern life needs, but emphasizing relationships as more vital.
Explanation of the Divine Principle’s focus on attaining happiness and avoiding misfortune.
Reference to Harvard’s 30-year study confirming that meaningful relationships are key to long-term happiness.
Definition of “cold water” as harsh treatment that harms relationships and “warm water” as kind, affirming actions that nurture them.
Story of a young man’s failure in a harsh work environment illustrating cold water effects.
Story of the same man thriving in a warm, supportive environment demonstrating the power of warm water.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Nov. 23, 2025
Music Offering
Sermon - Let Your Light Shine
This is a heartfelt and reflective sermon delivered on the occasion of the 66th True Children’s Day. The speaker emphasizes the inseparable relationship between True Parents and True Children, highlighting the reciprocal nature of their existence and roles. The sermon draws inspiration from various sources, including the teachings of Jesus Christ, contemporary spiritual figures, and True Mother Han’s current situation—detained for over two months. Central to the message is the call to let one’s light shine despite adversity and the importance of internal attitudes such as humility, righteousness, and perseverance in faith.
The speaker reflects deeply on the significance of Jesus Christ’s life and mission, particularly the Sermon on the Mount and the Beatitudes, illustrating how Jesus’ mission was not fulfilled due to a lack of a supportive environment and family foundation. This ties into the present-day responsibility of believers to embody those virtues and take active responsibility for the salvation of humanity, as demonstrated by True Mother Han’s selfless focus on humanity’s salvation rather than her own predicament.
The sermon also touches on the concept of “Jeong-Seong” (offering and spiritual effort) reaching a boiling point where God can intervene, stressing the collective responsibility of believers to cultivate such fervor in their faith and actions. The speaker challenges listeners to examine their internal attitude and commitment to righteousness, humility, and support of True Mother. The sermon concludes with a prayer for True Mother Han’s release and a transformation in the hearts of believers towards a deeper understanding of their responsibilities.
Highlights
Celebrating the 66th True Children’s Day and its symbolic meaning of overcoming difficulties.
Prophet Redbee’s powerful message urging believers to “light a fire” in support of True Mother Han.
The metaphor of “Jeong-Seong - Devotion” reaching the boiling point (100 degrees) as a prerequisite for God’s intervention.
Reflection on Jesus Christ’s mission and the Sermon on the Mount emphasizing “how to be” rather than “what to do.”
Explanation of the Beatitudes highlighting internal attitudes like humility, righteousness, and mercy.
True Mother Han’s focus on humanity’s salvation over personal suffering during her detention.
The call to “let your light shine” as a beacon of faith and good deeds in the world.
Sunday School: Moral lesson of filial piety from the Korean folk tale "Shim Cheon"
The presentation explores the Confucian virtue of filial piety—respect, obedience, and care for parents, elders, and ancestors—as a foundational value in East Asian cultures. It draws parallels to religious teachings, such as the biblical commandment to honor one’s parents.
Key Concepts
Filial Piety (효, Hyo): Emphasizes honoring parents and family, forming the bedrock of cultural and moral life.
Hyo Jeong (Filial Heart): Introduced as a deeper expression of filial piety, where devotion goes beyond duty to a heartfelt desire for parents’ happiness. This concept is extended to a universal love for all people, viewing humanity as one family under God.
The Story of Shim Cheong
Overview: Shim Cheong, a devoted daughter, sacrifices herself to restore her blind father’s sight. She sells herself as a sacrifice to the Sea-God to obtain the rice needed for her father’s offering, demonstrating ultimate filial devotion.
Outcome: Her selflessness leads to her resurrection, becoming an empress, and her father’s blindness is healed—a reward for her devotion.
Emotional and Cultural Impact
The story’s structure highlights the emotional depth of sacrifice, love, and hope. Shim Cheong’s actions evoke empathy and underscore the transformative power of filial piety.
The tale is used to illustrate how such values enrich cultural heritage and provide enduring lessons on love, respect, and self-sacrifice within families.
Conclusion
The presentation encourages embracing filial piety as a living value, drawing inspiration from Shim Cheong’s story to foster deeper family bonds and cultural appreciation.
Triangle Family Church Sunday Service on Nov. 16, 2025
Music Offering
Sermon - By My Will, Without Hesitation
The speaker presents a deeply reflective and spiritual discourse centered on the true essence of the Messiah, the nature of sacrifice, and the embodiment of faith and forgiveness through the examples of Jesus Christ and True Mother. Beginning with the Biblical passage John 10:17-18, it emphasizes Jesus’ voluntary sacrifice, highlighting that He chose to lay down His life by His own authority and will, not by compulsion or external force. This voluntary surrender is an expression of divine love and mission.
The speaker then draws parallels between Jesus’ courageous acceptance of suffering and the steadfast dedication of True Mother, who, despite having many reasons to resist or complain, embraced her path of sacrifice and responsibility without blame. In doing so, she exemplifies the true essence of parenthood as modeled by the Heavenly Parent: bearing crosses, forgiving betrayal, and praying for the restoration of her people and nation.
The speaker further delves into the concept that miracles—while significant—are not the ultimate purpose of the Messiah’s mission. Using Luke 23:35-37, it underscores that Jesus could have saved Himself but chose the path of the cross to lead humanity back to God through inner repentance rather than spectacle. The speaker also recounts the story of Honi the Circle Drawer, an ancient Jewish intercessor whose persistent and faith-filled prayer for rain was ultimately a prayer for spiritual restoration and return to God. This story illustrates the dynamic interaction between human faith and divine response.
True Mother’s life and actions are highlighted as a living continuation of this redemptive mission. She embodies forgiveness, compassion, and humble service, praying for Korea’s spiritual awakening and unity. The speaker reflects on the profound lessons learned through True Mother’s example—especially the challenge and necessity of forgiveness, overcoming resentment, and embracing one’s role in God’s providence.
The speaker closes with a heartfelt expression of gratitude for True Mother’s sacrifice and leadership, encouraging the audience to work hard for heavenly affairs with faith, humility, and hope, inspired by the examples of Jesus and True Mother.
Highlights
Jesus voluntarily laid down His life and took it up again by His own authority.
Jesus, fully aware of His fate, confronts His arrest with courage and protects His disciples.
True Mother, like Jesus, embraces suffering without blame, embodying the will of the Heavenly Parent.
Jesus chose the cross over miracles to lead humanity to repentance and God.
The story of Honi the Circle Drawer illustrates prayer as a means to spiritual revival, not just physical relief.
True Mother forgives and prays for her nation, embodying motherly compassion and spiritual leadership.
The speaker reflects on True Mother’s example as a guide to forgiveness and overcoming resentment.
Sunday School: Bible study - Parable of Prodigal Son
The parable encourages embracing grace, compassion, and restoration in daily life.
Reflecting on these lessons helps us learn to forgive others and let go of resentment, fostering healthier relationships and personal growth.
The story of the Prodigal Son teaches that true forgiveness is unconditional, eternal, and transformative—both for those who give it and those who receive it. By letting go of anger and embracing compassion, we reflect the boundless grace described in the parable.