Fourth Sunday of Advent

Dear Beloved of Trinity,

The day is fast approaching, and soon we will celebrate the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. Tomorrow, we will be blessed to hear the story of our Lord’s birth as shared through the voices of the children and youth of our parish.

“Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you… Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David. He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” (Luke 1:28–33)

Come and experience once more the profound story of the birth of our Savior. Let us open our hearts to hear the story as if for the very first time. Let us hear the words of Gabriel and know that God is indeed with us. Let us set our fears aside and open our souls and lives to give birth to the Son of God.

May the presence of God be ever near and may you feel irresistibly drawn to the Holy One through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Together, let us bring forth Light and Life into the world.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for the Christmas Pageant and our festive Advent Brunch!

Blessings to all!

Paul

Rejoice in the LORD Always

Dear Beloved of Trinity Church,

This Sunday, we celebrate the third Sunday of Advent.  “The term is derived from the Latin opening words of the introit antiphon, ‘Rejoice (Gaudete) in the Lord always.’” * On this day, it is customary to wear rose-colored vestments and light a pink or rose colored candle, hence the alternative name for the day, “Rose Sunday.”

 From Philippians 4:4-6:

“Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice:

let your moderation be known unto all men:

the Lord is at hand. Be careful for nothing:

but in everything, by prayer and supplication,

with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known unto God.”

This is followed by the first verse from Psalm 85:

“Lord, thou art become gracious unto thy land:

thou hast turned away the captivity of Jacob.”

The Latin text:

Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete.

Modestia vestra nota sit omnibus hominibus:

Dominus enim prope est. Nihil solliciti sitis:

sed in omni oratione et obsecratione

cum gratiarum actione petitiones vestræ innotescant apud Deum. 

Benedixisti Domine terram tuam: avertisti captivitatem Jacob.

As we come ever closer to the celebration of the Nativity and our Lord’s return, may we rejoice in heart and soul, in word and deed, for Christ was and is and ever shall be our hope, our peace, our joy, our love, our light.

Advent Blessings,

Paul

* “An Episcopal Dictionary of the Church, A User Friendly Reference for Episcopalians,”

     Don S. Armentrout and Robert Boak Slocum, editors.

All Glory, Laud, and Honor

Did you notice the out-of-season hymn on Sunday? It was “All Glory, Laud and Honor,” one that we generally associate with Palm Sunday. It’s even prescribed by the rubrics of the Prayer Book for that day - one of only a few instances where the Prayer Book recommends a particular hymn. As Meg noted in her article last week, Bach’s church in Leipzig included Palm Sunday music in its Advent observances. Doing so marks the parallels between the coming of Christ into Jerusalem before he was crucified, the coming of Christ in his birth that we observe at Christmas, and the coming of Christ that we expect at the end of days. It also reminds us that Christ comes to us every time we receive the Eucharist. “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord,” we sing at the Sanctus during the Eucharistic Prayer, and in so doing we echo the song at Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem. 

Advent is a season when we try to think of past, present, and future at once - which is really hard for humans to do! But this is how God’s time works. One of my favorite illustrations of God’s time is in the TV comedy The Good Place, where Ted Danson’s character explains eternity as “Jeremy Bearimy.” He says, “Things in the afterlife don’t happen while things are happening here, because while time on Earth moves in a straight line — one thing happens, then the next, then the next — time in the afterlife moves in a ‘Jeremy Bearimy’.”

A “Jeremy Bearimy” loops and doubles back on itself, and the dot above the “i” is a pretty good representation of how Augustine describes eternity, where all time is present to God. 

This is where we live, especially in this season of Advent where past, present, future, and eternity loop around, double back on themselves, and where God beckons us onward in expectation of Christ’s coming. 

Come, Lord Jesus!

Kara+

P.S. I’m writing this from London, where I just saw part of a Roman wall that was built about 80 years after Jesus was raised from the dead. I also got to touch John Wesley’s pulpit at the church he founded. It reminded me in a very tangible way of the beautiful story we are caught up in, the story of God’s action for us in Jesus Christ. 

For a New Beginning

This Sunday marks the beginning of a new church year, and with this comes infinite possibilities. In the season of Advent, we remind ourselves of God’s constant and faithful presence as we prepare to celebrate the annual remembrance of our Lord’s nativity and remind ourselves that we live each day in hopeful expectation of our Lord’s glorious return. 

Each and every day offers us the opportunity for something new to emerge. If we have the courage to step onto new ground—even though the destination is still unclear—we trust in God’s love to hold us and sustain us on the way so that we may find our souls enlivened and spirits renewed. Advent is a time to “awaken [our] spirit to adventure” and to “hold nothing back”—God’s hope and love, joy and peace await.

Advent Blessings,

Paul+

For a New Beginning
In out-of-the-way places of the heart,
Where your thoughts never think to wander,
This beginning has been quietly forming,
Waiting until you were ready to emerge.
For a long time it has watched your desire,
Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,
Noticing how you willed yourself on,
Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.
It watched you play with the seduction of safety
And the gray promises that sameness whispered,
Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
Wondered would you always live like this.
Then the delight, when your courage kindled,
And out you stepped onto new ground,
Your eyes young again with energy and dream,
A path of plenitude opening before you.
Though your destination is not yet clear
You can trust the promise of this opening;
Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
That is at one with your life’s desire.
Awaken your spirit to adventure;
Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
Soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
For your soul senses the world that awaits you.
~ John O’Donohue

Christ the Light

Dear Beloved of Trinity Church,

I’m sitting in my office late in the afternoon. The sun has already set, and if someone were to ask me the time by glancing out the window, I’d guess it was much later in the night. Yet, it’s only late afternoon. Moments like these remind me how vital light is, at least for me. The early darkness during these months can feel heavy and oppressive, casting shadows not only over the world around us but sometimes within our hearts as well.

This experience resonates with life itself. Not every day is filled with light and sunshine. There are seasons when the darkness feels overwhelming, pressing upon our hearts and souls. Yet, in those moments, I’m reminded of the incredible gift of Light—both physical and spiritual.

This Sunday, Christ the King Sunday, we will reflect on this profound and transformative gift—the true Light. From the dawn of creation, when God declared, “Let there be light,” to the radiant Light revealed to us in Jesus Christ—the Light that shines in the darkness and cannot be overcome. It is this Light that sustains us, guides us, and holds us through every season of life.

I warmly invite you to join us this Sunday as we celebrate this divine Light—a beacon of hope, love, and promise that illuminates our lives, now and forevermore.

Let there be light!

Grace and peace,

Paul

Anglican Communion Update

You may have read in the news that Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has announced his resignation. He stepped down in response to a report on horrific abuses perpetrated over decades by a prominent layperson at a camp for elite boarding school students. The political situation surrounding his resignation is extremely complicated, and some believe he was made a scapegoat by people who disagreed with him over other issues in the Church of England. In any event, it has highlighted once again that the protection of vulnerable members of our community is of paramount importance.   

What happens now? In the Episcopal Church, the Presiding Bishop is elected by the House of Bishops and the election is ratified by the House of Deputies. But the Church of England appoints rather than elects bishops. The Crown Nominations Commission, a group selected as shown in the bafflingly complicated diagram below, will select Archbishop Justin’s successor. Along with officials from the Church of England, the Commission will also include five members of the broader Anglican Communion representing Asia, the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Oceania. It is theoretically possible, but very unlikely, that the Commission will choose a bishop from another part of the Communion. 

The CNC will interview candidates and provide one name to the Prime Minister. A second name will be kept “in reserve” in case there is an issue with the first candidate or if they decline the offer. The Prime Minister then conveys the final result to the King. You can read more about the details of the process here: How is a new Archbishop of Canterbury chosen?

As this process unfolds, I invite your prayers for Archbishop Justin and his family, for Archbishop of York Stephen Cottrell, and for the Crown Nominations Commission who will select the next Archbishop. If you have any questions about how the Anglican Communion works, send me an email! 

Kara

Rector’s Annual Report 2024

Dear Good People of Trinity,

What an extraordinary year it has been at Trinity Church! Personally, the sabbatical surpassed all expectations, and on behalf of my family, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks for the time away. It was a truly life-changing experience—a gift that would have been impossible without your support and the Clergy Renewal Grant.

I also want to express my deepest gratitude to Kara Slade for her outstanding leadership during this time. We are blessed to have Kara as our Associate Rector. Her integrity, spirituality, intellect, and faithfulness inspire and uplift us all. I am also sincerely thankful to our dedicated staff, who sustain Trinity not only during this sabbatical season but every day, every week, throughout the year. Thank you to Annie, Lily, Meg, Joseph, Char, Donte, Enrique, and Roberto for your unwavering commitment and service. What an amazing team we have!

My sincere thanks as well to David Schneider, our Senior Warden; Victor Gibbs, our Junior Warden; Stephen Evans, our Finance Chair; and our incredible vestry. I am profoundly grateful for each lay leader, volunteer, team, and committee member. Thank you for your faithful service and dedication—I feel blessed to be part of such a remarkable community, and I am deeply appreciative of each one of you.

During the sabbatical, we spent time in sacred remembrance, reflecting on past seasons and recognizing how God has been with us through life’s journey. We engaged in soulful reflection, exploring God’s work in our hearts and souls in this present season. And we opened ourselves to God’s love, seeking renewal of heart, mind, body, and spirit in preparation for the journey ahead. This renewal is alive within us now.

 This fall, the energy and vitality at Trinity are palpable! Attendance and participation are up, members are engaging and re-engaging in a fresh and vibrant way, and newcomers continue to join us and are finding a home at Trinity Church. We are truly blessed. In a time when, unfortunately, many churches face decline, we are on the rise! This is our moment to rise to the occasion, to meet the challenges and opportunities before us. It is time for us to rise above our fears and anxieties and to dream the dream that God has for us. It is time for us to rise and boldly proclaim the love of God—a love beyond compare. It is time for us to rise with confidence and grace, courage and humility, to be the people of Trinity Church, through whom God can and will do infinitely more than we could ever ask or imagine.

Now is the time—our time—to proclaim, to serve, and to rise to the high and sacred calling of God.

What a blessing it is to journey through the seasons of life with Christ and with one another!

Forward in faith!

Peace and Blessings to all!

Christ the Cornerstone

Dear friends,

Last week, I gave some remarks at a meeting of the Theologies of Pastoral Ministry group in New York. I wanted to share a condensed version with you. 

Thus your fathers were made

Fellow citizens of the saints, of the household of GOD , being built upon the foundation

Of apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself the chief cornerstone.

But you, have you built well, that you now sit helpless in a ruined house?

T.S. Eliot wrote these lines in his poetic cycle Choruses from the Rock. As a whole, it’s a meditation on what went wrong for the Church of England when the conditions of the modern world led people to abandon God, not for another God per se, but for the gods of reason, or faith in human progress, or just out of boredom and lassitude. The church, he writes is a ruined house that no one particularly wants in neighborhoods of “decent godless people, their only monument a thousand lost golf balls.”

It could have been written yesterday, but it was written in 1934. We aren’t in a unique situation as Christians in 2024. In fact, I would argue that there are perhaps no unique situations. Sins, heresies, divisions, and diversions may clothe themselves in new garments, but they are the same as they ever were. I would also argue that perhaps the church has always felt like something of a ruined house. If it didn't, there would be no need for reform.

But the church is made up of people, and the church is always rebuilding from what feels like a pile of rubble. The verses I quoted draw on Ephesians 2, where Paul is trying to argue this newborn church out of conflict over the relationship between Jews and Gentiles. He does so by reminding the Gentiles in Ephesus to keep the main thing the main thing, that “in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.”

There’s an internet meme out there that says there are two main themes to all of Paul's epistles: First, we are heirs through unfathomable grace to unimaginable glory. And second, I am just asking you freaks to be normal for 5 minutes. Sometimes the being normal part is too much to ask in a church made up of fallen humans in need of a Savior! 

And yet, what is possible for the church is possible - not because of us, but because in God all things are possible. We are heirs through unfathomable grace to unimaginable glory. Our church is built on the one true foundation, as Paul writes in Ephesians: “In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling-place for God.”

Here at Trinity Church, we are built together and held together in Christ; we are grafted into the Promise. We may be forever relighting the candle, forever tending the flame of which we are but stewards. But in Christ, and through Christ, we know that this house will never be ruined.

Yours in Christ, and in Christ alone,

Kara+

P.S. The photo is only peripherally related to my letter, but it’s such a beautiful room that I wanted you to see it. I don’t think I’ve ever “done my homework” in a place like this before! This is the library in the University Club, where we stayed for the meeting.