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!

Election Week

Dear Trinity Church,

On election day, the church will be open all day for prayer. If anyone needs a ride to a polling station to vote, please contact the church office and will be do our best to provide transportation. May the peace of Christ be with you in what can be a stressful time.

Prayer of guidance during this election

Almighty God, to whom we must account for all our powers and privileges: Guide the people of the United States (or of this community) in the election of officials and representatives; that, by faithful administration and wise laws, the rights of all may be protected and our nation be enabled to fulfill your purposes; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Rico

Dear Beloved of Trinity,

On Monday morning, we noticed that our beloved dog, Rico, wasn’t doing well. In fact, he hadn’t been for a few days, and truthfully, he had been in decline over the past year. Rico, who was not young by any means, had been living with diabetes, requiring two insulin injections a day. He also had arthritis. Yet, despite these challenges, he remained a faithful and loving part of our family ever since we adopted him from SAVE over 11 years ago.

We always knew that the day would come, and you know the day I mean, but we never imagined it would be Monday. After taking him to the vet, they ran tests, and the results were not good. Rico was in critical condition, and the cost to stabilize him was high, with no guarantee of recovery. As a family, we made the difficult decision to let him go. We gathered together—both in person and by video call—shared our goodbyes, offered our prayers, and gave Rico a final blessing.

And then, with a simple nod to the vet, a word of consent—“okay”—the decision was made. This little creature, who had been a constant source of love and joy in our lives, was going to die.

I’ve hunted and fished before, where the taking of life is part of the process. But this felt profoundly different. It was the weight of that single word—“okay”—that brought the finality of ending a life so dear to us.

In reflecting on this, I’m reminded of how words have immense power. Just as a word can end a life, it can also bring life. God spoke, and through that divine Word, creation came into being. In our own way, with our words—of hope, love, grace, and mercy—we too can create, heal, and bring new life into being.

Life is fragile, and the boundary between life and death often feels thin. Words of fear, despair, and loneliness can weigh us down, but we hold onto the assurance that the ultimate Word—Jesus, the Word made flesh— brings true life and love into the world.

In this unpredictable world, filled with all kinds of words that carry countless meanings and consequences, may our words be ones of love, hope, grace, and life.

Blessings to our beloved Rico.

Peace and love to you all,

Paul

Journeying Together in Faith!

Dear Trinity Church,

Each year on Kick-Off Sunday, we gather with excitement and hope to begin a new chapter in our shared journey. In these moments, I pray that we reflect on just how much Trinity Church enriches our lives. More than a place of worship; Trinity is our spiritual home—a source of strength that sustains us through the many seasons of life. Faithful stewardship calls us to recommit ourselves to this sacred place, our church home where we gather, grow, and serve.

Stewardship means not only maintaining the physical walls of our beloved church but also nurturing the spiritual and communal bonds that make Trinity a true home for all of us.

To continue this important work, we need your support. Your generosity helps us expand our ministries, care for our sacred space, and ensure that Trinity remains a beacon of hope and faith, both in Princeton and beyond.

As we embark on our 2025 stewardship campaign, I invite you to prayerfully consider how you will support Trinity Church. Whether through financial gifts, volunteering your time, or sharing your talents, every contribution strengthens the fabric of our community and moves us closer to fulfilling our mission. You may make your pledge online here; stewardship letters have been sent via US Postal Service as well.

I am profoundly grateful for all the ways you have supported Trinity Church in the past, and I thank you in advance for your continued generosity. Together, we can embrace the opportunities and meet the challenges before us, ensuring that Trinity remains a welcoming and vibrant spiritual home for all. To that end, I ask you to prayerfully consider making a pledge for the 2025 calendar year. 

Thank you for your faithful generosity and commitment to our beloved Trinity Church.

Forward we go - Journeying together in faith!  

With blessings and gratitude,

Paul

Hurricane Relief

Litany in Response to a Natural Disaster

(Modified)

Holy God, Creator of heaven and earth,

Have mercy upon us.

Holy and Mighty, redeemer of the world,

Have mercy upon us.

Holy Immortal One, Sanctifier of the faithful,

Have mercy upon us. 

Holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, One God

Have mercy upon us. 

For all those affected by the devastation of Hurricanes Milton and Helene

O Christ, hear us. 

For all who suffer from injury and illness, emotional and spiritual distress. Give them hope and encouragement to meet the days ahead.

O Christ, hear us.

Console all who grieve: those whose loved ones have died, whose families are torn; whose homes have been destroyed, whose possessions have been ruined.

O Christ, hear us. 

In the midst of incomprehensible loss, grant us eyes that see, ears that hear and hands that work so that we may discern how you would have us respond.

O Christ, hear us.

For all churches, agencies, and individuals who assist in relief efforts; continue in them the good work you have begun, through them your presence is made known.

O Christ, hear us. 

Grant your people grace to witness to your word, to open their hearts in love, and to give generously from their abundance, that they may bring forth the fruits of your Spirit.

O Christ, hear us.  

You are our refuge and strength,

   our very present help in trouble.

In you, Lord, is our Hope

   And we shall never hope in vain.

 Glory to God whose power, working in us, can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine. Glory to God from generation to generation in the Church, and in Christ Jesus for ever. Amen.

To support relief efforts:

 Episcopal Relief and Development

https://support.episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-relief/?ID=WS24-DRR_240930DPAHR0100&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=fy24hurricanehelene&utm_source=WS24-DRR_240930DPAHR0100

American Red Cross

https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/hurricane-relief.html

Local Relief Effort

Important News and Notes from the Rector

Important News and Notes from the Rector

Dear Beloved Community of Trinity,

I’m thrilled to share some exciting updates about the vibrant life at Trinity Church! 

A Fantastic Start to the Year!
We’re experiencing a wonderful surge in attendance and participation across the board. Kara, our beloved “keeper of the numbers,” recently shared this with the Vestry: “Since the start of the program year, we’ve consistently seen over 300 people on Sundays, with an average of 230 attending the 10:30 service. That’s compared to last year, when 180 felt like a ‘good Sunday’ at 10:30. Great things are happening at Trinity—let’s keep the momentum going!”

Kara’s Charts!

Thank you Kara!

Family Ministries Update
Have you noticed more families with young children joining us for worship, choir, and formation? This fantastic news!

However, just before "Kick-off Sunday," we found ourselves unexpectedly needing a new leader for our Family Ministries. While this caused a delay in getting things up and running smoothly, I’m so grateful to our Family Ministries Oversight Committee—Krista Galyon, Luise Lampe, Chris Leavell, and Alicia McCarther—for their hard work and dedication during this transition.

We’ve posted the Family Ministries position and are working diligently to staff our Nursery, recruit Sunday School teachers, and secure leaders for Playful Worship (Children’s Chapel). Thank you for your patience as we rebuild these vital ministries. If you’re interested in volunteering or know someone who might be, please reach out!

 Youth Ministries Update
In case you missed it, we’re thrilled to welcome Donte Milligan as our new Youth Ministry leader! Donte brings great energy and enthusiasm to the role. However, I want to clarify that his part-time position is focused solely on youth, and he is not our Director of Family Ministries.

 Stewardship

Keep an eye out for Stewardship materials arriving in your mailbox next week! A link will also be available on our website. Your financial support is vital to continuing our mission and ministry here are Trinity.

Annual Meeting:

Please note that the Annual Meeting is Sunday, November 10.  This will be a very important meeting as together we speak honestly about our current reality and articulate a vision for the future of Trinity Church. I encourage everyone to participate in this important conversation.

 Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions, comments, or concerns. I welcome all conversations—even the difficult ones!

 As I’ve said many times since returning from sabbatical: “It’s good to be home.”
There’s no place like home, no place like Trinity Church.

Blessings to all,

Paul

Contact Fr. Paul

Waffle House!

One of the great gifts of the South is Waffle House. Every time I find myself back "down South," as they say, my Waffle House radar is activated. Open 24 hours a day, Waffle House serves as a safe harbor in an often unpredictable world. People come in at all hours, for all sorts of reasons, and each one of them has a story to tell.

It's early Friday morning, and here I sit in a Waffle House. Some are here after a long night shift, and others getting ready to start their day. A woman sits alone at the counter, meticulously wiping it down as she prepares her glass of sweet tea, and awaiting her scrambled eggs and hashbrowns. The waitress approaches me with a lightness in her step and asks, "Can I get you some coffee, honey?" I place my usual order, and she replies with a smile, "Ok, baby, we’ll have it right up for you." Moments later, faster than expected, the cook brings over my eggs, bacon, and hashbrowns. "Here you go, sir. I hope it’s OK. Is that bacon too crispy? I’m happy to make more if it’s not right."

Before long, Lonni, the cook, and I strike up a conversation. I ask, "Do you mind if I make a video?"

This moment reminded me of a video I had made early in my sabbatical, also during an early morning at a Waffle House. Life comes full circle in these quiet, simple moments.

 We all have a story. We have dreams and people we love. We want to be happy. We want a good life and a better one for our children. We’re all just trying to make it in this world, and with a little dignity. Whether you're dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant or sitting in a booth at Waffle House, that’s not the point. It’s about living your life with the people you love, having a dream, and trying to make that dream come true.

 I pray that Trinity Church is a place where people can come as they are, with the truth of their lives, their hopes and dreams, fears and struggles, sadness and joy. A place where, together, we find a safe harbor, and even more so, a home. A home to ground and sustain us on this amazing, challenging, unpredictable, and blessed journey of life.

Peace and Blessings,

Paul

P.S. Just before I left, Lonni came over and said, "Hey, nice talking to you. One day, I want to go back to Michigan. I want to open a diner—like one of those 1950s vintage diners." I gave him my number and said, "I’ll pray for you. You’ll do it! And when you do, call me. Because I’m coming."

Kick-Off Sunday

Dear Good people of Trinity Church,

This Sunday, as you well know, is kick-off Sunday! With the celebration of Labor Day, summer is “officially” over yet we long to hold on to it.  School buses are back on the roads, football season is underway, and fall is just starting to make its presence felt. All of this signals that it’s time for us to come together, to recalibrate, and to prepare for the year ahead. It’s a moment to open ourselves to the possibilities of what God may have in store for us as the people of Trinity Church.

As we live into this new year, I am reminded of the words of the Celtic teacher, J. Philip Newell, who writes, “At key moments of transition in the history of Christianity, inspired Christian teachers have asked, ‘Who is Christ for us today?’” We now find ourselves in such a moment—a significant time of transition not only within the Church but also in our nation and the world. Newell goes on to say, “What are the brokennesses of our world today? What are the battlefields among the nations and the gaping wounds of creation’s body? What are the discords in our communities and the struggles in the most important relationships in our lives?” There is work to be done, Good News to be proclaimed, and love to be shared!

As we embark on this new program year, what will be our role and responsibility in this season? Who is Christ for us today? The ability to articulate clearly and embody fully the answer to that question will determine who we are and what kind of church community we will be.

I so look forward to seeing you on Sunday!

It’s good to be home. 

Let’s go!!

Peace and Blessings,

Paul