Sunday, November 10, 4-5 pm
25 Mercer St.
Father Paul Jeanes lives in the house next to the parish hall. Join him, vestry members, and fellow newcomers for refreshments and fellowship. Then at 5 pm, feel free to join us as we walk next door to the church for the evening prayers said during Compline.
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
American Red Cross
https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief/hurricane-relief.html
Local Relief Effort
October 17-19, 2024
Thursday, October 17th. Preview sale: 4:00- 7:00 p.m ( $10 admission)
Friday, October 18th. Regular sale: 12:00-4:00 (free admission)
Saturday, October 19th. Regular sale: 9:00- 12:00 (free admission)
Thank you all for all the wonderful donations! We received so many beautiful items, that we are now able to have a three day sale!
Volunteers: We need volunteers to help this Sunday, 10/13 to start moving POD donations into the church.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday: 9:00- 1:00 pm unpacking and setting up the sale
Thursday, Friday and Saturday: Sales help
Saturday: Clean-up at noon
Daily lunches are provided!
Please email us, even if you can only donate a couple of hours to help - it all adds up.
It is going to be a great 49th Rummage Sale!
With thanks and gratitude,
The Rummage Committee
I’m writing to you from the (tiny) airport in New Bern, NC, waiting to return from the Fall meeting of the General Board of Examining Chaplains of the Episcopal Church. I have the honor of serving as Vice-Chair of GBEC, the committee within the national church that writes, administers, and grades the week-long test that candidates for ordination take towards the end of seminary. It’s one of those jobs within the church that is decidedly less than glamorous: students wish they didn’t have to take the exams, and grading 160 papers right after Christmas is somewhat less than fun.
But it’s a job that has to be done. The canons of the Episcopal Church require that each ordinand to the priesthood be certified as proficient in 6 areas: Scripture, Church History, Theology, Moral Theology, Liturgy, and the Practice of Ministry. The General Ordination Examination as it now exists was developed in the 1970’s to provide a fairer and more equitable measure of proficiency than what had previously been left up to individual dioceses and bishops. While it is a process that ordinands don’t enjoy, it’s the “least bad” system possible and we are constantly working to make it better than we inherited it. Behind the smiling photos at ordinations lies a lot of behind-the-scenes work, both by ordinands and by the church officials who shepherd them through that process. It isn’t glamorous, but we pray that the result glorifies God and makes it possible to pass the Episcopal Church on to the next generation. It’s an act of faith, and an act of stewardship.
Our stewardship of Trinity Church works in similar ways. We all appreciate the powerful liturgy and music we experience every Sunday, especially the gifts that Meg, Joseph, and our choirs bring. We love our historic building that is meticulously maintained by Enrique, Roberto, the Buildings and Grounds Committee, and a cast of what seems like hundreds of contractors. Our staff is second to none: hard-working and a cohesive team that works for the good of Trinity Church and for the glory of God. Supporting the mission of Trinity Church by filling out a pledge card and writing a check (or setting up direct withdrawals) may not seem quite as exciting. But God is up to such exciting things at Trinity Church that it’s an honor for me to support it with my own pledge. I pray that we, too, can pass the parish on to the next generation even stronger than it is now. What a joy it is to participate in that work of stewarding what we have been given.
Yours in Christ,
Kara
What does the Anglican Order of Worship at the time of South African apartheid have to say to us as we worship today? Whether you know our Holy Eucharist by rote or are new to our liturgy, join Bonnie Bivins in a discussion of Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s reflections on the sections of the Holy Eucharist, as captured in the Rev. Michael Battle’s book Reconciliation. We will meet in the Flemer Library on Sunday at 9:30 AM.
Join the Trinity Church community and the Princeton Seminary Episcopal/Anglican Student Fellowship at 10:30am on November 2 for a festive lunch while watching the livestream of the investiture of our Presiding Bishop-elect, the Rt. Rev. Sean Rowe, and his first celebration of the Holy Eucharist as Primate. Richard Pryor and Allie Graham will offer commentary on the unique portions of the service. Please register before October 28 at bit.ly/trinity-pb and reach out to Richard Pryor at richard.pryor@ptsem.edu if you have any questions.
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
Tuesday evenings 7-8:30pm, Conference Room
Oct 22, 29
Nov 5, 12, 19
Dec 3
Friday mornings 10-11:30am, Conference Room
Oct 25
Nov 1, 8, 15, 22
Dec 6
Grief is one of life’s most profound experiences. Many of us are simply not prepared for the level of sadness, isolation, and vulnerability that often result after losing someone we deeply love. We have expanded our gatherings and will offer two separate groups. Please join us as we share our journeys of grief, supported by God’s grace, Scripture, and one another.
Contact Lois Foley (Tuesday evening group)
Contact Sara Alvea (Friday morning group)