February is Valentines for Food Month!

Please help fill Arm In Arm’s Mobile Pantry Truck and Pantry shelves with LOVE by supporting their 20th Annual Valentine’s for Food Drive to provide nutritious food for our neighbors in need.

You can help in two ways. For the month of February, you can donate via special Valentines for Food collection envelopes in the pews. You can also donate food items listed in the above flyer. Food items can be placed in the shopping cart in the narthex or the wagon near the front desk and we will get them to Arm in Arm. 

Black History is American History

When I was younger and thought I knew everything, I resented that Black History Month was this thing set apart from the rest of our history, as if Black history was an anomaly  that existed without context. And while I still absolutely believe that the history of Black people in this country is intricately woven into the American tapestry, I understand and acknowledge the real necessity of having a month that specifically focuses on the uniquely African American experience in the United States.  And it’s as important today as it’s ever been. Just last year (in 2023!), the Huntington Beach, CA city council voted to cancel Black History Month celebrations, only to rescind their ruling after public outcry. 

The Book of Deuteronomy says: "Remember the days of old: consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32: 7).  The histories and genealogies of the Bible point to a very important truth: knowing where we come from, our history, our ancestry, is how we make sense of who and where we are today, and it informs what and where we can be tomorrow.

The New Testament provides two accounts of the genealogy of Jesus, one in Matthew and another in Luke. Matthew starts with Abraham and works forward, while Luke works back in time from Jesus to Adam. It’s fascinating to read aloud either account (although it is strongly advised to have a couple of practice sessions if you are the lector on the Sundays these scriptures are being read; Amminadab & Shealtil & Zerubbabel, oh my!).  What I find especially moving is not just the inclusion of highly exalted yet highly flawed folks like David; it’s also the inclusion of people who have been ignored and pushed to the margins. Here I am thinking especially of Tamar and Rahab, the kind of women who are still shunned by society. But the biblical story says that their stories are important, that attention must be paid.  And perhaps more importantly, that their stories are our stories.

I come from an ancestry of strong, resilient women. Women who were not afraid to speak truth to power, even if it cost them money, jobs, and power. My great Aunt Margaret (who was actually my 2nd cousin) was a woman who seemed unafraid of anything. She said what she needed to say with no apologies or regrets, often in language too colorful for the Trinity Church Epistle. I draw strength from Aunt Margaret’s legacy, a legacy that allows me to speak up even if my voice is trembling.  And I am pretty certain that everyone reading this has some version of Aunt Margaret in their own family tree. Perhaps even Jesus.

As we as a parish think specifically about Black History, my history, our history, may we remember and reflect on the words of Carter Woodson, the historian and founder of what has become Black History Month; “We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”

February at Trinity

February is about to get very busy at Trinity. I have several updates, reminders, and announcements from Family Ministries. The Sunday School announcements and Faith@Home resources are especially geared toward parents with kids from PreK-5th grade. 

First, I’ll go through announcements and updates for the special events and programs. Second, I will go through reminders for the ongoing programs. 

Shrove Tuesday 🡪 Ash Wednesday 🡪  Lent 

Family Lenten Spirals – available on the Family Ministries Table. 

February 13th will be Trinity’s annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Palm Burning Liturgy! 

  • Supper is in the Parish Hall at 6 p.m. and there will be games and activities available for kids. 

  • We will make Alleluia posters to put in hibernation until Easter.

  • Gluten-free pancakes available!  

  • Bring your old Palm Sunday palms and palm-crosses! We make our ashes for Ash Wednesday out of those. 

  • Palm-Burning Liturgy after supper. 

February 14th is Ash Wednesday

  • Services at Trinity at 7 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m. 

February 21st & 28th will be the first two Lenten Suppers

  • Supper will be soup, bread, and salad, provided by different groups in the church (Vestry, 20s/30s, Oregon Trail Blazers, Staff, etc.) 

  • The schedule for Wednesday evening programs goes like this:

    • 5:30 p.m., Eucharist in the church 

    • 6 p.m., supper in the big side of the Parish Hall 

    • 6:30 p.m., childcare in the small side of the Parish Hall 

    • 6:30 p.m., Life Together program and discussion in the big side of the Parish Hall. 

    • Need a copy of Life Together? Get yours in the Narthex (entryway) or at the front desk. 

    • Don’t have time to read Life Together? That’s ok. Join us for supper and conversation anyway. 

Faith @ Home Resources for February: 

Click the link to visit the Princeton Public Library (PPL) website entry for each book.

You can find the lectionary texts for each Sunday in the BCP, or online at https://www.lectionarypage.net/. 

Mogie, the Heart of the House, by Kathi Appelt, tells the story of Mogie, a dog who lives at the Ronald MacDonald House and uses all her energy and affection to help the children staying there heal. This book connects to the Gospel for February 4, Mark 1:29-39 and the theme of healing. 

When Lightning Comes in a Jar, by Patricia Polacco, tells the story of Tricia’s family reunion. After a wonderful day with family and good food, Tricia’s grandmother sends everyone home with jars of fireflies. The family carries the light of their reunion out into the world with them. This book connects to the Epistle for February 11, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, and particularly to the light of God that we carry in our hearts and spread throughout the world. 

Water Come Down: The Day You Were Baptized, by Walter Wangerin, Jr., is a celebration of baptism, illustrated vibrantly, and overflowing with the excitement and joy surrounding this sacrament. We have multiple copies of this book at Trinity, and we often give them as baptism gifts. On February 18, we will read in Mark’s Gospel of Jesus’ baptism. 

The Wonderful Things You Will Be, by Emily Winfield Martin, is all about the hopes we have as parents for our children as they learn and grow. This book connects to the theme of the blessings and promises God gives to Abram and Sarai, in our Old Testament reading from February 25, from Genesis 17. 

Sunday School & Playful Worship: 

In Sunday School, on February 11, we will make Valentines in Sunday School for the residents of Stonebridge and Meadow Lakes. 

Playful Worship on Sundays has been a huge success! A big thank you to Alex Englert for taking the lead on that. Until Easter, Playful Worship will meet in the Children’s Chapel, since Betsy Ashton’s beautiful portrait series is housed in the Thomas room. (If you have not had a chance to look at the paintings, they are stunning. I highly recommend taking some time to walk through the exhibit. 

You can sign up to help with Playful Worship HERE. 

You can sign up to assist in Sunday School HERE. 

You can sign up to provide snack for Sunday School HERE.  

Questions? Please ask. 

Just want to check in or get coffee? I’d love that!! Please reach out, and we will find a time to connect. 

Peace and blessings, 

Emily 

Being Anglican

All Episcopalians are also part of the Anglican Communion. What is an Anglican Identity?

The Lambeth Conference invites you to the next Phase 3 Webinar: Being Anglican - Exploring the Lambeth Call on Anglican Identity.

Featuring Anglican guests from around the world, join us as we explore topics like what it means to be Anglican and how Anglicans are involved in missions around the world.

It will look at questions like:
What does it mean to be Anglican?

How do Anglicans use scripture?

How are we in communion through mission?

How can we share life together through Companion links with other dioceses?

This webinar is open to all.

Webinar dates and times (1 hour):
February 7, 2024
Starting at 1800 London time (UTC)
February 8, 2024
Starting at 1000 London time  (UTC)

Register now https://bit.ly/3Rk2M44

The link for the Lambeth Conference Call on Anglican Identity:

 23-24124-Lambeth-Calls-Updates-April-2023_ANGLICAN-IDENTITY-EN.pdf (lambethconference.org)

For a Zoom pre-webinar discussion of the Lambeth Call on Anglican Identity on February 4th at 3:00PM contact Bonnie Bivins at blbivins@verizon.net.

Flower Ministry

You may or may not know this, but at Trinity Church we have had a Flower Ministry since 2013, where we deliver a lovely cup of flowers to people who are sick or grieving, or who are celebrating a significant milestone or achievement. If you know someone who would benefit from this ministry, please reach out to a member of our clergy, and we will take it from there.

Epiphany in Review

January 6, 5pm: Epiphany Service and Burning of the Greens

About 25 of us gathered on the porch of Trinity. There was a steady fall of snow, and we helped Fr. Paul light the fire pit with branches of fir from our Christmas trees.  The children assembled, added that special flavor to the sacred time, as they slid and ran around, marveling at the contrasts of the elements, the icy snow drifts on their faces and the warmth of the fire. Mother Kara and Brother Wesley lead the brief and beautiful fireside service.  It ended with us warming up our hearts with the hymn, Joy to the World – as the drifts of snow pelted on!

Show Up and Say Yes

Last weekend, I had the honor of preaching at the ordination of Garrett Lane to the Sacred Order of Priests. Garrett is a Princeton Seminary graduate who is now serving at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Waco, TX. (Ironically enough, one of Meg’s former students is the Organ Scholar at St. Alban’s, so the Trinity ties abound!) Ordinations, like weddings, are events where overwhelming joy comes along with nervous anticipation. Is everything going to go right? Is everyone going to get here OK? What on earth am I signing myself up for? 

After the rehearsal, I told Garrett the same thing that I tell all my students: All you have to do at this point is show up and say yes.   

That message was especially appropriate this weekend, as Saturday was the commemoration of St. Fabian in the church calendar. In 236 AD, Fabian was hanging out in the crowd and watching during the election of a new Pope. The historian Eusebius describes the scene this way in his Ecclesiastical History: “when the brethren were all assembled for the purpose of appointing him who should succeed to the episcopate, and very many notable and distinguished persons were in the thoughts of many, Fabian, who was there, came into nobody’s mind.  But all of a sudden… a dove flew down from above and settled on his head… whereupon the whole people, as if moved by one divine inspiration, with all eagerness and with one soul cried out “worthy,” and without more ado took him and placed him on the episcopal throne.” 

To summarize, a pigeon landed on a random guy’s head, so they made him Pope. Fabian showed up, and when the call came he said “yes” to the whole thing – and to God. 

Even though Fabian wasn’t even a priest when he was elected Pope, he turned out to be an able administrator, dividing the churches in Rome into districts supervised by deacons. He sent seven bishops out as apostle to the Gauls. He worked against the emergence of new heresies. And most importantly, he was known for his holiness of life – a life that ended in prison during the persecutions of the emperor Decius. 

We might not think we’re qualified to serve God, and we may not think we “have what it takes” to do a particular ministry, whether in the church or outside of it. But God chooses. God calls. And God is the one who makes all of our work – as clergy and as lay people - possible. 

Where is God calling you to show up today? Are you ready to say yes? 

Yours in Christ,

Kara 

P.S. See below for a photo gallery from my trip

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