Lent begins on Wednesday, February 22nd.
Trinity will observe this holy season in the following ways:
Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper: Tuesday, February 21 st in the Parish Hall, beginning at 5:30 PM. Come for a traditional meal of pancakes and sausage and a time of fellowship. This is an excellent occasion to invite non-church members and guests!!! This custom, which originated in England, began when housewives attempted to use up forbidden ingredients for foods that were proscribed during Lent.
Ash Wednesday services: Three services of Holy Communion with the imposition of ashes will be held this day:
9:30 AM Parish Hall
12:00 Noon Church
6:00 PM Church
Stations of the Cross: Following our tradition in recent years, we will share this Lenten discipline with our brothers and sisters in Christ at St. Mary’s Catholic Church. Services will begin at 7:00 PM, as in prior years. Service locations are:
Friday, February 24th at St. Mary’s
Friday, March 2nd at Trinity
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LENTEN PRAYER GROUP:
EXPLORING LECTIO DIVINA
What is God calling you to do as you observe a holy Lent in 2012? That is the question!
To give something up? Giving something up is a way of remembering the sacrifice of Jesus. As we are reminded on Ash Wednesday, “dust we are, and to dust shall we return.” This is the still, somber side of the season.
To take something on? Adding a discipline or devotion to our daily lives is a way of seeking to deepen our relationship with Jesus Christ, and to follow him more nearly. This is the active, joyful side of Lent.
What is God calling you to? Perhaps a little of both …
For your consideration: Exploring the ancient prayer discipline of lectio divina – a Latin term, meaning “holy reading” -- a slow, contemplative praying of the Scriptures. In a way, it is the opposite of “speed reading” of God’s holy Word. It is an important part of a monastic’s life, but is open to all believers as a means of grace. Lectio divina can be practiced individually, or in a group.
Trinity is exploring the possibility of a lectio divina group that would meet during Lent. Please contact Deb Tucker for more information.
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MIDWEEK STUDY SERIES CONTINUES
Trinity’s Midweek Study Series will continue as it meets on Tuesday, March 7th in the Parish Hall.
This series uses the book “The Churches the Apostles Left Behind” by the eminent New Testament scholar Raymond Brown.
If you missed the first session, it’s not to late to join in the consideration of this excellent book, which traces the varieties of churches that were to be found during the latter part of the first century.
A light supper will precede the study. Class begins at 6:00 PM. See you there!
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ST. ANN’S GUILD MEETS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH
The women of Trinity, meeting as St. Ann’s Guild, will meet on Tuesday, February 14th. The Guild’s business session will begin at Noon in the Parish Hall.
There will be no worship service prior to the business meeting (this month only).
All women of the Church are encouraged to attend to plan the Guild’s work.
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PARISH DINNER SCHEDULED FOR FEBRUARY 19TH
Trinity is known for having wonderful cooks, and for being a friendly and inviting parish.
We will observe both customs as we meet for our monthly Parish Dinner after service on Sunday, February 19th.
The team for February’s dinner is: Jo Williams, Beth Coats, Martha Newell, Amy Newell, and Esther Schelosky.
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VESTRY MEETS FEBRUARY 19TH
Trinity’s governing board, the Vestry, will meet to consider the business affairs of the parish on Sunday, February 19 th, following service.
Any member of the parish is welcome to observe the meetings of the Vestry.
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STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN UPDATE
Financial support for the ministries of Trinity Church stands as follows:
Number of pledges made for 2012: 32
Total amount pledged for 2012: $104,500.00
The 2012 budget, adopted at the Annual Meeting, carries with it a “Faith Factor” in the amount of $17,070.00. This “Faith Factor’ represents the gap between planned outlays and pledge and plate income which is anticipated for 2012.
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ANNUAL MEETING HELD
Trinity’s 138th Annual Meeting was held in the Parish Hall on Sunday, January 15th.
At that time, three new members of the Vestry were elected: Mr. Jim Adams, Mr. Art Pryor, and Mr. Gary Wagner.
Since the Wardens of the Parish are required by Canon to be members of the Vestry, new Wardens also took office in January: Mr. Art Pryor was appointed by the Rector to be Rector’s Warden, while Mr. Jim Adams was elected by the Vestry to be Parish Warden.
Two persons who have served Trinity as Clerk and as Treasurer were re-elected by the Vestry: Mrs. Joyce Bruce will continue as Clerk, while Mr David Campbell will continue as Treasurer.
Mr. and Mrs. Barney Bruce were re-elected to be Synod Delegates, while Mr. & Mrs. Don Welch and Mr. Art Pryor were elected to be Alternate Synod Delegates.
Three members of the Vestry were thanked for their diligent and faithful service as their three year terms in office came to an end. The three are: Mrs. Joyce Bruce, Mr. John Lewis, and Mrs. Esther Schelosky. Mr. Lewis also served as Parish Warden, while Mrs. Schelosky also served as Rector’s Warden.
The proposed budget was adopted as presented, and reports were presented on various ministries of the Parish.
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NEED AN ANNUAL REPORT?
If you were unable to attend the Annual Meeting, or have not been able to pick up an Annual Report at the back of the Church or in the Parish Hall, let the Rector know and one will be sent to you.
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TRINITY’S HONOR ROLL STUDENTS
Trinity is honored to have two members who’ve been listed on the Honor Rolls of their schools. They are:
Emma Newell Casey, Middle School
Will Adams, Field School
Congratulations to these fine young people!
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RECTOR’S RAMBLES
“Why Church?”
(Introductory remarks: This month’s meditation is based in part on the results of a retreat workshop for members of the Diocese’s Department of General Mission Strategy (DGMS), and draws from some remarks that Bishop Martins has made recently about the Church’s current condition and future shape. I touched on some of these issues in my address, made during the Annual Meeting.)
The current condition of
the Church in society
“Why the Church?” That is a question that many within – and without – the Body of Christ, that is, the Church, are asking themselves these days.
Those outside the Church might ask, “Why go to Church at all?”
This question differs sharply from the one that might have been asked only a few years ago…then, the question probably would have been, “Which Church do I want to go to?”
So, from the changes in attitude that these two questions indicate, we can see that a huge cultural shift has taken place: Many people in society today have never had any contact or involvement with the Church, and many do not know any of the basic Christian beliefs,
We also ought to note that we cannot – as a group of Christian believers – assume that outsiders will come into our fellowship because they think they ought to be a member of a Church. Most won’t find their way to us, I fear, absent a nudging from the Holy Spirit, combined with our own personal invitation to discover the richness of a relationship with God through Christ. Many will regard the Church’s doors as being the entryway into a strange and foreign place. (It takes guts to walk into a church you’ve never attended before!)
How should the Church respond
to these new conditions?
What we’ve said in the preceding paragraphs ought to tell us that we can’t expect the world to come to us.
No, we need to go out to the world, taking the Good News of Jesus Christ along with us, demonstrating that the Good News we have in Christ changes lives for the better.
And as we go, we will encounter three basic sorts of people:
The unchurched: These are the ones who’ve never been a member of a Church, and who probably know little or nothing about the Christian faith.
Those who were members once upon a time: Sometimes, we will encounter people who’ve been wounded by the Church in some way. Perhaps the wounds were caused by a careless pastor or priest, by some dissension in their former church, by personal disagreements or squabbles, or by other factors. In other cases, people’s faith sometimes grows cold. In still other cases, the importance of practicing the Christian faith gets crowded out by the everyday concerns and obligations of life (this cause is often expressed by the statement, “But Sunday is the only day I have to do what I want to do.”).
Other Christians: It’s cause for great joy when we encounter believers who are parts of other traditions within the Christian family. Many times these other believers can offer insights from their own traditions which shed valuable light on our own understandings. There is strength to be experienced in the varieties of expression and understandings of the Christian faith as it exists across the spectrum of Churches who faithfully maintain the essentials of that faith. May it be said of us as it was said of the early Christians, “See how they (Christians) love one another.”
How might we begin to reach out?
Bishop Martins’ former parish, St. Anne’s in Warsaw, Indiana, created a number of small groups, whose intent was to draw people together around a common interest. These groups had as part of their vision the idea that Church members could invite non-members to join in the group. That way, non-members would get to know members in less threatening, less formal ways. Entry into the community was easier, as a result.
Some of these groups had interests that were directly related to the Church: Bible studies, discussion groups, etc. Other groups had no specific connection to Christian beliefs and practices, but were created in response to a stated idea or interest. Among this latter collection, groups which studied wine making were to be found, along with groups which quilted, or held movie nights, or discussed books.
Ideas for Trinity
Could we consider creating a group/groups which might interest outsiders?
The possibilities could vary considerably. If we decided to proceed on this model, any group or activity that we might consider would have to find people within the parish who are interested in forming a group or activity.
Think and pray about this, won’t you? Your ideas will provide the foundation for a sound and well-considered plan for spreading the Good News of the Kingdom of God.
- Fr. Gene Tucker, Rector
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