MARCH 2013 THE WINDOW. A monthly publication of Trinity Episcopal Church

Transcription

1 MARCH 2013 THE WINDOW A monthly publication of Trinity Episcopal Church Palm Sunday, March 24 ~ 8 and 10 am Tenebrae Service, March 27~ 7:30 pm Maundy Thursday, March 28 ~ 7:30 pm Good Friday, March 29 ~ 12:00 noon to 3 pm Labyrinth at 1 pm in the Parish Hall Great Vigil of Easter, March 30 ~ 7:30 pm Easter Day, March 31 ~ 8 and 10 am Page 1

2 TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH 81 Elm Street Concord, MA Phone/Fax: Window articles due the 15 th of every month to: trinityconcord.org TRINITY STAFF The Rev. Tony Buquor, Rector The Rev. Becky Gettel Assistant Rector Carol Brady Director of Christian Formation for Children & Youth Robert Barney, Music Director Anne Lynch Office Administrator & Pastoral Care Coordinator Susan MacDonald, Publications Nancy Marshall, Bookkeeper Ted Hull, Sexton Jim Boyd, Sunday Sexton Emily Waters, Sunday Childcare WORSHIP TIMES Holy Eucharist Tuesdays 7:00 am in the Chapel 3 rd Thursdays 11:30 am in the Chapel Sundays 8:00 am in the Chapel Sundays 10:00 am in the Church INSIDE THIS MONTH S WINDOW From the Rector... 3 From the Assistant... 4 Ordination Thank you Eucharist Classes Maranyundo Initiative... 5 Music Notes... 6, 7 Services in Lent Undercroft Blessings... 8, 9 Godly Play Workshops Footsteps to the Cross Holy Saturday Easter Egg Hunt Caring Connection St. Patrick s Exhultet Trinity Arts Council Kathleen Herr-Zaya Trinity on Facebook Trinity Groups... 12, 13 Lenten Soup & Study Nashoba Learning Group Seeing Jesus with Shamanic Eyes Julian of Norwich Bereavement Support Group March Tidbits Interfaith Homelessness Forum Prelude Recital/Choral Evensong All About Graduates! Window of Opportunity OFFICE HOURS Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm Don t forget Daylight Savings March 10, 2013 Page 2

3 FROM THE RECTOR by Tony Buquor Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ, Becky is now a priest! And what a beautiful ordination it was. You should be able to find pictures from it on the website, thanks to photography by Debbie Scarff. That Sunday was quite a day. We were recovering from a record setting snow storm, had the Annual Meeting after a single service at 9 am, and then off to the afternoon ordination at Grace Church, Providence, RI. In spite of the complexity of that day, about 60 people from Trinity made their way to Providence to witness the ordination. There were even enough Trinity choir members there to offer music for the prelude. Special thanks go to Carol Burroughs and Claudia Liebesny for organizing the bus transportation and preparing food for the return trip. They did a great job making it easy for so many to take part in this important event. It is a great privilege for us to be part of the beginning of Becky s ministry as a priest. During the service at Grace Church, I was reminded how important it is for us to realize that Becky s ministry, and indeed all ministry, is shared. It needs the nurture and support that comes from a community of faith. It is never exercised in a vacuum. It was very moving to see representatives of Becky s faith community in Rhode Island there to support her ordination as they supported her throughout her years of formation from childhood until now. The presence of so many from Trinity demonstrated the continuity of support that is there for Becky as she embarks on this new ministry. We rejoice in this new ministry and give thanks for the many ministries of Trinity Church! May you be blessed with a holy Lent, Tony Page 3

4 From the ASSISTANT by Becky Gettel Dear Beloved Community of Trinity, I am deeply grateful for the love, support, and presence you offered me at my ordination to the priesthood on February 10th! Even on the heels of a blizzard, many of you got out from under the piles of snow in time to make your way to Providence for the service. Others sent me well wishes and messages of prayer. Members of our choir along with Robert Barney offered their voices in the prelude music and sang two beautiful anthems, setting the tone for the movement of the Holy Spirit that day. Anne Lynch, Martha Stone, Betsy Higgins, and Jennifer Newbold welcomed people and served as ushers. Walter Birge was the Verger (of course!) Sarah Stone was the crucifer assisted by William Stone and Thatcher Adams as torch bearers. They learned a whole different acolyting routine than they are used to right before the service. Jr. Warden Claudia Liebesney and our Rector, Tony, were two of my Presenters. Besides those official roles, you were all represented by a contingency of enthusiastic members of our church whose faces were a gift of encouragement to me as I looked out into the congregation during the service. You should also know that the beautiful new alb I was wearing that day was a gift from you, a vestment I will wear throughout my priesthood. It will always remind me of the love and generosity of the Trinity Community. Gratefully yours in Christ, Becky Page 4

5 Eucharist Classes Would you like your child to learn more about the Eucharist and our tradition of sharing communion each Sunday at church? The clergy and Godly play volunteers will offer a three week series for children of all ages on March 3, 10, and 17 from 9:00 to 9:45 am in the undercroft. Sign your child up in the Window of Opportunity anytime before that day, and feel free to contact Becky or Tony if you have questions. Many hands and fingers made it possible to give each girl in the Maranyundo School a friendship bracelet. What a pleasure to see so many of us working together to reach our goal. Thank you! If you haven t picked up a mite box or Lenten calendar, there are extras in the Narthex and Undercroft. Adults, too, are encouraged to participate and may choose to use speciallycreated envelopes for your donation. Checks should be made payable to the church with Maranyundo Initiative in the memo line. Daily use of the Lenten calendars and mite boxes are tangible ways to focus on others in need. Each day, encourage your child to read one new fact on the calendar, pray together for the young girls, and place a few coins in the box. Some of the items on the school s wish list are: $5 buys either a paperback book for the library, or a t-shirt or shorts for playing sports; $10 buys a complete sports uniform, or one square meter of roof surface for a water collection effort; $30 buys sports sneakers; and $50 buys a complete school uniform; tuition scholarships of $500/year/girl or $1500/girl for all 3 years); or a computer ($750). Page 5

6 Music notes by Robert Barney LENT, as a journey of spiritual examination is a time of slowing down to ponder the mystery of the Gospel story of the Passion and Resurrection events central to our faith. Lent is 40 days long, passes through five Sundays and ends in Holy Week, which begins with Palm Sunday, this year on March 24. In our Episcopal tradition, we gather to celebrate special Liturgies during Holy Week to bring us into these important spiritual events in a physical way. PALM SUNDAY we begin our Liturgy outside (weather permitting) and then march into the church to re-enact Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem, crying Hosanna and waving Palms and singing on our way. The spiritual mood changes as we then hear and participate in the Passion narrative, in which we become the crowd and cry Crucify him. WEDNESDAY we do a service of TENEBRAE, when we contemplate images of darkness and light while we hear sung lessons from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, juxtaposed against our Schola chanting several Psalms of despair, and of hope. This year, Sally Sanford and Brooke Bryant will be singing the exquisite settings of the Lessons written by Francois Couperin, accompanied by organ and Catherine Liddell on Theorbo and Brent Wissick on Cello. MAUNDY THURSDAY brings into focus the last supper, when Jesus gave his followers the model of service and love for one another by washing feet. We re-enact this, and celebrate Holy Eucharist, just as we do each Sunday. The service ends with the stripping of the altar as we follow Jesus into the Garden of Gethsemane. There we try to watch with him as he faces the events of his Passion. The Chapel is kept open with the Reserved Sacrament and those willing to stay awake and watch with Jesus can take turns keeping vigil in the Maundy Thursday Watch. (Look for the sign up poster and choose your time.) Page 6

7 GOOD FRIDAY at noon, we will celebrate a special Liturgy in which we contemplate the what if and focus our attention on the importance of the Cross, hear the Passion Narrative chanted, read a series of prayers and venerate the Cross. The service ends as we consume the Sacrament reserved from the Maundy Thursday watch. Following this liturgy, the church will be open for silent meditation, interspersed with music played on the little organ. SATURDAY is the GREAT VIGIL OF EASTER, which begins in darkness until the new fire is kindled and the light of Christ is brought into the Church. We then hear stories of salvation and, finally, the Glory to God is sung with a great noise and ringing of bells *(remember to bring bells and noisemakers for this moment in the liturgy). In the early church this was the service when new converts were accepted into the faith so it is especially meaningful when we have Baptisms at this service. Our first Easter Eucharist is celebrated. EASTER SUNDAY is when multitudes gather to celebrate the central event in our Christian Faith. Nothing compares to the beautiful flowers and great singing led by brass, and all the makings of a Festival Eucharist, made more powerful by a full contemplation of the meaning of light in the midst of darkness after journeying through the experiences of Holy Week. MUSIC plays a central role highlighting the joys and sorrows of our journey through the Holy Week Liturgies; rich chorales on Palm Sunday, psalm chanting by our schola and sung lessons of Tenebrae, hymns at the foot-washing and chanting of Psalm 22 at Maundy Thursday, chanting and stark hymns at Good Friday, psalms, canticles, anthems and first Easter Gloria at the Great Vigil and the wonderful, uplifting music of brass and choir and the traditional Easter hymns on Sunday. Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday evening services begin at 7:30 PM, and Good Friday begins at noon. Think about participating in any or all of these special Liturgies to help make your Easter celebration more meaningful and inviting your friends to join you. Page 7

8 Undercroft blessings by Carol Brady Godly Play Storyteller Workshop Youth and adults are invited to these workshops on March 3, 10 and 17 from 9 to 9:45 am in Room 5. Come hear, and practice presenting, three types of Godly Play lessons: Stories of God (3/3), Parables (3/10), and Liturgical Action (3/17). Childcare is provided. Several parishioners who have enjoyed Godly Play storytelling will be stepping down, so we have Fall openings to fill! Take this free and convenient opportunity to explore it more deeply. The weekly inserts have featured current story-tellers words on why they like Godly Play; this is my story... Just last week at a local library, I met a dear friend who wants to bring Godly Play to her church and was wondering how and where to begin. Immediately, I excitedly began sharing ideas. My heart and my voice were filled with joy. I can't help it. That's how I feel whenever I am given the opportunity to share this program with others. Why do I keep doing Godly Play when my own children are now full grown? What draws me to it? It's very simple: Godly Play feeds my soul, as much as it feeds the souls of the children. Each time I learn a story, that story becomes a part of me. I tell the story from my heart. I may not tell it by heart... but it's from my heart. I believe it so much, that the story leads me to tell it. The emphasis is never on the personality of the Storyteller. Rather the storyteller loses oneself, so that the focus is on the story itself. Yes, it's my voice. Yes, it's my hands moving the materials. But I am the servant of God's story. By allowing the Spirit to work through the story, I am refreshed and my faith has deepened. I spend time each week, asking the wondering questions of myself. How do I answer those questions? Where do I see myself in this story? What is the Spirit saying to me in this story? How might the children feel after hearing this story? This makes Godly Play Storytelling so different from teaching. You wonder, learn, and grow in faith yourself... as you share the story with the children, lead their wondering, and encourage their openness to the Spirit in their own lives. So this Lent, treat yourself to some quiet reflective time as we explore Godly Play Storytelling together. See you at the workshops! Page 8

9 Footsteps to the Cross If you haven t picked up this devotional booklet and centerpiece for your child or grandchild, extra copies are available on the Undercroft table. Children will learn about the faith of many real people of God who have come before them. The key is to create a little altar in your home for the booklet, the centerpiece, a bible, and maybe a dish with jelly beans. Set a specific time each day to share the story for that day, place another footstep sticker on the centerpiece, and take one jellybean! (Now, that s discipline). Encourage older children to use their bible skills to locate the scriptural references. And.consider including your Maranyundo mite box and calendar to your altar as well! Holy Saturday Program for Children On March 30th, the day before Easter, from 1:30 to 3:30 pm, all school age children are invited to learn and reflect on the events of Holy Week and Eastertide. Through a variety of age-appropriate activities, they will delve deeper into the mystery of Easter. Like last year, children will be led in small groups through the many stations set up in the chapel, each filled with hands-on activities. Registration will be available online as of March 3th. This program will run if at least 10 children have signed up by March 15th. Easter Sunday for Children Remember, the ingathering of the mite boxes and envelopes will be on Easter Sunday, March 31st during the 10 AM service. Following the service, all children are invited to join the Easter Egg Hunt on the church lawn. Page 9

10 Caring connection by Anne Lynch St. Patrick's Exultet I give unwearied thanks to my God, who kept me faithful in the day of my trial, so that today I may confidently offer in sacrifice to him, my life as a living host to Christ my Lord who has saved me from all my troubles, so that I also may say, "Who am I, Lord" or "What is my calling?" You who have appeared to me with such divinity, so that today among pagans I may steadfastly exalt and glorify your name wherever I may be; so that not only in favourable circumstances, but also in pressing need, so that whatever may happen to me, be it good or bad, I ought to accept with equanimity, and always give thanks to God who has shown me that I should always believe in him without any hesitation, and who must have heard me, so that I unknowing and in the final days may dare to undertake this work so holy and so wondrous, so that I to some degree may imitate those whom the Lord long ago had foretold would proclaim his Gospel, as a testimony to all pagans before the end of the world. So we have seen it, and so it has been fulfilled. Behold, we are witnesses that the Gospel has been proclaimed to the limit beyond which nobody dwells. Page 10 Translated by Máire Bríd de Paor pbvm

11 Trinity arts council Moments in History and Glimpses of Nature March 6 to March 31 Art Exhibit Kathleen Herr-Zaya is an award winning photographer whose color photography will be exhibited in the Trinity Parish Hall March 6 through March 31. This exhibit, culled from photographs taken over the past 30 years, reflects moments in history and those men and women who have shaped it, as well as glimpses of nature captured by Kathleen. A book of Kathleen s photography is currently exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum in Washington, DC. Kathleen has been inspired by Stuart Thurlkill s belief that Moments of redemptive beauty surround us. In Kathleen s words, whether it is a view of the Sudbury River or reflections in Paris, the light stops us and rejuvenates us. She is further influenced by Georgia O Keeffe s statements about flowers, To see takes time, like to have a friend takes time. When you take a flower in your hand and really look at it, it's your world for the moment. I want to give that world to someone else. This exciting exhibit may be viewed between 9 am and 5 pm when the church office is open, as well as after Sunday services. To be certain that the Parish Hall is available when you want to come, please call Keep up with Trinity in the world of social media through our new Facebook page. If you would like to follow it, or "Like" it, use this link to make sure you are in the right place: http// TrinityEpiscopalChurchConcordMa. Page 11

12 WORD WORSHIP WONDER WORLD WITNESS TRINITY GROUPS Lenten Soup & Study Wednesday Nights until March 20th We will begin at 6:30 pm with a soup and bread supper followed by a brief introduction to the evening s focus, and then break into small groups for discussion. We will end the evening with Compline finishing by 8:00 pm. Our book is Behold the Beauty of the Lord: Praying with Icons by Henri Nouwen. The book is a collection of meditations on four icons. Please join with others in this Lenten spiritual journey. Books are available for $10 in the church office. The month of MARCH... in like a lion and out like a lamb. March 3 Witness Nashoba Learning Group Liz Martineau is a Concord resident and the Founder and President of Nashoba Learning Group, an organization dedicated to enabling individuals impaired by autism achieve their potential. Previously a management consultant, she pursued a degree in Behavioral Education and then founded the school in Her inspiration for this path was her son, Sean, diagnosed with autism in While seeking help for Sean, she was struck by the tremendous unmet need for services and it became her mission and passion to create quality services for these children and their families. NLG now serves 90 students in Bedford and reaches many more through offerings on their website at: On March 11, NLG will open an Adult Program to provide support to adults with autism. Liz will discuss NLG, the challenges faced by those with autism, and welcoming children and adults with autism in the community. Page 12

13 March 10 Wonder Entering an Indigenous World: Seeing Jesus with Shamanic Eyes Around Easter, biblical accounts of the Resurrection stories and other "miraculous" events may give us pause. Do we tend to view these as some kind of fairy story, a largely unbelievable figment of the past, or is there a "way into" experiencing them as real? Shirley Blancke, an archaeologist whose anthropological studies led her into a fascination with differing worldviews, tells how her encounters with indigenous spirituality came to inform her understanding of the gospels. March 17 Wonder Julian of Norwich The Rev. Judy Krumme is a Spiritual Director, the leader of the Healing Ministry and a Priest Associate at Trinity Concord, and will talk with us about Julian of Norwich (ca. 8 November ca. 1416). Julian was an English anchoress who is regarded as one of the most important Christian mystics. She is venerated in the Anglican and Lutheran churches, but has never been canonized, or officially beatified, by the Catholic Church, probably because so little is known of her life aside from her writings, including the exact date of her death. There is also scholarly debate as to whether Julian was a nun in a nearby convent, or even a laywoman. Please join us to learn and wonder more about this mysterious and amazing woman of faith. Mar 24 Palm Sunday No Forum Mar 31 Easter No Forum Bereavement support group starting Trinity will be starting a new bereavement support group on Sunday afternoons beginning March 17 from 3:00 to 4:30 pm and running for 5 weeks. You re welcome to join the Good Grief bereavement support group whether you ve lost someone recently or a while ago. Unresolved grief needs to be acknowledged so it can be mourned. Please tell others about the group as it s open to non-parishioners as well. Speak with Anne Lynch if you have any questions. You can call the church office Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm at Page 13

14 march tidbits Interfaith Homelessness Forum March 3 from 3 to 5 pm Join us at First Parish in Concord to learn about state homelessness prevention programs such as HomeBASE, the severity of Unaccompanied Youth homelessness, and how you can focus your advocacy efforts to have the greatest impact. Keynote speaker is Christina Murphy from The National Center on Family Homelessness. Additional speakers from state government and small group discussions with area legislators will round out this program. The forum, organized by The Advocacy Network to End Family Homelessness is FREE and open to all. Prelude Recital & Choral Evensong March 3 at 5 pm On Sunday, March 3 at 5 pm, the parish choir will sing the Traditional Anglican Service of Choral Evensong with a Prelude Recital in which Robert Barney will play both the big organ and the little Huntington portative organ in the main church. A variety of composers, and musical styles will be represented. All of the music will be by composers from the time of the formation of our Book of Common Prayer, including William Mundy ( ), William Byrd ( ), and Thomas Weelks ( ). Come, hear the wash of sung prayer and invite friends and neighbors to hear this uniquely Anglican form of worship. All About Graduates! Will you be graduating this June? Or do you know a parishioner who is? Trinity knitters have a tradition of gifting each graduate with a hand-knit scarf as a blessing for their journey, and the knitters would like to have an accurate count. So please do help their efforts by adding the name of your high school or college graduate to the sheet on the Window of Opportunity in the Link. Page 14

15 BUY ONE NOW! WINDOW OF OPPORTUNITY Communion Classes March 3, 10, & 17 (details on page 5) Godly Play Training March 3, 10, & 17 (details on page 8) Trinity Luncheon March 21 Sign up for the Maundy Thursday Watch on the poster in the Link $7 donation 11:30 Holy Eucharist Noon Lunch Artichoke Shrimp Casserole White Rice, Salad, Rolls, Dessert T.B.A. The church office is closed Easter Monday, April 1 Easter Egg Hunt on 3/31! Page 15

16 81 ELM STREET CONCORD, MA W E RE ON TH E W EB! U.S. POSTAGE CONCORD MA PERMIT NO. 1 TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH Following Christ, living our faith. M A RC H NONPROFIT ORG. PAID Page 16