Message from Our Priest in Charge

Transcription

1 Trinity Episcopal Church 300 Main street Wethersfield, CT Phone: Special points of interest: Our Priest in Charge Provide a message Outreach Report Trinity Easter Flower Fund A Review of Fundraising Policies Inside this issue: Adult For- 2 Pledge Status, Trinity Book Clubs, Sunday Counters & Lenten Mad- 3 Outreach Report 4 Easter Flower Fund & Pancake Supper Notice Ministry Schedule & Belfry Deadlines Review of the Fundraising Policies and Annual Meeting Follow-up Please Note The Monthly Calendar can be found on the website. Click Calendar on the home page Season of Lent Season of Lent Message from Our Priest in Charge D EAR Friends in Christ Jesus, In the 14 th century there lived a woman who, in devoting her life to Jesus, took the name Julian and gave up her given name forever. When she was thirty-one and a half years old, she fell ill. On the fourth night of her illness she received the last rites of the Church and prepared to die, knowing she would not see another dawn. However, she lingered for two more days, and on the third day in what she believed to be her last moments, she had a series of visions of Christ on the cross, and of his holy mother, and of the Holy Trinity. Julian survived her illness and became a recluse, meditating on those visions and finally writing them down, along with the reflections sent to her by God, in the first book written in English by a woman, Revelations of Divine Love. We know this woman as Julian of Norwich, and the Anglican Communion, including The Episcopal Church, celebrates her feast day on May 8. Julian begins her book by writing that the visions came to her on May 8, She died in March 2014 March 2014 The most quoted line from Julian of Norwich is this: All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner The Reverend Lois Keen of things shall be well (Chapter 27, the thirteenth revelation). Julian is given this comfort while she is contemplating sin, and wondering, as she gazes on the face of Jesus, why the foreseeing wisdom of God could not have prevented the beginning of sin, for then, thought I, all would have been well. And Jesus answers her, Sin was necessary but all shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well, which is to say, fear not. Everything is going to be all right in the end. I come to serve Christ Jesus with you, in your midst as Priest in Charge, beginning on Ash Wednesday. I come to you as a woman of prayer, with a special devotion to Julian of Norwich, as well as our Lord Jesus and his Blessed Mother. Continued next page

2 Page 2 A Message from Our Priest in Charge Continued from previous page I can think of no better day to begin my years with you than Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent, and I can bring you no better greeting than the words of Jesus to Julian: All shall be well; everything is going to be all right. These words bring with them an expectation, that in order for everything to be all right, everyone at Trinity will be part of making that promise come true by trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ. Julian learned from Jesus that sin was necessary in order that God would be glorified in all creation. This time of transition for Trinity is necessary in order that God should be glorified in and through your lives and the life-giving presence of Trinity in Wethersfield. Think about what that might imply for yourself, for life at Trinity, for life in this city. Then bring with you to the Ash Wednesday service all your cares, your worries, your fears, your feelings, and lay them before the altar as your offering. The Reverend Lois Keen blesses a pet cat during a Blessing of the Animals service in honor of St. Francis. Then let us begin to do the work that God is giving us to do. Goodbye and Hello Say goodbye to Fr. Bill Hardwick and to thank him for all he has done for Trinity at a special coffee hour on Sunday, March 2nd immediately following the 10:00 a.m. service. Please join the Vestry and Wardens and drop in and say hello to the Reverend Lois Keen at an Open House Welcome to Trinity coffee hour on Sunday, March 9th to be held at 9:00 a.m. between the services. Adult Formation March 2014 Schedule Adult Formation takes place most Sundays at 9:00 a.m. in the Seabury Room. March 2 Preparation for Lent Madness March 9 No class (Open House Welcome for the Rev. Lois Keen) March 16, 23, 30, April 6 Lent Madness

3 Season of Lent Page 3 Pledge Status as of 1/31/2014 Total Annual Pledge $135,500 Pledge Budget 1/1-1/31 $11,292 Received Through 1/31 $9,381 Difference $1,911 Income/Expenses as of 12/31/2013 Actual Budget Income $10,552 $12,737 Expenses $14,154 $16,936 $4,200 depleted from investments to cover 2014 expenses as of 1/31/2014. Trinity Book Clubs Morning Club The morning book club will meet on March 3rd, at 10:30 a.m. at Pat Warner's house, 290 Wolcott Hill Road. The book for discussion is Mudbound by Hillary Jordan. Sue DeCesare Evening Club The evening Book Club scheduled for Monday, March 3rd has been changed to Tuesday, March 4th. The Book Club will meet in the Seabury Room immediately following the Parish Pancake Supper. The book for discussion is The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton. Barbara Rowley is the hostess and if you have any questions, please her at rowleybe@aol.com Barbara Rowley Counting on Sunday Counters The following collection counters have been scheduled for February: March 2: Rose Riley & Connie Harasymiw March 9: Kathy Cole & David Karpf March 16: Jessie Karpf & Carol Meyer March 23: Don Knapp & Kathy Cole March 30: Laraine Wilson & Nancy Knapp Thank you for your assistance! What s Lent Madness? Lenten Madness pairs 32 saints in a tournament-style single elimination bracket, much like the popular March Madness basketball tournament. People vote for their favorite saints as the weeks go by, and the last remaining saint will win the Golden Halo. Everyone is welcome to participate. Information will be provided at the services on March 2 nd as well as at the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper. Please join us for this fun during our Lenten season.

4 Page 4 Outreach Committee Report Local / Regional / Worldwide Italian/American Concert Sal Basile will present one of his wonderful concerts in the Parish Hall on Saturday, March 22, 7:00 p.m. for the benefit of the Outreach Committee s projects. Desserts and Coffee/Tea will be provided. Admission is $10.00 at the door. This is a really fun evening, and we hope to see you there. Church of the Good Shepherd/Family Support Center. Our service to the people at Good Shepherd continues despite the frigid weather. We have made trips to the Cathedral to pick up coats and other clothing to distribute at the church. Forty coats were gone within about 3 minutes; the need is obviously great. The bones from the hams that you donated for the Cathedral dinners have made their way back to Trinity and provide the base for the soup we serve. We have a husband and wife parishioners at Good Shepherd who, much like the family we adopted at Christmas, need nearly everything to set up an apartment. A set of dishes and a coffee maker have already been donated. If you have pots and pans, flatware, sheets, towels, rugs or anything that is useful for furnishing an apartment, please leave on the table in the Parish Hall (marked for Good Shepherd), and we will get it to this family. As always, know that we can never thank you enough for your generosity and support when we bring these needs to your awareness. Connie Harasymiw 7 th Annual Rice & Beans + Chili Cook-Off This annual event will be held again this year on September 14 at 5:00 p.m. Please save the date for an evening of good food, music, and a whole lot of fun. If you have a favorite Chili or Rice & Beans recipe and would like to join our 15 or so cooks at this event, please let a member of the Outreach Committee know. We will have both a Judged and the popular People s Choice competitions. In 2013 the latter category had four people within 4 votes of winning first place. South Park Inn This shelter has urgent needs especially in the cold weather with more people using the shelter. Items needed are toothbrushes, toothpaste, hand/body lotion, spray deodorant, feminine pads and tampons, diapers (toddlers 1 Yr.+), laundry soap, cleaning supplies, towels, pillow cases, twin sheets + fitted sheets. Please place these items in the box on the table in the Parish Hall near the Outreach Bulletin Board so Shirley Steinmetz can take them to South Park. And thank you for your generosity. St. Augustine Food Bank We continue to support this food bank in the Barry Square section of Hartford. Nonperishable food items like peanut butter, jellies, canned meats and poultry, assorted juices, canned fruit and vegetables, tuna fish, cereals, and pasta are most needed. Marilyn Ford Calendar for 2014 Saturday, March 22 Italian/American Concert by Sal Basile 7 p.m. in Parish Hall Monday, March 24 Christ Church Cathedral Dinner Sunday, March 30 Soup To Go after both services Sunday, May 4 Teddy Bear Sunday Sunday, May 18 Two Cents A Meal both services Monday, June 23 Christ Church Cathedral Dinner

5 Season of Lent Page 5 Easter FLOWERS Please consider a donation to Trinity Parish Flowers. We gratefully accept any amount you choose to give. We suggest a donation of $ With Appreciation, Trinity Altar Guild Make your checks payable to: Trinity Parish. On the check memo line please indicate Flower Fund. Please also indicate (M) for Memorial, or (T) for Living Thanksgiving donation on the lines below. Names: Given by: You may deliver your payment in three ways: Mail your check to: Trinity Parish, 300 Main Street, Wethersfield, CT Bring your check to office call first: , ext. 11 M-F 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Include with your Sunday contribution Trinity Parish Hall Tuesday, March 4, :30-7:00 p.m. Free will donation Come join the pre-lenten fun! NEEDED: skillets and/or griddles HELP WANTED: Chefs to flip pancakes & kitchen help Contact Laraine

6 10:00 Service Note Attention Participants: Please remember that if you are unable to serve on the Sunday you are assigned, please notify Ellie Steidel at (H) or (C) so a replacement can be found. Thank you Page 6 March Ministry Schedule very much. Ellie Steidel Ministry Schedule March Mar Mar Mar Mar Mar-14 Eucharistic Ministers 8:00 AM Ginger Smith Bill Bouton Carol Jones Joan Joseph Ed Zagorski 10:00 AM David Karpf Denise Paternostro Jane-Helen Ross Jimmy Gonzalez Sal Basile Lectors 8:00 AM Katherine Stearley Donna Brown Lew Nedell Kristin Stearley Joan True 10:00 AM Martha Koehler Garth Myers Mark Mackie Rose Riley Geraldeen Lohman Melanie Hepburn Paul Milne Ellie Steidel Ellie Steidel Kathy Cole Jean Joseph Theo Fitzgerald Prayers of the People Denise Paternostro Ed Randazzo Mary Chellstorp Denise Paternostro Ushers Lauren LaBelle Mark Mackie David Chellstorp Ed Randazzo Belfry Deadlines Apr Belfry Deadline: Fri., Mar. 21 May 2014 Belfry Deadline: Mon., Apr. 21 June 2014 Belfry Deadline, Wed., May 21

7 Season of Lent Page 7 Review: Fundraising Policies Although Trinity s fundraising policy was outlined in the September 2013 Belfry, recent interest in using our facilities prompted a review. Fundraising can take place in the context of an event that builds fellowship in the Parish and within the community. The event can involve parish members and the general public or parish members only. If the general public is involved, something of value should be given (for example, a dance or dinner or concert or informative program. If only parish members are involved, fundraising may be a request for donations. Capital campaign fundraising is not covered by this statement. All fundraising events will require Vestry notification prior to the event. There are forms that need to be read and agreed to. The Application must be completed and submitted for review by the Vestry. These forms are: Application for Building Use Rules for Building Use Policy for Building Use, which includes specified fees involved, depending on circumstances. These forms can be obtained from the office. Non-Trinity sponsored fundraisers (for example, Scouts, Soup-to-Go, 30-Hour Famine) may be held, but they must benefit a nonprofit organization and a Trinity parish member must be involved. These fundraisers must be approved by the Vestry prior to the event Annual Meeting Follow-up The 2014 Trinity Parish Annual Meeting took place on Sunday, February 2nd and was a total success, thanks to the parishioners who planned and organized it, and to the members of the congregation who attended and participated. Congratulations to the following officers who were elected to serve for 2014 and beyond. We thank them for volunteering their time and efforts to help make Trinity Parish the vibrant parish that it is. Senior Warden Joan Joseph Junior Warden Ed Zagorski Vestry Members (3-Year Term) William Reese Lewis Nedell Denise Paternostro Clerk Donna Brown Treasurer Rob Heath Nominating Committee Connie Harasymiw Carol Jones Jean Joseph Shirley Steinmetz Convention Delegates Kathryn Cole Jessie Karpf Convention Alternates Denise Colburn Rob Jensen And our heart-felt thanks and gratitude to our outgoing Vestry Members: David Karpf Paula Massa Sue Smith

8 Trinity Episcopal Church 300 Main Street Wethersfield, Connecticut Season of Lent March 2014 Please us at or call us at if you would like to be removed from our mailing list or if you would like to receive this publication electronically. We re on the Web: Trinityepiscopalweth.org Trinity Episcopal Church 300 Main street Wethersfield, CT rg Phone: trinityepiscopalweth.org Business Tagline or Motto Trinity Episcopal Church is an ever-evolving Christian community committed to deepening our relationship with God by: Offering worship and education for all ages Caring for and serving one another and those beyond our community Being open and welcoming