Trinity Bells. In Christ,

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1 Trinity Bells Easter 2009 Life is a banana. I recently heard this wonderful saying, which purportedly originated in Sanskrit, for the first time. It was described as a terrific thing to say when you don t know what to do or say and need to say or do something (such as during a debate), especially if you could pronounce it in the original language. It is also actually just a great saying whatever life is, it isn t generally what we expect or are planning on (one of my other sayings is life is what happens while you are busy making other plans). It is important to remember this in difficult times. This isn t just practical advice for good living it is at the heart of the Christian message the idea that we have hard times and big challenges same as anyone else, and that is how the world is. It is also the idea that bad things and hard times just happen, that is the way of the world, and we find our meaning as Christians not in the situation of the moment but in the peace of God s eternal love. You wouldn t always know this from listening to some preachers (including one or two with major television followings I won t name here) who seem to indicate that we Christians will be exempted from difficulties as long as we believe and pray. That, my friends, is not the gospel. Remembering that life isn t easy, doesn t mean we should shrug our shoulders at anybody s sorrows, worries or trials (including our own) or that we spend our time looking around for someone or something to blame. Judgment belongs to God. We are called to help those in all sorts of need and trouble. Understanding that life is a banana, the truth of the statement is in its ridiculousness, can help us to take the long view while discerning how and who to help. To understand the story of our faith is to understand this. Jesus death doesn t make sense, it wasn t fair, and he didn t cause it it happened, partly due to a so-called perfect storm of people and events, but also because bad things happen and they happen often to good people. People and institutions, even get caught up in forces beyond their control and all of us are always a short way away from serious problems in good times and in bad. And that brings us to the gospel truth of why life is a banana God takes a world riddled with sadness and evil and changes it. God gives us new and liberated ways to live in the here and now, and gives us as his free gift of love, life eternal. So the real challenge of times like these is to live as if we know this to be true to comfort and encourage each other, to lift up the things that are good and strong, to work in peace on the challenges and to realize that none of it is the final answer. The final answer is grace and love and living forever with God both in the here and now, and in the age to come. In Christ,

2 ANNUAL MEETING Our Annual Christmas Brunch The Annual Meeting was held on February 1 st, 2009 after the 10am service. Mother Margo commented that she has been here for 5 years and in spite of some serious challenges facing us this year we are a family, who support each other in our efforts towards keeping Trinity Church strong and work together on improving what makes Trinity special. We said goodbye to 5 members this year - Hazel Fields, Tony Joseponis, Allen McConnell, John French and Jim Hebron. They will be missed by all. John Platt asked how the change to one service at 10am except on the first Sunday of the month is going. Margo felt that it frees up time to have alternative programs (workshops for the elderly, Don t Know Much About the Bible and the workshop on the Millennium Development Goals, etc.) Look for a program during Lent led by Tom Cammisa and Mother Margo about practical and spiritual ways to handle these tough economic times. Thanks was given to Roger Gerber for his spearheading of the Stained Glass Project, which will be completed in the spring of Barbara Holzkamp and Alexis Alexander were recognized for running church school this past year. Three of our young people were confirmed in November Tess Alexander, Anna Cammisa and Christina Convey. Ruth Fick and Kathy Mendall were applauded for publishing the Trinity Bells. Praise was given to outgoing Warden, Rob Alexander and vestry members, Ruth Fick and Brigetta McConnell. The entire slate for Vestry was accepted with John Platt as our new warden and new vestry members, Robert Alexander, Michael Callahan and Ruth Hinrichs (second term). Maryellen Hansen

3 GOT TALENT? Interested in a fun night that also supports the arts on Long Island? The Huntington Arts Council is sponsoring Got Talent? (Long Island) on Saturday, March 28 at the Crest Hollow Country Club. The evening features performers of all ages showing their talents in music, comedy, dance and more. Having helped to judge the auditions, I can tell you that it will really be entertaining. The Huntington Arts Council is the largest arts organization on Long Island, presenting the free summer arts festival in Heckscher Park, outreach programs in the schools, and exhibitions in two art galleries. It also distributes thousands of dollars in grants to other L.I. arts organizations. I'm honored to serve as copresident of the board of directors. This is a crucial fundraiser, which will make the difference in HAC's ability to continue its good work. Tickets begin at $35. If you'd like to order through me, there's a discount. (Even if you can't make it that night, you might consider buying a ticket or two, which someone else can use.) SING FOR YOUR SUPPER EVENING REPORT The February 8th Pot Luck and Music event was great fun. 36 people shared delicious homecooked food and delightful homegrown entertainment. Sheila and Ariann brought the house down with their funny "Bosom Buddies" duet (from the musical MAME), our Rector sang "Send in the Clowns", Don Krug tickled the ivories and made the whole evening work, Ken Bongort told stories and sang and strummed his guitar, Kathy gave us some Faith Hill, John and Sheila Platt reminisced with the lovely "Green Fields", we had a terrific guitar solo from our resident virtuoso Frank, Mike Callahan's mother sang her beautiful family-favorite rendition of "Sunrise, Sunset", Mike's sister gave us the lovely "On My Own" (from LES MIZ), and I got to bring out my guitar and do a round of favorite old songs. It was very casual and delightful. Many thanks to Mike Callahan for his great friendship and support in this and so many other projects. If I missed anyone, forgive me, and please plan to join us for the next one - coming before long Martha Regelmann Organist/Choir Director MUSIC FOR THE SEASON As we move through Lent, Holy Week, and the Easter season the choir is practicing all kinds of beautiful music. From themes of thoughtful meditation to joyful celebration, this most sacred season of the Church Year will be observed through choral, solo and instrumental music. Make Trinity a place of renewal, peaceful calm, and meaningful fellowship in the midst of your busy days in this chaotic time. See you at church John Platt Martha Regelmann Organist/Choir Director

4 BURNING BOOKS BIRTH ANNOUNCEMENT Julia Ruiz Price was born February 26th (her grandfather Manuel's birthday). She was 7 lbs 1oz and 19 inches long. Mother and daughter are doing fine and Grandparents Ann and Manual Mingorance are very excited to have another grandchild in the family. I am sure we will see her in church soon The next Burning Books selection is "The Places In Between," by Rory Stewart. This is a nonfictional account by a Scottish journalist of his walk across Afghanistan, from Herat to Kabul, in the dead of winter in 2002, right after the fall of the Taliban - surviving by his wits, his knowledge of Persian and Muslim customs, and the kindness of strangers. The meeting will be Tuesday, March 17 th at 7:30 pm at the home of the Mingorances. The following selection will be "The House Gun," by Nadine Gordimer, on a date to be scheduled in late April. As always, all are welcome, both inside and outside the Trinity family. For more information, contact John Platt at or him at johnplatt@optonline.net. John Platt EGG & SAUSAGE BREAKFAST DISH 1 lb. cooked, drained sausage 6 eggs, slightly beaten 2 C milk 1 tsp salt 1 tsp dry mustard 2 slices crushed, day old bread 1 C grated cheddar cheese 3 tbsp chopped onion Mix ingredients and let sit overnight in a 11 x 7 x 1 pyrex dish. 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Great for a Sunday brunch. Serves 6. Notes: You can add half again the eggs, milk, bread and cheese for more people. You can also cut back on the sausage, if desired. Green or red pepper, and/or mushrooms may also be added. Judith C. Peckham (Margo s Mom) TRINITY TRANSITIONS Grant to them eternal rest John French Jim Hebron Shirley Moschenross

5 GARRISON KEILLOR ON EPISCOPALIANS We make fun of Episcopalians for their blandness, their excessive calm, their fear of giving offense, their lack of speed and also for their secret fondness for macaroni and cheese. But nobody sings like them. If you were to ask an audience in Des Moines, a relatively Episcopalian-less place, to sing along on the chorus of "Michael, Row the Boat Ashore," they will look daggers at you as if you had asked them to strip to their underwear. But if you do this among Episcopalians, they'd smile and row that boat ashore and up on the beach And down the road Many Episcopalians are bred from childhood to sing in four-part harmony, a talent that comes from sitting on the lap of someone singing alto or tenor or bass and hearing the harmonic intervals / span by putting your little head against that person's rib cage. It's natural for Episcopalians to sing in harmony. We are too modest to be soloists, too worldly to sing in unison. When you're singing in the key of C and you slide into the A7th and D7th chords, all two hundred of you, it's an emotionally fulfilling moment. By our joining in harmony, we somehow promise that we will not forsake each other. I do believe this, people: Episcopalians, who love to sing in four-part harmony, are the sort of people you could call up when you're in deep distress. If you are dying, they will comfort you. If you are lonely, they'll talk to you. And if you are hungry, they'll give you tuna salad Episcopalians believe in prayer, but would practically die if asked to pray out loud. Episcopalians like to sing, except when confronted with a new hymn or a hymn with more than four stanzas. Episcopalians believe in miracles and even expect miracles, especially during their stewardship visitation programs or when passing the plate. Episcopalians feel that applauding for their children's choirs will not make the kids too proud and conceited. Episcopalians think that the Bible forbids them from crossing the aisle while passing the peace. Episcopalians drink coffee as if it were the Third Sacrament. Episcopalians feel guilty for not staying to clean up after their own wedding reception in the Fellowship Hall. Episcopalians are willing to pay up to one dollar for a meal at church. Episcopalians still serve Jell-O in the proper liturgical color of the season and Episcopalians believe that it is OK to poke fun at themselves and never take themselves too seriously. And finally, you know you are a Episcopalian when: It's 100 degrees, with 90% humidity, and you still have coffee after the service. You hear something really funny during the sermon and smile as loudly as you can. Donuts are a line item in the church budget, just like coffee. When you watch a Star Wars movie and they say, "May the Force be with you," and you respond, "and also with you." And lastly, it takes ten minutes to say good-bye. Episcopalians believe their rectors will visit them in the hospital, even if they don't notify them that they are there. Episcopalians usually follow the official liturgy and will feel it is their way of suffering for their sins.

6 DID YOU KNOW??? The Triptych of Jesus the Good Shepherd in our Children's Chapel was painted by noted 20th Century artist Hildreth Meiere She created beautiful works of art for a range of public spaces including Radio City Music Hall, The Washington National Cathedral and the Nebraska State Capitol. You can learn more about this fascinating woman at Our piece is slated to travel to Buffalo, NY this year for a major retrospective of her work. Our piece was commissioned by Trinity as an altarpiece for members of the armed forces. Margo I AM EPISCOPALIAN There is a new web site for Episcopalians or anyone who is wondering what the Episcopal Church is. I discovered this web site the other day and it was just launched on Ash Wednesday this year. I looked at the web site and it contains basic information on the Episcopal Church (I think they are in the process of building and adding to the site). The most wonderful part of the site is that they have short videos posted from members of the Episcopal Church of all ages, from teens to adults, parishioners and priests. I think this is a wonderful way for people to hear real life stories of how and why people feel so strongly about being a part of our wonderful church community. You also have an opportunity to upload your own video To visit, go to Kathy Mendall JULIAN OF NORWICH MEDITATIONS FOR LENT Julian of Norwich was a mystic born in or near Norwich, England around When she was about 30 years old she had visions of Jesus Christ; which shaped the rest of her life. At the time she was gravely ill and on the brink of death. She saw a vision of Jesus at the time of his trials and became reassured of his love and she found the faith and strength to live. For the rest of her life she wrote about these visions and the unconditional love of God. She was granted permission to become an anchorite, or a nun who lives in isolation from the rest of the world. Her works are the first known of a woman writing in English and she was a contemporary of Chaucer s. There is little known about her life other than the rich treasure of spiritual writings she has left for the church. God revealed all this most blessedly, as though to say: See, I am God. See, I am in all things. See, I do all things. See, I never remove my hands from my works, nor ever shall without end. See, I guide all things to the end that I ordain them for, before time began, with the same power and wisdom and love with which I made them: how should anything be amiss? In this endless love we are led and protected by God, and we shall never be lost And just as we were to be without end, so we were treasured and hidden in God, know and loved from without beginning. I saw in everything that before God made us he loved us, which love was never abated and never will be. And in this love he has done all his works and in this love our life is everlasting. In our creation we had beginning, but the love in which he created us was in him from without beginning. In this love we have our beginning, and all this shall we see in God without end. From the time (these showings) were revealed, I desired many times to know in what was our Lord s meaning. And fifteen years after and more, I was answered in spiritual understanding, and it was said: What, do you wish to know your Lord s meaning in this thing? Know it well, love was his meaning. Who reveals it to you? For love. Remain in this, and you will know more of the same. But you will never know different, without end. All will be well, and all will be well, and all manner of things will be well Excerpts from Showings with Julian of Norwich

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8 DEATH OF A SALESMAN Sheila (Sheffield) Platt FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS When is the office open? Joan works Monday, Wednesday and Thursday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Attention must be paid, all you theater lovers This month you will have the opportunity to see Arthur Miller s legendary play, Death of a Salesman, at Airport Playhouse, near MacArthur Airport in Bohemia. Noted Long Island actor Jack Howell is playing Willy Loman, and I have the honor of playing Willy s wife, Linda. This Pulitzer Prizewinning story of a salesman s blind pursuit of the American Dream while dragging his family along with him remains every bit as relevant as it was when it first opened exactly 60 years ago. Opening night is Friday, March 20, and the show runs for 3 weekends through Sunday, April 5 (box office ). A workshop will be held at Trinity on March 29 in which some aspects of this play will be discussed (see Lenten Program below). Willy Loman has become our quintessential American tragic hero, our domestic Lear, spiraling toward suicide as toward an act of selfless grace, his mad scene on the heath a frantic seed-planting episode by flashlight in the midst of which the once-proud, now disintegrating man confesses, I ve got nobody to talk to. His salesmanship, his family relations, his very life all have been talk, optimistic and inflated sales rhetoric; yet, suddenly, in this powerful scene, Willy Loman realizes he has nobody to talk to; nobody to listen. - Joyce Carol Oates LENTEN PROGRAM After the 10:00 service on Sunday, March 29, there will be a one-day workshop examining grief, anxiety and families, with examples from Death of a Salesman, led by Mother Margo and Sheila Platt. All are welcome to attend this informative program, but it is not necessary to have seen Death of a Salesman to attend or participate. I came by the office and no one was there. What s that about? Joan may have gone to the bank, or the office supply store, or to pick up lunch or go to the post office, or any one of a dozen other things. Margo is in and out of the office Monday- Thursday, the exact times vary depending on meetings, visits, and many other factors I will always make time to see you if I know you are coming, or if I happen to be in the office when you stop by. Fridays are never a good day to try and do routine church business, or to come by the office. Other times, you are welcome to stop by, but if you want to be sure to see Margo or Joan, it helps to call ahead and/or make an appointment. I don t want to bother Margo That s wonderful, thank you but please feel free to call anytime if someone is sick or has died, or if you need to talk urgently or for any other important reason. Because our numbers are published, Margo gets a lot of strange phone calls at the rectory and on the cell phone at even stranger times but parishioners should always call if they need me Someone died- what do I do? The Book of Common Prayer says call the priest first if that isn t practical, please do call right after calling the funeral home to begin to figure out how Trinity can support your family and to discuss what dates and times are possible for the service, and about the shape and content of the service.

9 SHOE BOX SUNDAY I would like to thank the Trinity community for making Shoe Box Sunday such a success. We were able to send over 30 boxes to the First Presbyterian Church Men s Shelter. Many people donated money to purchase the items for the boxes from the Dollar Store. Others brought various items to add to the boxes and still others assembled their own shoeboxes. Great fun was had assembling the boxes on February 8th and the younger members of Trinity were a great help in wrapping and taping the boxes. As always, many hands made light work. The shoeboxes were presented at the altar on February 15 th. Thanks to all who helped. Sarane Ross Martha and the choir will gladly welcome you. Outreach also needs more members as requests for their services increase. Several sales have been held recently (Christmas Boutique and Recession Recreation Sale) to help with Outreach expenses. A spring Tag Sale is planned. The more help we have with church work, the easier it is for all. Please prayerfully consider what your contribution to Trinity will be this year. We have a loving warm church community to keep vibrant and dedicated to God's service. See you in church Barbara Holzkamp SUPPORT TRINITY ARTHRITIS WALKERS WARDEN S NOTES Thank you for electing me Senior Warden. With God's help I will try to fulfill the job following in the huge footsteps of many previous wardens and vestrymen, such as Allen McConnell, Jim Hebron and John French. I welcome John Platt as my partner in this effort. Please speak to us with any ideas and suggestions you might have. Today we have many challenges to our nation, county and to Trinity Church. The economic situation has hit us all. Our endowment, which we have had to rely on to fill out the budget, is way down, and the pledges have not been able to fill the gap. The Vestry and the Finance Committee have worked hard to pare down the 2009 budget. There are 300,000 Americans who suffer from various forms of arthritis. As a child, Ariann Forella became part of that statistic, being diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis (JRA) at the age of four. Now she and Kathy Mendall, along with their team, are participating in the 2009 Arthritis Walk at Belmont Lake State Park on Saturday, May 16 to raise funds and awareness for the Arthritis Foundation. Anyone interested in sponsoring either Ari or Kathy (or both) please go to find Sponsor a Participant along the left hand tool bar and follow the instructions. Lend your support for Trinity s walkers and for this very worthy organization Your volunteer help is needed in a number of ways. Many things need to be done within the church buildings as well as on the grounds. The office always needs help with counting and envelope stuffing. The altar guild would love new members. Like to read? Volunteer to read some of the morning lessons. Enjoy singing?

10 LENTEN SUPPORT CRITICAL TO REACHING MDG INSPIRATION FUND GOAL From the Episcopal Diocese of LI- Feb. 24, 2009 Episcopal Relief & Development s Millennium Development Goals Inspiration Fund is close to meeting its target of raising $3 million for global health programs by the end of In late 2006, Episcopal Relief & Development, Jubilee Ministries and the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church joined together to establish the MDG Inspiration Fund with the aim of fighting preventable diseases. Episcopal Relief & Development launched the Fund with the support of a generous grant comprising 0.7% of the Episcopal Church s budget over three years. Since then, the MDG Inspiration Fund has stimulated tremendous support from individuals and churches across the country. This Fund and other resources have enabled Episcopal Relief & Development to implement programs that reduce child mortality, improve maternal health and combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and water-born illnesses in Africa, Asia and Latin America. In Latin America Episcopal Relief & Development is engaging Jubilee Ministries in development work. For example, Episcopal Relief & Development partners with Siempre Unidos, a Jubilee Center in Honduras. This organization provides flexible employment opportunities that enable people living with HIV/AIDS to provide for themselves and their families. In the Dominican Republic, Jubilee partner Clinica Esperanza y Caridad (the Clinic of Hope and Charity) brings health services to the poor in the San Pedro de Macoris area. This year, Episcopal Relief & Development is establishing an integrated and diverse program in Colombia partly with Mision Cristo Rey, a Jubilee Center, to provide training for at-risk youth in an Afro- Colombian community. Last year, the MDG Inspiration Fund supported programs that trained roughly 45,000 people about HIV prevention and provided medical support to more than 15,000 people affected by the virus. Money from the Fund also was used to build wells, latrines and water stations that protected thousands of people from water-born illnesses in The Fund has assigned $2 million of the total $3 million to support NetsforLife, a partnership for malaria prevention in sub-saharan Africa. So far, NetsforLife has distributed more than one million long-lasting insecticide-treated nets, primarily to children and pregnant women living in remote villages. Third party evaluators estimate that between 2006 and 2008 the lives of approximately 12,000 children under five were saved as a result of NetsforLife. The program has already protected more than 11 million people from malaria. The generosity and compassion of countless Episcopalians has made the MDG Inspiration Fund a remarkable success, said Rob Radtke, President of Episcopal Relief & Development. We are now within $250,000 of our goal and hope to achieve it by General Convention, said Radtke. On March 1st, Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday, congregations are encouraged to have a special offering to benefit Episcopal Relief & Development s MDG Inspiration Fund. Click here for a bulletin insert. Episcopal Relief & Development also offers a Lenten Devotional, Peace & Compassion: To Heal a Hurting World, which features daily meditations adapted from the Rev. Barbara C. Crafton s Almost-Daily Emos and stories about the beneficiaries of the MDG Inspiration Fund. To order copies of the devotional or sign up for daily Lenten meditations visit More information about how to celebrate Episcopal Relief & Development Sunday is available at To help Episcopal Relief & Development fight disease through the MDG Inspiration Fund, please visit or call , ext Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief & Development, MDG Inspiration Fund PO Box 7058, Merrifield, VA Episcopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church of the United States. As an independent 501(c) (3) organization, Episcopal Relief & Development takes its mandate from Jesus words found in Matthew 25. All programs work towards achieving the Millennium Development Goals. Together with the worldwide Church and ecumenical partners, Episcopal Relief & Development strengthens communities today to meet tomorrow s challenges. We rebuild after disasters and empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease, including HIV/AIDS and malaria.

11 Your ad could be here The cost for a business-card ad is $150 for one year (4 issues). For a slightly larger ad, the cost is $200 per year (also 4 issues). HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE Palm Sunday Services Maundy Thursday Good Friday Services Easter Sunday Service 8:00 am (first Sunday of the month) & 10:00 am light supper and Eucharist 6:30 pm 12:00 pm & 7:00 pm 10:00 am Please come and join us for one or more of these special services and celebrate the miracle of Easter

12 The Mission Statement of Trinity Episcopal Church Trinity Church is a community where all are welcome. We seek to love God, to learn and practice Jesus' teachings, and to answer the call of those in need. Sunday Services 10:00 Eucharist with Choir every Sunday 8:00 & 10:00 Eucharist- 1 st Sunday of month The Rev. Margaret A. Peckham Clark, Rector (516) Joan Murphy, Administrative Assistant Martha Regelmann, Organist and Choir Director Michael Callahan, Sexton Trinity Episcopal Church 1579 Northern Boulevard Roslyn, NY Wardens Barbara Holzkamp John Platt Vestry Maryellen Hansen Robert Alexander Roger Gerber Michael Callahan Michael Rodriguez Dawn Weill Ruth Hinrichs Donald Kavanagh Ariann Forella Please call the church office ( ) if you would like to be removed from our mailing list