Trinity Episcopal Church 128 West Hardin Street Findlay, Ohio The Episcopal Church serving Hancock County, Ohio and beyond

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1 Trinity Episcopal Church 128 West Hardin Street Findlay, Ohio The Episcopal Church serving Hancock County, Ohio and beyond 2017

2 2 2 OUTREACH WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF GETTING THREE FAMILIES FROM CANCER PATIENT SERVICES FOR OUR ADOPT A FAMILY FOR THE ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DRIVE. IN ADDITION, WE WOULD APPRECIATE DONATIONS FOR THE HATS AND GLOVES TREE, WHICH WILL BE PUT UP THIS WEEK. ALSO NON PERISHABLE FOODS ARE NEEDED. ALL DONATIONS ARE GREATLY APPRECIATED. THANK YOU! RITA ROBERTS IS CHAIRING THE OUTREACH COMMITTEE AND LEADING EFFORTS TO PROVIDE THOSE GROUPS WHO NEED HELP WITH FOOD, CLOTHING, AND BASIC NECESSITIES. IF YOU HAVE ANY IDEAS OR WOULD LIKE TO JOIN THE COMMITTEE, PLEASE SIGN UP ON THE BULLETIN BOARD. THANK YOU! You never know when you might meet The making of Advent wreaths returns! On Saturday, December 2, Trinity's Parish Hall was full of very "crafty" folk. Lots of fellowship and fun as young and old gathered to make beautiful wreaths, each complete with three purple and one pink candle. Special thanks to CSG members, Lisa Robeson and Debbie Haas! "Getting to know you, getting to know all about you..." Starting soon, CSG will submit Tidings articles about parishioners they've interviewed. Here s a real opportunity to learn more about our Trinity family! CSG has begun planning for next year's (2018 already?!!) activities. Trinity's Annual Meeting on January 28 will again be a time to share food as we meet. Watch for a sign-up sheet for soups, breads, and desserts (and clean up of course). Back by popular demand: game night! Get your board games and skills ready for a fun Mardi Gras Game Night. Scheduled right before Lent, it will be in the Parish Hall on Saturday evening, February 10. Snacks, BYOB, and lots of friendly competition. During Lent, we'll have a coffee hour designed to learn more about each other. Remember our cement truck driver, our one room school attendee, and other little known facts about us? CSG is planning another such activity, hopefully in better weather than last time! Our next meeting will be after the 9:30 service on Sunday, January 14. Grab a cup of coffee and a friend and join us! Lee Pilstl, CSG Chair Christ in a stranger s guise. SERVERS If you would like to become an usher, gift bearer, greeter, acolyte/server, reader, commentator, or chalice bearer for services at Trinity, please let Fr. John or Deborah know. Thank you!

3 3 THE RECTOR WRITES It's Christmas time, there's no need to be afraid At Christmas time, we let in light and we banish shade And in our world of plenty, we can spread a smile of joy! Throw your arms around the world at Christmas time But say a prayer - pray for the other ones At Christmas time it's hard, but when you're having fun There's a world outside your window And it's a world of dreaded fear Where the only water flowing is a bitter sting of tears And the Christmas bells that ring there are the clanging chimes of doom Well tonight, thank God it s them instead of you. Band Aid, Do They Know It s Christmas Time, Some of you will remember the thirty-three-year-old recording from which the above lyrics are taken. A famine had struck Ethiopia, and a number of famous British rock stars formed the group Band Aid to record Do They Know It s Christmas Time to benefit the victims. I have to admit that I used to deride this song; it was just so preachy, particularly U2 front man Bono s dramatic, moralistic solo line: Well tonight, thank God it s them instead of you. We all know or think we know that Christmas is a time for giving to others and we don t need to be guilted into it, by gosh! Some of my sentiments were confirmed a few years ago by The A.V. Club (which, for those who aren t hipsters, is the pop culture section of the satirical Onion newspaper), when they ranked the song number one in their list of morally dubious holiday entertainments. But then again, maybe we aren t all as charitable as we think. It s easy to say that Christmas is a time to reach out to those less fortunate, but it s harder to practice what we preach. This isn t because we re rotten, but because it s so easy to get caught up in our own preparations buying gifts for our friends and family, planning the Christmas dinner, arranging the million watt light and sound spectacular in our front yards that we can forget about those for whom Christmas is anything but jolly. There is, of course, nothing wrong with our personal or family preparations, but we ve got to be careful not to get so wrapped up (pun intended) as to forget those less fortunate. Consider the mystery that is at the heart of Christmas. The Doctrine of the Incarnation is not primarily about a cute baby in a manger surrounded by shepherds and animals, even though those are the historical accidents surrounding the theological point. The Doctrine of the Incarnation is about the Good News of God s own condescension, His willingness to become truly, bodily present in a dirty, sin-sick world. For us, then, the question at the heart of Christmas is whether we can get ourselves to those dirty, sin-sick places that God Himself deemed worthy of His own presence. When we permit the Grace of God to be present in our own lives and to be felt by those for whom that Grace is most needful, we will not just know the real meaning of Christmas; we will be living it. Yours in service to the Gospel, John

4 4 A Trinity tradition returns! PROPERTY COMMITTEE Please let me know if you have projects or ideas we might consider. mcreighton65@gmail.com. Thanks! Mark Creighton, Property Chair Getting to know you, getting to know all about you Interviews with Trinity parishioners will soon appear in Tidings. Advent wreath workshop TRINITY KNITTING CIRCLE The Trinity Knitting Circle meets the second Monday of each month except December. Our next meeting will be Monday, January 8 th at 1 p.m. We just sent 4 hats and 4 matching hat and scarf sets to Christmas on the River. Many thanks to Peg Dailey and Marjorie Weaver for helping to make this happen. If you knit or crochet, please join our circle. If you would like to learn, you may give me a call at Purls, Pat Fox Fun for all and beautiful results! WEB SITE The Trinity website has been updated to include Father John's sermons. If you miss a Sunday, you can now read the sermons online. There's a link on our homepage under Sermons, or go directly there by typing this link into your browser - Please check it out and let us know what you think! WEEKLY PRAYER LIST We all need a little prayer and Trinity provides a prayer list each week in the bulletin for those who could use some extra. Would you please take a moment to review that prayer list and help us keep it up-to-date? If there are names which should be removed, let Deborah know. If there is someone on your heart, we can add that person. Thank you!

5 5 On December 9 th, we will try something new with a carry-in breakfast so anyone who wishes may bring their favorite dish to share. (And yes, a bag of donuts or frozen waffles count! It doesn t have to be homemade or elaborate.) Just come and enjoy a meal before all the holiday hubbub happens. The regular breakfast tradition returns in January please consider hosting! The sign-up sheet for breakfast hosts/cooks in 2018 is now on the bulletin board. ITEMS FOR January tidings Should be submitted By Wednesday, December 20 th. thank YOU! COFFEE CORNER December coffee hour hosts 2 nd Celebration Sunday 10 th Annie Stricklin 17 th Deke & Rita 24 th 31 st - HOSTS ARE NEEDED! Please consider adding your name to the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board. You don t have to do it alone several families or a group may host together. THANK YOU for the donations of coffee and decaf! Celebrate the holidays with festive High Tea at the Swan House. On Friday, December 8, the Lunch Bunch will meet at 11 am. Firm reservations are a must. (Swan House charges for last minute cancellations and no-shows). Please make your reservations with Joanne McPherson or Ginny Lee Pilstl by noon on Tuesday, December 5. KROGER REWARDS Kroger shoppers of Trinity earned $ from the 24 households participating during the past quarter through the Kroger Community Rewards Program! PLEASE BE SURE TO KEEP YOUR MEMBERSHIP UP-TO-DATE! OR if you have not yet signed-up, consider doing so. It is now time to re-enroll! Members need to renew each year in order to continue to earning for Trinity. This program in no way affects your personal Kroger Rewards sales, fuel points, etc. If you would like assistance to sign up or renew please contact Deborah. WHERE DO YOU FIT?? Everyone has special gifts share yours with your church! Please consider lending your skills and talents to a committee in an area of interest or skill. Just contact a committee or vestry member to join.

6 6 KEEPING IN TOUCH DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 2 Elijah Parkins 3 Mark Creighton 4 Peg Dailey 6 Neil Bartlett, Sam Boucher 10 Diane Ellerbe 14 Rita Roberts 17 Holly Rife 23 Marilyn Russell 27 Ruth Bryant DECEMBER ANNIVERSARY 31 Karen & Dave Eubanks ALTAR FLOWERS Please let Deborah know by noon on Wednesday of that week what you would like printed in the bulletin for your gift of flowers. to trinfin@att.net or call When providing altar flowers from a florist they should be delivered to the church between 9 a.m. and noon on Friday. Thanks! PERSONAL NOTES AND ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR AND ABOUT THE TRINITY FAMILY. IF YOU HAVE ITEMS OF INTEREST TO SHARE, (BIRTHS, ENGAGEMENTS, GRADUATIONS, HONORS, AWARDS, WEDDINGS, PERFORMANCES, ACHIEVEMENTS, ACTIVITIES, ETC.) PLEASE SUBMIT THEM BY THE 3 RD WEDNESDAY OF EACH MONTH FOR THE NEXT PUBLICATION. Thanks If ever there is a name omitted from one of these lists, or a date is incorrect, please contact the church office with the information. Thanks! The sign-up sheet for altar flowers is on the bulletin board in the parish hall. TRULY KEEPING IN TOUCH Some parishioners not able to attend services, or attend regularly, would enjoy calls or cards from the rest of us, and visits especially from people who know them. Others have moved so this is an update on their contact information: Marilyn Russell - P.O. Box , Palm Bay, FL Romelle Aldrich - 83 Harwood Road, Monroe, NJ John and Paula Wolper Dominion Drive, Fort Mitchell, KY Caroline Dunham Legacy at Heritage, 2820 Greenacre Drive, Findlay, Dave & Peg Bell 779 Tupper Street, Brockville, Ontario, Canada K6V6A1 Jean Bolmer 401 Hancock Street, Findlay, Chris s information is posted on the bulletin board in the parish hall.

7 7 A PRAYER FOR DECEMBER Jesus, Light of the world. When I am afraid and unsure, comfort me with the light of Your presence. When loneliness chills me, warm me with the light of Your love. When the road ahead seems dark, guide me with the light of Your way. When I don't understand and my thoughts are unclear, fill me with the light of Your wisdom. When I seem spent like a candle consumed, replenish me with the light of Your life. Then, so filled with Your light, use me, so that I, with You, may be light for the world! Amen. Music Notes We are now working on our Christmas music and could use even more singers. Please consider joining and thank you for your continued support of this ministry. -Parker TAIZÉ PRAYER Sunday, December 17 th is the next service of the season of Taizé Prayer here at Trinity. Please join us at 5:00 p.m. for a service of prayer, song, and contemplation. This service has developed into an important outreach ministry for our parish to the community at large. Taizé Prayer is based on an ancient Christian principle expressed by Brother Roger, a founding member of the Taizé community in France: Nothing is more conducive to a communion with the living God than a meditative common prayer with, at its high point, singing that never ends and that continues in the silence of one s heart when one is alone again. The focal point of this communion is the cross the symbol of God s saving presence in Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. Our season of Taizé Prayer runs from October through March, held the 3 rd Sunday of each month at 5:00pm. We can always use more help in setting up, decorating and clean up; musicians; and hosting or helping to host the reception which follows each service. If you would like to help in decorating, just join us after church as we setup on the 3 rd Sunday of the month. If you are a musician and want to join our ensemble, we meet at 3:45pm before the service to rehearse you are most welcome. If you wish to host a reception or help with same, there is a signup sheet on the bulletin board in the parish hall. If you have been with us in the past, we encourage you to come again; if you have never attended Taizé Prayer, please join us December 17 th give it a try we hope you will find the experience most worthwhile. Kim Grove

8 8 EVENT CALENDAR DECEMBER 2017 SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY DEC 1 DEC 2 10 a.m. Advent Wreath Workshop DEC 3 DEC 4 DEC 5 DEC 6 DEC 7 DEC 8 DEC 9 1 st Sunday of Advent Celebration Sunday 8:30 Holy Eucharist Celebration coffee hour 5:15 Bible study Reservations for Lunch Bunch due 12:05 Wednesday Worship Swan House 8:30 a.m. Parish Breakfast DEC 10 DEC 11 DEC 12 DEC 13 DEC 14 DEC 15 DEC 16 2 nd Sunday of Advent 8:30 Holy Eucharist Coffee hour 12:05 Wednesday Worship 5:15 Bible study DEC 17 DEC 18 DEC 19 DEC 20 DEC 21 DEC 22 DEC 23 8:30 Holy Eucharist Coffee hour 5 p.m. Taizé 5:15 Bible study ITEMS FOR TIDINGS DUE 12:05 Wednesday Worship DEC 24 DEC 25 DEC 26 DEC 27 DEC 28 DEC 29 DEC 30 4 th Sunday of Advent CHRISTMAS EVE Combined Service 3:30 Carols 4 p.m. Candlelight Service 11 p.m. Candlelight Service DEC 31 NEW YEAR S EVE 8:30 Holy Eucharist Coffee hour 9 a.m. Holy Eucharist 12:05 Wednesday Worship Flower of the month Narcissus Birthstone Blue Zircon