Trinity NOTES October 27, 2013 Dear g Sisters and Brothers, I had one of those really wonderful moments last Saturday which was gratifying as a parent and as a pastor of Trinity. My son Anthony and Kenneth, one of the foster children staying with us, were playing in the dining room. They had just put together a made-up creation of apples, bananas, tangerine juice, sugar and some other stuff. I was at the dinning room table working on my computer and they were at the table making plans to bring their newly created concoction to Trinity for coffee hour. One of them said But maybe someone already has some stuff for coffee hour and the other replied, That doesn t matter because Trinity likes kids and they want what we have to offer. I wish I had caught it on tape. This conversation follows a conversation at the Vestry meeting where we discussed the backyard and how we might beautify that space to be inviting to children and others. I was tasked with bringing together anyone who might want to help envision various possibilities for the backyard at Trinity. Tell me if you have any ideas or would simply like to help us dream about possibilities. In Christ, Pastor Cass Sunday Schedule October 27 8:30 Breakfast 9:00 Choir 9:15 Adult Forum 9:15 Christian Formation for Children 10:30 Worship CONGREGATIONAL CARE CORNER Please pray for Kendra s mom. Please pray for Steve Neumeister and his sister. DIOCESAN CYCLE OF PRAYER Congregations and clergy of St. Paul s, Ivy, St. Anne s, Scottsville; Cople, Hague; St. Paul s, Montross; Grace, Stanardsville; and Buck Mountain, Earlysville. If you have pastoral or prayer concerns that you would like to share with the wider parish please make them known to the office or to Pastor Cass. An Intentional Multicultural Christian Community of Reconciliation, Transformation, and Love Trinity Episcopal Church 1042 Preston Avenue, Charlottesville, VA 22903 Tel: 434 293-3157 Email: trinepch@ntelos.net Website: trinityepiscopalcville.org
Trinity Leadership Lay Ministers: The Congregation Bishops: The Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston The Right Reverend Susan Goff All Saint s Sunday November 3 rd The Rt. Rev. Ted Gulick, Jr. Vicar: Pastor Cass Bailey 220-7477 Music Minister: Carlton Dickerson 296-4040 Childcare: Geneva Knight & Tess Kendrick Vestry Liaisons RECONCILIATION Betty Jones (2015) 973-2935 There will be an opportunity to remember those who have died by lighting a candle during the service. You can also remember a loved one by: Purchasing a Hymnal or Prayer Book ($25 each) Joseph Commander (2016) 295-5328 TRANSFORMATION Jane Perry (2016) 987-0835 LOVE Kendra Hamilton (2016) 249-4033 William Anderson (2014) 971-7931 SUPPORT Sr. Warden Brian Hunt (2015) 607 592-3037 Jr. Warden Kevin Barnard (2014) 971-2676 Nicholas Garber (2014) 924-6366 Treasurer Louise Gallagher 978-1471 Altar flowers are given this week by Marie Plume to celebrate the birthday of her mother Marguerite Stevens. Purchasing a Sanctuary Chair ($150 each) Lector: Intercessor: Lay Ministers Scheduled: Chalice Bearers: Altar Guild: Acolyte: Ushers: Counter: Sunday, October 27 2013 Kendra Hamilton Steve Neumeister Cheryl Kasper and Leah Puryear Shirley Robinson and Louise Gallagher Donnell Douglas Carol Fleming and Al Anderson Bill Anderson Home Communion: Steve Neumeister Greeter: Breakfast: Hospitality Hour: Ann Friend Clark Our Tremendous Chefs Stephanie Commander and Joe Commander TRINITY NOTES PAGE 2
If you go to the Trinity website and look under the LEARN tab, you ll find a graphic for Vibrant Faith. Click on that to be taken to the Vibrant Faith website. (It takes a little time to load). Once you sign up for free, you ll have access to a wealth of faith-based learning activities for all age groups. Here is an example for Halloween. Halloween By Beth Beall What is Halloween about for followers of Jesus, the Lord of Life? Let s explore this holiday ( holy day ) and then choose from a variety of fun activities. For Just for Kids Season Fall Needed Interesting Things to Know About Halloween (page 3, below); all other items are optional, including: internet connection; apples, apple peeler, caramel, popcorn; a pumpkin, carving tools, and either a candle or LCD candle; gingerbread man/woman cookie (along with frosting and other cookie decorations); posterboard, markers, stickers, stapler or tape. Activity Plan 1. Say this prayer to begin. Or, you might want to speak words from your own heart, or simply be silent for a moment. God of Life and Death and Life-Beyond-Death: thank you for special times of celebration and remembrance. Thank you for being with me always. I especially thank you for being with me right now. Amen. 2. Read Interesting Things to Know About Halloween below. 3. Now that you have read Interesting Things About Halloween below, you see how October 31 (Halloween) and November 1 (All Saints Day) are days of both death and life. (We can also include November 2 if we are talking about Day of the Dead.) We are followers of Jesus, who died once, and now lives forever. The following activities provide ways to honor those who have died, while also giving us the chance to have fun as we celebrate life! Choose one or more activities to do on your own or with someone else. Since Halloween occurs at the end of the harvest season in the northern hemisphere, celebrate the harvest by eating some traditional fall foods. Popcorn or caramel apples are great choices. It would also be fun to have an apple-peeling contest: see who can peel an apple with the longest unbroken peel. (You decide on the prize!) (Continued on page 5) TRINITY NOTES PAGE 4
(Continued from page 4) With the help of an adult, carve a pumpkin. (Pumpkins are a fall food, too.) Begin by cutting off the top of the pumpkin and scooping out the inside. As you scoop out the flesh and seeds, say this prayer to God: I ask you to empty me of anything that keeps me from experiencing your love. I wonder what sometimes keeps you from experiencing God s love? Perhaps anger, or impatience, or being selfish Now with an adult s help, carve a face onto your pumpkin. It can be funny, spooky, or whatever you want! Once the pumpkin is emptied out, get permission to put a candle inside (or use an LED candle). As you light the candle, pray, Fill me with the light of Christ. Decorate a gingerbread man (or a gingerbread woman) cookie, in honor of a family member or friend who has died. As you decorate your cookie, perhaps you can name two things that you miss about that person. The Bible talks about saints wearing crowns when they are in heaven. So let s make a crown! Cut a strip of posterboard, at least 2 high and 22 long. If you d like to add some pointed tips or other interesting cut-out shapes to your crown, ask an adult to help you. Decorate your crown with markers, stickers, or anything else you have on hand. When you are finished, have someone help you fit it around your head. (Staple or tape the crown so that it s the right size.) Interesting Things to Know about Halloween Halloween is celebrated on October 31. Not all cultures celebrate Halloween. By the 7th century (we are now in the 21st century), November 1st became known to Christians as All Saints Day. On All Saints Day, Christians gave special honor to those followers of Jesus who had died. All Saints Day is a time to remeber that nothing not even death! can separate us from God s love. In the northern hemisphere, celebrating All Saints Day (Nov. 1) in the fall is a great way to celebrate life, because this can be a time of year that feels dark, or maybe sad. Why does it feel sad? Maybe because the days grow shorter and cooler and because the harvest season is ending. Some trees are losing their leaves, and the landscape can take on a shivery or spooky feeling. The word Halloween comes from Hallows Eve. Before people used the words All Saints Day, they used the phrase All Hallows Day to speak about the same thing. To hallow something is to honor it, to consider it holy. (You might know the word hallowed from the Lord s Prayer, where we say, Hallowed be thy name ) On Hallows Eve (October 31) people would get ready for All Hallows Day or All Saints Day on November 1. There are many different explanations for some of the Halloween traditions we know today. Many of the traditions are tied to the beliefs and practices of the Celtic people in ancient Europe. The Celts (pronounced Kelts ) viewed October 31 as their New Year s Eve, and believed that spirits from the dead roamed the earth on that night. (Maybe now you see why some people dress up as ghosts today!) Some people would leave food ( treats ) for the spirits. Some people dressed up in strange costumes to try to confuse the spirits. Your family or some of your friends may celebrate another holiday that occurs at this time of year, called Day of the Dead. Its roots are in the country of Mexico. Day of the Dead is celebrated on November 1 and 2. On these days people remember those who have died by creating altars (or offerings ) that contain mementos from the person s life, as well as a variety of special foods and flowers. To learn more about Day of the Dead, look at this YouTube video from the Travel Channel: Day of the Dead.
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Food For the Poor Sunday, November 9th The guest preacher will be the Rev. Bill Beers, Ph.D., who is an Episcopal Priest and preacher with Food for the Poor, Inc., an interdenominational ministry providing food and other needed supplies to the poor in the Caribbean and Latin America. A former hospital chaplain and university instructor in religion, philosophy, and the social sciences, Bill has traveled to the Caribbean and Latin America and is eager to share his experience of the poor in those regions with other people of faith. MONTHLY FOOD DRIVE Next Sunday, November 3 rd, is the first Sunday of the month. Please remember the Blue Ridge Area Food Bank in your grocery shopping and bring canned goods to church.
NOTE FOR SINGERS There will be a rehearsal for our Advent Lessons and Carols service on Thursday, November 7 th at 6:30 PM at the church. Please plan to attend as we will be practicing a cantata. If you know singers who might like to join us on December 15 for that service, please tell them to come to this rehearsal. For more information contact Carlton 296-4040. Trinity Episcopal Church 1042 Preston Avenue Charlottesville, VA 22903 TRINITY NOTES PAGE 8