2012-2013 OFFERINGS FOR YOUNG TRINITARIANS ENRICHING OUR CHILDREN,YOUTH AND FAMILIES Trinity-by-the-Cove Episcopal Church 553 Galleon Drive Naples, Florida 34102 239-262-6581 www.trinitybythecove.com RECTOR: The Rev. Michael Basden, ext 202 SENIOR ASSOCIATE RECTOR: The Rev. Edward Gleason, ext. 214 ASSOCIATE RECTOR: The Rev. Alice Sadler, ext. 206 DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: John Fenstermaker, ext 207; ASSISTANT ORGANIST: Mary Watkins OFFICE & FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATOR: Bill Haidle, ext 204;PARISH ADMINISTRATOR: Polly Butler, ext 202 DIRECTOR OF CATECHESIS: Linda Gemmer, ext. 215; STAFF ASSISTANT: Katie Anderson, ext 201 MEMBER/MINISTRY COORDINATOR: Judy Fratus ext 213; DIRECTOR OF GIVING: Don Scott, ext. 211 SEXTON: Russell Holaway, ext 210; HOUSEKEEPER: Kim Maxwell Worship Formation Fellowship 16
About Trinity-by-the-Cove Your life is important and at Trinity-by-the-Cove, we seek to offer you an opportunity to live life in the fullest sense in a whole relationship with God and with your neighbor. We believe this goal is reached through our mission statement. The mission of Trinity-bythe-Cove Episcopal Church is to spread the Good News of the Gospel and provide a loving and compassionate environment for the continuing transformation of a life in Christ Jesus. We believe this journey is shaped by God through worship, learning, friendship and service to others. This mission is expressed to Young Trinitarians and families through our offerings for worship, formation and service, and fellowship. About this Guide This guide is intended to offer you a starting point a place to begin in your relationship with God and your neighbor here at Trinity-by-the-Cove. As a starting point, this guide should allow you to get your bearings whether you have been a life-long Episcopalian or whether you are new to the Episcopal Church and its traditions of worship and relationship. If you have any questions or simply want more information, do not hesitate to call the church office or email any clergy or staff. If you should have any questions about our parish family, please feel comfortable asking the staff and clergy, who welcome the opportunity to visit by phone, email, or in person at the church offices. (Phone numbers are listed on the back cover) Christmas Cookie Decorating: As Advent (the four weeks before Christmas) comes to a close, young families gather to prepare and bake Christmas cookies to be decorated the following Sunday. The parish is invited during the coffee hour to decorate Christmas cookies and join in the excitement of the expectation of the birth of Jesus. Christmas Pageant: As Christmas Eve nears, children in the Atrium are invited to participate in the Christmas Pageant offered on Christmas Eve. The children join together as a whole group to proclaim the Gospel and birth of Jesus. Mardi Gras Parade: As Fr. Edward is from New Orleans, he remembers home by leading the young families in a Young Family Gathering at the Gleason home where masks and costumes are decorated for a parade the following Sunday. It is a way to celebrate and share the joy of children with the Parish before Lent begins. Easter Egg Hunt: Children and Young Families gather on Easter Sunday to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus with an Easter Egg hunt. The egg, a symbol of new life, is used to help children celebrate the joy of our risen Lord. Families gather to watch the children collect as many eggs as their arms can carry! Annual Fishing Tournament: On the first weekend after school lets out (depending on the tides), the parish gathers for the annual fishing tournament leaving from the church docks. Fishing is followed by a BBQ lunch! 2 15
Fellowship Opportunities All Young Trinitarians are encouraged to participate in all parish fellowship activities, especially coffee hour following church services. There are numerous other events throughout the year at which all are welcome to share fellowship. The Nursery will often be open for events, and it is possible, if we know in advance, to provide children and youth activities during certain offerings. We are also intentional in our fellowship offerings and opportunities to grow relationships among the young family peer group. These offerings include: Young Family Gatherings: Typically once a month during the school year (and usually on a Sunday evening), a young family will host a pot luck dinner at their home. All are invited to attend and bring a dish. Times and dates for these events are publicized in mailings and the Sunday bulletins. Look for the sign-up posters in the Parish Hall. Rally Day: Each year at the beginning of our Formation Programming in August or September, families are invited to share a lunch and time for fun on the front lawn of the Parish Hall. We typically have a huge waterslide and other fun games for children and youth. A Note on Family Spirituality Every family is different in their approach to God and religion and in their expression of faith. Some families spend time in nightly Bible study; others make sure to say grace before every meal or have bed-time prayers. Some parents go on retreats together to strengthen their marriages, while others find time together during coffee hour on Sundays while their children are in formation. Wherever you are in your relationship with God (personally and as a family), we pray that it will be deepened and strengthened here at Trinity-by-the-Cove. As we offer opportunities for your worship, formation, and fellowship, your time and participation is vital. By spending a moment in prayer before you read this guide or do anything in church, you might find God at work in deep and new ways. Take a moment to pray the following prayer and see how you might worship, learn, and grow in relationships and friendships here at Trinity-by-the-Cove. Direct me, O God, in all of my doings with your most gracious favor and strengthen me with your love that all my works begun, continued and ended in you may strengthen my relationship with you, helping me to love you all the more and my neighbors as myself. Youth Golf Tournament & Raffle: Each year we gather for a Golf Tournament and Raffle to benefit the Youth program and pilgrimage. 14 3
How to Get Around Service The opportunity to serve the world and proclaim the good news of Jesus through service to others is an integral part of our mission at Trinity-by-the-Cove. The Service Commission (a group of volunteers in the parish) provides opportunities for families to offer their time and talents to the world. Look for opportunities published in the Trinitarian, Sunday Bulletins, special mailings or call the church office. Opportunities for service have included making nutritious meals for Kids against Hunger (pictured left), Habitat for Humanity, mission trips to disaster ravaged areas of the country, and work in Immokalee. Our ability and desire to serve our neighbor is also expressed in the annual Fine Art Living series (all of the proceeds are given to local charities and projects). There are also various seasonal opportunities for giving, including the Pajama Christmas Tree (helping children in need with new pajamas), and scholarships for the Alberque School in the Dominican Republic. If you have a passion for service and want to include your family in service projects, we invite you to pray about how you might serve. 4 13
Formation for Parents Parents and other Young Trinitiarians are encouraged to participate in as many of the offerings as possible, there is no age restriction! Offerings are published and announced on Sundays, through the monthly newsletter, the Trinitarian, and by weekly emails. Please call the church office for current information. Some of the offerings include: Sunday Forums: (October through May)10:15 to 11:15 a.m. led by clergy and lay leaders. There are typically multiple forums January through April. Wednesday Night Out: The Wednesday- Night-Out offerings are scheduled at least twice a year in the fall and spring and are held on consecutive Wednesday evenings. The evening begins with a catered meal. Topics for the series are varied and intended to be educational, enlightening and enjoyable. Rector's Bible Study: The Rector's Bible Study meets Wednesday mornings from 10:15 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. in the Library. October to May. Women's Bible Study: Thursdays 9:15 to 11:15 a.m. in Library. Nursery provided on request. September to May. Young Men s Fellowship: Throughout the year, young men of the parish gather for fellowship and to help around the parish. 12 Places of Interest As you take a moment to familiarize yourself with our campus, you may want to pay particular attention to the following: Restrooms: There is a restroom in the church; it is a hidden door in the narthex or foyer of the church. There are several other restrooms with a women s restroom off the East Courtyard and a men s restroom off the Center Courtyard. Changing Station: There is a changing station in the Nursery just off the Center Courtyard. Nursery: The Nursery is just off the Center Courtyard and is available for infants and children on Sundays and on request for other Parish functions. If you have any questions about the Nursery, please speak to the Nursery Director Sandy Hamann or Fr. Edward. Parish Hall: The Parish Hall is where you will find most of the signup rosters for church events and other information about our offerings. The Rite III Eucharist service (in season) is in the Parish Hall from 9-10:00 a.m. Coffee hour is typically in the Parish Hall following each Sunday service. Formation Room: Just off the Center Courtyard, the Formation Room is the location for many adult formation offerings. The West Courtyard & Atria/Youth Rooms: Many young families will congregate in the West Courtyard while their children are in formation in the Atria and Youth Room. 5
Faces at Trinity-by-the-Cove Michael Basden: Fr. Michael is the rector at Trinity-bythe-Cove. Should you have any questions about your faith or about Trinity, please call or email Fr. Michael. Email: rector@trinitybythecove.com Alice Sadler: Mother Alice is an associate rector at Trinity-by-the-Cove and has special responsibilities for pastoral care and adult formation. If you have any concerns or need counseling, please call or email Mother Alice. Email: asadler@trinitybythecove.com Edward Gleason: Fr. Edward is an associate rector at Trinity-by-the-Cove and has special responsibility for the children, youth and young families at Trinity. If you have any questions about how you can be involved in our parish family, please call or email him. Email: egleason@trinitybythecove.com Linda Gemmer: Linda Gemmer is the Director of Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (the Sunday offering for children aged 3 through 5th grade). If you have any questions about how your children might get involved at Trinity, please call or email Linda. Email: lgemmer@trinitybythecove.com. Casey & Valerie Weidenmiller: Casey and Valerie are parishioners at Trinity-by-the- Cove and volunteer their time and talents teaching the Junior EYC (youth grades 6-8) with direction from Fr. Edward. Formation for Youth Grades 6-12 Junior and Senior Episcopal Youth in Church (EYC) Our formation for youth in grades 6-12 uses curriculum created in the Episcopal Church and is called Journey to Adulthood. This is a program of spiritual formation for young people, tailored to our parish needs, that provides a liturgical frame for their experience in our modern culture. Journey to Adulthood celebrates their individuality and their creative potential and instructs them in skills needed for successful adult participation in church and society. Journey to Adulthood follows the imperatives of the Baptismal Covenant and enables young people to discover and experience the love of God. Christian formation is a lifetime process and this program gives young people a firm foundation on which to build. In the 2011-12 program year, the youth participated in Confirmation Forums and went on pilgrimage to Scotland and Northern England. The formation includes a pilgrimage component. As the youth grow more and more in their relationship with God, we ask them to experience that relationship as individuals and a pilgrimage offers them a particularly unique opportunity to do just that. The Youth offer a Golf Tournament each fall fundraise for their pilgrimage and program. 6 11
Formation for Children age 3 through 5th Grade Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is offered for children ages 3-12 (5th grade). This program believes that God and the child have a unique relationship with one another. Further, the program includes the beliefs that the growth of this relationship should be assisted by the adult, but is directed by the Spirit of God within the child; the children need their own place to foster the growth of that relationship and the child's spiritual growth is best served through tangible but indirect means. This formation time for children takes place on Sundays during the school year from 10:15 until 11:05. The children meet in the Atria. An atrium is "a prepared space". This is the Montessori concept that means that everything is ready for the child, or to be more precise, the child and God. This is the parable shelf. The parables of the Good Shepherd Atrium are "the short stories that Jesus told to help us understand the Kingdom of God". The work for The Precious Pearl appears on the mat. Other parables for this atrium are The Mustard Seed, The Hidden Treasure, The Leaven, and The Growing Grain. The best way to see and understand this wonderful program is to call Linda Gemmer, our director. You can set up a time to come observe the children or an individual appointment to meet with Linda and discuss Christian Formation for children. 10 Worship Trinity-by-the-Cove, as an Episcopal Church, is a community of the Eucharist. The Eucharist, meaning Thanksgiving, is the primary liturgy at Trinity-by-the-Cove. Liturgy means The Work of the People. It is a word that emphasizes that the Eucharist is not a spectator sport, or something that is being done to you; it is an act in which we all have important parts. The Eucharist is also called Holy Communion, the Mass, the Lord s Supper or other similar name. All those seeking a relationship with Jesus Christ are invited to participate in the holy meal (Eucharist) from where we receive solace and strength, pardon and renewal. Typically, a period of instruction and baptism precede a person s first reception of the bread and the wine or body and blood of Jesus. Seeing a Eucharist liturgy for the first time can make a person feel uncomfortable because first time visitors are not used to the customs and traditions of a particular church. At Trinity-by-the-Cove, we typically provide a service bulletin for your use and ease in following the liturgy, which comes from the Book of Common Prayer one of the unique aspects of the Episcopal Church. Ushers are also available to guide you through the liturgy and you should always feel comfortable asking a person in the pew for help in understanding what to do. Simply say, I m visiting and don t know what I m doing. Can you help? Always feel free to ask questions of the clergy at the conclusion of the service. At Trinity-by-the-Cove, we want you to enjoy a whole and full relationship with God. Our spiritual journeys begin or are renewed with many questions from simple to complex! 7
Acolytes The ministry of Acolyte is a serving ministry of the Church that comes from ancient times. From those days until now, Acolytes have been faithful and conscientious men, women, boys and girls who love the Lord Jesus Christ and love serving Him at his sacred altar. It is an honor to be selected as one who serves and truly a ministry to God and God s people. The Acolyte team at Trinity-by-the-Cove is composed of members of the parish (typical age 10-18 or 5 feet tall) who volunteer their time and talent to serve during the liturgy by carrying the processional crosses and torches. Acolytes are trained to serve the Priest (celebrant) and Deacon at the altar, taking part in the Gospel Procession, distributing the offering plates, and assisting in the preparation of the altar. Acolytes serve at the principal Sunday liturgy and festival services. Service as an Acolyte offers children and youth the opportunity to experience God in a different way from being in the pew with their parents. There is an opportunity for independence, responsibility, and a unique religious experience at the altar. Having your children and youth serve as Acolytes is a responsibility for the children and youth and the parent, insuring children and youth attend training sessions and take their role seriously. For more information, contact Fr. Edward. Formation Formation begins in Baptism, which is the beginning of the Christian Life. Baptism in the Episcopal Church is administered to infants and adults alike and marks a washing away of sin and a new relationship as God s adopted sons and daughters. Baptism is a rebirth into a spiritual reality with God. Just as a physical birth means a life must be lived and we grow and learn, so too the spiritual birth given in Baptism encompasses a life lived. In Baptism, we are incorporated into Jesus and made members in the Church, uniting us with Christians around the world and through history. At Trinity-by-the-Cove, the Sacrament of Holy Baptism is celebrated at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost, on All Saints Day or the Sunday after All Saint s Day, and on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany). Baptisms are reserved for these occasions or when the Bishop is present. If you are interested in being baptized or having a child baptized, please call the church office and make an appointment to speak with a member of the clergy. 8 9