E-Pistle May 8, 2008

Trinity Church E-Pistle Weekly Newsletter May 8, 2008
Honoring our Non-stipendiary Clergy Dear Friends, When I talk to people about the resources of Trinity Church, I usually begin with a song of praise for the ordained persons in our midst. Of course, I think Anne Marie Richards is stunning. But, anyone who knows his/her way around these precincts understands that we would fall into a spiritual heap without the other stalwart clergy who give so generously of their time and talent. They are such a blessing to us. Way back in the winter, I determined that I wanted Pentecost to be the day we recognized their gifts. Only when we came to discover that this was also the launch of our 175th anniversary celebration did the day take on even more significance. In no particular order, I would like to introduce them to you: Carol Stoy has been at the very heart and soul of this church and the whole diocese. As the former Archdeacon, she gave leadership and guidance to the entire team of diocesan deacons. Peter Funk is a renowned author and wordsmith. But, his real ministry to us is his commitment to the life and ministry of the 8:00 a.m. congregation. Because of his long history with us, he is a vital part of the "oral tradition" of Trinity Church. Louise Kingston began her career as a hospital chaplain. In point of fact, she remains committed to that ministry. But, she is also a strong support and guide to the current clergy. Allan King is a retired Priest who served a long career in the Diocese of Massachusetts. He has recently been on an extended journey with his wife, Helen. He returns to us this Sunday. He "does it all" in the ministry of our congregation. Steve White, who will be our preacher this Sunday, is the Chaplain to Episcopal students at Princeton University. He has been available to lend a hand on special occasions. He leaves us in a few weeks as he and his family move to Massachusetts. Gordon Graham, our Celebrant this Sunday, is the Henry Luce III Professor of Philosophy and the Arts at Princeton Theological Seminary. He brings a great depth of experience to our life, but, as a newly ordained Priest, he also brings great zest. Mellick Belshaw was the ninth Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey. What a joy he is to all of us. Principally, he is the "consultant" to the clergy when we do not quite know what we need to be doing. More officially, he is there for us when we need a Celebrant or Episcopal presence. John Golden is "that Priest who sings in the choir." John spent a number of years in the Diocese of Pittsburgh before arriving here with his wife, Judith. Because of his great commitment to the music program, his principal service to the Eucharist is to serve Communion to the choir. Joanne Epply-Schmidt has often given great amounts of time to Trinity in the middle of the summer when clergy are on vacation. Her special gifts are as an instructor and practitioner of story telling. Two weeks ago, she shared stories of her work among incarcerated youth during the Forum. Daphne Hawkes is simply a legend. The first woman to be ordained in the Diocese of New Jersey and one of the earliest woman ordinands in the world, she has been acclaimed throughout America. Dick Fenn is the Maxwell M. Upson Professor of Christianity and Society at Princeton Theological Seminary. A very active worshiper, he assists in the worship when asked. Benjamin Musoke-Lubega is actually in the staff of Trinity Church, Manhattan. He is the head of their world wide grants program. However, he lives her in Princeton and assists from time to time. Mary Jean Metzger, until recently, was the interim rector of a parish in New Brunswick. We are pleased that she is back home with us and enjoy seeing her at worship, John Frederick has been spending considerable time recently doing interims throughout the Diocese. A recent broken arm sidelined him for a while so he has been joining his wife, Jean, in church. Best love, jim Worship & Education Sunday, May 11, 2008 Pentecost Click here for Sunday's Lessons. 8:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist, Rite I (Traditional Language, no choir) 10:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist (Rite II) (Contemporary Language with choir) 10:00 a.m. - Our Summer Schedule begins! Childcare is available in the Nursery upstairs in Room 202. 175th Anniversary Potluck Lunch on the Lawn on Stockton Street! Tuesday, May 13th 12:10 p.m. Holy Eucharist with homily. Wednesday, May 14th 5:30 pm Holy Eucharist with Homily The church is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays for meditation and prayer Worship Leaders Sunday, May 11, 2008 8:00 a.m. Acolytes: Sarah Parker Reader: Phyllis Billington Chalicist: Nancy Metcalf Ushers: Tom Cooper, Miles Snyder, Bill Vogt 10:00 a.m. Verger: Juliet Richardson Thurifer: James Scott Acolytes: Jeffrey Burns, Matthew Burns, Rachel Asir Readers: Van Davis, Michael Stebbins Intercessor: Juliana McIntyre Chalicists:Connie Brown, Anne Burns, Grant Fraser, Fred Lynk, Bev Scollay Ushers:Bill Burks, Grant Fraser, Robert Gunther-Mohr, Robert T. Hall III, Lyris Robinson, Rob Ross, Alison Roth, Lloyd Carver Audio: Tom Mellis Readers in other Languages:Harry Clark (German), Kadri Kallikorm-Rhodes (Estonian), Alison Laessig (Italian),Denise Miller (French),Jennifer Nasser (Arabic) Bell ringers: Ann Laughlin, Ed Metcalf, Alison Roth Sunday, May 18, 2008 8:00 a.m. Acolyte: Peter Brennan Reader: Jean Gorman Chalicist: Curtis Hoberman Ushers: Lynne Davis, Van Davis, Ed Metcalf 10:00 a.m. Verger: James Scott Acolytes: Andy Schmid, Brad States, Danny States Readers: Rob Lanchester, Kathy Rohrer Chalicists: Denise Gordon-Miller, Donna Laessig, Dorothy Moote, Maureen McCormick, Phil Unetic Intercessor: John Sully Ushers: Noreen Duncan, Robert Von Zumbusch, Eric Brown, Terri Hassett Audio: Marc Sibilia A letter from the Rev. Hugh Brown and the people of All Saints Church I send my profound and heartfelt congratulations and blessings in Christ on the occasion of your 175th anniversary from the clergy and people of All Saints' Parish, Princeton, in thanksgivng for your support and leadership for the birth of our parish family as a mission congregation of Trinity, for support, prayers and solidarity in our movement for full parish status in the early 1970s, for perpetual spiritual ties and friendship these many years, and for our joint Anglican/Episcopal partnership for ministry in Princeton these past decades. May Trinity Parish and All Saints' Parish always be one Anglican/Episcopal community in mission and friendship and a witness to the love, unity and solidarity of the love of Christ within the Princeton community. In faith always, Hugh The Rev. Hugh E. Brown, III, D. Min. Priest, And the People of All Saints' Episcopal Parish, Princeton, New Jersey A Letter from Frank Strasburger (The following was edited to save space. The full letter can be found in a 175th Anniversary display binder in the reception area.) Time is a funny thing. I would never have described us as "long-timers," yet your anniversary has made me realize we have shared with you nearly 13% of your venerable history. We arrived in September 1986 on Dick Bowers's last Sunday, as I became the Episcopal chaplain at the University and our family chose to worship at Trinity over dragging our kids to the University Chapel at 10 o'clock at night. Memory is full to overflowing of special services-weddings, funerals, baptisms-and, oh, the music!!! (Thank you, Tom and friends.) To sit in that chancel and simply be enveloped is heaven itself. And then there were those precious personal moments-times when some of you shared the deepest part of your soul with me, reminding me not only of why I became a priest but also of what Christian relationship is really about. Of course, my time at Trinity was not without its surprises. Who would have predicted, for example, that fully a third of my ministry there would be spent fighting a kind of reverse Battle of Jericho, doing all I could to prevent the walls from tumbling down? A recent visit assures me we succeeded; the church looks better than ever, and your perseverance and generosity have strengthened Trinity in less visible ways, as well. As Bob Hope would say, "Thanks for the memories," and may you continue another 175 years and more genuine in your self-reflection, tireless in your commitment, patient in your discernment, loving in your communion, open in your search, imaginative about your future, and daring in your faith. With love and faith, Carrie and Frank Strasburger Episcopal Church responds to Cyclone in Myanmar (Burma) Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD) is providing emergency assistance to communities in Burma affected by Cyclone Nargis. The storm, packing winds up to 120 miles per hour, swept through the country on Saturday, May 3, leaving perhaps 100,000 dead. The low-lying Irrawaddy Delta region suffered the most severe damage. The situation in Burma is dire. At best, the infrastructure in Burma is marginal and the storm has placed an unbearable strain on already limited services. Power outages and scattered debris across the country continue to hamper recovery efforts. Reports indicate that tens of thousands of homes were destroyed, leaving hundreds of thousands of people without shelter. The full extent of the damage throughout the country remains unclear due to poor communications and roads made impassable by the storm. In Rangoon, the capital, machete-wielding monks have taken to the streets to assist with clearing the wreckage. Working with its partner, the Church of the Province of Myanmar, ERD is sending funds to secure shelter, food water and other relief needs for people displaced by the Cyclone. As part of a long-term strategy, ERD has been working for the past two years with five dioceses on economic development including agriculture, livestock, and micro-loans, clean water and education programs. "Episcopal Relief and Development's response to the cyclone will involve a long-term recovery and rehabilitation strategy for affected areas in which the church has a presence," says Kirsten Laursen Muth, senior program director for Asia and New Initiatives. "Our prayers are with the people of Burma at this very difficult time." To help people affected by the cyclone in Burma, make a donation to ERD's "Emergency Relief Fund" online here, or by calling 1-800-334-7626, ext. 5129. Gifts can be mailed to: Episcopal Relief and Development "Emergency Relief Fund" P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058. If you prefer, you may send a check to Trinity Church and we will see that the funds get to ERD. Please make checks out to "Trinity Church" and put the words "Myanmar Relief" on the memo line. Join A Study/Action Group on Poverty Solutions Represent Trinity Church in a Study Exploring Systemic Poverty You can represent Trinity Church by joining a local study/action group that would explore the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The purpose would be to develop a plan for educating and involving our congregations in addressing the issue of systemic poverty. The time commitment is a few meetings over the next few months in the greater Trenton (Convocation of our Diocese of New Jersey) area, with an end date of Oct. 15th of this year. The Rev. Lisa Caton, Director of Christian Education at All Saints Church in Princeton, will be our local coordinator. If you are interested, please contact Lisa by email at lisaecaton@aol.com. Graduates, Report In Please! Graduates, report in by May 29th! Are you graduating this year? Please allow us to celebrate your achievement on Sunday, June 8th at the 10 am service. Graduates (High school, college and beyond!) will be listed in the leaflet and we welcome Ms. Carter Haughton (Princeton High School, Class of 2008) as our preacher. Please submit graduates' names to Alison Roth (rotha@trinityprinceton.org)by May 29th. Lauren B. Davis Speaker at Trinity Cathedral THIS TUESDAY May 13th Episcopal Church Women Annual Meeting & Luncheon with Lauren B. Davis, guest speaker. Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of the Diocese of New Jersey will meet at Trinity Cathedral on Tuesday, May 13th. The day begins at 10 am with Holy Eucharist, The Rt. Rev. Sylvestre Romero will be the celebrant, and Trinity's writer-in-residence, Lauren B. Davis, will be the luncheon speaker.To register, please pick up a form at the receptionist's desk in our church. Luncheon tickets are $12. If you wish to carpool from Trinity, please contact Camille Quinton at camq17@patmedia.net Commentary on this week's Readings by Allan King This Sunday we celebrate the feast of Pentecost. In our English tradition we used to call this the feast of Whitsunday. I suspect that neither title is very easy to understand, nor do either really provide any information for us. So let us start again. Today is one of the most important festivals in the Church Year. We celebrate the fact that God is always with us. We know that God created heaven and earth (and much more besides); we know that God in Christ came to us to redeem us from our sins and open for us the way of everlasting life. But today we revel in the Good News that God is always with us -- yesterday, right now, and tomorrow -- for as long as we shall live. And then, when we shall have finished our race here, we know that God will be with us always in whatever it is that comes next. God the Creator, and God the Redeemer, and God the Holy Spirit are not three different Gods; they are one God in three persons - both one and distinct. Pentecost celebrates the coming of God the Holy Spirit. This means that we will never be alone again -- God the hope of glory is with us - and that we will always have a friend at our side - God the Comforter. Today's readings emphasize that this great gift of God is not just for us, but for all men. God's purpose is to bring all men to himself through his Spirit. So, as we celebrate this day, let us remember to thank God for being God, for His saving Grace, and his promise to be with us forever. And let us especially pray for those who know Him not, that we may be the agents of spreading His Kingdom. Let us beg of Him the discipline necessary to follow in his path, and the steadiness of heart to acknowledge Him in all times and places. Webmaster Needed for the American Friends of the Anglican Centre in Rome The American Friends of the Anglican Centre in Rome, a Princeton-based group, is looking for some help. We need a webmaster for our Mac-based website that is hosted by GoDaddy. We like the design but need someone who can make updates and changes every month. Additionally, we're looking for someone who can do 10-20 hours a month of miscellaneous correspondence, editing and administration. The pay is negotiable. Please contact Mary Reath, at maryreath@mac.com or at 609-219-0805 if you are interested. Thank You from the Crisis Ministry! Footprints 2008: Walk the Path out of Poverty. The Crisis Ministry thanks all who walked in and supported our fourth annual walkathon Saturday, April 19th. Your participation raised over $27,000 (with pledges still coming in!) for food and financial assistance to those in need. The money you raised will help our neighbors to keep food on their table, avoid eviction, move to more permanent housing, or maintain their utilities. Over 335 people walked in Footprints this year. We are grateful to all the extraordinary people who led the Trinity congregation in this event, especially Footprints Committee Chair Beth Fitzgerald and Tom Cooper, and members of the Crisis Ministry Steering Committee. Thank you, all for making Footprints a success! Volunteers are always welcome! · Would you like to work one-on-one with our low-income neighbors? Do you possess good computer skills? Let us hear from you! The Crisis Ministry needs at least four new client assistant volunteers. Activities include listening to our clients' stories and documenting their needs for assistance, checking clients into our food store, and making notes on the client database. The time requirements are once a week for three hours, from 9:00 am to noon in Trenton or 1:30 to 4:30 pm in Princeton. · Desperately seeking a Computer Technician volunteer (or paid) who can assist us with our technical needs. Computer networking experience is essential. We are looking for a person who can respond to our needs both remotely and by coming to our Trenton location. Please contact CM's Volunteer Coordinator Elizabeth Ferguson at 396-9355, ext. 24, or cmvolunteer@gmail.com to learn more about volunteer opportunities. VBS 2008: Bible Camp Program Change! Becoming Biblical Heroes A different approach to Vacation Bible School All Saints' and Trinity Church are joining together with Youth Stages to develop an acting program focusing on Biblical heroes for Vacation Bible School this year. The program will be held on Tuesday evenings at All Saints' from 4:15 to 6:15 p.m. beginning July 1st and going until July 29th. (This is instead of the week-long Vacation Bible School that was initially announced.) We hope that this new format will help to increase participation. When: Starting Tuesday, July 1st and concluding Tuesday evening, July 29th with a light dinner and family sharing time. Children are encouraged to participate in as many of the Tuesdays as possible. Who: Children entering Kindergarten through those entering 6th grade in Sept. 2008. Fees: There will be a minimal fee of $20 for the entire five week series, including the final family meal and celebration. There is a $10 fee for each additional child for the full five weeks. If your family can only attend on some of the Tuesdays there will be a $6 fee per week with a fee of $3 for each additional child. This will help cover the cost of the professional from Youth Stages. Volunteers: We are still in need of a few teens and parents who would be willing to assist with the rehearsal of skits, singing and snacks. We hope you will come and be part of this new venture!! Register NOW for Diocesan Youth Ministry Mission Trip this August! Hurricane Katrina killed over 1800 people, displaced hundreds of thousands, and caused well over 80 billion dollars in damage when it roared through the gulf coast in August of 2005. Rebuilding is expected to take 10 years or more. From August 2 to 9 our Diocese will host a youth mission trip to help rebuild lives and communities. The Diocese will be taking 40 people--32 youth (16 years-old to just graduated 12th graders) and 8 adults--by charter bus to Camp Coast Care in Mississippi to share in rebuilding, worship, and fellowship with the people of the gulf coast. The group will be housed and fed at the camp and will work at different sites during the day. For more information and register go to http://www.newjerseyyouth.org/mission_trip. Registration deadline is July 19, 2008, but space is limited so be sure to sign up early! The Rector We Seek 5 Candidates Now... Our Search for a New Rector The Discernment Committee continues to meet on a regular basis. Outlined below is an overview of what we have accomplished so far as well as some insight into the next steps in the process of calling our new Rector. What we have accomplished so far: In November, we received a list of 39 potential candidates that met the criteria set forth in our Profile. As of March 1, the group of candidates was narrowed down to 9. During March, members of the committee conducted phone interviews with the references provided to us by each of the 9 candidates. During the first week of April, the committee met to discuss and review the information provided to us by each candidate's references. The committee has now identified 5 outstanding candidates for further consideration. So what are the next steps? During the next few weeks, teams of three committee members will visit each of the final candidates in their hometowns where they will have the opportunity to interview and get to know the candidates personally as well as visit their respective parish. Upon completion of our visits, the committee will identify a smaller group of candidates that will be invited to Trinity to meet with the entire Discernment committee. We expect these visits to take place sometime during in mid May. We still hope to make our recommendation to the vestry so that they can call our new rector by summer of 2008. We will continue to inform you of our progress as we move forward. Please note that while information pertaining to our process and progress towards calling a new rector is transparent, the names of potential candidates at any stage along the way are highly confidential and will not be disclosed under any circumstances.	The 175th Anniversary of Trinity Church THIS SUNDAY This Sunday we kick off the celebration of the 175th anniversary of this church with a Pentecost event that will celebrate the very foundations of our life together The service will launch the summer worship service schedule - we begin at 10:00 a.m. In addition to celebrating the Day of Pentecost, we will Baptize two new members of the Body of Christ We will have a covered dish picnic on the lawn so please come prepared with a dish to share. (See Ildiko's suggestions below)You might want to bring a blanket or lawn chairs. We invite you to wear red and white - the colors of Pentecost (Whitsunday) and Mother's Day. Do not forget your olive wood cross and your nametag! We will have carnations of red and white for everyone and buttons to wear celebrating the day. We will pay special tribute to our non-stipendiary clergy, who give so generously of their time and skills. Steve White, the Episcopal Chaplain at Princeton University will be our preacher. The bells in the Tower will ring 175 times at the end of the service. Our goal is 100% attendance for this Sunday! Bishop Councell to Confirm 34 on May 18th (It's a Record!) On Sunday, May 18, the Rt. Rev. George E. Councell will conduct the largest Confirmation in the history of his episcopate for one single congregation, when he confirms or receives thirty fouryouth and adults here at Trinity. It is no coincidence that it is being held on Trinity Sunday, the Sunday after Pentecost and the week after the kick-off after our 175th birthday celebration. We are blessed to have this great outpouring of commitment from so many of our parish's worshipers. We believe that it is the result of the dedication to evangelism this church has taken upon itself. We are honored that these young people and adults have chosen to make the Episcopal Church their spiritual home through life. This service will be at 10:00 a.m, Following it, we will have a reception for the new confirmands and the Bishop. We will be taking a photograph of the entire assembly, with the Bishop and clergy.. Copies of the photo will be given to the confirmands and one will be included in the time capsule that is being created, to be opened on the celebration of our 200th birthday. Ildiko Antal Needs Help! Please Report in with Covered Dish Donations for the 175th Anniversary Celebration! A Message from Ildiko... Please join us to the picnic on Sunday, May 11th after the 10 o'clock service on the Stockton lawn in celebration of Pentecost and the 175th Anniversary of our beloved Trinity church. We are inviting everyone to contribute to the festivities with their favorite appetizer, dessert or casserole dish. Please let me know what dish you will bring and if you would like to offer additional help (609-688-9242, IldikoA@patmedia.net). Thank you very much! Incense will be Used... At the 10 am services on May 11th and May 18th. Couples Program Returns on May 18th.... Trinity Church and Trinity Counseling Service (TCS) are teaming up for the third and final time this year to sponsor an evening of food, fun, fellowship and some frank talk on how to improve relationships between spouses and partners. This is a free workshop and it's a wonderful way for couples to spend a Sunday evening! Two dozen people showed up for the Fall program, and we doubled that number for the Winter session. We expect an even better turnout for the Spring, so please sign up early. Sunday, May 18, 2008 5:30pm Socializing ( wine available for purchase) 6:15 pm Dinner (small fee charged) 7 pm Program Starts 8:45 pm Program Ends Topic: "Conflict Resolution for Couples" Led by Peter Stimpson, Director of TCS All are welcome! Whether you're married, domestic partners ,or just feel like a couple. The program will be held in Trinity's Pierce Hall with childcare available. Please sign-up at the receptionist's desk weekdays; in Pierce Hall on Sunday; by calling (609-924-2277) or emailing Alison Roth at rotha@trinityprinceton.org Adam and Eve, a couple who needed conflict resolution... Enjoy Dinner with Elaine Pagels on May 18th... Elaine Pagels, Trinity Church member, Harrington Spear Paine Foundation Professor of Religion at Princeton University, Scholar and best selling author (The Gnostic Gospels, Adam, Eve and The Serpent, Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas and The Origin of Satan) will give an overview of her work and answer questions from guests on Sunday, May 18th at 5:00 p.m. This intimate setting will include an extraordinary meal prepared by one of Princeton's finest amateur chefs, Richard Rosen who has interned in the kitchen of New York's Le Bernardin restaurant. Discussion and Dinner will take place in Richard and Elisa Rosen's home in Princeton. Four reservations have become available due to late scheduling conflicts. Contribution is $200 per person. Proceeds will benefit Housing Initiatives of Princeton. If interested, please contact Ruth Thurmond Scott by May 15th at 609-279-6987 or rscott@scarlettsystems.com. June 1st Choir Sunday; Jim Litton & John Bertalot to Conduct Trinity Choir Jim Litton (top) and John Bertalot will return on Sunday, June 1st! Stay tuned for details. June 15th Jim & Ellen Sell Appreciation Day Please join us for a reception in Pierce Hall after the 10 a.m. service to celebrate Jim and Ellen Sell and their time at Trinity. Joys and Concerns from Children's Chapel From May 4, 2008 Joys cats and dogs Devon gets to go to Stuart brothers and sisters lemon cake birthdays confirmation toys movies and books Liam made the hockey team Concerns family traveling animals that have died global warming - how we can work on it undone homework fires that devastate Katie's friend whose house burned down Trinity's Youth Group: Saginaw Bay Workcamp for Trinity Teenagers July 6-11, 2008 Trinity Church's Michael Lovaglio will lead members of our Youth Group (must be entering your high school sophomore year or older) on a mission trip this summer to Bay City, Michigan. The purpose of the trip is to help elderly and disadvantaged residents of the area keep up their homes. Over 170 years ago, the area, located on the Saginaw Bay riverfront, was a thriving tourist area. Everyone will stay at the lodging facility of the First Presbyterian Church of Bay City; the cost is $359, plus airfare and van hire; the deadline to register is May 11th. To register, please email Michael at michael.lovaglio@ptsem.edu Time for TASP on June 14th with Michael Graves Original Clock Up for Bid! TIME FOR TASP ON JUNE 14th On Saturday, June 14th, from 4-7pm, TASP (The Trenton After School Program) Will have a Reception and Auction which will be hosted by the Arts Council of Princeton in their newly renovated Paul Robeson Center for the Arts, 102 Witherspoon Street, Princeton. Using various clocks and timepieces as their canvas, area fine artists have created unique works of art available for auction including a stunning original by Michael Graves! Honorary Chair of this exciting evening is Mr. Rodney Lofton, Superintendent of Schools, Trenton Public Schools. For more information contact Trinity parishioner Kay Roberts, Co-chair, at 609/947-4887 lkr267@yahoo.com and go to www.trentonafterschoolprogram.org J2A Heads On Out to South Dakota This Summer! As the culminating event of their Journey to Adulthood class, teens from the J2A Sunday School will be going on a spiritual Pilgrimage this summer, July 27 - August 3, to the Borderlands Ranch in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Borderlands is an Anglican Spirituality Center run by the Rev. Linda Kramer. To Receive E-Pistle, Annie Thomas Needs Your email Address! Why not have it sent to a friend? Please send the email address to thomasa@trinityprinceton.org The Deadline for E-Pistle and the Sunday Service Leaflet is Wednesday, at 10am Please send your copy to Alison Roth (rotha@trinityprinceton.org) We love to include photos and logos; please email them to us in a jpeg file.