News and Announcements

This Sunday, May 27 is Whitsunday. Or the Day of Pentecost. Now, if you happen to fancy words and their etymology, Whitsunday has an interesting history.   The most common definition for "Whitsunday" is that is is a contraction for "white" and "Sunday."  The general idea being that the white light of the Holy Spirit descends on this day.  But further etymology shows medieval spellings such as "wyt" or "wytte" frequently caused the meaning to be confused with "wit" or understanding.  In fact, one abbott suggested that "wyttesunday" is the day that the holy spirit descended to impart "wit" and wisdom to Christ's disciples.  Either definition works.  So this "White Sunday", when the white light of the Holy Spirit alights upon you and fills you with "wit and wisdom" (along with the other seven-fold gifts), wear red!

Announcements:

•  The church offices will be closed Monday, May 28 in observance of Memorial Day.

• Fr. David will begin "First Communion" classes on June 3 at 9:00am in the Brinckerhoff Room for those children ready to learn about Holy Eucharist.

• Scholarships are available to help defray the cost of attending the "Living the Gospel: Connecting Faith and Daily Life" workshop at Rock Point on June 8-9. Anyone interested in the discount should contact Rev. Wayne Schwab at 802-482-7743. Reservations for the workshop should be made by June 5.  You can register here.

• Trinity Church will be acquiring a new Gospel Book for the altar.  The new book will coincide more accurately with our Sunday readings.  It is a fine tome, leather bound and gold embossed.  As such, it is worthy of memorials.  If you would like to contribute memorial names for the new Gospel Book, please submit your donation along with the names to the church office.  Submissions will be accepted through June.

• The Women of Trinity will have their annual picnic on June 4 at 6:00pm at Linda Barcomb's home.  Call the office for directions.  Please bring a chair, a side dish to share and an item for the auction: knick-knacks, books, dishes, plants!

As you press onward along your life's adventure, please remember that you are held dear.  So play safely this holiday weekend!

Communications Transition at Trinity Church

Friends, visitors and members!  Things are happening at Trinity Church; changes are being made in how things are being done as well as who is doing them.  We've recently seen dear friends depart, but are thrilled to welcome back returning friends.  And we're even more blessed to welcome new friends!  With these people changes comes necessarily changes in our functions.  To wit: communications.

You may have noticed that this blog had not been updated in about two weeks.  That is because the new administrator of the blog (that'd be me, Wendy Grace) is not quite on the ball with it just yet.  Tom Williamson, who has faithfully and capably administered this blog since Rev. Crawford's departure, has turned over its operation to the church secretary.  Because the office receives information in a much more timely manner, it follows that we can update this site as new information comes in.  Or so the theory goes!  The two-week lag between the last post and this one would suggest otherwise.  Regardless, if you would like to see something included in the announcements posted here, please contact the church office.  Thank you, Tom, for keeping this blog updated for the past six months!

In other areas of communication, we gratefully acknowledge and commend the work that Joanne Williamson has put into our Trinity Church website.  She feels that with the new changes that will be coming to the website (to accommodate the needs for our search for a new rector), this is the ideal time to step down as the webmaster.  The time and energy and creative design she volunteered to our website have been a true gift.  Joanne, you have our deepest gratitude!  With Joanne's departure from the Communications Team, we have new interest from others.  Quincy Bruckerhoff has agreed to spearhead the research and development of updating our website.  Thank you, Quincy!  Part of the decision to upgrade our website derives from the changes in procedures for conducting a search for a new rector.  The Ministry Discernment Committee (MDC from here on) has been given a new protocol for developing a parish profile, and part of that protocol involves a more active and dynamic style of website.  The platform we currently use just isn't able to support our upcoming needs.  So steps are being taken to make those improvements.

PLEASE note the following important announcements:

• The MDC invites and strongly encourages parishioner to join them in a parish gathering this coming Sunday, May 20 following our worship together to discuss how history and trends as part of their discernment process.  It is vitally important that members of Trinity Church participate as all voices deserve to be heard!  We'll share a potluck luncheon of "finger" foods as we share our thoughts and reflections.
• The in-gathering for the United Thank Offering will also be this coming Sunday, May 20.  Please bring an extra offering and use the envelope that will be enclosed in the bulletin.
• Memorial Day is Monday, May 29.  The office will be closed that day.
• Many thanks to all the folks who made the Mother's Day Breakfast so delightful!  The tables were lovely; the food was delicious; the company was warm.  Here are some photos taken by Dana Peterson.
  

  

  The brilliant chefs du jour.

  

  No neck injury will keep THIS intrepid server down!

  

  Past time with good company.

  

  Our warm and friendly servers.

Some Things from May's Logos

From Father David - 

 THE NAMING OF EASTER

In most languages, the Feast of the Resurrection of Our Lord is known by some variation descended from the Hebrew word PESACH, meaning "Passover". Examples are Pasch, Pasque, Pâques or, in Welsh, Pasg.  This gives the related adjective “paschal”, as in lamb or mystery.  (Think “Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us”.)  

However, the feast of the Resurrection is called by another word in English, German, and a few related languages of which our variant is EASTER.  One possible explanation is that given by the Venerable Bede, monk of Northumbria and England’s only native “Doctor of the Church”, who died in AD 735.  Bede derived the word from the name of an Anglo-Saxon goddess of spring called EASTRE.  However, Bede's is not the only theory that has been proposed

Among Latin-speaking Christians, Easter week was known as "hebdomada alba" (white week), since the newly-baptized Christians were accustomed to wearing their white baptismal robes throughout that week. Sometimes the week was referred to simply as "albae." Translators rendering this into German mistook it for the plural of "alba," meaning "dawn." They accordingly rendered it as EOSTARUM, which is Old High German for "dawn." This may have given rise to the form EASTER in English.

O.K. schools out now and however we define the origins of the word, or whatever we call the Feast of the Resurrection, interesting as that all may be, the important point is that this event is the central fact of Christian faith.  In the resurrection God has revealed his love for the world and demonstrated that the power of good will have the ultimate victory.  Knowing this, we can start to experience that victory in this life; we don’t have to wait for the hereafter. Resurrection people are free from the fear of death and evil and know that while the flesh is weak, the spirit is strong.  

Whether “Passover”, “Eastre” or “Eostarum” this feast is a spring alright, the springtime of our hopes; it’s a dawn alright, the dawn of a better way of living and being.  Let’s embrace it whatever we call it.

Christopher L. David +

Mother’s Day Breakfast

Sunday, May 13 is Mother’s Day and once again, the gentlemen of the congregation will prepare and serve breakfast to all Mom’s and mothers at heart.  Breakfast will be served from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM, before our worship service. Any men wishing to help with this event should speak with Dana Peterson or Elaine Foskett.

Parish History Discernment

On Sunday, May 20, immediately after church, everyone is invited to join us for a Parish History Discernment gathering. We trust all the wonderful Trinity cooks will bring finger food (like we do for Annual meeting), and the whole congregation will put minds and hearts together to create a history of Trinity as we see it now.  The Ministry Discernment Committee needs to hear from you to inform the first stages of the discernment and search process. We realize many of you have participated in similar meetings, but our history and our perspectives have changed. So please plan to come and share in the process. It is important that we hear from everyone!

Trinity’s Gifts and Spiritual Lifts 

Gift Shop Hours

The gift shop will have regular open hours during the two weeks prior to Mother’s Day (May 13).  The shop will be open everyday from 11:00am to 1:00pm, with the exception of May 5 when it will be closed.  And as always, if you cannot make it to the shop during those allotted times, it can be opened by appointment as well—just call the office to arrange a time.

Be sure to visit Trinity’s Gifts and Spiritual Lifts soon because we have much new stock, including live plant gift baskets, costume jewellery and a number of other varied and eclectic items.  There is a lot to choose from to find a gift that’s sure to please Mom!

Children’s Education News:

Children's Formation Regarding the Eucharist

Father David would like to invite any parents and children who are interested in learning more deeply about taking communion to meet. Over four sessions he will answer questions about and give instruction regarding the sacrament of the Eucharist, culminating in a special service recognizing the children’s' reception into the Eucharistic community. This is, essentially, a celebration of ‘First Communion’, even for those who have been receiving for some time.  These sessions are particularly geared toward elementary school children ages 7-10, but all who would like to learn more are welcome! Interested in learning more? Talk to Fr. David, or Katya Cooke.

Announcements May 3rd - 9th

Tomorrow is the National Day of Prayer.  The National Day of Prayer was established by President Harry Truman in 1952 and was appointed yearly.  In 1988, President Ronald Reagan signed into law designating the first Thursday of May as the National Day of Prayer.  Just a little interesting information in hopes that you will remember Trinity Church, its ministries and its people in your prayers tomorrow.

Ladies, please note that there will be a Women of Trinity meeting on Monday, May 7 at 6:30 in the library.  All women are automatically part of Women of Trinity and are encouraged to come to the meeting to learn about WOT's good works.

The MDC will meet on Tuesday, May 8 at 5:30 PM.

No Community Luncheon in May.  The Community Luncheon program is cancelled until further notice as the group reorganizes.

The Fellowship Team announces the annual Mother's Day Breakfast will be held on Sunday, May 13 from 8:30 AM to 9:30 AM.