Extra! Extra! Read All About Us!	Newsletter Archives
May, 2008

RECTORS REPORT

From your Interim Priest:

Spring is finally here! In fact, today will feel like summer as it hits 80 degrees. I’m ready for it – as I’m sure most of you are, too. Everything is beginning to bloom – spring flowers, shrubs and trees. The signs of renewed life are everywhere. They are wonderful reminders to us of the renewed life we receive each Sunday as we worship together here at Trinity Church.

We are also reminded that Jesus came that we may have life – and have it more abundantly. That means here and now! If we love and serve Jesus - living out our baptismal promises, we can have more abundant life. I’m not talking about financial wealth, or material “things”, but a life that includes reaching out and serving others. When we do reach out to help others, often we discover that it brings joy and peace into our own lives. Working together in community also brings a lot of joy. I’ve certainly witnessed that in this parish!

As of the end of April I have been with you for 6 months. Your search committee is hard at work. They and the vestry have just spent a very productive weekend retreat with The Rev. Cynthia Hubbard, who did the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) with the parish. They spent Friday night and Saturday working on goals for the next 3 years, and drawing up a profile of this parish. They used the information gathered at the AI from the parish. The enthusiasm and excitement about the future here is quite contagious! Please keep them in your prayers as they move forward to the time of receiving names for your new rector.

On Sunday, May 4th, I will be meeting with anyone interested in Christian Education. We will come together to talk about what is happening now – and to plan for the fall. I invite you to join the conversation. Karen, Cherie and Carol (and perhaps others) have worked hard to have a good program for the children. I commend them for their hard work and dedication. At this meeting we will talk about ways that we can further help them in this important ministry of teaching. We also will discuss whether or not a regular curriculum might be helpful. I am very happy that Donna Reed has once again come on board to help with the older youth.

On May 4th we will also have a Baptism, the first since I have been here. That is a sign of new life, for sure! We will welcome Corey James Henderson into the body of Christ.

May 11th is The Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday, which comes 50 days after Easter. This day I encourage everyone to wear RED! (the liturgical color for Pentecost!) On that Sunday we celebrate the gift of the Holy Spirit that was given to the apostles and “signaled the beginning of their public proclamation of Jesus as the Christ”. It is often called the birthday of the Christian Church. Whitsunday (White Sunday) was the name used at a time when people wore all white to be baptized. Whitsunday was a traditional time for baptisms to occur. The season of Pentecost, which runs from Pentecost Sunday until the First Sunday of Advent, is the time we recall the earthly ministry of Jesus, which culminated in his death, resurrection, post-resurrection appearances and ascension. During this time we are called to think about the significance of the Church itself as the sign of Christ’s continued presence and ongoing activity in the world”. (A New Dictionary for Episcopalians)

Trinity Work Day– Everyone is invited to participate on Saturday, May 10^th beginning at 8 AM and ending when we’re finished! Come with yard tools, empty barrels, and any other tools you think you may need. We will be cleaning inside and outside. If you prefer to work inside, bring clean cloths for dusting and polishing, etc. Let’s work together to get the property clean and in good shape for the summer and fall. Lunch will be served.

Deanery Youth Event– for Middle School and High School youth, Sunday, May 18^th, at St. Andrew’s in Hanover (17 Church Street – 781-826-2062). It is open to all youth, Episcopalian or not. Come and bring your friends. There are many small parishes with only a few teens in each. This is a way for them to come together, meet new friends in the deanery, and to have fun and worship together. It will be lively and, we hope, relevant for them as Christian teens. Middle School youth will meet from 5:00 – 6:15 PM. There will be a cookout from 6:15 – 7:00 PM/ bring desserts to share. High school youth will meet from 7:00 – 8:30 PM. There will be live music, youth led. St. Andres’s is only a mile from the Hanover Mall, in case parents have youth in both groups! There will also be a parent program and a hang out space for kids while they wait for older or younger siblings.

Summer worship schedule– we are polling the parish to decide whether to remain on 8 and 10 am services for the summer – or to switch to 9 AM for the summer months. Please let your thoughts be known - to Rev. Billie or to any vestry member. We will go with the consensus of the parish.

Enriching Our Worship– On Sunday, May 18^th, with the permission of the vestry, we will do a trial use of Holy Communion from this book of supplemental worship services prepared by The Standing Commission in 1997 and published by The Church Publishing Company. We will use this alternate form of the Eucharist at 10 AM on that Sunday. I will then welcome comments from those who attend. If it is well accepted, we will use it again sometime during the summer.

WARDEN'S REPORT

Happy Spring to all! Much is happening during this busy April. The Search Committee and the Vestry had a successful weekend retreat. Under the guidance of the Rev. Cynthia Hubbard we prepared the outline of our Parish Profile, a necessary component of the search process for our new rector. All of the information that we used was based on the input of the parish gathered at the Appreciative Inquiry. We all left the retreat feeling enthusiastic and optimistic about our future.

We are also continuing to work on ongoing building maintenance. The leaking flat rubber roof over the link has been replaced and we look forward to spring showers outside, not in. We have scheduled a Clean Up Day for Saturday, May 10. The Building Committee has a list of tasks that need our attention. Many hands make light work. Come and share the fellowship. Lunch will be provided. Thank you to Robin Hart, Celeste Shepard and her daughters for the beautiful plants around the church.

Please watch the Sunday bulletins and future newsletters for upcoming events. We are having a Church Picnic on June 29 and are looking into Ames Nowell State Park as the site for the 10:00 a.m. service with picnic, fun and games to follow. There will also be a luncheon and art show on Saturday, June 28 featuring the artwork of our own Pat Isaac, as well as pottery by Rockland native Helen Najarian. Last year’s event was delightful and we look forward to another day of culture, art and good food.

The Vestry would also like to hear your input on planning the summer schedule. We can continue two services at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m., or we can have one service at 9:00 a.m. as we have often done in the past. We would like to accommodate the majority of opinion so please pass on your thoughts to any Vestry member or to Rev. Billie.

Thanks again to everyone for all the support to our Vestry and Search Committee.

NURSERY

Baby-sitting is available at the 10:00 a.m. service for infants and Toddlers.
Please call or see Karen Boyle if you are interested in volunteering.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

All of the children from Sunday school went to the Food Pantry on the Sunday after Easter. They brought their donations in wagons and carried baskets. They were very excited to bring the food and other items. On the way back, Catherine and Amber remembered how they got to ride in the wagons on the way back to church years ago. And now they were pulling Caroline. It is wonderful to see how these children have grown in Christ over the years.

The older kids in Sunday School, age 10 and up, have been meeting with Donna Reed for Sunday School. They have had fun and are exploring some different things in the prayer book and the Bible. They have been comparing different versions of the Bible and getting use to how to look things up. They have been asked to Pray their favorite version of the Lord’s Prayer every day. They have also talked about Choices and how every day we make many, some good, some not so good. Every week the kids bring in a song with lyrics and share why they chose the song they did and what message they get from it.

WOMEN’S GROUP

The Women's Group will meet Monday, May 12^th, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hal conference Room. We will have a scrapbook presentation and be able to make and take home a project. All you need to bring is 2-3 photos to group together in the project. We will also be planning the June Luncheon and Art Show. More information will follow. All women are invited to attend.

The next Search Committee meeting is Monday, May 5th, at 7:00 p.m. We will be editing the work accomplished at the Retreat and formatting that information into a tri-fold pamphlet. This pamphlet will be used to help find our new Rector. Please see Debbie Morse for more information.

CHOIR

Looking for a place to sing? Looking for a way to have fun and participate in the worship service? Then the Choir is the place for you. Under the direction of John Ferguson, the choir at Trinity is an enriching experience that uplifts your spirit and frees your voice. They meet on Thursday evenings at 6:30pm at Trinity. All are welcome and no previous singing experience is required. Come join us and learn to sing!

WOMEN OF FAITH

The Women of Faith are coming to Boston TD Bank North Garden! July 25-26.

The conference is from 7pm-9:30pm on Friday and Saturday 9am-5pm. There is also a pre-conference on Friday from 10am-3:30pm. If there are women from the church that are interested in going I am hoping to get seats together.

The conference has different prices for different parts. For the pre conference and conference both days it is 139.00, (1-9 people) 129.00 for (10+). I have gone to Hartford and Albany in the past and am very excited they are going to be in Boston. I will copy the flyer and hang it at church. If you have questions let me know.

On your Personal 'Road to Emmaus" Where do you see God?

Take out your camera and take a picture and summit it for the photo contest.

Where do you see God? Let's find out together!!!!
See Donna Reed or Sue Johnson for questions.

DIOCESAN ALTAR GUILD

The Consecration of a Bishop, The Ordination of Candidates to the Sacred Order of Deacons, The Ordination of Deacons to the Sacred Priesthood along with Special Conventions all come under this heading. In our space at 138 Tremont Street we store glass chalices, wine flagons, breadbaskets, altar linens and items you would find in your own sacristy in your local church. Before an event we pack up what we need and arrange to have it transported with other articles from the Diocese to be delivered to the special location. Wine and Eucharistic Bread are ordered as well.

CLOSING THOUGHT

"The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us".