Our Mission Statement
Our Mission Statement
Our church exists to reach out to members of the community, to connect them with other Christians, to help them grow in their faith, and to challenge them to discov er their ministry, and honor God with their life.
February 1, 2018 Dear friends in Christ, This morning, I met with our Bishop, Ian Douglas to discuss with him and to ask his approval for me to make plans to retire from being Rector here at Holy Trinity, with an effective date of May 31, 2018. This has not been an easy decision to make for a number of reasons. I think Kathy and I can easily agree that our time, first in The North Central Episcopal Regional Ministry, and later here at Holy Trinity have been among the happiest and most satisfying years in our lives. We think of all of you in this church as cherished friends, and together we are and have been members of a wonderful family in God. That has been a great blessing arising from our shared work with you in building this household of faith. From the beginning of our time together at Holy Trinity ten years ago, the people of this parish very ambitious in our desire to be a church on God’s Mission. With wonderful flexibility and innovation, we have embraced new ideas and efforts to accomplish that vision. We readily accepted a call to provide meals at Enfield Loaves and Fishes on a regular basis. Knitters began to create Prayer Shawls for folks struggling with illness, and we began a tradition that children being baptized here would receive from their parish family a baby blanket from us. We began to offer prayer and anointing for healing at the time of Communion at our services several times each month. For many years now, we have begun a pattern of occasional Sunday evening services of healing, and a “Blue Christmas” service each year on a Friday evening before Christmas. And we took prayer and anointing for healing outside the building, offering Saturday morning Drive-In Prayer on occasion for the past several years. And of course, we now are in our third winter season of hosting a warming center to provide warmth, food and rest for homeless persons in our community as they come into our parish meeting hall each night for seventy five nights beginning in mid-January. I think we can be especially proud that in two years’ time, this effort has grown from being an informal community undertaking into the not-for-profit corporation Enfield People for People, with Enfield Safe Harbor Warming Center, as an agency under its umbrella. EPfP has a Board of fifteen people, six part-time staff, and over forty volunteers. Local restaurants provide food each evening, large amounts of clothing and personal items are donated by individual supporters and community organizations, and we enjoy the support of a wide number of community leaders. To them I offer my personal thanks for their generosity and help, and I thank all of you as members of the church that hosts and enables these efforts among some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Please know that you have their thanks and mine for all that you have made possible. Know also that we have many blessings from God, as the Holy Spirit walks alongside us, guiding and helping us to serve “the least of these…” who are sisters
and brothers of Our Lord Jesus. Know too, that these have been truly exciting years of ministry for me, as your Rector. And for that, I am thankful. Back in 2015, when our Associate Rector, Ed Goetz became ill with what proved to be a terminal illness, I made a commitment to all of you to remain with you through that illness and for a time afterwards to provide pastoral care in our time of grieving for Fr. Ed. He has been gone from us for a little over two years. He is sorely missed, and I will tell you now that I can only tell you now, that for a number of years I had hoped privately that he would be here for you now as I prepare to take my leave from you. Sadly, that is not to be, but I know, and thank God that you have great resources among many people in this place, to tend to the spiritual and pastoral needs of this parish family, in the days and months ahead. I will give priority in the coming four months to: Preparing your Vestry to lead the life of this church in the days ahead. In your Annual Report which you will receive today, you will find reports from our various committees, parish organizations, and interest groups. This spring let us take time to build up the membership and work of these groups. They will support and help the Vestry in their work of leadership among you, and enable the great works of Mission and ministry you do. Remember also, we are now part of The Northeast Region of The Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Maggie Breen is our Region Missionary. We will meet her at our services on Sunday, February 18. She can help as you need to find resources to continue to grow in God’s Mission, and in service in ministry, and she’ll help you to offer your gifts to the people of other churches in the Region. I made another commitment to you in the later months of 2017. I want to lead yet another Alpha Course at Holy Trinity. Alpha we know, has been a terrific resource for us as a means of evangelism and personal transformation for us in our lives as Christians. I know I continue to find spiritual growth and renewal each time I am part of an Alpha Course. I have two goals for this year’s Alpha: That this year all of us will bring people to join with us in participating in Alpha. You and I are for the most part of a similar age demographic. And we’re not getting younger. That reality began to hit us hard a couple of years ago. A few weeks ago I preached about Jesus’ tactics in seeking followers. Some of the possible candidates were asking him questions about himself, and his response was, “Come and see.” Alpha is a place where people with questions can “Come and see.” In Jesus’ name, you can make that invitation to people in vour lives who may have some question, reservations, or may not know that they have any questions yet. The second goal for this Alpha is to shore up the ability of the Alpha Team of leaders to be able to continue the tradition of Alpha at Holy Trinity in coming years. We are and have been richly blessed in this parish family in these and in so many ways. Let us resolve to remember Holy Trinity each day in our prayers, counting on God’s continued blessings, that the Holy Spirit will always show up alongside us especially in Mission and ministry, and that Jesus will confirm his promise to be with us always, as we go out in his name. And so, for now, see you in church!
Fr. Peter
Listening for God’s Voice; (Once a month Bible study)
“….like a hole in the head” You are invited to join us for a potluck supper and a discussion of
Judges 4 & 5 Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 from 6pm to 8pm. Potluck Supper in Locke Hall starts promptly at 6:00pm. Presentation and discussion will start at 6:45pm. Everyone is invited to attend. Prior Bible experience is not necessary. For more details, please contact Peter Jacobson.
Alpha is coming! The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith. The Alpha Team will hold training meetings starting on February 1st at 7 pm and continue thru February 22nd . All who are interested will join us starting on March 1st at Holy Trinity at 6:15 pm for a delicious dinner followed by the Alpha course. The course continues thru March and April on Thursdays, with dinner provided. You may be new to Holy Trinity and want to become part of a network of friends in Christ or you may just want to learn “Is there more to Life?”
Join Us.
FEED THE HUNGRY! WE-CARE ANNUAL
PASTA DINNER
JOIN US FRIDAY MARCH 23RD HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2 SEATINGS 5:00 P.M. AND 6:30 P. M. $5.00 PER PERSON $20.00 PER FAMILY MAX ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE USED TO COVER THE COST OF THE FOOD WE PURCHASE TO MAKE OUR SIX MEALS PER YEAR DOING OUR MINISTRY FOR LOAVES AND FISHES IN THOMPSONVILLE
February Server Schedule-If you are unable to come on a certain Sunday please arrange for your own substitute Date February
8AM Chalicer
10AM Chalicer
10 AM Lector
10 AM Acolyte
10 AM Counter
10 AM Greeters Oblationer
Feb 4 Epiphany 5
Brian Crouse
Wendy Hietala
Brian Jacobson
Volunteer
Jim Botellio Werner Glatz
Lisa Watson Wendy Hietala
February 11 Last Epiphany
Mary Ellen Killeen
Wendy Lyons
Bob Lyons
Volunteer
Pamela Sanborn Pam Blewett
Lew Wilby Dave Roy
February 18 Lent 1
Brian Crouse
Christie Michaud
Brittany Crabtree
Volunteer
Wendy Lyons Laurie Luipold
Judy Rollins Carol Haesaert
February 25 Lent 2
Mary Ellen Killeen
Dave Watson
Brian Jacobson
Volunteer
Laurie Luipold Volunteer
Pam and Scott Blewett
February Healing Team February 4: Judy Rollins, Brittany Crabtree February 11: Peter Jacobson, Kathy Bushnell February 18: Wendy Lyons, Brenda Roy
+
February Cycle of Prayer
February
February 4
February Anniversaries Rick and Kathy Fairley 2/2 Owen and Noreen Zahnle 2/14
February Birthdays David Pino Lynne Goss Scott Blewett Wendy Lyons Theresa Crabtree Kathy Fairley Aiden Howell Cayden Evans Mabel Carrozzo Ed Kaplan Michael Sheehan
2/1 2/2 2/11 2/13 2/14 2/19 2/19 2/25 2/26 2/26 2/26
Judy Rollins Connie Rossi David and Brenda Roy and family February 11 Dan and Jay-el Salafia and family Andrew and Colleen Sampson and family Lewis and Pamela Sanborn
Lisa Lillis Laurie Luipold
February 18 Fran Sellers Mark and Jan Sheehan and family Jeanne Smith February 25 Kurt and Jennifer Stroiney and family Stanley Such James Taylor
If you want to order Altar Flowers, the sign up book is on the back table. The cost is $35.00. Please use an envelope from the flower book and put it into the collection plate
2018 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday 1
Friday
Saturday
2
3
9
10 10 am Prayer Shawl Ministry
7 pm Alpha team
4 8 & 10 am services Annual meeting Ingathering Sunday
5
11 8 & 10 am services
12
6
25 8 & 10 am services 6:30 pm Healing Service
8
7 pm Choir
7 pm Alpha team
14
15
6:30 pm WeCare meeting 7 pm Worship 13
7 pm Vestry meeting 18 8 & 10 am services Maggie Breen Joining in service
7
19
20
10 am &7 pm Ash Wednesday services
27
7 pm Choir 21
22
7 pm Choir
7 pm Alpha team
28
7 pm Choir
16
17 10 am Writers’ Group
23
24
7 pm Alpha team
Office closed
6 pm Bible Study and potluck 26
10-4 Tag sale
Our church exists to reach out to members of the community, to connect them with other Christians, to help them grow in their faith, and to challenge them to discov er their ministry, and honor God with their life.
February 1, 2018 Dear friends in Christ, This morning, I met with our Bishop, Ian Douglas to discuss with him and to ask his approval for me to make plans to retire from being Rector here at Holy Trinity, with an effective date of May 31, 2018. This has not been an easy decision to make for a number of reasons. I think Kathy and I can easily agree that our time, first in The North Central Episcopal Regional Ministry, and later here at Holy Trinity have been among the happiest and most satisfying years in our lives. We think of all of you in this church as cherished friends, and together we are and have been members of a wonderful family in God. That has been a great blessing arising from our shared work with you in building this household of faith. From the beginning of our time together at Holy Trinity ten years ago, the people of this parish very ambitious in our desire to be a church on God’s Mission. With wonderful flexibility and innovation, we have embraced new ideas and efforts to accomplish that vision. We readily accepted a call to provide meals at Enfield Loaves and Fishes on a regular basis. Knitters began to create Prayer Shawls for folks struggling with illness, and we began a tradition that children being baptized here would receive from their parish family a baby blanket from us. We began to offer prayer and anointing for healing at the time of Communion at our services several times each month. For many years now, we have begun a pattern of occasional Sunday evening services of healing, and a “Blue Christmas” service each year on a Friday evening before Christmas. And we took prayer and anointing for healing outside the building, offering Saturday morning Drive-In Prayer on occasion for the past several years. And of course, we now are in our third winter season of hosting a warming center to provide warmth, food and rest for homeless persons in our community as they come into our parish meeting hall each night for seventy five nights beginning in mid-January. I think we can be especially proud that in two years’ time, this effort has grown from being an informal community undertaking into the not-for-profit corporation Enfield People for People, with Enfield Safe Harbor Warming Center, as an agency under its umbrella. EPfP has a Board of fifteen people, six part-time staff, and over forty volunteers. Local restaurants provide food each evening, large amounts of clothing and personal items are donated by individual supporters and community organizations, and we enjoy the support of a wide number of community leaders. To them I offer my personal thanks for their generosity and help, and I thank all of you as members of the church that hosts and enables these efforts among some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Please know that you have their thanks and mine for all that you have made possible. Know also that we have many blessings from God, as the Holy Spirit walks alongside us, guiding and helping us to serve “the least of these…” who are sisters
and brothers of Our Lord Jesus. Know too, that these have been truly exciting years of ministry for me, as your Rector. And for that, I am thankful. Back in 2015, when our Associate Rector, Ed Goetz became ill with what proved to be a terminal illness, I made a commitment to all of you to remain with you through that illness and for a time afterwards to provide pastoral care in our time of grieving for Fr. Ed. He has been gone from us for a little over two years. He is sorely missed, and I will tell you now that I can only tell you now, that for a number of years I had hoped privately that he would be here for you now as I prepare to take my leave from you. Sadly, that is not to be, but I know, and thank God that you have great resources among many people in this place, to tend to the spiritual and pastoral needs of this parish family, in the days and months ahead. I will give priority in the coming four months to: Preparing your Vestry to lead the life of this church in the days ahead. In your Annual Report which you will receive today, you will find reports from our various committees, parish organizations, and interest groups. This spring let us take time to build up the membership and work of these groups. They will support and help the Vestry in their work of leadership among you, and enable the great works of Mission and ministry you do. Remember also, we are now part of The Northeast Region of The Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Maggie Breen is our Region Missionary. We will meet her at our services on Sunday, February 18. She can help as you need to find resources to continue to grow in God’s Mission, and in service in ministry, and she’ll help you to offer your gifts to the people of other churches in the Region. I made another commitment to you in the later months of 2017. I want to lead yet another Alpha Course at Holy Trinity. Alpha we know, has been a terrific resource for us as a means of evangelism and personal transformation for us in our lives as Christians. I know I continue to find spiritual growth and renewal each time I am part of an Alpha Course. I have two goals for this year’s Alpha: That this year all of us will bring people to join with us in participating in Alpha. You and I are for the most part of a similar age demographic. And we’re not getting younger. That reality began to hit us hard a couple of years ago. A few weeks ago I preached about Jesus’ tactics in seeking followers. Some of the possible candidates were asking him questions about himself, and his response was, “Come and see.” Alpha is a place where people with questions can “Come and see.” In Jesus’ name, you can make that invitation to people in vour lives who may have some question, reservations, or may not know that they have any questions yet. The second goal for this Alpha is to shore up the ability of the Alpha Team of leaders to be able to continue the tradition of Alpha at Holy Trinity in coming years. We are and have been richly blessed in this parish family in these and in so many ways. Let us resolve to remember Holy Trinity each day in our prayers, counting on God’s continued blessings, that the Holy Spirit will always show up alongside us especially in Mission and ministry, and that Jesus will confirm his promise to be with us always, as we go out in his name. And so, for now, see you in church!
Fr. Peter
Listening for God’s Voice; (Once a month Bible study)
“….like a hole in the head” You are invited to join us for a potluck supper and a discussion of
Judges 4 & 5 Monday, Feb. 19, 2018 from 6pm to 8pm. Potluck Supper in Locke Hall starts promptly at 6:00pm. Presentation and discussion will start at 6:45pm. Everyone is invited to attend. Prior Bible experience is not necessary. For more details, please contact Peter Jacobson.
Alpha is coming! The Alpha course is an opportunity for anyone to explore the Christian faith. The Alpha Team will hold training meetings starting on February 1st at 7 pm and continue thru February 22nd . All who are interested will join us starting on March 1st at Holy Trinity at 6:15 pm for a delicious dinner followed by the Alpha course. The course continues thru March and April on Thursdays, with dinner provided. You may be new to Holy Trinity and want to become part of a network of friends in Christ or you may just want to learn “Is there more to Life?”
Join Us.
FEED THE HUNGRY! WE-CARE ANNUAL
PASTA DINNER
JOIN US FRIDAY MARCH 23RD HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2 SEATINGS 5:00 P.M. AND 6:30 P. M. $5.00 PER PERSON $20.00 PER FAMILY MAX ALL PROCEEDS WILL BE USED TO COVER THE COST OF THE FOOD WE PURCHASE TO MAKE OUR SIX MEALS PER YEAR DOING OUR MINISTRY FOR LOAVES AND FISHES IN THOMPSONVILLE
February Server Schedule-If you are unable to come on a certain Sunday please arrange for your own substitute Date February
8AM Chalicer
10AM Chalicer
10 AM Lector
10 AM Acolyte
10 AM Counter
10 AM Greeters Oblationer
Feb 4 Epiphany 5
Brian Crouse
Wendy Hietala
Brian Jacobson
Volunteer
Jim Botellio Werner Glatz
Lisa Watson Wendy Hietala
February 11 Last Epiphany
Mary Ellen Killeen
Wendy Lyons
Bob Lyons
Volunteer
Pamela Sanborn Pam Blewett
Lew Wilby Dave Roy
February 18 Lent 1
Brian Crouse
Christie Michaud
Brittany Crabtree
Volunteer
Wendy Lyons Laurie Luipold
Judy Rollins Carol Haesaert
February 25 Lent 2
Mary Ellen Killeen
Dave Watson
Brian Jacobson
Volunteer
Laurie Luipold Volunteer
Pam and Scott Blewett
February Healing Team February 4: Judy Rollins, Brittany Crabtree February 11: Peter Jacobson, Kathy Bushnell February 18: Wendy Lyons, Brenda Roy
+
February Cycle of Prayer
February
February 4
February Anniversaries Rick and Kathy Fairley 2/2 Owen and Noreen Zahnle 2/14
February Birthdays David Pino Lynne Goss Scott Blewett Wendy Lyons Theresa Crabtree Kathy Fairley Aiden Howell Cayden Evans Mabel Carrozzo Ed Kaplan Michael Sheehan
2/1 2/2 2/11 2/13 2/14 2/19 2/19 2/25 2/26 2/26 2/26
Judy Rollins Connie Rossi David and Brenda Roy and family February 11 Dan and Jay-el Salafia and family Andrew and Colleen Sampson and family Lewis and Pamela Sanborn
Lisa Lillis Laurie Luipold
February 18 Fran Sellers Mark and Jan Sheehan and family Jeanne Smith February 25 Kurt and Jennifer Stroiney and family Stanley Such James Taylor
If you want to order Altar Flowers, the sign up book is on the back table. The cost is $35.00. Please use an envelope from the flower book and put it into the collection plate
2018 Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday 1
Friday
Saturday
2
3
9
10 10 am Prayer Shawl Ministry
7 pm Alpha team
4 8 & 10 am services Annual meeting Ingathering Sunday
5
11 8 & 10 am services
12
6
25 8 & 10 am services 6:30 pm Healing Service
8
7 pm Choir
7 pm Alpha team
14
15
6:30 pm WeCare meeting 7 pm Worship 13
7 pm Vestry meeting 18 8 & 10 am services Maggie Breen Joining in service
7
19
20
10 am &7 pm Ash Wednesday services
27
7 pm Choir 21
22
7 pm Choir
7 pm Alpha team
28
7 pm Choir
16
17 10 am Writers’ Group
23
24
7 pm Alpha team
Office closed
6 pm Bible Study and potluck 26
10-4 Tag sale
