THE TRINITY HERALD
The mission of Trinity Church is to share the joy of God’s love with our community, our brothers and sisters in Christ.
APRIL 2011
THE RECTOR’S COLUMN: FAITH, HOPE & LOVE
One interesting aspect of The Episcopal Church is that we consider ourselves both Protestant and Catholic. At first glance, this may seem to be an untenable paradox, but I believe it’s actually a very accurate description of our church. This desire to “tread the ground in between” even has a name – we call it the Via Media, Latin for the Middle Way. In other words, the Episcopal Church has traditionally sought to claim the best characteristics of both Protestants and Catholics, while (hopefully) choosing to shun the less desirable portions of both. This has been true for several hundred years, all the way back to the reign of King Henry VIII of England. When Henry was king, some of our Protestant roots slowly began appearing. A few church services, such as The Great Litany, began being translated into English, even as others were still persecuted for making English translations to the Bible. Later, after the boy king Edward VI ascended to the throne, the first prayer book in English was issued in the year 1549. (Prior to this, most all services in the Church of England were conducted in Latin, a language most parishioners did not understand.) As time has passed, we have witnessed a greater emphasis on reading Holy Scripture in our services, even if we might do a better job on personal biblical study. We have also seen many avenues develop in terms of lay participation in ministry. Lay people serve on the altar, handle and receive the elements of communion, they read prayers, take an active role in our services, as well as manage the practical affairs of church business. In this manner, I believe the leaders of the Reformation would have a difficult time denying that we are a Protestant church. Still, we are also a Catholic church. The Catholic roots of the Episcopal Church are seen in churches (and clergy) that are richly ornamented: with stained‐glass windows, candlesticks, carvings, paintings, altar hangings and vestments. It’s a fact that none of these items does God specifically require for worship. Indeed, some churches which fall into the category of be‐ ing “more Protestant” would not stand for any of this. At the same time, Episcopalians understand that this portion of our Catholic heritage can go a long way toward making us feel closer to God; that the beauty of a church like Trinity Church is, in a small way, reflective of the grandeur of God. Furthermore, we owe the interconnectedness of our church’s polity – with its authority of bishops and diocesan structure – to our Catholic side. The word Catholic comes to us from the Greek language, and it literally means “according to the whole.” It is in this element of unity that we recognize that we are but one piece of Christ’s whole church. We are meant to work together for the Kingdom of God, not apart. So, if anyone ever asks you what the Episcopal Church is like – what we’re about – please don’t tell them that we re‐ semble an untenable paradox. (I guarantee they’ll look at you blankly.) Rather, say that when we are at our best, we are walking the middle ground between being Protestant and Catholic. Explain that we do this because God’s children come from across the whole spectrum. And in following God, we try to use our heads as much as we do our hearts.
TABLE OF CONTENTS FRONT: The Rector’s Column PAGE 2: Monthly Calendar PAGE 3: Sunday Worship Leader Schedule PAGE 4: PAGE 5: BACK: Announcements/Birthdays
J.D.+
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH OFFICE: (334) 289‐3363 ▪ 401 N. Main Ave ▪ P.O. Box 560 Demopolis, AL 36732‐0560 Website ‐ www.trinitydemopolis.org Facebook Fan Page ‐ www.facebook.com/demopolis Email ‐
[email protected] APRIL 2011
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
Page 2
SUNDAY WORSHIP LEADER SCHEDULE
April 3rd
(4th Sun. Lent)
LEM (Psalm)
Amie Attaway
LEM
Ben Sherrod
Lector (#1/OT)
Sam Bozeman
Lector (#2/NT)
A.G. Westbrook
Intercessor
Polly Tarence
Ushers
April 10th
(5th Sun. Lent)
Amie Attaway (Officiant for Morning Prayer, no Eucharist)
April 17th
April 24th
(Palm Sunday)
(Easter Sunday)
(2nd Sun. Easter)
Jay Wright
Ben Sherrod
A.D. Baker
A.D. Baker
Luke Hallmark
Becky Cole
Lynn Brasfield
Bill Britton
Stan Brasfield
Bryan W. Compton
Frank Rutledge George Bley (lector) Stanhope Brasfield Broughton Rogers (preacher)
May 1st
Officiant offers the prayers
Doris Attaway
Val Gifford
Lyle Cole
Bill Barley & A.G. Westbrook & Broughton Rogers Tommy Lee
Mem Webb & Bill Britton
Harris Nelson & Sam Bozeman
John Northcutt & Joe Richie
Martha Kidd & Virginia Kidd
Sarah Hallmark & Parker Hallmark
Rebecca Marlowe & Amelia Traeger
Patricia Gaddy & Russ Gaddy
Oblationers
Angela Hinson & Emma Hinson
Crucifer/Server
Malcomn Taylor
No Crucifer today
Allen Bley
Clay McVay
Acolytes
James McVay & William Barkley
No Acolytes today
Sallie Bley & Sara McVay
William Barkley & Emma Hinson
Parish Brunch
Dashiell McKay
Cindy Reeves
Ben Sherrod
Pearl Slay
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ALTAR GUILD
FOR THE MONTH OF April Dashiell McKay Eleanor Stegall Carolyn Cowling Jean Richie Eleanor Frankowski Judy Travis
If you discover that you are unable to serve on the Alex Wright appointed day, please find a suitable Parker Hallmark & replacement and Joseph Barnes then notify the church office. Martha Turner
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH POST OFFICE BOX 560 DEMOPOLIS, AL 36732‐0560
APRIL BIRTHDAYS Harris Nelson Paul Frankowski Amelia Traeger Jean Richie Eleanor Stegall Rebecca Marlowe Frances Roberts James Gunn Drew Cargile Yolanda Thomas Ellen O’Shields Clay McVay Mary Ellen Ford John Lehning Doris Attaway Eleanor Frankowski Martha Jackson Robert Stephens Lyle Cole J.D. Barnes
1st 1st 6th 8th 8th 9th 12th 15th 16th 17th 20th 20th 22nd 23rd 24th 24th 25th 26th 28th 30th
Bulk BulkRate Rate U.S. U.S.Postage PostagePAID PAID Demopolis, Demopolis,AL AL Permit PermitNo. No.104 104
ANNOUNCEMENTS LENTEN LUNCHES
SOUTHERN OAKS
Remember our remaining two We will be visiting our family and Lenten Lunches are Tuesdays from friends at Southern Oaks on Sunday, 12 Noon to 1 PM in our Parish Hall. April 3rd from 3‐4 PM. Please join us The cost for lunch is $5.00. Our for fellowship, fun and bingo. speaker for April 5th will be The Rev. ECW MEETING Frank Roth, rector of St. Matthias The ECW will meet Tuesday, April Episcopal Church, Tuscaloosa. Our 12th, at 5:30 PM in the Parish Hall. speaker for April 12th is Father Larry Shinnick, pastor of St. Leo the Great HOLY WEEK SERVICES Catholic Church, Demopolis. Sunday, April 17: The Liturgy of the Palms and Holy SHOEBOX PREP Eucharist, 10:00 AM. For the month of April, the ECW is Thursday, April 21: collecting plastic drinking cups, The Liturgy for Maundy Thursday: toothbrushes and toothpaste for Op‐ Holy Eucharist, Foot washing and eration Christmas Child. There will Stripping of the Altar, 5:30 PM. be boxes for you to deposit your Friday, April 22nd: items in the parish hall (on the stage) The Liturgy for Good Friday, and in the narthex of the church 12 Noon. (under the table).