General Convention of the
Episcopal Church seen
through the eyes of Noreen Duncan
|
|
 By now we have all read The New York Times' sensational
reports of the General Convention of the Episcopal Church triennial
2009. CNN presented the obligatory ten-second interview of Episcopal bishops on opposite sides of the "debate." That
is all most people know of the Episcopal Church. The newspaper headlines and the sensational
news are not, however, reports of the
importance that is the triennial meeting of the Houses of Deputies and Bishops -
the governance of the Episcopal Church, in Europe and the Americas, part and
parcel of the Anglican Communion.
Like many of my fellow Episcopalians, I recite the
prayers, bow at the passing of the cross, kneel appropriately, and settle in
for Paul's or Ann Marie's sermon, hoping that there'll be some useful guidance
for the coming week, no admonition, no guilt, please. Elected to New Jersey diocesan committees over the
years, in particular the Standing Committee, other than the monthly reports of dioceses
far away, I had not paid much attention to the "national church." Three years
ago at Diocesan Convention, when I was elected a deputy to the General
Convention, I really knew very little.
The elected New Jersey deputies to General Convention met monthly, and bit by bit, I came to the
realization that the national church meant nothing to me.
Starting in January, my email box began to fill daily with
new deputies forums and information, letters
from the President of the House of Deputies, Bonnie Anderson, from the Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori [we pray for her every week, remember], appeals to
vote for this initiative or candidate to a legislative committee. In April, I flew to Anaheim with two priests of the New Jersey diocese to
attend a two-day orientation for Deputies of Color to General Convention. My note book brimming, my feet tired, I
tried to take it all in - until the New Jersey deputation went to Albany for a Province II Synod in May!
Everybody else knew so much about my church - where had I been?
My days in Anaheim since July 7th were
wonderful, long and exhausting - the grace-filled daily Eucharists, deputies'
personal narratives, uplifting sermons, early morning sessions, legislative
debates, the protocols, the wrenching decisions, the late night caucuses, the
interruptions for prayers and hymns as we voted on difficult resolutions. And yet I felt the spirit of my fellows in
the New Jersey Deputation and all of my new friends in Christ - the deputies,
observers, alternates, pages, volunteers, all 2000 or so - of the second
largest bicameral legislative body in the world.
Like you, I read of the "schism" on CNN and in The New York Times. Daily, there were
three protesters outside of Convention Center, three, shouting, damning
Episcopalians to hell, and always attended by the press, waiting. The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan
Williams preached a brilliant, timely sermon on the evils that have brought the
world to the current economic crisis, disappointing for those among us packed
into the auditorium who had been hoping for signs of the end times, or at least
of the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Communion.
In addition to being a Deputy to the General Convention, parishioner Noreen Duncan is also a Chalicist, a Reader and an Usher for Trinity Church. |
| Worship & Education
|
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Eighth Sunday after Pentecost
(Proper 12)
Click here for this Sunday's Lessons
8:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist, Rite I
(Traditional Language, no choir)
Sunday morning childcare, for infants to 3-year olds, is available upstairs in the Nursery in Room 202 from 9:45 a.m. until the conclusion of the 10:00 a.m. service.
10:00 a.m. - Holy Eucharist and Baptisms (Rite II)
(Contemporary Language with summer choir)
Come along and celebrate as we welcome five children to the body of Christ through the sacrament of Baptism.
Please meet and greet one another in fellowship and enjoy God's wondrous creation--otherwise known as summer! Enjoy ice tea and lemonade in in the parish reception area or in front of the church entrance after BOTH the 8am and 10am services.
Tuesday, July 28th, 2009
12:10 p.m. Holy Eucharist with homily.
Wednesday, July 29th, 2009
5:30p.m. Holy Eucharist with prayers for healing
The church is open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. weekdays for meditation and prayer.
|
|
| Worship Leaders
|
July 26th
8:00 a.m.
Reader: Jonathan Craig
Acolytes: Lynne Davis, Van Davis
Chalicists: Nancy Metcalf, Connie White, Anne Zultner
Ushers: Barbara Banks, Jonathan Craig
10 a.m.
Reader: Bill Hackett
Intercessor: Louise Dunham
Verger: James Scott
Ushers: Robert Hurlbert, Joseph Greer, Brian Saunders, Michael Unger
Chalicists: Louise Dunham, Denise Gordon-Miller, Sylvia Temmer, Catie Newcombe
Acolytes: Ann Laughlin, Lilly Leonard, Kadri Kallikorm-Rhodes
Audio: Juris Apse
August 2nd8:00 a.m.
Reader: Connie White
Chalicists: Curtis Hoberman,Connie White, Anne Zultner
Ushers: Tim Munoz, Charles Townsend, Daphne Townsend
Acolyte: Irving Newlin
10 a.m.
Reader: Don Mann
Intercessor: Nancy Metcalf
Verger: James Scott
Ushers: Connie Brown, John Matthews, Beth Walker, Bill Walker, John White
Chalicists: Ira Lackey, Peter Nalen, Bev Scollay,
Jim Phillips
Acolytes: Brad States, Dan States, Julia Saltsman
Audio: Brook Richards
|
| Youth Mission Trips Underway!
|
Trinity's
Youth Minister, Michael Lovaglio, is leading a group of our youth to Broad Street Ministries in Philadelphia, where they will work, learn and pray
alongside our brothers and sisters in the inner city. Parishioner Brook Richards will be
accompanying youth from Trinity and around the Diocese as t hey travel to the Gulf
Coast to continue repairing the damage done by the hurricanes. You can follow their progress online daily by clicking here.
Please keep both of
these important ministries in your prayers this week.
|
To volunteer with our
Children's Worship this September, please call Sarah in July
|
Do you
like working with children? Are you
interested in the worshiping lives of children?
We are hoping to create a group of adults or older teens who will take
turns leading Children's Worship during the 9:00 service this fall. We have a schedule, the music, ideas and
outlines for the children's sermon, now all we need is you! If you
are interested in volunteering, or if you have questions, please call The Rev.
Sarah Kinney Gaventa in the church office (609-924-2277) or email her at gaventas@trinityprinceton.org.
|
Do you love to throw parties?
Consider joining our
Newcomers Welcoming Committee
|
How would
you describe your first experience at Trinity?
How did
you know which door to enter? How did
you find the restroom if you needed it?
Did you know there was a nursery upstairs? Did anyone greet you at the Peace?
Churches
can be tricky to navigate, both logistically and socially. This is ironic, of course, since we all hope
the Church will be an oasis of welcome and hospitality in what can be an
uncertain world. Unfortunately, without
even knowing what we are doing, congregations can erect barriers that can make
becoming included in the community rather difficult.
The work
of welcoming belongs to all of us. Every
Sunday morning, each of us has the opportunity to say hello to someone we don't
know, or to pour a cup of coffee for someone juggling children, or to direct a
newcomer to the restroom or nursery.
Small acts can transform a church into a welcoming place.
While the
work of welcome belongs to the community of the whole, in every congregation
there are members with special gifts of hospitality. Do you love to throw parties? Do you always bring over brownies to new
neighbors? When you meet two people who
you think would be great friends, do you introduce them? If you have the gift of hospitality (or want
to learn it!), Trinity needs you! The
Newcomers Welcoming Committee has jobs of all shapes and sizes. From greeting people on Sunday morning, to
helping create a newcomer's packet, to making dessert for a newcomer's party,
there is something for you to do.
If you
have a passion for hospitality and would like to help expand Trinity's
newcomer's program, please contact The Rev. Sarah Kinney Gaventa at gaventas@trinityprinceton.org. |
| More Free Help with your Job Search
|
 Are
you out of work and looking for employment, or are you an employer looking for
professional staff? Professional Service Group (PSG) is a voluntary
and
self managing association of professionals affiliated with the New Jersey
Department of Labor. Our service is FREE to job seekers and employers. Please
join us any Monday from 10am - 12noon for New Member
Orientation at 26 Yard Avenue
in Trenton. PSG
provides an opportunity
to network with other professionals and PSG guests. We have workshops and training on: resume writing,
interview and job search techniques, personal skills development and more! Questions?
Please contact Craig Jez (609) 292-7535, craig.jez@dol.state.nj.us. Or,
you may go to our website for additional information: www.mercopsg.net.
Thank you to parishioner Beth Georges (609-269-8354)
for this employment support; remember, Trinity Church also sponsors our free, Jobseekers program every
Tuesday evening at 7:30pm, usually in the George Thomas room, depending on the size of the audience that evening. |
Save the Date:
Harvest for Home is October 18th
|
If you wish to receive this reminder postcard (it is hard to read, but still beautiful!), please email Ruth Thurmond Scott at rscott@scarlettsystems.com
Harvest for Home is an annual fundraiser to benefit Housing Initiatives of Princeton, another outreach program supported by Trinity Church.
|
|
Can You Recommend a new Executive Director for TASP?
|
The Trenton After School Program (TASP) seeks an Executive Director
responsible for the management of TASP, an after-school program based in Trenton's West Ward. The ED is responsible for overall operation of the program, including: fund development, curriculum development and
implementation, teaching and supervising teachers and volunteers. TASP includes
an after school program in two locations plus an all-day camp in the month of
July. Qualified candidates will possess
leadership skills, be a self-motivated problem solver, and have experience
working with diverse populations, with a background in multicultural awareness.
A master's degree in teaching, early childhood education, or psychology or
business administration is preferred, or bachelor's degree with three years of
teaching experience and three years of relevant managerial or supervisory
experience.
Respond to Trinity parishioner Kay Roberts at LKR267@yahoo.com
or 609/947-4887 with resume and salary requirements. TASP offers a strong benefits package for
this position. More information about
TASP's work at www.trentonafterschoolprogram.org.
An outreach program of Trinity Church, TASP was founded by Trinity Church and Nassau Presbyterian Church.
|
Crisis Mininstry Receives Donation Money to buy a new Refrigerator
|
Jarrett thanks everyone
for their generosity; to learn more about the
Crisis Ministry, please call the Rev.
Jarrett Kerbel, Executive Director
609-396-9355, ext. 13
or email him at
jarrettk@thecrisisministry.org
|
Trinity Parishioners, join our Diocese of New Jersey at Six Flags
on Saturday, August 15th
|
Are you a
Fun Episcopalian or the Frozen-Chosen? No matter, come to Six Flags
Great Adventure on New Jersey Day, Saturday August 15, 2009 . This is an
easy, but action-packed day of rides, food, and fun
for ALL AGES at Six Flags
Great Adventure! Each ticket includes full admission to both parks (Great
Adventure and Wild Safari) and includes a robust catered lunch (including
beverages and dessert) from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at The Diocese of New Jersey's
private, covered dining area in the park. We'll have a brief welcome for
all ticket holders during lunch, as well as time for eating and socializing!
To purchase
your tickets, click here
For more information call Brook Richards at 609.651.6063 or brookrichards140@gmail.com
|
| Becca Olsson, Piano Instructor
|
 This is our final reminder in
E-Pistle that Becca Olsson is now giving piano lessons in the Princeton area. She'd love to talk to you about piano instruction for you and/or family members. Here, in her words, are the details:
PIANO
TEACHER Princeton &
Lawrenceville studios
PLAY
WITH: Alignment, Freedom, Balance, Ease
- 8 years
experience as a teacher/collaborative pianist
- Currently on
staff at Westminster Choir College
- Bachelor of Music
Education from Westminster Choir College
- Trained
in Suzuki philosophy and Taubman Technique (the
Taubman technique solves problems related to pain and fatigue in
playing)
FOR
DETAILS:
Call 609-651-7202
or email beccaolsson@yahoo.com
|
Summer Schedule for
E-Pistle Publication
|
Please email your Trinity news to Alison Roth rotha@trinityprinceton.org by 10am Wednesday, the day before we send our Trinity news out to over 300 homes. Our next summer email publication schedule for E-Pistle is Thursday, August 6th.
|
|
|
|
|
| A Message from the Wardens |
 |
There
has been some confusion among parishioners concerning the "consultants" that we
hope to employ. As you know, at our
annual meeting in November our Rector charged us to look at the parish with new
eyes and commissioned a group of task forces to study our parish facilities and
our parish life. During this spring's
forum hours we were able to hear the recommendations of these groups. Some of the recommendations have already been
put into play, others are in the works.
But others require a longer gestation period, and some will entail considerable
capital costs if they are to be implemented.
At
the Vestry retreat in May, we tried to synthesize the reports and put in motion
a plan for following up on the remarkable work that had been done by so many
parishioners. In the case of the music and acoustics, liturgical space, and
landscape, lighting and signage reports, the Vestry agreed with the task force
recommendations that we need expert help in determining whether and how to
implement their recommendations, and most importantly, the approximate cost of
acting on them. Based on the reports,
the Vestry estimates that we will need approximately $50,000 to hire
consultants to help with these specific areas.
A
number of generous parishioners have contributed enough to enable us at least
to reach out to our experts; if the funds we have raised prove insufficient, we
shall not proceed until we are able.
At
this point, we intend to engage an acoustical engineer and an organ consultant
to advise us concerning improving sound quality and the available organ options
for our church. We hope to hire a
firm specializing in landscape, signage and exterior lighting for
churches. Finally, we are seeking expert
advice on the design of liturgical space from folks in that business, so that
we may make our sanctuary as welcoming as possible. Our advisors will have nothing to sell us but
their services and will have no agenda but their best judgment; each will bring
specific and relevant experience that we hope and pray will help us realize the
vision begun in the task force reports. The
Vestry will not approve any major decision without full prior disclosure to
and opportunity for discussion by interested parishioners. If we are to make major capital expenditures,
they will be funded by a future capital campaign after our debt - currently represented
by the parishioner notes - is retired. We
are excited at the level of energy shown by so many of you in trying to get Trinity
moving forward, and we believe that we can build on that energy to make Trinity
a stronger place, which is a far more important goal than any physical
improvements.
Anne Burns
Van Davis
Wardens
|
Hey West Windsor!
Coffee with Sarah and Curtis
on August 8th
|
 |
Parishioners from West Windsor, here's an opportunity to introduce your neighbors to
our new assistant rector,
Sarah Kinney Gaventa.
Enjoy Coffee with the Assistant Rector, Rev. Sarah Kinney Gaventa,
Saturday, 8
August 2009, 9:00 am, at the West Windsor Community Farmer's Market, Vaughn
Drive, off of Alexander Road. Baked goods will come from local vendors, Terhune
Orchards and the Village Bakery of Lawrenceville. Coffee will be available from
Grover's Mill Coffee Roasters at the market. Bring your market bag!
For
more information, contact Curtis Hoberman, 609.452.9373. |
Mosquito Net Final Total:
262 Nets Purchased!
$5780 Raised to Stop Malaria!
|
 |
MOSQUITO NET
TOTAL AS OF JUNE 2009 - 262!! Thank you to the Sunday School, the
young people, the Drumthwacket event and anyone else who donated towards the
Youth Offering this past year. We raised around $5780 and bought 262 mosquito
nets through the Malaria/NetsforLife project of Episcopal Relief and
Development. Thanks for helping to share God's love and Christ's compassion
with people in need.
|
21 Children Attend
Vacation Bible School
|
 |
A big thank you
goes out to all who helped to make our Vacation Bible School a great
success!! Especially noteworthy are the
Adult Volunteers who helped to plan and lead the lessons - Lindsey Bohra,
Jeanne Conerly, Liz Hamilton - and
the teen volunteers who worked with the youngest children each day - Caroline
Bohra, Sarah Hamilton, Julia Saltsman, Sarah
Saltsman, and Katherine Venturo-Conerly. Pastor Sarah and
Matt Parker Wrzeszcz were great
all-round pinch hitters. Thanks!! Jean Prall Rosolino of Youth Stages did a
wonderful job with the older children helping them to develop skits off of the
Bible stories. Twenty-one children attended in total from Trinity, All Saints
and the Princeton
community.
VBS donations of recyclable items are no
longer needed. Thank you to everyone who brought in recyclables to be used for
Vacation
Bible School. We had more than enough and an
amazing giant Goliath was made out of the
materials.
|
Trinity Youth Group /
Urban Promise Film Series
Concludes Monday, July 27th
|
The final film showing in the Urban Promise Film Series for the Trinity Youth Group will
be this Monday. To confirm the time, please
contact |
Michael Lovaglio
via email at michael.lovaglio@ptsem.edu or call 631-331-0832. For more
information about Urban Promise visit the website: urbanpromiseusa.org.
|
Summer Office Hours
are Monday-Thursday, 9am-4pm and
Friday, 9am - 3pm
|
 |
Summer
Changes at Trinity!
- Remember-church
is at 8am & 10am on Sunday! Ice tea and lemonade are served in front of the
church entrance after both services beginning June 14th
-
The office
is on summer schedule: Monday - Thursday, 9am to 4pm; Friday, 9am to 3pm. Our
desk volunteers are in from 1pm - 3pm, and staff will answer phones in the
morning.
-
E-Pistle
will be published every other week; it will still be emailed to you on
Thursday.
Paul Jeanes
502-802-2116
Anne Marie
Richards 609-651-3217
Sarah Kinney Gaventa
434-825-8934
|
Would You Like a
Trinity Name Tag?
|
|
Please wear your name tag during church (all services, so we can recognize you and remember you at Evensong and Compline, as well as Sunday morning services. Please email parish administrator Annie Thomas (thomasa@trinityprinceton.org)
if you would like to have a Trinity name tag!
|
Deadline for the Next E-Pistle and Service Leaflet is WEDNESDAY,
10 Am
|
|
Look for your next issue of E-Pistle in your email box on EVERY OTHER THURSDAY DURING THE SUMMER. Please keep sending your news for E-Pistle to Alison Roth at rotha@trinityprinceton.org
Not sure if your news goes into E-Pistle? No
problem! Send everything to Alison, who will direct your information to
the proper person, and keep reading E-Pistle to follow the parish life
of Trinity Church,
33 Mercer Street,
Princeton, New Jersey.
Telephone 609-924-2277
Fax 609-924-9140
www.trinityprinceton.org
|
To Receive E-Pistle,
Annie Thomas Needs Your E-Mail Address |
|
Why not have it sent to a friend? Please send the email address to thomasa@trinityprinceton.org
|
|
|
