There is a developmental stage when children engage in what's called "parallel play".  In this stage (usually 2-3 years old) children will play next to each other but not with each other.  "This kind of play involves two or more children in the same room. They are interested in the same toys and both see the toy as belonging to them. Hence they maybe in the same area and play with similar toys, but they do not play together. They are playing along side each other simply because they are in the same area." 

(Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/900253)

 As children grow they move into "associative play" and then finally mature into "cooperative play".  "Cooperative play takes place between two or more children as they grow and develop socially and emotionally. In cooperative play, children exchange ideas about the game or the toy they are playing with at that moment in time. Rules tend to still be very loosely constructed, but children know who is playing which role in their game. Play may last only a few minutes or it may stretch out for longer periods of time. Gradually they learn to respect the property rights of others. This is a clue that they are gaining social skills; at this same time they begin to understand that they need permission to play with certain materials and certain people. They are also more willing to share their toys for the sake of the game. Communication about the play is the critical point of cooperative play."
(Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/900253)

I'm not sharing this because I think we're behaving like children, but rather that we at times engage in "parallel prayer" and "parallel worship".  We come and do our own praying next to others who are doing their own praying, but we don't do it together - we don't pray with one another, but rather alongside.  Part of a mature worshiping community is the act of "cooperative prayer" and "cooperative worship" - we come together, not just because of a common space and time, but a common faith and longing. Though we have different ideas and beliefs, different prayer and worship preferences, we are inextricably bond by our faith, by the sacraments, by our sins, by our longings, by Christ's love for us.  

Unfortunately at times we don't know just how connected we are because we parallel not cooperatively pray and worship.  

This can understandably be quite hard in a parish the size of Trinity Church, and it has been much on my heart and mind as of late.  How do we grow and mature in faith not alongside our brothers and sisters, but WITH our brothers and sister.  

To that end, I would like to form a Christian Formation team to explore this question and see how we can enhance our spiritual lives through Christian education, spiritual practices, retreats, small groups, etc.?   How can we, as the people of Trinity, mature both as individuals and as a community to deepen our relationship with God and one another.  This I believe will have a profound effect on our lives personally and on our common ministry as the people of Trinity Church.

Interested in joining the conversation WITH me? 

Contact Fr. Paul about Christian Formation 

Peace,

Paul+

PS -  Thank you to all those who have pledged their support to Trinity for 2012!  If you have not made a pledge, please do so!  Our work in vitally important and we need your help! IT TAKES ALL OF US!

MAKE A PLEDGE TO TRINITY 

  

Volunteers Needed to Make the Turkey Trot a Success    

We are now fast running in to the Turkey Trot, November 24th, 8a.m. and need YOUR HELP!  

• Volunteers for T-shirt collection in the hour prior to the race 6:45- 7:45 a.m. If you can help with this end of the event, please contact Anne Zultner at zultner.azercpa@verizon.net 
• We have a real need for water for the runners at the end of the race. If you are able to contribute a tray of water please leave it outside Annie Thomas's office.
• Pies, we are expecting 1000 participants and whilst we do not need 1000 pies we only have two to offer at this point in time. Please let Annie Thomas know you can help here at thomasa@trinityprinceton.org

  

Trinity Treasures Tea   

You are invited to the... 

Please RSVP to Sylvia Temmer at SBjornberg@aol.com or 732-297-5335 by November 14th

  

Princeton Stained Glass Tour

November 17

Meet at Trinity Church

Cost: $50   

• What: Tour of Princeton's exceptional stained glass
• When: Thursday, November 17, 2011
• Where: Meet at Trinity Episcopal Church, 33 Mercer Street, 9 a.m. tour moves to different venues
• Sponsor: Charles J. Connick Stained Glass Studio Foundation, Ltd. www.charlesjconnick.org

Princeton is home to some of the most exceptional stained glass in the United States, both secular and religious. On November 17, distinguished authority Peter Cormack, will lead an exploration of Princeton's "Singing Windows" and share his lively thoughts on Princeton's remarkable windows of the Arts and Crafts Movement by the Charles J. Connick Stained Glass Studio. For many years beginning in 1913, Connick and his guild designed and crafted windows for Princeton University's Graduate College and Chapel and for Trinity Episcopal Church, in each case working with Ralph Adams Cram, Princeton University's supervising architect from 1901-29 and also renovations architect for Trinity Church.

The tour will be begin at 9 a.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church with coffee, introductory address and tour before moving on to other venues throughout Princeton. $50 per person (includes lunch at Proctor Hall). Register online at www.cjconnick.org. Space limited. (617)244-2659

  

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice... 

  

Next Baptism Date: January 8  

  

Trinity Church Reception Desk 

We have a new member of staff at Trinity Church Reception desk. Her name is Miss Leah Fletcher and we are thrilled to have her join our team. Leah's hours will be Monday thru Friday 9:00 a.m - 1:00 p.m. Please join us as we welcome her to her new post and our community.

Leah's appointment now means that we have full desk cover Monday thru Thursday 9-4p.m. and on Friday 9a.m. -1pm Annie Thomas will continue to take calls on Friday afternoons when it is the least busy.  

Our Desk is taken care of by our team of desk volunteers in the afternoons, these much valued parishioners are as follows:

Sally Buck          Monday

Carol Weiss        Tuesday

Dee Fenton        Wednesday

Sarah Hockings and Nancy Metcalf alternate Thursdays.

Don't get too excited, we are having our new telephones installed next Friday, November 11. Don't all call at once!

  

Movie Night: The Gods Must Be Crazy  

November 11, 2011

Pierce Hall, 6:00 p.m.   

  

Reclaiming an Anti-Racist Gospel 

Saturday, November 12 

9:30 - 3:00 p.m.

Trinity Cathedral, 801 W. State Street, Trenton, NJ 

  

Community Without Walls House #6 Monthly Meeting 

Sunday, November 13 

3:00 p.m. 

                    A TIMELY TOPIC AFFECTING US ALL

To learn more about your own healthcare choices......
as well as those for whom you care.....   

Please join us for this special presentation by   

DAVID R. BARILE,   MD

"DECISION-MAKING IN GERIATRIC CARE" 

An authority on senior healthcare, Dr. Barile is board certified in Internal Medicine, Geriatric Medicine, and Hospice/Palliative Medicine.  He is Medical Director of Acute Care for the Elderly and of Palliative Medicine Services at University Medical Center at Princeton.

Dr. Barile also serves as Executive Director and Medical Director of New Jersey Goals of Care, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving medical decision-making for seniors.  Because specific health goals change markedly as people age (e.g. quality of life vs. longevity), it is important that patients and physicians discuss and focus on specific Goals of Care as part of the treatment plan. By aligning therapies to achieve a specific patient goal, the patient becomes empowered and the quality of care improved. 

ALL are cordially welcome to come hear Dr. Barile's insights into the advantages of conveniently accessing  a wide array of medical services while preserving your freedom of choice. 

  

One Table Cafe 

Friday, November 18 

6:30 p.m.

  

HIP Rent Party Nor'Easter/Snow Date

Saturday, November 19  

7:00-11:00 p.m

The Present Day Club, Princeton 

 

You've seen the news reports about the housing crisis; we've seen the faces of families in crisis and in imminent danger of losing their housing. HIP has been assisting since 2004. Please join us on Saturday to help HIP continue to assist low wage workers in our community with housing and services leading to self sufficiency. The Rent Party provides a fun way for neighbors to help neighbors, 'party for good'!  

• Gourmet Soul Food dinner buffet, including drinks 
• Jazz music by The Alex Collins Trio  
• Poetry by Cecelia Hodges, PhD   
• Period dances (demo and lessons) by Princeton University Swing Club
• Silent Auction: visit online

Donation $110/person, $70 tax deductible. You can make reservations online  or call 484-433-2794 or 609-279-6987 for information and phone reservations.

  

International Children's Day and the Millennium Development Goals   

November 20, 2011

  

Help Needed to Prepare for the Advent Wreath Making Event 

Our annual Advent Wreath making event is happening November 27th at 10:00 AM.  We are looking for a team of two or three people to work with The Rev. Sarah Kinney Gaventa to make this event happen.  We need someone to help set up the kits and someone to collect money the day of.  If you are interested in helping, please contact Sarah.  Thank you!

  

Thank your for being Patient with our Phones 

Our very mature telephones are now at the end of their service to our parish, we wish them well as we await their retirement after many years of loyal service.

This means:

• They do not work properly at present and cannot be repaired, and we beg your patience if it seems you are unable to connect with the correct extension or indeed if it seems there is no one there.
• The new telephone system has been ordered and we anticipate it coming on line within the next few weeks it is as we go to print being programmed for us.

  

We Need Your Pies!  

  

Knitting Caps for T.A.S.K. 

Thanks to hard knitting parishioners, we now have 4 watch caps for T.A.S.K.  There is still plenty of yarn as well as needles and directions in Pierce Hall, under the windows on the right hand wall as you enter.

  

The Elves Have Put Their Thinking Caps On...   

  

The 2011 Trinity Turkey Trot  

We need 1,000 runners to reach our goal of raising $20,000 for our local charities. This year our charities include Urban Promise Trenton, Housing Initiatives of Princeton, and Crisis Ministries of Princeton.

• Become a Sponsor: In order to reach our goal we need sponsors from our local community. This will offset our costs and assure that 100% of the registration fees will go to support the charities. All of our sponsors will receive recognition at the event on T-shirts and banners. This is a terrific opportunity for local businesses to give back to the community. Please send the business name and contact information to  Toms altsman11@yahoo.com. The Turkey Trot committee will take it from there. We'll call the potential sponsor and send them a letter explaining the benefits of  sponsorship and a pledge form.
• Spread the
  word: Register to run or walk in the event and then spread the word to your friends and family. Ask your co-workers, team members or other affiliations to also register and run or walk as a group.
• Volunteer: We need volunteers especially on race day to hand out tee shirts, register runners and on-course supervision.
• Pledge: If you are not planning on being in town that day or don't want to participate you can still help by going to our registration page and making a donation.

  

Help Wanted to start a Prayer Shawl Ministry at Trinity!   

  

Women at the Well 

Wednesdays 

Noon - 1:30 p.m. 

Flemer Library  

  

New Adult Education Class on Genesis 

Sundays through December 18 

10:00 a.m. 

A Closer Look at the Beginning: Please join Summerlee Staten, our PTS adult education Seminary intern, for a 9-week class focusing on the first eleven chapters of Genesis. Taking into consideration the development of culture and religion in the ancient Near East, we will explore how the first chapters of the Hebrew Bible may have been understood in ancient times and how we can understand the text today. As we look at each chapter in depth, we will consider what Genesis 1-11 has to teach us about the creativity and faithfulness of God, while acknowledging various interpretations of the text through art, song and contemporary Biblical scholarship. The class will start on Sunday, September 25 in the library at 10:00am.