PS -  We're close, BUT WE'RE NOT THERE YET.  WE STILL NEED YOUR HELP!!  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 

  

Join us This Sunday for an Advent Brunch!  

  

Remember to send in your Music and Flower Memorial for Christmas  

  

Staff Christmas Gift

Parishioners have asked if they could express their appreciation to the parish staff at Christmas. After discussing the matter with Paul, I think that what would be most appreciated is a little extra cash.

Parishioners who would like to join this effort should send gifts by check marked "staff Christmas" to Elly or put them in the offering plate. Many small gifts will make a nice gesture. Please get your gift in before Christmas.

We are blessed with a dedicated and hardworking staff that deserves our thanks-and a check is a supplement to, and not a substitute for, a heartfelt "Thank you."

                                                        Van Davis

  

Trinity has installed a new Hearing Aid Loop 

Trinity has installed a hearing loop system for people who wear hearing aids. This loop transmits sound directly into most newer hearing aids. A New York Times article  says 2/3 of all hearing aid users can take advantage of a hearing loop. Many don't know their hearing aids have this capability, and some user will have to turn on a "T-coil" switch on their hearing aid. The system works in the left front pews of the nave.

If you have a hearing aid, please take advantage of this great tool next Sunday! 

  

Helpful Information for Trinity's New phones  

We wanted to bring you up to speed and hope you have noticed now that calls placed via our telephone system now go where required. I wanted to let you all know a few things about our new telephone system that are different to the previous one:

• All extensions have been changed so if you thought you knew the extension, please know they no longer work. A complete list of new extensions is at the end of this note.
• The first extension listed is that used for pastoral care emergencies and so if you have an urgent pastoral care need please do use this extension as soon as you hear it. This is monitored closely by clergy responsible for any particular day.
• This telephone system will transfer all voicemail messages left on the system directly to the email of the person or ministry holding this extension number. It is hoped that everyone calling into the parish offices will feel that they have the same access to clergy and staff as a result of this new facility without needing to have access to a computer to send the email.
• There are some new extensions for the ministries receiving the most frequent traffic and the voicemail-to-email facility will be exactly the same on these extensions: e.g. a call for rummage will be put straight thru to this extension and will be monitored by the team responsible for this ministry.

Extensions are as follows:

Clergy

Pastoral Care           350

Rev. Jeanes              303

Rev. Gaventa           307

Rev. Replogle          308

Staff

Tom Whittemore      316

Elly Matsil                311

Annie Tomas            317

Sam Greenlee           304

Organ Scholars         315

Ministry extensions

Archives office        313

Music admin office  314

Altar Guild Sacristy  306

Rummage               351

One Table Café       352

Parish Life               355

St. Nicks                 354

Memorial Garden    356

Outreach                 357

  

Personal Care Product Donations Needed 

Especially during the month of December, the Crisis Ministry gratefully welcomes personal care items for distribution to the neighbors in need who come to our Client Choice pantries in Trenton and Princeton. As food stamps do not cover personal care necessities, we keep sections devoted to personal care and hygiene products for our clients. For more details, please visit www.thecrisisministry.org  for a downloadable personal care products flier and contact Mark Smith at 609-396-9355, ext 26, or marks@thecrisisministry.org. 

  

Dear Trinity Church Members,

My name is Andrea Hart. My husband Bill and I have been Trinity Church members since 1994. In 1999 I became severely disabled with multiple autoimmune illnesses from which I am now in ongoing recovery. Apart from my husband's staunch support and love during the last twelve years, one other person is responsible for helping me slowly recover against the odds - my dear friend in the UK, Robin M. Robin's relentless encouragement and insistence that I persist on my road to recovery every time I was ready to give up, helped me reclaim my life. Now it is my turn to help him reclaim his.

Robin, who lives alone, is 53 and suspected of having high-functioning Asperger Syndrome, a genetic condition that makes face-to-face social interactions acutely difficult. But more critically, he is now in an advanced stage of alcoholism that is generating life-threatening health problems. He has no family available for assistance other than one cousin whose ability to help is limited. Because of his difficulties with socialization, Robin has no real friends on whom he can rely. Phone contact since we first met has facilitated our friendship, and though I live an ocean away, I am virtually his only friend. Previously gainfully employed, he is now too disabled by addiction to work. Robin is intellectually brilliant, and by nature is kind, loving, and generous, and has offered much to others in the past. But his gifts are going to waste as alcoholism hurdles him towards an untimely death. He wishes to be free of addiction but is now too disabled by it to help himself recover.

Over the years, Robin has been very motivated to access the few available outpatient rehab and support services near him, though ultimately they were unable to meet his complex clinical needs. It became clear that Robin requires long-term, highly specialized professional treatment in a residential setting. Unfortunately, that type of setting is unavailable at this time in the UK's government healthcare system, andRobin lacks the funds to pay for a private rehab there. Unlike some private rehabs in the US, similar facilities in the UK typically do not offer scholarship programs to help offset costs, leaving Robin with no treatment options there.

While researching alternatives to help him, I was recently referred to a rehab here in New Jersey that is ideally suited to Robin's many needs and offers scholarships to defray treatment costs. "Little Hill Alina Lodge in Blairstown is a premiere residential rehab facility and a national leader specializing in long-term rehabilitation for alcoholic, drug addicted and dual disorder adults. The average treatment length is 6-9 months. Over the last 54 years Alina Lodge's Scholarship Fund has defrayed the treatment costs of numerous individuals, enabling them to receive first-class treatment and reclaim their lives." This Scholarship Fund is supported almost exclusively through individual and corporate donations.

Robin has been approved for the maximum scholarship Alina Lodge can allot to an applicant - 50% of his total rehab cost of $60,000 for a 6-month program. As there are no other sources of financing in his case, they have suggested the option of fundraising the remaining $30,000 via donations made to their Scholarship Fund, specifying "in honor of Robin M". While many donations to Alina Lodge are from corporate sources, the majority are from individual donors. They have encouraged me to appeal toboth.

How can you help? If you are interested in doing something to make a major positive change in someone's life, or have been looking to actively support a worthy cause or organization, I offer you the opportunity to donate to Little Hill Alina Lodge's Scholarship Fund. All donations designated "In Robin M's honor" will be used to offset treatment costs of qualifying applicants and will include his treatment when he attends. In the event Robin passes away or is ultimately unable to attend for any reason, any monies donated in his honor will be used for other applicants. Little Hill Alina Lodge is a 501c3, IRS-approved foundation. All donations are tax deductible.

This is a unique opportunity to support a first-class foundation that has been turning lives around for more than five decades, while making a tangible difference in the life of someone who has no other recourse available for reclaiming his life. During this season of giving, what better way to celebrate the birth of the Redeemer who came to save us, than by helping to save the life of someone who will otherwise succumb to his circumstances. Little Hill Alina Lodge will welcome your donations to help them continue making the highest standards in rehabilitation available to those in need.

If you would like to donate to Little Hill Alina Lodge's Scholarship Fund, you can do so in any of the following ways:

1. Online: Visit their website,  www.alinalodge.org. Click on the "Supporting the Mission" link, then on the "Donate Now" link. Fill in the registration information on page 1 and continue to page 2. After providing the payment information, a gray box immediately follows that is entitled "This gift is in honor or memory of someone special:". Type "In honor of Robin M" in the space provided, then proceed to the "Verification" page and follow all remaining instructions to completion.
2. By Phone: Call Alina Lodge at 1-800-575-6343, ask for Renée Harman, Development Coordinator, and make your donation by phone.
3. By Email: Email Renée Harman at reneeh@alinalodge.org  regarding your wish to donate.
4. By Regular Mail: Mail your donation to Little Hill Alina Lodge, in care of Renée Harman, Development Coordinator, Box G, Blairstown, NJ 07825

Any amount donated is always welcome, whether as little as $5 or into the thousands. When making your donation, please remember to specify "In honor of Robin M", so that when Robin attends for treatment, Alina Lodge will be able to identify the contributions to the Scholarship Fund that have been made in his honor.

If you have any questions or would like clarification or further information about anything discussed here, please feel free to contact me by email at  AndreaAChristine@aol.com, or phone at (609) 987-1071. Alina Lodge has provided me with pamphlets and folders describing their facility and treatment programs as well as their 2010 annual report. I will be happy to mail these items to anyone who requests them.

Thank you for taking the time to read my appeal for Robin and for any amount you can donate to help Alina Lodge continue their work of offering individuals suffering from addiction a new chance at life. I wish you all a joyous Christmas season and Peace in the New Year.

Andrea Hart

Princeton, NJ

  

Volunteer Opportunity in Princeton Community

Monday, December 12 - Friday, December 16

9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. 

The Nassau Inn is donating a large amount of furniture to HomeFront but needs help moving that furniture. Volunteers are needed, and this is a great opportunity to serve the wider Princeton community on Trinity's behalf.

For more information, see this article.

To volunteer, please contact HomeFront's Sunny at (609) 989-9417 extension 111 or sunnye@homefrontnj.org   

  

Voices Concert: Once in David's Royal City            

With well-known soprano Rochelle Ellis, the 65 singers of VOICES Chorale and the chamber group Sotto Voce, accompanied by lute, recorders and viola da gamba, will present their annual Christmas concert at the following two locations:

Saturday, December 17, 2011, 4:30 pm & 8:00 pm 

Trinity Episcopal Church, 33 Mercer Street,

Princeton, NJ 08540

Sunday, December 18, 2011, 3:00 pm

Anchor Presbyterian Church, 980 Durham Road (Rte 413),

Wrightstown, PA 18940 (with silent auction)  

Tickets:

• General Admission: $20 advance sale, $25 at the door
• Children/Students with ID: $10
• Family Pass: $50 advance sale, $55 at the door.
• New Jersey Pass Holders get a 25% ticket discount for the Princeton performances.

VOICES would like to offer a few complimentary tickets to those who might not othewise take advantage of the concert. Please write to  info@voiceschorale.org. To purchase tickets, please see www.voiceschorale.org or call 609-637-9383.  

  

Benefit Concert for Zambia 

Sunday, January 7

5:00 p.m.

Trinity Church 

On Sunday, January 7th at 5pm, former Trinity Chorister and Westminster Choir College graduate, Fiona Gillespie and other local student musicians are putting on a benefit concert for a trip to Zambia, Africa that Fiona and her partner Christopher are taking. While on their trip, they will volunteer teaching music in under-privileged schools in Livingstone Zambia, and the money they are raising goes to help fund a school for orphans.
 

Fiona invites you, 

"Please join us for a brief evening of sacred music, art songs, and opera! We will have lots of information on the work we will be doing at the concert and a small reception afterward!"

Free-will donations will be accepted. 

  

Kinnara Ensemble Presenting: Light 

Saturday, January 14 

8:00 p.m.

Trinity Church 

Tel: 908-277-0310

Email: KinnaraEnsemble@gmail.com

Kinnara™ Ensemble, the noted chamber choir, returns to Trinity Church to present "Light," a one hour choral concert on January 14th, at 8pm. The warm and inspiring choral experience will explore how various composers have considered light, flame, sun, and stars in their music. Repertoire will include works by Brahms, Tallis, Gretchaninoff, and Paulus. A reception to meet the artists will follow. The Princeton based choir consists of 20 professional artists including Trinity singers Adam Phillips, Heather Fetrow, and Liza Juzwak, and is under the direction of J.D. Burnett. Detail's regarding tickets can be found  http://kinnaraensemble.org/upcomingconcerts 

Formed in 2008, the ensemble is a non-profit tax exempt organization, dedicated to bringing the finest choral music to NJ and providing new opportunity for the young professional choral singer.  http://kinnaraensemble.org/ 

  

Food Stamped: Screening and Discussion

Princeton Public Library, 65 Witherspoon St.

Sunday, January 29

1:00 - 3:00 p.m.

Free and open to the public

This humorous and award-winning documentary, directed by Shira and Yoav Potash, follows the couple as they attempt to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet within a budget of a $1.00 per meal (per person), the approximate amount of food stamp benefits for low-income Americans. Along the way, the filmmakers consult with members of Congress, food justice organizations, nutrition experts and people living on food stamps. For more on the film, visit  www.foodstamped.com. Panel discussion and Q&A will include the film's directors via Skype, Julia Hicks de Peyster, a former Princeton resident and graduate of Princeton University ('86), who attempted to feed her family of five on the allotted food stamp budget for forty days, and the Crisis Ministry's Hunger Prevention Director Mark Smith. Moderator will be Liz Cohen of Yes We CAN! Food Drives, which supports the Crisis Ministry. Donations of fresh produce will be gratefully accepted at the door for distribution to the Crisis Ministry's pantries. For more on the Crisis Ministry:  www.thecrisisministry.org.

This screening of Food Stamped is part of the 2012 Princeton Environmental Film Festival and is co-sponsored by the Princeton Public Library, Crisis Ministry, and Yes We CAN! Food Drives. For information on the Princeton Public Library's film festival and for directions and parking: www.princetonlibrary.org/peff 

  

Painting for Urban Promise Postponed  

The painting project for Urban Promise scheduled for December 10 will have to be postponed. 
Our intern Jeff advertised this service opportunity in church a few weeks ago and there were blue flyers around church describing the details. 
The project will hopefully still happen, but sometime later than December 10.     

  

The Episcopal Church at Princeton University:

Sunday, December 11

9:00 p.m.

Princeton University Chapel 

Favorite Hymns including Once in Royal david's City, O Come all Ye Faithful, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, O Little Town of Bethlehem, The Angel Gabriel from Heaven Came, and more.

And Carols and Music by Frank Boles, Ralph Vaughan Williams, J. S. Bach, Darke, Daniel Elder Marcel Dupre and more

  

Ordination to the Priesthood

December 16th

7:00 p.m.

  

Epiphany Conversations

Beginning January 8th

Beginning on January 8th - the first Sunday after the Epiphany - Dick and Juliana McIntyre Fenn will lead a series of five conversations about the many facets of Epiphany.
Epiphanies are turning points when we see ourselves, others and the world around us in a new light... or when we come into a deeper sense of  our connection with others or with the cosmos. Epiphanies may also turn us to enter into a new way of life.

We will invite participants to explore various Biblical accounts and to share their personal experiences of such revelatory moments.

Conversations will take place in the Thomas Room during the Forum Hour: 10:15 - 11:00. 

  

Next Baptism Date: January 8  

  

Weekday Worship at Trinity and Beyond  

Trinity is a worshiping community. Please join us in worship:

• Tuesday at 12.10 p.m.  for Holy Communion
• Wednesday at 5.30 p.m. for Holy Communion and prayers for healing
• EVERY weekday at 5 p.m. for the Order of Evening Prayer
• Service of Morning Prayer at PTS at 8a.m. on weekdays to which all are invited.  
• Sunday nights at 9 p.m. in the PU Chapel, Holy Eucharist sponsored by the ECP.  
  

   

   

    

Help Wanted to start a Prayer Shawl Ministry at Trinity!   

  

Women at the Well 

Wednesdays 

Noon - 1:30 p.m. 

Flemer Library  

  

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.  

  

Episcopal Pilgrimage to the Holy Land 2012 

Pilgrimage to the Holy Land-2012
Hosted by Bishop George Councell
(Attachments:  Flier - 4 pages and registration form)

EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF NEW JERSEY
Departs USA, July 23rd
Returns USA, August 5th     

Cost of the Pilgrimage-$2524 for double occupancy ($385 extra for single occupancy) - see page 4 for further information.
Fees and Airline fare are handled by:
Chris Winchell, Pinnacle Travel Services LLC,
185 S. Douglas Street, Suite 200, El Segundo, California 90245
(800) 896-3636, Fax (310) 414-0188

You can find more information and applications at the reception table in the Trinity office.