It's been a busy week at Trinity Church and a full Saturday, as well. As a team of hearty volunteers came out for our spring grounds clean up day, the Vestry spent 8 hours in retreat at Trinity Church, Rocky Hill.  We through prayer, the study of scripture, reflection and conversation, worked diligently to discern God's call for Trinity's present and future life and ministry.  

 

It was a wonderful and spirit filled time...but hard work, too.  To close our time together we gathered around the altar and celebrated Holy Eucharist. I chose John 21:15-17 as the gospel lesson.

 

"When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, 'Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my lambs.' A second time he said to him, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' He said to him, 'Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Tend my sheep.' He said to him the third time, 'Simon son of John, do you love me?' Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, 'Do you love me?' And he said to him, 'Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.' Jesus said to him, 'Feed my sheep." 

 

So often we can get bogged down in the details, working hard to formulate and then implement the perfect plan - analyzing from every angle our parish life and work.  We can always do more and do it better.  But, the reality is we will not come up with the perfect plan and it will not be perfectly executed.  It's helpful if we simply remember to keep the main thing as the main thing, and I find the words from the Gospel of John helpful.

 

At the end of the day, the Lord asks us, "Do you love me?" And if our answer is "Yes!"  Then, we are to feed the people of God. That's it!!  Feed them from, as the BCP says, "the riches of God's grace."  People are hungry - spiritually hungry, soulfully hungry, emotionally hungry, relationally hungry...feed my sheep.

 

In all that we do and say as the people of Trinity Church may we respond to God's amazing love made flesh in the Jesus Christ and feed the people.  

 

"Do you love me?"

"Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." 

"Feed my sheep."

 

In Christ,

Paul+

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Princeton University will be hosting a conference on Modern Slavery. All are invited to attend. For more information, please see this flyer. 

 

Are you a busy High school student with volunteer hours needed to complete your year before May 1, 2012? We need each other!

If you would like to perform your volunteer hours working our Spring Rummage event then let us know. We can sign off on your hours
in time for your academic year 2011-12. This is a great cause and helps you, us and people less fortunate. So come on down!

Hours and days available are:

Sunday April 22 from 1 - 5 PM
Wednesday April 25 from 6 - 9 PM
Saturday April 28 from 9 AM - 5 PM
Sunday April 29 from 1 - 5 PM

Call 609 924 2277 ext 351 and leave your name, age, and telephone number for our rummage team.

 

You can also sign up be sending an email to Nancy Metcalf at nebm1@comcast.net or  Mary Alden at  mlaeas@comcast.net 

See you there!  

 

 

Prayer shawls wrap, enfold, comfort and give solace to people who are dealing with illness, surgery or grief.

We are calling all knitters and wannabes to come join old friends and new friends at our monthly prayer shawl knit-a-thons held in members' homes. All are welcome who would enjoy knitting these easy therapeutic patterns, infusing your own prayers for recovery as you knit and then taking the shawls to the clergy for blessing before delivery.

 

We are asking and begging the congregation for names of anyone in the hospital or sick at home who might be comforted by receiving a cozy shawl accompanied by a card with a reading such as:

 

Every lovingly crafted stitch contains a special prayer,                            

That God will send his peace to you and keep you in his care.

 

Knitting Instructions:  

• 3 skeins of Lion Brand Homespun Yarn - Michael's or Walmart
• Size 11 or 13 needles. Round needles work really well.
• Cast on 54, 57, 60 or 63 stitches or some multiple of 3.  
• Knit 3, purl 3 to end of row.  
• Turn and knit the purl and purl the knit.  
• If you have 57 or 63 stitches, you'll begin every row with knit.
• A weave pattern will develop. Knit about 2 and 2/3 skeins in pattern. Use the rest of yarn for fringe. The fringe can be as short as 3 inches or as long as 8 or 9 inches. It's up to you.

We suggest that you knit prayers into your shawl as you knit. Many gather for a collective blessing of the shawl before it is given away. There is no right or wrong way to knit or create these mantles of love and care. Come join us!

 

Contact: Molly Schneider at mhcsstrong@aol.com or Susan Finlay at swf1958@verizon.net. Many thanks for your interest.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kitchen and household goods, books, linens, toys, electrical items, jewelry, small furniture, treasures and works of art for the Boutique, and clothing for all ages, tastes, sizes and seasons are keeping the Rummage volunteers busy every Friday - thank you!  Donations for the traditional Spring Rummage Sale on Friday/Saturday April 27/28 are accepted 24/7 except for the week before Easter and can be left on the bench outside Pierce Hall. Donation receipts are available at the Reception Desk during church office hours.