Thank you, thank you, thank you . . .

 

This first Christmas together, both for Trinity and St. John's and for Deborah and me with you all, has been quite the experience!!  All of you have been full of good cheer and have each demonstrated willingness to pitch in to help make the season one of good tidings and joy for all to behold. 

 

The list of "thank you's" is long . . .the full parish efforts put into wonderfully successful Christmas Fairs in terms of spiritual, fellowship and financial benefits; altar guild work in both parishes for decorations and smooth running liturgies; music with talented musicians at both organ benches (plus choir, choir director, trumpet, flute (2), bagpipe, guitar and recorder at Trinity); staff support for cleaning and bulletins; Christmas Pageant actors, actresses, narrators, directors, assistant directors along with props, costumes and lots of energy; ushers; lay readers, chalice bearers, acolytes; Christmas Caroling with the youth group at three senior residential centers and some homes; collections for Christmas gifts for those in need . . . and more . . .

 

Thank you one and all.  Each of you added something special to the celebration of our Lord's birth for yourselves, your families and people who came to visit both churches on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 

 

For those who may wonder . . . the attendance statistics are as follows:

4:00pm Christmas Eve at Trinity = approximately 200

6:00pm Christmas Eve at St. John's = 135

10:00pm Christmas Eve at Trinity = 101

10:00am Christmas Day at St. John's = 30

 

May God continue to bless us all in the New Year.

 

Faithfully,

Fr. Bob

 

Top 

Confirmation Class for Trinity and St. John's

 

Confirmation is the opportunity to reaffirm the vows made for us when we were baptized.  In a sense, as a bishop once said, "Confirmation is the time to make my faith my own."

 

The Church has a tradition of providing an educational program suited to the exploration of one's faith prior to the Confirmation service itself.  For those who have never been confirmed, we call these Confirmation Classes.  For those who are from other portions of the Christian Church or have been confirmed in the Roman Catholic or Lutheran traditions, we refer to the same classes as Inquirer's Class.  In either case, exploring one's faith in a supportive environment is always of spiritual benefit.

 

To this end, all those who are in the eighth grade and older who have yet to be confirmed are welcome to participate.  Adults from other parts of the Christian Church are also welcome to "inquire" about becoming an Episcopalian by joining the class.  Adults and older teens who would like to have a "refresher course" in the faith are also welcome. 

Confirmation will take place this year at the Cathedral in Boston on Saturday, April 21 at 10:30am. 

 

Classes will take place on the following Sunday afternoons from 4-5:30pm for members of both St. John's and Trinity:

February 12, 26

March 4, 11, 18, 25

April 1

 

In addition, this year's Lenten Program will include three Wednesday evening events.  The dates are February 29, March 7 and March 14.  Details on the timing of these Wednesday evenings have yet to be decided.  These Wednesday evenings will be open to members of St. John's and Trinity and are included in the Confirmation Class schedule. 

 

Confirmation Class will cover topics including, but not limited to, biblical interpretation, liturgy, church history, sacramental theology, church architecture, faith and why it's important and more.  Homework, while not burdensome, will also be assigned.

 

Please see Fr. Bob if you are interested.  fatherbob@trinitywrentham.org or by calling the office at 508-384-3958.

 

(Submitted by the Rev. Robert Edmunds)

 

Top 

Church Security

 

The Parish Hall door on the north side of the building has been left unlocked at all times of day or night for some time.  This has allowed easy access to the building for church members and any number of groups who use the building during the evening.  This practice has also exposed the parish to liability if someone were to enter the building in the over-night hours and damage the building, themselves or others.  While none of these things has yet taken place, thanks be to God, the question of the wisdom of maintaining this practice was brought up by Fr. Edmunds for discussion with the wardens and vestry at the December meeting of the vestry.

 

After considerable discussion of the responsibility which the vestry has for the safety for parishioners, staff, and the public, as well as the legal ramifications of exposure to such liability, the decision was made to lock the building at night.  This will neither limit access to the building during the day nor inhibit parishioners who come to the church after hours.  This will simply mean that a key will be needed for access to the building in the evening when there is no event already scheduled.  Keys are available through the church office for any member of the parish who needs one.  Please see Jennifer or Fr. Edmunds and a key will be provided for your use.

 

(Submitted by The Rev. Robert Edmunds)

Top 

  January Calendar 

In an effort to provide a more readable and functional calendar we have decided to present you a direct link. This link will open the church online calendar for your viewing pleasure.

 

Please remember when you are planning any activity here at Trinity you need to check with Jennifer, in the Parish office to check availability. Please do not advertise a date until you have confirmation that it is available. - Thank you, Jennifer 508-384-3958   

Click HERE 

 

Top

 

Sunday School 

Sunday School classes continue to meet from 9:00-9:45 returning to church for Communion.  All children/youth are returning to church with material from their class and/or a weekly bulletin that reinforces the weekly readings or class discussion/activities.  We will also on occasion hand out other announcements and/or articles that may be of interest to parents.  Please let us know if you have any suggestions or feedback.  Please refer to the schedule below for the month of January.

 

 

January 1, 2012	No Sunday School-New Year's Day
January 8, 2012	Regular class
January 15, 2012	Guest(s): TBN
January 22, 2012	Regular class
Friday, January 27, 2012 - 6:30-8:30PM	Movie Night, Parish Hall
January 29, 2012	Regular class

 

 

Movie Night

The next movie night will be held on Friday, January 27, 2012 from 6:30-8:30 PM in the Parish Hall.

 

Youth Group

Top

 

  Notes and Announcements

 Christmas Fair 

Trinity Church would like to acknowledge and extend our heartfelt thanks to the following businesses and parishioners who donated items for the large raffle and penny social for the 2011 Christmas Fair.

 

Large Raffle Donors:  Emily Mosher (handcrafted sampler afghan); Barbara Romans (handcrafted Irish knit afghan/pillow); Brian & Cheryl Dyke (Keurig Coffee Maker); Jim & Cindy Vogan (LL Bean gift certificate; The Proctor Inn (One night stay at the Inn plus $50 to Café Assisi Restaurant); Scott & Deb Favreau ($100 in Lottery Tickets); Dick &Janice McCullough (Kindle and Amazon gift certificate); Ken & Stephanie MacDonald (gourmet wine basket); Chris Young (autographed Bill Clinton book)  Donna DeCarlo (iTunes/coffee basket); Simons Furniture (wall clock)

 

Penny Social Donors:

The following Wrentham businesses:  The Commodities Market, Cataldo's Hardware, Luciano's Lake Pearl,  Pizzeria Uno, Café Assisi, Ray's Cleaners, Twin Shears, Regional/Sunoco, Wrentham House of Pizza, Crackerbarrel Restaurant

 

The following Franklin businesses: Best Cleaners, Lee's Kitchen, Spruce Pond Creamery, Rome Restaurant, Hometown Paint, East Central Car Wash, Hair Mania, "3" Restaurant, King St. Café & Deli, Alumni Restaurant, Franklin House of Pizza, Franklin Pizza & Deli, Stobbarts Florist, Elizabeth Grady

 

The following parishioners:  Janice McCullough,  Diane Pelrine, Gail Olyha, Jane Robison, Trish Crocker, Diana Katapodis, Brenda McGinn, Sara Marks, Nancy Peterson, Brian & Cheryl Dyke,  Stephanie Hamel, Jody Derick, Priscilla Isner, Donna Gibson, Verna Holst, Bobbi Cohen, Dianne Saunders, Chris Young, Kathi Redman, Rachel Flum, Bill & Barbara Hughes, Bob Pellet, Ken & Anne McKee, Lisa Dacko, & Madeleine Young

 

Additional businesses:  Guido's Restaurant, Plimoth Plantation, Southwick's Animal Farm,  Davis Farmland, Boston Red Sox, With Heart & Hand, Edaville Railroad, Cardi's Furniture, Jordan's Furniture, Razor Sharpe Salon, Jordan's Furniture

 

Congratulations to all who won prizes!

 

    

Top

Divine Message  

 

  Editor's Corner  

As we bid goodbye to 2011 we are faced with a new year, new challenges, new hopes and new dreams. There is something about the future that leaves us questioning our imagination and wondering about what is in store for us as we live on. We may have doubts about our plans or uncertainty about what we want to happen to us. There is never an answer until we live the moments so we can only project the outcome.

 

As humans we are wired to fight for our survival and to do that requires strategy, planning and conscious action. It takes us envisioning a destination and creating all of the steps necessary to reach that place. Sometimes even though we meticulously build a clear map the destination is not reached and we are disappointed. It causes us to become unhappy. And even though we may believe there is a divine plan we are reluctant to accept it and let it play itself out.

 

So what do we do? There could be a greater good yet we may find it perplexing to follow a mapless plan. So we take activity that feels like there is a reason for doing. Like helping other people who may not be able to help themselves, like giving of our time and life without thought of receiving back. Somehow by helping others we find our grace, we find our path.

 

There is something that reassures us, that let's us know that we will be fine without a roadmap in front of us. But how do we know we are on the right road or traveling in the right direction? We need a beacon and we use this beacon to recognize our safety, to provide us assurance and to sustain our lives, to survive. This beacon is our heart.

 

However, it seems that God wants for us to do more than just survive. He makes it kind of simple. See, He has this immense amount of Love for us and He gives it to us everyday, all day long. I think what He wants is for us to feel it, to taste it, to experience it and to let us know that it is real. And when we feel it and let it wash over us we understand that there is really not anything more important we need to continue ahead with our lives.  

 

 

Peace,

Todd

 

Top