Trinity Church in Menlo Park

 
This Sunday is our Planning Extravaganza following the 10 am service.  Please read the article below in the "Highlighted Event" section that includes all the details.  It is so important that we do this work together, so I hope we can count on your involvement.

Our readings this Sunday from Acts and John speak to us of the way in which the Spirit of God seeks to move among us.  In Acts, Peter receives a lesson about the radical inclusive love of God.  In John, Jesus defines the mission of the disciples as one in which the love he has shared with them is to be shared among them.  On this Sunday when we are inviting you to contribute to the emerging vision of Trinity Church, it is so appropriate that we are given a vision of the Christian community as a love shaped in a way that includes all.

You will notice that this edition of the Weekly Email has a new look!  The email has been divided into new sections and given a makeover that we hope will enhance the effectiveness of our communications and make the email more readable.  Some familiar links from the previous format will be found at the bottom of this new format.  

Peace,
MatthewSignatureGenuine
 
HIGHLIGHTED EVENT: PLANNING EXTRAVAGANZA

Most of you will remember that last year, a Church Assessment Survey was conducted as a kind of "check up" for our congregation, and to help identify areas of focus that should receive special attention over the next 3 years.  The results of that survey were very positive in terms of revealing a healthy and vital congregation.

This Sunday, April 24, our planing process will continue with the Planning Extravaganza!  Following the 10 am service, you are invited to grab a portable lunch and to choose one of the five areas of focus:  Growing the Congregation, Strengthening Spiritual Discovery, Broadening Parishioner Engagement, Strengthening Ministry with Children/Families/Youth, and Expanding our Outreach/Justice Ministries.   Each of these groups will have a facilitator who will guide those who choose it through a process of brainstorming that will ultimately lead to the identification of about 3 projects that will be implemented over the next three years to advance each of these areas. 
 
It is also our hope to identify a core group of 3 to 5 people in each of these areas to help flesh out further details of the projects that emerge (which would require one additional meeting of each of the core groups).   Ultimately, the projects from each group will be incorporated into our three year plan.

Lunch will be provided, child care/children's activities will be provided, and we will finish between 12:45 and 1 pm.  Please join us as we continue to work to build up the life of Trinity Church.


CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES NEWS
This Coming Sunday
10:00 am - Godly Play & Explorers
6:00-8:00 pm - Youth Group will be having dinner and program in Trinity Hall

Children & Family Reminders

Planning Extravaganza
We hope you will stay after church this Sunday! Childcare will be available for the Planning Extravaganza! We hope you will join us for this important event this Sunday.

Singing Saints Resume in May
May 1, 8, 15 Rehearsals in Angus Hall from 9-9:50 in preparation for the Festival of Music which they will perform at on May 22nd during the 10 am service.

Youth Reminder

Planning Extravaganza
Join us after church this Sunday for lunch and a conversation around planning the future of youth ministry at Trinity!

Mission Trip
Payments are due by April 27th.


UPCOMING TRINITY EVENTS
Rebuilding Together
Saturday April 30th

Every year we gather for a day of service to remodel and make improvements to the home of someone in need. This year we will once again be partnering with Epiphany in San Carlos and Christ Church in Los Altos. Please save the date! More details will be provided as the date gets closer. If you have questions contact John. 

"Being Mortal" Small Groups
Are you interested in joining others to discuss issues around aging, dying, retirement, and mortality? Small groups are forming for individuals who are interesting in deeper discussions around these topics. If you are interested or want to know more please contact Nancy Grove or Rev. Elizabeth.

OWLS Luncheon
Fri.  May 13th, Noon Angus Hall

Please join us on Friday, May 13 at noon for an opportunity to hear another inspiring presentation by Trinity's Director of Music, Ron Valentino. This time Ron is bringing Brian Leerhuber to perform for us. Brian (leader of the bass section of the Trinity choir) is a professional baritone who has sung for the SF Opera and many other exceptional opera companies. You won't want to miss our last OWLS "meeting" before the summer hiatus.

Please contact Alecia in the office to let us know if you will join us. Lunch is always provided, so sign up for OWLS on this special day.

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Ascension Day at Stanford
May 5th, 7:30 pm at Memorial Church

Christ is risen! In keeping with tradition, the Lutheran and Episcopal congregations of the Peninsula will celebrate the Ascension together with the Episcopal Lutheran Campus Ministry at Stanford on May 5th at 7:30pm in Stanford's Memorial Church! This year, former Presiding Bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Pastor Mark Hanson, recognized as one of the finest preachers in the ELCA, will be preaching, and the combined choirs of churches from around the Peninsula will be singing. All are welcome! Please contact the Rev. Andy Shamel with any questions!
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Benefit to Provide Solar Light in Nepal
April 22, 7-10 pm at Cafe Zoe

Join David and Haydi Sowerwine and other members of the Menlo Park community for a night of global community and acoustic music to raise money for solar kits. Your $80 donation provides a solar light kit through villagetechsoultions.org. Learn more here.
Equipping the Beloved Community
May 14th, 9:30- 5 pm St. Paul's Burlingame

St. Paul's, Burlingame will be your host for the learning-rich Equipping the Beloved Community training event. 
Laurel Johnston, Director of Alumni Affairs and former Executive Director of The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) will be teaching stewardship, and Caroline McCall of The Center for Church Vitality will be teaching leadership capacity-building and meeting skills. In addition, author and spiritual teacher Suzanne Guthrie will offer workshops and worship together with Bishop Marc Andrus, who will be introducing his new book (written with Matthew Fox) entitled Stations of the Cosmic Christ. Other workshops include Eucharistic Ministry and Visiting, faith development at home (for parents and family ministers), mandated reporter training, and much more. Learn more here.
THIS COMING SUNDAY
April 24th, 2016
5th Sunday of Easter

Sunday's Scriptures
Acts 11:1-18
Psalm 148
Revelation 21:1-6
John 13:31-35
  
    
5:05 Service:
John Phillip Newell Liturgy

Did you miss last Sunday? Listen to the sermon here!

LINKS
The Trinity Church calendar can be found here.

A complete list of upcoming Trinity events can be found here.

For information about online giving, and other information about Trinity, please visit our website: www.trinitymenlopark.org
 
 
 
A BLESSING FOR EARTH DAY
We Hold the Earth
 
We hold brothers and sisters who suffer from storms and droughts 
intensified by climate change.
We hold all species that suffer.
We hold world leaders delegated to make decisions for life.
We pray that the web of life may be mended through courageous actions 
to limit carbon emissions.
We pray for right actions for adaptation and mitigation 
to help our already suffering earth community.
We pray that love and wisdom might inspire my actions and our actions as communities

so that we may, with integrity, look into the eyes of brothers and sisters
 and all beings and truthfully say, 
we are doing our part to care for them and the future of the children.
May love transform us and our world with new steps toward life.

For more on Earth Day and actions you can take go to Interfaith Power and Light
 
Sincerely,
 
Trinity Church Communications
Trinity Church in Menlo Park
650-326-2083