Trinity Church in Menlo Park

 
This Sunday is Mother's Day.  It is not a day that appears on the church calendar, but churches have been remembering and honoring mothers on this day probably from the very first year it came into being.  We would like to think that it's a straight-forward holiday.  But, in fact, for at least some people, it comes with complicated emotions.  While most of us are able to give thanks for our mothers, for many people, that is a hard thing to do, because of difficult or even abusive relationships they had with their mothers.  For still others, giving thanks for their mothers is tinged with sadness, because their mothers have died.  On top of all of that, some of the roots of our modern observance of Mother's Day are connected to Julia Ward Howe who, in 1870, issued a "Mother's Day Proclamation", urging mothers to unite in the cause of peace-making, when the horrors of the Civil War were very fresh in people's memories.   As we observe Mother's Day this Sunday, we shall seek to encompass all of these complicated emotions in our prayers.

I also think that Mother's Day is an occasion for the church to give thanks for the ministry of women generally in all its varied forms.  While men have tended to dominate church history and church hierarchies, the role of women in the life of the church has been, and continues to be, absolutely critical in the on-going life of the Christian community.

Looking down the road from this Sunday, remember that on May 15, we will celebrate the Feast of Pentecost, which marks the end of Easter season.  Pentecost celebrates the gift of the Spirit that animates the life of the church, leading us ever deeper into the mystery of God in Christ.  The 10:00 am service that day will include the celebration of Baptism and the welcoming of new members.   Then, on May 22, we will celebrate our annual Festival of Music, highlighting and giving thanks for our rich and diverse music ministry and the people who make it possible.  Please note that Communion will NOT be celebrated at the 10:00 am service on May 22.
Peace,
MatthewSignatureGenuine
 
HIGHLIGHTED EVENT: SAVE THE DATES!
May 15th Pentecost
May 22nd Festival of Music
May 22 Youth End of Year Party
June 5th Church at the Park
June 17th Showing of "the movie Being Mortal" at Trinity
June 19th - July 3rd Home and Hope Summer Outreach
July 3rd - August 14th Summer Sunday School
August 18th - 21st Church Camping Trip at Big Sur
CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES NEWS
This Coming Sunday
9:00-9:50 am - Singing Saints in Angus Hall
10:00 am - Godly Play & Explorers

Acolytes this week are Izzy, Emma, and Georgia
No Youth Group this week in recognition of Mother's Day! See you next week!

Children & Family Reminders
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
Parents of 8th grade and high school graduates, please let Rev. Mary know of your child's upcoming graduation so we can list her/his name in the bulletin and honor them on May 22 at the 10:00 service.

Save the Date! Youth Group end of year party will be May 22 - place TBD!


UPCOMING TRINITY EVENTS
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.

Help Cook for Stanford Episcopal Campus Ministries
Tuesday May 24th in the afternoon in Trinity Hall

Along with other local parishes Trinity participates in supporting Episcopal campus ministries at Stanford. Each congregation takes turn providing a "home cooked" meal for the 10-15 students that gather weekly for community and fellowship. If you would like to help Trinity provide a meal on May 24th please get in touch with Rev. Elizabeth.

Home and Hope
June 19th to July 3rd

Home and Hope continues to provide a safe haven for homeless families by offering a safe, nurturing shelter and support while the families work to regain their self-sufficiency. This will be the fifth summer that the Trinity Community has welcomed H&H families.  Our visiting families will be with us from June 19th to July 3rd. Once again, we will need many volunteers for meals, overnight hosts, children's activities,  and food shopping. We welcome "new" volunteers as well as all of you who have been of great help the past four years.
 
For questions about the program contact Barbara Newton or Jim Bramlett. We will have sign-up sheets available beginning next Sunday, May 8.

Big Sur Camping Trip
August 18-21, 2016

Join the Trinity community for a relaxing weekend of camping and fun in Big Sur!

The Santa Lucia Chapel and Campground, a mission of All Saints Parish in Carmel, is a private and secluded campground in the gorgeous Big Sur area. The campground itself is right on the Big Sur River and has a family friendly beach area. The campground has running water and toilets (but no showers), picnic tables, a group barbecue area and a large campfire circle.  A communal dinner will be prepared for all on Saturday night, but otherwise meals are individual responsibility. Our time together will include a Sunday morning Eucahrist in the outdoor chapel, as well as morning prayer and compline to start and end our days together. There are ocean beaches within driving distance for those who want to venture out. In general this weekend is a time to relax, play in the river and on the beach and have fun together as a church community. You are welcome to come for as much or as little time as you would like.
 
Cost:  $30 per person for the weekend (children under 5 stay for free; $100 max per family)
For more information contact Rev. Elizabeth Riley or register here.

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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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
6th Sunday of Easter

Sunday's Scriptures
Acts 16:16-34
Psalm 97
Revelation 22:12-14,16-17,20-21
John 17:20-26
  
    
5:05 Service:
Taize with Eucharist

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
 
 
 
PRAYER

Beloved, we are called to love those in need: Let us love in truth and action.
Beloved, we are called to be people of peace:
Let us love one another.
Beloved, we are called to be people of healing:
Let us love not only God, but our brothers and sisters, also. 

- Daily Prayer for All Seasons
Sincerely,
 
Trinity Church Communications
Trinity Church in Menlo Park
650-326-2083