Trinity Church in Menlo Park
Since the church camping trip had to be cancelled this weekend, we'll approximate the event for children in pop up tents at the front of the church at 10 am. Children are invited to join in worship with Rev. Mary in tents available at the front of the church.
The nursery will be open as well.

 
This coming Sunday's Gospel shows us one of a number of conflicts that Jesus has with the religious leaders of his time.  This conflict, like many, is over what can appropriately be done on the Sabbath.  Jesus heals a woman, and to others, this looks like he has violated the prohibition against working on the Sabbath.  But Jesus reveals that something more is happening, something that transcends their sense of tradition.

Please mark your calendars for Sunday, August 28, and be sure to join us at the 10:00 am service as we welcome the Rev. Ed Bacon as our guest preacher.  We are fortunate to have been given the opportunity to hear from Ed, who is acknowledged as one of the best preachers in The Episcopal Church.  Recently retired as the Rector of All Saints, Pasadena, he is known as a powerful speaker on issues of faith and justice for all.  You can learn more about Ed by clicking here.

We are also beginning to look forward to Sunday, September 11, when we will hold our annual Celebration Sunday that signals the kick-off of a new year of life and ministry together. We will have one service on that day, at 10:00 am, to bring the whole congregation together, and then enjoy lunch and some fun afterwards.  We will also be sharing our new three-year plan with you, and inviting you to offer your time and talent in some particular ministry opportunities for the first year of that plan.

The Spirit is moving at Trinity!

Peace,
MatthewSignatureGenuine  
 
P.S.  The schedule for my Monday evening OR Wednesday morning classes has been set for 2016-2017, and will focus on mystical Christianity.  You can see the schedule HERE.

P.P.S.   See below in this email for information on our Sunday Formation Sessions for adults and this year's Bishop's Ranch Retreat!
UPCOMING EVENTS
August 28 - Guest Preacher, The Rev. Ed Bacon
September 11 - Celebration Sunday 
 September 17 - Outreach Work Day at Redwood Family House
September 30 - October 2 - All Church Retreat
October 16 - Bishop's Visitation to Trinity
October 22 - Hearts for Justice

All of our upcoming events can be viewed here.
CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES NEWS
 
This Coming Sunday -- Let's camp in church!
Since we were meant to be camping this weekend, we'll approximate the event for children in pop up tents at the front of the church. Children are invited to join in worship with Rev. Mary in tents available at the front of the church. The nursery will be open as well. 

Thank you to all our Summer Sunday School Teachers: Alice Chernikoff and Christian Pedersen (who talked about why building things matters to them), Camille Kennedy (who talked about why compassion matters to her), Kate Dutton-Gillett (who talked about why creation matters to her), Elaine MacDonald (who talked about why seeing others be their best selves matters to her), and Brad Aagaard (who talked about why earth science and earthquake readiness matters to him). Each of these wonderful adults shared their gift of knowledge and talent to enable our children to see how the life we learn about in church extends to the world beyond Trinity. Thank you very much to all our teachers this summer. Would you like to teach next summer? Talk to Rev. Mary and let's get planning!

Our nursery, located in Angus Hall, is open every Sunday for younger children.

Fall Family Ministry Formation Programs Begin Sept 11th

Sept 11th at 10:00 -- Children's Liturgy Kick Off in the Chapel 
Sept 18th at 10:00 -- Children's Godly Play and Explorers Resume in Trinity Hall 
Sept 18th at 11:15 -- Singing Saints for K-6th graders
Sept 18th at 11:15 -- Confirmation Prep Begins for youth in 8th-12th grade
Sept 18th at  6:00 -- Youth Group Resumes in Trinity Hall (Parents join from 6-6:30)


SUNDAY FORMATION SESSIONS & BISHOP'S RANCH RETREAT
With the success of our last Lenten Series, we will be offering several Sunday Formation Sessions this year.  As a result of our recent planning process, the theme for these Sunday Sessions in 2016-2017 will be "Episcopal 101:  Faith & Life in the Episcopal Tradition".  The first two of these Sunday Sessions will be on September 18 and 25, and will focus on the ethos or spirit of our tradition, captured by the term "via media" or "middle way".  As we did this past Lent, we will have a quick lunch following the 10 am service, followed by learning time, all to be done by 12:45 pm.   Children will be invited to practice with the Singing Saints children's choir in preparation for the Bishop's Visit on October 16.  More information on these sessions, and all our Sunday Session offerings this year, may be found here.
+ + + + + +
Our annual All-Church Retreat at Bishop's Ranch is coming up!  We begin Friday evening, September 30, and run through Sunday morning, October 2.  The retreat provides generous amounts of free time to relax, reconnect, and deepen relationships.  A programmatic element is included for Saturday morning, and this year we will be following our "Episcopal 101" formation theme with a focus on the history and meaning of the various parts of the Eucharist.   All are invited, but space is limited, so we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible. Confirmation youth will have special programming at the retreat and should attend. Information, including online registration link, may be found here. 
 
UPCOMING TRINITY EVENTS
Vestry Meeting Next Week
Tuesday, August 23rd, 7:00 pm in Angus Hall
The Trinity Vestry will be meeting next week for their August meeting. Vestry meetings, unless in executive session, are open to anyone in the congregation to attend. Next week the Vestry will be discussing:
  1. Reviewing the Three Year Plan
  2. Review and Discussion of Proposed Alcohol Policy
  3. Appointment of Monique Vandermack as a Trustee to Trinity School
  4. Appointment of Nominating Committee Chair
  5. Appointment of John Savage as an Endowment Trustee
If you have any questions about Vestry or it's meetings please contact Rev. Matthew, Senior Warden Kent Smith, or Junior Warden Bob Cleveland.  
 
Outreach Work Day at Redwood Family House 
Saturday, September 17
Trinity Outreach is planning a work day on September at Redwood Family House to offer our hands and hearts to help maintain and improve this shelter. The facility is operated by LifeMoves, (formerly InnVision Shelter Network,) to provide transitional housing in Redwood City for 9 homeless families with 15-25 children.  Volunteers are needed to prep and paint railings and other areas, build a cover for the sandbox, and do some light weeding and general clean-up of the playground area. You can learn more about our upcoming work with Redwood Family House on the Trinity blog. 

To volunteer you can sign up online by clicking here  or if you can contact Jim Bramlett or Barbara Newton.  

Save the Date - Hearts for Justice: Addiction, Recovery, and Grace
October 22, 2016

Save the Date for this year's Hearts for Justice conference! We will be focusing on addiction and recovery with two great speakers: Fr. Tom Weston and The Rt. Rev. Chilton Knudsen. You can read more about them here.
 
Want to volunteer help make Hearts for Justice happen? Please contact Rev. Elizabeth Riley.

Stephen Ministry Training This Fall

Two years ago Trinity launched a Stephen Ministries program. Stephen Ministries is a one-on-one pastoral care program. It trains members of the congregation to offer ongoing pastoral care to individuals in the midst of transition, change, or life hardship. Stephen Ministers are weekly prayer partners to those they minister too. Stephen Ministies work with the clergy to provide long term pastoral care and comfort to our community. 
 
We are currently looking for new members of the Trinity community to join our current Stephen Ministry Team. You can learn more about Stephen Ministry here. If you are interested or have questions, please contact Rev. Elizabeth Riley.

THIS COMING SUNDAY
August 21st, 2016
Fourteenth Sunday After Pentecost
    
5:05 Service:
There is no 5:05 Service during summer. The 5:05 returns September 18th.
 
Did you miss last Sunday? Listen to the sermon here!

UPCOMING COMMUNITY EVENTS
Twilight Fashion Show for Catherine's Center
August 30th 5:30-7:30 pm at Trinity Church

Catherine's Center will be hosting their annual fashion show fundraiser at Trinity on Tuesday August 30th. Join us for cocktails, mocktails, and heavy hors d'oeuvres to help support the work of Catherine's Center. Tickets are $75 per person and can be purchased here.
 
Multi faith  Peace Walk & Picnic
September 11, 2 pm
 
Join with other local houses of faith for a multi faith peace walk in September 11th! The walk starts at Congregation Etz Chayim, Spark Church and St. Andrews United Methodist Church parking lots, 4111 & 4161 Alma St., Palo Alto. You can learn more bout it 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
Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ The Book of Common Prayer

Sincerely,
 
Trinity Church Communications
Trinity Church in Menlo Park
650-326-2083