TRINITY TODAY
February 2017
Dear sisters and brothers,

I ask for your continued prayers for the victims and the families of victims of the Sainte-Foy act of violence. It is incomprehensible to me that men and boys knelt in prayer would be shot in the back in their place of worship. Such violence and hatred has no place in our society. Many of our vestry members were present at the Prayer Vigil on January 31 along with Bishop Jane and other diocesan leaders, joining with Mayor Don Iveson, Premier Rachel Notley and over 1000 Edmontonians to pray for the victims and the larger Muslim community. We also affirmed that hatred and violence towards people for their beliefs, national origin, ethnicity, race or sexuality has no place in our community.

I have written notes of solidarity to some local Muslim leaders and have been in contact with Rabbi Kliel of Beth Shalom to see how we can increase the dialogue and familiarity between all of our communities. More than ever we need to learn about those who are different than we are and accept them for what they are: the same as us - children of God. Please reach out to our neighbours, Muslim and Jewish alike and let them know that they are indeed our friends and neighbours. We don't need to be like them in all respects but we need to welcome them, accept them for who they are and remember our mutual humanity and favour in God's eyes as beloved children. We live together, raise our families together, build community together and yearn for dreams for our children.

Blessings,
Chris+

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One church and illegal parking
by Adrian Peetoom (sort of) 

Setting
A certain suburban Toronto Anglican church parking lot is made available to commuters, as it is virtually empty on most weekdays, and a close walk from public transit. A number of commuters make use of this facility and pay the church a fee for it. Some car owners park without paying. This letter was put on the windshield of one such, after a number of warnings. I happen to know both the church and the chief administrator who wrote the letter.
Adrian
 
Dear Illegal Weekday Parker in Our Church Parking Lot:
 
You have repeatedly parked illegally on our premises and have received your final warning. Today we were going to have you towed when our priest-in-charge, who dropped in despite it being his day off, intervened on your behalf, calling for mercy.
It appears to be your lucky day.
There are firm reasons why it is good to abide by our parking rules. Liability, for example - the rules manage risk to us and to your vehicle. But we are more concerned about the ethical and moral risks you are taking. Flouting our parking regulations is bad for society and bad for your soul.
The smooth running of civic society depends on every individual following the rules we make to govern ourselves without exception and regardless of whether or not breaking them will have immediate consequences. Hiring enough bylaw officers to catch every lawbreaker every time would be very expensive; the tax burden would kill us. So, we all agree to obey the rules whether or not we get caught every time we don't, so that we can get by with fewer bylaw officers and so have lower taxes. In repeatedly breaking parking bylaws, you are also violating the social contract. If everyone acted this way, our pleasant way of life would become very unpleasant very quickly.
More immediately, however, what makes you the exception to the rule? Others pay monthly or through their membership in our community for the benefit of having a space to park in, on a paved surface that is cleaned of snow in winter, in a relatively safe neighbourhood with recourse (because they are licensed to park here) should anything extraordinary happen to their car. What makes you so special that you should enjoy these benefits without contributing to their upkeep in any way?
You should not be proud of yourself when you sneak in and park for free (or for the cost of the occasional ticket); rather, you should be ashamed. We are a not-for-profit organization concerned with the care and feeding of the soul. Since the soul is bound up in the life of the body, and the body has material needs which have to be met materially, we are in constant need of material resources - i.e., money. Do you know what we do with the money we take in? We keep our very old building warm and safe and supplied with water and light, not just for Sundays, when we worship God here, but throughout the week, for the sake of the many groups that meet here and for the funerals and other significant life events that we guide people through. We maintain a beautiful green space that enriches the neighbourhood and is home to amazing wildlife. We care for the people who come to us in desperate need, with broken hearts or no hope or physically hungry or cold. Some of the people who do the caring are paid - much less than the going rate for people who use the same skills to serve the corporate world. Many more are volunteers.
We are not getting rich on parking payments. We are simply trying to keep Jesus alive in this world, so that whoever is ready to see Him will see Him here, at this location and in the faces of everyone for whom this is a spiritual home. You may think this is deluded - but I would argue that it was Jesus who saved your vehicle from being towed today, however indirectly. And I, the writer of this letter, personally think that the best response to this act of mercy is to make a donation to this church (the cost of retrieving a towed vehicle, perhaps) to say "thank you."
Sincerely,
The Church Office
 
P.S. Parking is always free for everyone attending our services on Sunday mornings!
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The renowned visual artist Makoto Fujimura's book,  Silence and Beauty: Hidden Faith Born of Suffering , is in part an exploration of Shusaku Endo's  Silence , a novel about discrimination against Catholics in 17th-century Japan. Fujimura's reflections show that light is yet present in darkness, and that silence speaks with hidden beauty and truth.
 
"Everybody has some kind of traumatic past. Persecution, suffering, trauma - the themes that Endo directly dealt with - has become a normative reality for us. And so when I began to write I began to realize that what Endo was writing - which I thought I wanted to avoid because it is traumatic and difficult to face - was actually becoming an antidote for me. That it actually had this effect, as I spend more and more time with it, that it began to rejuvenate what was fragmented, you know, maybe buried deep inside of me, and nurture that in a strange way and my faith was stronger for it because I wrote this book and I journeyed with Endo. So he is a guide - he is the one who dared to walk right into the heart of that darkness. What Endo does is he creates a way for ordinary weak broken human beings to know that there is grace at the base of the universe operating to catch us as we struggle. Now there is a new possibility that Endo lays out that affects all of us as we consider what is our role as Christians - you know, how do we move into the world full of trauma, full of suffering, full of persecution. Well, Endo gives us that map."
 
Photo by Llyn Madsen taken January 21, 2017. On a wintry day, a single leaf brought colour into a white world of silence.
Archives: Organist Ralph Cooper

Ralph Cooper apparently was the organist at Holy Trinity from 1914 until 1919 and then from 1955 onwards until he retired in 1967. 

If you know anything about his personal history, such as when he was born in Scotland, when he came to Canada, or when he died, please contact:  Ron or Elaine Fishburne 780-469-6882 or the church office 780-433-5530. We have had an inquiry and would appreciate any information about Ralph Cooper.Thanks. 


From: "Holy Trinity Anglican Church 75 1893-1968", page 50. 

Ron Fishburne 
Archives Committee
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HTAC Open Stage

Holy Trinity Anglican Church is a place of community and a place for art. We welcome all to join us for a night of music and spoken word. 

Monthly Friday Nights - 7:00 to 10:00PM at 

Holy Trinity (10037 84 Ave. NW).

Open Mic Nights are: February 3, March 3, April 7, May 5, and June 2.  

Interested in performing or have questions? Leave a message on our Facebook page, and we'll be happy to get you connected!

Script Salon: A monthly play reading series by members of the Playwrights Guild of Canada

On Sunday February 5 SCRIPT SALON is pleased to present a new play by one of Edmonton's most accomplished playwrights. It's a hard luck comedy of cold reality and redeeming dreams: Collin Doyle's SLUMBERLAND MOTEL.  

THE STORY: Overnighting in a seedy roadside motel, two down on their luck vacuum cleaner salesmen share a room. Tired and disappointed in their lives, Ed (Robert Benz) and Edward (Reed McColm) seem to be at the end of their ropes. But the unexpected arrival of a mysterious woman from the next room (Kate Ryan) transforms their world. A road weary comedy of disillusionment and dreams.  

Read by Robert Benz, Reed McColm and Kate Ryan. 

Sunday February 5 at 7:30 in the Upper Arts Space at Holy Trinity Anglican Church (10037 84 Avenue). 

Admission is free although donations are accepted. Refreshments are available. 

AGM Reports: We want to hear from you


The Annual General Meeting is quickly approaching, and we would like to hear from you. If you have led any ministry this past year, please submit a report so that all may know about the good works that are taking place in our community. All reports should be submitted to Janette in the church office no later than  Friday, February 10th at church.office@holytrinity.ab.ca. Also, if you have photos from the ministries or events you were leading, please send them in with your report. 

The Vaughan String Quartet Presents...


Sounds from the North Sea - English and German Compositions
Saturday, February 11th, 7:30PM at Holy Trinity
Tickets: General $25, Student/Senior $15, Under 12 $5
Pieces by Vaughan Williams, Britten, and Mendelssohn 
Find out more at vaughanquartet.com

Messy Church


Sunday, February 12th, 1:00pm

There will be glitter. There will be music. There will be mess. And God will show up! 

You are invited to join us for worship at Messy Church on Sunday, February 12th. We are pleased that the HTAC Band will be providing music for the service. If you are able to attend, please RSVP to Janette in the church office. 

What is Messy Church? Messy Church is a form of church for children and adults that involves creativity, celebration, and hospitality. It typically includes a welcome, a long creative time involving story, prayer, song, games and similar; and a meal together. All elements are for people of all ages, adults and children. It's fun, and we hope you can come! 

Holy Trinity Organ Premiere Concert 


To showcase the changes on the organ Holy Trinity's organ scholar, Cari Astleford, will be performing a concert titled   Old Meets New . It is co-sponsored by Holy Trinity Anglican Church and the Edmonton Centre of the Royal Canadian College of Organists (RCCO). The concert will be on  February 12 at 2 pm . Admission is by donation. Composers on the program include Bach, Guillou, Alain, and Guilmant.

Upcoming Events at Trinity Lutheran Church


Prayers of Peace : Each  Wednesday from 1 2:15pm   - 12: 45pm at Trinity Lutheran Church, 10014 - 81 Ave, Edmonton. All are welcome.  

It's hard for many of us to wrap our heads around the political changes that have been taken place, and people are itching to talk, listen, and hopefully better understand what's going on. With this in mind, you are invited to gather at Trinity Lutheran Church (10014 - 81 Ave, Edmonton) for a viewing of the movie Gandhi at   1pm   Sunday February 12th . You are also welcome to bring finger-food for sharing, as well as your thoughts and perspective that may nourish our conversation.  

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Pub Theology


Every third Wednesday of the month, 7-9PM
Downstairs in the Underdog at The Black Dog Freehouse (101 St. & 82 Ave.)

February 15 - Bringing light to unexpected places
March 15 - A priest, a rabbi, and a...: talking to each other like we mean it
April 19 - Why it's worth it to forgive (especially when we don't want to)

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Introductory Argentine Tango 


Free for 55+, By donation for under 55
When: Friday, February 17th, 7:00-8:15pm
Where: Holy Trinity Anglican Church
Instructors: Vincenzo and Ida Renzi of Tango Divino Edmonton.
Please pre-register by contacting Vincenzo:   780-438-3207  or   virenzi@shaw.ca
Couples and singles welcome. Indoor leather soled shoes recommended. 

Open House at MCE Mosque 
(10721 86 Ave.)  


Sunday, February 19 from 2:00 to 5:00pm
You are invited to join our friends at the MCE Mosque for an open house to learn more  about Muslim beliefs and practices, tour the Mosque, and other activities.
Check out their Facebook page for more details: www.facebook.com/MCE.masjid/

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper 


Tuesday, February 28
th at 6:00PM 
at Holy Trinity, Lower Hall. 
Tickets are $15/family or $5/individual. 
Advance tickets are encouraged. 
Tickets available on Sunday's at church from Gloria Letwin starting Feb. 5, or contact the church office

Volunteers will be needed to help carry out this event. If you are able to help, we would gratefully accept it! Please see the sign up sheets in the Lower Hall for details. 

Mucking About: Connecting with the Self Through Art 

Playful Art or Artful Play, this expressive arts workshop is an exploration of the interconnectedness of creativity. A free, three-hour facilitated workshop emphasizes a low skills/high sensitivity approach: in other words, the less you know about art, the better! Give yourself permission to muck about in text, in paint, in sound and in clay.  Saturday, March 4th, 1 pm until 4pm . Holy Trinity Upper Arts Space. Register at the church office: church.office@holytrinity.ab.ca or call  780-433-5530. Workshop is capped at 14. Mucking About is a no cell phone zone.  All materials provided. Funded by REACH.

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Winter Camping!  

It's time again to send your teenagers out into the snow covered woods! Our camp runs from  March 10-12 and costs $50/camper. The theme this year is a full moon adventure. You can find out more and find registration forms on the Diocesan website. Contact Margaret at the Synod office to register at: churched@edmonton.anglican.ca

Trinity Players Events 

The Music Man: Ya got Trouble! Right here in River City! The Trinity Players present The Music Man. A tale of a traveling sales conman who convinces the small Iowan townfolk of River City that in order to keep their youth out of trouble they must keep them busy through forming a marching band. His plan of selling all his musical instruments to the local wayward youth is made more complicated as he begins to fall for the local librarian who happens also be a music teacher.
A full scaled, licensed production complete with a full orchestra and larger than life cast.
March 23,24,25,26 @ 7:30pm and Matinee March 25 @ 2:00pm. 
Tickets $18 +fees at  eventbrite.com
 
Jesus Christ Superstar in Concert: Come experience the greatest musical of all time in concert with a stellar cast of Trinity Players. Featuring a full band, chorus and leads to sing you through this epic event.
Sat, April 1, 2017 @ 7:30pm. Tickets $18 + fees at eventbrite.com

Holy Trinity Anglican Church | 780-433-5530 
church.office@holytrinity.ab.ca | www.holytrinity.ab.ca
10037 84 Ave. NW, Edmonton, AB T6E 2G6
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