April 2017 Trinity Tribune

In This Issue:
The Rites of Holy Week
The Rev. Paul Nancarrow
The special services of Holy Week - Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter Day - have their roots very deep in Christian history. Together they bear witness to generations of disciples' commitment to follow in Jesus' footsteps on his Way of the Cross.
 
In the earliest days the Church celebrated Easter with a simple three-day ritual. Good Friday and Holy Saturday were days of fasting, culminating in an all-night vigil on Saturday with baptisms and the Holy Eucharist at dawn on Sunday. During this time Christians were still subject to persecution; their rites and ceremonies had to take place in secret and at times that would not interfere with normal workday hours.
 
The Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in 313, and Christians "came out of the shadows," as it were, and could celebrate their holy days openly. They began to have a lively interest in pilgrimage to the places where Jesus had lived and ministered. From about the year 350, there developed in Jerusalem a complex series of pilgrimage-rites that involved going to the various places mentioned in the Gospel accounts of Jesus' final days in order to read from those Gospels and to offer prayers. A Spanish nun named Egeria traveled to Jerusalem sometime between 400 and 500 and wrote a detailed account of the Holy Week she experienced there. She tells of going to Bethany to commemorate Jesus' raising of Lazarus, the brother of Mary and Martha. She tells of gathering at the gates of Jerusalem to reenact and celebrate the Triumphal Entry. She tells of keeping vigil on the Mount of Olives through Maundy Thursday night, going to Gethsemane at cockcrow, and having Good Friday prayers in the great Church of the Holy Cross (which tradition said was built on the very spot of Golgotha). She tells of the Great Vigil of Easter on Saturday night, and the joyous Easter Eucharist on Sunday morning in the chapel built on what tradition said was the site of the empty tomb. Every stage in the pilgrimage was meant to link a holy place in Jesus' story to a holy time in Jesus' life, and therefore to bring the pilgrims into holy space and time as well.
 
Our contemporary Holy Week services are descendants of these early pilgrimages. In each service we commemorate a particular happening in the Passion story, in a way that both "takes us back" to the original event and - even more importantly - "brings the event forward" to be a part of our lives here and now.
 
On Palm Sunday we remember how the people welcomed Jesus at Jerusalem, and how the priests and elders turned on him and rejected him only a few days later; at the same time we consider how we welcome Christ into our lives, and how our sins are also implicated in his suffering and death.
 
On Maundy Thursday we recall how Jesus shared the Passover Seder with his disciples and gave it a new meaning when he instituted the Holy Eucharist, and how he modeled the heart of service by washing his disciples' feet; at the same time we give thanks to God for the unbroken celebration of that Eucharist for nearly two thousand years, and take up our own work of service symbolized in washing each other's feet.
 
On Good Friday we remember the horror of the Crucifixion; at the same time we praise God that, beyond all human expectation, the Cross has become the way of our salvation, and we imitate Christ's self-giving love by giving ourselves in intercession for all the peoples of the earth.
 
On Holy Saturday morning we remember how Jesus' body kept the Sabbath rest in the tomb; at the same time we keep our Sabbath, resting in the faithful anticipation of the dawning of new life in us.
 
On Easter Eve we recall the history of salvation, from the Creation through the Exodus and up to the Resurrection itself; at the same time we look for the Light of Christ to shine in our hearts and minds and lives today.
 
And on Easter Day we look back to the empty tomb; and at the same time we look forward to the transformation of our own lives in and through Christ's eternal life.
 
Each service of Holy Week has its own special meaning, not only as a kind of "historical reconstruction," but even more as a "making-present" of the mighty works of God in Christ in our own day and time.
 
I urge you to make yourself present at these special services, to walk again with Jesus in the Way of the Cross, and to receive the Good News of Resurrection into your life as well.


Light in the Darkness
Lundy Pentz, Senior Warden
Darkness is naturally pretty unsettling to us since we depend so much on our eyes; perhaps you have been on one of those local cavern tours where the guide switches off the lights for a few minutes to let you experience total darkness.  I know I immediately start thinking "what if the lights don't come back on"!  For most of history we have had very little control over the darkness - even with candles and oil lamps because they were too costly to burn very many at a time.  (For you film lovers, look at all the ballroom scenes in period movies and count all the candles.  They usually have hundreds when even the Governor's Palace in Williamsburg used only dozens.) 

It wasn't easy to get a fire going, either, without modern devices; housewives would bank the fire with ashes every night so it would smolder but not go out until morning, and there are traditional "smooring" prayers said when doing so.  So it was a very bold step when people in Celtic lands deliberately put out their hearth fires to symbolically make a new start with a "new fire" from a holy place.  This was a pagan custom, legends say, until St. Patrick put out all the pagan fires and lit a fire of his own on the hill of Shane.  To this day devout Eastern Orthodox Christians put out all fires and lights at home and at the Easter Vigil light a blessed candle from the new fire to bring home and rekindle their home fires.  Of course, all we have to do now is flip a switch to turn the night to day - at least, as long as we have paid our power bills and an ice storm or wind storm has not taken down Dominion's lines.  But when the power does go out we get a reminder that the darkness is not banished. 

Darkness can be beautiful, of course - we can see too few stars in Staunton, unfortunately.  Last year Ellen and I vacationed in the Southwest and ended up in Joshua Tree National Park staying in a place on the edge between the desert and an oasis.  Our rooms were small adobe buildings separated from each other and from the dining room by a little distance, and walking back from dinner (with the aid of flashlights) we became aware of the spectacular array of stars we could see.  As we walked along the path through the desert's edge we heard coyotes calling to each other, and as we neared our room I realized that they had separated into two groups, one on each side of us - typical pack-hunting behavior!  We enjoyed the stars but walked a little faster back to the room.  The night is beautiful but we are not truly citizens of it, only visitors.

Lighting a fire in the darkness, as we do at the Easter Vigil, is to me a powerful sign of hope, a sign that God does not leave us to the darkness and to our own weak powers but is with us in all our darkness, the same God that led Israel out of Egypt as a pillar of fire by night.  We light our Paschal candle from this fire, and every time we baptize people we give them candles lit from that Paschal candle, to be relighted on their baptismal anniversary as a reminder of the day when they became children of the Light.  Real fires, whether hearth fires or candles, need care and tending, unlike the electric lights which we can simply turn on and forget.  I suppose this is why they seem such a good symbol of our new life in Christ, which also needs constant tending.  Just throwing a wall switch and turning on electric altar candles wouldn't be nearly as appropriate.  Wicks always need trimming (especially on oil lamps like our altar candles and torches) and oil must be replenished.  I hope we can all find ways to make time this Eastertide to tend our new fire.

Send in Your Memorials for Easter Flowers
Deidre Jones, Parish Communications
Before Easter, the Altar Guild collects Flower Memorials Gifts to purchase the flower decorations for the Easter services and to fund raise for the altar guild ministry. Memorials may be given in memory or as a thank offering. There is no set monetary fee. Each person gives out of the generosity of their heart. If you would like to make a donation, please use the enclosed envelope or submit your memorial via our online form.
 
Please return your gift to the Trinity office no later than Monday, April 3.

Maundy Thursday All-Night Vigil Signups
Deidre Jones, Parish Communications
Please remember to sign up for the all-night vigil for Maundy Thursday (April 13). A signup sheet will be at the back of the church beginning on Sunday, March 5.
Holy Week Schedule
Palm Sunday - April 9
7:45am and 11:00am Holy Eucharist
No Sunday School
Palm Parade: 10:15am
 
Maundy Thursday - April 13
7:30pm Maundy Thursday Service
8:30pm Maundy Thursday All Night Vigil through
Friday, April 14 at noon.
 
Good Friday - April 14
11:00am Way of the Cross - begins at Woodrow Wilson Library
12:00pm Good Friday Service
12:00pm Office Closes
 
Holy Saturday - April 15
9:00am Holy Saturday Service
8:00pm Easter Vigil - begins at Emmanuel and
processes to Trinity
10:00pm Easter Agape Feast
 
Easter Day - April 16
7:45am, 8:45am, 11:00am Holy Eucharist
10:00am No Sunday School
10:30am Easter Egg Hunt
 
Easter Monday - April 17
Office Closed


Altar Guild Members
Altar Guild members please come to the Maundy Thursday service (April 13), 7:30pm, to assist as the clergy clear the altar at the end of the service. Also, please come to decorate for Easter, on Good Friday, April 14, at 3 pm.
Vestry Highlights
Paul Nancarrow, Rector
At its regular meeting of March 20, 2017, the Vestry elected delegates to represent Trinity at meetings of the Augusta Convocation and the Convention of the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Serving as delegates are Katie Cathey, Ernest Holley, Muffie Newell, and Bill Tate. Available to step up as alternates are Susanna Larner, Sally James, and Sally Mueller. Attendance at Convocation and Convention is open to all members of all parishes; delegates are empowered to vote on behalf of their congregations on official resolutions, motions, and elections. Be sure to let your delegates know if you have questions about diocesan goings-on, and feel free to attend meetings!


Administrator Notes
Laurie Clements, Parish Administrator
Gifts
  • A gift was given to the Noon Lunch fund in honor of Lee Nancarrow's birthday and thanksgiving for her friendship.
  • A contribution was given to Trinity's youth group by John and Donna Wilkinson with the following note: "This gift for Trinity's youth group is given in honor of Nathan, who had sent us a Window Star. It did, indeed, brighten our day. The star came on the anniversary of John's ordination as a deacon in the Episcopal Church. Great timing! We thank Nathan for his thoughtfulness and wish for him a happy life now and in the future."
Upcoming Music Events
Gen Bolena, Organist & Choirmaster
 
Carl Broman Series: April 23 at 5pm
Rhonda Sider Edgington, organist, will perform music from 17th century Germany, including Bach's Toccata, Adagio, and Fugue in C major and Buxtehude's Passacaglia in c minor. These pieces will juxtapose with more modern works by Anton Heiller, Rachel Laurin, and William Albright.
 
Concert and Choral Evensong featuring Jonathan Schakel, organist: May 21 at 5 p.m.
Jonathan Schakel is currently pursuing a DMA in performance practice at Cornell University. He has given organ recitals in the United States, Scotland, the Netherlands, and Germany.  He also performs frequently in chamber concerts on harpsichord, fortepiano, and organ, often with his wife, soprano Megan Sharp.  Together he and Megan direct the music program at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Charlottesville, Virginia, where he plays an organ in north German baroque style by Taylor & Boody Organbuilders.

Evensong, sung by the Trinity Choir, will include music the choir will sing on their upcoming trip to Oxford, England this summer where they will be Choir in Residence at Christ Church, Oxford. 


New Photos of the 8:45 Ensemble

Thank you to June Collmer for taking some new photos of our 8:45 Ensemble. And a BIG thank you to Oakley, Bill, Cindy, and Steve for their music ministry to Trinity! Please check our website for more new photos!
Novel Theology
Novel Theology meets throughout the year on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Foster Room. Everyone and anyone is invited to attend. The only rule is you must read the book for that month. Come and bring your friends and acquaintances. We have lively discussions.
 
April 25 -  The Left Hand of Darkness  by Ursula K. Le Guin: A groundbreaking work of science fiction, The Left Hand of Darkness tells the story of a lone human emissary's mission to Winter, an unknown alien world whose inhabitants can choose-and change-their gender. His goal is to facilitate Winter's inclusion in a growing intergalactic civilization. But to do so he must bridge the gulf between his own views and those of the completely dissimilar culture he encounters. Exploring questions of psychology, society, and human emotion in an alien world, The Left Hand of Darkness stands as a landmark achievement in the annals of science fiction. Led by David Gray.
 
 by Kyril Bonfiglioli: This cult classic about louche, sybaritic Charlie Mortdecai, an art dealer largely untroubled by conscience, draws readers into its unpolitically comic world and keeps them there. The plot concerns Mortdecai's efforts to keep one step ahead of nemesis Martland, a policeman vested with the power to work outside the law, and to deliver a stolen Goya he has concealed in the headliner of his Rolls Royce Silver Ghost. The plot takes him to America (where is he much bemused by the locals, and they by him) and back again, ending in a most intriguing predicament. Wry and dry, picaresque and profane... 
Led by Tom Tucker.

What Keeps You Up At Night (Update)?
Jim Manchester
What Keeps You Up at Night   (Adult Sunday School Class) has been quite interesting and successful so far. Coming up in April:
 
April 2 Childhood Cancer (Ophie Kier). Mr. Kier's grandson died of cancer recently. The family was shocked to discover how little money is allocated to fight the cancers which affect children. Mr Kier has made it his mission to correct this.
 
April 9 Palm Sunday Parade (no class session)
 
April 16 Easter Day (with Easter Egg Hunt during the church school hour)
 
April 23 Stuart Hall - Coffee, Refreshments, & Conversation
 
April 30 "Nation Building & the Imperative of American Education" (Jim Harrington, former Staunton School Board chair)
 
May 7 "Too Close for Comfort: Adventures in Local Government" (Jim Harrington, Staunton City Council member)
 
Each session includes lively discussion-and coffee. Come join us, Sundays at 10 in McCracken Hall.
 
Looking back:  In March, Sharon DeBoever presented a "Family and Friends Guide" on how to relate most effectively to loved ones beginning to show signs of Alzheimer's. Professors Emeriti Ken Keller & Lundy Pentz spent three Sundays getting the ball rolling on "Church & State". Everyone had a lot to say. It was most interesting. 
 
Thank you from Sharon DeBoever
Thank you for the opportunity to present information about the dementias. The more we talk about it the better we make the lives of those with a diagnosis and their caregivers. Special thank you to Ms. Lane for organizing and to Mr. Manchester for all his help Sunday (and he makes a great cup of coffee!). 

ECW Tea
Maureen Gray
 
Trinity Episcopal Church Women will present the Mary Artis Dennis Award to Beverly Stone at a tea on Thursday, May 11th, 3-5pm at the home of Sally James 422 E. Beverley St. Staunton. Beverly is being honored for her contributions to Trinity Church and the community.
 
Guests are invited to bring a monetary donation for the reprinting of the Trinity/Augusta Parish "Windows" book. All women of Trinity are invited!

Noon Lunch Needs You!
Carter Hannah, Noon Lunch Co-Coordinator
The wonderful vendors at the Staunton Farmers' Market will begin their season on April 1.  They have again volunteered to donate produce at the end of each market to our Noon Lunch program.  We need volunteers to help us picking up all the donations.  Every Saturday from April 1 - November 18, we need teams of two people to go to the market at about 11:55 to pick up the donations.  They then drive it to Trinity, unload the produce and refrigerate it and let Carter Hannah know what was collected so that the cooking teams will know what is there. 
 
This is a great project for a family or anyone who wants to volunteer once or twice or on a regular basis.  It takes about an hour and is something wonderful for our Noon Lunch guests.
 
We are also looking for another cooking team who will work on an as-needed basis.  This group of at least 5 members would plan, gather ingredients, cook, serve and clean-up.  They would work on those months when we have openings.  We would train you and give you all the support you need.
 
Thank you one and all for our Noon Lunch program and for considering to help us even more.  Please contact Carter Hannah  (540-241-8735  cnghannah@ntelos.net) or Kathy Schneiderman(434-825-6477 kathy.schneiderman@gmail.com) with questions or if you can help.

Honduras Trip Recap
Lorain Harouff
Dear Members and Friends of Trinity Episcopal Church,

My name is Lorain Harouff. My husband Bill and I recently had the opportunity to join the Honduras group on their winter work week. We flew into San Pedro Sula and then continued by van on a four-hour adventure through several little scenic towns on a road showing varying degrees of maintenance depending on the stretch we were trying to navigate! The terrain was beautiful with small crop fields nestled in among hills and other foliage in the foreground while always backed by scalloped mountains in the distance. I was struck by a feeling of comfort as if there were plenty of hills to rest against if one got tired. We enjoyed seeing crops that are not our usual Shenandoah Valley fare such as coffee, bananas, and sugar cane.
     
Our home base for the week was the Plaza Copan Hotel in Copan Ruinas...a beautiful town not far from the border with Guatemala. The Mayan ruins of Copan are nearby which insures a tourism component to the local economy. The warm welcome by the hotel staff reminded us that our group was special and could never be lumped in with strangers!
     
The little terrace out from our room overlooked the town plaza which was lovely to behold morning and night. I am always tuned into color so this culture spoke to my soul with all the bright colored clothing and paint colors everywhere.
     
Fresh and early the first morning our pick-up truck was waiting and, just like the locals, we climbed on for the standing, bumpy, dusty ride to work. What a day!  Beautiful, sunny, brisk but warm, describes our situation with an element of added anticipation for Bill and me - the greenhorns of the bunch.
     
The work site was a happy place all week. We so enjoyed getting better acquainted with those we hadn't known before and spending time with those we already know and love. There were plenty of ways everyone could be of help regardless of varying levels of physical stamina and skill. 
     
On this particular week most time was spent at "the mother church" at Santa Rita refurbishing and adding on to what this group helped to build in the early years. During our off time over the weekend we got to visit one of the smaller churches out in the country which was another earlier project. These church buildings are centers that are absolutely vital in enabling people to function as a community. 
     
Some of us also spent one morning at the school delivering greetings from Bessie Weller School to the students and receiving their messages back. We also made Valentines and had a cookie treat. What a pleasure for all of us, children and adults alike!
     
This trip reminded me of a central truth. Close relationships are the key to a successful happy existence. Watching the loving interactions between the long-term workers and these families they have known over time was not a surprise. These bonds last a lifetime!
       
The purpose of my writing this letter is to encourage you to consider signing on for a week that you will never forget, as we have done. We have no regrets! There is a core group that has led this effort from the beginning and there are many others who have been guest workers for one or two trips. People in both categories are always needed and welcome to participate. Every pair of hands pushes the progress along on a most important project!  As Bob Hope would say....."Thanks for the memories!"  


Trinity Historical Highlight
Lilchy Huffman
 
Memorials to The Rev. Richard H. Phillips and his wife Eleanor Thorn Phillips


When The Rev. Richard H. Phillips (born in Frederick, Maryland 11/19/1810) graduated from Virginia Theological Seminary in 1834, he became the Principal of The Female Seminary in Barleywood, Maryland. In 1844, he was called and became the first headmaster of the Virginia Female Institute (now Stuart Hall) for as long as he wanted. His assistant principal was The Rev. James C. Wheat.
 
The Vestry at Trinity elected Rev. Wheat in 1851 to the unpaid position of Asst. Rector. In 1852 when he resigned, Rev. Phillips was elected to the position which he held until 1856. When the church sold/rented the pews November 15, 1855, Rev. Phillips bought Pew #59 for $150.00. In 1871-1872, he served Trinity as the Interim Rector. He died April 7, 1890 in Norfolk and is buried with his wife in Thornrose Cemetary. The Main Altar is given In Memory of The Rev. Richard H. Phillips, DD.
 
Eleanor Thorn Phillips (6/6/1812 - 2/18/1873) worked along side of her husband as a teacher while they were at the Virginia Female Institute. When she died in 1873, the young ladies of VFI 1872-1873, gave the Geometric stained glass window in her memory. 

 
Finally Spring Has Come!
Laurie Clements, Parish Administrator

Finally Spring has come! The grounds of Trinity are getting greener and the trees are budding. I want to introduce you to William Rankin, owner of All Seasons Lawn Care, who has been hired to tend Trinity's property this coming spring and summer and he has already been out and about. If you see him and his crew, please welcome them.
 
While the temperatures get warmer it is so refreshing to see the little yellow pansies in full bloom near our Johnson Street entrance. Thank you to Emily Cochran who planted these last fall. All winter long they have been peeking their little heads up and adding a nice touch of color at that entrance.  Matt Shreckhise donated a flowering weeping cherry tree also planted near the entrance. Thank you Matt for your expertise with these plantings!
 
I'd love to see a nice large container of colorful flowers being placed at a few of our entrances this summer. If you have any interest in creating something pretty for us, contact me! It would be especially nice to have a container garden of colorful blooms on the labyrinth patio. So many people have commented and appreciate the new memorial benches that were placed there last summer. These benches were donated by family and friends in loving memory of both Susan Timberlake Thomas and Gate Brewster Flanders. They match the nice ones we have at our Beverley Street entrance. What a beautiful memorial we can share with those that come and sit, relax a bit and enjoy the sounds of spring. Thank you to MaryTimberlake who helped coordinate that effort.
 

The gutters on the church have all been cleaned out and a few of them repaired. Mike Mahler has already been outside trimming up some of the boxwoods, and the children of Trinity have been so glad to once again play on our playground in sunny warmer temperatures. There is always a lot of work to be done to keep our grounds beautiful. We really appreciate everyone's contributions (and are always looking for additional volunteers) !
 
Calendar
If you open the following link, you will see our current Trinity Church calendar. You may wish to bookmark this page as it will automatically update with any changes.
Birthdays
2
David Smail
Elizabeth Smoot
 
3
Emma Mayson
Holly Moody
 
5
Marcy Robinson
 
7
Ellis Shreckhise
 
8
Ryan Parkhurst
 
9
Margaret Pearson
 
10
James Rose
Robert Stallworth
 
11
Thomas Otteni
 
15
Ray Firehock
 
16
John Dodge
McKenna Grantier
 
17
Meg Echols
 
18
Rachael Morgan
 
20
Nancy McDaniel
Abbie Parkhurst
 
21
Bill Sowers
 
22
Marjorie Hays
 
23
Ted Cathey
 
25
Dany Intsinzi
 
26
Wendy Amato
Brodie Chittum
George Taylor
Nancy Stuart
 
27
Claudette Obenschain
Thomas Tucker
 
28
Ella Grantier
 
29
Katy Laser