Trinity Newsletter for September 2, 2021 🙏

September 2, 2021

Sharing Christ's love and grace in a vibrant community whose joyful spirit empowers people to do God's work.

Sunday Service Bulletins

Click the links below to download Sunday's service bulletins:

8:00 a.m. service bulletin (Rite I)

10:30 a.m. service bulletin (Rite II)

Good News Daily!

Click the link below to download your Good News Daily for the week:

Good News Daily - September 5th, 2021

Celebration of New Ministry for Trinity FAQs

On Thursday, September 16th, at 6:30 pm, Trinity will have a Celebration of New Ministry and formally institute Mother Cynthia as our Rector.

This is a great day in the life of any parish, and here’s what you need to know.

Q. Mother Cynthia has been here since January; isn’t she already our Rector?

A. Yes, indeed. This event helps us remember that our parish is part of the larger Church. In the service, the Church is represented by the Bishop's appointed representative, our Dean. Many diocesan clergy, as well as visitors from other parishes and other denominations have been invited to celebrate the beginning of Cynthia’s ministry here.

Q. Some people call it an "installation" and others are calling it an "institution"; which is it and why?

A. Our Prayer Book calls the service, "Celebration of a New Ministry." The service begins with The Institution, which is when the Bishop, Dean, Wardens, Discernment Committee, and the Congregation formally affirm that Cynthia is the Rector. Following the sermon, Cynthia will be presented with the tools of her work here – the symbols of her ministry, like bread and wine, and symbols of the ministries that are close to Trinity’s heart. This liturgy is called The Induction.

Q. This sounds very official and important; can anyone come?

A. Indeed! Everyone is invited. And, if we weren’t in a pandemic, we’d fill the church to overflowing and have a festive reception following. However, the threat of COVID-19 is real. We encourage folks to consider carefully whether they should be with us in the sanctuary or join us online. The service will be live-streamed via Facebook.

Q. Are there special elements of the service that we should know about?

A. We are liturgical people and the gifting of symbols of ministry is both beautiful and instructive. It reminds us all why we are here. After The Induction, Mother Cynthia will kneel and say a deeply moving prayer. Trinity’s rectors typically stay a long time, so it might have been 20+ years since you’ve heard this prayer. It will be the first time Mother Cynthia has prayed this prayer with her parish. She is humbled and excited about praying this prayer on the 16th.

Q. Some say red, some say white; which liturgical color is used for the Celebration of New Ministry?

A. If this service is held on a Major Feast, the color of the Feast Day would be observed. There isn’t a major Feast Day on September 16th, so we had options. There are elements of this service that mirror ordination, so the color could be red. However, this liturgy isn’t just about the Rector, it’s a reminder of the ministry we share in Baptism. It’s also a liturgical expression of our love for one another and shared ministry at Trinity. So the color for our Celebration of a New Ministry is white.

Q. What else should we know?

A. We have a guest preacher coming! The Reverend Jonathan Wickham has served churches as Youth Minister in New York and Knoxville, and as Priest in San Antonio and Corpus Christi. Mother Cynthia worked with Father Jonathan at All Saints’ in Corpus Christi. She was delighted when Father Jonathan agreed to be the guest preacher at our Celebration of New Ministry. We will have a brief celebration on the lawn following the service.

Friendly Reminder!

For your health and the well-being of our parish family, masks are required inside the building for all groups at all times.

The Blessing of our Backpacks and Work Life!

Come celebrate Labor Day Sunday at Trinity!

Join us this Sunday -- September 5th at 10:30 am -- as we celebrate the many ways in which our life and our work are an offering to God and our community!

Blessing of the Backpacks

We'll be blessing backpacks, book bags, tablets, laptops, and any symbol of learning for our students and teachers.

Blessing of our Work Life

We invite you to come to church dressed in the attire of your workday -- scrubs, uniforms, suits, etc. -- and bring a symbol of your daily work to be placed on the altar for prayer and blessing.

"Loving God, you have so linked our lives one with another that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but for the common good..."

Sunday School Starts Sept. 12th!

Sunday school starts September 12th! Due to the rising COVID-19 positivity rates, we will meet online via Zoom from 9:15 am -10 am each Sunday. Parent, please register your child(ren) by completing the registration form found here and mailing it to:

Sam Burton - Trinity Episcopal Church

825 College Ave.

Fredericksburg, VA 22401

You can also register on the Trinity's website or by completing the fillable Google form provided here.

Registration is important to receive the information needed to join the Zoom meeting and any activity sheets sent by email. If you have any questions, please contact Sam Burton at sburton@trinity-fredericksburg.org.

The Youth Group, grades 6-12, will have their first meeting after the 10:30am service on September 12th. We will meet outside and have lunch and an activity. Please bring a mask. If you have any questions, please contact Sam Burton at sburton@trinity-fredericksburg.org.

TRINITY’S OUTING TO FREDNATS GAME

The Trinity Chapter of the Brotherhood of St. Andrew sponsored an outing to a Fredericksburg National (FredNats) game on Sunday, August 29^th. Over 40 Brothers, family members, and guests attended the game and had a dinner of hot dogs, hamburgers, side dishes and drinks. Although the home team did not prevail, it was a grand time for fellowship, fun and breaking of bread.

A very special thanks goes to Richard Humphreys for organizing the outing!

Prayerful Conversations

You are invited to participate in a series of Prayerful Conversations sponsored by the Trinity Committee for Racial Healing (CFRH).

The sessions will be conducted via Zoom on September 22nd, September 29th, and October 6th, from 7 pm to 8:30 pm. Participation is limited, so please consider registering as soon as possible by contacting Jean Hunt at email: dehunt14@msn.com.

The purpose of Prayerful Conversations is to guide Trinity parishioners and friends as a “beloved community” through a journey together in conversation around the work of forming a connection across racial divisions in and through Christ. In doing so, some goals are to model ways to remain in communion with each other even when we disagree and to accept ourselves so that we might love each other better.

We are blessed to have Pastor Rippert Roberts Jr. serve as the facilitator. During his final tour of duty in the United States Marine Corps, Rip recognized that the Lord was calling him to devote his life to the gospel ministry. He has led seven Prayerful Conversation groups in association with the Ministers Coalition for Social Change in Fredericksburg City and Spotsylvania County.

Pastor Roberts skillfully guides participants to share their individual perceptions and opinions through some often “difficult conversations.” Some members of the CFRH have participated in past sessions and found them to be very compelling and revealing (sometimes realizing more about their own lives and beliefs).

For more about Pastor Rippert Roberts, click here.

Caregivers' Support Group

The Caregivers' Support Group will meet Thursday, September 9th from 10:00 am -11:30 am in the Library.

Men and women who are caregivers of a disabled or ill adult or child are invited to attend the meeting.

For more information, Call Randall (540-207-0600), Claire (540-479-6988), or Brenda (540-226-2628).

Remembering 9/11:

The 20th Anniversary

Join us for a special Holy Eucharist service, Saturday at 8:30 am on September 11th, commemorating 9/11.

The Health Ministry Committee

The Health Ministry Committee will hold its first meeting of the new year on Tuesday, Sept. 21st at 1:30 pm in the Library.

We welcome all returning members and invite anyone with an interest in health ministry to attend.

Our first task will be to plan for our upcoming Red Cross Blood Drive set for October 30th. Anyone with questions can contact Brenda Chase at (540) 226-2628 or brendachase23@gmail.com.

Tuesday Night Outreach

We need soup and cereal to replenish supplies for Tuesday night outreach – any size, any kind.

Please put them in the wicker basket in the nave. Thank you.

Altar Flowers, Sanctuary Candles, and Food Bank Donations

Making a donation in the name of a loved one, an occasion, or just to say thank you for the blessings of life-- anything is a good way to express your appreciation.

Please consider signing up for the altar flowers, the sanctuary candle, and the food bank donation. You can include on the list the name(s) or event, such as a birthday or anniversary, you wish to honor or commemorate. Thank you.

Every Wednesday: Mid-Week Eucharist with Unction

Please join us every Wednesday at 11:30 am in the church for Eucharist with Unction.

Have You Thought About Joining EFM?

What happens in EFM? A group of adults read books and meet weekly to consider how God is acting in the world and in our lives.

Do you have questions? Are you curious about the Bible, church history, or theology? Then EFM might be the right fit for you.

The four-year Education for Ministry (EfM) program provides lay people with the education to carry out the ministry each of us is called to in our Baptism and offers an opportunity to discern how to respond to the call to Christian service in the context of a faithful and dedicated community.

Meetings begin mid-September. Given the current Covid rates, this group will gather by Zoom on Tuesday evenings. For more information, contact Mother Cynthia at cynthia@trinityinfredericksburg.org.

Office Hours

The church office is now open Tuesday and Thursday mornings from 9 am-11 am.

Pastoral Emergencies

If you have a pastoral emergency such as an accident, serious illness, hospitalization, or death and need to speak to the clergy immediately, please call 540-623-4802.

For general inquiries, you can contact Trinity at 540-373-2996 or parish@trinity-fredericksburg.org.

Items for the Newsletter

Have something to say?

All items for the Trinity newsletter need to be submitted by Tuesday at 5:00 pm. Please send all newsletter items to news@trinity-fredericksburg.org. If you want your group's meeting date on the calendar, send it as a newsletter item to be included.