Trinity Episcopal Church

36 Main St, Newtown Ct

www.trinitynewtownct.org
Thursday, 05/28/2020
For lots of reasons the quiet oasis I had wanted to create behind the rectory barn hasn’t come fully into being. We made a good start three years ago by hanging my grandmother’s swing and illuminating the beams with outdoor lights. And while I have enjoyed moments of sitting in the swing to ponder, pray, read and nap, the flowering ground cover I had imagined draping so beautifully over the stone wall was never planted. The hostas aren’t flourishing. The drab cement walls remain devoid of the colorful mural I had envisioned being painted on them. The flower bulbs my sister and I planted two years ago, never came up. And yet there’s one thing I was able to accomplish. I successfully transplanted the yellow daylilies Ellen gave me from her yard. When they bloom, my heart sings. I do a happy dance at the joy of seeing them.

So, you can imagine my annoyance on Monday when I walked down to the barn and noticed these gross, ugly, monstrous weeds choking out the daylilies that have started to come up. I grabbed one of these weeds and gave a hard yank. So firmly rooted in the earth, this weed did not budge. Determined, I retrieved a shovel from the barn and dug down deep enough to dislodge the roots. It worked. Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind a few weeds among the flowers. It’s even biblical to let “the weeds grow among the wheat” until the harvest. And yet, the daylilies mean too much to me to let them become choked out by these unwieldy weeds.

All this weeding has me thinking about things for Trinity which haven’t come to fruition. Hopes and dreams we shared together that for lots of reasons may have fallen by the wayside or gotten lost in the shuffle of priorities. None of this is bad or anyone’s fault, so I’m not looking to shame, blame, or attack. What I thought might be helpful (since we can’t gather in-person before I retire) is for us to do a little zoom weeding by sharing our appreciations, regrets and learnings from our time together these past three plus years. I’m fondly referring to these as opportunities to “Zoom Out with Jenny.” I’ll be in touch with groups that are meeting regularly in June, and other zoom calls will be created so that in small groups we can share our blessings as well as weed out any resentments that might want to sneak in to stunt Trinity’s future growth and vitality.  

With love and care, Jenny+  
Stephen Ministry Virtual Gathering today at 4pm

Join Zoom Meeting

These Zoom gatherings are intended to be an additional way for us to connect with each other here at Trinity—to support and pray for each other. They are not about counseling or problem-solving, but about caring for each other.

If you have any questions, feel free to reach out to Cindy Anderau at cindyanderau@gmail.com .
Stephen Ministry—Christ Caring For People Through People
Senior Sunday - June 14th
Please plan to celebrate our high school seniors on Sunday, June 14 th in our virtual worship at 9:30am! Congratulations to these Trinity seniors for their accomplishments, and their resiliency during this COVID-19 pandemic. With love and well wishes as you graduate from high school, we celebrate and applaud you as you go off to college:

Adam Bowditch - Sacred Heart University
Rick Irving - U.S. Naval Academy
Danielle Johnson - New York University-Liberal Arts Core, Expected Major: Political Science
Brandon Lutz - Marist College
Mopsy (Martha) Seaver - Lafayette College
Hannah Weatherby - University of New Hampshire
Jack Wojtowicz - Syracuse University, Major: Advertising
Living with COVID-19 Update
Following guidelines from Governor Lamont as well as protocols and directions from Bishop Ian and Bishop Laura, Trinity Church will remain closed at least until June 20 th . Staff is continuing to work from home and staggering days/times when it is essential to be in the building. All meetings continue to be held virtually with Zoom and through June 28 th Sunday worship will be videotaped as we’ve been doing.  
To help us further comply with the First Phase of Living with COVID-19 and reopening, the Vestry has appointed Moe Pershinsky, Cathy Filiato, Gordon Dunn, and David Erickson to serve as our Task Force. They will make their recommendations for compliance to the Vestry by June 5 th . As our bishops continue to remind us, we must proceed slowly and cautiously for everyone’s health and well-being. We’re all getting weary of this quarantine and it is helpful to know that feelings of sadness, grief, even anger are normal, even expected in this time of ambiguity and not having answers. Try to be patient and know that we are all in this together!
Recruitment Update
The Recruitment Team will be offering a zoom update on Sunday, June 7th at 11am. The process of calling the new rector of Trinity is moving forward as planned and this will be a time to hear updates and ask questions.  

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86455819457

Meeting ID: 864 5581 9457

Dial by your location
        +1 929 205 6099 US (New York) 
Summer Office Hours
Beginning next week, Kim will be working summer hours. She will be available Monday through Thursday from 8:30 am - 1:30 pm. Kim will also be in the office on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The building will still be considered closed until further notice. Kim will return to regular, Monday through Friday hours beginning July 27th.
Being Church Now
The best way to experience Trinity Church these days is to visit our website often  https://www.trinitynewtownct.org/being-church-now.  Sunday worship videos are available as well as other opportunities for connection, fellowship and prayer. Our vestry has divided up our active-member parish directory to stay connected with you. And if you find additional pastoral support and connection would helpful, please call or text our Priest in Charge, Jenny (315-264-9311). 
Faithful Stewardship and Giving
Your tithes and offerings are always much appreciated and especially during this time of quarantine with virtual worship. God continues to bless us with faithful giving and givers, so thank you! On-line giving through Vanco is easy and if you need assistance in setting this up, please contact the Church Office, 203-426-9070. Checks can also be mailed to: Trinity Church, 36 Main Street, Newtown, CT 06470.
Men's Coffee Hour
Would you be interested in participating in a Zoom virtual coffee hour with your fellow Trinity men once a week to fellowship, share what ’s going on in your life, and offer up a bible verse or a reading from the Book of Common prayer that we would discuss.

Our coffee hour is scheduled for Wednesday mornings at 9:00am and ending by 10am, or earlier if we want to wrap it up. 

Please RSVP by sending an email or calling Randy Lewis crlewis304@aol.com  and 203-240-1197. Your questions are welcome.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 883 7237 7045

Let’s join together to validate and affirm each other, share our concerns and joys in our common Christian life, and enjoy great fellowship.
Trinity's Social Chat
All are invited to a Zoom Trinity Lunch Bunch Chat, now renamed Trinity Social Chat, at 12 Noon every Thursday. Stay as long or as little as you like in this social chat. About five minutes or so before noon, click on the link just below.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 879 4847 1849

When it opens, Zoom will invite you to download some software for participating (it is used for all Trinity Zoom meetings). Then follow the prompts, entering the Meeting ID 879 4847 1849 . Then press Enter. You will be in the meeting! I am also available at 203-491-6030 if needed. See you next Thursday.
Happy Hour Fridays
“Distance socializing” is the purpose of this virtual gathering on Fridays at 5:00pm. Jenny hosts from the rectory and invites you to email her some interesting questions, good news to share with the parish, and other things that will help to make us smile. You can watch this on our website or on Facebook .
ECCT COVID-19 Self Care Resources
In this time of great anxiety, here are some resources for you and your family to care for yourself. 
ECCT Town Hall Meeting SW Region June 9, 6:30 p.m. 
SAVE THE DATE!

To help foster theological imagination during these times, our bishops, along with the Region Missionaries, will be hosting six online Region Town Meetings over the next two weeks. The Region Town Meetings will be open to all in the respective region of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut and will focus on the questions: What are we learning in this time of a global pandemic? What is God saying to us as we live with COVID-19? 

We hope to see Trinity Newtown well represented and invite you to participate in this call as we join with other parishes in our SW Region for a conversation about what we are learning during the COVID-19 pandemic about being church. 
Praise and Thanksgiving

For those requesting our prayers: Arlene Coleman, Rev. William West, Maureen Trotto, Bode Kloos, Judith Harris, Ann Moore, Janet LaBati, Mike Peters

We give thanks for the life of Tim Williams (Ellie William's Father) and pray for the repose of his soul.

For those celebrating a birthday this week:
Juliette Britton, Becca Filiato, Robert Ryder, Joe Bojnowski, Peggy Jepsen, Ann Sandercox

For those celebrating an anniversary this week:
Gordon & Julie Dunn, Floyd & Ena Higgins,
Richard & Donna Van Waalwijk
Trinity's Video - check it out!
There are events happening at Camp Washington - click here to learn more!
We are proud to be a parish in  The Episcopal Church  within