Trinity Newsletter for April 21, 2021

April 21, 2021

The mission of Trinity Church is to share Christ's love and grace in a vibrant community whose joyful spirit empowers people to do God's work.

A NOTE FROM MOTHER CYNTHIA

Dear ones,

Each candidate for ordination is asked the following:

Will you respect and be guided by the pastoral direction and leadership of your

bishop?

We answer I will.

I have vowed to practice ministry under the authority and direction of my bishop. In fact, the word ‘episcopal’ means ‘bishop, or governed by bishops.’ As members of the Episcopal church, you and I are under the authority and guidance of our bishops. When we ordain a bishop, we are saying, as a community, we see the movement of the Holy Spirit in their life and ministry, and we want that leadership for the Episcopal church.

So, when Bishop Goff sets forth guidelines for regathering, (or anything else) the vestry and I read, consider, discuss, and act in accordance with this guidance.

Bishop Goff has said that we can regather when the infection rate is 24 or fewer per 100,000 people according to the risk map https://bit.ly/32yJHki. The detailed directions given to the diocese state that although we CAN regather, it does not say that we MUST regather.

In March, the vestry and I agreed that the bishop’s number of 24 per 100,000, felt risky to us. We were more comfortable using 20 per 100,000 as our marker for regathering. This decision reflects the age and health of our congregation as well as our sense that we should proceed with caution. We want to be back together but not at the risk of anyone’s health.

Each Wednesday, I’ll met with senior warden, Harry Dickinson, to look at the risk levels and make the decision on whether it is safe to regather for the upcoming Sunday. We’ll use the infection rates for Stafford, Spotsylvania, and the City of Fredericksburg and continue to use 20 cases per 100,000 as our acceptable risk level. We’ll pass that information on to you through our newsletter and social media.

This parish family is guided by our bishop, by the wisdom and care of our vestry, and by our love for one another. We are all under God’s authority, and, loving our neighbors as ourselves is hard work!

We’ll get through this together!

With love,

Mother Cynthia +

Our local risk level is currently 22 cases per 100,000.

The acceptable risk level for Trinity is 20 cases per 100,000,

We will not have in-person worship this Sunday.

ALTAR FLOWERS - Would like you to donate the Altar Flowers for a Sunday? We have several upcoming dates open. Call Denise at (540) 373-2996 with your donation information and send a check for $40 to Trinity at 825 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. She will mark you down for an upcoming Sunday.

FOOD PANTRY OFFERING - Outreach is once again giving out food to those in our community. Would you like to donate the Food Pantry Offering for a Sunday? We have several dates open. You can purchase 1/2 truck of food for $35 or a whole truck of food for $70. Call Denise at (540) 373-2996 with your donation information and send a check to Trinity, 825 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. She will mark you down for an upcoming Sunday.

SANCTUARY CANDLE - Would you like to donate the Sanctuary Candle for a Sunday? We have several dates open. You can purchase a candle for $5. Call Denise at (540) 373-2996 with your donation information and send a check to Trinity, 825 College Avenue, Fredericksburg, VA 22401. She will mark you down for an upcoming Sunday.

YOUTH AND PARENTS OF TRINITY YOUTH

Amirah Ahmed, of Fredericksburg Muslim Youth, the local Muslim youth group, is looking to begin a Youth Interfaith Committee for the Fredericksburg faith community that will allow youth from all faiths to grow an interfaith community to facilitate important discussions for unity. Panel events, monthly meetings, and programs will be held virtually until it is safe to meet in person. The goal is to uplift youth of faith and to help youth better understand their differences and similarities. Parents, if your youth is interested in being Trinity’s representative to the Youth Interfaith Committee, please have them contact Sam Burton at sburton@rinity-fredericksburg.org for an application.

ONLINE SUNDAY SCHOOL continues to meet at 10:30 a.m. Sundays on Zoom. If you would like for your child to participate, please contact Sam Burton at sburton@trinity-fredericksburg.org.

There will be a YOUTH GROUP meeting this Sunday, April 25th from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. Join us for a video, discussion, and games. Contact Sam Burton at sburton@trinity-fredericksburg.org. Watch for an email on Friday with details.