Trinity Episcopal Church
Trinity Episcopal Church 
9 August 2020
 
 
 Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.


~~Collect for Tenth Sunday after Pentecost


 
Worship With Us at Trinity Church

All are invited to join our services online while the church buildings are closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.  We are now holding an 8 AM service of Morning Prayer in the Memorial Garden, weather permitting.

Sunday, August 9:  10th Sunday after Pentecost

Morning Prayer in the Memorial Garden, 8 AM 
 
George Chien, Officiating and Preaching

Morning Prayer Via Zoom, Live at 10 AM:
 
 
Ray Wilson, Officiating and Preaching 

This is a Standing Meeting. The log-in and password are the same every week.
 
Join Zoom Meeting via computer/tablet

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81057505696?pwd=ci9nMzhCRFA1bkh0UU1jclFTVlMwQT09
 
Meeting ID: 810 5750 5696

Password: 780651

Dial in by phone
     
929-436-2866
 
Meeting ID: 810 5750 5696
 
Password: 780651
 
 
 
 
Thursday, August 13
   
Noon Prayer Via Zoom, Live at 12 PM:  
 
Frank Kirkpatrick, Officiating 
  
 
This is a Standing Meeting.  
 
The log-in and password will remain the same through September 10.
 
 
Join Zoom Meeting via computer or tablet 
 
 
Meeting ID: 597 938 892
 
Password: 323842
 
Dial in
    
929 436 2866
 
Meeting ID: 597 938 892
 
Password: 323842
 



 
It's the "Dog Days of Summer," but there's still plenty going on at Trinity. This is just a quick reminder of ways to stay connected to one another:

Worship in the Memorial Garden: We are now gathering for Morning Prayer every Sunday at 8:00 a.m., weather permitting. The congregation sanitizes their hands on arrival, wears face coverings throughout the service, and the chairs are placed 6 feet apart. Even with those restrictions, we recognize one another and are glad to be together! Don't come if you're not feeling well, please.

Zoom worship: Our 10:00 a.m. service on Zoom continues. We expect to continue offering a way to gather virtually. It's not the same as being together, but it's wonderful to see friends as well as hear God's word of hope and reconciliation for our broken world.  
Support Trinity Academy: See the article elsewhere in the eVoice about ways to help our school begin the new year.

Racial Justice Task Force: Vestry members are forming this new task force, and will begin looking for more participants very soon. Watch the eVoice for further information in coming weeks.

Visit the Memorial Garden: Open on Tuesday and Thursday mornings, this is a peaceful way to reconnect with yourself and the Holy Spirit! The garden is more beautiful than ever this year, and it will feed your soul just to be there.

                                    Martha Freimuth and Tom Oberholtzer
                                                               Wardens
 


A Longer Introduction to Trinity Church's
New Rector
 
INTRODUCING REV. DEE LITTLEPAGE
 
           In our eagerness to share the good news of our new Rector last week, we shared only a picture and a brief biography of Rev. Dorothella "Dee" Littlepage. This week we'd like to tell you a little more about her, and about how the Vestry determined that she's just the right priest to become our thirteenth Rector.

           Dee received a double Bachelor's degree, summa cum laude, from Spelman College in Atlanta, and is a member of Phi Beta Kappa academic honor society. She went on to earn her Master of Divinity degree, cum laude, from Virginia Theological Seminary in Alexandria, VA. Since her ordination to the priesthood of The Episcopal Church, Dee has served as Assistant Rector at St. Stephen's Memorial Episcopal Church in Lynn, MA, Assistant Rector at St. Augustine St. Martin Episcopal Church in Boston, and most recently has been Executive Director of Roxbury-Dorchester Power in Community Mission Hub, a collective of four Episcopal congregations in Roxbury and Dorchester. The goal of their collaboration is to connect the parishes more closely in order to enhance their ability to engage the surrounding neighborhood, including establishing an ESOL program which led to citizenship for several immigrants.

           Following the Transition Process prescribed by ECCT, our Recruitment Committee interviewed candidates and recommended several to the Vestry for final interviews and for the decision on which candidate to call. All candidates led us through a brief worship service, shared a socially-distanced meal with us, and participated in a structured interview during which everyone on the Vestry asked specified questions about all aspects of the Rector's job.

           It is clear to the Vestry that Dee's gifts and talents align very closely with the present gifts and needs of Trinity Church. She favors the "high church" style of worship while also enjoying experimentation with various styles of liturgical expression. She has a strong commitment to outreach and to social justice concerns, and looks forward to working with Trinity's Refugee Resettlement efforts as well as all our other outreach programs. And her most recent work was focused on building collaboration among parishes and worshipping communities, a continuing priority for Trinity. 

           Above all, though, it is Dee's interpersonal qualities that led us to concur unanimously that she is the priest God has sent to us for this time. Her personal warmth, her openness, her curiosity, and her energy are evident from the first "Hello," and even a prolonged interview on a hot day could not dampen her good nature and her enthusiasm for the opportunity to connect her gifts of ministry to the community of Trinity Church.  
 
           Our Transition Hospitality Committee, along with our Task Force on Re-Gathering, is working on a plan to welcome Dee to Trinity in September. Stay tuned!

 
Morning Prayer in the Garden.  Socially Distanced, Spiritually United.
 

From Our Wardens:
Protocols for Morning Prayer in the Garden
 
 
The Sunday morning schedule will be as follows:
  • Morning Prayer will be said at 8:00 am in the Memorial Garden.
  • Morning Prayer will be broadcast at 10:00 am via Zoom.
  • You may participate in either the 8:00 am in person worship or the 10:00 am Zoom, or both.
 
Here is a summary of the mechanics of Sunday morning:
 
Gathering.
  • Masks are required to be worn by the congregation.  A limited supply of masks will be available for those who do not have one.
  • Entrance and exit to the Memorial Garden will be through the Sigourney Street garden gate only.
  • Upon entrance, an Usher will ask you if you have registered for the 8:00 am service. 
  • IMPORTANT: Please sign-in using the book by the garden gate entrance.
  • Chairs are set up with 6 ft distance between.  Please sit in one of the open spaces, keeping 6 feet between you and others not of your household.
  • Restrooms in the Narthex are available if needed.
 
Worship.
  • Single use Bulletins will be provided. Please take your bulletin home with you.
  • There will be no congregational singing.
  • An Offering plate will be provided on the steps going up to the church inside the Memorial Garden; plates will not be passed.
  • Please remain seated after the postlude for a brief ceremony honoring Jackson Merrill.
  • There is no coffee hour. 
 
PLEASE NOTE:
 
If you are not feeling well, running a fever, coughing, etc., you should not attend church until you are well and have completed a 14-day self- quarantine. The same is true for those who have come into contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19. If you have, you must complete a 14-day self- quarantine before attending church.  Those in vulnerable populations should carefully consider whether or not to attend Sunday public worship.
 
For those who cannot come to church, webcasts and Zoom offerings will continue.
A 10:00 am Zoom Morning Prayer service continues on Sunday.
Noonday Prayer continues via Zoom on Thursdays.
 
In order to appropriately plan for seating at the 8:00 AM service, please RSVP to Barbara Roos at office@trinityhartford.org or call her at 860-527-8133 ext. 204.
 
Faithfully,
Martha Freimuth and Tom Oberholtzer



Trinity Academy Needs

            Last year at this time, we were busy collecting back-to-school supplies for Trinity Academy. A lot has changed in the past few months, so we won't collect backpacks and school supplies as we did last year.
            But it is almost fall, and Trinity Academy will begin the school year remotely on August 31, and return to in-person classes on October 5. You can help Trinity Academy students continue their phenomenal growth and learning in this difficult time. Here are some of the ways you can help:
  • School supplies are still needed, even though we can't put them in brand new backpacks. If you'd like to help with school supplies, you can send a check to Trinity Academy, 120 Sigourney Street, Hartford, 06105 and put "School Supplies" in the memo line. Or, go onto the Trinity Academy website - www.trinityday.org - and click on the Donate button.
  • About 40% of Trinity Academy students live in families that experience food insecurity. You can send a check to Trinity Academy, 120 Sigourney Street, Hartford, 06105 and put "Food Security" in the memo line. The Academy's administration will purchase grocery store gift cards and get them to the families who need them.
Thank you for your generosity!
 
Backpacks.  Summer, 2019.  


Do You Have a Bicycle to Donate?
Diaa Albunni, the youngest member of Trinity's Syrian refugee family, is in need of a bicycle.  Now 13 years old, he has outgrown the bicycle originally donated to him by a kind parishioner.  We are looking now for a 24-inch bike.  If you have one, used but in good shape, that you can donate for Diaa, please call Anne Rapkin at a.rapkin@snet.net or 860-521-5992.


Assistance Available to Apply for Food Benefits and Husky Medical Benefits
With the end this week of the $600 federal weekly unemployment compensation pandemic supplement, more and more people are in need of assistance to buy food or pay their health insurance premiums.  If you would like to have assistance filing an application for food benefits or Husky, please contact Anne Rapkin at a.rapkin@snet.net
or 860-521-5992.   
 
You and I will be on the telephone together as I complete your on-line application form.  If the benefits agency requests a phone interview, I can be present on speaker phone to help you answer the interviewer's questions. 

For all Trinity Parishioners: 
Learn How to Assist Others in Completing Benefits Application
 
It is anticipated that, unless Congress promptly renews the weekly unemployment compensation pandemic supplement, there will be even greater need for food and medical assistance among our community's households.  Therefore, I invite everyone in the parish to join me for a "Zoomed" training session on how to help members of our parish complete on-line application forms.  Completing an on-line application can be (though is not always) time-consuming, but it is not difficult. 
 
I will prepare this training session if people want to participate in it.  Therefore, if you are would like to participate, please let me know ASAP by phone or e-mail, at the number/address noted above.  This is important work, and I hope very much that you will want to join in.                                               
                                                           
Anne Rapkin
 
 
 
 

From Our Bishops:
Tropical Storm Isaias
 
Dear Companions in Christ:
 
Once again, our lives in Connecticut are upset by unknown and unexpected events. Tropical Storm Isaias that blew through our state with fast moving and ferocious winds on Tuesday afternoon and evening torn down trees, branches and power lines leaving over 720,000 citizens in Connecticut without electricity.  And right now, many of you continue to struggle without power. As far as we know, there has not been any major damage to any churches in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut although the Commons is currently without electricity. If your parish has suffered damage in any way, please let us know and please reach out to Matt Handi (mhandi@episcopalct.org) at the Commons for assistance with insurance claims.
 
We recognize that living without electricity is very upsetting at this time. The loss of internet, refrigeration, air conditioning, dehumidifiers, and other household necessities has made life amid the twin pandemics of COVID-19 and racism in our nation even more trying and difficult to endure. Please know that we are praying for you that you may have peace, comfort, endurance, good humor, and the restoration of electricity. If there is anything else we can do please do not hesitate to reach out to us. 
 
We close with a prayer by Edward Hays for all affected by Hurricane/Tropical Storm Isaias from the Episcopal Relief and Development webpage: 
 
Lord and Holy Protector, like the disciples who were caught in their tiny boat in the midst of a mighty storm, we come together to seek Your help. We are fearful as we are surrounded by danger. We feel helpless and small before the great power of this perilous time, a power which is beyond our control. We are fearful as we are surrounded by danger. While everything seems dark and dangerous, we place our trust in You, our Lord and God. Sheltered here in our home we are also shielded by Your love against all that might harm us. We know that You hear all prayers; so we now, filled with confidence, lift up our petitions to You, our God.
 
May the peace of Christ be with you. God bless.
 
The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas         The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens
Bishop Diocesan                         Bishop Suffragan

 

Weekly Calendar
 
Sunday, August 9th - Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
         8:00 A.M. Morning Prayer - Memorial Garden
       10:00 A.M. Morning Prayer- via Zoom
 
Monday, August 10th
         5:30 P.M. DOMM Search Committee - via Zoom
 
Tuesday, August 11th
     9:00 A.M. Memorial Garden open till 11:00 am
     5:15 P.M. Bible Study - via Zoom
 
Wednesday, August 12th    
       5:00 P.M. ACF Meeting - via Zoom
       7:00 P.M. Campus Re-gathering Task Force - via Zoom
 
Thursday, August 13th
     9:00 A.M. Memorial Garden open till 11:00 am
   12:00 Noon Noonday Prayer - via Zoom
     7:00 Brotherhood of St. Andrew - via Zoom
 
Friday, August 14th 
Articles for the Voice due. 
 
Saturday, August 15th
 
Sunday, August 16th  - Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
         8:00 A.M. Morning Prayer - Memorial Garden
       10:00 A.M. - Morning Prayer via Zoom

Call us at

Phone: 860.527.8133
Fax: 860.527.2863
 
 
Visit us at 
 
 
View Sunday and Special Liturgies at 

 
Memorial Garden Fountain.
Bubbling again (with thanks to Peter Green.)