This Week at Trinity, Tuesday, September 21, 2021 |
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Preparing for Our Retreat |
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Dear fellow travelers at Trinity,
Over the next few weeks, our emails will be devoted to preparing for our parish retreat, Friday, October 8 (6 pm to 9 pm) and Saturday, Oct 9, (9 am to 3 pm, with a light breakfast at 8:30 am as people gather). If you are unable to attend all three sessions (Saturday is broken into two sessions, morning and afternoon), please join as you are able. If you are in need of childcare or transportation, please email Geoff (office@trinitychurchhp.org).
One of our tasks is to provide the vestry with guidance on the next steps to take in Trinity’s life together. I’ll give some space in these emails to unpacking those possibilities.
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Colonnade Falls,
Yellowstone National Park;
National Park Service photo
by John Good (1964)
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The first is the most obvious: Commission a search team and start looking for a new rector immediately. In most cases, this process begins with a survey of the members to see where there are strengths and where there are needs for growth. The church then works with the diocese to develop a “parish profile,” basically a description of the church and its history and mission. After that work is done, the parish issues a call for names of interested clergy, receives candidates, issues a call, and, voila, you have new rector and partner in ministry. (I’m sure many members of Trinity have been involved in such a process!)
There are definite advantages to moving quickly toward calling a new rector, particularly because a new rector brings a certain stability and predictability to the parish life. Those qualities can help Trinity take new steps in its ministry. A disadvantage to seeking to make a call quickly is not having enough time to do the “interim work” to strengthen Trinity’s profile. If Trinity did take this course, the vestry and I, with parish input, would need to decide where to focus our efforts to attract good candidates for Trinity and set that person, and the church, up for success.
What work do you think Trinity needs to do to prepare for a new rector, no matter when that person is called?
Much to think and pray about.
Bryan
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Looking Back, Looking Ahead
Last week we wondered what it might mean for Trinity to see itself as “servant of all” in its community. Any ideas? (You can read last Sunday’s homily at the link below.)
This week, Jesus suggests that if our hand is causing us trouble, perhaps we should cut it off! (Not helpful, Jesus.) I trust Jesus was being a bit dramatic in his example, but it’s a hard saying to interpret. Are there things we need to “cut off” from our lives if we are to follow Jesus more closely? (You can read Sunday's readings at the link below.)
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Intergenerational Formation Opportunity:
Tell Me the Truth about Racism
Beginning on Sunday, September 19, at 11:30 a.m., Trinity and St. Gregory’s Deerfield will be partnering on an all-ages formation program called “Tell Me the Truth about Racism.”
This program, developed by family ministers at the Episcopal churches of St. Chrysostom in Chicago and St. Christopher’s in Oak Park, explores our country’s history of racism through the lens of faith. The session begins with a light lunch and continues with a Godly Play style story, followed by age-appropriate “wondering sessions.”
Rev. Anne Jolly and Bryan will lead the adult groups; other leaders will guide the children’s groups. These sessions will continue on the third Sundays of the following months: October 17, November 21, January 16 and February 20.
The first sessions will be held at St. Gregory’s (815 Wilmot Road, Deerfield). Trinity is invited to host later sessions: If you are interested in helping Trinity host the November or January session, or would like to help lead a “wondering” group, please contact Bryan (rector@TrinityChurchHP.org).
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Holy Conversations: A Parish Retreat
Trinity Church will gather on Friday, October 8 in the evening, and Saturday, October 9 in the morning and afternoon for a parish retreat to discern the congregation’s next steps in the interim process.
The retreat will follow a process called “Holy Conversations,” which aims to identify gifts and opportunities, reconcile hurts and disappointments, and imagine future possibilities. The Rev. Mary Slenski will lead our retreat and will preach at the Sunday Eucharist on Sunday, October 11. Friday dinner and Saturday breakfast and lunch will be provided.
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Opportunities for Worship |
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Thursday Morning Prayer
Please join us on Thursdays at 10 a.m. for our Zoom Morning Prayer.
- attend via Zoom
- attend by telephone: (312) 626-6799
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Meeting ID: 930 0814 5876
- One-tap mobile: +13126266799,,93008145876#
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Sunday Services, Sept. 26
Invitation to the Eighteenth Sunday After Pentecost:
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9 a.m. CDT -- in-person service with communion. Weather. Guidelines.
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11 a.m. CDT (4 p.m. UTC) -- online service set up as a recurring Zoom meeting (login link and information below remains the same every week).
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Chapel of Transfiguration,
Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming (2010).
U.S. National Park Service image.
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To attend by telephone, call
(312) 626-6799 at 11 a.m. CDT
Meeting ID: 948 1489 8440
One tap mobile:
+13126266799,,94814898440#
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"Sunday Paper Junior" is a handout in the .pdf format that Trinity makes available to our parish children during the Sunday service. The Sunday Paper Junior, to which Trinity Episcopal Church has a paid subscription, is forwarded / posted with permission of the author / illustrator, Gretchen Wolff Pritchard. © Gretchen Wolff Pritchard, The Sunday Paper, 19 Colony Road, New Haven, Connecticut 06511, www.the-sunday-paper.com. All rights reserved. This is copyrighted material and should not be further forwarded or distributed.
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Did you know...
Links to Trinity's online Thursday and Sunday services are also available on our website, TrinityChurchHP.org
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REV. BRYAN CONES
Interim Rector, Trinity Church
(773) 786-6803 (mobile)
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PARISH ADMINISTRATOR
Church Office
847-432-6653
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