December 4, 2021
Dear friends,

First of all, thank you for the opportunity to both guest write for The Window and guest preach here at Trinity. For those that I have not had the opportunity to meet thus far, I am Chaplain (Major) Stephen Echols, an Active Duty Army Chaplain and Episcopal Priest on assignment at Boston College working on a Masters of Theology in Ethics so that I might teach Ethics at one of the Army’s schoolhouses. That’s a bit of a mouthful! That said, I’m blessed to have my amazing family (Emily, Gabriel, and Thomas) here in Massachusetts with me. 

What I would like to share with the Trinity family in this edition of The Window is something that I have been pondering over, praying about, and studying in school, and that is the idea of exemplarism. Not to dive headlong into academia, but the late Jesuit Ethicist Yiu Sing Lucas Chan, SJ, identified exemplarism as one of the four dimensions of virtue ethics (along with character formation, practices and habits, and community identity). Not to bore y’all too much, but heart of virtue ethics seeks to answer three primary questions: (1) Who am I?, (2) Who ought I become?, and (3) How do I get there? Now clearly, as Christians, our ultimate goal is complete sanctification in and through God’s grace. As such, we are called to live more charitable lives (read “charity” as “love”) toward God, our neighbors, and ourselves, but that is still an ambiguous idea. So a clergyperson or fellow Christian tells you, “Hey, you should be more charitable. You should be more loving.” Okay…but what does that look like?

This is precisely why I am so drawn to exemplarism, that is, looking to and drawing on the holy lives of fellow Christians who are either on the journey with us, or who have completed their journey. Quite frankly, sometimes we draw a blank when it comes to how best to live the life of a Christian. Personally, I am drawn to the lives of the saints. Granted, I will not be moving to the deserts of Egypt to live the life of a hermit any time soon (which I’m sure my family and the Army appreciates), nor will I be burned a the stake for my beliefs, but there is something to be gleaned from each of these holy people we call saints. How they sought out those on the margins of their society, whether it was St. Nicholas of Myra taking care of children or St. Damien of Molokai dedicating himself to the care of lepers in Hawaii (a time of pandemic, mind you), we can learn something from these holy people. During this season of Advent I would encourage you to look to the holy lives of people of faith that have gone before you if you’re need a bit of Advent inspiration. God bless!

Grace and peace,
Chaplain (MAJ) Stephen Echols

Your clergy love to hear from you. Also, please remember that we do not know when you are ill or in hospital if you do not notify us. If you let us know we will reach out to you.
Rev. Nancy hagner@trinityconcord.org 978-369-3715 ext. 12
Rev. Christopher whiteman@trinityconcord.org 978-369-3715 ext. 14
Join your Vestry, clergy and other lay leaders for a Trinity Town Hall meeting. We will bring you up to date on all matters Trinity, including our new Afghan "All Hands on Deck" initiative, Outreach Task Force (OTF), stewardship, staffing, Christmas worship, Children and Youth Formation, and more! We are eager to answer any questions, receive your suggestions, and share our vision for the new year. The meeting will be held by ZOOM so everyone can participate.
On Wednesday, December 15 at 7 pm we will worship together by ZOOM bringing our hearts to God in this season. Blue Advent is a service for EVERYONE. As we prepare our hearts for Christmas joy, it is an invitation to acknowledge before God the grief and pain that also inhabit this season. Please join us as we gather in prayer and song as a community of hope and faith.
CHILDREN: On the first three Sundays, December 5, 12 & 19, we offer Church School indoors in the Parish Hall at 10 am for all children PreK through Grade 5. Nursery is open every Sunday during the 10 am service, except December 26.  Learn about Advent and prepare for the mystery of Christmas. Please know that our teachers are all fully vaccinated and will be masked. Additional information about our offerings can be found on our website.

Pageant 2021!! We will have a joyful, safe, in-person telling of the Christmas story on Christmas Eve at 3:30 pm. No rehearsals. Just come that day. Children simply pick up a headdress of choice in the Narthex before the service: Angel, Shepherd, Magi, and animals. Families sit together and participate from the pew. More details to come! Questions? Rev. Nancy at hagner@trinityconcord.org.

YOUTH: All 6th through 12th graders are invited on Sunday, December 19th from 11:30am-1:30pm at 40 Beharrell St. in West Concord to organize donated gift bags for Open Table's annual food drive! Please sign up if you plan to attend.

Confirmation: All High School age youth are invited to join Trinity's Confirmation program beginning on January 9, 2022 Classes will meet each Sunday through March at 11:15am (excluding long weekends) in the Youth Room. To register for the Confirmation program, please fill out the registration form.

If you have any questions about either opportunity, please email Karl at laclair@trinityconcord.org
Trinity is offering the opportunity for you to remember loved ones at Christmas by making a special gift to Trinity’s Flower Fund by December 15th. Click here. The church will be decorated for Christmas in the beautiful ways our Altar and Flower Guilds design each year.  Questions? Beth Confrancisco 978-369-3715, ext. 11 or confrancisco@trinityconcord.org
You love your church! And your church needs your help. As we navigate coming back together in worship, fellowship, and planning for the future, your presence is a gift. Your hands and feet are also needed in the life of our community. Please prayerfully consider how you might engage in our communal life in this new year--some in-person needs below, opportunities to identify leadership, support Trinity with your pledge, constant need for your prayers from near and far. Together we are the Body of Christ in the world.
VESTRY NOMINATIONS: Trinity's Nominating Committee for 2022 leadership needs to hear from YOU. Please send nominations for Vestry Leadership and Diocesan Reps HERE. The slate will be developed by the Committee for election at the Feb. 6, 2022 Annual Meeting. Positions open: Treasurer, Jr. Warden, At Large Vestry members (3), and Diocesan Representative (1) Questions? Contact Rev. Nancy.
COFFEE HOUR: Volunteers needed to make Trinity's beloved Coffee Hour happen! Contact Carol Burroughs to learn more or to sign up. carolburroughs96@gmail.com.
USHERS: First impressions matter! Sign up to greet visitors, newcomers, and your fellow parishioners on Sunday mornings by being an usher. We all want Trinity to be a warm and welcoming place for all ages. NO experience needed. EASY SIGN UP at your convenience! Questions? Reach out to Rev. Christopher.
YOUR PLEDGE for 2022. Thank you to all who have already made a commitment to our life together in 2022. Trinity is funded by these commitments. Your vestry will be developing the 2022 budget in early January based upon the financial intentions (pledges) we have received. If you want Trinity to continue with beautiful worship, welcoming facilities, creative fellowship and formation programming, supportive staffing, pastoral care, and more; please pledge ASAP. The goal is $700,000 in pledges, and with your support and commitment we will get there! Thank you.
We are ONE Body in Christ. Trinity offers a variety of worship opportunities for all ages.
  • Sundays at 8 am in the Chapel. Rite I spoken Eucharist.
  • Sundays at 10 am in the Main Church. Rite II Eucharist with Choir.
  • Sundays at 5 pm outside on the Elm St. porch with heaters. Candlelight Evening prayer with Eucharist.
  • Sunday Livestream at 10 am. Links for livestream services are below.
  • If you need Communion Wafers, please let us know and we will arrange for pick up or drop off.
  • NOONDAY PRAYER via Zoom and FB at Noon on Wednesdays. Join us for a quiet moment of prayer wherever you are in your busy day.
Worship from HOME







  • Trinity Town Hall - Tuesday, December 7 at 7:00pm via zoom
  • Wed. Dec. 8-Deadline to register for Furniture Pick up day, Dec. 11 "All Hands on Deck" (AHOD) Afghan initiative
  • Blue Advent Service- Wednesday, Dec. 15 @ 7 pm on ZOOM
  • Youth Outreach at Open Table, Dec. 19 11.30-1.30 pm
  • Christmas Worship Services:
 Christmas Eve 
  •  3:30 pm-Family Service with 2021 style pageant and Holy Eucharist
  •  5:30 pm-Holy Eucharist with special music
  • 10.30 pm-Holy Eucharist with Choirs 

Christmas Day
  • 10 am - Holy Eucharist - a quiet and joyful morning

Confirmation Class begins, Sunday, Jan. 9 at 11.30 am Register above.
What's this? The box where you can place your plate offering, or your pledge envelope when you come to church in person! Please continue to support our parish operations by sending your pledge payments: Trinity Church, 81 Elm St. Concord MA 01742. You may also pay your pledge on-line and/or make a special gift to the virtual offering plate. Give on-line.
Trinity Episcopal Church
81 Elm Street
Concord, MA 01742
(978) 369-3715
 
 
Director of Music and Choir, Robert Barney
Director of Children’s Ministries, Carol Brady
Director of Youth Ministries, Karl LaClair
Communications Coordinator/Office Administrator, Beth Confrancisco
Bookkeeper, Nancy Marshall
Sexton, Wesley Sawyers
Sunday Sexton, Paul Lamoreaux

Office Hours: 
T-F 9:00AM-5:00PM