Dear friends in Christ,
A few weeks ago I went down to the Cape with my family. The house we rented was right on the bay, and I was fascinated to sit on the deck and watch the change of tides. At high tide, pictured left, the water was dark, and full of movement, waves, and occasional white caps. The beach narrowed to only a path for walking. But at low tide, pictured right, the waters receded, not quite to the horizon, but far enough back that I could no longer hear the waves. Walking out on the sand, I was reminded of the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Was this what it looked like? The bottom of the seabed was revealed in its strange beauty. Not flat, but marked by channels of slow, shallow water between the bars of sand. The briny scent of seaweed and fish filled the quiet air as I trod out into the middle of what was only hours before, the deep sea!
I was moved to realize that this “low tide” hidden landscape is here all the time underneath the crashing waves of the nor’easter that blew through midweek; covered twice a day by the return of the high tide, day in, day out, there is this hidden reality underneath, and we occasionally get glimpses of it, and sometimes even get the chance to walk around in it and on it as I did that day, exploring the mystery.
I have thought a lot about “what is underneath,” what is revealed that we do not usually see. What happens to us when we have the opportunity to see the ground underneath our usual reality? This Sunday’s Gospel from Mark is about this “revealing” or “apocalyptic.” Jesus responds to the disciples’ enthusiasm for the “great stones of the temple”, by telling them that the temple will be destroyed. The things we cling to, believing them to be sturdy and salvific, are not the things in which true salvation lies. He reminds us that all the things we see; war, death, pandemic, division, famine--all these things we know to be true in our world are but “birth pangs” for the true reality, the “below the surface” reality of God’s Kingdom. We have a promise from God that true reality is based in love and mercy; that Christ has overcome death once and for all. This landscape underneath our daily pains and worries is always there. How do we catch a glimpse of that, as I did in the low tide at Eastham? When the tide is high and the waters are deep and we feel that we are drowning; how do we trust that the true contours of our lives are in God’s hands?
In the past almost two years, due to the pandemic, many things about our human lives and foibles have been revealed; perhaps not for the first time, but with the clarity of a sea storm. The pervasiveness of racism and inequity, our culture of punishment rather than restoration for those in prison; fear of those we perceive as “other”, fear of facing the real stories people have about our history as a country and as a church; the emergency of the climate in our world. These are difficult and often divisive topics, but when the issues are revealed, the curtains pulled back, we see real challenges lying like broken shells on the sand in low tide. We also see the hope for some quiet, salty air; a chance to listen well, to look for new contours, to walk out farther than we have walked before onto those sands; seeing a new vision of love and mercy, community and justice.
The readings for tomorrow, and the upcoming readings in Advent beginning on Nov. 28 all have this apocalyptic tone. Mark and Luke invite each of us to look for ways to see underneath and beyond what is right in front of us; to perceive with God’s help, the contours of love and hope and mercy at work in God’s promise.
May it be so!
In Christ,
Nancy+
Your clergy love to hear from you. Schedule a Chapel Chat by reaching out through email or by phone, so we can see you in person!
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Your support of Trinity's ministry matters for 2022. Please prayerfully make a generous commitment to YOUR Trinity Church and bring your pledge card to church tomorrow. Your pledge is your intention. Pledge today. |
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"Well, the weather outside is frightful!" and it IS chilly in church! We learned last week that a component of the heating system for the main sanctuary needs to be replaced. It may take several weeks for the heat to be back on. So bundle up, and come inside for the warmth of the liturgy, the choir, and coffee hour fellowship under the heaters on the porch. |
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Trinity's Nominating Committee for 2022 leadership is ready to hear from YOU. Please send nominations for Vestry Leadership and Diocesan Reps HERE.
Thank you to Chair, Mike Quayle, and Nominating Committee members: Brian Rosborough, Lovelle Seymour, Betsy Higgins, Sally Myers, Jennifer Johnson, Ed Prewitt, and Sarah Johnson. You may reach out to them directly with your nominations or click on the form above. Thank you. 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).
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If you are not already attending in-person worship, please fill out the attached survey with your thoughts/concerns.
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Trinity is excited to announce that we will be launching a Confirmation program starting on January 9, 2022 for any high school youth (grades 9-12) who would like to participate. Classes will meet each Sunday through March at 11:15am (excluding long weekends) in the Youth Room.
If you are interested in signing up your youth for the Confirmation program, please fill out the registration form.
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On the first three Sundays, November 7, 14 & 21, we offer Church School indoors in the Parish Hall at 10 am, and Children's Time outdoors during the 5 pm service under the porch. Please know that our teachers are all fully vaccinated and will be masked. Children are also expected to be masked if they are older than 2. Nursery is open every Sunday during the 10 am service.
On Sunday, November 28, children worship with their families, and are invited to make their own Advent Wreath after the 10 am service. Be sure to order your wreath making materials by November 14: Advent Wreath Order Form
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Place Your Order by THIS SUNDAY, Nov. 14!
Please join us on November 28 after the 10:00 am service to make your own Advent wreath and pick up Advent candles. You need to place your order here before or on November 14. We are asking for a donation of $5 for each Oasis ring, and an additional $5 for a set of Advent waxed candles. We do have one set of FLAMELESS Advent tapers left ($10). So order now! (Of course, you can choose to bring your own ring from home, or use one of our metal rings from years past).
A free will donation of $5 - $15/per wreath (depending upon your order), will be gratefully accepted on Sunday, November 28. Also on that day, we would appreciate donations of greens from your yards. Molly Stone will be on hand to help you create your wreath.
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Do you bake a great brownie or pie (or anything else)? Bake some for the mini-Fayre.
Did you do nothing but read or do puzzles for 12 months? Bring down your used books and puzzles beginning on November 20th.
Have you wondered how to make your wreath look spectacular? Come to a wreath-decorating workshop on Wednesday, December 1st at 1pm to learn from Molly Stone and Barbara Morse.
Have you always wanted one of Larry Barney's cranberry coffee cakes? One of Charlie Holbrook's wooden toys? One of Judy Marriner's knitted animals or some of those double-thickness mittens?
Come to the mini-Fayre on Saturday December 4th,
10:30-1:30 on the front porch!
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We are ONE Body in Christ. Trinity offers a variety of worship opportunities for all ages.
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Sundays at 8 am in the Chapel. Rite I spoken Eucharist.
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Sundays at 10 am in the Main Church. Rite II with Choir.
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Sundays at 5 pm outside on the Elm St. porch. Evening prayer with Eucharist and a StoryWalk for Children.
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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.
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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.
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- Funeral for Al Ehrenfried - Thursday, Nov. 18 at 11 am in the Main Church followed by a reception in the Parish Hall.
- Thanksgiving Day Service 10 am in the Main Church and livestream
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Trinity Episcopal Church
81 Elm Street
Concord, MA 01742
(978) 369-3715
Office Hours:
T-F 9:00AM-5:00PM
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