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The Connecticut Choral Society invites you to a benefit concert featuring John Rutter’s Mass of the Children. The concert will be on Saturday, June 10th at 7:30PM at Trinity Episcopal Church.
Under the direction of Eric Dale Knapp, the concert will feature full and treble choirs in John Rutter’s non-liturgical Missa brevis, Mass of the Children and also highlight performances of J.S. Bach’s Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Kurt Bestor’s Prayer of the Children and Ann Hampton Callaway’s At the Same Time.
The Connecticut Choral Society will be joined by Jennifer Sisco and Daisy Lowe, sopranos, Nina Porretta, youth soloist, Peter Kendall Clark, baritone, and will feature cellist Miriam Liske-Doorandish and renowned organist Linda Sweetman-Waters.
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Mass of the Children is a benefit concert to support Newtown Youth & Family Services and is part of the Connecticut Choral Society’s 40th Anniversary season.
Trinity is providing Complimentary child care during the concert. Please click here to register.
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About Newtown Youth & Family Services
Newtown Youth and Family Services [NYFS] is a non-profit youth service bureau and mental health clinic for children, teens, adults and seniors. For over 35 years, NYFS has been committed to providing high quality human health services to promote individual and community wellness. Specialized services include: outpatient individual, couples and family counseling, substance abuse treatment services, Autism and social skills programs, prevention initiatives and support groups. For services or information call 203-270-4335 or visit www.newtownyouthandfamilyservices.org.
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Check out how Adult Christian Formation and Creation Care come together in two ways:
"Laudato Si' Week" is being held from May 21 to 28 to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the publication of Pope Francis' encyclical “Laudato Si’: On Care For Our Common Home.” ("Laudato Si' mean "Praise Be," the first phrase of the Prayer of St. Francis.) This year's guiding theme is "Hope for the Earth. Hope for Humanity." You can learn more about the Laudato Si' movement by watching the film The Letter.
Mercy by the Sea retreat center in Madison CT is offering a day-long program on September 28 on "Spiritual Resilience in a Time of Climate Crisis" led by the Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas. The program will explore a theological framework for “holding” our concern for Earth, its creatures, elements and people. It will include presentations, prayer, guided meditation, small and large group conversation, singing and free time. Several folks from Trinity have already registered, so car-pooling is probably an option. Scholarship funds are available to cover the registration fee; see Rev. Andrea for more information.
| If you weren't able to attend Sue Roman's presentation last Sunday on Christian mystic and teacher Cynthia Bourgeault, you can still benefit from the overview and bibliography that Sue compiled. If you're interested in additional classes on Cynthia Bourgeault, contact Lisa Mages. | |  |
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The Trinity Parish Care Team would like to begin a new ministry and refresh an existing one. We are looking for volunteers for:
Friendly Visits: casual visits with parishioners who can no longer join us in person and miss the social interactions.
“Thinking of You” Cookie Coordinator: looking for someone who will coordinate the team as volunteers make, package and deliver cookies to various parishioners. Team members will volunteer for all these tasks, we just need someone who can coordinate it.
Our next meeting will be a potluck lunch in the Johnson room on May 20, 11:30am - 1pm, where we will discuss these ministries and all our others (meal making, rides, calls, prayers). All are welcome to join us. For more information or any questions, please contact Cindy Anderau.
|  | Love the Fellowship after service? Here is a great opportunity to be of service and enjoy coffee hour too! We are looking for volunteers to arrive a little early to church, make coffee and clean up. All food is provided, however homemade goodies are always welcome. It's a rewarding and easy way to contribute! Just contact Marcia DeBrook or the office to add your name to the ministry scheduler. | | |
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“The Lord stood by me and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed.” 2 Timothy 4:17a
Choir rehearsals on Thursday evenings at Trinity usually start off with a brief devotional and prayer to center ourselves and focus on our mission as a choir. In our devotional time this year, we have explored the choir’s role as not performers, but as worship leaders. Yes, we do “perform” choral anthems, but what is our music meant to accomplish?
For the choir to be worship leaders, they must prepare both musically and spiritually. Well-prepared music does not distract the worshipper and carries the message of the text. The scriptures and theology that we sing carry a responsibility to be communicated clearly and honestly, and God’s message, whether spoken or sung, remains the same. Spiritually, the music ministers prepare their hearts to sing these truths to each member of the congregation, knowing that each individual comes to the pews on any given Sunday morning with a particular need. Music can and must serve to open the heart to receive.
This Sunday, the choir will herald the morning and the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and then they will lead the congregation to worship the God who can calm their raging seas as we sing the final hymn of the day, “Eternal Father, Strong to Save”. The line in the first verse, “O hear us when we cry to thee for those in peril on the sea” is indeed a powerful prayer through song. Will you cry out in prayer with the musicians and allow your heart to truly speak and feel the text of the hymns as well?
And don’t miss the very special prelude we have just before 9:30 this Sunday! Trinity’s very own Samuel Grummons will be playing a piece on the horn from Handel’s Messiah, accompanied by Eric Knapp on the organ. You won’t want to miss this wonderful musical ministry moment!
See you Sunday!
Jennifer
***It’s not too late to join the choir for the remainder of the choir season! Do you have kids home from college who used to be Choristers? They are welcome to sing with us!
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Join us for a family hike!
Trinity's Youth Group is hosting a hike for church families on Sunday, June 4, from 1-3 PM. We will meet at George Waldo State Park to hike the Where's Waldo Trail, Extra Credit Trail, and Thing 1, 2, and 3 Loop. This 3.5 mile trail is considered an easy route with great views. Dogs are welcome, if leashed. Please dress for the weather, wear hiking shoes, and bring some water. Bug spray and sunscreen are also recommended. Snacks will be provided. Youth in middle school or older may be dropped off, but kids in Grade 6 or lower must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Click on this Sign Up Genius link to register for the hike.
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Upcoming Dates to Remember
6/4, Family hike - click Sign Up Genius link above to register
6/11, Ice Cream Party AND final day of church school
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Many thanks to George Duncan for photographing our church school students last Sunday! George is still working to enhance and correct each child's portrait. Finalized photos will be made available by email to families in the coming weeks.
Church school students shared God's love with sidewalk chalk drawings and bubbles!
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Request from the Vestry
Handicap parking, also known as accessible parking, is a designated parking space intended for individuals with disabilities. At Trinity, these spaces are located close to the rear entrance of a building to make it easier for individuals with mobility impairments to access the building. At the request of the Vestry, if you do not have a handicap placard, please leave these spots for those that do, especially on Sundays. Thank you.
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Help a Refugee Family Get a Fresh Start in our Community
Imagine the courage it takes to flee, leaving behind your loved ones, language and culture and relocate to a foreign country, sight unseen. Imagine doing so with young children. Now imagine doing so without money.
Newtown’s Interfaith Partnership for Refugee Resettlement (IPRR) is settling a brave, hard-working refugee family from Latin America. Please help this family get established in our area by making a generous contribution. They have immediate household expenses to cover like food and rent. While the parents are working now, they need English classes, drivers licenses and a car so that they can work in the fields they were trained for in their home country. Like most refugees, they also need to pay back a sizeable travel loan they received from the International Organization for Migration to get here.
Show them what a welcoming, supportive community we are by giving generously. All funds donated until May 31 to Newtown’s Interfaith Partnership for Refugee Resettlement (IPRR) will go to this family. Trinity Episcopal Church will collect the funds on behalf of IPRR. Making an online donation is fast and secure at www.trinitynewtownct.org/iprr.
If you prefer not to donate online, you may also send a check to Trinity. Checks may be made out to Trinity Church with a memo of IPRR.
Refugees are people who have been vetted and accepted by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the US government to seek refuge from persecution, war, or natural disaster. Newtown’s Interfaith Partnership for Refugee Resettlement (http://www.iprefugeer.org) has partnered with Integrated Refugee and Immigrant Services (IRIS) in New Haven ( https://www.irisct.org) to welcome and support this amazing family.
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Christian Yoga
Trinity Episcopal Church is holding Christian Yoga classes 6 pm - 7pm in the Glover Community Room, on the second and fourth Tuesday of each month. Led by Erin Lutz, a registered yoga teacher, Christian Yoga will blend yogic movements and breath work with scripture readings and prayer. Participants are asked to bring a yoga mat, water bottle and any props, such as yoga blocks. Participants are also asked to arrive ten minutes early so the class can start on time. Additionally, classes will be available via Zoom. No yoga experience is necessary and all ages are welcome. Free will offering is voluntary and may be made in person or by Venmo.
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The Church Nursery is OPEN
We are thrilled to announce a new partnership with Wee Care Nanny Agency. This means that Trinity's nursery will be open consistently, every Sunday, from 9:15 - 11:15am.
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Praise and Thanksgiving
For those requesting our prayers
Arlene, Maureen, Janet, Rick, Marie, Jennifer, Joyce, Jacky, Gail,
Laura, Alveta, Bode, Gracie, Erin, Ann, Dick, Annabella, Martha,
Daniel, Elaine, AnnMarie, Beverly, Mason, Marian, Cassie, Jamie, Sarah,
Rogelio, Linda, Megan, Judy, Tan, Nancy
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Juliet Britton, Becca Filiato, Rob Ryder, Joe Bojnowski
For those celebrating an anniversary this week
Rick & Paget Haylon, Forry & Kathy Weatherby, Gordon & Julie Dunn,
Floyd & Ena Higgins, Richard & Donna VanWaalwijk, Alan & Annette Ready
If you are worshiping with us from home, feel free to contact the office for a hymnal.
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