Trinity Episcopal Church
The Corner
Trinity's newsletter for the week of December 20, 2020
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- Distribution of Communion Sunday afternoon
- Lessons and Carols go online
- Fr. Rob: Transitions on skates and in life
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Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. |
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Here are the latest opportunities to strengthen
your faith and connect with the community.
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WORSHIP TIMES
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Fourth Sunday of Advent
10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist
READINGS
The Liturgy of the Word
MUSIC PROGRAM
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Prelude: Noël (Louis-Claude Daquin)
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"My Soul Waits for the Lord" (refrain) (Michael Bauer) Bev Benso, Margie Lawrence, Emma Silvestri, Cheryl Wagner, singers
- “Of the Father’s Love Begotten” (Brook Boddie) Yuka Naito, harp
- Lo, how a rose e’er blooming (Praetorious) Trinity Choir, directed by Doug Lawrence
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Post-service: Congregational Hymn 56 O come, O come Emmanuel (Veni, veni, Emmanuel); A carol from home: "Rise up, Shepherd"; "Rise up, Shepherd" (Charles Callahan)
Webstream link:
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
7 p.m. – Evening Prayer
Livestream Link:
Bulletin link:
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Upcoming Event: Children's Sunday School
Date: Sunday, Dec. 20
Time: 9:30 a.m.
Description: Susan Hires leads lessons and activities. Join us on our Facebook page.
Upcoming Event: Holy Eucharist
Date: Sunday, Dec. 20
Time: 10:30 a.m.
Description: Join your fellow Trinitarians online for worship and music.
Upcoming Event: Distribution of Communion
Date: Sunday, Dec. 20
Time: 1 p.m.
Location: Church Parking lot
Description: You can pick up pre-packaged wafers and grape juice, consecrated by Fr. Rob, at 1 p.m. by the church. Details about how and where are in the article below.
Upcoming Event: Anchor Women
Date: Tuesday, Dec. 22
Time: not meeting this week
Description: A community of women of various ages and backgrounds share thoughts, stories, highlights, fun and laughter. For more information reach out to
Upcoming Event: Friendship Circle
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 23
Time: 4 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Description: The Friendship Circle welcomes those who are widowed, divorced or single, or who are seeking friendship from parishioners. If you would like to join us, please contact Susan Ralston at sralston@sunflower.com for an invitation. All are welcome.
Upcoming Event: Evening Prayer
Date: Wednesday, Dec. 23
Time: 7 p.m.
Description: Join Vashti and David for Evening Prayer each week.
Upcoming Event: Blessing of the Creche
Date: Thursday, Dec. 24
Time: 5 p.m.
Location: Zoom
Description: Celebrate the arrival of the baby Jesus in your own nativity scene with this special evening service. See full article for details.
Upcoming Event: Christmas Lessons and Carols
Date: Thursday, Dec. 24
Time: 7 p.m.
Description: Hear the story of God's plan for the salvation of the world and hear holiday music from our amazing congregation in this Christmas Eve broadcast. Featuring organ music, choral anthems, and individual solos from our talented members.
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Reminder, if you do not see the "This Week at Trinity" at the bottom of the newsletter, there should be an expand button to click to view our complete newsletter. |
From the Rector's Desk...
One of the fundamental moves that all roller derby skaters learn is the “transition.” When you transition, you turn your body around in place while still skating in the same direction. So for example, if you are skating forward, you spin around and begin skating backwards, or vice versa. It is a helpful move because it allows you to be able to see what is going on behind you on the track, support other players from the front, or take a hit from the front rather than in the back.
It is also the move that caused my first major injury in roller derby. I was trying to perform this move and manage to spin by body around but my feet didn’t change direction. That meant my foot was turned about 90 degrees to the side and flipped over, causing me to break both the bones in my lower leg and one bone in my ankle. This was the semi-infamous injury that had me going through the entire Advent and Christmas season in crutches lo those many years ago.
After my recovery, I wanted to make sure that never happened again, and so I practiced and practiced that move until I could literally transition constantly as I skated around the track, spinning like a top. Reflecting on that image, I realized that it was a lot like life. We are constantly transitioning from one thing to another: childhood to adulthood, adulthood to even older adulthood, being alone to being in families to being alone again, etc. We change jobs, homes, all sorts of things, all the time.
Advent itself is, in its nature, a transitional time. The world was moving from one era in history to another, and the change would be both momentous and not what they expected. That capacity for people of faith to navigate that transition is integral to the Advent and Christmas story, and the story of Christ as a whole.
Which is why I find it so interesting that when we talk about our faith and our spiritual life, we often approach it from a position of desiring homeostasis. We sometimes say we want to have unshakable, unmovable faith. We want to believe something and stick with it through thick and thin. We talk from a meditative place about stillness, and groundedness. But that places the imagery of our spiritual life in opposition to the quality of our, well, regular life. What we need is a faith that is dynamic, mobile, and able to accompany us on the many transitions that we will be going through. It should be a companion, an advocate, not an obstacle.
Advent means, in the original Latin, “going towards.” We are always going towards something: in our lives, in our understanding, and as part of the Kingdom of God. That momentum may be unexpected or different from what we imagine, but it is what makes our faith the Gospel that it is.
Yours in Christ,
Fr. Rob+
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Distribution of Communion
This Sunday Communion will be available for parishioners at 1 p.m. at the Church. These will be the pre-packaged wafers and grape juice we used briefly during in-person 10:30 a.m. worship, consecrated by Fr. Rob.
Please pull up along the alley from 11th Street heading north toward 10th Street. A deacon will drop off communion cups at your car.
These are unusual times but we are grateful to have the opportunity for some element of a shared sacrament this Advent season.
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Blessing of the Creche
Celebrate the arrival of the baby Jesus in your own nativity scene with this special evening service. The Blessing of the Creche is a liturgy from the Book of Occasional Services that gathers us together as a community to joyfully remember the Christ child. So gather your nativity scene in your home, and sign on to the Zoom link
and join Fr. Rob live from Trinity Church's own Nativity scene for this first-time service.
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Plum Pudding Sale
The Trinity Environmental Stewardship Team (TEST) is selling plum pudding again this Advent season. The puddings are $18 (large, serves eight to 12) and $9 (small, serves four to six); and hard sauce is $1.50 per container.
Please place orders with Vashti Winterburg (785-633-7396).
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Share Your Holiday Season with Us!
Throughout Advent and Christmas, we are hoping to share among ourselves the many ways in which we are observing this most unusual of holiday seasons. As such, we are hoping you will share with us what you are doing personally that we can then put onto our Trinity Facebook page.
What kinds of things are we looking for?
- stories
- holiday greetings
- recipes
- music
- arts and crafts ideas
- pictures of your holiday decorations
- or anything else you might think would be fun and interesting!
Send your videos, pictures, et al. to corner@trinitylawrence.org and thank you for your generosity, kindness and community spirit!
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Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry
Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry (T.I.F.P.) was open eight days in November and served 217 households. So far this year, the food pantry has been open 92 days and has served 2,394 households.
The total expense in November for food purchased locally and through Harvesters was $740.65, and the total retail equivalent value of all food provided this month was $4,557.00. Harvesters has received special pandemic funding and is offering significant cost reduction for some foods, and other foods at no charge. Each grocery bag of food has a retail value of $21.
Our patrons receive one bag of pre-bagged food along with a bag of cold food. T.I.F.P. provides food to any person requesting food with no requirements. About 50% of our patrons walk or ride their bikes to the food pantry, and the remainder drive cars.
T.I.F.P. will continue indefinitely to give all food to our patrons outside the Matthews Center by Trinity Church. Food pantry volunteers use face masks and equipment sanitizing practices. Our patrons wear face masks, socially distance when waiting in line, and receive their food with words of gratitude: “You rock!”, “You are a godsend.” And “I don’t know what we would do without you.”
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Prayer Chain
To add a person's name to the prayer list or to become a prayer chain member, please contact the parish office... Prayers... or call 785-843-6166; or Carol Hatton, Prayer Chain coordinator at ( caroldonhatton@gmail.com).
The Prayer Chain prays daily for those who are ill, suffering or troubled; who have died; or who wish to offer praise and thanksgivings. Prayer Chain members find that their own private prayer life with God also deepens during this daily practice.
Pray for those who need healing: D.J., Sigrid, Eleanor, Max, Clair, Doug, Dennis, Holly, Kim, Arianna, Steve, Kimberly, Charles, David, Alyce, Nick, Mary, Lucie, Nancy, Gretchen, Margie.
Pray for those with special circumstance: Elva, Darrenn, Natha, Lisa, the Hernandez
family, the Mendoza family.
Pray for the departed: Pat Freideman, James Agnew, Heather Ferrell, Justice Tyler Lockett, Donna Osness, Zane Zahner, Kent Beisner, Al Biggs.
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During this holiday season, we would like to know about hospitalizations, illnesses or special needs. Please call Father Rob, Deacon Deborah Burns, the church office, or call a Vestry member so that we can help. |
TEST Tidbits: Presiding Bishop’s Message
or by going to
The presiding bishop reminds us that Jesus, His teachings, messages, spirit and example point us to a way of life where we care for one another, care for God’s earth and are in a loving relationship with each other and with our God. This love is pure light that shines into the darkness and the darkness cannot overcome it. This is truly “Good News” in our troubled and dark times. This way of love – way of light – beckons us to follow it as our way of life.
EARTH STEWARD ACTION
Please spend a few minutes listening to the presiding bishop’s Christmas Message. Of special interest to earth stewards is the Episcopal News Service report on the work of Episcopal delegates to COP 25.
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2021 Pledge Drive Update
In this most extraordinary of years, we kicked off this season’s pledge drive with our online talent show featuring the amazing musical gifts of many of our parishioners in an evening of fun and fellowship. This week, I want to share with you where the drive currently stands, and contrast that with last year.
Rolling into 2020 in what seems decades ago, Trinity received 126 pledge cards totaling $378,566 in planned giving. So far, we have received an impressive 89% of that income, and for that we are incredibly grateful.
Going into 2021 we have received 100 pledge cards, five of which are from brand-new households that have never pledged before, for a total of $233,000. There are roughly 30 households that pledged last year that have not turned in pledge cards this year.
Some of that loss is a result of people moving away out of Lawrence, dying, or otherwise no longer being part of the congregation. I suspect strongly that a lot of this is because we are not having that interpersonal contact where we sit in the pews, realize we have forgotten this small detail, and fill out a pledge card on the spot. We are not having Vestry members approach parishioners in coffee hour to inquire about their plans or running into each other out in the community.
In addition, our minds are much, much more preoccupied with everything that is going on around us. Speaking as a person who is forgetful in the best of times, I have taken Herculean measures these days to make sure that I keep on top of the responsibilities of my life.
I am also aware that so many of us have experienced changes, some for the worse, during the time which affect our ability to give, and that struggle may affect our willingness to commit to a pledge.
If you are experiencing hardship this year, please reach out to me, not so I can talk to you about your pledge, but so that I can listen and learn about your life right now, and provide that spiritual counseling that is a part of my ministry.
Trinity is almost entirely funded by your donations every year and having even a rough estimate allows us to plan for what is still an uncertain and constantly changing future. Thank you for everything you do to support us during this time.
—Yours in Christ,
The Very Rev. Rob Baldwin
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Christmas Flowers
Because we're having no in-person worship through the Advent season, we will not be taking contributions toward the poinsettias traditionally decorating the Church.
We will still be decorating the Church for Advent and Christmas, but instead ask you to consider making a contribution using the Donation button to the Deacons' Discretionary Fund to assist those in need during this difficult season. |
Alternative Christmas Market
Please participate in the Trinity Alternative Christmas Market. This year we are gathering donations to Heifer International. Please write a check to Heifer International with the animal, product or “where most needed” on the subject line. Send your checks by Dec. 22 to the TEST Chair:
Nancy Hanson
3017 W. 7th
Lawrence, KS 66049
A report of funds gathered will be given in January.
A gift donation can be used to honor a loved one, help a family help themselves through a gift of an animal and help their neighbors by passing on the “first born” animal. Thanks for helping.
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Community Christmas Dinner 2020
We need 150 pies of all types to feed more than 1,200 guests at our annual Community Christmas Dinner 2020.
Even though the dinner will look a bit different because of COVID, the pies are still needed. They should be dropped off at Maceli's, 1031 New Hampshire, on Wednesday, Dec. 23, between 3 and 5 p.m.
—The Community Christmas Dinner Committee
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Miqra and Mini-Miqra registration now open!
We anticipate Miqra will need to be online this year because of the on-going pandemic. We’ve scheduled multiple sessions over the traditional Miqra weekend, January 15-18, and invite all youth in grades 6-12 and young adults age 18-24ish to join us.
The registration fee is $20 and includes a Miqra stocking cap and Miqra-in-a-box with activities and handouts for Miqra. Please register by Jan. 1 to ensure timely arrival of your Miqra box. More information and registration available here: https://tinyurl.com/EDoKUltraCampSessions
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L.I.R.I.M.'s Ministry to Immigrants
Thanks so much for everyone's support of Lawrence Interfaith Refugee and Immigrant Ministry and our effort to provide a decent Christmas for the many immigrant families in Lawrence supported by Centro Hispano.
L.I.R.I.M. committed to supporting 15 of the 60 families on Centro's list. So far, we have raised almost twice our goal, but there are still families in need. Any continued gifts of gift cards for Walmart or Target, or checks will be forwarded to complete this task this week.
Again you may send those contributions to:
Chuck Olcese
1600 St. Andrews Drive
Lawrence, KS 66047.
—Chuck Olcese
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Decorating the Windows
We are decorating the glass colonnade on the east side of our church with homemade holiday ornaments to show that our parish is still active and not closed during this pandemic.
Ornaments of any size are fine, but larger ornaments are easier to view from the street. Multiples from families are OK.
If you see Fr. Rob's orange Jeep outside the office, you can knock on the office door and leave your decorations there. Or if the orange Jeep is not there, you can drop the ornaments off on Anne Patterson's front porch – address in the Church Directory – and remember she is from England when looking for her porch.
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Save the Dates
Mary Donovan Ordination
Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, 10:30 a.m.,
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Vestry Meetings
The scheduled Vestry meetings are:
Dec. 21, Jan. 4
Minutes through November have been added to our website. Financials through October are also added.
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Our newsletters are available on our website and Facebook page.
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THIS WEEK AT TRINITY
Thursday, Dec. 17
9 p.m., Tea and Compline at Canterbury House – Livestream
Friday, Dec. 18
6 a.m., Pump 'n' Pray
Saturday, Dec. 19
9 a.m., Organ Practice
10 a.m., Food Pantry
Sunday, Dec. 20
9:30 a.m., Trinity Children's Sunday School – Livestream
1 p.m., Distribution of Communion
Monday, Dec. 21
6 a.m., Pump 'n' Pray
7 p.m., Special Vestry Meeting - Zoom
Tuesday, Dec. 22
1 p.m., Food Pantry
6:30 p.m., Trinity Anchor Women - no meeting
Wednesday, Dec. 23
6 a.m., Pump 'n' Pray
2-3 p.m., Library Book Pickup
4 p.m., Friendship Circle – Zoom
Thursday, Dec. 24
5 p.m., Blessing of the Creche – Zoom
7 p.m., Christmas Lessons and Carols – Webstream
Friday, Dec. 25
No Service
Saturday, Dec. 26
9 a.m., Organ Practice
10 a.m., Food Pantry
Sunday, Dec. 27
9:30 a.m., Trinity Children's Sunday School – Livestream
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Trinity Vestry 2020
Rob Baldwin, Rector 785-424-4312
Steve King ‘21, Senior Warden 913-645-3135
Richard Lungstrum, Junior Warden ‘21 jrwarden@trinitylawrence.org
Jennifer Attocknie ‘20 785-760-2938
Elizabeth Miller ‘20 785-766-8175
Dave Severance ‘20, 785-691-7261
Betsi Anderson ‘21 785-843-9083
Leslie Foust ‘20 785-979-1829
Camille Olcese ‘21 620-704-4180
John Broholm ‘22 785-766-7002
Donna Griffin, Clerk, ‘22 785-865-6039
Linda McCoy ‘22 785-550-6743
Bill Perkins ‘22 785-331-4401
Cristian Sauciuc, Treasurer
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785-843-6166
1011 Vermont St. Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Office closed due to stay at home
Facebook @TrinityLawrenceKS
Twitter @trinity_kansas
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