TRINITY TRUMPET - APRIL 2021
This moment in our collective lives has been jarring in so many ways. Even though our time of pandemic isolation may seem like quiet -- the cultural, political, economic and often familial landscape we have endured is anything but.

During Lent, we enter a liturgical season of truly quiet reflection and renewal. Our Lenten Worship Series is based on a song by Mark A. Miller, Meet Me in the Stillness, Lord. Each of the worship themes is inspired by a line of the song. We'll explore ways to encounter God in order to heal and renew our spirits.

 2021 HOLY WEEK SERVICES

April 1 - Maundy Thursday - 7PM
April 2 - Good Friday
April 4 - Easter Sunday
1

Take Me to that Secret Place
The Still, Small Voice of God
The Moment I Rejoice.
Virtual Worship Login Information
Sundays at 10:00 AM

To Dial In by Phone Only 1 (312) 626-6799 ID 534-284-7861

Zoom Link for Worship Services: https://zoom.us/j/5342847861
Participant ID (Not required. None provided)
"Otherwise just press #"
Meeting Password: 760760

MAUNDY THURSDAY WORSHIP

Join us at 7:00 PM on our regular Zoom line for Worship.

GOOD FRIDAY D-I-Y WORSHIP

Our Good Friday Service will be pre-recorded so that you may access it whenever you want a time of reflection to ponder the significance of the day for your life. (NOT our regular Zoom link)
 
On Friday, April 2, please see the Trinity Website https://www.trinitydeerfield.org
or our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/TrinityUCC.Deerfield for the link.

BIBLE STUDY 9:45 - 11:00 AM Thursdays
(No Bible Study April 1. We will resume on April 8.)

We'll have a chance to check-in on the events of the day and then dive into our exploration of scripture. We are engaging the poetry of Psalms.
All are welcome. No prior experience necessary!  Lessons are shared on screen, but if you want to dial in by phone, just have your own Bible handy.

Here is the Bible Study Link:
Join Zoom Meeting https://zoom.us/j/420990480
 
OR Phone 1-312-626-6799
Meeting ID: 420 990 480
Password: 760760

FOR YOUR LENTEN REFLECTION

During the weeks of our Lenten Journey, the Worship and Program Committee has asked me to reprise the Musical Reflections that were our 2020 Good Friday Meditation based on the SEVEN LAST WORDS OF CHRIST.

The artwork and reflections I chose will be found here. A link in each post will take you to a musical meditation on YouTube.

These meditations were the result of an exciting collaboration. I was introduced to the Vanderbilt Divinity Library where the images are housed through my membership in the Worship Design Studio hosted by Dr. Marcia McFee.

Thanks to Katherine Hughes, violinist and friend of Trinity, for curating these musical performances that so powerfully portray these themes.

To Robert Arendt, whom I have not met, but you will hear his work in mastering these performances so the volume levels and quality are maximized for your listening.

And finally to Jon Meacham, historian and author of The Hope of Glory, from which many of these reflections are derived.

Take your time.

Linger in the artwork.

Ponder the reflections.

Savor the performances.

Surface your own questions.

Anticipate some insight.

Listen for the still, small voice of God.

SEVENTH WORD       “Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit.”      Luke 23:46


Title: Christ Crucified
Notes: Black Jesus with arms outstretched, his right hand symbolizing oppression, his left asking for forgiveness. Gift to the Sixteenth Street Baptist Church from the people of Wales, U.K
Date: 1964
Artist: Petts, John, 1914-1991
Building: 16th Street Baptist Church
Object/Function: Stained glass
City/Town: Birmingham
State: AL
Country: United States
Source: The Vanderbilt Divinity Library


AUTHORED REFLECTION  
Such an act of commendation is not passive; indeed, it is the most active and important thing we can possibly do, for in assenting to the truth of the Christian story we are committing ourselves to a habit of mind and of heart that tends toward love and order rather than selfishness and disorder.


Meacham, Jon. The Hope of Glory (p. 95). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.


Make us steadfast witnesses of our Savior's reign,
that we may live in the pattern of Christ,
who was faithful in all things,
even death,
and whose darkest hour gives light and hope. Amen.


Vanderbilt Divinity Library Lectionary Prayers

MUSICAL REFLECTION https://youtu.be/_s4NTjAfSRs

Music: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded - Hans Hassler, Arr. Katherine Hughes & Kevin Kizer                                   
Musicians: Katherine Hughes: violin, Kevin Kizer: soprano saxophone, Dave Miller: guitar, Jake Vinsel: bass, Neal Wehman: drums
Sunday Pick-up

On a fine March weekend, your care and generosity, in the form of six grocery carts filled with a wide array of paper products were both collected and delivered to the West Deerfield Township Pantry.
 
Sunday afternoon from 2:00 to 4:00, there was a gentle parade of you delivering your contributions.
 
At 4:00, we closed down, with our cars “loaded to the brim”. It was later that we learned that some of you had come just minutes after we had departed.  

Monday morning, Jean and I met at the Township offices, and may have caught the staff a bit unaware of our coming. However, after a few minutes, Kirsten, the staff on duty, recalled my phone conversation of a couple of weeks before, during which I had outlined our plan for delivery.
 
As the size of our donation became more apparent, the township’s appreciation became increasingly enthusiastic. As we rolled our sixth (and last) full grocery cart which was filled to overflowing, up to the door, I handed Kirsten the checks that had been sent, after which she made sure she had all of our information so that a letter of appreciation could be sent to the church.


Wonderful response, Trinity!
Welcome back to workdays with Go Green Deerfield! We are branching out in the community a bit more, and doing some woodland restoration in addition to native plant gardening with the Park District. 

Start out this growing season by giving a hand to our neighbors at Trinity United Church of Christ in Deerfield., and helping them restore their beautiful oak woods. This will be an ongoing work site, so stay tuned for future dates this Spring, and going forward into the Fall and Winter. 

Join Go Green Deerfield volunteers and Trinity Church members on Saturday,
April 3rd from 9 am to 11 am.  Sign up here to volunteer and get more detailed information about this work day. 

We will be primarily cutting down Buckthorn and stacking branches into piles to make way for planting native trees, shrubs, and plants, and seeding with native plant seed.  This is a great opportunity to learn how to identify and remove Buckthorn, which is a major invasive species of tree in this area. 

Please contact Amy Call at 773-456-7266 for questions.  
Chicago River Day 2021 at Trinity UCC
Saturday, May 8, 9 AM - 12 PM


Trinity UCC are stewards to 6 acres of flatwood forest and open land in Deerfield along the north branch of the Chicago river. Preserving and restoring this woodland is critical to a productive ecosystem, and stormwater retention for the surrounding neighborhood.

Register for River Day 2021 at Trinity UCC on North Ave and join friends and neighbors to help restore Deerfield’s few remaining woodlands. You will be helping native pollinators, birds and amphibians, regain a foothold in these endangered spaces.

We have opportunities for people of all abilities to: clean up litter, plant flowers for a monarch waystation, plant trees and shrubs, build trails, or remove invasive buckthorn. COVID 19 safety protocols will be in place:

Everyone will observe social distancing and not stand closer than 6 feet to people outside their household.
Everyone wears a mask at all times, regardless of vaccination status.
Start times are staggered 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. to ensure all volunteers can hear the Site Captain during the opening circle welcome while observing social distancing.

Temporary Office Hours

Tuesday and Wednesday, 9 AM - 12 PM
Monday & Thursday, Lisa is working from home and checking email regularly.