In this issue:

Click "view entire message" at bottom of email

to view the full newsletter.

• Special Guest on February 2 - The Rev. Derrick Fetz
• Reflections by the Rev. Lou Hays: Good News and Great Opportunities
• Save the Date - March 9: Trinity Annual Meeting and ECW Fundraiser
• 2024 Giving Statements Will Be Mailed by Jan. 31
• Sign Up to Provide Coffee Hour Refreshments
• Altar Flower Donation Update
• Watch out for Phone and Email Scams
• Follow Us on Facebook
• Trinity's Clothes Closet: Winter Coats Needed, Especially Children's Sizes
• Full Worship Schedule - In-Person and Online
• Sunday Scripture Readings
• This Week at Trinity
• February Birthdays & Anniversaries
• Prayer Requests
• Online Giving Link

Reminder: ALL TRINITY MAIL MUST BE SENT TO

Trinity Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 851, Hamilton, OH 45012

Special Guest Preacher This Sunday, February 2

The Rev. Derrick Fetz, who is the new Missioner for Stewardship in the Diocese of Southern Ohio, will be visiting Trinity on Sunday, February 2! He will preach the sermon that day and then participate in our Christian Formation Forum in the Fellowship Hall following the service, where the topic will be stewardship.

Please come to church this Sunday and stay for the program to demonstrate the lively involvement of our congregation and that we are well-deserving of the support of the Diocese!

Reflections by the Rev. Lou Hays:

Good News and Great Opportunities

Last week your Vestry adopted our 2025 Operating Budget. Thanks to a lot of good analysis and hard work on the part of our Treasurer, Tom Woods, and our Senior Warden, Jenn Elliott, and the input and decisions of the Vestry, we have a balanced budget that provides for our needs for this year. And, I hasten to add, thanks to the guidance and inspiration of the Holy Spirit as we carried out the sacred work of financing the mission and ministries of Trinity Episcopal Church.

We had two major challenges in developing the budget. The fact that there was not the customary fall pledge campaign in which everyone is asked to make their financial commitment to the parish for the coming year made it difficult to project congregational giving in 2025. We assumed modest increases in pledges and plate income based in part on returning parishioners and newcomers. We pray that many people will choose to increase their giving this year and beyond, in part for the reasons I will mention below. And please remember that new pledges can be made at any time and existing pledges can be increased (or decreased) as circumstances change.

The other major challenge was the question of when a new priest might be called to serve as Rector or Priest-in-Charge. It’s possible that we might be able to call a new priest sometime during the year; it’s also possible that a new priest might not arrive until early in 2026. There are many things that could either expedite or delay the call of a new priest. Ultimately we chose the option of an October 1 start date as a reasonable middle ground between the possibility that the call could be a little earlier or a little later. Then there was the question of potential compensation. Some costs are fixed, such as an unavoidable 18 percent contribution to the Church Pension Fund and health insurance premiums. We made reasonable assumptions understanding that costs could ultimately be somewhat lower or higher.

So that’s the good news: we have a balanced budget that assumes the calling of a full-time priest towards the end of the year. Now for the challenging news, or what I prefer to think of as the great opportunity: we would need approximately $50,000 in additional income in 2026 and beyond to afford a full-time priest after this year.

So will it take a miracle to make this happen? Is it like Jesus turning water into wine? Changing hopes into reality? First, we need to remember that, with God, all things are possible. Second, we need to remember that God doesn’t wave a magic wand and make things happen. And, we need to remember that God inspires, empowers and equips us through the Holy Spirit to help make things happen. We have a number of months to discern and explore opportunities, ranging from increased congregational giving, special fundraising options, the possibility of assistance from the Diocese, and maybe other approaches that we will discern. These are not mutually exclusive, and will likely involve a variety of solutions.

The bottom line is this: Trinity is alive and well. God is blessing us through our worship, fellowship, community involvement and outreach, to name a few. I am confident that, with God’s help, we will have a successful sacred time of transition and that Trinity will thrive for generations to come.

Peace and blessings, Lou+

Save the Date - Sunday, March 9

Trinity Annual Meeting and ECW Fundraiser

Mark your calendars to Sunday, March 9! We will have Trinity's Annual Meeting immediately following the Sunday morning service. This is an important meeting to attend as we will vote on new Vestry members, our delegates for Diocesan Convention, and review the 2025 budget. We plan to keep the meeting to approx. 30 minutes.

Following the Annual Meeting, the ECW will hold a "Spaghetti Dinner" fundraiser to raise money for St. Mark's Episcopal Church in Altadena, CA which was completely destroyed by the recent wildfires. For $10 per person, enjoy a menu of "Million Dollar Spaghetti Casserole," salad, bread and desserts while raising helping one of our fellow parishes. Invite your family and friends too!

2024 Giving Statements Will Be Mailed By January 31

Please be on the lookout for your 2024 Pledge/Giving Statement, which will be mailed later this week. If you have questions or see discrepancies, please contact the parish office.

Sign Up to Provide Coffee Hour Refreshments

A sign up sheet is available in the Memorial Room to provide light refreshments for Coffee Hour following the Sunday morning worship services. You may also contact the parish office to schedule a Sunday to provide Coffee Hour refreshments.

Upcoming available Sundays are February 9, March 2, 16, 23, and 30.

Altar Flower Donations Update

All dates are filled until Lent, when we do not use flowers on the altar. If you would like to sign up for dates beginning with Easter, please contact Sue Samoviski at 513-478-8918 or suesamo63@gmail.com, or contact the parish office to reserve a date(s).

The Altar Flowers for Sunday, February 2 are given by Pat Combs, to the Glory of God and in memory of Rebecca Byrd, the best grandma and mom.

Watch Out for Text and Email Scams

There have been recent instances with other churches in the diocese where parishioners receive scam texts and/or emails where the sender indicates they are the priest/Rector and that they need your helps with money or to buy gift cards. This scam is an ongoing issue throughout the country, and not only for Episcopal churches.

At Trinity, we last had this occur in May 2024 where several people received texts supposedly from Rev. Suzanne LeVesconte asking for discreet help with an issue.

Please note, the Rev. Lou Hays, or any other priest serving at Trinity, would never text you or email you directly asking you to give them money or to buy gift cards on their behalf.

If you ever receive one of these messages, please delete it and do not engage with the sender.

Follow Us on Facebook

Are you on Facebook? If so, be sure to "follow" Trinity's Facebook page for announcements, updates and photos from our church, the diocese, and the wider Episcopal Church.

You can find us on Facebook by searching for Trinity Episcopal Church Hamilton Ohio, or through the following link:

 https://www.facebook.com/Trinity-Episcopal-Church-Hamilton-Ohio-151615496591/

You can also access our online worship, either live or through the replays. A Word and A Prayer is at 9:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Compline is at 8:30 p.m. those same days. Our online Morning Prayer worship service is held at 9:30 a.m. every Sunday through Facebook Live.

And be sure to "like" and share our posts with others!

Trinity's Clothes Closet Current Needs: Winter Coats, Especially Children's Sizes

Trinity's Clothes Closet is thriving and

providing wonderful support to the community!

Current Special Donation Needs:

Winter Coats, especially for children

Other current needs include:

• Hangers (especially children's clothing and pant hangers)
• Deodorant, lotion, soap and shampoo/conditioner
• Shoes (especially closed-toed casual shoes/athletic shoes)
• Sheets / Pillow Cases / Blankets

Reminder: Please contact the parish office prior to dropping off clothing items! (Donations of personal hygiene products can be brought to the office without prior notice).

Thank you for all who have brought in plastic grocery

bags. We continue to need these!



Thank You for your Support of this Ministry!

Sunday Worship at

Trinity Episcopal Church

115 North 6th Street

Hamilton, OH

Sunday, February 2, 2025

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

In-Person Worship

Holy Eucharist, Rite II - Music

in the Sanctuary at 9:30 AM

The Rev. Lou Hays, Celebrant

The Rev. Derrick Fetz, Preacher

Online Worship

Morning Prayer at 9:30 AM on Facebook Live

Click here to attend the service on Facebook Live

****************************************************

Other Online Worship Opportunities

on our Facebook Page

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays

A Word and A Prayer – 9:30 AM

Compline – 8:30 PM

The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

February 2, 2025

Year C

RCL

Scripture Readings

Malachi 3:1-4

Hebrews 2:14-18

Luke 2:22-40

Psalm 84

Click on the links above to access the readings.

Collect: Almighty and everliving God, we humbly pray that, as your only-begotten Son was this day presented in the temple, so we may be presented to you with pure and clean hearts by Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

This Week at Trinity

Wednesday, January 29

Parish Office Open -- 9:00 AM - Noon

Clothes Closet Open -- 10:00 AM - Noon – Basement

NA Meeting Wednesday -- 7:00 PM – Fellowship Hall

Thursday, January 30

NA Women’s Group -- 7:00 PM – Fellowship Hall

Friday, January 31

AA Meeting Friday -- 8:30 PM – Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 2 - The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple

Holy Eucharist Rite II - Music -- 9:30 AM – Sanctuary

Christian Formation Forum on Stewardship with special guest the Rev. Derrick Fetz (during Coffee Hour following the worship service) – Fellowship Hall

Monday, February 3

Parish Office Open -- 9:00 AM - Noon

Clothes Closet Open -- 10:00 AM - Noon – Basement

Greater Power Discussion Meeting -- 7:00 PM – Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, February 5

Parish Office Open -- 9:00 AM - Noon

Clothes Closet Open -- 10:00 AM - Noon – Basement

NA Meeting Wednesday -- 7:00 PM – Fellowship Hall

Thursday, February 6

Private Event - P.E.O. Meeting -- Noon - 2:30 PM – Fellowship Hall

NA Women’s Group -- 7:00 PM – Fellowship Hall

Friday, February 7

AA Meeting Friday -- 8:30 PM – Fellowship Hall

Sunday, February 9 - Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany

Holy Eucharist Rite II - Music -- 9:30 AM – Sanctuary

ECW Meeting -- 11:00 AM – Fellowship Hall

FEBRUARY CELEBRATIONS

We encourage you to remember these people

on their special days!

If we don't have your birth or marriage dates,

please contact the office.

FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS

Terry Hurst - 2/6

Austin Vanoss - 2/8

Bob Fuhrman - 2/11

Linda Diesh Chesher - 2/15

Allison Wesley - 2/15

Georgine Bowman - 2/24

FEBRUARY MARRIAGE ANNIVERSARIES

None

Prayer List

If there is someone you would like to include on or remove from the list, please email the Parish Office at

trinitychurchhamilton@gmail.com

Prayer requests for:

• Diane Harris, who has died, and for her family in their grief, especially her daughters Jessica Dunbar and Heidi Rice.
• Ginny Woods, recovering from knee replacement surgery
• Jim Croom, brother in-law of Ginny Woods, who has terminal pancreatic cancer
• Lisa Llafet, step-sister of Linda Griffin
• Rebeca from Brazil, Ginny Woods' Compassion International Child
• Mort Mullens
• For Barb Waddell, who has died, and for her family in their grief, especially her husband, Clyde, and daughter and son-in-law Laurie and Bryan "Mark" Kile
• Kim Jewett
• Carl Bishop
• Art and Sandra Pizzano
• For Taylor David Luxford, son of Karen & Jim Schwartz, who is undergoing treatment for melanoma
• Teresa Durbin
• Christie Brown, who will have back surgery soon
• For Rev. Kip Colegrove's sister Bobbi, who is undergoing cancer treatment
• Jackie Huelsman's mother Jacky
• Chasity Mae Pelopida's family, and especially her step-father, Dan Wolf
• The Renners family
• For Pastor John Lewis of The Presbyterian Church in Hamilton, who was diagnosed with a sarcoma in his leg.
• Mayo Torres, father of Jennifer Torres Bates, who is recovering from a stroke.
• Pam Hurst's continued recovery from health issues
• Beth Blaylock's continued recovery from recent successful surgery
• Sue and Ken Lawrence
• Lorna and her children
• Carrie O'Connor, friend of Jennifer Elliott, whose cancer has returned
• Richard Isaacs
• Barb Morris, sister of Tom Woods
• David, Gayle Sisson's Brother
• Andrew and Maria Cole
• Tina Chandler
• Doctor Bob
• Chris Russo
• Candy, sister of Teresa Durbin
• Amanda, Mike and Penelope - friends of Linda Griffin
• For Alan
• For peace in the Middle East
• For Wade Hensley, whose mother has died
• Richard Elberfeld, brother of Anne Cole
• Donnie Eschenbrenner, recovering from a broken hip
• Herm Lorance
• Leslie and Warren Grossklaus
• Sarah Ruston and her son, Tom
• The Vanoss Family
• Dave Bahlmann, brother of Mike Bahlmann
• Caitlin Bomar - wife of the Priest-in-Charge at Diane Line's church
• Mary Kay Kroner, friend of Jennifer Elliott
• Candra
• For Jeff, brother of Kim Jewett
• Ryan Moore, Terri Comer's son
• Ken Huelsman
• Susan Tarbuck
• Nella Hurst, friend of Mike and Sue Samoviski
• Casey Graff
• Goldie, mother of Pat Combs
• Steven Palmer
• Barbara and Michael Clifton
• Rita Stanton
• Carl and Mary Bishop
• Beth and Chuck Blaylock
• Joan King
• Tom King
• Tom Snow, brother of Linda Griffin
• Haley, Anne Elberfeld’s daughter
• Our Nation
• Wesley and Mary Kay
• Bruce, nephew of Pam Bates
• Doug Ottke, friend of Ginny and Tom Woods
• Carol Paschal and her family
• Lee and Debbie Schutte, friends of Ginny and Tom Woods
• Bill, Amy, William and Jordan
• The sister of Heather Komnenovich
• Anne Cole
• Russ Thompson
• Tom Wilson
• Georgia Adams
• Heather Komnenovich
• Stephanie Woods
• James Noble
• For Ukraine
• For Peace
• Jackie Huelsman
• Mac
• Bob Ross

Post Office returns mail sent to 115 N. Sixth St.

We use the post office box because it is a reliable and safe way to receive our mail since the parish office is not open every day. The forwarding time has ended so please use the P.O. box address.

MAILING ADDRESS INCLUDING ZIP CODE

Trinity Episcopal Church

P.O. Box 851

Hamilton, OH 45012

Parish Office Hours

Mondays and Wednesdays - 9:oo a.m. to Noon

Phone Messages checked weekdays.

Email checked throughout the week.

The Rev. Lou Hays can be reached at louisbhays@gmail.com. This is also the best way to schedule a phone conversation or in-person meeting with Lou. You can also contact the parish office.

Church phone number:

513-896-6755

Church email:

trinitychurchhamilton@

gmail.com



Website:

trinityhamilton.org



Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/Trinity-Episcopal-Church-Hamilton-Ohio-151615496591/

Parish Leadership

TRINITY STAFF

The Rev. Lou Hays, Interim Rector

Pam Bates, Sexton

Jennifer Elliott, Music Director

VESTRY OFFICERS

Jennifer Elliott, Senior Warden

Terry Hurst, Junior Warden

Tom Woods, General Treaurer

Jennifer Elliott, Interim Investment Treasurer

Kim Jewett, Vestry Clerk

VESTRY MEMBERS

Pam Bates, Pat Combs, Jennifer Gattermeyer,

Linda Griffin, Kim Jewett, Kathleen Smith, Ginny Woods