Check Out Pastor Valeria's Weekly Blog:
LINK
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Message from Pastor Valeria...
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Life and Death.
When I get worked up or stressed about something I tell myself: It's not a matter of life and death. It will work out. If I don't get to it today there's still tomorrow.
But this time of year we are reminded of a real matter of life and death: Easter! Without death, there would be no new life. Without the crucifixion there would be no resurrection. And without a long winter we would not appreciate the first signs of spring.
It feels like nature is coming alive again. The birds have started singing. I have not yet seen any blossoms but I'm sure they will be out soon.
Do you ever wonder why the cross became the symbol of Christianity? A common execution tool? Why not the empty tomb, or the bread and cup? Why this instrument of murder? When Jesus wasn't even the only one who was executed that way. For a while among the first Christians the fish was their secret symbol. When they were persecuted it was how they would identify themselves to each other.
The Greek word for fish is IXTHUS, an acronym for "Jesus Christ, Son of God, Savior."
Why that didn't stick, I don't know. Instead, we now have the cross to identify ourselves with.
It reminds us of Jesus' suffering, and the suffering of many others. It reminds us that we are not alone in our own suffering. That life can be brutal and people can be incredibly cruel. And it reminds us that God does not desert us in those moments. Suffering is not proof of the absence of God. It is proof of the very presence of God! God used Jesus' suffering to give us new life and new hope. God used death to give us life.
This doesn't take away the sting of death and the pain of losing someone. Or the helplessness we feel when we see others suffer. All of that is part of life and part of being human. But it does take away the sense that death is the end. And that suffering is meaningless. And that we are alone.
This is a matter of life and death: God gives you a new life! No matter who or what may have to die in your life, what parts of you may die - in the end, there is life. In the end, there is God.
Alleluia
! He is risen.
Wishing you a blessed Easter and happy Spring!
Pastor Valeria
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WORSHIP SERVICES ~ SUNDAYS, 10AM
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Easter Sunday, April 1:
With the bell choir, chancel choir, and activities for children.
Sunday April 8:
We Are Stewards of Our Bodies
Sunday April 15:
We Are Stewards of Our Money
Sunday April 22:
We Are Stewards of the Earth, with our worship band
Sunday April 29:
We Are Stewards of the Church. In Fellowship Hall, with brunch.
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A big
THANK YOU
to Cheryl and other helping hands who have been setting up, providing snacks, and cleaning up after coffee hour!
If you, your team, your family or a group of friends would like to offer the gift of hospitality to each other at Trinity, please contact Pastor Valeria.
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Thank you from Pastor Valeria and Allyn Phelps:
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We would like to thank everyone who attended the reception on March 24, and for the cards we received, as well as all the well wishes that were extended to us. Your many expressions of kindness and care mean a lot to us and we consider ourselves blessed to be part of Trinity Church!
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Open & Affirming Moment
by Kathie Nichols
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Why we think it's important that we are an open and affirming/welcoming and affirming congregation.
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Earth Day
April 22nd - Let's make every day an Earth Day!
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It's good to recycle. What's even better? Reduce the amount of waste you produce, especially plastic and styrofoam. Bring your own cup when you get coffee. Bring own containers if you know there will be leftovers. Yes, it takes a bit more planning ahead and extra work with washing the dishes but you can easily making it a habit by keeping a clean cup and container in your car.
Recycling requires a lot of energy and creates fossil fuels. So reuse and reduce instead.
Our lives depend on it!
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Discussion Series about Mental Illness and the Church
Six weeks ongoing - Starts Sunday, April 29th after worship
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Sarah Griffith Lund takes the lid off mental illness in this raw, honest look at her father's battle with bipolar disorder, the helpless sense of a deja vu as her brother struggles with his own mental illness, and serving as a spiritual advisor for her cousin, a mentally ill man executed for murder. Through the challenges and despair, she shows how churches can be safe havens for people who have brain diseases and for their loved ones.
While this sounds dramatic and extreme, we have all encountered mental illness in our lives in one way or another. This six week study will touch on those issues but also on much more: Our image of God, and our own stories and how we testify to them. As we read, pray about and discuss a chapter each week and a corresponding Bible passage, we will build a strong spiritual community and a deeper connection to each other, and will foster compassion for those affected by mental illnesses.
Meeting times Sundays after worship, starting April 29. Register through the church office by contacting Emily via email [email protected] or phone (508) 393-8156.
Please order your own copy of the book, available on paperback and Kindle.
AMAZON LINK
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Worcester Fellowship
Sunday, April 15th 9am Make lunch & 1pm Worship
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We need volunteers & donations! Worcester Fellowship will be making lunches to donate on March 18th before worship at 9am.
Donations of food or small monetary amounts towards lunch supplies are welcome.
Join us on the Worcester common at 1pm for an outdoor service.
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FROM OUR CHRISTIAN ED DIRECTOR
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Faith Foundations
This upcoming month we will be putting community service into action during our teen Faith Foundations as well as focusing on how the bible and Earth Day go hand in hand.
Don’t forget we now have a great lending library for youth and teens upstairs!
Be sure to follow JC’s adventures by following the new Instagram site. He has had fun this month and would love to come visit your family!
If you want JC, please email Pastor Valeria. By the way, he loves adults, too, so don't hesitate to sign up even if you don't have any kids in your household!
PLEASE HELP!
It is time to fill the
volunteer
calendar for the New Year. We could really use your help and I promise to make it as easy and fun as possible :-) 4/15 and 4/22 are big need days! Please email me if you can help [email protected]
We need acolytes!
Is your child in grade 4 or above? We would love for them to be involved! All that is required is to please be sure to be at Trinity by 9:50 on the Sunday you are volunteering. Use this link to pick a week(s).
http://www.signupgenius.com/go/70a084dafa92ca31-acolytes
Youth Group Spring 2018
Schedule:
4/29 7-9
6/10 7-9 OUTING*
*The outing is earned by attending 2 out of the 3 Youth Group meetings and one community service project through Trinity. Community Service can come through Worcester Fellowship lunches, Community Meals, Coleman House, being an Acolyte at Trinity or through a program our Youth group designs.
Worcester fellowship lunch help dates:
April 15th
Acolyte Service:
4/1, 4/8, 4/15, 4/22, 5/6, 5/13, 5/20, 5/27
Coleman House
Dates TBD
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Youth Group: Escape the Room, Earth Day theme
Sunday, April 29th 7pm to 9pm
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Join the Trinity Church Youth Group for Escape the Room, with an Earth Day theme.
All youth grades 6-12 are welcome to attend. Youth do not need to be a member of the church to participate and we encourage community involvement!
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2018 College Scholarships
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Scholarship Applications
DUE: Sunday May, 6th
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Applications are available below, in the church office, and on the bulletin board across from the church office.
Application deadline to be returned to the Scholarship Committee by the first Sunday in May - May 6th. If you have questions, please contact Paul Pazareskis,
[email protected]
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Altar Flowers Needed 2018
APRIL flowers needed!!
ALTAR FLOWER SIGNUP!
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Trinity now has online sign-ups for altar flowers! We would appreciate your help signing up to take a Sunday. Please click on the link above or below and after you choose a date to bring altar flowers there is a comment section where you can add the blurb you would like written in the Sunday bulletin. Signup Genie will automatically send you an email reminder six days prior to the day you signed up to bring flowers.
The altar flower sign-ups are now linked on the Trinity website too!
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**NEW DATE**
Saturday, April 7th, 6:30pm - 8:30pm
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Join Trinity Church for our annual Chili Cook Off! Win bragging rights in three categories:
- Best Taste
- Under 13 years old
- Most Creative Display
For more information or to sign-up please contact Linda Corbett, (508) 688-9392 or by email [email protected].
No entry fee and admission for tasters is free. Cast your vote for $1 each. Also enter to win a raffle!
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Saturday Breakfast Fellowship
(Topic: TBD)
Saturday, April 21st 8am
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I hope you will join us on the 21st for fellowship and conversation.
As usual, we will start with breakfast and follow with fellowship and discussion.
For more information or to add yourself to the Saturday Breakfast Fellowship email list, please contact Tom Danforth at
[email protected]
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Messy Church -
Saturday, April 21st 3pm
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Saturday, April 21st, you are invited to “Messy Church” – a church that is fun, creative, and messy!
We will sing songs, hear a story from the Bible, and do a messy craft.
All kids age 6 and under are welcome (their parents, grandparents, siblings and friends, too).
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Coffee House - Open Mic
Friday, April 27th at 7pm
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Please join the Coffee House for open mic Friday, April 27th at 7pm.
We invite you to come enjoy talented musicians performing a variety of music. You may even hear some poetry recitation. Coffee and refreshments will be served with a suggested donation.
BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug). A $5 per person donation will be accepted at the door ($10 max family).
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Mystery Dinner Theater
Saturday, May 5th
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Mark your calendars for Saturday, May 5
th
for our Mystery Dinner Theater fundraiser!
Cost is $45 per ticket for the play and dinner.
TICKETS SALES START SUNDAY 4/1 -
Purchase tickets from either Nancy Robbins (after church on Sundays) or Emily during office hours.
We’re still looking for set-up/clean-up help.
We hope to hear from you!
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Central Massachusetts Baptist Association
Calling All Member Churches - Annual Spring Meeting
Saturday, April 28, 2018
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"Honor All Long Time Members of Your Church Family”
Please join us to celebrate these accomplishments of your church family at:
Central Baptist Church
Main & Foster Streets
Southbridge, MA 01550
Registration Begins at 10:30 A.M.
Program Begins at 11:00 A.M.
Lunch at approximately 12:30 P.M.
For more information please contact:
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Ongoing Events at Trinity
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Grief Support Group
- Come support and share with others who experienced loss. A Grief Support group is held the first Tuesday of each month, 7:30pm in Room 105. Next meeting date is April 3rd. All ages are welcome. If you have questions, please contact Carey Rublesky, 774-258-1814.
Community Meal
- Join us each Wednesday, 6pm in the Fellowship Hall. The meals are free but donations toward the voucher fund are accepted. Each Wednesday at 6pm there is a new community group hosting the meal. Please join us!
Thrift Shop
- Count Your Blessings Thrift Shop at Trinity Church is open every Tuesday 10am - 3pm and Saturday 10am - 1pm. Gently used clothing and shoes for all genders and sizes! Infant to plus sizes available. Donations of clothing and shoes are welcome, please drop off any donations during thrift shop hours or church office hours (see below).
Give us a review on Google!
Coleman House Service
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Let's bring church to those who can no longer come to us! Help with singing and serving Communion is always needed and appreciated. Tuesday, April 17th from 2:30 - 3:30pm.
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Festive Breads w/Pastor Valeria
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Pastor Valeria is at Festive Breads every Wednesday from 8:30 - 10am except April 4th and looks forward to your visit! Festive Breads is located at
299 W Main St
in Northborough, near Romaine's.
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Help us get the word out about Trinity Church!
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Are you on Facebook? If so, we need your help to spread the word about Trinity Church and all the wonderful things we do here.
1) Please consider inviting your friends to "Like" the Trinity Church of Northborough page. @Trinitychurchnorthborough
2) If you see an event posted at Trinity Church please click "Interested". Did you know every time you click "interested" on an event your friends are notified? This will help spread the word about events happening at Trinity Church.
I received a call from Google Maps letting me know that Trinity Church is number two on the Google maps search! The person I spoke to was very impressed that in such a short time we had moved to the top! Thank you to everyone who helped make that happen with reviews and photos! Now let's see if we can increase our following on Facebook with your help!
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Did you know your shopping can earn Trinity money?
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Trinity Church is set up as a charity on iGive! Please consider downloading the app or shopping through the iGive site and a percentage of your purchase will be sent to Trinity Church! This does not cost you any extra money, the donation comes from the stores you already shop at.
Please consider shopping through iGive to help support Trinity.
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Trinity is on Amazon Smile!
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You shop. Amazon gives.
- Amazon donates 0.5% of the price of your eligible AmazonSmile purchases to the charitable organization of your choice.
- AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know. Same products, same prices, same service.
- Support your charitable organization by starting your shopping at smile.amazon.com
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Help us get the word out about Trinity Church and its ministries!
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IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS
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If you know of someone who is hospitalized, ill, suffering from the loss of a loved one, or troubled in some way and in need of a pastoral call, please call Pastor Valeria at the church office, 508-393-8156.
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Do you know of a community event you would like to have listed here?
Please contact Emily Donovan in the church office to have your event added.
[email protected]
or (508) 393-8156
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English Conversation Circles
Tuesday, April 2nd 7pm - 8pm & Thursday, April 4th 10am - 11am
MORE INFO
English Conversation Circles are one-hour informal group meetings run by library volunteers for adults who want to improve their conversational English. In the meeting we practice listening, speaking and pronunciation in English through normal, everyday conversations with people from all over the world. Join us for lively conversation in a friendly environment with other adults who are also learning.
Learn how to optimize your iPhone and iPad
Get more from your device in this hands-on workshop. Library volunteer and consumer technology specialist Abhijeet Nikte will help you understand your device’s settings and configuration options, including iCloud backup, Siri, and the best apps to complement your device’s features. Please bring your iCloud account information with you to the workshop.
Spring Music Series: Jeff Snow: The Softer Side of Celtic
Growing up as the son of a drummer in a Bagpipe band and in a home where older Celtic songs were the everyday sounds, Jeff Snow developed a love for the music of Scotland, England and Ireland. His concerts have been described as “quiet and relaxing " and much of it is, but sometimes he'll break out and the foot stomping begins. Jeff is a talented multi-instrumentalist who plays the music and tells the stories behind the songs. He plays six and twelve string guitar, autoharp, Celtic Bouzouki & Bodhran. Jeff also plays the drums and a variety of other percussion instruments. A skilled guitar player, Jeff was featured in the August 2006 issue of Acoustic Guitar Magazine. Please join us for the second concert in our Music Series and help us celebrate Celtic music and the coming of Spring!
150th Birthday Party - Northborough Public Library
We're having a birthday party and you're invited! On April 8, 1868, the Trustees of the Northborough Free Library convened for the first time to establish a free public library where the residents of Northborough could read, learn, and connect. Join in the celebration of our 150th birthday featuring:
- A visit from 19th Century poet and Transcendentalist Walt Whitman, performed by actor Stephen Collins, who will give us a glimpse of 1868 based on Whitman’s life.
- Tour the original library building with former director Jean Langley
- Children and their families can play party games that were popular 150 years ago. (Registration required. Please see additional event listing 150th Birthday Party for Kids)
Each attendee will be entered into a raffle drawing for a "Library in a Basket" door prize filled with library-related mementos and gift cards. We will also be displaying items being considered for our 150th anniversary time capsule – to be opened in 2068! And, of course, there will be birthday cake! We hope to see you there! CONTACT: Adult Services 508-393-5025
[email protected]
Getting the Most Out of Your Android Devices
Calling all Android smartphone and tablet users! Learn how to optimize your Android phone and tablet to get more from your device in this hands-on workshop. Library volunteer and consumer technology specialist Abhijeet Nikte will help you better understand and effectively use your device’s settings and configuration options, including Google backup, Google Assistant, and the best apps from the Play Store to complement your device’s features. Please bring your Google account information with you to the workshop. CONTACT: Adult Services 508-393-5025 ext. 5
[email protected]
Sacred Concert Sabbath: Dave and Marlene (Millburn) Colburn, pianist and violinist
Saturday, April 14 at 6:30 pm
As recording artists, Dave and Marlene have a current association with Chapel® Music and are frequently featured musicians on 3ABN and Hope TV, international Christian Satellite Networks, as well as numerous Christian Radio stations. Dave and Marlene are committed to providing Spirit-filled and Christ-centered music to listeners and audiences throughout the country. They are delighted at the opportunity to share with you their testimony, refreshing arrangements of the familiar hymns of the faith, and inspiring stories of how God works in our everyday lives. Invite a friend, come and enjoy sacred instrumental music that will lift our hearts in worship to our Savior, Jesus Christ.
For more information please call 978-368-2130.
The Art of Good Nutrition Drop-In Session
Wednesday, April 18th 10am - 11:15am
We are now offering a monthly drop-in nutrition group on Wednesday mornings in the Library’s café located on the second floor. Called The Art of Good Nutrition Drop-In Group, the next session will be on Wednesday, April 18th from 10:00 a.m. - 11:15 a.m. The drop-in sessions are facilitated by Registered Dietitian Judy Palken. Judy has been a registered dietitian for over 30 years. She works in nutrition and health research in the Division of Preventive and Behavioral medicine at UMass Medical School in Worcester, and also teaches nutrition classes in the community. She has taught a series of classes on nutrition and weight control at the Northborough Free Library over the past two years. In these drop-in groups, there will be a new nutrition or related health topic each month, with time for discussion and questions.
The topic of our April 18th session will be The Mediterranean Diet.
No registration in necessary and all are welcome to attend. The discussions are being funded by the Friends of the Northborough Free Library. Please join us!
Bingo & Pizza! What fun!
Thursday, April 19th 11:30am - 12:30pm
Families let us treat you to lunch while we play Bingo! Space is limited so be sure to register!
Writer's Workshop: What Makes A Poem A Poem?
Saturday, April 28th 10am - 11:30am
MORE INFO
Even if you don’t write poetry, you can use its tools to write better! For National Poetry Month, local poet Jennifer Freed returns to the Northborough Free Library for another writing workshop. In this workshop you will look at work from Massachusetts poets – including U.S Poet Laureate Stanley Kunitz (born and raised in Worcester) – to discover how they use sound, narration, line breaks, and word choice to make their stories sing. Then apply what you have learned to whatever kind of writing you choose.
A Missive From the Central Association
Greetings to the churches and ministers of the Central Association, You are hereby invited to attend a Service of Ordination & Installation
Karen D. Fournier
Sunday, April 29, 2018
3:00 PM
First Congregational Church UCC
Karen has been called as
Co-Minister to the First Congregational Church.UCC in Oxford
Those attending should be aware that an offering may be received during the service to benefit the Central Association Scholarship Fund.
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Deadline Date ~ MAY
Tidings
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Please be sure to have all your info for the March issue of
Tidings in to the church office by Sunday, April 29, 2017. Your help is appreciated!
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TRINITY CHURCH
23 Main Street ~ Northborough, MA 01532
(508) 393-8156
Office Hours:
Monday 9am - Noon & 1pm - 3pm
Tuesday 9am - 1pm
Wedesnday 9am - 10:30am & 11:30am - 3pm
Thursday 9am - Noon & 1pm - 3pm
Friday 9am - 3pm
Rev. Valeria Schmidt, Sr. Pastor
Trinity Church is an Open & Affirming / Welcoming & Affirming Congregation
Trinity Church's mission is to fill its people with the love of God
and share God's love in all the world.
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