July 2017 Trinity Tribune

In This Issue:
Time for Summer!
The Rev. Paul Nancarrow
And now it's July. The rush of June graduations is over, it's the "green season" in church, the weather's getting hotter, we at Trinity gather for two services rather than three on Sunday mornings, life starts to settle into a different rhythm.
 
The change of season heightens our expectation of summer things-we turn our attention to time off from school, slower days (perhaps!) at work, longer evenings with lingering sunsets, freer weekends, time at the beach, vacation travel plans, summer camp schedules. We begin to anticipate the promise of time in the summer to come.
 
Summer time comes to us as a gift-and, like all the gifts of God, it gives us the potential to give of ourselves, to others and to God. Summer vacation gives us the chance to practice the stewardship of our time in a special way.
 
Take some time this summer to pray. Get up a little earlier as the sun rises higher, or take a moment just before sunset, or pause as you're settling in at the vacation home-take some time to read from the Bible, or have a conversation with Jesus, or simply sit in silence and awareness of God's presence. Remember that as you look at the world, God looks through your eyes; as you feel quiet and calm and at peace, God feels as you feel; as you experience joy in simple summer fun, God rejoices with you; and God takes all these feelings into Godself and prepares from them the potentials for the next moments of creation. Prayer can happen anywhere: on the soccer field, in a boat, at a picnic, in a thunderstorm. All it takes is a quietness of spirit and the intention to be open to God. Summer affords us time enough for that.
 
Take some time this summer to serve. Share the gift of time you receive by giving your time and your presence to others. There are lots of ways to give hours in service: participate in a clean-up day at the local park, join the altar guild and help prepare the church for worship, volunteer at the hospital or King's Daughters or Ritenour, write to your legislators (local and national) about issues that matter to you, babysit for the neighbors free of charge, ride your bike in a dollars-for-miles charitable fund-raiser, have phone visits with shut-in parishioners, mow your neighbor's lawn for them (with their permission of course!), take care of your friend's pet while your friend is away on vacation-or perhaps there's some other service you've always thought of doing but haven't yet taken the time to try. Service is a double gift, giving from the gifts we have received. Summer affords us time enough for that.
 
Take some time this summer for delight. Set aside moments (or hours, or days!) just to enjoy. God creates us out of sheer love, and gives us the gift of joy and wonder in all God's works. Take some time this summer to accept that gift. Stay up late and look at the stars. Watch the dance of flames in a campfire. Make some s'mores. Take your kids (or grandkids, or great-grandkids) to the beach and let them clown around. Clown around with them. Go to a ball game and ignore the score. Find a waterfall you've never seen before. Smile a lot. Summer affords us time enough for that.
 
So now it's July, and now it's time for summer. Let us celebrate this summer, and the gift of time it brings, as good stewards of God's gifts.
Summer Sundays
Lundy Pentz, Senior Warden

Some people take a vacation from church when they are off for a summer vacation, but we have always found it a wonderful part of our experience to locate an Episcopal or other Anglican Communion church where we are visiting and to attend services there.  One of the advantages of being a member of a liturgical church is that the service will be familiar to you wherever you are.  Once in Florence, Italy, we got to St. James Episcopal Church in time for the Italian-language service, but had no trouble following along despite only knowing a few phrases of Italian.  Our parishioners who have gone on the Honduras mission trips report similar experiences with the Spanish liturgy.  The congregations in these churches we have always found warm and welcoming, and a great source of inside information on the local situation.  (In Florence we discovered that the priest was an old friend of John Lane's, and learned how the parish had become famous in Florence when the city suffered severe flooding and St. James was instrumental in helping with the recovery efforts.)  Once in the Bahamas we got a cab to the nearest church and found ourselves at the main service where the procession was led by 24 acolytes, including a crop of preschoolers in tiny cassocks and surplices solemnly carrying votive candles with which they decorated the altar as they arrived.  After the very festive service we asked one of the congregants where there was a pay phone (back in the day!) we could use to call a cab and they wouldn't hear of it - we rode back with the thurifer, who was headed next for the airport to get back to his college in Florida!  This summer we found ourselves on Sunday in Oxford, England, and attended St. Barnabas Church, an Italianate church built in the 1830s in the Jericho neighborhood (well known to murder mystery fans) where the workers at the Oxford University Press settled in still-beautiful modest row houses with flower gardens in front.  The original church school is still across the street from the church and still in full operation - a real service to the community.  So take the plunge and go enjoy the benefits of being part of a world-wide communion.  (You can locate churches with "church finder" functions on most websites including our diocesan one www.dioswva.org , or the national one www.episcopalchurch.org , or just Google "Episcopal Churches in Paris, France" or the like.  Most churches now have at least a simple webpage showing their locations and service times. ) 
 
Novel Theology
Novel Theology meets throughout the year on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 7pm in the Foster Room. Everyone and anyone is invited to attend. The only rule is you must read the book for that month. Come and bring your friends and acquaintances. We have lively discussions.
 
July 25 - The Haunting of Hill House  by Shirley Jackson: The Haunting of Hill House has unnerved readers since its original publication in 1959. A tale of subtle, psychological terror, it has earned its place as one of the significant haunted house stories of the ages. Led by Michael Cuevas.
 
August 22 -  Saving Grace  by Lee Smith: Florida Grace Shepard, named for the state in which she was born and for the grace of God, is the daughter of a charismatic serpent-handling preacher. She is content with her early life in Scrabble Creek, North Carolina, no easy task when her family moves whenever her father is arrested for conducting services with live snakes. She even finds a friend. With Southern style, Smith takes Grace from a young girl struggling with her own identity, though marriage, motherhood, and an adulterous affair that changes her very way of life. Led by Jean Miller.
Administrator Notes
Laurie Clements, Parish Administrator
Gifts
  • A special contribution of $100 was given to the Haiti Collaborative, from Stuart Hall School, in honor of Roger Bowen serving on the Stuart Hall School Board.
  • A memorial gift was given to Altar Guild in loving memory of Sally Lovejoy.
Please consider giving an extra donation to SACRA this month
SACRA is a coalition relief effort of area churches.  The purpose is to provide emergency financial aid to area residents.  It is located in an office provided by St. Francis Catholic Church.  It is manned entirely by volunteers, including Trinity members. The money comes from the participating congregations, of which Trinity is one.  Most of the recipients of SACRA aid are low income working folks who have gotten caught in a financial web of lost job, medical problems, overwhelming increases in utilities costs, death in the family, desertion, or other temporary financial crisis.
 
The need for assistance this past year has been very demanding already, so we would be thankful for any extra gifts you might want to contribute. You can make your check out to Trinity, memo it for "SACRA" and put it in the plate.

Helping Hands 2017, A Day Camp; 
July 31st -Aug. 4th
Laurie Clements, Parish Administrator
Helping Hands 2017, A Day Camp, July 31st -Aug. 4th, is a cooperative summer program, sponsored by Central United Methodist, Emmanuel Episcopal, Trinity Episcopal, Covenant Presbyterian and First Presbyterian Church. This year, Helping Hands Day Camp will be held at Covenant Presbyterian Church, 2001 N Coalter St, Staunton, VA, and we need YOUR Help! Adults (over 18 yrs old) are needed to assist with Crafts, Recreation/Snack time, Cooking class and Music. (Adults can volunteer for 2 hrs., 1 day, or all 5!) Our Jr. Counselors, rising Gr. 6-8, and Counselors, rising Gr. 9 - 12 are the camper's constant companions, taking them from activity to activity each day. So, what do you think? Can you make a sandwich? Can you lead a craft? Will YOU be a part of Helping Hands 2017? Contact Laurie in the church office.
Highlight YOUR Favorite Thing About Trinity
Deidre Jones, Parish Communications
Our Stewardship month will be here before you know it! Each year we try to feature as many aspects of Trinity life in the annual report as possible. If you have anything you'd like to highlight this year please send your suggestion to Deidre at [email protected] or 886-9132.
 
In addition to suggestions, you may also submit stories! Send in your memory of a special youth event or what one of our services meant to you. Tell about special moments or funny moments. For example: One time at my mother's church she and I were singing in the choir and a fly kept landing on her music. She would shoo it away and it would land on my music. For some reason, we got tickled and it was all we could do to not bust out laughing! And that choir faced the congregation!
 
So send in stories that YOU would want to read! Trinity isn't just a business making an annual report, we are full of people with personal stories!
Have You Seen?
If you happen to come into the Parish Office, please stop and see the wonderful bulletin board by B.J. Regi and Constance Harrington! Thank you ladies for a beautiful addition to our hallway!



Trinity Historical Highlight
Lilchy Huffman
The Christmas Windows
The Nativity Window and The Adoration Window
 
These two windows are given in memory of Charles and Bessie Hunton Catlett. Charles, the oldest son of Richard Henry and Mary Mercer Patton Catlett, was bon in August 18, 1865. Elizabeth "Bessie" Marie Hunton was born in 1867. She and Charles married in the late 1880's or 1890.
 
Their first daughter, Lucy Hunton Catlett, was born in September 26, 1891 and was Baptized on Ascension Day, May 26, 1992. Bessie and Charles chose Maj. Henderson M. Bell and Flora Stuart (Mrs. J.E.B. Stuart) to be Lucy's Godparents. Lucy was Confirmed May 22, 1905. She never married but was a faithful member of Trinity. She died December 3, 1980 and is buried in Thornrose.
 
June 22, 1895 saw the birth of Elizabeth "Little Bessie" McNemara Catlett. She was Baptized August 23, 1985 with her Godparents being members of the Hunton and Catlett families. Sadly she died on April 10, 1900 just before her 5th birthday and is buried in Thornrose. There is a calla lily on the top of her stone.
 
Mary "Mercer" Catlett, named for her Grand-mother Catlett, was born November 1, 1905. Baptized May 20, 1906, Charles chose Mary Caperton Braxton Holt (The Madonna Window) and his step-mother, Fannie Bolling Gay Catlett, as her Godmothers. Mercer was confirmed March 20, 1921 and married Robert Willis Kellogg, at Trinity, on October 17, 1931. Born in Bowling Green, Kentucky in 1902, Robert died in Phoenix on September 21, 1944 and is buried in Thornrose. Mercer must have moved back to Staunton where she met Horace Talmadge Day and his wife Elizabeth Nottingham. Horace was a famous American Painter and a Professor of Art at Mary Baldwin. Elizabeth died in 1956 and three years later, Horace and Mercer were married at Trinity on February 15, 1958. He continued on at MBC until he retired in 1967. He and Mercer moved to Alexandria where they were members of St. Paul's Episcopal Church. He died in 1984 and is buried in the Masonic Cemetery in Culpeper. Mercer died November 5, 1991 and is buried in Thornrose.
 
Bessie died on November 9, 1905, 8 days after Mary Mercer was born. Charles went to the J&R Lamb Studios in New York for Bessie's memorial window and chose The Nativity Window. Every Christmas, the red carnations on the main Altar are given In Memory of Bessie Hunton Catlett.
 
Charles, a geologist and chemist, lived at 309 Vine Street and was known for his kindness and philanthropy. In 1896, he donated the funds to construct a three story addition to King's Daughters Hospital. He was one of the founders of the Woodrow Wilson Birthplace Foundation that opened the Birthplace to the public in 1932. He worked to beautify the City, particularly through the use of dogwood trees in Gypsy Hill Park and suggested the creation of a park for the City's Sears Hill land and call it Woodrow Wilson Park. At the time of his death he donated his Betsy Bell property to the City and the money to clear it. Charles suggested the use of a municipal flag and seal, and his proposed designs were later adopted. For many years he was a trustee of Thornrose Cemetery, on the vestry at Trinity, and left numerous bequests for the benefit of the Staunton community. A card that was left at the funeral home came from the local African-American school and said:
 
"Our hearts sorrow with you. Mr. Charles Catlett was one of nature's nobleman whose life was rich in unselfish service. There is none too poor to do him reverence. We send our united and sincere condolences."
 
In the Church records of deaths, a notation has been left after his name which said "a noble, devoted son of the church - a friend of man!" It is most unusual for any notation to be put by a name in the records.
 
After Charles died October 27, 1945, Lucy and Mercer went back to the J&R Lamb Studios and chose The Adoration Window as his Memorial window. 


 

Calendar
If you open the following link, you will see our current Trinity Church calendar. You may wish to bookmark this page as it will automatically update with any changes.
Birthdays
When we switched database systems, the new system did not keep on file anyone's birthday that lacked the year. Therefore, if your birthday is not listed below please contact the office with your birth month, day, and year to be added into our system. Thank you.

1
Dorothy Baxley
Susan Laser
 
4
Linda MacNeil
Fritz Rosebrook
 
7
Clay Meeks
Sue Micklem
Will Moore
 
8
Bob Dunn
Rick Potter
Rosemary Tarte
 
9
Stephanie Otteni
 
10
Jane Cangalosi
 
11
Ann Finley
 
12
Carol Goodloe
Tim Jacobson
 
13
Stuart Brown
Grace Tankard
 
14
Mark Hollberg
 
16
Easten Morgan
 
17
Lydie Kaze
 
18
Barbara Brothers
Chuck Richards
 
19
Mark Bang
 
20
Eric Potter
 
23
Rick Cason
 
24
Bruce Bowers
Terry Griffith
 
25
Kelley Collis
Gail Finnegan
Sandra McNeill
 
26
Stephanie Brooks
Laura Stahl
 
27
Kay Buchanan
Kylie Richards
 
28
Chloe Mayson
Anne Spencer
 
29
Susan Bernard
Samuel Davick
 
31
Constance Harrington
David Meeks