Dear Trinity Family,

How are you enjoying our new summer service times?

If you haven’t had a chance yet, we encourage you to experience the Wonder & Worship service for children at 10 AM. After following the cross out, kids of all ages are invited to explore faith through storytelling, creativity, and wonder. It’s a joyful way to grow in God’s love—especially in the carefree spirit of summer.

We hope the new schedule has brought a little more ease and breathing room to your Sundays. Whether you're lingering over coffee, connecting with friends, or simply soaking up the slower pace, we’re glad you’re part of this journey.

And for the book lovers in our midst...

Faith in Literature, led by Deacon Deborah Underwood, meets monthly for thoughtful conversation at the intersection of faith and storytelling. This month’s read is “James” by Percival Everett—a powerful and imaginative retelling of The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn through the voice of Jim.

Join us Monday, July 14 at 12 PM in Nichols Great Hall.

A BIG shout out to all who have volunteered this week: from trash pick up, to weeding, or cleaning out the 1st floor, Trinity is bursting at the seems with possibilities.

Thank you for offering!

If there's something you see at Trinity that you would like to tackle, please see a member or Clergy or Staff. We welcome all to participate!

With peace and joy,

+The Clergy & Staff of Trinity+

A Big Thank You to our Deb Schneider for the great photos!

Do you like to take photos of Trinity? They are always welcome!

Please email your photos to communication@trinitytulsa.org.

The Trinity Quilt Guild has started a project to make simple lap-sized quilts to donate to Youth Services for the young people they serve. The quilt tops are made from pieces of material that are roughly 18” by 21” called fat quarters. After cutting pieces with dimensions of 18” by 10” (roughly 1/2 the fat quarters), the pieces are sewn together in columns and the columns then sewn together to create the quilt top.

If you would like to help with this project, we have assembled fat quarters and instructions. Pick up a quilt kit in the Great Hall and start sewing! If you have questions, please contact Nan Kemp at npkemp@cox.net.

Bishop Poulson Reed issued a statement about endorsing candidates:

The Separation of Church and State is Good for Both 

Since 1954, the Johnson Amendment in the tax code has said that churches risk losing their tax-exempt status if they participate in "any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office." On Tuesday, the IRS announced that it will no longer restrict churches from endorsing candidates, on the grounds of freedom of speech and freedom of religion.

As Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, I'm urging our clergy and congregations to refrain from such endorsements, for several reasons.

Our congregations consist of members of good faith from both political parties, as well as many independents. Ours is not a blue or red diocese, but a purple one, and above all, a Christian one. Friendship in Christ across difference is one of our God-given gifts, and bringing partisan politics further into our sacred communities threatens that gift, opening the door to the bitter division all too present in our wider culture. In addition, this new “freedom” will bring pressure (from the Right and Left) on clergy to endorse, compromising both their spiritual and pastoral roles.

And lastly, there is the matter of faith. We follow a servant king, a humble savior, Jesus Christ, who said that his kingdom was not of this world. His example and his teachings inform how we live our lives, including how we consider important issues, especially in light of Jesus’ call to love our neighbor. This is why dioceses and congregations have always been free to encourage voter registration and education on matters related to the common good, and to speak in the public square on the moral questions of our day, especially as it relates to the poor and vulnerable. But to advocate for one political candidate over another, however well intentioned, takes us down an unsteady and perilous path, where discernment is considerably less clear. Far better to leave the decisions of the voting booth to each individual conscience, informed by faith, but not coerced by it. The clear separation of Church and State is essential to the well-being of both.

Bishop Poulson Reed

Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma