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36 Main Street, Newtown, CT | |
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Olive Wood Products from Bethlehem
During coffee hour on Sunday (12/1, and 12/8) Sara will have olive wood products from the Holy Land for sale during coffee hour. These products were hand-crafted by Palestinian Christian artisans in Bethlehem, many of whom come from families that have been woodworking for hundreds of years. The Bethlehem economy relies on tourism for 90% of its revenue, and these artisans currently have no means of supporting their families because of lack of tourists due to the war. Your purchase would contribute to their livelihoods during this time. Items range from $3-$50. Any purchase big or small is appreciated. You can pay by cash, check, Zelle, or Venmo (@sawilliams212). If you have questions, please email or text Sara Williams at sawilliams212@gmail.com or 513-593-5373.
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Evening Compline and Centering Prayer
Join us this Advent season on the following Thursdays from 6-7pm for contemplative quiet prayer in the Sanctuary with Evening Compline followed by Centering Prayer.
December 5
December 12
December 19
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Gifts for Trinity's Adopted Family
Dear Trinity Parishioners,
Once again, Trinity will adopt a Newtown family for Christmas. To help spread holiday cheer, kindly follow these steps to participate:
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Select your gift on Sign Up Genius by December 7th (Click on “save & submit” on bottom of page. You will then be prompted to confirm selection)
- Wrap your gift
- Label gift with “Family 34” and recipient details (i.e. female, age 71)
- Drop off gift to the gingerbread gift box located in the Johnson Room by December 8th
If you have any questions, please contact Dorothy at dorothypschmidt@yahoo.com
Thank you for your generous Christmas spirit!
Mission & Outreach
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Starry Nights Advent Devotional available starting this Sunday!
"Advent is a season of stars: twinkling over shepherds, leading the Magi to Bethlehem, and filling our own dark Advent nights with glimmers of brilliance. And it’s also a season of wonder, a time for all of God’s children to marvel at what God has done – and will yet do – for the love of this broken, beautiful world.
This devotional is all about embracing light and wonder. It comes complete with simple, candlelight weekly services, biblical passages to read, prayers to pray, reflections to think about, practices to try, and more. And since the stars appeal to all ages, this devotional is designed to do the same: amazing facts interweave with engaging activities, big ideas, and the wondrous, star-studded stories of Advent and Christmas."
Copies will be available outside the sanctuary starting this Sunday, 11/24. If you would prefer a digital copy please contact the church office. Trinity Church hopes this devotional will be a blessing to you and your family this Advent season.
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Trinity's Kids Klub
Thank you to everyone who has donated to the new Trinity Kids Klub! What a wonderful space this will be for our school-aged kids to hang out, play, read, and create during coffee hours, meetings, and other church events happening in the Glover Room. It is still a work in progress, but we are ready to begin letting the kids play!
The Kids Klub is officially open this Sunday, the 24th, so after you attend Family Yoga upstairs, make your way down to the Glover Room to check it out! The space will be properly blessed on December 15th after the Christmas Pageant, but kids are welcome to enjoy it now.
The Kids Klub will not be professionally staffed as our nursery is, and parents will be responsible for monitoring the room when their own kids are in there. Please take a peek at the posted rules to become acquainted with how this new space will best serve our kids.
We are very excited by the growth in our church and the need for more play space!
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We thank thee, then, O Father, for all things bright and good, the seed time and the harvest, our life our health our food. No gifts have we to offer for all thy love imparts but that which thou desirest, our humble, thankful hearts!
The above text isn’t from our 1982 hymnal or from any old traditional Anglican source. The old English might be deceiving, but these lyrics were written in 1970 by John-Michael Tebelak in his revolutionary new drama Godspell, which was based on Tebelak’s graduate thesis project at Carnegie Mellon. Tebelak was inspired to write Godspell after attending an Easter Vigil service that left him feeling disturbed by how bored the congregation seemed and how the priest seemed in a hurry to finish. He wanted to make the religious experience accessible to the masses and something that could excite people when hearing the Gospel. Tebelak wrote the script, and he recruited friends from school to incorporate hymn texts into their own pop arrangements.
Godspell began off-Broadway and quickly gained popularity due to its fresh approach to a religious story, combining rock, pop, and folk music with a reimagining of the Gospel of Matthew. Godspell ran for over 2,600 performances before Stephen Schwartz picked it up and wrote new music for it, resulting in the Broadway run and TV movie that followed. Today, Godspell is still relevant (if you can forgive the lack of the resurrection in the story) and excerpts sometimes even pop up in church services, as will be the case this Sunday when the Trinity Choir sings “All Good Gifts” during the Offertory.
This Sunday is our “Thanksgiving Sunday” combined with “Christ the King” Sunday. What better way to give thanks then to lift our voices in hymns of gratefulness and to exalt our Christ the King? It will be a joyous morning of thanks and praise.
See you in church!
Jennifer
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Yoga Session for Families -- This Sunday! | |
This Sunday, 11/24, Trinity will be offering a yoga session for families! Our very own Erin Lutz will lead this all-ages class in the Johnson Room after worship. No need to wear special clothes or bring a yoga mat. Also, be sure to check out the new "Self-Care for Families" bulletin board outside the Glover Community Room. You'll find some tips on how to lower the level of stress and anxiety you may be feeling as a parent, as well as ideas for some family activities that foster quality time together. | |
Next Week! -- Christmas Cookie Decorating | |
Come celebrate the first Sunday of Advent with us by decorating and eating Christmas cookies! Join us after the worship service on Sunday, 12/1, in the Glover Community Room during coffee hour. Festive hats and ugly Christmas sweaters are encouraged : ) | |
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Upcoming Events
Sunday, 11/24, Yoga for Families, Christmas devotional available
Sunday, 12/1, Christmas cookie decorating during coffee hour
Sunday, 12/8, Pageant dress rehearsal following worship service
Sunday, 12/15, Christmas Pageant during worship service
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The Youth will be meeting in the John Beach Room this Sunday, 11/24, after worship. | |
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Christian Yoga
Join Christian Yoga class on alternating Tuesdays at 7 pm for an hour of movement incorporating prayer and scripture. This is a great way to connect to yourself, with others and with God. The next sessions will be held on 11/26 and 12/10. All are welcome!
Free will offering is completely voluntary.
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Weekly Happenings
Trinity's nursery is open every Sunday from 9:15 - 11:15, and is professionally staffed by Wee Care Nanny Agency. Click here to review the nursery guidelines.
Trinity's Grief Support Group runs every first and third Thursday of the month from 4-5:15pm, and is open to all.
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Should you wish to make a donation to LL, please mail a check to First Congregational Church of Ridgefield (FCC), 103 Main Street, Ridgefield, Ct 06877. The memo line should read LLGD or click here. | |
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New Process for Vouchers
Thank you to all of you who have seamlessly transitioned over to the new system - it is such a pleasure to be working with Lori Rohrbacher again!
Vouchers can now be submitted virtually. There is a new page on Trinity's website (Vouchers). Please use this online form as a way to submit vouchers. If you need help learning this new system, please contact Kim.
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Praise and Thanksgiving
For those requesting our prayers
Maureen, Janet, Rick, Marie, Jennifer, Joyce, Jacky, Gail, Alveta, Bode, Gracie, Martha, Daniel, Shirley, Dan, Barbara, Lucille, Caroline, Eric, Brent, Paula, Karen, Judy, Patricia, Kathy, Joan, Bill, Hayley, Donna, Carol, Marianne
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Jacky Fountain, Julie Dunn
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