Volume 77 - No. 4 | April 2025 | | |
Come Worship With Us!
Fifth Sunday of Lent, April 6, 2025 at 10:00 am
Sermon "The Challenge of Being Jesus"
Communion Sunday
We will be serving fresh gluten-free bread and fresh juice
for Communion in the sanctuary.
Worshiping from home?
Please have a piece of bread or cracker and water or juice
ready for Communion.
This service will be live streamed on Facebook.
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Don't have Facebook? Don't worry, you can still view the live service from any device by following this link: https://www.facebook.com/Trinitychurchnorthborough
A step-by-step tutorial on how to access Facebook Live CLICK HERE
Have your Bible, a candle and lighter ready and create a worshipful space, maybe with a cross, a nice tablecloth, or other devotional items that are meaningful to you.
Replay on Verizon channel 31 and Charter channel 191
Sundays (previous week's) at 6pm and Thursdays at 8:00am.
Rita is here to help you. If you need technical assistance please email her at: trinitychurchnboro@gmail.com or call her (508) 393-8156
and she will walk you through each step.
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As the Lenten season continues into April, I hope you’ve been finding ways to renew, whether it’s in our worship services, in your prayer or meditation time, in being of service, or in fasting from things that don’t really serve you.
Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter will soon be on the horizon, and we hope that you’ll join us for special worship services we’ll have to honor these events. You’ll find more information about them in this issue of Tidings.
Blessings,
Your Senior Minister
| | UPCOMING WORSHIP SERVICES | | | | |
Sunday, April 13
Palm Sunday / Faith Formation Sunday
Join us for a festive worship celebration honoring Jesus' triumphant entry into Jerusalem for Passover. We're planning for our Faith Formation kids to lead the procession with palms!
Thursday, April 17
Maundy Thursday
Join us for a light Supper and Communion service at 6:00 pm in Fellowship Hall as we remember Jesus' last meal with his disciples before his death.
Sunday, April 20
Easter Sunday
Continental breakfast and coffee will be served in Fellowship Hall from 8:30-9:30 am, with a joyful Easter Service at 10:00am.
(Note: No Sunrise Service this year).
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Help us beautify the sanctuary on Easter Sunday with flowers!
Order your flowers through the church office. You may take your flowers home with you after the Easter service.
Order forms are available on the boards in main hallway, at the church office, or call Rita for more info.
All orders must be received by noontime on Friday April 4, 2025.
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Greetings from your 2025 Board of Deacons! We are responsible for the spiritual and secular affairs of the church. We have had our first meeting of the new year and welcomed new members Pam Jones and Diane Lyford.
I can tell you that we are excited about the year ahead. God has led us to this point to do the work Jesus asks us to do.
The Deacons are grateful for all the volunteers on Ministry Teams and Committees. Thank you all who volunteer at The Thrift Shop, Coffee House, Coffee Hour, Community Meals, Worcester Fellowship, Food Pantry and in any other way.
Together, we live out Trinity’s mission to fill its people with the love of God and share God’s love in all the world.
Please contact any one of us if you have a concern, question, suggestion or comment.
Blessings to all.
Board of Deacons
Lynn Garry (Chair), Rae Carlsen, Faith DeMarinis, June Hamilton, Pam Jones, Diane Lyford, Paul Pazareskis, John Posluszny.
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GFWC
Northborough Junior Women's Club
Recognized…
All the Incredible Women of Northborough for their outstanding dedication, passion and service to the Northborough Community.
We are especially proud to say
that three of those women
are Trinity's own:
Pat F., Jean L. & Rae C.!
Congrats to all the women honored.
Rae Carlsen
Rae serves on Northborough's Housing Authority, working diligently to provide low-income housing for residents. In addition to her work with the Housing Authority, she plays a key role at Trinity Church where she serves as church clerk, head teller, and a member of the Board of Deacons. Rae is known for her intelligence, attention to detail, and commitment to ensuring that every project she undertakes is done thoroughly and correctly. Her dedication to her Northborough faith community and to helping secure the most basic need of housing for our town residents make her an incredible woman of Northborough.
Pat Faldetta
Pat has been a dedicated and compassionate leader, creating welcoming spaces for community connection through the Trinity Coffee House open mic and organizing music for Applefest Trinity Stage. She quietly but tirelessly supports others whenever needed, offering meals, childcare, rides, or a helping hand and always with a smile. Her kindness and generosity have made a lasting impact on many, including those who have personally benefited from her care and support in their time of need, making her a truly incredible woman of Northborough.
Jean Leif
Jean has demonstrated exceptional dedication and compassion in her leadership roles in town, particularly through her efforts to help a refugee family resettle in Northborough. Over three years, she assisted them in securing jobs, housing, healthcare, education, and legal support, profoundly transforming their lives. Beyond her work with the Neighborhood Support Team (NST), Jean is also deeply involved in Trinity Church, leading various initiatives and guiding the church through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic. Her kindness, resilience, and problem-solving skills make her a quiet yet powerful leader who continuously uplifts those around her, embodying selflessness and the belief that one person’s actions can change another’s life making her an incredible woman of Northborough.
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Hello Trinity Church Community!
Spring is finally rolling in, and the days are getting longer. Just in time for the Holy Week and Easter Season. Take a look at what musical happenings are coming for the Month of April:
- April 6th - Service Music and a Communion Special provided by the Worship Band
- April 12th - Adult Voice Choir & Worship Band perform at Chili Cook-Off
- April 13th - Palm Sunday Processional Prelude, Special Music by the Hand Bell Choir, and a musical presentation from Faith Formation Kids.
- Children wanting to perform in the service should arrive by 9:30 to learn the song.
- April 20th - EASTER SUNDAY! Three Specials provided by the Adult Voice Choir.
- April 27th - I will be taking off this Sunday. All Music provided by Pam Jones!
We will continue to use “Day By Day” (Chalice Hymnal #559) as the Scripture Response through Easter; however, I have decided to forgo having a Song of the Month for April in order to allow more flexibility in musical inclusion through the various weeks. We will return to having a Song of the Month and Sung Benediction in May.
I hope everyone has a wonderful Easter Season and Spring brings many blessings to you and those in your life.
Until We Meet Again,
Scott Arnold (he/him)
Minister of Music
Trinity Church of Northborough
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TRINITY CHURCH DOCUMENTARY
BY KEVIN KWASNY
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I am currently working on a documentary about Trinity Church of Northborough, focusing on how the church supported the community during the COVID-19 pandemic and how it continues to serve today.
I would like to reach out and begin organizing interviews and gathering information. Specifically, to:
- Schedule Interviews at the Church – to arrange a time to conduct interviews, ideally after Sunday services.
- Announce Interview Opportunities to the Congregation – I’d love to involve church members in sharing their experiences.
The documentary will highlight Trinity Church’s resilience, technological adaptation during Covid, and commitment to inclusivity. I plan to interview Pastor Will, Jean and Ned, and congregation members about their experiences. The film will also touch on the financial realities of maintaining the historic building, framing it as a call to recognize and support the church.
I appreciate all your help and look forward to working together to tell this story.
Best,
Kevin Kwasny
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Save the date: Afghan Refugee Project Fundraiser
On Saturday, May 3rd, the Outreach Team will be hosting a fundraising Spaghetti Supper for Rose and Mark, our Afghan family. Trinity, together with the Northborough Neighborhood Support Team, continues to provide financial support for the family. Come and join the fun, celebrate the progress Rose and Mark have made, and participate in our optional fundraising activities.
Contact Jean Leif at jhleif@gmail.com
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Trinity Church continues to be a beacon of light in the Northborough Community and beyond.
We continue to collect food monthly for the Northborough Food Pantry to help those who have food insecurity. Thank you to all our members who participated. If you have questions about this project, please contact Faith.
Our work partnering with Worcester Fellowship helps another segment of our greater community combat food insecurity. We continue to provide lunches on Sunday afternoons and Thursday Café. The generosity of our church members is never ending.
Community Meals continues to thrive and the cooperation of area churches, the synagogue in Westboro and community organizations helps feed those in need on Wednesday nights. We are thankful that we have such a lovely space to host these meals.
Trinity’s generosity continues to shine while providing rides for Michael Mesidor, so he does not have to hire an Uber to get back and forth to school.
We will be reaching out to the family in our community who lost their house, a few animals and their belongings to a fire as an Outreach Committee, and give individual members the opportunity to donate as well.
| | Trinity will be providing lunch for Worcester Fellowship Cafe on Thursday, May 8. Contact Jean Leif for more info. Jhleif@gmail.com. | | COMMUNITY GARDEN AT TRINITY CHURCH | | |
As part of our ongoing efforts at outreach in the community, Trinity Church will be working with the Northborough Housing Authority to establish a vegetable and flower garden for interested senior residents of the Heritage Village complex behind the church.
With the approval of the Property & Finance Team and the Board of Deacons, Rae Carlsen will be working with the Housing Authority to get the project underway.
Leadership at Trinity realized the many health benefits for the Heritage Village seniors who would like to garden in that space. Lots of fresh air and sunshine, physical activity, and socializing with other residents all result in better physical and mental health of our seniors. And it helps to combat an epidemic amongst our senior population – loneliness.
Benefits for Trinity Church include beatification of an area that has long been neglected and continuing our work as a ‘good neighbor’ in the Northborough community.
So, be on the lookout over the next couple of months as the garden begins to take shape! And, as the summer progresses, take a walk over to the garden if you see someone working there – strike up a conversation! It would be a great way to get to know some of the senior neighbors!
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ONASJ Update
There are many forms of Social Justice. In an effort to be more accessible and inclusive the ONASJ team requested the Property team install a doorbell at the Hudson Street entrance.
Thank you Property Team for installing it! Although it is wheelchair accessible it is not automatic and can be a difficult door to manage. The ringer is in the coat room area so if you hear it, please check the Hudson St entrance!
Also, we now have our accessibility information on our website. Thank you, Rita! “Wheelchair entrance on Hudson St. and Chair lift to 2nd floor Sanctuary.” This will also be included in future publications. We have learned that people will tend to assume a place is not accessible if it is not stated.
There are many ways to be accessible. We have large print Bibles, hearing devices and our welcoming attitudes!
ONASJ Team
Dave Chin, Lynn Garry, Chris Mosher, Kathie Nichols
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Our April meeting will be on April 19, the day before Easter, at 8:30 AM.
Dave and Sharon Chin have kindly offered to host Breakfast Fellowship that day and show
pictures and talk about their trip to Southeast Asia in 2024.
Dave’s invitation:
Come with us through slides with commentary about the places and the individual people that made this tour very special to us! See beautiful and mysterious Halong Bay, Vietnam. See why Train Street has become the most popular tourist attraction in modern Hanoi, Vietnam. See remote, rural villages along the northern Mekong River in Laos which brought us back in time.
Learn about some foreigners who are making a difference in the lives of regular Laosian people. See the ancient temple complex of Angkor Wat, Cambodia which is a worldwide tourist destination as well as a functioning Buddhist Temple built in the first half of the 12th century.
We enjoyed this experience and think you will too.
So, plan to gather on April 19th. at 8:30 AM for breakfast, fellowship and to hear about
Southeast Asia.
For more information or to add yourself to the Saturday Breakfast Fellowship email list, please contact Tom at tomdan4@gmail.com
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Faith Formations News !
"Children's Church" is scheduled for Palm Sunday, April 13th. The children are invited to play the children's handbells and sing during the service. There will be a handbell/singing practice in the sanctuary at 9:30am before service that day.
There will also be an interactive Lenten based story and activities for the children.
We hope to see you there!
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For the next several weeks, Pastor Will will be exploring the Gospel of Mark with the group. Bible Study meets Mondays at 11am on Zoom. Contact the church office for details
trinitychurchnboro@gmail.com
The Faith Formation Ministry Team
| | SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS 2025 | | | | |
The Trinity Scholarship program is open to any member of Trinity Church family who is attending College programs, night classes, or needs continued help with tuition costs.
If you have previously received a Scholarship from Trinity and are still attending college, you are welcome to apply again for additional scholarships.
the Scholarship Applications are available by Clicking Here.
Application deadline is comin up soon, Friday May 2, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Paul Pazareskis at: jopazz@hotmail.com
| | EXTERIOR RESTORATION AND MAINTANENCE TASK FORCE | | |
UPDATE
The Exterior Restoration & Maintenance Task Force has engaged Painters Pride to paint all exterior wood surfaces below the steeple.
The work will be done no later than this summer, but may begin as soon as mid-April. It is expected to take three weeks to complete. Trees close to the building will be pruned to prepare for the painting.
The Task Force continues to explore how best to address the maintenance and restoration of the steeple.
If you have any questions or suggestions for the Task Force, please contact one of its members: Pete Carlsen, Jean Leif, Tom Danforth, Wally Corwin, Cheryl Silverberg, Beth Buckley or Tim Cashmore.
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TRINITY'S COFFEE HOUSE
FRIDAY APRIL 18, 2025 AT 7:00PM
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CHILI COOK OFF
SATURDAY APRIL 12, 2025
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I look at this event as an opportunity to show the Northborough Community and friends just how kind Trinity Church members and friends can be! By sharing our food, recipes, music, Kindness Wall, warm welcome and shared laughter we will be showing our love!
- During coffee hour after worship please check what you signed up for and make changes if needed.
- Take a new flyer and invite someone to enjoy the fun!
- If you have a sign or picture that inspires kindness, please display it.
Reminders:
4:00PM is the setup time for tables, chairs, signs, Kindness Wall, and decorations on tables (round tables to sit at and long tables along windows for food). By 5:00PM Chili makers set up and plug into electricity (please bring a regular extension cord and strip labeled with your name). 5:30PM we will begin!
There will be voting (no donations) for the King, Queen and Princess or Prince of Chili, and later announcements of the winners with prizes!
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The Called to Care team is available for anyone who would appreciate a friendly caring call or a check in on a home bound member. We keep in touch weekly or monthly or whatever is needed. We even make “sunshine“ house visits with a small box surprise!
We are here and if you or anyone you know would benefit from a call from our team please contact Linda F. at: lmferraro25@gmail.com or Michele W. at michelewheelock@gmail.com
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We meet once a month at Trinity with knitting/crocheting hands to make shawls for our members in need of a “hug.” Blessed handmade items are delivered right to their home to warm the heart and soul. I have a simple knit pattern that can be made easily. It comes along with a card of encouraging words.
Our next meeting will be on Wednesday April 30th. 1 to 2 pm. All are welcome!
Our shawls and blankets have become quite popular and we need to keep on making more to comfort our members in need and the fellowship is great too!
Anyone interested in meeting over a cup of tea just once a month for one hour for a rewarding mission please contact Linda F. at: lmferraro25@gmail.com
| | HOSPITALITY VOLUNTEERS NEEDED | | |
I am looking to put together a list of people who would like to help when needed on our hospitality list. We are looking for people when we have collations (after funeral services) to help with set up, serving, clean up and baking.
If you would like to be called upon, please email me at:lornahelms1@gmail.com or call/text me at
(508) 596-1776.
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Would you like to provide altar flowers for Sunday worship? Please click on the link below to choose a date and add a comment if the flowers are in celebration, honor or memory of an event or person.
Signup Genie will automatically send you an email reminder six days prior to the day you signed up to bring flowers.
ALTAR FLOWER SIGNUP CLICK HERE
| | ONGOING EVENTS AT TRINITY | | | | |
Coffee or Tea on Zoom Wednesdays at 9:00am
Chat on Zoom, Wednesdays at 9am.
https://us04web.zoom.us/j/954033518
Meeting ID: 954 033 518
Password: 569713
Dial by your location
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 954 033 518
Rita is here to help you. If you need technical assistance please email her at trinitychurchnboro@gmail.com or call her at (508) 393-8156 during office hours.
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Join Pastor Will
At Coffee & Pi (π)
276 Turnpike Rd #8 Westboro
Wednesdays 10 am - 11 am
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"The Blessings Boutique" Thrift Shop Happenings!
Open Wed, Fri & Sat, 10am - 2pm.
Save the date for the annual Spring Fashion Show, scheduled for Saturday, May 10th at 2:00pm. See the poster below.
Come in and browse through our new Spring assortment of clothing!
Home goods donations are needed as well as gently used clothing, handbags, shoes and jewelry. Please remember us when you are doing your spring cleaning!
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Thank you for sharing your time, talent, and treasure with Trinity Church!
If you're paying by check, please make checks payable to Trinity Church. Our mailing address is 23 Main St, Northborough, MA 01532.
You can also use “bill pay” and have your bank mail a check to us on a regular schedule set up by you, at no cost. Or give online at www.trinitynorthborough.org/donate
| | IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS | | |
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 Will at 508-393-8156.
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Rita will be out and the church office will be closed on Friday April 4, 2025. The office will re-open for regular business hours on Monday April 7, 2025.
Rita will also be away on Wednesday April 30, 2025 and will re-open for regular business hours on Thursday May 1, 2025.
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Mondays through Thursdays 9am - 12pm & 1pm - 4pm
Fridays 9am - 12pm & 1pm - 3 pm
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If you have any information that you would like to have included
in the May 2025 Tidings,
please be sure to have it to Rita / church office
no later than Monday, April 21, 2025.
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