Volume 73 - No. 5 | May 2021 |
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Worship on Sunday, May 2 @ 10am:
Rev. Lee Atherton "23rd Psalm" with Communion
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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.
Please have a piece of bread (or crackers, chips or cookie) and cup of juice (or water, tea or coffee) ready for Communion.
Replay on Verizon channel 31 and Charter channel 191
Sundays (previous week's) at 6pm and Thursdays at 8:30am.
Emily is here to help you. If you need technical assistance please email her at [email protected] or call her (508) 614-8989 during virtual office hours and she will walk you through each step.
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MESSAGE FROM REV. ATHERTON |
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Greetings!
I bought some new fish for my marine fish tank last week. Every time I go for supplies, I can’t help but choose one or two additions. Did you know there are over 300 species of shrimp alone!? I saw little teeny bright yellow ones. One reminded me of candy canes. There was a blue one; purple ones; sexy ones (yep, that’s their name), tigers, and harlequins, multi-colored and even see-through! Who knew?!
God is amazing! There are two creation stories in the book of Genesis. They both describe the creation of animals, plants, and humans. But neither mentions the incredible diversity. From things seen and things unseen; from the tiniest piece scientists have yet described, to an ever expanding universe beyond anything imaginable. I look at my tank every day in awe.
When was the last time you marveled at God’s creation? To consider how big and amazing our God is. Where do you find the wonder of God? It has been years since I climbed Mount Monadnock (I’ve got to do it again! Anyone want to join me? Let me know.). I like to challenge myself, so I try one of the more difficult trails. The hike is a bit of a challenge, but the views more than worth the struggle. No matter how often I make it to the top, the view always takes my breath away! There’s something about sitting on rock formed hundreds of millions of years ago, to be a few thousand feet up in the air, and to look out on a vista of beauty, magnificence and wonder! In those moments I am reminded of how small I am in this world and how very big my God is. I feel humbled, and close to my creator.
Romans 1:20 says, “But the basic reality of God is plain enough. Open your eyes and there it is! By taking a long and thoughtful look at what God has created, people have always been able to see what their eyes as such can’t see: eternal power, for instance, and the mystery of his divine being.” (The Message)
In these past 14 months of the Covid Pandemic we all have found ourselves overwhelmed, discouraged, alone and lonely, scared, desperate even. We just want to be with our families again, be able to hug each other, gather for worship, be back to normal. I have often found myself at the beginning of the day just curling up on the couch, some mundane show on tv that I’m not even paying much attention to. The world feels heavy.
But I’ve changed things up over the past few weeks. No longer do I start my day reading the news full of hatred and fear and disaster. Instead, I come into my office, perch my elbows on my desk, and just watch my fish. My little microcosm of the awe and beauty of God’s creation. My shrimp – I have two – cling to the coral or side of the tank statuesque like in their stillness as they await some tidbit of food to float by while my “creepy crab” zigs and zags among the stones and plants racing to catch each bite as if he’s not eaten in days! My God is an awesome God!
As my colleague Braeden Howard asks so well, “Do we live amazed by who God is or is God just our first 5 minutes in the morning and forgotten about once our cars hit the main road? Have we noticed that we have an appreciation and gratefulness for God only on Sundays and holidays? Or when we get a promotion and our kids are excelling in school or sports?
Take time each and every day to marvel at the handiwork of our Creator. Begin your day with awe and wonder and set aside moments throughout the day to be quiet, to “be still and know that ‘God’ is God.” Because in the midst of this upside down world we find ourselves in, we have to be reminded again that our hope, our trust, our very life is in the hands of the one who has blessed us with wonder beyond our greatest imagination!
May all your days be filled with beauty and blessing!
In Peace and Abundant Joy,
Pastor Lee
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WORSHIP SERVICES ~ SUNDAYS, 10AM |
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Sunday, May 2: Rev. Lee Atherton "23rd Psalm" with Communion
Sunday, May 9: Lay-preacher Kathie Nichols "Saying Yes to God"
Sunday, May 16: Lay-preacher Sherry Clark
Sunday, May 23: Lay-preacher June Hamilton
Sunday, May 30: Lay-preacher Donna Miller "Seeking the Presence of God"
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Coffee Hour before worship
on Zoom @ 9:30am
Meeting ID: 861 4930 6259
Password: 201552
Meeting Link:
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"Let God’s promises shine on your problems.”
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In these extraordinary times, the pandemic has taken a very high financial toll on many of us. Trinity Church's Deacons' Fund provides a helping hand to persons in financial crises. All requests are kept in strict confidence. In Pastor Valeria's absence, contact Jean Leif for information ([email protected]).
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Volunteer Painter's Needed!
Saturday, May 8th at 9am
The Property Committee is planning to host a painting day at Trinity. We will be painting on Saturday May 8th starting at 9:00 am! Our goal is to paint the upper area of the 2nd floor hallway and the upper area of the stairway that goes from the 2nd floor to the 3rd floor. All are welcome!!! Please RSVP to me so we can know our numbers.
We will wear masks and stay as socially distant as possible.
If we get more than enough people, we could also paint some of the white trim on the outside of the building.
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Worship in the Parking Lot
Sunday, May 23 @ 10am
Bring your own chairs or remain in your cars. Please wear a mask and observe social distancing guidelines. The service will also be live streamed to Facebook.
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PASTOR PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE |
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The Pastor Parish Relations Committee, or PPRC,
We will strive to act with gentleness toward one another, expressing our thoughts and feelings appropriately, speaking as individuals from our own personal experience, from “I” not from “we” or “they”.
A third party will be utilized (for example, a member of the Pastor Parish Relations Committee) to most effectively communicate with each other when there is conflict or disagreement. Confidentiality will be respected.
As mentioned before, if you have any questions or comments, please contact any member of the Committee.
PPRC Members:
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Trinity Scholarships
DUE: Sunday, May 31st
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Scholarship applications are now being accepted. Scholarships are open to graduating high school seniors or students in college, business or technical schools, who are members of the Greater Trinity Parish family, and who are planning to attend a school, college, or university with an established faculty and course of study. Applications are available by email from the church office ([email protected]) or on the church website. The application deadline is May 31st. Please contact Paul Pazareskis ([email protected]) with any questions.
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2021 Campership Applications
Due: May 31st
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Campership Applications are now available online.
Camp brochures can be seen here:
All campership applications should be returned to Christian Ed by the May 31st.
Please speak with Jean Leif if you have any questions.
Additional camp scholarships available through
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FROM OUR CHRISTIAN ED DIRECTOR |
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During the month of April we continued our studies of poverty and the bible. We will be focused on this for the next couple of months as we examine the many different aspects that play into poverty in this country. Part of that will be to examine the way social injustice and race come into play. In order to be part of the solution we will be fundraising for uniforms for an elementary school in Worcester. The school community has been particularly hard hit by the economy and Covid and Worcester currently has over 1300 homeless students. Please be on the look out for more information about how you can help.
I am SO happy to announce that we will continue to have Faith Foundations in the Trinity parking lot. As long as weather is above 50 and it is not raining please plan on being in the garden and meeting us for class at 11:20. On days that it is raining or under 50 degrees we will continue to use the zoom links below.
Faith Foundation dates: 5/2, 5/9, 5/16, 5/23 WALK-A-THON, 5/30
The kids did a beautiful job leading our Earth Day service! I loved seeing so many of them taking part and contributing. I will again be looking for volunteers for our Children and Youth Sunday on June 13th. It will be a parking lot service. If you have a child that would like to participate in part of the service please let me know. We also broke ground on the Trinity Garden. A huge thanks to the adults who lent their time as well as all the hard working kids! Additional thanks to the donations that have been given towards adding to the garden. We are still accepting donations of seeds, edging, garden ornaments, bench, mulch, rock, etc. as well as monetary contributions made out to Trinity with the memo as Trinity Garden.
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We are in need of teachers and assistant teachers. Sherry preps all the material and sends it to teachers to preview before Sunday. If you can help please email her at [email protected]. It is a wonderful way to spend some time with our youth and cultivate intergenerational relationships.
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Youth Group
Our teens have been meeting up on Friday night zooms for some virtual game playing. We will have an in person Youth Group outing to Tower Hill on 5/16 after Faith Foundations 12-2. Please bring a picnic lunch . RSVP by 5/12 is required. Email or text Sherry [email protected] or 508-254-2217.
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Zoom Links
The zoom will begin at 11:15
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 872 7270 9342
Passcode: 780687
Youth Group Dates
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 893 1102 0507
Passcode: 572551
There will be a variety of games to play together as well as planning for our fundraiser for Worcester public school uniforms.
Paid Internship Opportunity
City Mission's Social Justice Internship is for rising high school juniors and seniors, as well as 2021 graduates, who are committed to social justice and are interested in learning more about how a small nonprofit works on social justice issues. Interns will begin to explore some of the root causes and consequences of poverty, inequality and racism, and intersectional justice work, as well as technical skills such as public policy research, service-learning, communications, and nonprofit organizational structure. Interns will also have an opportunity to explore issues of social justice about which they are passionate. The program includes learning activities to foster a deeper understanding of social justice and City Mission’s commitment to educate, empower and engage our community.
This paid internship program is six weeks long beginning Tuesday, July 6, 2021 and concluding Friday, August 13, 2021. The internship is for high school students in the greater Boston area who will be going into grade 11, 12, or 2021 graduates. Each intern will work 15 hours each week, and will be paid a stipend of $225 per week.
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Zoom Bible Study
Mondays @ 1pm
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Want to connect with other Trinity people while we are self-isolating? Join us for an informal Bible study on Mondays at 1pm via Zoom. Each week we will select a chapter or passage of the Bible, and discuss what it means to us.
Jean Leif will be facilitating. Email her at [email protected] (include your name) for log-on information.
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If you or someone you know recently lost a loved one and is looking for a safe space to share your experiences with others, you are welcome to join our grief support group. The group now meets weekly on Zoom, every Thursday at 7 pm.
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Coffee or Tea on Zoom
Wednesdays @ 9am
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Chat on Zoom, Wednesdays at 9am.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 954 033 518
Password: 569713
Dial by your location
+1 929 436 2866 US (New York)
Meeting ID: 954 033 518
Emily is here to help you. If you need technical assistance please email her at [email protected] or call her (508) 614-8989 during virtual office hours.
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Saturday Breakfast Fellowship
The first and third Saturday @ 9am (Saturday, May 1st & 15th)
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In May, we’ll have two Breakfast Fellowships, one on the 1st and one on the 15th.
This month, we’re going to switch things up. On May 1st, we have a topic to discuss: The Shrinking American Church. On May 15th, we’ll meet for fellowship on Zoom.
Many of us have known that the number of people in America who say they are associated with a church, synagogue, or mosque has been declining. I wasn’t aware that it had fallen below 50% of the US population until I read the statistics in the Boston Globe last week. As recently as 1999, 70% of the population said they were associated with a house of worship.
What happened in the last 20 years? Is it an increasing godlessness in America? Is it “an allergic reaction to the religious right” as one of the articles below comments? And, is there something which Trinity Church can do to change the trend?
There are links to two articles below, one from the Boston Globe, and letters to the editor concerning the article in the Globe.
Let’s talk about this on May 1st. I hope to see you on both the 1st and the 15th.
For more information or to add yourself to the Saturday Breakfast Fellowship email list, please contact Tom Danforth at [email protected]
Tom
Links:
Religion in America is fading, but true believers are everywhere
Can you believe it? Religion’s been taking a hit
It’s Time To Rethink American Churches
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Worcester Fellowship Needs You!
Donations needed
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Hello! My name is Savannah from our Trinity Church Outreach team. I have written this article to inform you about this wonderful opportunity that some of you may want to participate in. “Worcester Fellowship imagines a church where people with housing and people without housing gather together to share worship, to build community, to know God’s infinite love and find ‘home’ as part of the Body of Christ, the Church.” Worcester fellowship is a way to give back to the community. One of the ways that we support Worcester Fellowship is by providing lunches which are handed out at Sunday outdoor worship services. These lunches then are given to people in need in Worcester. Our upcoming date for providing lunch is June 20th, we welcome everyone’s support. The lunches include sandwiches, fruit, granola bars, juice boxes, water bottles and pudding. If you would like to participate with financial gifts, to help make lunches, and/or deliver lunches and attend the worship please contact me ([email protected]) (or John ([email protected]). Thank you!
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These are challenging times for many. If you are not financially impacted by the current situation we ask you to prayerfully consider increasing your support to Trinity Church, to make up for those who cannot meet their pledge, so we may continue to do God's work through Trinity Church. Thank you for your faithful, generous giving!
Please make your checks payable and mail them to Trinity Church: 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.
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Did you know your shopping can earn Trinity money?
Shop at your convenience all year!
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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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.
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Support Trinity Church by choosing it as your charitable organization at smile.amazon.com
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INTERFACE is a program of William James College designed to increase awareness of mental health issues impacting children, families, and adults and to facilitate access to appropriate outpatient services. Resource information and or provider referrals from trained resource and referral counselors can be obtained by calling the INTERFACE Helpline at 888-244-6843 Ext. 1411. The Helpline is available Mon. – Fri. from 9 am – 5 pm. The website has additional information and guides to assist with the process of seeking outpatient mental health services.
Family Youth Services can be reached at 508-393-5020 for information on this program and all other programs it offers.
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United Way of North Central MA (UWNCM) is partnering with FamilyWize to provide North Central community members access to affordable prescription medications. Through this program UWNCM hopes to help ensure greater health and financial stability to community members. The FamilyWize card is Is free – it’s like a coupon that you can use as often as you want. For more information please see the UWNCM website.
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Call2Talk is the Mental health helpline of Mass2-1-1, the statewide human service information and referral platform powered by your local United Way. Call2Talk answers calls through Mass2-1-1, its direct telephone line and the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline. It also answers texts in partnership with Crisis Text Line.
Besides its primary function as a helpline, Call2Talk also provides the following:
- TeleCheck – A phone check-in service for elder adults operated in partnership with BayPath Elder Services and Advocates, Inc. Trained call-takers contact seniors weekly to provide support and friendly conversation following sudden life changes.
- MetroWest LOSSteam – The MetroWest LOSSteam works with area police departments to offer immediate on-site peer emotional support to suicide loss survivors. (in Ashland, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Sherborn, and Sudbury)
- Community Education – Call2Talk offers best practice awareness trainings for community members and agencies including: Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Training, Mental Health First Aid, safeTalk and Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training (ASIST).
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Mental Health:
National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
NAMI Metrowest (Marlborough-Framingham):
Addiction/Substance Abuse Disorders:
The Mass Substance Use Helpline
Worcester Area Intergroup (Alcoholics Anonymous)
Domestic Violence:
The National Domestic Violence Hotline is offering assistance and safety planning 24/7
- 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
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TTY 1-800-787-3224 o If you’re unable to speak safely, you can chat online, or text LOVEIS to 22522
MA SafeLink MA Statewide Toll-Free Domestic Violence Hotline 1-877-785-2020
Food Assistance:
Northborough Food Pantry
Wednesdays 9 - 10:30 a.m.
Thursdays 6:30 - 8 p.m.
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GSA Link
The Link that Connects
The GSA Link is a project connecting local GSA high school and middle students to collaborate, share ideas, and socialize in a SAFE space. LGBT and allied high school students are welcome.
For more information please contact:
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Watch Sunday's worship using the link below. You do not need to have a Facebook account to view this video!
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Subscribe to our YouTube channel and watch a
selection of Pastor Valeria's sermons and our worship music.
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Community Meal Take-Out
We have resurrected Community Meals but in a to-go manner and we need your help.
We will be ordering $5 meals from local food establishments and distributing them to our community meals guests to-go, every Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Trinity Church. Various organizations have committed to monetary donations for these entrees.
But, you can't have a meal without servers, water and dessert. We are looking for volunteers to sign up to donate a case of water or 2 dozen individually wrapped desserts and/or stand in the parking lot and deliver the meals to guests in their parked cars. All guidelines of social distancing will be observed.
If you are interested in helping, please see the available opportunities and sign up here:
To donate towards the purchase of meals, please make your checks out to "Helping Hands Association" with "Community Meal" on the memo line, and mail them to Northborough Helping Hands, P.O. Box 383, Northborough, 01532.
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NATICK COMMUNITY-SENIOR CENTER’S ONLINE PROGRAMS
Mindfulness Meditation with Sharon Meets every Thursday, 1-1:40 pm, free. This meditation is audio only and participants are muted during the meditation portion. Everyone is welcome to join for some guided, some quiet and some reflection with Q & A and sharing. Email [email protected] to receive the Zoom link (different each week.)
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Are you interested in being added to the online church directory?
Please use the instructions HERE to add yourself and your family to the Trinity Church online database.
If you need any assistance connecting to the online directory please contact the church office:
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IN OUR THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS |
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~ Everyone who is currently in cancer treatment.
~ Everyone affected physically, mentally, emotionally, and financially by COVID-19.
~ Nursing home residents, their families, and staff.
~ All first responders, health care workers, grocery workers and anyone who is working on the front lines.
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 Rev. Lee Atherton, (508) 308-7116.
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Deadline for June Tidings |
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Please be sure to have all your info for the June Tidings in to the church office by Sunday, May 23. Your help is appreciated! |
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TRINITY CHURCH
23 Main Street
Northborough, MA 01532
(508) 393-8156
Virtual Office Hours:
Emily is working from home. Please email her or leave a message on the office voicemail. This will be checked daily.
Monday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Tuesday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Wednesday: 9am - 10:30am & 12:30pm - 2:30pm
Thursday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Friday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Rev. Valeria Schmidt, Sr. Minister
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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