Volume 74 - No. 11 | November 2022

NOVEMBER TIDINGS 2022

Worship on Sunday November 6, 2022 at 10:00am

Communion Sunday

If you are worshiping from home, please have a piece of bread or cracker and a drink ready for Communion.


The service will also be live streamed to Facebook.

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 8:30am.


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.

FROM PASTOR WILL

Gratitude as a Spiritual Practice


Reflections and ideas shared by Pastor Will

 

On the Spirituality and Practice blog, Patricia Adams Farmer raises this question –

 

Is it appropriate to be grateful in times as perilous as these?

 

But where else can our energy come from to “be the change” if, like flailing fish, we get hooked on despair?

 

Gratitude can help us get our bearings and be open to fresh possibilities for creativity.

 

Gratitude is about giving thanks to God and appreciating the blessings of life. I’ll be sharing more with you on this topic throughout the month of November.

 

Here are some simple ways you can make gratitude part of your daily life, courtesy of Spirituality and Practice 

 

  • Picking up a spoon to eat a meal is my cue to practice gratitude.
  • Every time I walk in the door of my home, I am reminded to count my blessings.
  • On my birthday, I vow to practice gratitude during the new year.


SONG OF THE MONTH

Give Thanks - Chalice Hymnal #528


Give thanks with a grateful heart, 

give thanks to the Holy one, 

give thanks because he's given Jesus Christ his son.

Give son.

And now let the weak say " I am strong";

let the poor say "I am rich" because of what the Lord has done

for us And us. Give us. Give thanks!

FROM THE DEACONS

2023 Stewardship Campaign

The Kick-Off for our 2023 Stewardship Campaign was Oct 30th. Please prayerfully consider your pledge and return your pledge card on Celebration Sunday, Nov 13th. Join us for a potluck lunch that Sunday after worship to celebrate our pledges for 2023.


Leadership and Ministry Teams

We are delighted that Pastor Will has joined us as our interim pastor. But our work doesn't stop there. In January we will be forming a Search Committee to look for a permanent ("settled") pastor. We need your help, and if you are interested in being on the committee, please let Jean Leif or one of the Deacons know.


Also, with 2023 just around the corner, the Deacons would like to encourage everyone to consider joining one of our many ministry teams next year. It takes all of us working together to be a successful church, and we hope everyone can find at least one way to participate. Need more information about our ministry teams and what they do? Here is a description of each team:


Search Committee for calling a Settled Pastor

This is a newly-formed team that will work with the congregation to discern the vision for our church, develop a church profile, identify candidates, and present a finalist to the congregation for a vote. Read more.


Dunkin' Donut Gift Cards

During the month of November we will be collecting Dunkin' Donut gift cards to give out at Worcester Fellowship in December. Please drop them in the collection plate or bring them to the office.


Your Board of Deacons: Jean Leif, Amy Kwazny, June Hamilton, Julia Woodward, Lorna Helms, Kalpana Samuel, Barbara Sutherland, and Lynn Garry

FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR

Hello Trinity Community,


The month of November has some exciting “new” music coming to our worship. 

  • Nov 6th - Solo singing performance by Benjamin Arnold.
  • Nov 13th - Stewardship Sunday & Return of our Worship Band (with some new faces!)
  • Nov 20th - First appearance of Adult Voice Choir
  • Nov 27th - First Sunday of Advent - Introduce seasonal music to be used through Advent


I hope everyone is able to attend weekly services so you don’t miss out. Even if you cannot attend, please check out the Facebook recordings on your own time to enjoy the music gifts that our community is bringing to us.


November is a transition month for church music. In addition to the week-to-week worship happenings and musical engagements, work is happening behind the scenes to prepare for the Advent and Christmas seasons. On the first week of Advent, we will be incorporating a “Light the Advent Candle” hymn to use each week through the season. Hand Bell Choir and Adult Voice Choir have begun preparations for their Lessons & Carols Music Service on December 18th. If you still want to participate with these groups, please reach out to me or Tom Danforth to discuss how you can be included in future rehearsals. If you are still on the fence, I encourage you to attend our Music Christmas Service to see what to expect. 


Have any feedback, suggestions, or requests? Send them my way or the worship creativity team. We will do our best to build meaningful worship experiences for all or participate.


As we enter into the seasons of thanksgiving, community, and giving, I leave you with one of my favorite inspirational quotes.


“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.”

~ John Wesley



Until We Meet Again,


Scott Arnold (he/him)

Music Director of 

Trinity Church of Northborough 

FROM OUR CE DIRECTOR

It has been wonderful to see kids signing up for our programs! We will continue next month by sharing a children's time during our church service. Please check out the flyers below for information on our Trinity Tots program, and Community A.C.T.S. (a new community service group specifically designed for youth).


Our Community A.C.T.S group is hard at work! We plan to distribute our bags before Thanksgiving. Please considering bringing in some items to donate to our Blessing Bags! You can also use our wishlist for click and ship items CLICK HERE:


We are also flipping the script on our Christmas pageant this year and we are looking for adult volunteers who want to have some fun performing for the kids. Please reach out to Sherry if interested.


We need your help! In order to run a variety of programming for our youth we need volunteers. Do you enjoy being around our littlest members, love to dig in and make a difference in the community or have interest in being a sub for our sexual health class? Is it more your speed to help decorate the trinity altar as part of our new altar scaping or telling a story during our children's moment? Please reach out to Sherry at trinitycenorthboro@gmail.com or 508-254-2217.


Trinity tots nov 2022

PASTORAL CARE COMMITTEE

Trinity College Students 


It's time to start thinking about our students who have gone off to college. In the past we have lovingly baked and mailed out snacks along with a gift card to those away from home to enjoy at holiday time.

This year we have decided to omit the cookies due to COVID-19 restrictions and just send each student a gift card to Dunkin Donuts.


We know this would be greatly enjoyed by our students and they can chose their own treat! We are asking our members for donations so we can purchase these cards and mail to either the college or to the students homes. If you would like your college students to be recognized over the up coming holiday season please submit their name(s) and school and home addresses to Rita at: trinitychurchnboro@gmail.com


Also, if you have a student away please provide the college address info or we can send to your home. We don’t want to forget our hard working students and let them know we are thinking of them at holiday time. Please contact Barbara Sutherland with any information or donations.


Pastoral Care Team

PASTOR PARISH RELATIONS COMMITTEE

The Pastor Parish Relations Committee, or PPRC, consists of three people whose purpose is to support and sustain an open and healthy relationship between the pastor and the members of the congregation…and to ensure open and honest communication amongst all parties.


Our monthly meetings include a time of sharing within the group and a discussion of timely matters, mainly concerns expressed by members of the congregation. Committee members and contact information are listed here:


PPRC Members:

Barbara Baker, bakerb2939@gmail.com (978) 562-2460

Forest Lyford, flyford@msn.com (774) 258-1096

Kristine McLaughlin, sicilin.3@gmail.com (774) 258-0285

FROM THE OUTREACH TEAM

Fresh Start Blanket Drive


The Outreach Team will be collecting blankets (new or gently used) for Fresh Start Furniture Bank from now through December. Please place your donation in the Fresh Start bin outside of Fellowship Hall. Fresh Start, located in Hudson, is a non-profit that provides used furniture and housewares to families in need.  


Worcester Fellowship Thursday Cafe


We will be preparing lunch for Worcester Fellowship Thursday Cafe (a free cafe serving those in need) on Thursday Nov 10th. If you can bake or help prepare food at Trinity on the 11th from 9-11 am, please let John Posluszny know. johnposluszny@gmail.com

THRIFT SHOP NEWS

The thrift shop is now open. Our new hours are Wed, Fri, Sat. 10 -2, and we're accepting clothing donations in the marked bins, and housewares donations when the shop is open.

MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS

All orders must be in by 12/9/2022.


Order forms will be hanging on the bulletin boards inside the church as well as on the counter in the hallway where the donations bins are and also in the church office.


Please return your forms with payment via mail or drop them in the mail slot on the church office door.


If you have any questions please contact Rita in the church office for more information:

trinitychurchnboro@gmail.com or (508) 393-8156.

COFFEE HOUSE

ADVENT CANDLE LIGHTERS NEEDED


ONGOING EVENTS @ 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 (508) 393-8156 during office hours.

Pastor Will at Brilla Coffee Wednesdays at 10:00am


Join Pastor Will Wednesday mornings coffee chat. Brilla Coffee (formerly known as Inhouse Coffee) is located at 17 West Main St in Northborough. This is an opportunity to gather in an informal setting, and to show our presence in the community.

SUPPORT TRINITY

Give to Trinity Church

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.

 

Or give online at www.trinitynorthborough.org/donate


COMMUNITY EVENTS

Community Meal Take-Out


If you are interested in helping, please see the available opportunities to sign up CLICK 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.  



NHHA Association Holiday Gift Card Drive 

St. Rose of Lima has supported the Northborough Helping Hands (NHHA) Christmas gift program for over 20 years. As a result of the 2020 pandemic outbreak we have restructured the program so that gift cards are distributed along with the traditional Thanksgiving meal. The timing allows parents to personally purchase needed clothing or a special toy on the child’s wish list. 


NHHA remains committed to Making Spirits Bright for 140 children in Northborough who are recommended by the schools and social service agencies in town. Our goal is to provide up to $75 in gift cards per child and we know that requires lots of helping hands! 


Please sponsor one child for $75 or purchase one $25 gift card by donating online on the NHHA website, https://northboroughhelpinghands.org or donations can be mailed to Northborough Helping Hands, P.O. Box 383, Northborough, MA 01532. For more information contact Colleen Lupien at 508-393-9012. NHHA is a 501(c) (3) charity.


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 Seals at 508-393-8156.

OUR MEMBERS

Meals for June & Buzz Hamilton

Thank you to everyone who has helped make or deliver a meal for the Hamiltons. June and Buzz both continue to deal with health issues and need our support more than ever. We are delivering meals for four on Tuesdays and Saturdays, and have many open spots in November. click here to sign up.

Church Office Closed Oct 31-Nov 4

Please note Rita will be on vacation and our church office will be closed Oct 31st to Nov 4th.  

Deadline for December 2022 Tidings

Please be sure to have all your info for the December Tidings in to the church office by Monday November 21, 2022.

TRINITY CHURCH

23 Main Street ~ Northborough, MA 01532

(508) 393-8156

trinitychurchnboro@gmail.com


Office Hours

Monday thru Friday, 9am - 12pm & 1pm - 3pm


www.trinitynorthborough.org


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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