Volume 72 - No. 11 | November 2020 |
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Worship on Sunday, November 1 @ 10am:
"Pray Always and Don't Lose Heart." Worship with Communion.
On this All Saints Day we will remember the lives lost this past year.
Pastor Valeria will preach about Luke 18:1-8
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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 PASTOR VALERIA |
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What a strange month this is!
- We have the election ahead of us.
- Many Christian churches celebrate "All Saints" on November 1, a day to remember those who have passed on. This year, it will be a day to mourn the many lives lost to COVID-19, and to racial violence.
- Later this month we will celebrate Thanksgiving - most likely, very differently from how we are used to celebrating it. As much as you would like to, you may not be able to visit with family.
- The days are getting shorter and the nights longer. Many people are feeling lonely and isolated, and are dreading how the winter time will only make it worse.
- And then, on the last Sunday in November we will celebrate the First Sunday of Advent, a time of hope, anticipation and preparation for the coming Light of the World.
Sounds like enough for one year, but we will experience all of this within one month!
The theme for our stewardship campaign this year was "God Is with Us." Just as church experts will tell us that stewardship happens year round, meaning that we receive blessings from God year round and are called to be good stewards of those blessings and use them to do God's work in the world - our theme, "God Is With Us" also holds true year round. And we need to hear it now more than ever.
It sounds trite. And yet it is deeply life-changing if we choose to live as though we really believe it. Because God is with us, we can face anything. Because God is with us, we will make it through this pandemic and all the uncertainties and anxiety it brings. Because God is with us, we can overcome division and hate. Because God is with us, we will receive what we need. Because God is with us, we can be instruments of peace in a conflicted world.
May it be so.
You and your families are in my prayers. Please don't hesitate to reach out to me for pastoral care, emotional support, or financial assistance.
God is with you, and your Trinity Church community is with you.
Warmly,
Pastor Valeria
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WORSHIP SERVICES ~ SUNDAYS, 10AM |
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Sunday, November 1: "Pray Always and Don't Lose Heart." Worship with Communion. Pastor Valeria will preach about Luke 18:1-8
Sunday, November 8: Worship with Trinity's ONA Team and members of the LGBT Asylum Task Force from Worcester
Sunday, November 15: "Healed by the Spirit." Pastor Valeria will preach about Acts 4:5-12
Sunday, November 22: "Reasons to Be Thankful." Worship in the Parking Lot. Rain or shine, and brief!
Sunday, November 29: First Sunday of Advent: "Hope"
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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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"All shall be well, all shall be well… For there is a force of love moving through the universe that holds us fast and will never let us go.”
Julian of Norwich
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FROM THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM |
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Please Return Your Pledge Cards |
Hi Everyone, as we continue our Stewardship campaign we wanted to take a minute to say "thank you" to all of you who have already sent in your pledges for the coming year, and to those who will be sending theirs in the coming days. Please prayerfully consider what you can give to help Trinity Church stay the course. We know that what we ask is no little thing.
God has shown love and mercy to us throughout this year. We are blessed because God loves and cares for us!
"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through the fires you shall not be burned; the flames will not overcome you." Isaiah 43:2
We have seen our share of trials this year, individually and as a community of faith; and yet we stand and we work, and we move forward with our mission every day! Because God has a plan and purpose for us! Because God cares for us & God is with us! May you feel God's presence everyday!
In Christ,
Rob Mulligan & Donna Miller
Stewardship Team
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Would you like to be part of a virtual community that meets on Sunday mornings to create an engaging worship experience for our congregation? For example, would you like to read or act out the Bible passage, or share a personal story? Do you create artwork or write poetry? Are you good at editing videos or other tech tasks like Zoom and Facebook live?
We would love to include you and your gifts in our worship services. Training and practice sessions will be offered. Please contact Pastor Valeria for more information.
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Halloween Fun at Trinity!
Saturday, October 31st from Noon - 1pm
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Halloween Fun at Trinity! Dress up in your costume and your mask and join us on Trinity's front lawn on Saturday, October 31, from 12 - 1 p.m. We will wave to everyone driving by and wish them a safe and happy Halloween. |
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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. For more information please contact Pastor Valeria at [email protected]
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Coffee or Tea with Pastor Valeria on Zoom
Wednesdays @ 9am (EXCEPT NOVEMBER 25)
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Chat with Pastor Valeria 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, November 7th & 21st)
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Hi Everyone -
In November, we’ll have two Breakfast Fellowships, one on the 7th and one on the 21st.
The Fellowship on November 7th will just be a fellowship gathering. This is an opportunity to gather on Zoom and stay connected.
I’m still developing the topic for the meeting on November 21st and will send more information and links to articles in another week – stay tuned.
For more information or to add yourself to the Saturday Breakfast Fellowship email list, please contact Tom Danforth at [email protected]
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ONA Team Welcomes Guest Preacher: Al Green
Sunday, November 8th @ 10am
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Al Green is the Ministry Director for the LGBT Asylum Task Force organization in Worcester.
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Asylum Task Force is a ministry of Hadwen Park Church and a community-based organization dedicated to supporting and empowering LGBTQI individuals who are seeking asylum in the United States.
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Attend Phoenix Rising UCC with the Worship Grant Team
Thursday, November 19th @ 7pm
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As part of our grant project, the team members were hoping to visit other churches and experience their worship practices. Because of COVID, most churches are worshiping online and we can all attend, from the comfort of our own home! The grant team invites you to worship at Phoenix Rising UCC on Thursday, November 19, at 7 p.m. www.phoenixrisingucc.org
We need to let them know how many of us will attend. If you'd like to join us please sign up here:
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Celebrate Thanksgiving with your Trinity Family
Wednesday, November 25th @ 7pm
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Thanksgiving will be different for many of us this year. And yet, we have much to be thankful for. Join your Trinity family for a time of sharing and prayer on Wednesday, November 25, at 7 p.m. on Zoom. This will be an informal gathering for anyone who is looking for some community. In order to maintain privacy the event will not be live streamed.
Zoom Meeting ID: 811 3401 7002
Zoom Call In: +1 929 436 2866 (use the meeting ID 811 3401 7002 when asked)
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The worship grant team has decided to bring the season of Advent home to you! While we cannot worship together in the sanctuary we are hoping to create a connection to each other through the beloved rituals and traditions of this special season.
Packets will include a set of Advent candles, an Advent calendar with a thought for each day, and coloring pages for each Sunday.
Packets can be picked up outside the church on Saturday, November 21, from 9 - 3, at our worship service in the parking lot on November 22, or on Wednesday, November 25 from 12 - 4.
This program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, Michigan, with funds provided by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
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FROM OUR CHRISTIAN ED DIRECTOR |
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During the month of October we continued to discuss Voting Rights and the Bible. It’s really impressive to hear the kids discuss the steps it has taken for the African American and Indigenous communities to get voting status and the suppression of that vote that still exists. November 1st we will finish up our topic discussing women's suffrage and the voting rights history of Asian and Latino Americans.
The kids want to put their faith into action and are hoping that our Trinity community will consider donating to COVE: https://cove.vote/about-cove/
We have also continued to have work days to work on what will be a new outdoor bulletin board! A big thanks to Larry and Pastor Valeria for joining us this month.
The focus for Faith Foundations this month will be tying in the Bible and Indigenous People.
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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.
Other Opportunities:
They are also providing a CHILDREN’S PROGRAM in their Virtual Super Saturday Children's program, they will explore the name we call God and the image we have of ourselves and God. This program will be offered on both days and will be 60 minutes. Each child will receive a kit with art supplies to use for our sessions. We will be using guided writing and drawing activities to engage in multiple modalities of learning and interacting. Our morning session will focus on the power of a name. Do we make the name or does the name make us? Grounded in scripture and spurred on by children's books such as "In God's Name" and "Red" we will listen and engage with scripture, ask questions, explore answers, and share our thoughts. We will create writing and/or art together by breaking into small groups for these activities. Children will be allowed to engage in activities that suit their interests based on the theme we are exploring. Our afternoon session we will explore how humanity was and is created in the divine image of God, through scripture and children's books such as "Shades of People" and "Elmer" we will explore how each person is unique, quirky, and maybe a bit odd at times, but that is what makes us beautiful, divine and created in the image of God. Imagine how boring the world would be if we were all the same, or normal, whatever that is. We will break into small groups to create a self-portrait or a caption of the essence we call ourselves.
Upcoming Dates
We will now be meeting via Zoom due to the cooler weather. This link will also be the one to use.
Grades K-5: post service until 11:45am
Grades 6-12: 11:45am - 12:30pm
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 872 7270 9342
Passcode: 780687
Work days for bulletin board TBD
11/13 Youth Group in the parking lot... dress warm and have a spooky story in mind. 6:30pm - 8:30pm
Conversations with an Indigenous Person date TBD
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Youth Group
Youth Group this month switched from an outdoor kayaking trip when the weather was too cold to an indoor virtual game of Among Us. The kids had a great time hanging out, chatting and playing for a couple hours.
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6 Week Book Discussion
The Social Justice team will be hosting a 6 week book discussion about Waking Up White, Debby Irving's best seller about race relations. The discussion group will start in January, and will be open to the public. More info to follow.
To join Trinity's Social Justice Team, or to hear more about our projects, contact Jean Leif, [email protected]
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NORTHBOROUGH HELPING HANDS - DOVE TREE
Each year your Christmas Giving Tree (“dove tree”) has generously included gift requests from the Northborough Helping Hands Association, Inc., (NHHA) for families in need in Northborough & we have always been ever so grateful.
Due to the impact of COVID-19, NHHA has made significant changes to this year’s Holiday Outreach Program. The decision has been made to give the families a “Gift Card Christmas” by switching to gift cards in lieu of toys & gifts.
We would like to ask you to consider making a monetary donation to NHHA equivalent to the gifts you purchased in the past or any amount you are comfortable with. We will, in turn, purchase $25 gift cards to local stores.
In order to allow families enough time to shop, the cards will be distributed at the Thanksgiving distribution on Saturday, November 21.
Donations can be made on line at https://northboroughhelpinghands.org or mail a check or gift card to Northborough Helping Hands, P.O. Box 383, Northborough, MA 01532 by Sunday, November 8.
Northborough Helping Hands Association, Inc. is a non-profit volunteer organization and a 501(c)(3) charity.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Marcia Roman at 508-393-8763 or Colleen Lupien at 508-393-9012.
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For obvious reasons the Caring Committee will not be baking cookies for our college students this year. We do want to acknowledge them and will be meeting in a couple of weeks on Zoom to make a plan.
Can you please email me your students contact information where they will be between Thanksgiving and Christmas so that we might fulfill this promise. They are vital to the Trinity family and we want to let them know that.
Any suggestions would be helpful as well.
Barbara Sutherland
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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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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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Grotonwood and Oceanwood Camperships |
Since overnight camps had to be canceled this summer, Central Association will offer a campership of $100 for each camper who registers for any of the fall or winter camps.
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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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NORTHBORO JUNIOR WOMAN'S CLUB - VIRTUAL CRAFT FAIR
The GFWC Northboro Junior Woman’s Club 43rd Harvest Craft Fair has gone Virtual!
Offering beautiful crafts from Saturday, November 7th to Monday, November 30th. You can shop in the comfort of your home 24/7.
There are textiles, glassworks, wooden items, handmade jewelry, soaps, knitwear and so much more! Please go to www.northborojuniors.org/craft-fair for your personal shopping experience.
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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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~ A peaceful election
~ 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 Pastor Valeria at the church office, 508-393-8156.
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Deadline for December Tidings |
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Please be sure to have all your info for the December Tidings in to the church office by Sunday, November 22. 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 Pastor Valeria's voicemail on the church phone. (Please note Fridays are Pastor Valeria's day off and she will not check her voicemail. In case of an emergency please listen to her voicemail message for her cell phone number.)
Monday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Tuesday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Wednesday: 9am - 10:30am & 2pm - 4pm
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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