Volume 72 - No. 10 | October 2020 |
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Worship on Sunday, October 4 @ 10am:
"God Is with Us: Joy in the Midst of Struggle" with Communion
on Facebook Live.
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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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Dear Trinity Church,
I wonder how you are feeling. COVID-19 has affected us all, much more than we probably even realize. And it will continue to affect us as we look towards the fall and winter. God sure "messed up our plans," as our guest preacher Rev. Dr. Adam Hearlson said in his sermon!
My sense is that most of us have accepted this: our plans have been, and will continue to be "messed up." We don't know what the end of the year will bring, let alone next year. We try to take it one day at a time and enjoy moments of connection and community as they occur.
And yet... We still need to plan and prepare for 2021. You have been incredibly generous in your faithful giving of time, talent, and money, and for that we are deeply grateful. Can we ask you to make a commitment for your giving for next year? When many of us don't know what our financial situation may be? "Will my hours be cut back? Will I be laid off? Will I get sick and be out of work?"
Still, we need to ask for your commitment.
Because we need to know what we will have to work with so we can continue to live out Trinity's mission, to share God's love with each other and with those around us.
Every year I say to the Deacons and to those who prepare the budget: we trust God, and not the almighty dollar. We budget on faith, not on the bottom line. This may just be the year when we will actually have to live that way: Trusting that God will provide what we need, to us in our personal lives, and to Trinity Church. As God has done, without fail, every single year!
Our theme for this month is "God Is with Us." You will hear these words, read them, and sing them - maybe until you get tired of them, and maybe until you believe them, and experience them to be true.
God is with us in everything we give, in everything we have, and in everything we need or want. And God is with us even if we have no idea what we are doing or where we are going as a church, as a country and a global community.
As a matter of fact, it's only when we don't know where we are going that we will be open for God to show us God's way.
Those may sound like empty words. But they are deep and meaningful to me.
This month, I want to practice giving all my cares to God and trusting that God will take care of them. I want to actively look for God's presence, every single day.
And I invite you to practice with me. Where and when do you feel, see, hear, know God is with you? Cherish those moments. Write them down. Share them with each other.
And now, here's my challenge to you, brave and faithful friends: I am looking for five people who will share their experience with the worshiping congregation at our parking lot service on October 18th. (Or, if you are unable to attend in person, you may send it to me and I will find someone to read it.)
"God is with us and this is when I felt it..., this is why I can trust that we will be okay in 2021...., this is why I want to give my gifts of gratitude to God."
God is with us!
May we remind each other of this until one day we get to look back and say: Why was I worried? God was right there, carrying me through.
With prayers and blessings to you all,
Pastor Valeria
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WORSHIP SERVICES ~ SUNDAYS, 10AM |
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Sunday, October 4: "God Is with Us: Joy in the Midst of Struggle" with Communion
Sunday, October 11: "God Is with Us: Healing from a Painful Past" Indigenous Peoples' Day .
Sunday, October 18: "God Is with Us: Let's Celebrate!" Worship in the parking lot. We will welcome new members and make a commitment to God and Trinity Church for 2021. Please bring your pledge cards.
Sunday, October 25: “God Is with Us: Pray Always and Don’t Lose Heart”
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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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"Rivers do not drink their own water; trees do not eat their own fruit; the sun does not shine on itself and flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature. We are all born to help each other. No matter how difficult it is... Life is good when you are happy; but much better when others are happy because of you."
Pope Francis
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FROM THE STEWARDSHIP TEAM |
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Video message from Donna Miller. |
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“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that God may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on God because God cares for you.” 1 Peter 5:6-7
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Just as we move into Autumn 2020, Trinity Church continues to move forward in our mission to "fill our people with the love of God and to share God's love in all the world." As we look forward in celebration of all the good that God has done for us during this year of challenges, we begin our Stewardship Campaign believing in faith that the God of all grace and provision will keep leading us to even greater opportunities to grow and serve those in need; the broken, cast out, and downtrodden! Please consider the gifts and talents God has given you, and believe that because you were chosen for such things, God plans to use you personally, and all of us as one body to do healing, restoring, and empowering work in these times, in our community and beyond!
Thank you!! Rob Mulligan and Donna Miller - Stewardship
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Fall 2020 Zoom Book Study Group |
As part of the Vital Worship grant, we will be discussing the book:
The Work of the People: What We Do in Worship and Why
By Marlea Gilbert
In our discussion, we will be looking at the different elements of worship (including gathering, sharing scripture, Communion, and departing). We will explore how we can be more actively engaged in worship so that worship becomes more participatory and interactive. Everyone has different experiences in worship and all perspectives are welcome. The goal is to get a deeper understanding of how our community experiences worship.
The book discussion will begin the week of October 5th. We will offer an evening and a day-time group, both on Zoom.
Noelle Dattilo will lead the groups.
We ordered extra copies of the book. If you would like to participate please contact Emily.
This program is made possible through a Vital Worship Grant from the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship, Grand Rapids, MI, with funds provided by the Lilly Endowment Inc.
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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
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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
Every Other Saturday @ 9am (Saturday, October 3rd & 17th)
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Hi Everyone -
In October, we’ll have two Breakfast Fellowships, one on the 3rd and one on the 17th.
The Fellowship on October 3rd will just be a fellowship gathering. This is an opportunity to gather on Zoom and stay connected.
At the meeting on October 17th, I want to talk about mercy, what it is and what the Bible has to say about it. I’m still developing the topic 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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A few people are ready to join Trinity Church. We will welcome them during our parking lot service on Sunday, October 18th. If you are a new friend to Trinity and are interested in becoming a member please contact Pastor Valeria. The group will meet via Zoom before October 18th. |
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FROM OUR CHRISTIAN ED DIRECTOR |
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We have taken the first couple of weeks to enjoy being able to be back together outside as we began work on a memorial project for Al Mosher. We are looking forward to being able to unveil our new outdoor church bulletin board once it is finished.
Starting in October we will continue to have work days to finish up our board and our Faith Foundation Sundays will be spent starting to focus on our Bible and social justice studies. Voting Rights will be our first topic as we lead into election season and support Roland Allen as he puts social justice into action in November.
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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.
Service
We are continuing to help with lunches for Worcester Fellowship. Although we cannot gather and do this as a group it is a fantastic opportunity for your family to work together and provide a great service to others. All materials for the lunches will be provided, I will drop them off to your home and then your responsibility would be to make the sandwiches and bag the lunches to have ready to go. If your family is interested in this opportunity please email or text Sherry ([email protected] or 508-254-2217) and let her know which month you can volunteer your time. Our upcoming dates are: Oct 18th and Dec 20th.
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.
Youth Group
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Youth Group also got off to a great start this past Sunday with a road walk/hike from Trinity. It was a perfect day to enjoy a little bit of nature. Next month’s youth group outing will be kayaking if the weather holds out for us :-) We are also always looking for a second adult for our youth group outings. If you enjoy spending some time outside in the fall we would love to have you join us!
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Be part of Tinity's Creative Care Voter Pledge.
In response to the challenge from the Southern New England Conference of the UCC, Trinity is asking our members to take the pledge, "I pledge to be a consistent voter, and I will always prioritize caring for God's creation in how I vote." Click the link to pledge to show your support for environmental issues. Help us reach our goal of 75% of our membership signing on.
To join Trinity's newly-formed Social Justice Team, or to hear more about our projects, contact Jean Leif, [email protected]
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Let Northboro know Trinity is here.....
As a way of demonstrating Trinity's presence to the community, a few of us will be meeting on the church lawn on Saturdays in October from 12-1 pm. Come and join us, or drive by and say hi. Masks required, signs are optional. Let's show Northboro that Trinity is alive and cares about its community!
For sign ups please use the link below and/or contact Emily for help: [email protected]
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Special Offering
Sunday, October 4
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During worship we have the opportunity to give a special offering to be split evenly between Neighbors in Need (United Church of Christ) / World Mission (American Baptist Church). Our contributions will be used to help others in need. Details may be found at www.ucc.org/nin or
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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 1.
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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FROM THE WORSHIP GRANT PROJECT |
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What is Worship and How Do We Do It?
Short summary of what I got from the workshop with the Rev. Dr. Adam Hearlson, Saturday, Sept. 19th.
By Pam Jones
There is no simple answer to either of these questions. To use Adam’s words, “Worship is wide and deep.” There is so much history to “worship”, there is no time or room to go into it here, but know that “worship” includes many facets: music, prayer, sacraments, festal services, preaching, reflecting on the word of scripture, and art and image. Some of the questions asked were 1. In what way are we giving people what they want? 2. In what way do we give the people something to challenge them? 3. How do we create worship in order to affect some kind of change in us and our world? 4. How can worship reunite us? 5. How much time do we need to provide for silence? The Quakers can teach us about silence. Silence is better than speech. Silence is a sacrament: We learn about God in God’s hiddenness and mystery, not just in God’s revelation. Sometimes wanting to explain things is overrated. How can we leave space and time for God’s Spirit to move us in worship?
We are a people of much diversity, traditions, culture, looks, backgrounds, and experiences. We have “universal characteristics” that everyone has; characteristics that pull us together. We have characteristics that make us unique individuals, like no one else. We have characteristics that we share with some. Each generation has their own tradition and needs to make sense of it for themselves. We get to re-read scripture and make sense of it for ourselves, differently from the way it has been interpreted in the past.
Because of our expansive diversity, what I took from this workshop is that you can’t be everything to everyone. Again, to quote Adam, “By nature of doing it, worship is good. Whether you do it bad or good, whether it is remembered the next day or not. No matter what you do, something will be good.“ If you got anything out of it, whether or not the effect was long term or short, worship was good. Think about what worship has already done.
Adam invited us to think about the parable of the lost sheep in a new way. The shepherd goes to find the one sheep. What happens to the 99? They feel abandoned and/or get mad. Do we try to cater too much to the 99 and forget about the one on the margins?
We may all be lost at some point. God loves each of us enough to come and find us. But sometimes we are called to be like the shepherd, going to seek the lost.
Worship is a rehearsal of what it means to be around the transcendent. Failure, not perfection, is a way to “success.” The cross is the ultimate failure and leads to redemption. Embracing failure and being wrong is how we truly move forward and grow.
How do we balance all that worship is, in our services? Suggested practice is to approach it with flexibility and humility, include some aspect of surprise from time to time, and be with the spirit of God. In closing, Adam wished us “a sense of delight with the task of worship.”
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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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Congregation B'nai Shalom, Westborough, is delighted to invite all of our Connections in Faith to join us for our next program.
- This will be an online program where we bring our program to you!
- Learn about the harvest festival of Sukkot, the temporary booth (Sukkah) that we build in our homes and congregations, and the special rituals of the festival.
- Rabbi Rachel Gurevitz will present an introduction to Judaism and take questions.
- Our trademark Connections in Faith small group conversations will take place in breakout groups on Zoom.
If you are not yet on the connections in faith email list, please email [email protected]. Once we have received your contact information you will receive the event Zoom registration link.
REGISTRATION WILL CLOSE AT 3PM ON FRIDAY OCTOBER 2
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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 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 November Tidings |
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Please be sure to have all your info for the November Tidings in to the church office by Sunday, October 25. 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 & 1:30pm - 3:30pm
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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