Sunday, January 19   :       "The Epiphany of the Face," a celebration of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, with Pastor Valeria and guest preacher Kevin Vetiac and a Mission Moment from our Puerto Rico team. Sermon based on Luke 16:19-31  
In Case You Missed It
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and watch a
selection of Pastor Valeria's sermons and our worship music.
THIS WEEK @ TRINITY
Saturday Breakfast Fellowship - TOPIC: Cults and Religions
Saturday, January 18th at 8am
The next Saturday Breakfast Fellowship will be on Saturday, January 18 th at 8:00 AM.

Our topic this month will be on cults and religions. This topic started when I read an article in the Boston Globe written by a person who had left a cult. They talked about the cult and its interpretation of Christianity as “God’s True Religion.” This got me thinking and asking questions.

There are many definitions of “cult” in dictionaries and Wikipedia. One definition (from Merriam Webster) is “A religion regarded as unorthodox or spurious.” There are other definitions but this one will lead us into our discussion on how cults are seen by Christian organizations and how the Bible cautions Christians.

The first two links below discuss cults from a Christian standpoint and identifying cults. The third looks at cults more from a sociological standpoint. I know the last article is long; however, it has a good discussion of cults and religion.

As usual, we will start with breakfast and follow with fellowship and discussion.

For more information or to add yourself to the Saturday Breakfast Fellowship email list, please contact Tom Danforth at [email protected]

Links:
The Truth Twisters

Understanding Cults

There’s no sharp distinction between cult and regular religion
A Conversation with Kevin Vetiac
Saturday, January 19, After Worship
A Conversation with Kevin Vetiac on Sunday, January 19
Kevin Vetiac was our guest preacher in November 2018. His sermon was quite controversial and the Deacons, ONA Team and Worship Team had thoughtful conversations about how best to handle the situation. We've decided to invite Kevin again, to preach on Martin Luther King Sunday. Thankfully, he accepted, with the following words: "Thank you for your invitation and I am happy to accept. I agree that practicing having open and honest communication across differences is so important right now. I have a particular sermon in mind titled The Epiphany Of The Face. It's about how the infinite face of God shines through every fragile human face and our responsibilities towards one another. I think it would fit in well with King's concept of the beloved community and the work that's required to make such community happen."
During coffee hour, Pastor Valeria invites you to a conversation with Kevin about his sermon, and how we can learn from each other and move forward together. We will practice and experience Trinity Church as a place to have difficult but important conversations in a respectful and loving way!
Moment for Mission - Puerto Rico Mission Trip
Sunday, January 19th, During Worship
On Sunday there will be a mission moment about our mission trip to Puerto Rico during worship. After church, we will have a slide show from last year’s mission trip in the Fellowship Hall. Please stop by to learn more about the rebuilding effort by TABCOM / American Baptist Home Mission Society. Thank you to those who have donated towards this effort. Donations are still being accepted and checks may be made out to the sponsoring church, Covenant Community Church with Puerto Rico in the memo field. Please give directly to us after church or mail to Covenant Community Church, 360 Quaker Meeting House Rd, PO Box 420, East Sandwich, MA 02537. Thank you.
 Your Trinity Representatives (Dave & Sharon Chin, Tony & Helen Lewis)
Worcester Fellowship
Sunday, January 19th, Worship @ 1pm
NEW LOCATION through 2/23:
All Saints Episcopal Church (Outside)
10 Irving Street, Worcester
We need donations!  Faith Foundations will be making lunches to donate on January 19th. Donations of food or small monetary amounts towards lunch supplies are welcome.

Join us on the Worcester common at 1pm for an outdoor service.

For more information please contact John at   [email protected]
CO-SPONSORED BY TRINITY
UPCOMING EVENTS @ TRINITY
Worship in Fellowship Hall with Brunch
Sunday, Janaury 26 at 10am
Join us for a time of worship, conversations, prayers, song, and food. You are invited but not required to bring a dish to share. We have a functioning kitchen with stove and microwave, and access to reusable, environmentally friendly dishes! Help with washing dishes afterwards will be greatly appreciated.
Food Pantry Donations
Bag Collection: January 26th

Thank you to everyone for your generosity!

We will pass out the bags on the second Sunday of the month with a list inside indicating the most needed items as well as a special item for the month, but we will have the bags available every week on the bench in the back of the Sanctuary (in case you do not come to church on the second Sunday and you still want to participate).

We will continue to collect the bags the fourth Sunday and deliver them to the Food Pantry, but if you are unable to be in church that Sunday, there is a bin in the hallway marked, “Food Pantry” and you can drop off your bags there any time.

The Food Pantry right now has many more canned vegetables than they can use, so please think about other items to donate. Meals in a can are always welcome.

Thank you,
Martha Michalewich, Mary Kemp and John Posluszny

Adult Small Group Discussion - Book Study
Priorities : Adult Small Group Discussion

The Adult Ed Team will be offering a group discussion based on Anne Robertson’s book Exploring Justice: The Ten Commandments / Priorities. We have previously used Robertson’s series on The Bible, and in this new book, Robertson looks at current social justice issues in terms of the first three commandments.

We will discuss the book in six ninety minute sessions, Sundays February 2 nd to March 8 th, and we are offering two groups, one at 11:30am and one at 7pm. Please register by using this link: https://forms.gle/k9sMCx86ACCjHE5W7 or by calling the church office, and indicate your preferred time.   


For more information, contact Jean Leif ([email protected])
ANNUAL CONGREGATIONAL MEETING
Annual Congregational Meeting
Sunday, January 26th at 11:30am
The Annual Meeting will take place in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, January 26th following worship. Your voice and your vote are needed as we make important decisions for Trinity's ministry in 2020.

If you have not yet submitted your information for the Annual Report please do so as soon as possible.  

Please email Emily at  [email protected] .
KITCHEN UPDATE
Our Kitchen Has Been Completed!

The renovation of our kitchen was a significant undertaking that the Trinity Church community has been working on tirelessly for the past 7 months. We want to celebrate this joyous occasion with those who made it possible: You!

You are invited to join us for our dedication and celebration on Sunday, February 9.

We will celebrate by giving thanks to God in worship at 10 a.m., followed by a reception with lunch hosted by the Deacons around 11:15 a.m.  
CHILDREN & YOUTH
Please be sure that you have filled out forms for your kid(s) if you have not done so yet before Sunday’s classes.

Be sure to fill out all forms for your child's age group.

**We are hoping to involve the kids in communion this year and I have created a sign up for kids interested in helping set up, serve and clean up after communion.**
   
COMING UP:

Mission Trip
 
LAST CALL - REGISTRATION EXTENDED: Our teens ages 13+ will have the opportunity to go on a Mission Trip to Camden, NY from April 20-April 23 for a group called Cluster 13. This is a group that adult members of Trinity have worked with in the past.Chaperones for this trip will be Sherry Clark, Dave Gauthier, Amy and Glen Kwasny. Please use this link to fill out the participant information and return with deposit by 1/15


HELP NEEDED!!

I am going to set up an adulting day at Trinity and will needs adults to run different "classes". Do you feel particularly adept at budgeting, taxes, interviews, applications? Maybe you would like to show your skills of how to change oil or a tire.

WANTED TEACHERS : CE in K-4, 5-8 or 9-12

WANTED ADULT: Youth Group helpers 
I need at least one adult once a month

WANTED ADULT: Builder / Handy Person 
an adult who is good with building and can help us build a neighbor chair.
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.

Trinity Church of Northborough
23 Main Street Northborough MA, 01532

Middle School: 4pm - 5:30pm
High School: 6:00pm - 8:00pm

January 24th

For more information please contact:
Melissa at [email protected] or 508-735-1267
COOKIES FOR COLLEGE STUDENTS
It's almost time to start baking!
Now that the holidays have passed we want to know what your favorite cookie recipes are. As we think ahead to our annual “cookies for college students” it isn’t too soon to start planning to bake your favorite cookie recipes. Cookies get sent out February 9th.

Due to allergies, please do not use recipes containing nuts and/or peanut butter.

We are also in need of packing materials. If you have any bubble wrap or styrofoam peanuts please drop them off in the church office or give them to Barbra Sutherland.

There will be more information to come but we wanted to get you all thinking ahead.

Happy New Year. 
Barbra Sutherland and the Cookies for College Students Team
PASTORAL CARE TEAM
Drivers Needed

Occasionally we have requests for a ride to church by folks who have no transportation. The Pastoral Committee is compiling a list of Trinity folks willing to give rides to those wishing to come to church. 

If you would like to be included on the "Driver" list please contact Carolyn Squillante:
[email protected]  or 508-393-8660.
THRIFT SHOP NEWS
“Count Your Blessings” Thrift Shop is having a
buy one, get one free sale in January! Higher price prevails.

Open Wednesdays, 9am to Noon and Saturdays, 10am - 1pm.

Donations of gently used clothing can be dropped off in the marked bin in the church hallway.
 
Please contact Linda Corbett with questions: [email protected]   or 508-688-9392
COFFEE HOUR
Join us for Coffee Hour!
Coffee Hour is an important part of our Sunday morning and it is a great way for people to connect and for us to welcome guests to our church. Please join us after worship for coffee and a snack, and the opportunity to connect with old friends and meet new friends.

If you are interested in helping to host coffee hour, please see Michele Wheelock during coffee hour or contact her at  [email protected].
ALTAR FLOWERS
Altar Flowers Needed !! ALTAR FLOWER SIGNUP!
We would appreciate your help signing up to take a Sunday. Please click on the link above or below and after you choose a date to bring altar flowers there is a comment section where you can add the blurb you would like written in the Sunday bulletin. Signup Genie will automatically send you an email reminder six days prior to the day you signed up to bring flowers.

The altar flower sign-ups are now linked on the Trinity website, too! ALTAR FLOWER SIGNUP!
ONLINE CHURCH DIRECTORY
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:
(508) 393-8156 or [email protected]
PROPERTY & FINANCE
Online giving is now available through Trinity's website!
Start your online giving here: LINK
For those situations where a person feels inspired to make a donation in support of Trinity’s mission, online giving is now available on Trinity’s website to make giving easier. 
  • After a person clicks the DONATE NOW link on Trinity’s home page, online giving provides them with multiple options of which fund or ministry they can direct their gift.
  • Payment methods include an electronic funds transfer from a checking or saving account, a debit card payment or a credit card payment.
  • The first time that a person uses online giving, they can set-up their profile so that they will not have to re-enter the information, and they will be able to access their online giving history.
  • IMPORTANT: Current members and regular donors do not need to change how they currently give to Trinity (collection plate, e-checks, etc.), if it works for them.  Online giving is being made available primarily as a convenient payment method for spontaneous givers. Unlike other payment methods, Trinity is charged processing fees for each transaction by VANCO, our electronic payments vendor. 

If you have any questions about online giving, please contact Pete Carlsen, Treasurer @ [email protected] .

Start your online giving here: LINK
ONGOING EVENTS @ TRINITY
Pastor Valeria will be at Inhouse Coffee on Wednesday mornings from 8:30am to 10am. Inhouse is located at 17 West Main Street. She's looking forward to seeing you and making more connections to local businesses, and to people who live and work in Northborough. She will talk to anyone, not just members of Trinity. Help us spread the word! 
Community Meal - Community Meal will be at Church of the Nativity (45 Howard Street, Northborough) until the Trinity kitchen renovation is complete. Join us each Wednesday, 6pm. The meals are free but donations toward the voucher fund are accepted. Each Wednesday at 6pm there is a new community group hosting the meal. Please join us!

Coleman House Service - Tuesday, January 21st at 2:30pm.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
Dismas House Needs Your Help
From Dismas House:
Many thanks for your support for Dismas this holiday season! Please consider supporting Dismas. There are multiple ways to help our communities of former offenders working to turn their lives around. These include:

1. A donation to help us heat our homes this winter and provide support for the residents http://www.dismasisfamily.org/donate/  

2, We also are looking for donations of cleaning supplies, toilet paper, paper towels, gift cards for the men, and new heavy hooded sweatshirts. These can be brought to the house - 30 Richards Street, Worcester.

Best regards to you and your family this holiday season, and we hope while celebrating you will find the time and energy to support those in need in our community!
Deadline Date ~ February Tidings
Please be sure to have all your info for the February Tidings in to the church office by Sunday, January 26, 2019. Your help is appreciated!
TRINITY CHURCH
23 Main Street ~ Northborough, MA 01532
(508) 393-8156

Office Hours :
Monday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Tuesday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Wednesday: 9am - 10:30am & 11:30am - 2:30pm
Thursday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
Friday: 9am - Noon & 1pm - 2:30pm
 

Rev. Valeria Schmidt, Sr. Pastor


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.