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36 Main Street, Newtown, CT | | Please note: Kim will be out of the office Wednesday - Friday next week. If you have something to submit for the e-news, it must be turned in by Tuesday at noon. | |
A Lenten Message from our Bishops
The Rt. Rev. Jeffrey W. Mello and the Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, our Bishops, shared a special Lenten message on Ash Wednesday. Click the video below to hear their reflections on this holy season.
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The Penitential Order
Beginning on March 16th , we will begin our liturgy each Sunday with the Penitential
Order, inviting us to focus on Confession early in the service. This is found on p. 351 in
the Book of Common Prayer.
‘Rite 1’ – Remembering our History During Lent
On Sunday, March 23rd , we will use the ‘Rite 1’ version of Holy Eucharist, an older
liturgy, found on p. 323 in the Book of Common Prayer.
According to The Episcopal Church, “The Rite 1 liturgies reflect the language and piety
of the Elizabethan era and the first Book of Common Prayer, although the structure of
these liturgies also reflects the influence of modern liturgical scholarship.”
Some of us will find the language of Rite 1 familiar and comforting, as we grew up with
it. Others may find this departure from contemporary language an invitation into a new
awareness of our history. On March 23rd, our Choir will chant the Psalm. And, as part of
our observance of this history, our communion will be shared in silence.
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Free CPR Training at Trinity on March 23rd
I am offering an American Heart Association Family and Friends CPR course to Trinity Families . I am a nurse practitioner and have been a certified instructor for over 15 years.
The class is about 2 hours and will certify you for 2 years in infant, child and adult CPR and choking prevention. I will also teach you how to use the defibrillators at Trinity. There is no written test and is open to about 10 people the age of 15 and older!
The class will take place after service on Sunday March 23rd. If you are interested in joinging in the training, please contact Kim in the office.
Thank you
Maryfrances DeSteno
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Trinity's ministry scheduler will run on Friday, March 14th. If you are currently serving on a ministry team, please enter all "Can't Serve" dates prior to Monday.
If you are not currently serving on a ministry team, and would like to, or would like to learn more about one, please contact Kim in the office.
Options are: Crucifer, Altar Guild, Lector, Chalice Ministry, Bell Ringing, LEV, Usher, Driver, Cafe, Tech Guild, Assistant Treasurer, Nursery Assistant and the Little Pantry.
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Thank you for all your donations!
This weeks needs are:
Peanut butter and jelly
Small cans of coffee
Oatmeal / cold cereal
Canned Fruit
Canned tuna/chicken
Soups
Canned Stew or any Chef Boyardee
Pasta/Pasta sauce
Rice-regular or minute
Canned legumes (kidney, black beans ...)
Shampoo/toothpaste
Dog and Cat food
Grocery or Walmart gift cards
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I need thee every hour, most gracious Lord; no tender voice like thine can peace afford. I need thee, O I need thee; every hour I need thee; O bless me now, my Savior, I come to thee.
In addition our being one week into Lent, we are also almost two weeks into Women’s History Month. There is no better convergence of both of these in church music than Annie Sherwood Hawks’ hymn, “I Need Thee Every Hour”, which has been a favorite hymn of many Christians (myself included) for many years.
“I Need Thee Every Hour” was written in 1872 - a time when women’s contributions were often overlooked- by Annie Sherwood Hawks (1835-1918), a housewife and mother from Brooklyn, NY, who had a gift for poetry from a young age. She was encouraged by her pastor to use her poetry for the glory of God, and she thus wrote over 400 hymns, though “I Need Thee Every Hour” became her most famous one. This particular hymn was inspired by a day when Annie was attending to her daily household duties and was overcome by a profound sense of God’s presence in her everyday tasks. It was a simple, yet inspirational moment. Later in her life, she reflected that she didn’t fully understand the depth of her hymn’s meaning until she was grief-stricken by the death of her husband and had experienced the deep need for God’s presence.
What I appreciate about this hymn is the acknowledgment of our daily reliance on God’s grace, not only in times of crisis, which captures the heart of Lent- recognizing our weakness and the need for God’s continual presence, in joy or in pain. The hymn’s refrain, “I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee” reflects the Lenten call to humility and surrender. We lean on our Savior for strength in Lent and beyond, as we must never walk alone.
This hymn is not in our 1982 hymnal, but we will sing it this Sunday during communion. I encourage you to lean into those words, “I need thee, O I need thee, every hour I need thee; O bless me now, my savior, I come to thee”, a humble prayer to deepen your personal relationship with God during Lent.
In Christ,
Jennifer
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This Sunday - Make your own bug hotel! | |
Express your love for our pollinators by making a bug hotel of your very own! Join us after the worship service in the Glover Community Room to customize a dome of love and care for the garden helpers in your yard. Over the next year you can watch and see how insects use the shelter to make their homes! This event is open to all ages and sponsored by the Children's Ministry Team. | This week in church school we will wrap up our rotation learning about Queen Esther. Many thanks to Linda Cipriany for her help with the class! | |
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Can you identify these Mardi Gras snowmen from our Shrove Tuesday pancake supper?!
Upcoming Events:
Sunday, 3/16, Love Our Pollinators: Make your own bug hotel!
Sunday, 3/30, Signs of Spring Scavenger Hunt
Sunday, 4/20, Easter Egg Hunt
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The Mary Hawley Public Service Award was established to promote volunteerism by honoring an individual who, through lengthy and exceptional public service to Newtown, best represents the selfless commitment and spirit of Newtown’s beloved benefactress, Mary Elizabeth Hawley.
The recipient of the Mary Hawley Public Service Award will be recognized for their contributions to Newtown by having their name listed on a plaque at Edmond Town Hall, as well as receiving a personalized memento to commemorate the achievement. In addition, Newtown Savings Bank will donate $1,000 to a Newtown-based nonprofit of the recipient’s choosing.
The award serves two functions:
1. It will serve as an annual reminder to the Newtown community of the remarkable contributions that Mary Hawley made to Newtown. She alone is single-handedly responsible for much of Newtown’s treasured infrastructure — the library, town hall, Hawley School, Newtown Village Cemetery, the Soldiers and Sailor’s Monument. It is truly an astounding legacy that should be and now will be formally remembered every year.
2. The award will serve as a vehicle for promoting volunteerism by recognizing prolonged, outstanding individual commitment to selflessly serving the community and its citizens.
If you know anyone who you think deserves to be considered for this prestigious recognition, please submit a completed nomination form available online or pick up a hard copy nomination form at the following locations: C. H. Booth Library, Newtown Bee, Newtown Senior Center and Newtown Community Center, which will be available March 3, 2025. The nomination period will open on March 3, 2025 and close on May 2, 2025.
For questions or additional information please contact: Bronson Hawley at 203-209-4983 Maureen Crick Owen at 203-733-4562.
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Chapel on the Green
If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. John 13:14-17
Chapel on the Green at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Haven commemorates Maundy Thursday, the day that Jesus washed his disciples' feet, by washing the feet of the most vulnerable - those experiencing homelessness. The event is on Maundy Thursday, April 17th, with an outdoor worship service at 2:00 pm, followed by a foot clinic and health fair with volunteers from Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center from 2:30-4:00 pm. If you would like to be a part of this outreach ministry by volunteering for the foot washing clinic or to find out more information please contact Noelle D'Agostino by email or by phone 203.581.0497.
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Christian Yoga
Join Christian Yoga class on alternating Tuesdays at 7 pm for an hour of movement that beautifully intertwines prayer and scripture. This is a great way to connect to yourself, with others and with God. The next session will be held on 3/25 and 4/8. All are welcome!
Free will offering is completely voluntary.
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Weekly Happenings
Trinity's nursery is open every Sunday from 9:15 - 11:15, and is professionally staffed by Wee Care Nanny Agency. Click here to review the nursery guidelines.
Trinity's Grief Support Group runs every first and third Thursday of the month from 4-5:15pm, and is open to all.
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Should you wish to make a donation to LL, please mail a check to First Congregational Church of Ridgefield (FCC), 103 Main Street, Ridgefield, Ct 06877. The memo line should read LLGD or click here. | |
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New Process for Vouchers
Thank you to all of you who have seamlessly transitioned over to the new system - it is such a pleasure to be working with Lori Rohrbacher again!
Vouchers can now be submitted virtually. There is a new page on Trinity's website (Vouchers). Please use this online form as a way to submit vouchers. If you need help learning this new system, please contact Kim.
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Praise and Thanksgiving
For those requesting our prayers
Maureen, Janet, Rick, Marie, Jennifer, Joyce, Jacky, Gail, Alveta, Bode, Gracie, Martha, Daniel, Shirley, Dan, Barbara, Caroline, Eric, Brent, Judy, Kathy, Joan, Peter, Sandy, Donna, Abhishek, Minakshi, Phil
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Teo Ewasko, Joe Newell, Brandon Lutz
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