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36 Main Street, Newtown, CT | |
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Entering Into Lent … with The Great Litany
Sunday, March 9th @ 9:30 AM
Beloved ones, let us enter into the Season of Lent – this first Sunday of Lent – praying with ‘The Great Litany.’ It is a moving tradition, in our Episcopal Church, to turn our hearts to God in the solemnity of these ancient words.
A Cantor will lead us in chanting this Litany, and our Choir will guide our chanted responses. We will be invited to kneel or be seated, as able, during this prayer.
You will find The Great Litany on page 148 in your Book of Common Prayer.
The Episcopal Church tells us of the history of this ancient prayer. It is:
“an intercessory prayer including various petitions that are said or sung by the leader, with fixed responses by the congregation. It was used as early as the fifth century in Rome.
The Litany was the first English language rite prepared by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. It was first published in 1544. Cranmer modified an earlier litany form by consolidating certain groups of petitions into single prayers with response.
The Litany’s use in church processions was ordered by Henry VIII when England was at war with Scotland and France.” https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/great-litany-the/
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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Lenten Devotional 2025: Coming Back to Life
"In spring, after a long winter’s nap, an amazing thing happens: the world comes back to life!
This devotional is full of ideas and activities that can help us wake up, too, preparing our hearts, minds, and communities for Easter’s great celebration. Each week, biblical texts and creation’s wonders inspire practices you can try yourself, with your family or friends, or with your congregation.
So grab your favorite Bible and some candles (tealights work nicely!), and over the next 40 days, week by week, we’ll look for treasures that can help bring us back to hope, back to love, back to life!"
Grab your copy and a package of candles outside the sanctuary starting this Sunday, 2/23, courtesy of Trinity. We hope the devotional will be a blessing to families of all shapes, ages, and sizes this Lenten season.
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Trinity's ministry scheduler will run on Monday, March 10th. 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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Lord, who throughout these forty days, for us didst fast and pray, Teach us with thee to mourn our sins, and close by thee to stay. As thou with Satan didst contend, and didst the victory win, oh, give us strength in thee to fight, in thee to conquer sin. And through these days of penitence, and through thy Passion-tide, yea, evermore, in life and death, Jesus with us abide.
As we are now in our solemn and reflective season of Lent, this first Sunday marks our first Sunday of Lenten worship, our spiritual journey leading us through renewal to a deeper, more meaningful faith. Music plays a vital role in our worship experience this season, and the hymns, anthems, and instrumental reflections aim to help us remember Jesus’ journey through the wilderness and his ultimate sacrifice for us. The music we sing and hear during Lent, with its reverent and introspective tone, beckons us to quiet our hearts and listen for God’s voice.
The hymn we sang on Ash Wednesday, Be Still My Soul, is my personal mantra during Lent. It reminds me that this is the time to quiet the soul and listen. Likewise, our choral anthem this first Sunday of Lent, “Lord, Who Throughout These Forty Days”, is a poignant prayer for divine strength: “Give us strength in thee to fight, in thee to conquer sin”. We need strength, we need quiet, and we need to feel God’s closeness to us in this Lenten season. With the incessant, chaotic noise that we can’t seem to get away from, the challenge is to find those times to quiet the soul and just be in God’s presence. One easy way to find that space is to come to church on Sunday mornings to allow the solemn music to wash over you and to help open your heart to hear God.
“Abide with us, that so, this life of suffering overpast, an Easter of unending joy we may attain at last!”
May you feel the presence of God.
Jennifer
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Coming Soon - Make your own bug hotel! | |
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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 courtesy of the Children's Ministry Team.
Upcoming Events:
Sunday, 3/9, Clocks spring forward
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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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 3/11 and 3/25. 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
Jean Belleshiem, Pete Bundy, Anne Calmels
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