36 Main Street, Newtown, CT

Defibrillator Training

As part of the new Parish Nurse program Trinity has purchased a new Automated External Defibrillator. We are excited to have this technology on site.

Immediate CPR with the usage of an AED can double, or even triple survival rates.  This machine is meant to be used by anyone. We will be offering classes for training by a CPR Instructor. The next training will be offered on Sunday, April 12th after service in the Johnson Library and will take about 15 minutes. Please join us!!

We are now thirty-one days into our Lent journey and approaching our final Sunday before Palm Sunday. We are getting so close to the joy of Easter, yet the most profound week is still ahead: Holy Week. We have reflected, we have repented, and we have asked God to create in us clean hearts and renewed spirits through solemn prayers and humility. Our hymns and anthems have guided us on a personal and quiet path with a solemn tone and thought-provoking words.

This week’s choir anthem focuses on being seen and known by God; seen in our darkest hour, in our moments of doubt, and in our quiet, desperate prayers. The text of the song Thou Knowest, Lord, the Secrets of Our Hearts was drawn directly from the Book of Common Prayer (the Burial of the Dead service) and set by Henry Purcell in 1695 for Queen Mary II’s funeral, and it has been performed at nearly every British state funeral for over 300 years. The words, shut not thy merciful ear unto our prayer, are set musically in a way that mimics human crying as we acknowledge that God knows us fully and yet still loves us and meets us where we are with grace. It is a profound moment of humility and surrender. 

We will conclude our Sunday worship with Lift High the Cross, shifting us from inward reflection to outward proclamation and anticipation as the cross we have focused our eyes upon during Lent becomes our symbol of hope and salvation. Sing out, and sing strongly as you ready yourself to walk the final steps of Lent and prepare for glorious day to come. 



In Christ,

Jennifer

Last week in Church School we talked about what Communion is and why we celebrate it every Sunday in church. The children had a great time exploring the items we use at the Eucharist. We also imagined what we might pack for a picnic, because every time we gather as a church family around the table we are sharing in a meal that remembers what Jesus did with his disciples.



Looking ahead to this week, we’ll read more about the Last Supper as we prepare for Maundy Thursday. At the Last Supper, Jesus reminds us to serve one another just as he serves us. The children will also get to make their own God’s Eye craft as a reminder that we can bring our care and prayers for others to God, and that God hears us. This has been one of my favorite crafts from Sunday school growing up, and it makes a fun decoration for your home. God’s Eyes can be made in all colors and sizes and are simple to create!

This Sunday after church we’ll also have a parish-wide egg stuffing table. Come help us prepare for our annual Easter Egg Hunt by filling eggs—any help is appreciated! We’ll be downstairs during coffee hour in the Glover Room.

As we begin to think about warmer weather and springtime, our church school is looking for donations of both plastic easter eggs and little candies to fill inside them for our annual Easter Egg Hunt after church on Easter. If you would like to donate, please see Rev Allison during church or drop them off in the office.

Lent is a time of reflection and introspection, a time of repentance, a time to acknowledge to ourselves and before God those things done and left undone that can bring sorrow to our hearts. And thus, we might find ourselves confronting some lack of well-being about how things are going in our lives.

When we find ourselves going through personal challenges and difficult times, for whatever reason, it’s good to know we don’t have to go it alone. Stephen Ministers are here, right in our congregation. They have been trained to listen, to care and to provide emotional and spiritual support in times of need—and we all can have them. Such times might include: the sadness of losing a loved one, the stress of a relationship problem at work, an illness, family life adjustments due to the birth of a child or a newly “empty nest”, a feeling of loneliness as we get older. Again, you don’t have to go it alone.

Stephen Ministers are here to be with you on your journey—to offer help, hope and healing. They do so, having received 50 hours of training as care-givers, and they do so with complete confidentiality. If you reach out to us, the only persons who know you are seeking help are Reverend Andrea, the Stephen Leader who works with her to set things up, and the Stephen Minister who will work with you in totally private one-on-one meetings—to be with you for as long as it takes.

This special Ministry is available to you and to anyone you might know who you think would benefit from it—both inside and outside the parish. Speak to Reverend Andrea directly or leave a confidential message for her at the church office—203.426.9070.

May we all keep a good Lent by being here for each other, reaching out to those in need, and enabling acts of kindness and compassion that reflect God’s unconditional love.

Stephen Ministry—Christ Caring For People Through People

Trinity's Stephen Ministry Leaders

Cindy Anderau, Ron Dukenski, Teddy Jameson, Judy Rowley, Rev. Andrea Castner Wyatt

Trinity's Stephen Ministers

Carol Bigman, Joe Bojnowski, Erin Lutz,

Lisa Mages, Heather Pellagrino, Bernadette Shouvlin

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.

Glass and Elevator Doors Open until 9:45am on Sunday Mornings

Trinity’s Ushers offer wonderful hospitality on Sunday mornings! We want all –

especially visitors or newcomers! - to experience their welcome. For this reason, we

believe it is important for people to enter doors that are attended after worship has

begun on Sunday mornings.

If you arrive after 9:45 on Sunday, please enter through the historic red doors on Main

Street. Please speak with Rev. Andrea if you have any questions.

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.

New Process for Vouchers

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.

Praise and Thanksgiving

For those requesting our prayers

Maureen, Marie, Jennifer, Jacky, Gail, Bode, Gracie,

Martha, Shirley, Dan, Barbara, Caroline, Brent, Judy, Kathy,

Peter, Abby, Rich, Cherie, Paula,

Larry, Elizabeth, Annmarie, Darryl

For those celebrating a birthday this week

Emily Toby, Maegan Wood, Karen Corey, Robert Mitchell, Richard Van Waalwijk

There are events happening at Camp Washington - click here to learn more!

We are proud to be a parish in The Episcopal Church within 

The Episcopal Church in Connecticut.