This Week at Trinity

36 Main Street, Newtown, CT

Worship at 10am on Sundays

Please note: If you would like to make an announcement on Sundays, please email our Wardens Patrick and Christina to coordinate.

Click here to sign up for the Great Pumpkin Challenge!

Search Process Update

The "observation" phase of our rector search is drawing to a close. Thanks to everyone who's shared their thoughts with our committee thus far. The deadline for providing input is Saturday, October 31. The questions are available here, as well as in flyers at the back of church and at coffee hour.

In November, the Observation Committee will synthesize what we've heard and use it to complete the documents required by the diocese. These will be an important part of "advertising" our opening to prospective rectors, so, please, do speak up.

Here's who we are and how to reach us:

Lisa Mages (chair)

Introducing Zelle

New to Trinity Expense reimbursements: Zelle is a U.S.‑based digital payment network built into most major banks’ mobile apps. Its purpose is to let people send money directly from one bank account to another within minutes.

If you are submitting a reimbursement for something you purchased for church use, please consider this electronic option over paper checks. The system is secure and payment is made typically on Thursdays when Eliisa, Trinity's bookkeeper, is in. Trinity simply needs your email address to initiate payment. Please talk to Noel Bellesheim or Eliisa Antel if you have any questions.

Thank you,

Noel Bellesheim

Blood Pressure Screening

The Parish Nurse Program will be hosting our monthly blood pressure screening this Sunday after the service during coffee hour.

We invite everyone to stop by our station at the back of the room to have their blood pressure checked. We look forward to seeing you there!

Thank You for Supporting the Little Pantry!

A heartfelt thank-you to everyone who supports the Little Pantry. We are so grateful for your generosity and continued kindness!

Unfortunately, the need in our community continues to grow. While we are fortunate to be able to supplement donations by purchasing grocery items when they are on sale, we still need to cut back on the quantity we are able to provide to each family.

Your donations make a real difference! Please continue to donate the items we are always in need of:

Ready-to-eat meals (such as Chef Boyardee or canned chili)
Pasta (please, no macaroni and cheese)
Canned meat or tuna
Canned fruit
Cereal

Every donation, big or small, helps us continue to serve our neighbors in need. Thank you for being part of our Little Pantry family and for helping us make a difference in our community!

Interested in a Men's Group at Trinity?

Would you be interested in joining a men’s group at Trinity? We’re exploring the idea of creating a welcoming space where men can come together to connect, share experiences, support one another, and grow in faith and friendship.

Possible discussion topics could include:

Religion & Faith: Exploring our beliefs and asking questions.
Spirituality: Deepening our spiritual lives and relationships with God.
Everyday Life: Talking about family, relationships, work, and the things we all navigate in our daily lives.

The goal is to create a comfortable, supportive environment where men can share openly, listen without judgment, and build meaningful connections.

Interested in being part of the conversation? Please reach out to Anthony Pellagrino to let us know! We’d love to hear from you and see how much interest there is. Once we have a better idea of who would like to participate, we can work together to choose a day and time to meet.

We look forward to exploring this opportunity to build fellowship and support within our Trinity community!

The Trinity Youth Commission extends sincere thanks to members of the church for the candy donations. We have almost 5,000 pieces available for Main Street Halloween! Youth Members are encouraged to volunteer to assist with Main Street Halloween candy distribution and Hole in the Wall Gang donation collection. You can sign up here. Please come to the church anytime between 4 and 9 on October 31st.

The Great Pumpkin Challenge pumpkins will be fed to the cows at Castle Hill Farm, Sunday after service. We extend an invitation to all church members to join us to see this amazing scene!

Many thanks,

Frank LaBanca

Jessica Gibson

Rebecca Merrick

As we honor our saints this Sunday, we’ll sing the familiar hymns of All Saints’ Day, which include “For All the Saints” and my personal favorite, “I Sing a Song of the Saints of God”, which reminds us that saints are ordinary folks like you and me who simply strive to do God’s work. The choir will sing a beautiful and moving anthem that illustrates the power of song and how when words just aren’t enough to express our deepest feelings, music can say what words alone cannot. The anthem “Sing Me to Heaven” is set beautifully for the choir, and its lyrics by Jane Griner take us on a journey from youth (“sing me a lullaby”) to love (“sing me a love song”) to grief (“sing me a requiem”).

In my heart's sequestered chambers lie truths stripped of poets' gloss

Words alone are vain and vacant, and my heart is mute

In response to aching silence, memory summons half-heard voices

And my soul finds primal eloquence, and wraps me in song

If you would comfort me, sing me a lullaby

If you would win my heart, sing me a love song

If you would mourn me and bring me to God, sing me a requiem, sing me to Heaven

Touch in me all love and passion, pain and pleasure

Touch in me grief and comfort, love and passion, pain and pleasure

Sing me a lullaby, a love song, a requiem, Love me, comfort me, bring me to God

Sing me a love song, sing me to Heaven

It is my heartfelt hope that Sunday’s music will take you to a place of remembrance, love, and hope.

In Christ,

Jennifer

***THIS FRIDAY, 6PM IN THE SANCTUARY

CAROLYN FAGERHOLM RECITAL****

SAVE THE DATE: DECEMBER 6, 3:00PM IN THE SANCTUARY

CHORAL EVENSONG

Last week, the children explored how God gives us courage when we face a tough situation. We heard the story of David and Goliath and learned that David found the bravery to face a giant because he trusted that God was with him. Knowing he wasn’t alone gave David the courage to take on a big challenge! In Church School, we put our own courage and teamwork to the test with a relay race! Using different objects from around the room, the children had to get foam balls to the other side without dropping them. First, they tried the challenge on their own, and then they worked with a friend. Sometimes a challenge can feel too big for us, but like David, we can trust that God is with us and we can ask others for help along the way.

This week, we celebrate All Saints Day! In the Episcopal Church, we remember and honor the faithful people who have come before us and give thanks for all those who have shared God’s love with the world. All Saints Day invites us to celebrate the whole Church across time and space. In our tradition, we celebrate the communion of saints: those who came before us, those who walk alongside us today, and those who will come after us.

In Church School, we’ll create our own altar of candles and decorate paper dolls to remind us that every saint is unique and loved by God—including you and me! We’ll explore how each of us is part of this connected community of faith that stretches across generations.

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.