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36 Main Street, Newtown, CT | | |
Newcomer Gathering
When? Sunday, February 22nd at 10:45 AM
Where? Trinity Church Library/Johnson Room
(upstairs hallway, across from Choir and Church School rooms)
An Invitation for all Newcomers and Visitors at Trinity Church … and anyone who wants to say ‘Hello.’
New Friends, we value the light and gift of your presence, and we want to get to know you better.
Please stay after worship on Sunday, February 22nd for conversation. Come to the Library, around the corner from the Sanctuary. Chat with Rev. Andrea, with other newcomers, and with some long-time members as well.
Coffee-Hour treats will be provided in the Library. Little Ones are most welcome. We invite you to learn more about the Trinity parish family. How has God’s Spirit led you here at this time?
Bring your questions about Trinity Church and your hopes for what spiritual community can mean for you. RSVP at: trinity@trinitynewtownct.org or call at 203-426-9070.
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Pantry needs this week
Thank you for all your continued donations for the Little Pantry!
We continue to need a few key items.
Canned Tuna
Canned Fruit
Oatmeal packets, 8 count boxes
Pasta Sauces
Dog and cat food
Toothpaste
Dish soap
No need for canned veggies or soups at this time.
There is plenty in stock.
Seeing the need beyond our walls
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Each year, on the first Sunday of Lent, we begin with “The Great Litany” in place of our opening hymn. It can be spoken or sung, and we have done both at Trinity. The choir and our cantor, Carolyn, will again be leading us in a chanted and sung version of the Great Litany this year, and so we have, or course, been practicing! With all of the repetition of the Litany has come a curiosity about its origins and purpose.
The Great Litany is one of the oldest prayers in the Anglican tradition, dating back to 1544 when Archbishop Thomas Cranmer compiled it during the English Reformation. He created groups of petitions and formed them into single prayers and responses. The Great Litany was then ordered by Henry VIII to be used in church processions when England was at war with Scotland and France.
Drawing from even earlier medieval and ancient litanies, it was designed as a solemn procession of petitions; a rhythmic call-and-response prayer asking for God’s mercy, protection, and guidance. It sets a tone of humility and dependence, and the repeated plea, “Lord, have mercy”, is the recognition that we enter Lent not with our own strength, but in need of God’s grace. The Litany walks us through prayers for deliverance from sin, injustice, pride, and hardness of heart. It also intercedes for the Church, the world, and for those in need, and it reminds us that Lent is not only deeply personal, but communal as well.
As the Trinity Choir ushers us into this holy season in the signing of the Great Litany, I hope you will join in the responses that help carry us into penitence and trust.
May God bless your journey.
Jennifer
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As the beginning of Lent approaches in church school, we will be spending some time reflecting on what that means for us here at Trinity. This week children will receive a Lenten Passport. Throughout the season of Lent, kids can earn stickers to put in their passports by attending church school, bringing in items for Trinity's Little Pantry, learning the order of Holy Week events, participating in Church School activities and more. By working together as a class, our goal is to discover Lent in real, tangible ways.
This week, the children will participate in “burying our Alleluias” as a hands-on way to experience Lent. Alleluia is a joyful word of praise that we refrain from saying during Lent, a season that invites us into reflection and penitence. The children will color and decorate “Alleluias,” then help decorate a special box where we will bury them. When Easter arrives, we will joyfully find our Alleluias again and celebrate together!
| | 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. | |
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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
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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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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.
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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, Lilly, Chris, Lauren, Joann, Larry, Howie, Elizabeth
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Hallie Finklea, Vic Rivera, Ruth Garrett
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