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36 Main Street, Newtown, CT | | |
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
Toilet paper
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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Turn my heart, O God. Turn my heart, O turn my heart. Take my pain and brokenness, shape my life for you. Come and turn my heart, O God.
A common thread throughout Lent is the prayer from Psalm 51: “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” From Ash Wednesday to the inward reflection of these forty days, that same prayer shapes our worship and our music. On Ash Wednesday, the Trinity Choir offered two unique anthems based on Psalm 51, each giving voice to confession and renewal in distinct ways. This Sunday, that same prayerful theme continues in “Turn My Heart, O God” by Marty Haugen, a piece that echoes the cry for inner transformation, asking God not only to cleanse us, but to redirect and change our hearts. Set in a style reminiscent of the meditative prayers of the Taizé Community, this anthem brings us into repetition that is not redundant, but rather deepening and focusing. The simple refrain quoted above becomes a gentle, persistent prayer that takes on a meaningful tone as it is sung repeatedly.
In Lent, we are reminded that turning our hearts toward God is not a single dramatic moment, but a daily choice. As the choir leads us this week, may this song become our shared prayer: That God will create in us clean hearts and renew within us right spirits, opening our eyes and ears to his voice this Lenten season.
God bless your journey,
Jennifer
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Last week, Church School kicked off the Lenten season by decorating a special box to “bury” our Alleluias. We had fun brainstorming creative ideas for how to decorate the box and then working together to bring their vision to life. As we worked, we talked about how Lent is a time to think more deeply about our faith and prepare for Easter. One way that we are preparing in Church School is by hiding special words and waiting to celebrate with them until Easter.
Looking ahead to this week, we will shift our attention to what happens in our worship service on a Sunday. The children will explore what items we may find around our sanctuary that help us worship such as the lectern, candles and the Bible. I invite everyone during coffee hour to continue the conversation by encouraging the children to share what they may have noticed in church or what they may be wondering about!
A reminder to families; your children have received their Lenten Passports! Their passports will remain in Church School so we can add stickers each week as children attend, bring items for Trinity’s Little Pantry, learn about Holy Week, participate in activities, and more. Be sure to ask your child about their passport and what they’re learning this Lenten season!
| | 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
| Communion follows a devoted Catholic music teacher whose life is upended when church leadership terminates his employment after learning he married a man. What begins as a personal crisis becomes a broader reckoning about faith, conscience, and community. Through song, storytelling, and unexpected humor, the film invites audiences into an honest exploration of spiritual trauma, resilience, and hope. | | |
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, Charlotte
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Noah Webster, Cheryl Clark, Richard English
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