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36 Main Street, Newtown, CT | | |
Christmas Offering
MISSION & OUTREACH
The Newtown Fund, Inc. and Hurricane Relief Contribution
Each year, Mission & Outreach nominates an organization to receive the collection plate from all Christmas services. This year, we have chosen the Newtown Fund. The Newtown Fund acts as a safety net and support to Newtown residents by paying for many expenses, including fuel assistance.
We also will contribute to those in need from Hurricane Melissa damage. Our Hurricane relief donation is distributed via Episcopal Relief and Development. support/episcopalrelief.org
There will be an envelope in the pews or you can donate online via Vanco.
Thank you all for your generosity all year for our neighbors in need.
Click here to contribute.
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🍎☕ We Need Donations! ☕🍎
Our Little Pantry is completely out of fruit, coffee, and tea.
If you’re able to donate, we would be so grateful!
💳 Gift cards are always welcome and help us restock quickly.
Thank you for supporting our neighbors! 💛
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As I went down to the river to pray, studyin’ about that good ole way and who shall wear the robe and crown, good Lord, show me the way.
It’s a new year, and the choir is back after a much needed and deserved rest. Rehearsals begin again this evening, and we’ll be working on some wonderful anthems for the mid-winter weeks of Epiphany. It’s always a nice, relaxed time in the music ministry as we live in the quiet moments of the season. Lent is not far away, but we don’t want to miss this sweet time in the liturgical calendar as we travel through the life and miracles of Christ in scripture.
As we remember the baptism of our Lord, the choir will sing the song popularized by Alison Kraus in the 2000 movie O Brother, Where Art Thou? for the offertory this week. Many people know and love this song, but it has a much deeper history than most are aware.
The chatter of historians makes it a bit fuzzy to truly know the song’s exact origins. It’s been claimed as an American hymn, an African American spiritual, and an Appalachian song. Some scholars believe it to be a Native American Tribal song that was adapted with Christian lyrics. It has been known with such titles as “Down in the Valley to Pray”, “Come, Let Us All Go Down”, and “The Good Old Way”. Most compelling is the fact that “The Good Old Way” was attributed to George H. Allan in the Slave Songbook of 1867, and this attribution has become the most widely accepted theory of its origin.
African American slave songs often contained coded messages to aid escape. It’s quite possible that the enslaved people were sharing instructions in this song to walk in the river because the water would hide their scent from the bounty hunters’ dogs. The “starry crown” could be referring to navigating their route by the stars at night. The line, good Lord, show me the way could be a prayer for God’s guidance to find the escape route via the Underground Railroad. It’s all possible, and there is plenty of evidence to show that some of our favorite hymns have this deeper purpose.
Still, “Down to the River to Pray” brings us to baptism and the public profession of faith. Remembering Jesus’ baptism calls us to renew our own, and this Sunday is an opportunity to revisit this profound act of faith.
In Christ,
Jennifer
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Our annual Christmas Pageant was a wonderful time filled with joyful singing, smiles, and a little bit of holy chaos. Thank you to the families who supported and encouraged our young children, it makes a difference! It was a beautiful reminder of the wonder children bring to our celebration of Christmas.
Church School returns to our normal schedule this Sunday, where we will be meeting in the John Beach Classroom. Epiphany is upon us, where we welcome the light of Christ and the good news of God with us to the whole world. Epiphany is known in many places as a season of light. This week in Church School we will be exploring the story of Epiphany and creating our very own Church School Epiphany Flame.
In the coming weeks, we will be learning about how Jesus grew up and what happened when he started his ministry. We look forward to learning and growing together this winter in Church School.
A word of appreciation; as my ordination to the priesthood grows closer, I want to thank you all for your continued support and prayers. This moment is the culmination of a long journey; one that began when I was a child in church. I look forward to celebrating with you all in worship this Sunday.
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Service for Alveta Decker
Alveta Decker passed away recently. Family and friends are invited to calling hours on Monday January 12th from 4 pm to 7 pm at Spadaccino & Leo Gallagher & Son Community Funeral Home, 315 Monroe Turnpike, Monroe, CT 06468. Funeral service to be celebrated January 13th at 10 a.m. at the same location. Interment to immediately follow at Cutlers Farm and Elm Street Cemetery, 331 Cross Hill Road, Monroe, CT. Click here for the complete obituary.
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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
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Ruth Campbell, Jack Murphy, Sam Grummons
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