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A Message from Rev. Scott
In Advent, we dare to believe something astonishing: that the God who spoke the cosmos into being took on flesh and became a human being for all human beings. This is the miracle of the season, and proclaiming that truth is what we prepare for in Advent.
If God has chosen to dwell in human flesh, then every human face bears a reflected dignity. From the beginning, scripture insists that all people are created in the image of God. The Incarnation illuminates this truth. In Jesus, God steps into our story and shines a spotlight on every place in this dark world where any person is treated as less than human—especially by those with power.
The Christian faith cannot definitively tell us what the tax rate should be for the coming year. Faithful Christians may disagree on policies, strategies, and party platforms. But the Christian faith can clearly tell us this: every human being is a child of God, worthy of reverence and care.
We also know what human behaviors lead to the systematic treatment of people as “less than": contempt, indifference, dehumanizing language, the slow habit of seeing “them” instead of “you, beloved of God.” These are the behaviors we must name, resist, and repent of. Of this, there is no question.
Advent invites us to prepare not only to celebrate Christ’s birth, but to live as if his Incarnation were true for every person we meet.
By Grace,
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Listen to last week's sermon reflection on our podcast 60 Church St. Be sure to like, subscribe, and share with your friends!
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Bishop of Myra Sunday
We expect a visit from a very special bishop this Sunday! He has traveled halfway around the world to be present with us. Bring all of your young friends and friends of friends to enjoy this annual tradition. Our overall service will be much abbreviated to accommodate our guest. “Santa” is a Dutch derivation of the English word for “Saint.” The Dutch word “Klass” and the German “Claus” are variants of the name “Nicholas” in those languages: “Niklass” and “Niklaus”, respectively. For those who follow Jesus, the story of a man who partakes in random acts of kindness at Christmas is a story of the Saints of God.
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Interview with Poet Laureate Lee Stockdale
Join the Brothers of St. Andrew this Sunday at 9:30 am in the Conference Room for an interview by Bob Zito of our resident poet laureate Lee Stockdale concerning his new book titled Bronxville. All men are invited.
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Christmas Memorials and Thanksgivings
Envelopes are in the pews for Christmas memorials and thanksgivings. We invite you to make a donation either in honor or in thanksgiving for loved ones. Your donation helps adorn Trinity with decoration and music on Christmas Eve. Names of loved ones will be printed in the Christmas Eve Bulletin. Donate Here.
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Gift Giving Tree
Pick up a tag to support Youth Villages (serving children with emotional and behavioral challenges and youth leaving foster care) and Caring for Children (serving over 500 children and families each year) by donating $25 gift cards to Wal-Mart, Target, or Amazon; please return gift cards to Debbie Cox in the church office by December 15.
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Special Guest for Advent Adult Forum
The Adult Forum for Advent will focus on Matthean Infancy Narratives, led by Dr. Tim Owings. Why did Matthew begin the Gospel this way? How do themes in the first two chapters play out in the chapters that follow? We will have a special guest joining in with us via zoom this Sunday. Dr. R. Alan Culpepper is Dean and Professor Emeritus of New Testament at Mercer University’s McAfee School of Theology and a leading Baptist New Testament scholar. He is widely known for his work on the Gospels, especially Matthew and John, and for helping to shape McAfee as its founding dean. He continues to teach, write, and speak in churches and seminaries around the world. He will be joining us to talk about how Matthean infancy narratives shape the rest of the Gospel.
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Art Guild Holiday Market
Please join us for the Annual Art Guild Holiday Market in Tuton Hall during coffee hour following both the 8:00 a.m. and 10:45 a.m. services. It will be held this Sunday and next Sunday, December 14th. A variety of Art Guild curated merchandise items and everything Trinity! Proceeds from the sales benefit Trinity Youth Ministries and Camp Henry scholarships. We hope to see you there.
This year, we are offering embossed Trinity tumblers in two sizes. Get one before they are gone!
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The Needlers Meet This Sunday
The Needlers will meet this Sunday from 4-5:15 for their last meeting of the year. If you knit, crochet, sew, or do fiber arts or handicrafts of any kind, join us! All skill and experience levels are welcome. Come to teach or to learn or simply to fellowship.
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Christmas Notes
Please take a moment in December to write a Christmas note to our homebound members. Letters for each person are on a table in the hallway to Tuton Hall—your greeting will remind them they remain warmly in our hearts, even if they can’t join us in person.
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Christmas Bags: EYC
EYC is for grades 6-12. We will make Christmas bags for the Church of the Advocate, go to the service, and serve lunch on Sunday, December 14, from 12:00-3:00p. Please RSVP by Friday, December 12 at debbie@trinityasheville.org or 828-253-9361.
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Wednesday Advent Recitals
Our Wednesday Advent recital series is back! Concerts will be at 12:15 PM in the church sanctuary, and will last approximately 30 minutes. Lunch will be served in Tuton Hall immediately following. On December 10, Pan Harmonia will play, consisting of flutist Kate Steinbeck and harpist Jessica Schaeffer. Finally on December 17, one of the finest organists in WNC, Tate Addis of First Baptist Asheville will share his talents. The recitals are free to attend, and there is a nominal fee for lunch each week.
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Cold Mountain Christmas Craft Fair
Celebrate the season at the Cold Mountain Christmas Craft Fair at Lake Logan! Join us on Saturday, December 13, 2025, from 10am to 3pm in the Bishop Johnson Dining Hall for festive shopping with local vendors and a joyful holiday concert. It's the perfect way to find one-of-a-kind gifts and enjoy the holiday spirit with friends and family
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Lessons and Carols
Mark your calendars for December 21st at 5:30, when Trinity will celebrate our traditional service of nine lessons and carols. This service, perhaps the most uniquely Anglican of the Advent/Christmas season, consists of a series of readings from scripture focused on the nativity of Christ. Following each reading will be a musical offering led by our Chancel Choir. This year’s service features works by Thomas Tallis, Boris Ord, James MacMillan, Iain Farrington, Jessica French, Richard Marlow, and Harold Darke. The hymns and carols will be led by a professional brass ensemble, and the service will conclude with a performance of “Dieu Parmi Nous” (God Among Us), Olivier Messiaen’s powerful meditation on God’s coming to earth.
| | Upcoming Events and Notes | | |
Reflecting the Season of Worship
The season of Advent is one of reflection. Therefore, you will notice some changes to our Sunday worship. The season's color is traditionally violet, but there is an English tradition of using blue during Advent. Blue is the color for Mary, the Mother of our Lord, and Advent is Mary’s season. As Mary waits for the birth of her child, so do we. Trinity has blue vestments so we will use blue. You will notice greens on the altar instead of flowers to reflect the simplicity we seek at this time of year. Likewise, our music will align with the reflective nature of the season, and we will use homemade communion bread. All of these changes will be “lifted” on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity.
Our Advent Wreath was hand-forged by Western North Carolina Blacksmith Lynda Metcalfe. Lynda also hand-forged Trinity’s entrance gate on Church Street, and our Advent Wreath incorporates motifs from the hanging chandlers in the church and on the entrance gate. The scrolls and floral designs evoke the idea of a cornucopia and a sense of bountiful giving.
We extend our thanks to Mary Jane Gregg for baking our bread for the season of Advent.
To see a full listing of what is happening here at Trinity during Advent and Christmas, check out the Advent Brochure on our website.
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Club 345: ACT's Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Join us for ACT’s "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" production on Sunday, December 21. The show is at 2:30 pm, and tickets are $24 each. Please drop your child off at the Asheville Community Theatre at 2:00 p.m. and pick them up at 5:30 p.m. Limited tickets are available. Open to all 3rd through 5th graders. Please register here by December 10
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Christmas Pageant Rehearsal
December 21, 9:30–10:30 (during the Sunday School hour)
This is our one and only rehearsal for the 3:00 p.m. Christmas Eve children’s pageant. Attendance at this rehearsal is mandatory for children playing major roles (Mary, Joseph, Wise Men, Lead Angel, Angel carrying the baby) and is strongly encouraged (but not required) for everyone else!
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Christmas Trains at Trinity
This year on Sunday mornings, Trinity is pleased to present two model train layouts for all Trinity little and big kids to experience. In the old nursery room just off the Tuton hallway, there will be a layout of vintage Lionel Trains to be seen and enjoyed. In the conference room upstairs, just off the Oak hallway, will be another layout to be touched and seen, where all big and little kids can actually run the railroads! All Godly Play classes will get a private tour of the trains with their teachers on Sunday morning, December 14, and both rooms will be open to all during coffee hour every Sunday through Christmas. All aboard!
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Feast of Lights and Burning of the Greens
Sunday, January 4, After the 10:45 service
On this day, we observe the Feast of the Epiphany (January 7). Epiphany is the date on which the Wise Men, or Three Kings, are said to have arrived at the manger to worship the Christ child. Nearly fifty percent of the Christian World (Orthodox Christians) keep this day as the celebration of the Feasts of the Nativity rather than December 25. The season of Epiphany is the season when we celebrate the light of Christ shining out into the whole world. At the close of this service, our younger members will help us remember those of the faith who have spread the light of Christ, and they will help us carry light out from the church into the courtyard, where we will burn the Christmas greens symbolize the end of the Christmas season.
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Refugia Faith: A Trinity Women's Retreat
Join us for our annual Trinity Retreat at Lake Logan, March 20–22! Author Deb Rienstra will guide us as we explore “Refugia”—places of resilient new life—in faith and nature. Enjoy teaching, music, small groups, rest, and local heritage. Scholarships are available and donations welcome. Questions? Contact Rev. Amy at amy@trinityasheville.org
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Trinity Art Fair
Calling all Trinity Artists! Register to participate in the Trinity Art Fair taking place in Tuton Hall and the Chapel Garden on April 25, 2026. There will be space for 35 artists. Proceeds support scholarships for our parish youth to attend Camp Henry at Lake Logan this summer. Register Here. For more information, contact Marie Woodard, mariecp1111@gmail.com.
| | Christmas Eve and Christmastide Schedule | | |
Christmas Eve
3:00 pm
Children’s Pageant and Holy Eucharist, welcoming all Trinity kids and young visitors. Children arrive by 2:30 pm for costumes. Traditional carols and nursery care provided.
5:00 pm
Choral Prelude before the 5:30 service.
5:30 pm
Holy Eucharist with choir, brass, and traditional carols. Nursery care provided. Livestream available.
10:30 pm
Choral Prelude before the 11:00 service.
11:00 pm
Holy Eucharist with Blessing of the Christmas Creche, choir, brass, and traditional carols. No nursery care.
Christmas Day
10:00 am
Holy Eucharist with carols, a simple and joyful celebration for the quiet of Christmas morning
Christmastide
The First Sunday After Christmas (December 28)
Regular services at 8:00, 10:45, and 5:30. No Sunday School or Adult Formation, but breakfast and a Children’s Hour at 10:30.
The Second Sunday After Christmas (January 4)
Regular schedule resumes, including Sunday School for all ages. The 10:45 service features the Feast of Lights and Burning of the Greens, where our young members help carry the light out and burn the Christmas greens. This marks the end of Christmas and anticipates Epiphany (January 6), when many Christians celebrate the visit of the Wise Men to Jesus.
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On Sundays during Advent, the Adult Forum be studying Matthew's Infancy Narratives, led by Dr. Tim Owings. Why did Matthew begin the Gospel this way? How do themes in the first two chapters play out in the chapters that follow? The four-week study will be held for in the Undercroft during formation hour (9:30).
Parents in Conversation
Parents in Conversation meets in the Clark Room during the Sunday formation hour (9:30–10:30) for informal conversations about life and parenting. All are welcome. Contact the Rev. Amy Peterson with questions.
Children and Youth:
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Goldy Play for Children: Usually, During Sunday formation hour (9:30–10:30) with three classes, serving potty-trained three year olds through fifth-grade. Classes meet downstairs. However, this Sunday, classes are cancelled for Advent Wreath Making.
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Nursery is available starting at 9:15 until after the 10:45 service for infants through three-year-olds who are not yet potty-trained.
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Children's Hour: (ages 3 to 2nd grade) meets at 10:45 in the Undercroft for snacks and worship; children return to parents after the Peace
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Middle School: (grades 6-8) Usually meets Sundays at 9:30 in the youth area, accessible via stairs near Tuton Hall kitchen but classes are cancelled this Sunday for Advent Wreath Making
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High School: (grades 9-12) Usually meets Sundays at 9:30 in the youth area under Tuton Hall, accessible from the same stairway but classes are cancelled this Sunday for Advent Wreath Making.
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Midweek Eucharist Every Wednesday, we offer a midweek worship service at 12:15 (ending around 12:45). During Advent (12/3, 12/10, 12/17), this service will move to 11:30am to accommodate the Advent Recital Series and lunch directly following.
Bible Discovery with The Rector happens on Thursdays at 11:00 AM via Zoom. Current study theme: “The Character of God.” Email Rebecca Jenkins at rebecca@trinityasheville.org to join.
Becoming Beloved Community book group explores social & environmental justice issues linked to white supremacy culture. Email Page McCorckle at pageconnermccorkle@gmail.com with questions
Women’s Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 9:30 AM, in the conference room and online, to discuss upcoming Sunday Scriptures. Contact Rev. Amy Peterson with questions.
Trinity Caregivers’ Group meets via Zoom on the second Friday monthly. Support and share experiences caring for loved ones with dementia. Contact Corkie Morrill at corkiemorrill@charter.net or 828-508-8527.
The Second Chapter Book Group is a welcoming ladies’ group meeting every other even-numbered month on the second Thursday at 10:00 AM in the Clark Room. The next meeting is December 11, 2025. Contact Barbara Fotinos for details: bfotinos@gmail.com.
AA meetings: Monday–Friday mornings at 7:00 AM, Tuesday & Friday evenings at 8:00 PM, Saturday mornings at 8:00 AM, all in the Undercroft. Al-Anon and Alateen meet Sundays at 5:00 PM in the Clark Room
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Creation Care Corner
“Planting your roots on the land in which you live is the only way to restore harmony and balance on Earth. The alternative is extremely bleak. If we fail to connect with the land in a very real and tangible way, we might still have a good life. But why miss out on the fullest of what life has to offer? Why miss out on learning from the greatest teacher, the Earth herself? Why miss seeing the beauty that awaits us in a renewed and fruitful relationship of mutual caring?” - Dr. Randy Woodley, Becoming Beloved
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Stock Gifts to Trinity
Christmas is a time when many parishioners, for tax reasons, transfer stock to fulfill their pledge. If you’re interested in giving a stock gift to Trinity, this is the information your broker will need:
Charles Schwab FBO Trinity Episcopal Church/Parish Donations
Acct #4278-1788
DTC#0164
Also, please notify Jan Hildebrand of your stock transfer so that she can identify and give you immediate credit for your gift. Thank you so much for your continued support of Trinity Parish. Please call or email Jan at jan@trinityasheville.com if you have any questions.
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Have an an announcement for Friday emails?
If you would like your group's announcement to be included in the Friday emails or the Sunday Times, please email Kat Lomuscio.
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Volunteer
Check out Trinity’s website to learn more about opportunities to serve the church and world.
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Children and Youth Mentors Needed: Help create a safe, supportive space for youth to learn about Christ. Contact Nanette (nanette@trinityasheville.org) or Debbie (debbie@trinityasheville.org) to get involved.
Lake Logan Volunteers: Join us every Thursday for fellowship and service including painting, repairs, and landscaping. Contact Carlyn (carlynpheil@gmail.com) or Fred (fredfairhead@att.net)
Serve Meals with Church of the Advocate Help serve Sunday meals to the unhoused after the 10:45 AM service at Church of the Advocate. No cooking skills needed. Contact Rev. Mike Reardon (mike@trinityasheville.org).
The Appalachian Regional Ministry partners with churches and leaders in Graham County to support one of our region’s poorest communities. Join us on monthly trips to Robbinsville to cook, distribute food, and serve alongside local leaders. Everyone is welcome! To get involved, contact the church office for Tom Goodrich’s info.
ABCCM: ABCCM is a significant ministry in our community; our Rector is on the board. Explore the many opportunities to volunteer.
Trinity Cooking Team for Transformation Village Trinity has a team that cooks for Transformation Village, a ministry of ABCCM that provides up to 100 beds for homeless women, mothers, children, and veterans. We need up to ten volunteers. Contact Debbie Cox to let her know you’d like to help: debbie@trinityasheville.org.
Help cook and serve breakfast from 8:00 to 9:30 on Sundays. Paul Hatfield and Debbie Cox do most of the work, but help scrambling eggs or flipping pancakes is greatly appreciated! Sign up on the bulletin board in Tuton Hall or contact Debbie Cox at debbie@trinityasheville.org.
| | | | You can donate to Trinity however is convenient for you. Our address is 60 Church Street, Asheville, NC, 28801. Text “trinityavl” to 73256. You can also use the “Give” button on our website. Thank you. | | Trinity Clergy, Staff, and Vestry | | |
The Following Immediate and Ongoing Prayer concerns remain for a period of six weeks
unless they are intentionally renewed by calling the church office.
Immediate Concerns: Nyla Saylor, Jan Stanko, River Price, Margaret Joffrion, Steve Link, Michael Godleski, Debbie Wallace, Laurie Hamilton, Buddy Day, Bonnie Parker, Skip Ryan, Neal Owings, Rylan Carpenter, and Jason Hamlin
For Those in Service to Our Country: Lt. Cmdr. Alexander M. Ford (son of John Mark and Charlene Ford), WO. Brendan Gilbert (grandson of Curt Gilbert); Davis N. Graham, Lieutenant J.G. (grandson of Jane Clark), Captain Brooks Jarnigan, Army Intelligence (nephew of Dale & Cindy Carroll); Col. Jon C. McDaniel, USMC (son of Mr. & Mrs.
R. Allison McDaniel), Adrienne Welker, US Navy Band (daughter of Leslie Welker), Gerald Welker, Jr., US Air Force Band (son of Leslie Welker), SN John Work, US Navy (son of Becky & Jack Work)
Birthdays: Galix Larimer, Jim Beatty, Anna Gardner, Bill Brackney, Dan Huger, David Pheil, Don Cole, Paul Faeth, Fred Groce, Miriam Lechner, Katherine Ray, Anna Rose Anderson, Sam McLamb, Larry Papula, William Rawlings, Taylor Stingel, Susan Westervelt, Joseph Cresenzo, Lisa Wharton
Anniversaries: Dena and Gary Whalen, Larry and Gail Papula
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