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A Letter from Trinity's Vestry:
The History, Decoding the Mystery, and an Ask!
Dear Friends,
It is said, half-jokingly, that nine
out of ten Episcopalians don't
understand what a vestry is or does. Given that the Vestry is the central governing and decision-making body of every Episcopal parish, we wanted to explain a bit about the history of the Vestry and what it does in our parish.
The History:
The word "vestry" traces back to the Latin vestiarium, meaning "wardrobe." In early English church buildings, the vestry was a room used for storing
valuables and for clergy to change into vestments. This became the central
meeting place of the parish and where “vestry” meetings would traditionally take place. In 1598, a decision was made to have groups of lay leaders in each English church charged with overseeing care for the poor of the parish. Importantly, the term “parish” was the geographic area, not just attendees of that church. As such, the current Vestry of Trinity is carrying on a tradition of church governance that has continued unbroken for over 425 years.
Originally, all vestries were “open” meaning all adult (male) parishioners could participate but due to the size of parishes (their geographic locations and number of congregants — especially in the colony of Virginia), it was decided in the 1660s under the “Vestry Act” that the Vestry would become a group of 12 elected members who would serve for life (a tradition that has not continued unbroken for over 425 years).
Decoding the mystery:
The written rules and laws that govern the church's life and operations are called The Canons of The Episcopal Church, which state that "the vestry shall be agents and legal representatives of the Parish in all matters concerning its corporate property and the relations of the Parish to its clergy.” Oversimplified, this means that the Vestry controls the physical and financial assets of the church while the Rector controls worship and ministry events and use of the buildings.The Vestry of Trinity, as detailed in our parish’s By-Laws, call for there to be three classes of five Vestry members who are elected by the Parish at the annual meeting, for terms of three years. Each year, five vestry members “roll off” and five new members are elected. Vestry members may not serve two consecutive terms but may serve more than once. The Senior and Junior Wardens serve as the leaders of the Vestry and are nominated by the Rector from the ranks of the existing Vestry and elected by the Vestry. The terms of the Wardens are one year. The Vestry meets monthly (with one month off in the summer). Members of the Vestry serve as the lay leadership of the parish and are liaisons to the various church ministries. If you were to ask members of the Vestry, we think you would find that they say our meetings are collegial and that the Rector and the other clergy guide us to approach issues with empathy. We strive to be ambassadors of caring Christianity.
An Ask:
This summer, the nominating committee of the vestry (all five of the third year Vestry members) will be working on finalizing the slate of candidates to serve beginning in January 2027.
The requirements for service on the Vestry are:
1. Be a member of parish,
2. Contribute time and treasure, and
3. Be a confirmed Episcopalian.
If you meet these requirements and are interested in being part of the wonderful 425+ year governance tradition called Vestry service, please give this prayerful consideration. You may self-nominate or nominate someone else you think would be a good candidate.
Yours in Christ
Craig Weeks Nancy Dexter
Senior Warden Junior Warden
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Trinity Sunday Vespers at Celtic Service
Mark your calendars for the 5:30 worship service on May 31st, when we will celebrate a special Vespers service for Trinity Sunday centered around the music of J. S. Bach. At the heart of the service will be a complete performance of Bach cantata BWV 78, "Jesu du der meine Seele", performed with a professional orchestra. Last year's Bach vespers was a highlight of our worship year, and this year's promises to be even better. Come experience some of the most sublimely beautiful music ever written, in the context of a wonderful contemplative service.
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Summer Schedule
It's hard to believe, but our summer schedule begins on June 7!
8 — Holy Eucharist
9 — Full Breakfast in Tuton Hall
9 - 11:30 — Nursery Open
9:00 - 9:45 — The Word for Today Bible Study and Breakfast in the
Conference Room (in-person and on Zoom)
10 — Holy Eucharist with Choir (in-person and livestreamed; soloists and
instrumentalists in July)
5:30 — Celtic Eucharist with instrumentalists (in-person & livestreamed)
Regular scheduling resumes August 23.
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VBS Volunteers Needed!
June 22–25 from 9 AM–12 PM
We have space (and need) for volunteers. We invite you to participate. Many meaningful roles are available! Sign-up sheets will be at coffee hour and at the table leading out to the Aston Street Courtyard today. Come make a difference and be part of an unforgettable week of faith and fun. Scan the QR code above to register. Child registration for the week is full, but if you want your child to be on the waiting list, email nanette@trinityasheville.org
Click here to register as a volunteer.
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Outreach Team Open House
The Trinity Outreach Team leads Trinity’s community engagement. Those interested in learning more or getting involved are invited to an informal gathering on June 11 at Highland Brewing from 5–7pm. This is a great opportunity to connect, learn about current outreach efforts, and enjoy relaxed fellowship. Please contact the church office at office@trinityasheville.org
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Education for Ministry (EfM)
If you have ever taken EfM (Education for Ministry), we want to connect! Regardless of whether you did a year or the whole program, please reach out to Rebecca Jenkins (rebecca@trinityasheville.org) to confirm your contact information and let her know how many years of the program you completed.
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Youth Sunday Recap (and Photos!)
Youth Sunday was full of joy and gratitude as we celebrated our high school and college graduates and recognized our youth acolytes on May 10. Our children and youth are SUCH a gift to Trinity, and their energy, questions, and faith help make our community a wonderful place to be. On Sunday, our youth served as ministers of the service—playing music, reading Scripture and leading the intercessions, ushering, and serving at the Eucharist. Graduating senior Harrison White, son of our rector, gave the homily. On Sunday, we also gave thanks for Debbie Cox, our Director of Youth Ministries and Parish Life, as she begins a well‑earned sabbatical after 26 years at Trinity (don’t worry, she’ll be back in July!)
Thank you to @kirstencoziermedia for capturing these moments—you can see more Youth Sunday photos on our Flickr page here
Click here to read Harrison's Sermon
Click here to read more about our graduates
Click here to view our post celebrating our acolytes
(Also - did you miss the photos from Easter? So many cute pictures of families together enjoying the day. Check out this link to see if there is a pic of your family!)
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Thanks from the Art Guild!
The Trinity Art Guild is celebrating raising $7004.10 through this spring’s Art Fair to support Camp Henry scholarships—helping more of our youth experience a week of faith, friendship, and transformation at Lake Logan.
We are deeply grateful to the talented artists and generous community members who made this possible. Scan the QR code above to read the full letter from the Art Guild and learn more.
| | Upcoming Events and Notes | | |
Trinity Men's Retreat
Trinity is hosting a Men's Retreat at Lake Logan September 18-20. We will have a great combination of fellowship, reflection, and fun! We will start on Friday evening and finish up on Sunday mid-morning. $225 for double occupancy (2 beds to a room). Send an email to Chris at jcdecker71@gmail.com with questions or if you’d like to help with planning! Click here to register.
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A Sparked Imagination: A Retreat for Creatives
Lake Logan, October 2-3, 2026
The last few years have been taxing. This retreat, led by author and priest Lauren Winner, aims to nourish and restore the imaginations of those who contribute to nourishing the imaginations of our community — as well as those who are just beginning to live open to their own creativity. To stretch and stock our imaginations, we will engage poetry, visual art, writing about visual art; delve into the histories of words; and practice thinking and writing metaphorically. We will also keep a good deal of silence and space in our day for reading and writing and walking and breathing.
Register here.
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Adults:
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Parents in Conversation usually 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
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Sibling Saints: Adult Forum with Amy (Sundays, May 10-31). Go back in time to the fourth century, and find three siblings who each helped shape the church in distinctive ways. We’ll begin by looking broadly at the Cappadocian church, and then spend a week each learning about Macrina, Basil, and Gregory. Optional readings will be distributed each week.
Children and Youth:
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Godly Play for children happens during the Sunday formation hour (9:30–10:30) with three classes, serving potty-trained three year olds through fifth-grade.
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Nursery is available starting at 9:15 until after the 10:45 service.
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Children’s Hour Ages 3 to second grade meets at 10:45 in the Undercroft for snacks and worship; children and youth above 2nd grade are invited to join their guardians for Holy Eucharist. Children Hour attendees return to parents after the Peace
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High School (grades 9-12) meets Sundays at 9:30 in the youth area under Tuton Hall, accessible from the same stairway
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Middle School (grades 6-8) meets Sundays at 9:30 in the youth area, accessible via stairs near Tuton Hall kitchen.
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Intercession and Silent Prayer Intercessory and Silent Prayer continues in the Redwood Chapel each Wednesday from 10:45 to 11:15am. No sign-up necessary, just come join us! Contact the church office or email Sue Graff at sjhgraff@yahoo.com with questions. “Prayer does not change God, but it changes me.” C.S. Lewis
Midweek Eucharist Every Wednesday, we offer a midweek worship service at 11:30.
Women’s Bible Study meets Tuesdays at 9:30 in the conference room (and online) to discuss the Scriptures appointed for the upcoming Sunday. Contact the Rev. Amy Peterson with questions.
Bible Discovery with The Rector Explore the great themes of Scripture in a new Thursday Bible Discovery series, “Biblical Themes,” with the Rector on Zoom from 11:00 a.m. to noon. Each week we trace key biblical images, places, and ideas and what they reveal about God and the life of faith. Email rebecca@trinityasheville.org for more info or to sign up.
Trinity Caregivers’ Group meets via Zoom on the second Friday monthly. This group meets in confidentiality. Receive support and share experiences of caring for loved ones with dementia. The next meeting is June 12. Contact Corkie Morrill at corkiemorrill@charter.net or 828-508-8527.
Facilitators Sharon Lechner and Page McCorkle invite you to the Becoming Beloved Community book group. Members discuss the intersection of social and environmental justice with the dominant culture of white supremacy. Email pageconnermccorkle@gmail.com with questions.
The Second Chapter Book Group is a welcoming ladies’ group meeting every even-numbered month on the second Thursday at 10:00 AM in the Clark Room. 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 Youth Rooms; AA for Women meets on Saturdays at 8:30 AM in the Clark Room.
The next Daughters of the King meets the third Sunday of every month. The next meeting is May 17. The mission of the Order is “the extension of Christ’s Kingdom through Prayer, Service, and Evangelism,” lived out through a personal Rule of Life that always includes a Rule of Prayer and a Rule of Service."
The Brotherhood of St. Andrew meets twice a month. Their social meeting is on the fourth Tuesday of the month, and their worship meeting is on the first Sunday of the month. Upcoming Dates - Worship: June 7; Social: June 30.
The Creation Care Committee's mission is to deepen awareness of the sacredness of creation, tend to the landscape around Trinity with a strong sense of the spirit of the place, and to inspire others to rethink how they can be good stewards to God’s creation.
Literary Ladies Book Club, formerly Monday Night Book Club, now meets at noon on the fourth Thursday of odd-numbered months. We gather in homes, share a potluck lunch, and discuss novels, memoirs, nonfiction, and even poetry chosen together at the January meeting. We love welcoming new members—text or email Erwin Gunnells at 838-216-6282 or erwin2@bellsouth.net to join in.
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Creation Care Corner:
Climate leader Katharine Wilkinson, co-founder of The All We Can Save Project and author of the new book Climate Wayfinding, will be in conversation with local environmental writer Mallory McDuff at Malaprop’s on May 20, exploring how we navigate climate uncertainty with courage, community, and hope. This is a rich opportunity for anyone discerning how to respond faithfully to the climate crisis as a spiritual and moral call. Click here to learn more and register.
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Debbie's Sabbatical
Youth and Parish Life Director, Debbie, will be taking a two-month sabbatical starting May 11. We look forward to welcoming her back later this summer. Read more about Debbie’s sabbatical on Stories That Matter (link below).
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A Note About Our Prayer List
We are honored to partner with our community in praying for those who need to be lifted up to God. Please note that names will remain on the Prayer List for six weeks. If you notice someone has been removed and would like for them to stay on the list longer, please contact Kat - kat@trinityasheville.org.
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Listen to our podcast: 60 Church Street
Subscribe to our podcast on all major platforms. If you missed the Sunday homily or if you just want to listen to it again, this is a great way to do so on-the-go. Click here to listen!
| Trinity’s CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) offering a weekly Veggie Box with 5–7 organic, seasonal vegetables and simple recipes. Boxes are $30 per week, billed weekly with no upfront cost, and you can pause deliveries as needed. Scan the QR code above to subscribe; you won’t be charged until boxes go out each Thursday. For more information, email leeseabrook@gmail.com. | | |
Check out pics from our community life here at Trinity
We post pictures from our events for you to enjoy! It was recently updated with photos from Easter and the Women’s Retreat! Click here to view our Flickr gallery.
| Subscribe to Stories That Matter: Trinity has a second blog - Stories that Matter. We invite you to subscribe to it! Click here to view Stories That Matter. When you subscribe, you will be notified when a new post is made to these blogs and when livestream posts are created. It's a great way to stay "in-the-know" here at Trinity. | |
Next Sunday’s Lectionary Readings (for 5/24):
Acts 2:1-21 or Numbers 11:24-30; 1 Corinthians 12:3b-13 or Acts 2:1-21; John 20:19-23 or John 7:37-39; Psalm 104:25-35, 37
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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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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. Their next trip is June 4. 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. The next day Trinity will serve is May 19. 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. Tom Griffin 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.
Outreach is a team of Trinitarians concerned about helping those less fortunate in our community. We meet every other month to plan ministries like Habitat for Humanity and Red Bag collections for needy charities. If you would like to help, please contact the church office for more information.
| | | | 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: Laurie Hamilton, Jason Hamlin, Mike Sharp, Lisa Bowen, Annie Jones, Neil Grant, and Lizzy Ray
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), 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), CPT Crystal Frutchey, NC National Guard (cousin of Jennine Hough), Charles Nause, Navy Seal (friend of the Shaws), and Lt. Noah Hasty, US Navy (son of Hadyn &Terry Hasty).
Birthdays (May 17-23): Mike Baldwin, Blythe Barton, Bob Berry, Brad Copithorne, John Fleming, Miles Gardner, David Haden, Caroline Hamilton, Karen Hardy, Paul Hatfield, Mary Hornowski, Carrie Johnson, Robert Mann, Samuel McLamb, Sarah Elizabeth Michalets, Tim Owings, Clancy Penny, Samantha Penny, Christiane Pheil, Wiley Ray, Lizzy Ray, Keith Rudd, Leigh Ruhl, Dorothy Smith, Mark Whitney, Scott Williams
Anniversaries (May 17-23): McLain & John Allen, Ed & Anne Bleynat, Will & Beth Dickert, Tim & Elleveve Donahue, Joe Ebner & Caroline Royall, Elizabeth & Mike Pesant, Corey Powell & Brad Wilson, Judy & Steve Shanley, Wayne Holt & Karen Tanner-Holt, Kip & Mary Anne Warlick
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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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