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You're Invited to a “Low Country Boil”
Celebrating Stewardship 2025
As we close out the 2025 Stewardship Program, we are thrilled to invite you to a delightful evening filled with food, fellowship, and fun! Join us for a “Low Country Boil”, a wonderful way to celebrate our commitment to the Trinity mission in 2025.
October 26th
5:30 pm – 7:30 pm
Glover Room - Trinity Church
What’s on the Menu?
Indulge in a traditional Low Country Boil featuring several options including delicious seafood, along with non-seafood and vegetarian dishes to cater to all tastes. Whether you’re a seafood lover or not, there will be something for everyone!
Why Attend?
This gathering not only offers a chance to enjoy fantastic food but also provides an opportunity to connect with fellow parish members and celebrate the wonderful programs your gifts of time and treasure will support for 2025. Together, we can make a difference in our community!
RSVP by October 23rd
To ensure we have enough food for everyone, please RSVP by either signing up at church doorways or going to the Trinity website. Let us know your meal preference so we can accommodate all diets.
We look forward to celebrating with you and expressing our gratitude for your continued support and commitment to Trinity. Let’s come together to make this evening memorable!
Warm regards,
Stewardship Committee & Breakfast Bunch
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Breakfast Sunday
Please join us after service this Sunday for breakfast in the Glover Room. Enjoy some Eggs, Bacon, Sausage, Hash browns, Pancakes, Blueberry scones, fresh fruit and
new this month, Breakfast Enchiladas. Come as you are. ALL are Welcome!!
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"A Future With Hope" - An Invitation to Stewardship
Bennett Leake offered an inspiring vision, last Sunday, for our annual giving
to Trinity Church. Thank you, Bennett, for your moving words! Last week, we received
in the mail our autumn Stewardship Appeal, “A Future With Hope.” We invite you to
return your Pledge as soon as possible, as we begin to craft our Budget for 2025.
We give of our prayer, our energy, our unique gifts to Trinity’s many ministries – and we
give money! A word for our many newcomers – Trinity Church is fully self-funding. If
you give regularly, prayerfully consider making a Pledge. A financial promise of what
we expect to give next year helps our Vestry to be wise and faithful stewards and
‘forecasters.’
We are in a multi-year pattern of reducing the percentage of what we take from our
inherited endowment, and 2025 is the year we move down to a 3 ½ percent draw. I am
incredibly proud of Trinity for this outstanding commitment to our future. I will be
increasing my pledge, and we invite you to do so as well, as we meet the financial
expectations this reduced draw will entail.
We continue to juggle low staffing hours with an unusual level of growth in ministries
and members. We need you! Pledge online here!
Thank you!! Rev. Andrea and the Trinity Church Vestry
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A Message from our Treasurer - Noel Bellesheim
Reimbursements potentially delayed: Due to the recent storms in the Southeast, our software connection has been sporadic due to power outages. We are in contact with our provider by email and as the access stabilizes we will be able to process reimbursements. Please expect a delay if you are submitting reimbursements.
Stewardship: Please send in your pledge cards as soon as each parishioner has made prayerful decisions. There are several ways:
1. Electronic is preferred.
2. Paper pledge cards can be either mailed to the church, put in the box outside the office or in the collection plate on Sundays.
After receipt, the parishioner will receive a Thank you card confirming your pledge.
Please speak with Noel Bellesheim or any vestry member with any questions.
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Anglican Prayer Bead Workshop
Saturday October 19th (10am-12:30pm)
Anglican Prayer Beads, also known as the Anglican Rosary, are a relatively recent innovation, developed by an Episcopal priest in Texas. His combination of the Eastern Orthodox prayer rope with the Roman Catholic rosary to create something distinctly Anglican (there are hundreds of ways to pray with the beads!) has been popular from the very start.
On October 19th, we will be offering a workshop introducing Anglican prayer beads. Participants will learn about their history and symbolism, make their own beads (cost $25), and find out how to pray with them.
Registration is limited and required. Below you will see the bead and cross options available to you. You must contact Cindy Anderau to register and make your selection. The deadline to register is Oct 6. Lunch will be provided.
Please click here to view options for Beads and Cross
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In celebration of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi
On Sunday, October 6th, you might just see St. Francis, who so loved all of God’s creatures, at Trinity Episcopal Church! Join us at 3:00 PM, at the Labyrinth/Gazebo, behind the Church - for a time of informal prayer, fellowship and fun.
You will see some interesting critters. Meow, cluck, woof … moo??
We invite you to bring your beloved pet/s – or barnyard friends, for a special Blessing of the Animals as we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi.
Bring your puppy, kitty, turtle, chicken, llama, hamster, etc. Anybody have a goat?? Come join us at the Gazebo/Labyrinth area behind Trinity Church – hang around for conversation.
If you are unable to load up your llama or hamster, we invite you to share in this Prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light; and
where there is sadness, joy.
O, God, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love;
for it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying
that we are born to eternal life. Amen.
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October 20th is Pantry Appreciation Day!
Come to coffee in the Glover room after service on October 20 for celebratory cake and Pantry stickers!
Let’s all applaud this incredible Ministry that celebrates its first Anniversary on October 22! Everyone at Trinity has contributed in some way!
Thanks to -
• All those who donate items
• The teams of restockers
• The Children’s Ministry for bag decorating
• Ushers who bring the bags for blessings
• The cupboard team, who makes sure the donated items are available and organized
• The landscaping and maintenance team, who continue to improve on the original design
• The Vestry and the Property Commission for believing in the project.
And finally to the team who began the project, including the construction crew. They worked for no pay (except for a few beers from JM) and toiled with dedication to install the box onto the Trinity property in pouring rain last October.
Thanks to Rev Andrea for officiating the blessing of the Little Panty and the crowd of parishioners who were there to witness the event.
We also are grateful to the “Community Food Rescue”, “Faith Food Pantry”, “Trinity Day School” and the many other members of the community who have donated items.
And we welcome your donations on Sunday, October 20th.
As we go into our second year, we’d love to see new faces who would like to contribute in some way. Contact Nancy Cole, Marcia DeBrock or Kim in the office.
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Halloween Candy Collection!
Candy collection bins are out at each entrance. Please help us support Newtown's epic Halloween on Main!
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Trinity is the place to be on Halloween! Every year, we have our front lawn lit up with Jack-O-Lanterns for the Great Pumpkin Challenge (more on that next week!) We need volunteers to hand out candy to all the trick-or-treaters. Please click here to join in the fun! | |
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2025 Clergy Professional Development Leave (Sabbatical)
August of 2025 will mark 5 years since Rev. Andrea Castner Wyatt arrived at Trinity
Church – in deep pandemic! We have all partnered in Christian discipleship in so many
ways. We have seen Trinity return to many vibrant ministries.
Rev. Andrea’s ‘Letter of Agreement’ with Trinity Church and ECCT states that “three
months of professional development leave for each five years of continuous service in
parish ministry shall be made available to the rector.”
In July of 2024, Vestry Leaders of Trinity Church submitted papers to the Episcopal
Church in Connecticut about Rev. Andrea’s upcoming Sabbatical, and Diocesan leaders
have approved this leave. She will depart in early August and return in early November.
Rev. Andrea is planning to continue her study of ancient Celtic Christianity on the west
coast of Ireland, and of the Irish Gaelic language. She is also studying the application
of Celtic Christian theology and practice to the contemporary climate crisis, and she
hopes to engage with climate leaders in Ireland as well.
The Vestry is working to establish a plan of clergy, lay and Diocesan support during this
Professional Development Leave - to ensure that Trinity’s high level of energy and
ministry continues. Please speak with Rev. Andrea, with Wardens Christina Lye or
Robert Gardner, or with any Vestry member with questions.
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The Creation Care Team calls your attention to an online program on "Unlawning America" on Thursday, October 10th at 12:30 PM CDT. The 90-minute session will be led by Benjamin Vogt, author of the best-selling Prairie Up: An Introduction to Natural Garden Design and A New Garden Ethic. Vogt will bring his expertise to guide participants in creating sustainable, wildlife-friendly landscapes. | |
The Creation Care Team calls your attention to these upcoming programs at the CH Booth Library:
Climate Change and Connecticut's Forests, Thursday, October 17, 7:00 pm via Zoom
Trent McCann, Executive Director of the Newtown Forest Association, gives an update on the health of our local forests, how climate change is affecting them, and what we can do to help.
CT Lights Out for Migratory Birds, Tuesday, October 22, at 6:30 pm in the Meeting Room
Craig Repasz, Co-founder and Co-chair of Lights Out CT, gives an update on the state of the millions of birds passing through CT during their migration. CT is located along the Atlantic Flyway so many birds use our shorelines and green spaces to rest and refuel. Light pollution emitted by homes, buildings, street lights and bridges confuses and disorients birds, causing them to land near buildings, crash into windows, and circle around for hours until they drop from exhaustion. Find out what you can do to help the birds.
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The Pantry continues to be a great resource to our surrounding community. Thank you for your continued donations to this much needed ministry. Pantry needs this week are:
Peanut Butter/Jelly
Ground Coffee/tea bags
Canned fruit
Canned stew, ravioli etc.
Soups
Pasta Sauce only
Boxed milk, "i.e." Parmalat (stop & shop)
Small Laundry detergent/dish soap
Toilet paper
Feminine hygiene products
Deodorant, bar soap/body wash, toothpaste
Walmart or Grocery gift card-We'll purchase the items
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A rewarding and Fun Sunday afternoon of service
On October 13, the Youth of Trinity along with Mission and Outreach will travel to New Haven to Chapel on the Green to hand out meals.
After our service on 10/13, we will make sandwiches in the kitchen at Trinity, pack up cold meal bags and go to New Haven. The event includes an outdoor service with music and communion and handing out food bags.
We meet at 12:30 and carpooling is available.
For more information, contact Julie Dunn or Martha Dayton.
Please join us in this rewarding fellowship, either by making sandwiches or joining us in New Haven at:
Trinity on the Green, 230 Temple Street , New Haven, CT.
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Am I now trying to win the approval of human beings, or of God? Or am I trying to please people? If I were still trying to please people, I would not be a servant of Christ.
Galatians 1:10 (NIV)
I was recently at “Back to School Night” at my kids’ school. You parents know this one: You sit at your kid’s desk while the teacher gives the parents a rundown of what to expect this school year and what your child will be learning. In my daughter’s 3rd grade class, it all felt pretty straightforward, with this year being a step up to multiplication, division, a traditional grading system, and more homework. I left a little note at her desk for her to find the next morning, and I made my to the middle school to my 7th grade son’s classroom.
The 7th grade teacher took us through the year’s learning plan, grading system, and classroom expectations. But what really stood out to me was the discussion around the growth mindset approach where when students make a mistake on- let’s say- a math problem, the mistake triggers actual brain growth that does not happen when they get the correct answer. These students are encouraged to get an answer wrong so that they can go through the process of solving, which stretches them so much farther than if they had simply spouted out a correct answer. The teacher even puts incorrect answers to math problems on the board so they have to find where the mistake was in the process.
My son’s teacher said that the challenge for her is getting the students to answer questions out loud, even when they are assured that getting it wrong is ok. I asked why this is, and the answer was clear: Older kids don’t want to be seen making a mistake.
We as adults seem to carry this fear of being seen making a mistake, and yet like Paul asks the Galatians, whose approval are we seeking? When our Trinity Choir rehearses, we make plenty of mistakes. I too make mistakes at the piano while accompanying them. Thankfully, it is a mistake-friendly, no-judgement zone! We might laugh a little at our blunders, but then we dig in to find the answer and try again. I like to encourage singers to be “strong and wrong”, as that’s where the growth happens. And, in the case of our choir, that growth equals a greater opportunity for the Holy Spirit to minister through them.
In our quest to be perfect humans, we may be missing opportunities to serve Christ and grow in our faith and talents. In taking the risk of not getting it perfect, we can embrace new ways to help those around us, to serve Christ, and to be an example to those struggling with feeling inadequate. Let’s bring the growth mindset into our walk of faith and see how being “strong and wrong” can actually grow us into “strong and effective”!
In Christ,
Jennifer
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In honor of the Feast of St. Francis we will be holding a blessing of the stuffies! During worship on Sunday, October 6nd, your child can come forward with their favorite stuffed animal to have it blessed. If it is too tough to pick just one stuffed animal for this special blessing, your child is welcome to bring all that they can comfortably hold in their arms. Adults are, of course, welcome to participate!
Later that same afternoon, families are welcome to return to Trinity with their pets to have them blessed by Rev. Andrea. Meet by the labyrinth at 3:00 PM. All furry, feathered, and scaled friends are welcome.
|  | Registration continues for church school at Trinity. If you haven't already done so, please see Miss Frances for a registration form. Our theme this year is "We are God's Masterpiece!" This welcoming and inclusive theme will cover stories about hand-picked messengers that did God's good work. Kids will learn that God does not expect us to be perfect but willing to work together to make positive change. We are just as he made us, ready to shine in His name! During our first rotation we will be learning about David, how he was chosen and his battle with Goliath. Kids will have workshops in music, Bible games, cooking, and video. We look forward to seeing you! | |
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Upcoming Events:
Sunday, 10/6, Blessing of the Stuffies, Church breakfast, Afternoon St. Francis service
Sunday, 10/13, Families and youth make sandwiches, Chapel on the Green
Sunday, 10/27, Halloween costume parade, Pumpkin painting and carving after worship
Sunday, 11/3, Clocks fall back
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Welcome back youth!
(Grades 7-12th)
Sunday October 6 meet in library after church
Sunday October 13- make sandwiches after church and serve them that afternoon at Chapel on the Green in New Haven
Saturday October 26- set up planks and “gut pumpkins” for pumpkin carving after church on 10/27 (time TBD)
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Workcamp
The Newtown Ecumencial Workcamp Servants had a great trip to Biloxi, Mississippi this past July working with Back Bay Mission. They put up siding, painted, worked at a food pantry and soup kitchen and heard the personal stories from the people in the community in which they lived and worked for a week. THANK YOU again to the members of Trinity for your support! We are already planning for our trip in June 2025. If you have a youth in grades 9-12 who might be interested in this rewarding experience please join us for an info session on Sunday, October 6 at 7:00 pm at the Newtown Congregational Church. You can also contact Noelle D'Agostino at 203.581.0497 to find out more.
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Nursery Guidelines
What Trinity Church agrees to do:
· Provide consistent child care, staffed by Wee Care Nanny Agency, on Sunday mornings from 9:15 - 11:15 AM.
· Provide a welcoming and clean nursery area.
· Provide a changing table and nursing/feeding area.
· Call you in case of emergency, needed diaper change, or needed trip to the bathroom.
· Call you to come and retrieve your child should your child request it.
· Welcome infants and children younger than Kindergarten into the nursery.
What you agree to do:
· Retrieve your child by 11:15 AM.
· Make sure your child has been free from fever (100.4 F or higher), vomiting, and/or diarrhea for 24 hours. Also, if your child has symptoms that would readily spread illness please keep them home.
· Make sure the nursery attendant has your current cell number, in case of emergency, diaper change, or needed trip to the bathroom.
· Abide by Trinity Nursery's age limit.
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Christian Yoga
Join Christian Yoga class on alternating Tuesdays at 7 pm for an hour of movement incorporating prayer and scripture. This is a great way to connect to yourself, with others and with God. The next session will be held on 10/22. All are welcome!
Free will offering is completely voluntary.
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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.
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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New Process for Vouchers
Thank you to all of you who have seamlessly transitioned over to the new system - it is such a pleasure to be working with Lori Rohrbacher again!
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, Janet, Rick, Marie, Jennifer, Joyce, Jacky, Gail, Alveta,
Bode, Gracie, Martha, Daniel, Shirley, Dan, Barbara, Lucille, Caroline,
Eric, Brent, Paula, Karen, Judy
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Forry Weatherby, Adam Bowditch, Barbara Chamberlain
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