36 Main Street, Newtown, CT | |
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Ash Wednesday Liturgy and Imposition of Ashes
Wednesday, February 14th @ 7:00 PM
Ash Wednesday is our threshold into the season of Lent. With Christians around the world, we follow the ancient practice of wearing dust and ashes on our foreheads, a sign of our mortality, of our human limitations and failings. This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s Day, a powerful reminder of our need for God’s all-encompassing love for us.
Together, let us meditate on God’s love for us on Ash Wednesday!
We will offer the liturgy for Ash Wednesday and the Imposition of Ashes at our lovely, historic Sanctuary at 7:00 PM. There will be lovely music as well. Ash Wednesday is one of my favorite liturgies. “Dear People of God: The first Christians observed with great devotion the days of our Lord’s passion and resurrection, and it became the custom of the Church to prepare for them by a season of penitence and fasting.” Let us prayerfully enter this new season.
Peace be with you, Rev. Andrea
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Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
February 13th 5 - 7pm
Please join us in the Glover room anytime between 5 & 7 for a complementary meal of pancakes, sausage, bacon, fruit and of course fellowship.
All are welcome!
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Impersonation Emails
Friends and Members of Trinity Church, please be aware that churches and other public-facing organizations are often targeted for “phishing” scams. Someone creates a false email address and pretends to be a member of the clergy or staff. This criminal will then ask for financial help, or for gift cards, or for personal information. If you look carefully, you will always see that the email address is not the correct one used by our clergy or staff.
Please know that staff of Trinity Church would never ask you to purchase gift cards, and would never ask you for money. Staff members would never ask you to keep a transaction secret. We can all learn to be alert to a communication that seems ‘fishy’ … because it is! It is always a good idea to verify and notify the church office if you have any questions.
For more information on phishing, please click here.
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"Bless This Mess" Lenten Devotional Cards - Now available! | |
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". . .At its heart, Lent is a six-week journey of transformation - and transformative journeys can be messy. This printable calendar will help you and your family “bless this mess,” as we travel with Jesus through the valley of the shadow of death into newness of life.
Each week leading up to Easter has its own set of illustrated cards: each Sunday outlines a simple candlelight service, including a confession, words from scripture, a bite-sized meditation, and a blessing; then there are five cards for each week that feature simple, engaging daily practices to try as we travel the road to the empty tomb. Forty cards in all (including one for Ash Wednesday)!
From caring for God’s creation to fighting for racial justice and equality, the calendar’s themes and activities are both accessible and challenging. Conversation starters over tea, “things to remember,” and concrete daily practices round out this resource, helping to ensure that this Lent, we connect with each other, work toward repairing God’s world, and look ahead to the new life of Easter morning. . ."
Sets of these devotional cards will be available starting next Sunday, 2/11, outside the sanctuary. They are a great way to share the richness of Lent with your "beloveds". Never observed Lent with your family or friends before? These cards are an easy way to start. Adapt them to your needs and lifestyle to celebrate this important season in the church.
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The Creation Care Team calls your attention to this invitation from our Lutheran sisters and brothers. "Lutherans Restoring Creation" are eager to share a resource that faith communities can use to start discussions and inspire community-based-solutions to grow climate justice. The three-part documentary "Regenerating Life" offers attainable solutions to the climate crisis through an ecological approach that unpacks the social and environmental crises confronting us.
Register now to gain free temporary access to the film to watch at your convenience, prior to meeting virtually with the filmmaker on February 27 at 8:00 PM. (Note: you can watch the film w/o attending the February 27 discussion.)
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Our neighbors at Newtown Congregational Church invite us to join them on Friday, February 9, for their next "thoughtful film" screening, "The Occupation of the American Mind: Israel's Public Relations War in the United States." Come to refresh your knowledge of what has happened in Israel and Gaza and learn why we in the US are experiencing so much debate about our support for Israel.
The event begins with a light supper at 6 pm, followed by the film at 6:20 and discussion until 9 pm. You are welcome to bring your own supper or to order sandwiches for $6.50 via the sign-up link below (order by Thursday, February 8; pay onsite).
To add your name to the sign-up list, click here https://rebrand.ly/sign-Israel-war, or contact Katherine Simpson at 734-645-6909 or kroesslersimpson@gmail.com.
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He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
There is a lullaby that I have been singing to my children at bedtime over the years. Its words are as follows:
In his time, in his time, he makes all things beautiful in his time.
Lord, please show me every day as you’re teaching me your way,
That you do just what you say, in your time.
My kiddos will especially ask me to sing this song if the day’s events have been particularly difficult, or they just need to put their busy minds to rest. Yet, what they don’t know is that their mama gains just as much benefit from the song’s reminder at the end of the day, that our timing is not always God’s timing, but we can trust that he is working all things for our good. Sometimes I remind my kids (and myself) that whatever is going on in our lives, this is just how it is right now. Seasons change, situations change, but God’s healing and mercy never change.
As we enter a new season of lent, we can reflect on the seasons of our lives. We can remind ourselves of Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes that God will see us through our seasons and will make all things beautiful in his time. It is a timeless trust, and therefore this song, to me, is also timeless. If you’d like to listen to “In His Time”, here’s a link.
May God bless you as you enter the coming season.
Jennifer
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Join us for some good ol' family fun at Trinity on Shrove Tuesday, 2/13! Take a break from cooking and enjoy a delicious pancake supper from 5:00-7:00 PM in the Glover Community Room. Spend time with some of your Trinity friends (or make some new ones!) and compete in our pancake races. Spatulas will be provided but you will need to bring your A-game!
Upcoming events:
*Sunday, February 11, Lenten devotional for families becomes available
*Tuesday, February 13, Pancake Supper with Pancake Races!
*Sunday, March 3, Make baptism gifts at coffee hour
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Sunday 2/11: meeting in library: pack college boxes and then Rose from Heads up Hartford to speak with youth and parents about summer work camp opportunity 11:15-11:45am
Sunday 3/3: work with all youth after service to make Baptism gifts
Sunday 3/10: meet in library
Sunday 4/7: meet in library
Sunday 5/5: meet in library
Sunday 6/2: meet in library
Sunday 6/9: end of the year celebration- youth participate in service (ushers, acolyte, readers, oblations), photo slide show, honor seniors, cake after the service
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Caregiver Support Group – Winter 2024
Are you care-giving for a loved one? Perhaps children or teens, perhaps elders or partners? Being a caregiver can be isolating. We invite you to a community support group as we share our experiences together.
These monthly conversations are open to our wider community as well as to members and friends of Trinity Church. Led by Rev. Andrea Castner Wyatt and trained Stephen Ministry listeners, we offer an interfaith and non-judgmental space for mutual encouragement.
We will gather on the Fourth Thursday of the month, on these days:
Thursday, February 22 @ 4:00 – 5:15 PM
Thursday, March 28 @ 4:00 – 5:15 PM
We meet in the Johnson Library, on the 2nd Floor of Trinity Church, accessible through the glass doors to the rear of the Church. Elevator access, as well as ample parking, are available. RSVP to trinity@trinitynewtownct.org.
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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 sessions will be held on 2/13 and 2/27. 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, and is open to all.
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Praise and Thanksgiving
For those requesting our prayers
Arlene, Maureen, Janet, Rick, Marie, Jennifer, Joyce, Jacky, Gail, Alveta, Bode, Gracie, Martha, Daniel, Judy, Cheryl, Shirley, Dan, Brian, Barbara, Lucille, JM, Diane, Marie, Erin, Richard, Jean, Thomas
For those celebrating a birthday this week
Mike Speros, Soren Douglas, Leo Simes, Amy Dent
For those celebrating an anniversary birthday this week
Neil & Donna Randle
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