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Many thanks to the Rev. Robert Woodroofe who celebrated Eucharist with us this past Sunday.

This Sunday November 15 at 9am, the Rev. Link Huller returns to celebrate Eucharist with us. We hope you can join us!

Welcoming the Rev. E. Wayne Rollins! 

On November 22nd, we will welcome our new Rector, Father E. Wayne Rollins as we celebrate The Eucharist for the first time together. We will then welcome him at a special coffee hour, featuring full breakfast, complete with cake for dessert! Rich and Tiffany Santiago, Ella Frauenhofer, and Mary and Bobby Naeher are working on this event. Please contact one of them if you would like to contribute to this celebration!

Please Wear Your Name Badge for the Rev. E. Wayne Rollins! 

Name badges will help Father Wayne learn our names, and they are helpful for newcomers, and also for people who may be challenged by remembering names.

Please wear your name badge at Trinity! If you need one, please write your name on the clipboard by the church entrance, and Mel will make you a badge.

Cold Weather Shelter Details 

This past Sunday, we welcomed staff from the Northwest CT YMCA who helped us learn more about our guests at the NW CT Emergency Cold Weather Shelter, which is scheduled to open 1 December 2026. Click here to read the handout that was shared. Thank you, Jess Wright, for emceeing the great conversation!

If you ever have a question or concern about the Cold Weather Shelter that is housed in our Upper Parish Hall, please email Conrad or call/text him at (860) 480-2996. As the Trinity Liaison, he visits the shelter at least weekly and keeps the communication going between Trinity and the Y staff.

Some Shelter Details and Needs

The Northwest CT Emergency Cold Weather Shelter will open for the season on 1 December 2026. It will be open every night until 15 April 2027.

Once again, the NW CT YMCA's amazing staff will be running the Shelter this season.

Shelter Guest check in will start nightly at 7:00 pm and Shelter Guests will leave no later than 8:00 am. 

There will be a maximum of 25 beds for men in the Upper Parish Hall, a maximum of 14 beds for women in the Chapel area in the lower level and a maximum of six beds for families in the Living Room area of the Rectory. 

Shelter Staff tells us the following donations are gratefully accepted:

• NEW Twin sized bedding - sheets, pillows, pillowcases, blankets, comforters, etc. NO USED BEDDING, please.
• Cup o' Noodles and other self-contained meals to which boiling water may be added. (Guests will have access to ONLY the Shelter-provided microwave this season)
• Pre-packaged snacks and food: Protein Bars, Granola Bars, portion packed snacks, etc.
• Gift cards to Walmart, Big Y, Stop & Shop

Also desperately needed are:

• Donations to the NW CT YMCA to assist with staffing and other programming costs
• Donations to Trinity Episcopal Church to help defray the exponential increases in heating, electricity and building maintenance costs

Items which the Shelter CANNOT use and which are a burden to them:

• Clothing - Bring clothing donations to Harbor House of Litchfield County at 21A Prospect St., Torrington - 860.201.4246 - or email them here
  
• Food which requires a kitchen to prepare - Shelter Guests do not have access to a kitchen. Our kitchen will not be accessible to the guests this year.
  
• Used bedding

Cold Weather Emergencies will be partially housed at Trinity's Upper Parish Hall during this season. In a slight change, Torrington City Hall will be the primary warming center on weekdays during Cold Weather Emergencies as declared by the Governor. The Emergency Shelter will open when Torrington City Hall closes at 4:00 pm during Cold Weather Emergencies. The Upper Parish Hall will serve as a Warming Center 24/7 on weekends (when Torrington City Hall is closed) during Cold Weather Emergencies. 

We are honored to be able to once again provide this service to our community members in need of shelter and are grateful to the wonderful work which the YMCA and its staff do to make this program work. We are also grateful for our partnerships with the Torrington Fire and Police Departments, without whose work this program would not succeed. We are honored by this opportunity to provide hospitality in the name of Christ and hope that all who enter our doors will feel welcomed in His love. 

Transition Update: Father Rollins has found housing and is planning his move. We are still on track to welcome him to Torrington on Sunday, 22 November 2026! Please keep him in your prayers through this transition in his life.

Click here to read a short biography on him.

Summary of Canon Rebekah Hatch's Visit

Canon Rebekah Hatch joined us as celebrant, preacher and animal blesser on October 4th.

Following that full, rich service, she led us in a time of reflection as we prepare to welcome our new Rector. Here are some takeaways from that wonderful session!

(With grateful thanks to Parish Clerk Naomi Cardello for her wonderful notes!)

Things that we can do to make Father Rollins feel welcome and prepared when he arrives are:

1) Create a list of pastoral needs

2) Provide him with up to date financial information and Vestry Minutes

3) Make sure he has access to newsletters and all communications

4) Introduce him to the Trinity network of Ministries, Connections and Meetings

5) Continue to build leadership around preaching and leading

REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND PATIENT

The JOYS we find here at Trinity are: 

1) Formation, the conversations, the attendees and the leadership

2) The Vestry members who are always willing to get things done

3) The support we feel from one another and the community as a whole

4) Robust lay leadership and preaching cadre

5) The journey which we are all on together as a community

6) The Amazing weather

7) The remarkable Supply Clergy we have been privileged to meet over the last 15 months

8) Excellent newsletter

9) The variety of voices we hear and learn from - preaching, leading and being parts of the congregation

10) The knowledge that WE are the church

11) Collaborations amongst congregations

12) Being the church "That Does Stuff"

13) Walking the walk, not just talking the talk. 

Challenges we still face at Trinity are:

1) The amount of work falling to Wardens and Vestry

2) Lack of pastoral care support

3) Lack of consistent spiritual, theological and liturgical leadership.

4) Limited volunteers

5) Difficulty in reaching out to other churches / clergy

6) Aging / decreasing membership

7) Lack of long term planning

Reminder to Lay Leaders and Preachers:

We have a schedule on the books for Eucharists and Morning Prayer Services starting with 29 November 2026.

Please look at the schedule and sign up for open slots to lead Morning Prayer on January 3, February 21, March 7 and March 21.

If you need access to the schedule, please contact Mel in the office (860.482.6027) or one of your Wardens.

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Are you interested in learning how to become a Lay Leader? Contact Marsha McCurdy Adell, Director for Lay Vocations and Ministry at 203.639.3501 x127 or email her here.

SOUND HEALING
RETURNS SATURDAY DECEMBER 5!

SOUND HEALING returns to Trinity Torrington! Join us for a highly relaxing hour of singing bowls and guided meditation from Richard Ruiz, a local practitioner. His rain drum is a neat new sound, too!

Sound Healing will be held 
 Saturday December 5 at 1pm.

Sit in a pew, or bring a yoga mat or blanket if you wish to enjoy this hour lying down.

The session is free but donations are appreciated.

Men's Breakfast will be held on Saturday November 21 at 9am at Twin Colony Diner. It's a short prayer of thanks followed by a hot breakfast and warm conversation.

Contact Conrad with questions.

THIS WEDNESDAY!!!

Join us for Compline on Wednesday November November 11 at 7pm in the Sanctuary.

Compline is a quiet, peaceful and contemplative service lasting less than 30 minutes.

As the last of the daily offices, it is the liturgical equivalent of getting ready for bed.

Come and see what you think!

We have started a new book in Formation on Sunday, Oct 11, the Gospel of John! Some of us will also be reading The Gospel of John: A Theological Commentary, by David F. Ford, but that is not a requirement for participation. We will look each week at short passages from John, working our way through this important Gospel and taking time to discuss its riches.

Please consider joining us! 

COFFEE HOUR VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

We definitely need some people to step forward and host Coffee Hour.

Remember - 
no hosts, no Coffee Hour.

Hosting Coffee Hour is very easy and very appreciated! Just sign up for a date, then bring in some snacks (home-made or store-bought), set up the table, percolate percolate percolate, then clean up.

If you have any questions, please ask Ella, Tiffany or Richard. The sign-up is in the Upper Parish Hall.

Happenings Around Town and Beyond...

World Premiere: When Did It End?

The world premiere of "When Did It End?' will be held on Thursday November 19 from 6 to 8:30 p.m at Five Points Arts Center, 855 University Drive, Torrington, CT.

Some say systemic racism ended with the Civil War. Some say the Civil Rights Act. This new documentary from Torrington's John Brown Project follows the evidence from before Plessy v. Ferguson to today, through Ida B. Wells, Homer Plessy, the Tuskegee Airmen, Dave Brubeck, and Martin Luther King Jr.

Reception at 6 p.m. (Substantial appetizers and beer/wine/soft drinks/water); film at 7; Q&A with the filmmakers/co-hosts at 8. 

Tickets: $20 suggested donation, half off with a donation for the Food Bank, and free to anyone else.

Reserve a seat TODAY: bit.ly/jbp-when

Come Away to Camp Washington for Thanksgiving!

Rooms available Wednesday and Thursday nights

November 25-27, 2026

Join us for a Thanksgiving Celebration with delicious food & the exceptional hospitality you have come to expect at Camp Washington.

Join us for one night, two, or just for Thanksgiving Day and dinner. Come with family, friends, or come alone and make new friends. There is a place for you at the table!

Relax by the fire, participate in worship, go for a hike, do a puzzle, take a nap, read a book, watch the game or just simply be. Leave the holiday stress behind.



Come away to Camp Washington and make our Thanksgiving tradition yours.



Thanksgiving Dinner Menu:

Roast Turkey with brown butter gravy

Butternut squash and goat cheese gratin

Roasted garlic mashed potatoes

Green Beans and crispy shallots

Cornbread stuffing with apples and sausage

Honey roasted carrots with carrot top pesto

Fresh cranberry sauce

Brussel Sprouts with candied bacon and walnuts

Spring greens

Assorted dinner rolls

Traditional pies with Kimberly Farms ice cream  



Thanksgiving Day Ticket includes Meals & Activities    9 AM - 6 PM    

$60.00 per person   

Pricing for overnights & additional meals is available by clicking the Registration link.

Thanksgiving at Camp Washington tentative schedule:

Wednesday, Nov 25 - Thanksgiving Eve    

3 PM: Arrival / Check-In    

6 PM: Dinner - for overnight guests

Thursday, Nov 26 - Thanksgiving Day    

8:30 AM: Breakfast - for overnight guests

9AM: Continental Breakfast available - for day guests

9AM - Noon: Macy's Parade Viewing / Hiking / Walking / Puzzles / Games / Crafts    

Noon: Thanksgiving Day Eucharist    

2 PM: Thanksgiving Dinner    

3:30 - 6 PM: Afternoon Activities    

6:30 PM: "Leftovers" Supper - for overnight guests

Friday, Nov 27 -         

9 AM: Breakfast - for overnight guests

11 AM: Check-Out / Departure

If you have an announcement or event that you would like publicized, or if you are a parishioner involved in an event that you would like to share with the parish, please send it to The Portal at announcements@trinity-torrington.org, and we can then direct your announcement to the best method of communication.