Trinity Newsletter for June 3, 2020

June 3, 2020

The mission of Trinity Church is to share Christ's love and grace in a vibrant whose joyful spirit empowers people to do God's work .

A MESSAGE FROM DENISE

Well… May 31st has come and gone! It was to be filled with rousing music on the organ on my last Sunday as Trinity’s Minister of Music. Not quite what I expected! But I look at the accomplishments over the last 4+ years that have brought great music and joy!

Trinity’s choir continues to offer wonderful, heartfelt anthems at the 11AM service. They have become small in number due to the death, retirement and moving of quite a few of their peers, but that does not stop the determination of those that remain from giving their all. Many thanks to Anne Adams, Harvey & Carolyn Allen, Tim & Melissa Allison (and Violet), Wendell Anderson, Karen Bowers, Dave Conway, Michael Hubbard, and Jessica Smith for sticking it out to the end with me. I know you will never forget my all-time favorite, Thomas Tallis’ “If Ye Love Me” and I hope you continue to sing it in your hearts! (You can listen to it here .)

The addition of our 9:15 Song Leaders to the 9:15AM service has met with great success. With little practice and never knowing who will be there, they have joyfully brought more contemporary music into our repertoire! Many thanks to Tim, Melissa, and Violet Allison; Linnea Haase; Carissa, Megan & Ian Huffstickler; Dan Gray; Dan Salyan; and Lorri Ward, our singers, and Cathy Calvin and Mark Cook, our instrumentalists. I hope you keep this new tradition going!

The 1st Saturday Band always has so much fun rehearsing, playing and singing. With little rehearsal, they bring the most joyful music to that service. Many thanks to the faithful Melissa Allison, Cathy Calvin, Linnea Haase, Russ Kidd, Sven Rundman, Dan Salyan, John Symonds and Lorri Ward for their help in making this service so much fun (and for covering my poor improvisation skills!)

The Trinity instrumentalists have been a huge part in offering their gift of music to our services. There have been so many over the last 4+ years and I cannot thank them enough for supporting me and stepping up when I asked. You can count on these instrumentalists to be a part of Trinity’s future: Cathy Calvin, Rebecca Case, Mark Cook, Allen Carniol, Randall Clingenpeel, Desiree (Symonds) Daniels, Carissa, Megan & Ian Huffstickler, Leslie & Louis Marangoni, Luke McFadden, Sven Rundman, Hunter Stokes, John Symonds, and every person, young & old, that ever picked up a tambourine or shaker!

"Open your ears, O faithful people!” The music of Trinity is bright. I hope the remembrance of our music together brings YOU joy! Please forgive me if I’ve forgotten you; there have been so many musicians over the years.

To all the talented musicians at Trinity: It has been a true blessing to serve with each of you.

To the wonderful Trinity congregation: I thank you all from the bottom of my heart for putting your trust in me to lead you in song these last four+ years!

Soli Deo Gloria,

Denise Symonds

TRINITY NEWS

Trinity Discernment Prayer

O Everlasting, Omniscient, and Loving God

We confess that our daily worries and concerns often blind us to your voice and guidance in our lives. We thank You for this time of change, may it be an opportunity to grow together more closely as followers of your son Jesus Christ as we work to discern your path forward for our congregation. We pray that You will watch over the Bishop, diocesan transitional ministry team, the parish clergy, members of our vestry, and the other leaders of our church as they lead us on a new path for our parish. We pray for the members of the discernment committee as they endeavor to do Your holy work in calling a new rector for Trinity. We pray for all the members of our parish family during this time of transition that we come closer to You and feel your presence in our hearts. AMEN.

CONGRATULATIONS 2020 HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES!

Rosemary (Rosie) Carol Hamilton is graduating from North Stafford High School. She will attend Florida A & M (FAMU), as a Chemistry Major on an Army ROTC scholarship, in the fall. Rosie has been an active part of her high school class, serving as the Class Treasurer. She played Field Hockey and Soccer and was the student manager for the Boys Basketball Team. Rosie has attended Trinity Church most of her life. She was baptized at Trinity as an infant and served several years as an acolyte.

Margaret (Maggie) Heelen is graduating from Eastern View High School and will attend Northern Virginia Community College in Alexandria in the fall. One of Maggie’s greatest accomplishments in high school was making the A Honor Roll. During their time at Eastern View Maggie participated in Young Life. Maggie also volunteered at the animal shelter, Habitat for Humanity, two farms in the area, and the Stop Hunger Now event. Maggie has attended youth group events at Trinity.

Caleb Nichols is graduating from Mountain View High School, where he was enrolled in the STAT (Stafford Academy of Technology) Engineering Program. Caleb will be attending Christopher Newport University in the fall, where he will be studying Political Science. Caleb was part of the STAT student council and was on the Career & Technology Education Advisory Committee for the Stafford County School Board. He also played the piccolo in the marching band all four years at Mountain View. Caleb recently attained the rank of Eagle Boy Scout. He has been an acolyte at Trinity Church for the past 6 years and has accompanied the choir at various times.

Jenni Ryniewicz is graduating from Stafford High School summa cum laude . She is the recipient of the Peter D. Johnson Memorial Scholarship. Jenni will attend the University of Virginia College of Arts and Science, majoring in Physics. While in high school, she was a member of the National Honor Society, served as vice president of her school’s Science National Honor Society, was a member of the Stafford High School Varsity Swim Team all four years, and was Swim Team Captain her senior year. Jenni has also participated in Key Club, Environmental Club, and Spanish Club while at Stafford. Outside of school she swam year-round on the Tsunami Swim Team from age 8 to 18. Currently Jenni serves on the Board of Directors of Virginia Swimming. She has been a member of Trinity Church since 2004, attending Sunday school off and on throughout the years.

Ariana Thomas is graduating from Riverbend High School cum laude . She will attend Northern Virginia Community College in the fall, majoring in Computer Science and Cybersecurity. Ariana was active in many clubs at Riverbend including the National Computer Science Honor Society, the Thespian Honor Society, the Future Business Leaders of America, and the Spanish Club, where she served as president. She was also co-manager of the costume room in the theater. Ariana has earned her Gold Award in Girl Scouts. Some of her favorite hobbies outside of school are sewing, coding, volunteering, and baking. Ariana says, “I don’t have a single regret about high school, because from every mistake I made I learned a valuable lesson that made me a better person. Tiana said it best, ‘There's been trials and tribulations, you know I've had my share, but I've climbed a mountain, I've crossed a river, and I'm finally there.’” Ariana served as an acolyte at Trinity for several years and has been active in the youth group.

CONGRATULATIONS 2020 COLLEGE GRADUATES!

Aline (Ali) Brace graduated with a BA in Foreign Affairs and Religious Studies with a concentration in Islam from the University of Virginia. Her honors included University of Virginia Dean’s List, Oxford University / University College student exchange, Cavalier Marching Band leadership team and Order of Omega - Greek Honor Society. Aline was a member of the Cavalier Marching Band, Gamma Phi Beta Scholarship Committee, The University Fellowship, and served as Student Council Athletic Affairs Committee Project Vice Chair and as Order of Omega Executive Team Treasurer. Ali has accepted a position with the US Department of Defense and will be moving to the Washington, DC area this summer.

Kelley Calvin graduated cum laude earlier this month from Christopher Newport University with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Anthropology and Criminology and a minor in Leadership Studies.

Teague Meiers graduated from Wabash College with a Bachelor of Arts in Theater.

CONGRATULATIONS 2020 POST-GRADUATES!

Johanna Burton received her Master’s in Education from the University of Mary Washington. She will teach high school biology at Northside High School in Jacksonville, North Carolina next year.

William (Will) Farr graduated with a Master’s in Business Administration from the Indiana University's Kelley School of Business.

NEWS AND UPCOMING EVENTS

A letter from the Bishops of Virginia re: Planning for Regathering as Church can be found here.

Trinity will soon offer guidance as to when it is safe to resume gatherings at the church. Until then, please stay home and be safe!

VESTRY MEETING HIGHLIGHTS – The May Vestry meeting included the following items: The March and April Treasurer’s reports were accepted. Val Folden noted that collections were at 36% of the annual budget, partly because several Trinitarians had prepaid their 2020 giving. Expenses were only about 29% of budget mainly because we are not paying a full-time rector. There was discussion about resuming activities, but we await guidelines from the Diocese. Given the COVID-19 pandemic, the Vestry agreed that we would not have a Trinity Sunday picnic and the annual meeting is on hold. The minister of music committee reported interviewing one candidate and starting discussion with another. Harry Dickinson reported that Bushman Dreyfus Architects are preparing a proposal to create several options for an elevator. Barry Holliday reported that the new boiler installation will start soon. There was discussion of Vestry nominations in preparation for an annual meeting at a future date. Labyrinth construction is waiting on materials. Claire Curcio announced that Mike Gannon has resigned as assistant treasurer and she and others thanked him for his years of service. Many Vestry members commented on the good work of the Technology Committee and Bambi Willis in preparing the morning prayer services online.

ONLINE SUNDAY SCHOOL!! Families with children are invited to join us at 10:30 am on Sunday mornings for a 30 – 40 minute Sunday school lesson on Zoom. Our time together will include a few minutes of social (gathering) time, a few songs we all know, some prayer time, a story, and an easy craft response to the story. This will be geared for children ages 5 through fifth grade, but older and younger people are welcome too. Each child/person will need a pencil, a few sheets of paper, and some crayons or colored pencils. I will email some additional materials to everyone on Fridays. If you did not receive an email last week with the information to join the class meeting and would like for your child to participate, please contact Sam Burton .

YOUTH GROUP MEETINGS VIA ZOOM!! Youth are invited to join us for a youth group meeting via Zoom on Sunday afternoons from 2:00 – 3:00 p.m. We will catch up with each other, do a brief Bible study, and play a game. If you did not receive an email last week with the information to join the youth group meeting and would like for your youth to participate, please contact Sam Burton .

CAMPUS MINISTRY will continue to meet through the summer on Wednesdays from 5pm – 7pm! We would like to invite all college students (no matter which college!) to gather with us by Zoom. A Zoom link may be found on our church website, www.trinity-fredericksburg.org, or find the event on our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/trinityfredericksburg/ .

During this time when we cannot be together physically, let’s keep in touch virtually. Please check out the TRINITY FACEBOOK PAGE for information, inspiration, and some things to make you smile. Messages from Bishop Curry and from our Bishop Susan Goff are posted as they are received. Don't forget our follow Instagram page and subscribe to our newly formed YouTube channel.