Sharing Christ's love and grace in a vibrant community whose joyful spirit empowers people to do God's work. | |
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Serving This Week
8:00 am - Sunday Service - Rite I
Acolyte - Val Folden
Lector - Karla Snellings
Eucharistic Minister - Karla Snellings, Joanne Beck
Healing Prayer Minister - Marti Harrington
10:30 am - Sunday Service - Rite II
Crucifer - Samantha Bathgate
Gospel Book - Hayden Bathgate
Lector - Melissa Allison
Eucharistic Minister - Tom Rotella, John Tyler
Vestry Member - Destine Bradshaw
Ushers - Adrian Smith, John Henze
Healing Prayer Minister - Deborah Condren
Parish Shepherd - Kirk Richardson
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Table of Contents
- From The Interim's Desk
- A Thank You From Senior Warden
- National Native American Heritage Month Article
- Micah Cold Weather Volunteer Opportunities
- Advent Event
- Stewardship Ingathering
- Caregiver Support Group
- Trinity's Grief Support
- College Student Letters
- Vestry Nominations
- Healing Prayer Ministry
- Interim Rector's Office Hours
- Blessings in a Backpack: Update (11/3)
- Outreach: Update
- News from Trinity Library
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From The Interim's Desk
DIOCESAN CONVENTION IS THIS WEEK
The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia’s 230th Annual Convention will convene November 7-9, 2024, at the Fredericksburg Convention Center. This is a time for the specific business of the diocese: joining together in communion, enacting the business regarding Constitution and Canons, Resolutions, and the approval of an annual budget. Elections for the Diocesan Standing Committee and appointments of those serving in various areas are held as well.
It begins with Choral Evensong Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. hosted by St. George’s, Fredericksburg (905 Princess Anne Street). Bishop E. Mark Stevenson will give his Pastoral Address at this service. Friday will feature keynote speaker, the Rev. Dr. Luke A. Powery, the Dean of the Duke University Chapel, and Professor of Homiletics in two sessions, as well as Homilist at Holy Eucharist at 4:45 p.m. The core business slated for Saturday morning, begins at 8:30 a.m. and concludes by 12:30 p.m.
Since Convention is held here in Fredericksburg, all Trinitarians are welcome to “come and see” the workings of your Church in this diocese up close and personal.
Grace and Peace,
David+
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A Thank You From The Senior Warden
From the Senior Warden: Thank you for turning in your Pledge Card.
Senior Warden,
Val Folden
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National Native American Heritage Month
National Native American Heritage Month is celebrated every year during the month of November. The month of November was chosen because it marked the end of the traditional harvest season and was a time of celebration and thanksgiving. The theme for this year is focused on "Affirming Native Voices: Visibility, Leadership, Service," emphasizing the importance of recognizing Native American contributions, leadership roles, and service within communities, particularly highlighting their resilience and ongoing struggles. Native Americans are also referred to as “Indigenous Peoples.”
In 1990 then-President George H.W. Bush signed a joint congressional resolution designating the month of November National American Indian Heritage Month. Similar proclamations have been issued every year since 1994 to recognize what is now called National Native American Heritage Month.
Indigenous peoples have made great contributions in multiple areas including; science, medicine, agriculture, technology and the arts. A few of the inventions and innovations developed by Indigenous peoples are: aspirin, bunk beds, the canoe, the kayak, maple syrup, moccasins, snow goggles, three sisters companion planting, the tipi (teepee), and cultivation of tobacco and cotton.
During WWI and WWII young men from Indigenous tribes across the United States quickly translated messages in a code derived from their native languages. The code which provided information on enemy positions and troop movements was needed to help transfer information safely. The ability to translate messages in a secret language was critical to the military's success in Europe and the Pacific. The “Code Talkers” as they became known were from thirty-three tribes including the Navajo tribe. Most Americans were unaware of the story of the Code Talkers until the 2002 movie called “Windtalkers” and recent military recognition of individual soldiers who served.
Many of the young men who became code talkers enlisted in the Army and Marines had been forcefully removed from their families and placed into government run schools designed to “civilize” them. These same young men who had been punished if they used their native language or practiced their spiritual rituals served in the military with honor and distinction devising an unbreakable code. The young men who survived their service were given no honors or ceremonies when they returned home. Only recently have these men been recognized for their service and valor.
To learn more about the Tribes who lived and live in Virginia and the contributions of the American Indigenous peoples you may want to visit the Smithsonian Museum or the American Indian Museum in Washington D.C. Locally the Patawomeck Indian Tribe of Virginia has a Museum and village on Rt. 3 in Stafford. The museum has many artifacts and a language program to help keep the native language alive in modern times.
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Micah Cold Weather
Volunteer Opportunities
Cold Weather Shelter - Micah is operating a Men’s and Women’s Cold Weather Shelter this winter season and could use a few more volunteers to help there. The shelter is only open on nights that are projected to be 32 F or below or very adverse winter weather conditions. Please contact Cory Gudowicz at cory.gudo@gmail.com for more information about volunteering at either the Men’s or Women’s Shelter.
Micah Breakfast - On Fridays, November 15th-March 15th, when the overnight temperature is below freezing, our neighbors at Micah will be coming to Trinity breakfast. We have planned simple menus, and have a great core of volunteers ready to help, but we need you.
We need more volunteers to help with this very important ministry. If you can help prepare or serve our simple breakfasts, or visit with the guests, please contact Claire Curcio at curciocc@msn.com or Cory Gudowicz at cory.gudo@gmail.com If you can help with this important ministry.
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It's an Advent Event!
All Trinitarians and their guests are invited to attend an Advent Event on Sunday, November 24th from 9:00 - 10:15 am. This is a fun event for all ages to help us
get ready for the season of Advent. There will be several craft and activity stations, music, food, and things to take for observing Advent at home. Sunday school will take a break so that children and youth may attend the event with their families. The Daughters of the King hope you will come and have a good time with your fellow parishioners as we prepare for Advent.
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Stewardship Ingathering
Stewardship season has begun! As we embark on our stewardship campaign, we invite you to reflect on the powerful theme, "You Welcomed Me."
Let us consider how Christ calls us to embrace one another with love and hospitality. In our shared journey of faith, each act of welcome strengthens our community and reflects God’s grace.
Together, we can -- and have -- created a space where everyone feels valued and accepted. How can we deepen this theme at Trinity?
Join us in this opportunity to pledge your support and help us extend our arms wider to all who seek a home in Christ. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge to support the mission and ministry of Trinity Episcopal Church.
Physical stewardship packets were in church for people to pick up on Sunday.
If you'd like to make your pledge online,
click here.
The deadline to turn in the pledge card is Sunday, November 17th.
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Caregivers' Support Group
The Caregivers’ Support Group will meet Thursday, November 14th from 10:30 am until noon in the Health Ministries Room at Trinity. Men and women who are caregivers for a disabled or ill adult or child are invited to attend.
For more information contact Randall Clingenpeel (540-207-0600), Claire Curcio (540-479–6988), or Brenda Chase (540-226-2628).
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Trinity's Grief Support
The November meeting of Trinity's Drop-In Grief Support Group will occur on Monday, November 18, 2024 in the Lounge at Trinity, from 10:30 am - Noon.
Use the William Street parking lot and enter through the last door to the rear of the church.
This month we will focus on living with the "secondary losses" that accompany a primary loss, especially those related to holidays.
Please direct any concerns to Randall Clingenpeel at 540-207-0600.
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Trinity College Students
Trinity has several students who are attending college this year. The Care Ministry would like to bring back the practice of Trinitarians “adopting” a student. This can involve whatever you feel that you are able to provide, and participating Trinitarians can be either individuals, a family or a group. Steve and I will be participating and plan to send care packages in the Fall and Spring semesters. This is a way we can let our Trinity students know that we care for them, and we are keeping them in our prayers.
Please consider “adopting” one of our precious college students. You can email or text me to let me know that you can help. Once I have a list of folks who would like to be part of this ministry, I will reach out to parents to get some information about their student that I can pass on to you.
If you have a student currently attending college, please let me know so that I can include them on the list.
Thank you for your consideration,
Destine Bradshaw
(540) 226-6164
bradshawdh@verizon.net
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Vestry Nominations
Want to get a better view of the whole world of Trinity Church? The big picture is what you see when you serve on the Vestry. Each meeting includes updates on the various parish activities in addition to “doing the business” of the parish. Vestry members also serve on one the teams – Gifts, Care, or Faith.
Your Vestry has worked well together to help reach our goals and had some fun along the way. Although we take our business seriously, each meeting is filled with many light-hearted moments, too. It’s a joy to give back to a Church family that has given so much to so many. Serving God and the Church can be quite rewarding.
Sound like something you would like to try? Please don’t hesitate to contact a member of the nominating committee (Chris Brantley, Prudence Jarvis, John Murray, or Carol Walker) if you would consider being a candidate for Vestry at the November 17th election meeting between services.
Copies of the nomination form and the Vestryperson Responsibilities are available on the table in the narthex.
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Trinity’s Healing Prayer Ministry
I imagine most of us could use a prayer for ourselves or someone we know. I often ask a friend “please keep me in your prayers.” Maybe you do too. I also have a number of people for whom I’m praying. Trinity has trained prayer ministers who stand in the back of the church during communion at both services who would love to offer up a prayer for you or someone on your heart.
Our prayer ministers are Trinitarians who are your friends and acquaintances. So think about stopping for a minute or two next time you return from communion and let these folks be the hands and ears of Christ for you in that moment. And a prayer of thanksgiving to God for His tender mercies is always a good thing.
Tom Rotella,
Chair, Vestry Faith Team
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Interim Rector's Office Hours
Tuesday: 1:30 pm - 3:30 pm
Wednesday: 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Thursday: 1:30 pm -3:30 pm
Friday: 9:30 am -11:00 am
+ Appointments are encouraged and will be honored.
++ Drop-ins could miss me if pressing needs (pastoral care needs, meetings) take me away from the church.
+++ 3rd Wednesday each month, I am out, volunteering at the Washington National Cathedral.
Peace & Cheers,
David+
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Is Your Pet A Trinity Star?
The Animal Welfare Ministry wants to feature Trinity pets and their owners. If you would like to highlight your pet, please send a photo and a paragraph about the animal to Claire at curciocc@msn.com. We'd especially like to feature Trinity children and their pets.
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UPDATE 11/3
Blessings in a Backpack:
Food is a School Supply!
Blessings in a Backpack thanks our Trinitarians for your generosity! We have packed 990 bag, 540 more to pack, and $3,352.39 raised as of Sunday, November 3rd.
Thanks to the generosity of Trinitarians, we now have $3,152.39 toward our recent order of 42 cases of Optimum Food Packs, costing $3,465.84, to see us through 2024 for weekend food insecure children at Rocky Run Elementary.
We will also need to buy 5 more weeks of macaroni & cheese to include in the bags we pack at a cost of $450. With the low 4% fee we pay to BIB for administrative fees, we are asking for $927.25 more to cover costs for 2024.
Please keep giving generously.
Food is a School Supply to get Rocky Run Elementary School children to their Mondays well fed and ready to learn.
We depend on your financial contributions with checks in the collection plate marked BIB and by donations made on our Trinity website at www.trinity-fredericksburg.org through our Online Giving (accessacs.com) portal. Thank you again for keeping this vital mission going!
John Henze and Leigh Morris,
Coordinators
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Outreach Update
The Fredericksburg Food Bank continues to have low supplies of some items so we are most grateful if the parish can augment the supplies we need, especially these:
- Peanut butter
- Canned fruits and veggies
- Dried beans, packages of rice
- Pasta, sauce, canned items like beef-a-roni, mac & cheese
- Protein items like canned tuna and chicken.
- Packaged snacks for school children.
- Pet food.
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We also get requests for diapers, both babies/toddlers and adults, baby formula, and other such items such as nutritional shakes that you may no longer need.
The generosity of Trinitarians continues to overwhelm us and those we serve with gratitude.
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News from Trinity's Library
Attention all lovers of fiction books!
Do you have some at home you have read and are now ready to pass along? We would be happy to have them to possibly add to the library’s collection. Through Sunday, November 24th, there will be a clearly marked collection basket in the library for your donated fiction books, and only fiction books.
We will accept hardback and quality paperback books in good shape. We are hoping for good solid stories, well-developed characters and plots. Mysteries are a big draw as well as human interest stories with an important and often uplifting message.
We would prefer to have books that are recently published. Charles Dickens and Jane Austen are two of the “greats” but not sure how many of you are looking for their books right now. But if in doubt, let us decide. Your fiction books will either be added to our main collection, the Little Free Library and Outreach, or donated to a local charity.
Thank you in advance for your generosity!
Tom Rotella, Library Manager
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Text To Donate
Want to support life at Trinity?
Give using text messaging!
Text TRINITYEPISCOPAL
to 73256.
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Items for the Newsletter
Have something to say?
All items for the Trinity newsletter need to be submitted by Monday at 5:00 pm.
Please send all newsletter items to news@trinity-fredericksburg.org. Send as workable documents and NOT PDFs. Please send photographs as separate attachments in your emails.
If you want your group's meeting date on the calendar, send it as a newsletter item to be included.
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At the bottom of the events page, you'll find a complete calendar of all our upcoming events so you can invite a friend and plan ahead!
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