Trinity Newsletter

October 29, 2026 Newsletter

From the Rector

This Sunday we observe All Saints Day. This is a principal feast day in our tradition and is part of a larger grouping of days sometimes known as All-Hallowtide which includes Halloween (October 31), All Saints' Day (November 1), and All Souls’ Day (November 2) also known as the commemoration of All Faithful Departed.

All Hallows’ Eve or Halloween was originally associated with the Celtic harvest festival of Samhain, which celebrated not only the harvest, but is also when the dead were said to return to their homes because the veil between the physical and spiritual worlds was thinnest that day. All Saints’ Day commemorates all saints, known and unknown. It was first observed during the fourth century and was officially designated as a feast day by Pope Gregory III in 837. All Souls’

Day began in the tenth century. This custom started because although the term saints refers to the entire Christian community, over the centuries saint has come to be associated with people who have been elevated because of their extreme faithfulness. Thus, November 2nd is a day when we remember all departed Christians.

Various cultures have their own traditions associated with remembering the faithful departed. For example, in much of Latin America, the annual celebration of the Day of the Dead, El Día de los Muertos, also falls on the same two days, November 1 and 2. The feast began with the Indigenous people of what is now Mexico and Central America and includes Aztec rituals mixed with Christian traditions.

All Saints' Day is one of the four holy days denoted for baptisms in The Episcopal Church. The others are the Baptism of our Lord (First Sunday after Epiphany), the Great Vigil of Easter, and the Day of Pentecost.

Rev. Suzanne's Sermon

Sermon - 10/25/2026

Sunday, November 1st

Our Household Dinner on Saturday, October 24^th was a big success. It was fun and festive with much more food that we could eat. We extend a big thank you to everyone who helped with the event. Most particularly we thank the stewardship committee Randy Vanderpool, Dave Hosaflook, and Linnea Haase for all of their efforts.

Scouting for Food

Scouting for Food (SFF) is Scouting America National Capital Area Council’s (NCAC’s) largest annual community service project to help feed families in need by collecting non-perishable food and distributing it to local food pantries and food banks throughout the Washington, DC region.

For 40 years, Scouts across the Washington, DC metropolitan area have united to fight hunger through their annual campaign.

Please help support Scouting for Food by donating non-perishable food items on Sunday, November 8th and 15th. All donated items will support Trinity’s Outreach food pantry.

Friday Morning Micah Breakfast

*Winter is Coming*

Who doesn’t love a hot meal on a cold winter morning ?

From Nov 14th-Mar 14th when temps drop to 32, the cold weather shelter opens. Then a small group of Trinitarians meet in Barber Hall to prepare and serve a hot breakfast to 35-50 folks who arrive by van from the CWS.

No cooking experience needed, just your presence and a smile.

If you are interested in being a part of a truly moving, life changing experience, please contact Rev. Suzanne or Carol Green via email or through the church office.

We would love to see you there.

Spread the Warmth Project

Trinity’s Daughters of the King are sponsoring an Advent collection of hats, scarves, gloves, and mittens for all ages, to help keep our Fredericksburg community warm this winter.

Decorated boxes in the narthex will be ready to receive your gifts for the four weeks of Advent, beginning Sunday, November 29. Adult items will be distributed at our Friday Micah Breakfasts. Children’s items will be available to families through our Outreach Food Pantry. Thank you all for your support!

Trinity Annual Blood Drive

Once a year Trinitarians have the chance to give the gift of life to others by donating blood. Our annual American Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled for Saturday, November 7th from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm in Barber Hall. If you are physically able to give blood please consider being a donor. This is another opportunity for us to be stewards—this time as we give of ourselves to help other community members in need.

Later this month there will be sign up sheets in the narthex between services. But if you’d like to get a head start and have more choices of times please visit redcrossblood.org to sign up. Feel free to pass the word to friends and relatives so that we can collect as much blood as possible. Thanks in advance for giving the gift of life!

Animal Welfare Committee Update

Trinitarians contributed an extraordinarily-generous amount of pet food and other supplies to meet animal needs during this year's three-week drive to benefit Trinity's food pantry and Fredericksburg's Old Dominion Humane Society shelter.

The drive, sponsored by the Animal Welfare Committee, end on St. Francis of Assisi Feast Day in October, a day honoring the 13th century friar known for his deep connection to animals and the day Trinity held its Blessing of the Animals service. The pet food went to the church food pantry which helps Fredericksburg-area residents in need. Other donated supplies such as towels, cleaning material, and dog and cat toys were delivered to Old Dominion.

The Animal Welfare Committee will continue to welcome pet food and animal suipply donations for the food pantry and both Old Dominion and the Spotsylvania SPCA shelter, both privately-managed non-profits that depend on volunteerism and contributions. Trinity's special three-week drive prior to St. Francis Feast Day is planned as an annual event.

Contact: Selby McCash at mselbymc@aol.com

Episcopal Vocabulary

All Hallows’ Eve

The evening of Oct. 31, which precedes All Saints’ Day; traditionally a time when the souls of the dead were said to return to their homes.

All Saints’ Day

Commemorates all saints, known and unknown, on Nov. 1. One of the seven principal feasts of the church year, and one of four days recommended for baptisms.

All Souls’ Day

Also called the Commemoration of All Faithful Departed, observed on Nov. 2.

For a full list of all church activities,

use the link below to access the church calendar

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

PRAYER LIST

Aaron, Alan, Alice, Allen C., Amelia, Ann, Art, Barbara, Barry, Betty, Bill, Bob, Bobbi, Brenda, Brian, Carroll D., Chris and Linda Falter, Chuck Gray, Dabney, Dale, Dana, Danny, David, Dean Reed, Debbie, Debra, Dee, Denise, Diane, Dolly, Dottie, Doug, Dudley, Faye, Frank, Freddie, Gail, Gaynelle, George, Ginny, Ian, Jay, Jeff, Jenny, Jerry, Jesse, Joan, John D., Judy L., Kelley, Kevin, Kim, Larry, Leslie, Liz Frank, Lynn, Marianne, Marilyn, Mark, Melissa, Nancy, Nate Sisson and his Family, Nikki, Patricia, Paul, Phyllis, Rebecca, Rene, Rich, Rita, Rob, Robbie, Ron, Rusty, Sheila, Shirley, Sidney, Stephanie, Steve, Susan, Sydney, Tammy, Ted, The Allison Family, Thomas Wilson, Tiffany, Timmy, Tina, Tracy, Vic

BIRTHDAYS

October 29th - Hayden Bathgate

November 7th - Leanne Condren, Bette Fugitt, Peg Jacobsen, Joan Rice

November 8th - Mandy Anderson, Ed Homendy, Jake Jacobsen

November 9th - David Stokes

November 11th - Karen Bowers

ANNIVERSARIES

November 8th - Dave and Laura Hosaflook

November 11th - David and Jennifer Henderson