Trinity Episcopal Church

The Corner

Trinity's newsletter for the week of July 7, 2024

• Best practices for a downtown parish
• Your input needed for Rector Search
• Mother Jenn: Standing with love

Services Sunday at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., and Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.

May you have a safe and happy Independence Day

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart [and especially the hearts of the people of this land], that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

—Book of Common Prayer 1979

Dealing with People Who Live

Through Houselessness

Our church is blessed in many ways. We are a diverse congregation, we are a downtown church, and we have beautiful green space (if you’re interested in the maintenance of that green space, please check out the Lay Weeders). These blessings also mean that we often see the diversity of our downtown community as well. Some of you may have noticed visitors who are living through houselessness or visitors who have left belongings or items around the green space. We want to acknowledge this and provide some best practices if you feel concerned.

Over the next three weeks, the Trinity Houselessness Alliance Council will be providing information that you may find helpful. This week we are focusing on some concrete best practices.

If you ever feel concerned, here are some best practices:

• If it’s not yours, it’s best not to touch it. However, if you feel inclined to remove an item please do the following: first, make sure it is safe to pick up. Second, we have an outdoor Lost and Found bin located by the kitchen which will be emptied every Thursday. Place the found item there in case the person who left it will be back for it. 
• It's best not to give cash out, but if you feel inclined, please give to our Deacon’s Discretionary Fund run by Deborah Burns. The Discretionary Funds receives more requests than it can fill, and it is an excellent way to give. If you give cash, you are potentially setting up an expectation that the next Trinitarian may not be able to fulfill.
• If someone asks for access to the restrooms, let them know that there are restrooms in the community center on 11th, or, after 2:00 (M/T/TH/F) at the DARE center across the street. 
• Do not engage with someone who is yelling or with anyone who makes you nervous. Most of our congregation lacks the training required to de-escalate someone and not everyone in crisis can be de-escalated. It’s OK to just walk away.
• If someone is doing damage to the property, threatening other people or is talking about self-harm or suicide, please call the non-emergency line for the Lawrence Police: 785-843-0250. 

Over the next two weeks, we will provide information from theological and sociological perspectives. Please contact me at [email protected] or 785-843-6166 if you have any questions.

Blessings,

Mother Jenn+

Serve at L.I.N.K. Next Week

Please consider serving at the Lawrence Interdenominational Nutrition Kitchen as Trinity's turn coms up on Tuesday, July 16. L.I.N.K. provides hot meals for members of our community who need them. Trinity partners with St. Margaret's, and we have many ways to contribute to L.I.N.K.'s mission:

• making a casserole and delivering it to the First Christian Church, 1000 Kentucky.
• providing milk, salads, fruit, and bread.
• serving the food.
• and last but not least, being a dishwasher.

Please sign up in the Parish Hall to provide food — as well as your hands-on help.

Garth Burns [email protected] or 785-917-3009 will be happy to answer your questions.

Rector Search Looks for Input

The Rector Search Committee needs to hear from you about the ministries you are involved in.

The Search Committee is developing our Parish Profile. This important document helps us know who we are as a parish and helps others learn about us.

We cannot do this work with out you. We want to make sure that your ministries are listed accurately and have accurate descriptions in the Parish Profile. If you are involved in a ministry, please send us ([email protected]) a short description of what you do for Trinity.

Also – and this is very important – we need an accurate membership form filled out for each household at Trinity. This document takes just a few minutes to complete, but it help us know our demographics and ensure that we are accurately reporting our membership in various ways. We have had several people fill out the form, but we need to make sure that the entire congregation is represented. If you need help, please contact a member of the search committee.

—Debbie Pitts

—Sam Billen

Search Committee Co-Chairs

Mother Jenn: Where to Stand on Current Issues

To my siblings in Christ,

This week, we celebrate the anniversary of our nation’s independence.

Almost 250 years later, we are still struggling with the complexity of what true freedom should mean. And we struggle with increasing tension and divisiveness. As our country divides further and further apart on issues, we seem to have lost the ability for civil discourse and for the ability to hear opinions that are contrary to our own. Social media, rather than being a forum where differing opinions can be shared and respected, seems to only have deepened the divide.

Where do I stand on current issues that are hotly divided? I stand with love. And I stand with our civic duty as laid out in our catechism, striving to fulfill pursuance of our church’s mission, as it "promotes justice, peace, and love” (BCP p. 855). I stand with the promises made in our Baptismal Covenant that I will “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being” (BCP p. 305). And I stand by the promises that I made when I was ordained that I will “endeavor so to minister the Word of God and the sacraments of the New Covenant, that the reconciling love of Christ may be known and received” (BCP p. 532).

As we recognize the Fourth of July, I ask that we all pray:

O Lord our Governor, bless the leaders of our land, that we may be a people at peace among ourselves and a blessing to other nations of the earth.

Lord, keep this nation under your care.

To the President and members of the Cabinet, to Governors of States, Mayors of Cities, and to all in administrative authority, grant wisdom and grace in the exercise of their duties.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To Senators and Representatives, and those who make our laws in States, Cities, and Towns, give courage, wisdom, and foresight to provide for the needs of all our people, and to fulfill our obligations in the community of nations.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

To the Judges and officers of our Courts give understanding and integrity, that human rights may be safeguarded and justice served.

Give grace to your servants, O Lord.

And finally, teach our people to rely on your strength and to accept their responsibilities to their fellow citizens, that they may elect trustworthy leaders and make wise decisions for the well-being of our society; that we may serve you faithfully in our generation and honor your holy Name.

For yours is the kingdom, O Lord, and you are exalted as head above all. Amen. 

Grace and peace,

—Mother Jenn+

What We All Scream for

It's Ice Cream Social Sunday. Stick around for sweet treats and cool companionship with your fellow parishioners at coffee hour after this Sunday's 10:30 service.

Let us surprise you with the flavors on hand. We w0n't disappoint.

Vintage & Garage Sale Cleans Up

We are extremely pleased that the Vintage & Garage Sale raised nearly $3,700 for the general budget. Thank you, parishioners, for all your donations. I would also like to send heartfelt thanks to everybody who worked tirelessly unloading, distributing and arranging, and to those who acted as cashiers and security. The sale could not have happened without the wonderful Trinity people.

Leftover items went to the Reclaim Store by Michele, Ready for Good, and the City Union Mission. Many thanks, too, the the Boy Scouts who helped take down tables and clean up.

—Susan Ralston

Organizer

THIS WEEK AT TRINITY

Thursday, July 4

OFFICE CLOSED

10:00 a.m. – Trinity Treasures

Friday, July 5

OFFICE CLOSED

6:00 a.m. – Pump 'n' Pray

6:00 p.m. – AA meeting

7:30 p.m. – NA meeting

Saturday, July 6

9:00 a.m. – Library committee

10:00 a.m. – Food Pantry

6:30 p.m. – NA meeting

8:00 p.m. – AA meeting

Sunday, July 7

8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist: Rite One

8:45 a.m. – Coffee Hour

10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist: Rite Two – Children's Sunday School and Nursery – also on livestream

11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour

Noon – Choristers practice

Monday, July 8

6:00 a.m. – Pump 'n' Pray

Tuesday, July 9

1:00 p.m. – Food Pantry

5:30 p.m. – Anchor Women

6:00 p.m. – Dinner at Canterbury House

Wednesday, July 10

6:00 a.m. – Pump 'n' Pray

10:30 a.m. – Wednesday Morning Women's Bible Study

4:00 p.m. – Friendship Circle

5:30 p.m. – Wednesday Dinner – Parish Hall

6:30 p.m. – Wednesday Evening Prayer – Parish Hall and on livestream

Thursday, July 11

10:00 a.m. – Trinity Treasures

Friday, July 12

OFFICE CLOSED 

6:00 a.m. – Pump 'n' Pray 

6:00 p.m. – AA meeting 

7:30 p.m. – NA meeting

Saturday, July 13

9:00 a.m. – Library committee 

10:00 a.m. – Food Pantry 

6:30 p.m. – NA meeting 

8:00 p.m. – AA meeting

Sunday, July 14

8:00 a.m. – Holy Eucharist: Rite One 

8:45 a.m. – Coffee Hour 

10:30 a.m. – Holy Eucharist: Rite Two – Children's Sunday School and Nursery – also on livestream

11:30 a.m. – Coffee Hour 

Noon – Choristers practice

2:00 p.m. – Rainbow Doll Club

For calendar details, see the Trinity website.

Reminder, if [Message clipped] is displayed at the end of this message, please click on the View entire message link to see our complete newsletter.

Pastoral Care Team

....

The Pastoral Care Team is ready to serve you.

• Do you need prayer, a ride, a meal, or just some company?
• Would you like to receive Holy Communion in your home?

You can call the church office, 785-843-6166, to let us know how we can help, or send an email to [email protected] with your confidential request. 

....

We are eager to offer compassionate, confidential help, so please give us a call.

Nice Slice of TIFP Life

There is always a “Miscellaneous” section of several shelves for Trinity Interfaith Food Pantry patrons to choose different and special foods. These special foods are donated by people and churches, and are not the staple foods purchased by TIFP from Harvesters and local grocery stores.

On a recent Saturday morning, one of the 63 patrons who came to TIFP that day told the volunteer that he didn’t have a way to cook food and began looking over foods in the pantry. TIFP volunteers are serving more people who say that they do not have a way to cook; they choose foods that they can eat without preparation.

This patron was a tall, young, college age man. He was really pleasant, cheerful, and easily said thank you as he selected foods.

As he picked out foods from the staple food shelves, he came to the “Miscellaneous” shelf, and looking it over, said in a cheery voice as he picked up the food, “Beef jerky! Hell yeah!”

It was fun moment – and we thank everyone for the donations of food and money to TIFP for the people we serve on Tuesday afternoons and Saturday mornings.

—Barry Molineux

—Sue Shackelford

Study Examines Needs of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Young People

An international study is underway to understand the experiences and needs of transgender and gender-diverse young people in the United States as compared to the Netherlands.

Youth and families from the United States and the Netherlands are invited to join the study. It is open to transgender and gender-diverse youth 11-16 years old. The study is conducted online. Families are compensated $330 for their time.

The questions included in the study focus on strengths, areas of challenge, and hopes for the future, with the goal of improved care and greater access to support for youth in the United States.

This study is a partnership between Children’s National Hospital (Washington, D.C.), VU University (Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and U.S. and Dutch experts in trans health and equity. The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Evidence for Action Program and Arcus Foundation are providing funding.

To learn more, please contact the U.S. research coordinator, Abby Fischbach [email protected].

Karin Feltman: In Kansas City

Hi everyone. I just got back from a great conference. I had an American Association of Christian Counselors conference on an Alaskan cruise. What a great time of refreshment and learning.

I am currently in Kansas City and will be leaving Kansas on July 16. This is not a home assignment, so unfortunately I will not be doing much except with immediate family, but I hope to see some of you at church.

On the 16th, I will be headed to Mongolia on a vision trip. I will let you know how that goes.

Blessings,

—Karin 

TEST Tidbits: Happy Birthday to the USA

Here is a prayer from the Book of Common Prayer as we celebrate our country’s birthday.

 “Almighty God, who hast given us this good land for our heritage: We humbly beseech thee that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of thy favor and glad to do thy will. Bless our land with honorable industry, sound learning, and pure manners. Save us from violence, discord, and confusion; from pride and arrogance, and from every evil way. Defend our liberties, and fashion into one united people the multitudes brought hither out of many kindred and tongues. Endue with the spirit of wisdom those to whom in thy Name, we entrust the authority of government; that there may be peace at home, and that, through obedience to the law, we may show forth thy praise among the nations of the earth. —through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Amen.

Earth Steward Action: Pray for our country as we celebrate our birthday.

Source: Prayer for our country from the Book of Common Prayer

All TEST Tidbits here:

https://www.trinitylawrence.org/test-tidbits

Worship With Us

... .. ............. .........

Sunday, July 7 – Seventh Sunday after Pentecost

• 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite One (spoken)
• 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite Two (with music, Sunday School, and Nursery) — Watch the service live — Bulletin
• View the complete lectionary readings at www.lectionarypage.net.

.....

Wednesday, July 10

• 5:30 p.m. Dinner
• 6:30 p.m. Evening Prayer — Watch the 6:30 p.m. service live

Donate Online

Church Leadership

Volunteer or contact

[email protected]

Prayer Request

Subscribe to Newsletter