November 8, 2025

Nurturing our Gifts

Building our Future Together

Dear Friends,

Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received… so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. – 1 Peter 4:10–11

A friend once preached that joy should be a practice of the Episcopal Church. Joy is rewarding. Joy is motivating. Joy is the light that draws us to the manger Joy also brings us to each others’ sides when we are in darkness. Joy, a manifestation of God’s love, finds us when we share with each other the gifts that God has given us. We invite you to see this gift as the gift we all share as we support each other in our lives in Christ.

As we continue our annual stewardship campaign, we give joyful thanks for the generosity shown by our parish community. We are now halfway through our fundraising effort. Here’s what the data show:

If you would like to read more, please click here.

Sunday

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Chapel.
9:00 a.m. Forum in the Parish Hall. The Rev. Canon Chris Wendell.

9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. Get your photo taken in the Parlor for the new directory. You don't need an appointment; just your smile.

10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist Rite II streamed on our website and you can download the bulletin.

10:00 a.m. Nursery is available for children 0-4. No Sunday School due to holiday weekend.

11:15 a.m. Coffee Hour in the Parish Hall.
11:15 a.m. Holiday Yarn Sale in the Parish Hall.

Tuesday

Church closed for observation of Veterans Day

Wednesday

Noon - Noonday Prayer on ZOOM Click here to be connected to NoonDay Prayer Zoom

Any day

Your clergy are always happy to hear from you and to meet with you for prayer and conversation. Reach out to Rev. Nancy or Fr. CJ to set up a Porch Chat, visit or phone call.

Sunday School @ 10 a.m.

Please click here to register your children and youth.

SECOND ADULTS NEEDED to support our Nursery and the two Sunday School classes. Volunteers need to have completed the Episcopal Church's Safe Church Training. Please sign up HERE to see dates where we need help or reach out to Rev. Nancy for details about how to complete Safe Church Training.WE NEED ADULT HELPERS through November and December.

YOUTH GROUP

Here are events to mark on your calendar if you are in 6th-12th grade:

Sunday, Dec. 1 - YOUTH GROUP after the 10 a.m. service.

Sunday, Dec. 14 - YOUTH GROUP with First Parish Concord Youth - led by Rev. Amy Freedman from First Parish and Rev. Nancy J. Hagner after the 10 a.m. service in the Library.

November Forums @ 9 a.m.

November 9 - The Rev. Canon Chris Wendell - Chris+ is the Canon to the Ordinary (Bishop Julia Whitworth's right hand person!) Please come and meet him with your questions about what's new in our diocese.

November 16 - Tim Hupe, Executive Director Creative Life Foundation - Join us on a transformative journey as Tim shares his story, which begins with a move to Thailand and leads to a profound awakening. Discover the moments that changed his perspective and made the harsh realities of human trafficking feel personal, going beyond mere statistics. Together, let’s explore how our passion can fuel purpose and how we can all become agents of change to create a better world. Tim Hupe is a fellow parishioner, often seen at the 8:00 am service. He is the co-founder and Director of the Creative Life Foundation, a ministry partner of Trinity since 2021.

November 23 - Liz Rust, Board Chair - Concord Prison Outreach - Holiday Gift Bags. How we can help with this caring ministry for our incarcerated neighbors?

November 30 - Dr. Brian Litzenberger - 4 week Advent Forum series kicks-off.

Open Table Food Drive

Open Table’s mission is to end hunger in our local community by providing healthy food in ways that respect the dignity and diversity of those served.

Open Table offers a wide variety of healthy and culturally appropriate groceries and prepared meals at our main facility in Maynard and through several mobile pantries and delivery programs. We provide a welcoming community of support and assistance to families and individuals, including many seniors and children in central Middlesex county, and have a team of diverse, committed and passionate staff and volunteers. If you would like to learn more, please click here.

Beginning November 1, there will be a container in the Narthex where you can drop off your contributions.

High Demand Foods:

Vegetable Cooking Oil – 24 oz, 32 oz, or 40 oz bottles
Ground Coffee – No K-Cups Please
Red Beans – 1 or 2 pound bags
Black Beans – 1 or 2 pound bags

Beverages

Black Teabags (Boxes – 50 bags or less)
Herbal Teas (No Caffeine)
Almond, Oat, Soy, Coconut Milk (32oz shelf stable)

Staples

Low Sugar Boxed Cereal – Cheerios, Raisin Bran, Cornflakes, other similar
Instant Oatmeal Variety Pack (Regular & Low Sugar)
Dried & Canned Legumes & Beans, Chili
Tuna in Water
Hearty Soups & Stews (Regular & Low Sodium)
Baking Supplies – Baking Powder/Soda, Sugar, Flour
Gluten Free – Dry Goods i.e.Baking Mixes (Quick Breads, Pancake Mix, Brownie Mix etc.), Pastas, Mac N Cheese, Dry Cereal, Wheat Flour alternatives

Please click here for a more comprehensive list.

Update from Open Table - October 2025

Dear Open Table Community,

As the government shutdown continues, over 41,000 households in our service area stand to lose their SNAP benefits in the coming days. For some, this loss comes on top of month-long furloughs and work without pay requirements. We know this strain will push many members of our community into a desperate situation. We are already seeing the impact; over the past week the number of new clients that signed up for Open Table more than tripled.

In the face of these unprecedented challenges, we want you to know that Open Table is ready. Our shelves are stocked, our meals are prepared, and our doors are open to those who need us.

We know you want to help, and as demand rises, we’ll need your support more than ever. Here’s how we can meet the moment together:

Make a financial gift to help offset rising costs
Donate non-perishable food to keep our pantry full
Join our giving activities to lift up neighbors in need

Support Open Table Today!

Together, we can ensure that no one in our community goes hungry, no matter what lies ahead. Thank you for standing with us and for your continued compassion and support.

With gratitude,

Alexandra DePalo

Executive Director

Barbara Fisher

Chair, Board of Directors

Concord Prison Outreach - November 23 Forum at 9:00 A.M.

CPO Board Chair Liz Rust will share about the 2025 Holiday Gift Bag Program and ways we can support this ministry to our incarcerated neighbors.

Sewing Seeds for Hope Sale - November 30 at 11:15 A.M.

Holiday Sale at Coffee Hour!

Start your holiday shopping with beautiful handmade items created by our Afghan neighbors. For more information, please click here.

*****

We’d like to give you all an update on SSFH and ask for your help in a few areas.

You will recall that SSFH was officially launched three years ago with a grant from Episcopal Church Province One with additional financial support from Trinity Concord and St. Peter’s in Weston. We started with three “sewists” and as sales have grown we now have eight women in Manchester and Lowell participating.

In August of last year we registered as a 501C3 in the state of New Hampshire. We ended 2024 with sales of $24,000. 100% of sales go directly to the women making the products. They are proud to be contributing in a meaningful way to help support their families financially.

If you would like to read more, please click here.

Seeking Parishioners to serve in 2026

The Nominating Committee has listed the available leadership opportunities for 2026 in the link below.

The importance of service and the value of each person’s gifts is to help us grow in our faith, build community and serve God. Yes, service requires energy, effort and commitment but every year we witness our devoted parishioners rise to the level we believe is important. Will this be you?

“God, please stir the hearts of your people to love and serve You. Amen “

Reach out to any of us to express your interest, ask further questions or give us names of those you want us to consider.

Your Nominating Committee:

Carolyn Coffin, Lee Daniel, Emily Frost, Jonas Jacobson, Gresh Lattimore, Erich McGuffey, Barbara Morse and Holly Steward (chair).

Please click here to view the positions available.

In the following link, you will find a nomination form to suggest a person you’d like the Nominating Committee to consider for any leadership position. Please click here for Nominating Form.

Grateful Bread

With Gratitude we invite you to an All Parish Luncheon on Wednesday, November 12 at noon in the Parish Hall.

A variety of soups and breads will be served. Please mark your calendars and bring a friend.

We ask that you use the Sign-Up Genius, or call Jace or Molly if you plan to join us. This helps us plan for our luncheon. But, if you can attend at the last minute, PLEASE COME anyway!

See you then!

Sending love,

Molly Stone and Jace Tilton

Communion Wafers are available

If you are worshiping through Trinity's livestream, you can still participate in communion. There is consecrated host kept in Beth's office. If you would like some, please contact Beth (978)369-3715 and we'll figure out a way to get it to you.

Say Cheese!

Trinity's new pictorial directory is in the works, but we need your help! Please come to Trinity to get your picture taken and to update your contact information.

These photos are for the directory only; you may not purchase them nor are you charged for them. Pictures will be taken in Trinity's Parlor (near the Parish Hall)

Sunday, November 9 - 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
Sunday, November 16 - 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.

You don't need an appointment, just your smile!

Pre Pop-Up Market Yarn Sale!! Sunday, November 9

The Handcrafts Group has a beautiful variety of yarn to help you get started on holiday/winter projects and gifts. Each skein will cost just $1.00! Gift bags will also be for sale 3 for $5.00. This initial sale (more to come at the Market) will take place Sunday, November 9 at Coffee Hour. We take cash and checks.

We thank the Carvey family for their generous donation of the yarn which has made this sale, and other offerings from the Handcrafts Group, possible.

We are looking for people to volunteer to help staff tables at the Holiday Market

Please sign up to help staff one of our tables at the December 7th Holiday Market! Choose your time 9-10, 11-12 or 12-1. We'll assign you where you are needed most, from books to jewelry, to bake table to silent auction to wine to kids toys to promise tree and much more. Come join the fun!

Please sign up here!

New Art Exhibit in the Parish Hall

The art for November and December in The Gallery at Trinity is: Dreamscapes: Art Inspired by Life, Spirit, and Renewal by Ruth Lieberherr, visual artist

It is large, it is bold, it is colorful, and it is joyful. It will raise your spirit by just being present in the space. “Whimsical faces, real and fantastical creatures, and remembered places inhabit these canvases”, says the artist. Some of you may recognize Ruth as a member of the Skyloom Dancers with our own Shirley Blanke, who performed at church last year with circle dances at coffee hour. Ruth has also illustrated children’s books that will be available to purchase in coming weeks. Enjoy these images through the holiday season and Ruth will be at coffee hour on Dec. 14th.

Vestry Minutes

If you would like to know what's happening in Trinity's Vestry meetings, the minutes are available in several different ways:

There's a book on the fireplace mantel in the Library where you can read the minutes
If you become a member on the website, you can read the minutes on the website.
You can ask Beth to add you to her Vestry Minutes Mailing List and have the minutes emailed to you.
You can read the minutes on the bulletin board across from the women's bathroom. You can remove the minutes to read, and then return them to the bulletin board.