Worship With Us at Trinity Church

Sunday, 23 August

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

10:00 AM

Holy Eucharist Rite II in the Church

Celebrant, The Rev. Dr. Marta S. Rivera Monclova

Guest Preacher: Aldon Hynes

and live-streamed via YouTube

Trinity Church YouTube

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Notes from the Threshold

The Rev. Dr. Marta S. Rivera Monclova

Summer Office Hours

Guest Preacher - Aldon Hynes

Trinity Gifts of Backpacks

A Place of Welcome - August 23

Altar Training - August 29

Volunteers Needed - September 6

All Hands on Deck for Rededication Sunday -Sept. 13

Rededication Sunday Prayer-September 13

Book Group Meeting - September 25

ECCT Annual Convention - October 23-24

Online Bible study

The Choir School of Hartford is Recruting!

Confirmation, Reafirmation, Reception

Pastoral Care

A Notice from the Prayer Team

Prayer List Requests

Weekly Calendar

News from the Diocese

August Birthdays

eVoice Deadline for Announcements submission

Notes from the Threshold

Each week until Rededication Sunday, I’ll be telling a story, at least until it feels less like we’re all on the threshold and we’ve moved into a new space.

This week, I’m re-printing something the Vestry has seen from my application: my philosophy of pastoral care. 

 The question was: How do you engage in pastoral care for others?

Pastoral care begins with careful attention to the person and the moment before us. While pastoral situations may appear similar on the surface, each person’s experience of grief, fear, or hope is unique. Listening carefully to people's words is the first step, but attentive pastoral care also requires noticing tone, context, and the dynamics in the room. Often what is most important is revealed not only in what someone says, but in how they say it and in what remains unsaid.

In my training, I was observing a pastoral interaction between a chaplain and a wife of 40 years whose husband had died a few moments earlier. She was understandably emotional, and the chaplain suggested breathing together to help slow her breathing. A solid strategy and one very effective with, for example, people in the grips of anxiety. In this case, slow breathing reminded her of nothing more than her husband's breathing slowing to a stop and served only to upset her more. 

From a different angle, once I spent some time with a dying father and his adult children, and they were telling stories of their childhood, of their late mother, with occasional excursions into the exact circumstances of their father's health. At one point he asked them to leave so he could have time with “his chaplain.” I completely expected from this request that he had deep end-of-life concerns to discuss. As soon as the door closed, he floored me with the question: “Tell me about your wedding.” (Which had been 25 years prior.) It took a moment to realize that, while he was dying, what \emph{he} most wanted was to talk about something that had nothing to do with his death. For a few minutes he simply wanted not to be the center of the room—to be curious, interested, and engaged with something beyond it. 

Pastoral care is not a series of forms that can be applied in any situation—it requires listening deeply, observing closely, changing direction when needed, and companioning faithfully. 

-Mtr. Marta



The Rev. Dr. Marta S. Rivera Monclova

Summer Office Hours

M-W: 8-12, Th: 2-4

And by appointment.

For now, to make an appointment,

send an email: mrivera@trinityhartford.org

or call the office 860-527-8133 X202

NOTE: 
Mary Rojas' office hours have also shifted:

M, T, W, F: 8-12, Th: 12-4

Aldon Hynes - Guest Preacher



Aldon is a hospital chaplain serving primarily in the psychiatric units of the Danbury and Norwalk hospitals and a postulant for ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. Born in Maine and raised in Massachusetts, Aldon studied at the College of Wooster in Ohio and Church Divinity School of the Pacific in Berkeley, California. Aldon currently lives at Haven Religious in Hartford.

Aldon is an avid reader and enjoys folk music, dancing, the beach, and discovering the sacred in the unexpected places and experiences of everyday life.

Trinity Gifts of Backpacks

by Penny Pearson 

Thanks to your generosity, Trinity provided 47 backpacks to our Adopted Social Worker for Covenant to Care on August 16! 

A place of learning

Last week, the Flower Guild and Altar Guild met to discuss everything related to Flowers and Altar. This week, those who are on or are interested in the Stewardship are invited to convene after church in the Library. Again, all informal chats! Get your coffee, say hello; Mtr. Marta will ring the bell, and then we’ll meet in the Library. 

August 23    Stewardship will convene after worship, let all who are interested stop

by the Library.

Even if you’ve never tried this before, come on in!

Altar Party Training

One of my questions on the cards for my first week was: "What is one thing at church you wish you could touch, carry, ring, light, sing, or help with?" Well, now's your chance! From experienced acolytes to those who look with longing, this is your time to learn, to relearn, to refresh, or to teach!

We'll be having a training and retraining for various roles in the altar party: chalice bearer, table acolyte, crucifer, thurifer. August 29, 10am. We'll gather with coffee, we'll get to learning, we'll break for lunch, and then celebrate a low-key Eucharist with those gathered, and anyone else who wishes to join us at about 1pm.

All are welcome to come and learn, all are welcome to a Saturday afternoon Eucharist! Those who wish to come and learn, drop a note to Mary office@trinityhartford.org so we can plan food accurately.

Volunteers to help Sept 6

Vinnie is taking a well deserved Labor Day Weekend off, and will not be available to open the building on Sunday morning. We'll have a "cheatsheet" of things to remember and such, but could really use a couple extra folks to help with getting the church up and running in the morning, and get it shut down after folks leave. These do not have to be the same persons! Thank you in advance, email Mtr. Marta to offer your generous services!

REDEDICATION SUNDAY CELEBRATION: CALLING FOR ALL HANDS ON DECK

by Walton Brown-Foster 

As you know, we are planning to celebrate another year in the history of Trinity as we renew and rededicate our faith community’s mission and service, while stepping into the future and a new season as we welcome The Reverend Dr. Marta S. Rivera Monclova.

The planning committee is finalizing plans for the September 13, 2026, REDEDICATION CELEBRATION. SOON we will be asking ALL PARISHIONERS to participate by signing up for various opportunities. We will need you to bring your scrumptious side dishes (salads, beverages, desserts, etc.) and help with decorations, set-up, and clean-up. 

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS, CONCERNS, AND ESPECIALLY IDEAS, PLEASE CONTACT Linda MacGougan 860-561-1588 and/or Janet Wilkinson 860-508-6303 by August 30, 2026. 

WITH YOUR PARTICIPATION, IT WILL BE “A PARTY THAT WILL BE WRITTEN ABOUT IN THE NEXT HUNDRED-YEAR BOOKLET!”

Rededication Sunday Prayers

I would like to solicit additional forms of prayer requests for the Prayers of the People on our Rededication Sunday. We, of course, will be praying for our returned choir, our returned choristers, our new priest (me!), but I also want to offer the chance for anyone to submit either an idea or fully formed wording of other prayers for the church.

What is there from the long days of transition that you are still holding that the church can help you release? What hurt is there from something that has transpired that you can let prayer help heal? What vision do you have for Trinity? What do you want Trinity to pray for publicly?

Email: mrivera@trinityhartford.org, even if you have only a slight idea of what you'd like said, we can make the words go.

Trinity's Book Group

Looking for a good book to close out the summer? Consider Independent People, by Nobel Prize-winning Icelandic author, Halldór Laxness. The book is "a magnificent novel that recalls Iceland's medieval epics and classics, set in the early twentieth century, starring an ordinary sheep farmer and his heroic determination to achieve independence." 

Trinity's Book Group will discuss it at its gathering on Friday, September 25th, 7:00-8:30 pm, and everyone is welcome! That's why it's called a Book GROUP, not a Book CLUB: people attend as their schedules allow and their interests incline; some people come regularly and others come once. Jack and Penny Pearson will host the meeting at their home in Bloomfield. Please let them know if you plan to come so that they have plenty of chairs and refreshments ready. (pennypearson@comcast.net; text or call 860-836-8937)

The 242 Annual Convention of the

Episcopal Church in Connecticut

October 23-24, 2026

To learn more and to register,

Please Click Here

Online Bible Study

For more information on the Bible Study, please contact The Rev. Erika Plank Hagan at reverika@stthomasbethel.org

Hi Everyone!

There is so much to look forward to in the upcoming season, and the kickoff is coming soon!

We are currently in open enrollment for new choristers at the Choir School of Hartford. We would love your help spreading the word!

 Here is the Choir School of Hartford Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/choirschoolofhartford/

Please take a moment to:

1.          Like the page.

2.          Follow the page, if you don’t already.

3.          Most importantly, share the September open enrollment post on your own Facebook page.

Sharing the post helps expand its visibility beyond our immediate Trinity community and puts the Choir School in front of your friends, family, and contacts. This simple step can help us reach more families and grow the music ministry at Trinity.

Thank you for helping spread the word and for supporting the Choir School!

Musically,

Markus -

Confirmation, Reaffirmation, Reception

If you are interested in confirmation, in being received into the Episcopal Church from another denomination, or reaffirming your committment to the church, we will be gathering a group together for that purpose. Email mrivera@trinityhartford.org with your interest, and your availability to meet in person or online.

A new season for

pastoral care



In this extended transition time, some well-beloved folks might have fallen through the cracks of our care. If you know anyone who would like a visit, or a call, please reach out to Mtr. Marta directly: mrivera@trinityhartford.org

A NOTICE FROM THE PRAYER TEAM

At Trinity Church we believe in the power of prayer.

• Your written prayer requests are welcome. There are prayer jars on tables at both entrances in which you are invited to place prayer requests. You may also call or email the church office to make a prayer request. During the week, written requests will be collected and prayed over privately. At your discretion, such requests can be placed in the Sunday service leaflet. 
• Prayer requests will be published for four weeks, then deleted unless you choose to renew them by contacting the Parish Administrator. 
• Intercessors are stationed in the south (lectern side) aisle of the Nave during communion each Sunday. Please approach them if you desire a moment of personal prayer. All personal prayers will remain confidential.

Prayer List

Should you like a name added to the Prayer List, please contact the office at office at Trinityhartford.org or 860-527-8133 ext. 204.

Please note that unless the office is otherwise notified, the name will be on the list for 4 weeks and then removed. If a name is taken off the list in error, we are happy to add it back in.

Weekly Calendar

Find upcoming events HERE .

News from the Diocese

Click the link below to read up on what's going on in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut.

ECCT Newsletter August 12,2026

Trinity Family wishes you a Happy Birthday,

Filled with Love and Laughter

Frank Kirkpatrick - August 4

Stephanie Thomas - August 4

Jane Mogor - August 7

Peter Vreeland - August 10

Christina Gellman - August 12

Amy Arlin - August 13

Fred Margeson - August 16

Agatha Okeke - August 18

Cathy Rowe - August 18

Penny Pearson - August 19

Davonte Griffith - August 20

Michael Thomas - August 26

Carmen Belgrave - August 30

If you wish to have your Birthday month included in the eVoice,

please contact the office.

eVoice Deadline

All announcements should be submitted to the office at office@trinityhartford.org by Wednesday 9am for publication that week. Announcements that are submitted late will be held until the following week’s edition.