Thanks to all who joined us for games in McCracken Hall last weekend!

August 13, 2026 | Trinity Episcopal Church, Staunton, Virginia

DISCOVERY SUNDAYS BEGIN THIS WEEKEND



August 16, 23, and 30 at 9:15 am. Three mornings to look at the many ways to get involved at Trinity. The first is about study and formation, small groups, and the work that keeps things running. The second is about how we care for one another and how we serve beyond our doors, and it comes with a pancake breakfast in McCracken Hall. The third turns to the ministries of worship, from the altar guild to the choir to the folks handing you a bulletin.

Did you catch Father AJ's video about the coming weeks?

STAUNTON MUSIC FESTIVAL• AUGUST 14 TO 23

For ten days in August, our church also serves as a concert hall. It is an honor to host so much of the Staunton Music Festival, and many of you will be here even more than usual in the coming weeks to enjoy concerts! Morning Prayer will be in the Foster Room through August 24. Midday Healing Eucharist will be in the Foster Room on August 19.

THE MISSION & OUTREACH COMMITTEE WANTS TO HEAR FROM YOU

Trinity supports a good deal of work beyond our walls, from Noon Lunch and SACRA to Grace House and the Virginia Haiti Collaborative, and the committee is trying to get a clearer picture of what parishioners know about, what you would help with, and what you think we should be taking on next. The survey takes about five minutes. Please respond by August 24. bit.ly/tri-outreach26

DID YOU KNOW?

Joe Fiechtl coordinates our digital technicians, the small team who livestream our services, Sunday mornings and special services alike, along with the occasional wedding or funeral. When family can’t travel, watching live lets them be present for a moment they would otherwise miss.

Most Sundays, somewhere between 50 and 100 people follow along from home, sometimes more. Behind those streams is Joe and a small crew of technicians: Nathan Fiechtl, Rick Chittum, David Sommers, and Tallis Reichert. Beyond the tech booth, you’ll find Joe leading walks at our labyrinth, teaching about Anglican rosaries, and co-leading Education for Ministry.

Know someone who keeps things running behind the scenes and deserves a moment of recognition? Tell Katie so we can feature them. We have a lot of people to thank!

communitylife@trinitystaunton.org or 580-579-8493

BREAKING BREAD SUPPER GROUPS

Small groups, shared meals, three months. Starting September 9, six to twelve people from Trinity gather for supper once a month. The host provides the main course and everyone else brings the rest. It is a way to get to know people you may only see across the church. You can sign up to come, sign up to host, or volunteer as convenor, the one who calls everybody and pins down the dates. Groups can gather in a home, at McCracken Hall, or out somewhere with a big enough table.

Sign up here by August 24!

Registration is Open!

Sunday School, Choristers, Handbells, and Acolytes

Sunday School begins September 6 and offers age-appropriate ways for children and youth to explore their faith, from Montessori-inspired Bible learning for our youngest to creative projects, study, service, and fellowship for older students.

The Chorister Program, for children in kindergarten through high school, begins September 1 and meets Tuesdays as part of Tuesdays at Trinity. Choristers rehearse weekly and sing regularly in worship. Youth Handbell Choir also meets Tuesday evenings and starts the same week.

New This Year: Triniteens Every Sunday!

Triniteens, our youth group for middle and high school age students, now meets every Sunday at 9:15 am, and on second Sundays the group stays after church for pizza and a longer afternoon together! 

Register for all youth programs here.

THREE WAYS TO BE READY 

Safe Church, Safe Communities

Clergy, staff, lay leaders, and volunteers all need current certification, and now is a good time to certify before the program year begins! The diocese is offering a Safe Church, Safe Communities training over Zoom on Tuesday, August 25 from 6:30 to 9:30 pm. Register at bit.ly/4hqZVnv

safeTALK

safeTALK is a half-day training in recognizing when someone may be having thoughts of suicide and connecting them to help. Valley Community Services Board is leading it in McCracken Hall on Wednesday, August 26 from 1:30 to 5:30 pm, at no cost. Register at bit.ly/TrinitysafeTALK or email Prevention@VCSB.org.

CPR and AED Training at Emmanuel

Dr. Jay Fox, a UVA medical researcher and longtime Red Cross instructor, is teaching a CPR and AED certification class at Emmanuel on Sunday, August 23, 12 pm. It runs a little over two hours, it is free, and pizza is provided. Email Jim Echols at jeechols@verizon.net to claim a spot.

NEW SIGNS!

New signs have started appearing around the property. In April the design was still under review with the city and out for bids, and now the first of them are up, with more to come as part of the ongoing Generation-to-Generation work. Read April's campaign update here.

ORGAN CONCERT IN MEMORY OF GEORGE TAYLOR • Sept 6

Youth Pilgrimage to New Orleans

Fresh off a leadership retreat at Phoebe Needles, the diocesan youth office has opened registration for next summer's pilgrimage to New Orleans, June 26 to July 2, for current 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. A $300 deposit is due October 30. Learn more here.

IN OUR COMMUNITY

Caleb Nolen's Afterlight

Parishioner Caleb Nolen's first book of poems, Afterlight, came out in June from the University of Utah Press. It won the 2025 Agha Shahid Ali Prize in Poetry, selected from the year's manuscripts by poet Jennifer Chang.

He'll be reading from it on Saturday, August 29 at 7 pm at New Dominion Bookshop in Charlottesville, alongside poet Devon Walker-Figueroa. The reading is free and open to all. Learn more here.

THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG

Father AJ's August 9 sermon

Everybody Needs a Life Saver

Sunday Service Times

Please join us for Sunday services:

8:00 am (Rite I)

10:30 am (Rite II)

Join Us Virtually!

Live-Streamed Services

We live-stream each Sunday's 10:30 am Eucharist (and special services) on our YouTube channel.

How To Submit Prayer Requests

Email prayer requests to Katie Faulkner, communitylife@trinitystaunton.org, by Tuesday at 6 pm for publication in the following Sunday bulletin. Please secure the permission of the person for whom prayers are requested. Full or partial names are permitted. Submitted names remain on the prayer list for four Sundays, after which they're removed unless a request is submitted to continue for an additional term.

Sharing Milestones and Accomplishments

Send personal accomplishments to Autumn Nolen, communications@trinitystaunton.org, by Tuesday at 6 pm for inclusion in Thursday’s weekly email. If you’re submitting something on someone else’s behalf, please first confirm that they’re comfortable with it being shared.

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