August 27, 2026 | Trinity Episcopal Church, Staunton, Virginia

THIS SUNDAY AT TRINITY

At 9:15 in the church, the last Discovery Sunday of the summer turns to the ministries of worship, from the altar guild to the choir to the folks handing you a bulletin. Come see what happens before you arrive and after you leave, and whether you'd like a hand in it. Everyone who says yes will be blessed at Commissioning Sunday on September 13, so it's a great time to get involved!

Then at 10:30, we celebrate an Instructed Eucharist. Where do our prayers come from? Who chooses the scripture? What are vestments and why does anyone wear them? Why does the priest make certain gestures, and why do some people cross themselves during worship? This is the service that breaks the fourth wall and explains the meaning and history behind what we do.

Our 8 am Rite I service is unchanged.

A NOTE FROM OUR SENIOR WARDEN

Dear Friends,

Earlier this year at the Vestry/Staff Planning Retreat, we prioritized improving communications and transparency, particularly so that those who are new to the congregation have a better sense of Trinity’s programs, ministries, and processes. 

One of the things we thought might help was to hear from the Senior Warden (the officer of the Vestry) following each month’s meeting. The Vestry of a parish consists of lay leaders, elected by the congregation, to oversee the temporal affairs of the parish and to work with the Rector, clergy, and staff on the mission of the church. Trinity’s vestry meets monthly (except for June and July) on the third Monday of the month. 

This month’s meeting focused primarily on the upcoming programs and events as we return from Summer. We discussed plans for the Annual Giving Campaign as part of our focus on year-round stewardship. A link to the agenda, the financials, and the most recent approved minutes are below. 

Agenda • Financials • May Vestry Minutes

We hope this will answer any questions or curiosities you may have about Trinity. Please reach out to me or Fr. AJ if you have additional questions. 

Peace

Paul Bugas

Senior Warden

DID YOU KNOW?

Phillippa Holley is the clerk of the vestry, which means she’s at every vestry meeting, keeping the minutes that become our record of how Trinity governs itself. She also makes sure our lay readers are ready, the parishioners who proclaim the lessons and lead the Prayers of the People at each service. Phillippa recruits and trains them, schedules who reads when, and encourages them along the way, including the readers for our most significant services, like Advent Lessons and Carols and the Passion Narrative on Palm Sunday.  

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

THE PROGRAM YEAR BEGINS SEPTEMBER 1!

Tuesdays at Trinity resume September 1. Kids Club runs from 4 to 6 pm, whether or not your child is a chorister, so drop them off, join a small group, or use the time however you like. Writing Our Faith meets at 4:30 pm, and the Rector's Book Group meets at 5 pm to discuss chapters one and two of Karen González's The God Who Sees, the first book of the year, which gives you twelve days to get hold of a copy. Choristers rehearse. Dinner is at 6 pm, and the first one is the Spaghetti Supper for Honduras Missions.

LOOKING AHEAD TO SEPTEMBER 6

Sunday School Open House

Every class meets Sunday, September 6 at 9:15 am, pre-K through high school, and the doors will be open. Classes will be running in earnest, so wander in, find your child's classroom, meet the teacher, and stay as long as you like. Peeking through doorways is encouraged. Godly Play for our littlest, Crafting Faith for early to upper elementary, and Triniteens for middle and high school age students.

New this year, Triniteens meets every Sunday at 9:15 am, and on third Sundays the group stays after church for pizza and a longer afternoon together.

Choristers start sooner, September 1, with all Tuesdays at Trinity programs.

Acolytes serve at the altar year round, and new servers are welcome any time.

You can still register for Sunday School, Choristers, Handbells, and Acolytes here

BETWEEN THE COLLARS

September 6 • 9:15 am

Once a month Fr. AJ and Rev. Cara take whatever questions you bring, and the range is wide: how does a person know they're called to the priesthood? How do you reconcile the God of the Old Testament with the God of the New? Do animals have souls? Come with something you've wondered about since you were a kid, or something that occurred to you in the parking lot on the way in. 

Starting September 13, two adult formation classes will meet at 9:15 am.

Fostering Faithful Families is a new group for anyone invested in family life, from parents with young ones at home to grandparents and godparents, meeting most Sundays to look at what our scriptures and faith actually have to say about raising children and loving one another well. Read more here.

Signs and Grace: An Introduction to the Sacraments runs three Sundays, September 13, 20, and 27. Baptism, Eucharist, and the sacramental rites, with a short video and time to talk it over.

ORGAN CONCERT IN MEMORY OF GEORGE TAYLOR

On Sunday, September 6 at 5 pm, William Porter will present an Organ Concert in Memory of George K. Taylor. Porter is an internationally known organist and teacher, and a friend and colleague of George's. 

George, the beloved husband of Carol Taylor, Trinity's Music Director from 1988 - 2010, was a faithful member of the congregation and the choir, as well as half of the brilliant Taylor & Boody partnership that designed and crafted our splendid organ and many others around the world. He was a gentleman, an artist, an intellect, a passionate lover of God's creation, and a dear friend to many at Trinity.  

All are welcome to a reception following the concert to greet Bill and to remember George.

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 23 sermon:

We Are the Church

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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