Commissioning Sunday 2025

September 10, 2026 | Trinity Episcopal Church, Staunton, Virginia

THIS SUNDAY AT TRINITY

At 9:15 am, both new adult formation tracks begin. Fostering Faithful Families, led by Fr. AJ and Shannon Riley, is a group for anyone invested in family life, meeting most Sundays to talk through the real work of raising children and loving one another well. Faith for our World opens with Signs and Grace, a three-week look at the sacraments, baptism, Eucharist, and the rites that shape how we worship.

At 10:30 am, we celebrate Commissioning Sunday, blessing everyone whose time and talents make Sunday worship happen: altar guild, lectors, greeters, ushers, acolytes, choir, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, digital technicians, teachers, and more. It takes a lot of folks every week to make Sunday morning happen! A celebratory coffee hour follows.

Not currently serving but curious? There's always room! Reach out to Katie at communitylife@trinitystaunton.org.

QUEEN CITY MISCHIEF AND MAGIC IS FAST APPROACHING

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Turning McCracken Hall into the Great Hall is a great undertaking, and it takes a whole crew of house elves to do it. We need help with everything from brewing butterbeer to setting tables to washing dishes, before, during, and after the feast.

Whatever you’re good at, from decorating to plating to serving, there’s a place for you. Contact Katie at communitylife@trinitystaunton.org or 580-579-8493 to find yours. There will be swag for volunteers who register in advance! 

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW

Not able to lend a hand but still want in on the magic? Trinity is hosting two feasts this year, and there’s a seat at the table for everyone from first years to alumni. Follow this link to secure your tickets before the Great Hall fills up!

Hogwarts Reunion Banquet • Saturday, September 26 • 6:30 pm

Come feast with your favorite characters as the Great Hall opens its doors for the evening: butterbeer, characters, and a banquet worthy of celebration. Tickets are $50, with proceeds supporting Honduras Missions.

Hogwarts Pancake Breakfast • Sunday, September 27 • 9:00 am & 10:30 am

Sunday morning includes bottomless pancakes, plus sausage, cinnamon apples, coffee, tea, and orange juice, hosted by Stuart Hall’s Rotary Interact Club. Tickets are $20, with proceeds benefiting Honduras Missions and Smile Train.

DID YOU KNOW?

Lee Beam is Trinity's assistant treasurer, and when it comes to financial and administrative issues, there's no issue too small or too large for her. For many years she served as treasurer (chairing the finance committee), chaired the annual giving campaign, served on the vestry and as senior warden, and represented Trinity on diocesan committees and at diocesan conventions. If it's something to do with how things are run at Trinity, there's a good chance Lee knows the answer.

You'll also find her serving as a chair of one of the altar guild teams, singing in the choir, and helping organize, and take part in, most of Trinity's choir trips to England over the years. She participated in four adult mission trips to Honduras. Lee is a lifelong member of Trinity who joined the Girls' Choir in her early teens and has been an important part of this community ever since!

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

TUESDAYS AT TRINITY • SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE!

Tuesdays at Trinity runs from 3:45 to 7 pm weekly, with rehearsals, small groups, and Kids Club before everyone sits down to a shared meal with a good cause.

Kids Club runs from 3:45 to 6 pm and is open to any child, whether or not they sing, so siblings have somewhere to be while choristers rehearse. Writing Our Faith meets at 4:30 pm with Rev. Cara, reading and writing together with a focus on poetry, though any genre is welcome. The Rector’s Book Group meets at 5 pm and is working through Karen González’s The God Who Sees. If you’d rather some quiet time to yourself, the Parent Breathing Room is open too.

Dinner is at 6 pm in McCracken Hall. Mostly Millennials are making macaroni and cheese, and the suggested $5 free will offering supports Valley Supportive Housing.

MEMORY CAFE

September 17 • 2 pm

Memory Cafe meets every third Thursday at the Staunton Public Library. There's usually music, sometimes a sing-along, and always good company. Memory Cafe brings together anyone living with dementia or memory changes, along with their caregivers, for an afternoon of levity in community.

YOUTH NEWS FROM THE DIOCESE

Two more Zoom info sessions remain for families curious about next summer's Pilgrimage to New Orleans, open to youth and parents. Sessions are September 13 at 7 pm and September 27 at 7 pm. If your 10th, 11th, or 12th grader is interested, or you'd like to know more about what the trip involves, these sessions are a good opportunity to ask questions directly. The $300 deposit and registration are due October 30.

Registration also just opened for the Fall Youth Event, November 14-15 at Camp Bethel, for 6th through 12th graders. It's a weekend of worship, small group time, and games built around this year's theme, the Fruit of the Spirit. Cost is $75 per youth, and adult volunteers attend free.

Full details and registration links here.

GRACE HOUSE ON THE MOUNTAIN FALL MISSION TRIP

This October 5-9, Emmanuel Episcopal Church is returning to Grace House on the Mountain and inviting Trinity and St. John's, Waynesboro to join them. Fr. AJ and Fr. Tom have both made the trip in years past. Volunteers spend the week on simple construction projects such as building accessibility ramps. No tools or experience are needed. The length of the trip is flexible if you're unable to stay the duration.

Full details and contact info here.

MONTHLY PRAYER WALKS RETURN SEPTEMBER 27!

Meet Father AJ and fellow parishioners at McCormick Farm for time with prayer, community, and a trail walk. If you’d like to carpool, meet in the Johnson Street lot at 3:30 pm.

THIS WEEK ON THE BLOG

Father AJ's September 6 sermon:

Fighting for Reconciliation

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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