Shrine Mont Parish Retreat 2026!

September 24, 2026 | Trinity Episcopal Church, Staunton, Virginia

THIS WEEKEND AT TRINITY

Mischief and Magic weekend is here. Between Saturday night and Sunday morning, McCracken Hall turns into the Great Hall and then into the best pancake house in the Valley. To everyone setting and serving tables, brewing butterbeer, flipping pancakes, and washing dishes: thank you!

Sunday formation continues at 9:15 am with a little extra magic mixed in. Both adult formation tracks will meet. Signs and Grace wraps up its three weeks on the sacraments, and Fostering Faithful Families gathers in the Gooch Room. All youth Sunday School classes meet as usual, with the option to join the Mischief and Magic scavenger hunt on the lawn.

Close out the weekend with a prayer walk with Father AJ! Meet at 3:30 pm in the Johnson Street lot to carpool, or meet at McCormick Farm at 4 pm.

TUESDAYS AT TRINITY: NO DINNER THIS WEEK

Next Tuesday, September 29, is a fifth Tuesday, so there will be no Tuesdays at Trinity dinner. Everything else goes ahead as usual: all choirs rehearse, Kids Club meets, and every small group gathers. The Rector's Book Group finishes The God Who Sees that evening and starts its next book on October 6, the same night Spaghetti Supper and Taizé return.

RECTOR'S BOOK GROUP: CHANGE THE RECIPE

Starting October 6, the Rector's Book Group turns to Change the Recipe by José Andrés, founder of World Central Kitchen. It's a slim collection of the life lessons he's gathered in kitchens and disaster zones. Tuesdays at 5 pm in the Foster Room.

TRINITY UNTAPPED MEETING NEXT THURSDAY, OCT 1!

A NOTE FROM OUR SENIOR WARDEN

Your Vestry gathered on Monday, September 21 for a longer-than-usual monthly meeting. Its length had nothing to do with idle conversation, rather it focused on the many issues “on the table” for Vestry to address. To learn more, use the links below to supply you with detailed information on the budget, agenda items, and minutes from our August meeting.

Paul's full note covers our fast-growing choir, a new sign that will tell visitors Trinity's story, and how to put your name forward for vestry. Read the rest here.

August Vestry Meeting Minutes • August Financial Report

DID YOU KNOW?

Kristin Reichert has been singing in Trinity’s choir since high school, and today she plays a vital role across the entire music ministry. Every week, she co-directs the Prep Choir alongside Constance Harrington and helps guide the Senior Choristers. She also sings in the Parish Choir, which frequently means pulling double duty: assisting the younger choristers first, then taking her own seat to sing.

Kristin serves on the vestry and leads our Taizé services, held on the first Tuesday of each month during the school year, right after spaghetti supper (the first service of the year is coming up on October 6!). She’s also always ready to roll up her sleeves wherever help is needed, putting in a full season of dishwashing at Mass on the Grass and other parish meals. On top of all that, she lends a hand with communications and regularly shares photos of parish life with us—like the ones from our recent retreat! It’s a good reminder of how many different roles one person can fill within the Trinity community.

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

ALL CREATURES GREAT AND SMALL

Celebration of the Animals Fest

Saturday, October 3 • 10 am to 12 pm

Sunday, October 4, is the Feast of St. Francis, who saw God's goodness in every living thing and called all creatures his brothers and sisters. On the eve of his feast day, we'll honor him with an outdoor liturgy and a blessing of the animals. Bring your dog, guinea pig, horse, snake, fish, goat, or your best loved teddy bear.

Afterward, visit and learn more about some of the people in our community who take care of the animals who share our lives. There will be crafts for the kids and good resources for anyone who loves a critter. Animals enrich our life together. Come give thanks for them with us!

Choral Evensong for the Feast of St. Francis

Sunday, October 4 • 5 pm

Eight hundred years after Saint Francis died, we'll celebrate his feast day the way he might have liked best: in song! Sung by Trinity's Senior Choristers, this contemplative service of Evening Prayer will include music by Jessica French, Herbert Sumsion, John Rutter, and Malcolm Archer. It will be a beautiful opportunity to pause, reflect, and worship through music.

SAVE THE DATE • MUSIC FOR GOOD

Saturday, October 10 • 5 pm

Music for Good was created with the intent of supporting our neighbors. All funds raised will go directly to the Familia Fund, a volunteer-led group of Stauntonians working to support community members who are facing detention, deportation, food and housing insecurity, and legal fees.

The concert is a collaboration between professional and student musicians. Strings, organ, clarinet and choir will appear in various configurations, performing a variety of music.

WESTWOOD HILLS BOOK DRIVE

Help Westwood Hills Elementary rebuild their library. We’re collecting donations of new or used fiction and non-fiction for kids in kindergarten through fifth grade in the green box in the back of the church. During the week you can bring your donations to the copy room. 

WEDNESDAY MORNING YOGA AT TRINITY

Make some space in your week for this gentle hatha yoga class, led by Stephanie Otteni. There is no charge, and the class welcomes all bodies, abilities and experience levels, with slow movements designed to stretch and strengthen, while offering an opportunity for introspection and deep relaxation in the peaceful environment of Trinity's sanctuary. Wear comfortable clothing and bring a mat and any props you own (Trinity does have a limited number of mats available). Contact Rev. Cara with any questions!

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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