August 23rd, 2020

Meditation for the Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost
August 23, 2020
 
And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”      
Matthew 16:18-19]

          As I reflected on today’s readings, I kept returning to what we call the butterfly effect: Just as the flapping of a butterfly’s wings can affect the timing of a tornado, our smallest acts can have unanticipated transformative effects on the world.  In words that will be echoed in his farewell to his disciples (Matthew 28:16-20), Jesus teaches them that the smallest human action has cosmic consequences.
           Celtic mythology and spirituality speak of a “thin place” where the boundary between the natural and the supernatural—between heaven and earth—is blurred or even disappears.  Celtic storytellers from ancient times have told stories of people who have entered the “thin place” and encountered faeries and beings of the Other World.  The “thin place” is a boundary land, not visible to ordinary sight.  One finds oneself there without knowing how one arrived.  In Celtic Christianity, the church is that “thin place” where divine and human meet.
           In naming Peter, Jesus calls him, and all of us, to embody that “thin place.”  This is what he means when he speaks the words that have so often been used to elevate clerical authority:  I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.   [Matthew 16:19]  Jesus’ words here are indeed momentous.  He is telling Peter—and us--that we ourselves are the holy ground where God’s truth will be revealed. He is telling us that it is up to us to create the place where someone can enter into a new relationship with God. It is up to us to create a space where someone can be vulnerable enough to be surprised by the wonder of grace. He is telling us that we ourselves are free to open the way between heaven and earth as naturally as a butterfly flaps its wings. ​

Almighty God, Creator: 
The morning is yours, rising into fullness. 
The summer is yours, dipping into autumn.
Eternity is yours, dipping into time. 
The vibrant grasses, the scent of flowers, the lichen on the rocks, the tang of seaweed. 
All are yours.  Gladly we live in this garden of your creating.  Amen.
​
  MORNING PRAYER via ZOOM
Ministers of the Liturgy
The Rev. Dr. Judith Lee
Members of the Altar Guild:
Mary-Ellen Yaroshefski, Allison Kee,
Lisa Ruggiero, Mary Torian
Musicians:  Randolph Bloom, Jeff Lukas
I appeal to you therefore, brothers and sisters, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God-- what is good and acceptable and perfect.  [Romans 12:1-2]
 https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82256827302?pwd=Z0E3ZlpXY0hIRFdIZHN0ZnltdXNlZz09
Meeting ID: 822-5682-7302     Password: 546896
If you cannot access through your computer, you may participate by telephone.
Telephone: 929-205-6099
For the Morning Prayer leaflet, click here.  
For the Weekly Announcements click here.
On the Sundays in August, videotaped sermons by Bishop Fisher, Canon Simpson, and Canon Ix are available on our website. 
Mother Judith's videotaped reflections will resume in September.

Forward Day by Day Booklets are now available at the church.
Please call the Church Office or Mother Judith know if you would like a copy.

​A Message from Rachel Carpenter:
Hello everyone!  I'm so sorry we skipped last week!  I was on vacation visiting my mom.  It was a great week!  This week, we are focusing on the Fruit of the Spirit, Goodness.  Please take a peak at the Douglas Talks video and activity!  Email me a fact that you learned or a pic/video of you doing the activity and you will get a point towards a prize at the end of the summer!  Have fun!!  ~Rachel  ([email protected])
Fruits of the Spirit Goodness  
Douglas Talks  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_WtPRKPJvno 
Activity:

• Supplies: Bananas, Pens or Sharpie Markers
• Instructions:

1. Pass out a banana to each member of your family.
2. Instruct everyone to decorate the outside of their banana.
3. Once everyone is finished decorating, peel open the bananas. Talk about how what we see on the outside appearance of a person doesn’t show us what is on the inside (in their heart). Only God sees our hearts & only the Holy Spirit working inside of us can create goodness in our heart. If someone opens up a banana that has brown spots, that’s a great opportunity to reiterate how what’s on the outside doesn’t always show us what’s on the inside.

Next Steps:  Moving Forward
God of the living word,
give us faith to receive your message,
the wisdom to know what it means,
and the courage to put it into practice.
-from A New Zealand Prayer Boo

New Rector Search: Next Steps:
Saturday September 12th - Canon Simpson will meet with the Search Committee, the Profile Committee, and the Vestry on o review the survey results. 
October-November The Profile committee will hold parish meetings via Zoom to discuss future plans for new ministry with your next Rector.
An updated timeline of the 2 "arcs" of the search process can be found on our website: https://www.trinitychurchmilford.org/
 
Thank you to everyone who participated in the parish meetings in June.  For a summary of those conversations, including a summary of the Youth conversations, click here.
May God continue to inspire us, bless us, and guide us.
Entering Stage 2:
We will re-open the church open for private prayer during the week of September 20th.

On August 10th, the Vestry approved a new Building Use Policy and a Building Use Agreement that includes a liability waiver, a checklist of safety protocols, and a health questionnaire.  We have completed a proposal for opening our building to community groups and small parish groups. Pending a peer review, those steps will take place at the beginning of September.

The Public Health Inspector visited our kitchen and advised us on the protocols necessary to prepare takeout meals for our neighbors.  Pending Vestry approval and a diocesan Peer Review, we plan to again prepare Community Meals on the last Thursday of each month beginning in the fall.
 
In September we will announce a new schedule for our parish Zoom Chats, Family Game Night, and Bingo. Because so many of us are attending to the uncertainties of the new school year, we will wait to begin Trinity's program year in late September or early October.
Outdoor Backpack Blessings: Sunday September 12th - Watch for more information
Return to virtual Sunday School & Blessing of our pets: October 4th,.  Watch for more information.

Wednesdays @ 10 am: Morning Prayer & Fellowship via ZOOM - We'll continue weekly
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83161138171?pwd=TitUUzdtRVhjZVFadjNZbFlxV1dhdz09
Meeting ID: 831 6113 8171  Password:   497792
Telephone: 929-205-6099

Training to lead Morning Prayer - The diocese is offering a webinar in how to lead Morning Prayer; Thursday September 3rd at 7 pm.  Please check with Mother Judith if you are interested. To learn more and to register, click here.
​

Sacred Ground:
A Film-Based Dialogue Series on Race & Faith
Beginning on September 26th:
Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups will walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. This program designed by the Episcopal Church has 10 sessions.  We have scheduled the first 5 sessions; we will hold two opportunities for each session every other week:  Sundays at 5 pm and Tuesdays at 7 pm, September 26th – November 22. Mary Johnson and Mother Judith will lead the program for Trinity and our group will include emembers of other congregations. To learn more see https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground. Please contact either Mary or Mother Judith to register.

Community Dinners

We will arrange for delivery of meals to Whitcomb  House and we will distribute  meals prepared by Oliva's from the parking lot at Trinity on  August 27th.  Your generosity has made it possible for us to continue feeding about 100 people each month during the pandemic, in addition to supporting our local restaurants.   If you can volunteer to help with setting up and taking down the tables, distributing meals, and bring leftover meals to the Food Pantry, in July or August, please contact Glen Peterson.   We will certify Community Service credit. 
We have received a grant from the Milford Community Health Network (CHNA) to distribute meals prepared at local restaurants every week, September through November. Please contact Glen Peterson or Mother Judith if you are able to volunteer.
To contribute to this project, please send your check payable to Trinity Church with Community Dinners on the memo line or donate directly to Hopedale Unitarian Parish, who is managing the funds for this project, by going to https://hopedaleunitarian.org  and  pressing the Donate button. ​

Prayer List
Please send Magee the names of people you would like to be on the Prayer List. Our policy has been to remove names after 4 weeks, but we want to be sure we follow the wishes of families and friends.
Our Prayers Are Offered For:
Parish Members & Friends: the Quinlivan Family & Friends; Matt & Lois Roth; Liz Gienger; Cathy Poch; Samantha Guzman; Pat & Amy O’Connor; Amuthavalli Ulaganayagi; Patty Souder; David Stochaj; Rose Marie Moore; David Gillis; Mary Torian, Bob Bloomburg; Brad Gustavesen; Arlene Person; Sharon Manoogian; Sal & Vas Ferreira; Jean Conway; Lisa Wilson; Sandra Arbogast; Len Baird; Judy Shea; Robin Rowe; Skye Bayleigh Plaisted; Alex; Alisha Starkis Weddeke; Chrissy & Mark; Thomas Scano; the Canali Family; Heidi Donnelly; Sherel & Lou Frere; Craig Silverman; Justin Perkin; Dr. Stephen Janko; Tom Childs; Nancy Sharoogian; Bob Mezzadri; all those serving in the military and the Peace Corps, especially Avary DeRagon; Dan Consigli; Drew Beauchamp; Charles; Laura; Elena; Brendan Wood; Danielle & Joel Marsh; Tom Bento; Joel Joudrey; Justin Woessner; Chris Ketcham and their families.
Homebound Parishioners: Betty Henneberry; Verna Parente, and Wayne Morey.
Deceased:  Anna Quinlivan
Our Partner Dioceses: Kumasi and Asante-Mampong in Ghana
Those celebrating birthdays this week: Touie Jackson; Dean Harrison; Chris Lloyd; Amanda Ellis; Penelope Woods; Brigid Mullen-Richards; Harrison Phillips; Summer Baisley; Izabella Kelly; Sis Hensel; Ed Cormier; Rachel Carey; Shane O’Neill; Lorenzo Morese; Turk Chambless; Colin Chambless; Brian O’Toole; Theresa McCallum; Scott Anzalone; Sarah Hennessy; Shannon Hennessy; Natalie Molinari; Robert Littleton, Jr.; Jesse Schoaf; Ethan Warren; & Anthony Ruggiero.

Pledges: Thank you to all of you who have been sending in your pledges.  There has been a slight drop in our pledge income this month.  This is understandable for  the summer, but please do not let your contribution lapse. Our deposits are being made on a different schedule these days, so there may be a delay in seeing the record of your payment.  Some of you are facing financial stress: if so, please give what you can; if not, please give a bit extra to support those who cannot.

Please note: Unscrupulous people have contacted parishioners claiming to be Mother Judith and  asking for money. Mother Judith's only email addresses are [email protected] or [email protected] and her phone number is (716) 949-8194 .  She never asks for money! Please do not respond to any other email addresses or phone numbers. If you have a question about whether a request is REALLY from Mother Judith, please contact her first at these email addresses/phone number before sending any money. Thanks.

​How to keep up with Trinity news:  All notices, videos, and links can be found at www.trinitychurchmilford.org  and on the Trinity Church-Milford Facebook page.
Our diocesan website offers links to online worship in our diocese.  https://www.diocesewma.org/
Worship from the National Cathedral is available online every Sunday at 11:15 am. https://cathedral.org/
The Episcopal Church offers valuable resources for spiritual renewal.  https://episcopalchurch.org/

Mission Matters: News from the Episcopal Diocese of Western MA latest issue can be found here.