July 19, 202o

Meditation for the Seventh Sunday after Pentecost
July 19, 2020

​Teach me your way, O Lord, and I will walk in your truth; *
                       knit my heart to you that I may fear your Name.  [Psalm 86.11]

The gospel for this Sunday includes the parable of the wheat and tares.  Jesus tells the story of a farmer who has planted wheat; unbeknownst to him “an enemy” has sown weeds (tares) among the wheat.  But when the field workers ask if they should pull up the weeds, the farmer says to let the wheat and the weeds grow together until the harvest, and then they will be separated.
In this parable, Jesus refers to a particular kind of weed: The tare is otherwise known as the bearded darnel. Its roots impinge upon the roots of the plant around it so that it sucks up nutrients and water.  As a result, it’s impossible to root it out without damaging the good plants.  In addition, because it looks like wheat until it produces seed, which can cause hallucinations or death, there is no way to prevent the damage it causes.
This is a powerful warning against both complacency and judgement.  I like the way that Tom Ehrich has put it in his daily meditation on July 13, 2020 (On the Journey, morningwallkmedia.com):
[W]heat and tares are sown together. We carry our flaws and foibles with us, along with our strengths and accomplishments. Our characters, our moral fiber, our demons and our doubts are as portable as our laptops. Even as we reinvent ourselves in a new world, our old selves also have voice and vote. . . . I do think we get better at it as time goes on, maybe because, after growing awhile, “wholesome grain” is more readily distinguished from weeds. 
As you enter a new stage of preparing for new ministry, it is important to look at both the “wheat and the tares” of your life together, in your history as well as your hopes.  Your parish meeting showed a strong consensus that you do not see the need for fundamental change—either to leave behind any particular practices or to initiate any radically new ministry.  This stability is a true gift, for it grounds the reflection that will be prompted by the Holy Cow Survey that you will be taking in the coming weeks.  Where are the obstacles to growth?  When have you mistaken a tare for wheat?  When, even in the time of harvest, have you ignored the invitation to cast aside illusions? When have you found the opening to blossom that God sends us now and again?  As you prepare for someone to choose to do ministry with you, what are your “flaws and foibles” along with your “gifts and accomplishments”?  With God’s grace, may we welcome our “old selves” as we continue to grow into a new and fruitful body.

Almighty and everlasting God, you made the universe with all its marvelous order,
its atoms, worlds, and galaxies, and the infinite complexity of living creatures:
Grant that, as we probe the mysteries of your creation,
we may come to know you more truly,
and more surely fulfill our role in your eternal purpose;
in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen
 
 
  9 AM SUNDAY - MORNING PRAYER
via ZOOM
Prayers for A Time of Transition
Commissioning of the Profile Committee:
Leigh Martin (Chair),
Dave Clinkman, Peach Warren, Mary Beth Sweet, Wayne Stochaj (Vestry Liaison)
Ministers of the Liturgy
The Rev. Dr. Judith Lee
Dave Clinkman, Peach Warren, Wayne Stochaj
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,
plans for welfare and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope.  [Jeremiah 29:11]
 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.

​The service will begin with a brief organ prelude, and Jeff Lukas will offer a musical meditation.
After the service, Ginny Starkis and Wayne Stochaj will introduce you to the Congregational Assessment Tool (Holy Cow Survey) which will be available to be completed online July 20th - August 17th.

​We will hold Morning Prayer via ZOOM at 9 am every Sunday in July and August

A Message from Rachel Carpenter:
Hello Trinity Church School!
This week's Fruit of the Spirit is JOY! Check out this video and see the object lesson below!
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQwHnmRBSHU  
 Overflowing with Joy object lesson!
 https://www.pinterest.com/pin/165718461262920880/  
As always, send me a video or picture of you doing something that shows me what you learned from this lesson!  You could send me a video of you doing the object lesson or maybe a picture or video of something that brings you JOY!
 Have fun!
 ~Rachel rcarp76@gmail.com

Next Steps:  Moving Forward
Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve:
Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others;
that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name
to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy;
for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

New Rector Search: Next Steps:
The Holy Cow Survey - The Congregational Assessment Tool (CAT), also called the Holy Cow Survey because it is designed by Holy Cow Consulting, is the first official step in your preparation for new ministry. The questions provide a profile of Trinity in your demographics and your views of Scripture, liturgy, mission, qualities of a Rector, parish life, and theology. The final summary shows where Trinity fits in the spectrum of Episcopal churches across the country.
It is very, very important that as many people as possible take the survey.  Each adult member of every household should complete a survey.  It takes about half an hour. to complete. Your responses are anonymous.
On Monday July 20th we will send a parish email with the link to the survey.
On Thursday July 23rd we will mail hard copies of the survey to those members who are not comfortable working online.
We will also pair each person who has received a hard copy with someone who will work with you to complete the survey, and then someone will enter the data onto the website. Your written responses will remain anonymous.
The Survey must be completed by August 17th. 
Holy Cow Consulting  compiles the results and sends them to Canon Simpson, who will review the results with the Vestry, Search Committee, and Profile Committee on September 12th.

Thank you to everyone who participated in the parish meetings.  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:
The church is now open for private prayer for 3 hours each week:
       Tuesday evening  6:30-7:30pm
       Thursday morning 10am-11am
       Sunday morning 11am-noon
We will adjust these hours in the coming weeks, depending on interest and need.
Each person will be asked to sanitize their hands and to wear a mask upon entering the church from the back door. (We will provide both as needed.) Seating will be designated according to safe distancing, and you will be asked to bring your own prayer book. The church building and the bathrooms will not be open.
This week, the sanctuary, offices, and Lane Chapel room were cleaned and sanitized.
We will continue with Morning Prayer on Sundays and Wednesdays via ZOOM.
We may hold one special outdoor service in August, pending public health protocols and peer review by the Dean and the Bishop. 
On August 10th, the Vestry will review a revised Building Use Agreement with Addenda that include a liability waiver, a checklist of safety protocols, and a health questionnaire.  When those documents have been approved, we will submit a proposal for opening our building to community groups and opening our office to the public. Pending a peer review, those steps will take place at the beginning of September. Meanwhile, we are preparing the Lane Chapel .
Parish Zoom Events:   Summer Schedule:
     ZOOM Bingo on Sundays at 3 pm  & Game Night on Tuesdays @ 7 - We'll resume in September
     Zoom-Chats: Mondays @ 7am & Wednesdays @ 8 pm:  Every Other Week:
             Mondays:July 27 & August 10;     Wednesdays: July 22, August 5 & 19

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

Fridays @ Noon: Lunch & Bible Study:  The Gospel of Matthew - We'll continue weekly through the month of July.  
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87474952317?pwd=UkdpQTNuNmtxVkhtYlZkVGVDVkZOQT09
Meeting ID: 874 7495 2317  Password:  097331
This Friday we will continue our discussion of the Gospel of Matthew through Chapter 20
 
Please note: Unscrupulous people have contacted parishioners claiming to be Mother Judith and  asking for money. Mother Judith's only email addresses are jlee.trinitychurchmilford@gmail.com or lee.judith.mary@gmail.com 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.
 
 Sacred Ground:A Film-based Dialogue Series on Race and Faith
Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to 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 historical program designed by The Episcopal Church has 10 sessions; groups of 4-10 participants will meet every other week, beginning in mid- to late August and ending by January.  Mary Johnson and Mother Judith will lead the program for Trinity and we have invited members of other churches to participate with us.  To learn more see https://episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground and watch for more information about how to register with either Mary or Mother Judith

​Community Dinners

We distributed 45 meals on June 25th and donated 5 meals to the Food Pantry. We will distribute  meals prepared by Oliva's from the parking lot at Trinity on July 30th and August 27th.  In addition, we will distribute meals  to the staff of Cornerstone Assisted Living  in July and Whitcomb  House in August. 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. 
At their August meeting the Vestry will make a decision on how to continue the Community Meal program in the fall, pending peer review by the Dean and the Bishop. Meanwhile, we continue our strong partnership with the Food Pantry and with other local churches and community organizations. 

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: Rose Marie Moore; David Stochaj; McKenze Cahill; David Gillis; Ruth Warner; Arlene Person; Sharon Manoogian; Sal & Vas Ferreira; 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, Wayne Morey.
Our Partner Dioceses: Kumasi and Asante-Mampong in Ghana
 
Those celebrating birthdays this week: James Jones; Viviana Elliot; Julian Piacente-Perez; Andrea DellaCroce; C. K. Hagedorn, II; Chip O’Connell, III; Erin McCarthy; Leah Prevelige; Joyce Nogler; Sydney Redden; Jason Adams; Dante Leone; Mikael Bedrosian; Lyall Chambers; Matthew Negrotti; Cathy Poch; Kali Vickery; Katie Gallerane; and Jessica Peguero.
Pledges
Thank you to all of you who have been sending in your pledges.  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.
 
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/

Habits of Grace: An invitation for you, from Presiding Bishop Curry
 A new video meditation will be posted on Mondays through July. Click here to view the latest.

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