News for the Week of April 5th

A Meditation for Palm Sunday
Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus. [Philippians 2:5]
Palm Sunday is a complicated day, as is reflected in its two names.  It is called “Palm Sunday” to commemorate Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem—celebrated in our Liturgy of the  Palms-- and it is also called “The Sunday of the Passion” to commemorate Jesus’ suffering and death—recounted in our solemn Gospel of the Passion, in which we acknowledge our own involvement in Jesus’ suffering. 
 
When Jesus told his followers they must lose their lives to follow him, he was not asking them to choose death or to submit passively to the tyrannical will of an unfeeling God. He was asking them to let go of what made their lives seem like dead-end roads-- their pride, their fear, their resentments—in order to—and this is crucial—in order to join him in responding to the suffering of others. He asked them to see, not to judge; to trust, not to condemn.  That is why we journey toward Jerusalem, and beyond Jerusalem to Gethsemane and Calvary and ultimately to the empty tomb.  It is not because we choose to suffer, but because we allow the Christ-in-us to reveal God in the suffering that would otherwise be meaningless. 
 
And so, as we begin Holy Week, let us have the courage to look carefully at the cross that is at the center of our lives. Let us walk with Jesus, not only for our own sakes, but so that no one--no one-- is alone.

A Prayer in the Time of the Coronavirus
Almighty and All–loving God, we pray to you through Christ the Healer for those who suffer from COVID–19 across the world. We pray for those who mourn and for those who face death alone. We pray for those who are facing financial hardship and the loss of the work that gave meaning to their lives. Give wisdom to policymakers, skill to healthcare professionals and researchers, comfort to everyone in distress and the grace to trust in you during these days of uncertainty. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, who showed compassion to the outcast, acceptance to the rejected, and love to those to whom no love was shown. Amen.   
-From a prayer by Archbishop Michael Jackson, Dublin & Glendalough
 
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic at Trinity
The Parish Office is closed except for essential work. Per the governor’s order, public worship is suspended through May 3rd. Mother Judith is available by phone and email.  Videos of Mother Judith’s reflections are posted on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  Videos of services for Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday will be available on YouTube, Facebook, and our website.  Although we had planned to livestream these services, we discovered that it would be best to tape.  Many thanks to Ann Marie Lockwood, Jeff Lukas, Randy Bloom, Wayne Stochaj, and Peach Warren for making this possible. www.trinitychurchmilford.org

Our Palm Sunday service will include the Blessing of the Palms; the palms will then be covered and refrigerated until we can distribute them when we next gather for worship.

For a schedule of Holy Week services click see our home page for up-to-date information.

For Palm Sunday’s Leaflet click here.

Holy Communion at Home
For this holiest week of the church year, you are welcome to set aside bread or crackers to eat during the Holy Communion service on Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, and Easter Sunday.  We will be sharing what is called “spiritual communion,” and the bread will be a sign of the Christ-centered bond we share as a community of faith.
 
For suggestions on setting up a home altar for Holy Communion click here.
 
Zoom-Chats: Wednesday @8-8:30 pm [beginning April 8th]
& Mondays @ 7-7:30 am [beginning April 13th ]
As the days of “sheltering in place” stretch on, most of us have developed new ways of living and relating with each other, with varying degrees of success.  With a few weeks behind us and an uncertain number of weeks ahead of us, it is a good time to share questions and strategies for coping.  Three members of Trinity who are mental health professionals have offered to host “zoom chats” for adults (anyone over the age of 18).  Sarah Prevelige is a psychologist, Laurel Pirelli is a school psychologist, and Cindi Scrimgeour is a licensed Counselor; they work with families and individuals of all ages and they are themselves parents of teens and pre-teens.
 
These chats are designed to be a time for sharing stories about how we have adapted to a “new normal,” what has worked well and what has not. Specific topics for discussion will evolve depend on the interests of the group.  You are welcome to participate once or often.

​The first Wednesday meeting will be on April 8th, and the first Monday meeting will be on April 13th.  Sarah Prevelige will host the meeting via zoom.  Please send any questions you’d like to discuss to Cindi Scrimgeour at cscrimgeour@gmail.com 

For advice on guiding children through living with COVID-19 click here.
 
Pledges – Our expenses continue even with our suspension of normal activity, but we are facing a significant shortfall in our income.  During this period, please mail your pledge to the parish office to the attention of the Treasurer.  It is most helpful if you are able to arrange with your bank for direct deposit. Trinity also has an account with tithe.ly; to learn how to use this app contact treasurer@trinitychurch.org. 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.
 
Daily Prayer at Noon:  We join Christians throughout the world by pausing to say The Lord’s Prayer at noon each day.
 
How to keep up with Trinity news:  Our website is up and running!  All notices, videos, and links can be found here.

​The Worcester corridor churches are offering a virtual Easter Vigil on YouTube. Watch for more information.
 
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 am. https://cathedral.org/
 
For the weekly announcements, click here.
 
Rachel Carpenter will lead Digital Sunday School via ZOOM each Sunday at 10am.
Please contact Rachel for the link: rcarp76@gmail.com

As we set up our website and re-activate our Instagram account, we would like to post photos of all our members but we need your permission to do so.  Please click here for our Photo Permission Form, complete it, and return it.  An email to
office.trinitychurchmilford@gmail.org will meet this requirement as well.
 
For some suggestions on how to live during the Coronavirus pandemic click here.

Trinity GFS Scholarships are Available The deadline is just 2 weeks away!
Attention high school seniors and their families.   It’s time for the annual search for deserving recipients of the GFS Scholarships. Each year, Trinity gives monetary awards to qualified members who are entering an institution of higher education. These awards recognize attendance and service to Trinity Parish during the applicant's high school years. The application is available to download on the Trinity Church website at www.trinitychurchmilford.org .  Applications must be received by April 19th and the recipients will be notified shortly thereafter.  Please direct all questions to GFS Scholarship
Committee at gfs@trinitychurchmilford.org
 
Habits of Grace: An invitation for you, from Presiding Bishop Curry
As we learn how to adjust our lives given the reality of the coronavirus and the request to do our part to slow its spread by practicing physical distancing, I invite you to join me each week to take a moment to cultivate a ‘habit of grace.’ A new video meditation will be posted on Mondays through May.
 
For Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Word to the Church: On Our Theology of Worship, click here.