News for the Week of April 19th

A Meditation for the Second Sunday of Easter
Earth Sunday
April 19 2020

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You will show me the path of life;
in your presence here is fullness of joy,
and in your right hand are pleasures for evermore. 
[Psalm 16.11]
 
On Sunday we hear the story of Thomas, who insists on seeing for himself that Jesus has been raised from the dead; in response, Jesus invites him to poke at his wounds in his hands and side. I think most of us feel a special affection for “doubting Thomas” – even though Jesus admonishes him (Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe - John 20:29).  Like him, we mistake certitude for faith. At the same time, I think most of us long to experience Thomas’ breathtaking turn from doubt to wonder (My Lord and my God! John 20:28).  And I think we also long to experience the tenderness that Jesus shows when he invites Thomas to touch him.  This story teaches us that God meets us where we are, showing us what is possible while  assuring us that this moment (wherever it may be) marks the beginning, not the culmination, of our journey toward faith and understanding.
 
This Gospel story is a fitting guide to our observance of Earth Sunday.  We contemplate the beauty of the natural world as it slowly awakens from the dreariness of winter and we begin to prepare our own gardens.  At the same time, we need to act on what we may not necessarily yet see--the climate changes that will make it more difficult for our grandchildren to tend to their gardens and that threaten not only the beauty of the earth but also the basic sustenance of people across the globe. We pray for the grace to believe what we may not see, and for the hope that will show us the path of life that God opens before us.
 
Lord Jesus Christ, you are the true sun of the universe, ever rising, never setting. You are the source of all life and health.  With your glance you generate, preserve, nourish, sustain and inspire all things both in heaven and on earth.  Help us, we pray, to enlarge the range of our love, to quicken our passion for the wellbeing of all life. You roll away the stones to open us to your life.  Give us hope, Living God—hope in our hands to open doors; hope in our eyes to see possibilities; hope in our hearts to live by faith. Amen. 
[from God’s Good Earth, ed. Anne and Jeffrey Rowthorn.]
           
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic at Trinity
A Prayer in the Time of the Coronavirus
God our healer,
keep us aware of your presence,
support us with your power,
comfort us with your protection,
give us strength
and establish us in your peace. Amen.
   
 Magee plans to return this week from self-quarantine after being exposed to someone who had been diagnosed with Covid-19. We keep Magee and her 94-year-old aunt, Jean Conway, in our prayers.  Magee was not with anyone outside her immediate family since being with her aunt on April 3rd.  The office is closed except for essential work.  Mother Judith is working remotely and is available by email and by phone, and she will check office messages regularly.   All parish meetings will be held remotely. 
Public worship is suspended until further notice
 
Videos of Mother Judith’s reflections are posted on Wednesdays and Saturdays. We will continue to videotape a simple service of Holy Communion that will be available on our website by 9 am on Sundays.
For a copy of the Service Leaflet for Sunday click here.
For a copy of the readings for Sunday   click here
 For the weekly announcements, click here.

Sunday School
Rachel Carpenter will lead Digital Sunday School on Sunday at 10 am.  Please contact Rachel for sign-in information. rcarp76@gmail.com
We will be learning about the Road to Emmaus story. I invite everyone is to take time in the day to think about where Jesus might be hidden in our lives each day during these challenging times that we may not immediately recognize.  (eg. getting closer to family, learning more about each other, connecting with people on zoom you may not have in a while, learning a new skill etc...)
Sunday school activities are available on our website by Monday morning.  www.trinitychurchmilford.org

Holy Communion at Home
You are welcome to set aside bread or crackers to eat while participating the Holy Communion service on Sundays.  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.
 
 
Videos of services for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday are available on YouTube, Facebook, and our website.  www.trinitychurchmilford.org.  Many thanks to Ann Marie Lockwood for being our videographer extraordinaire, to Wayne Stochaj for recording the music, and to Peach Warren and Mary-Ellen Yaroshefski for participating in the Maundy Thursday service and for preparing the altar for Easter Sunday. 
 
Zoom-Chats: Wednesdays @8 pm 
& Mondays @ 7 am 
Twice a week we gather and share what is working well and not so well as we shelter at home.  Anyone over 18 is welcome to join when you can. These chats are designed to be a time for sharing stories about how we have adapted to a “new normal”  and to pick up some new ideas. Specific topics for discussion will evolve depending on the interests of the group.  You are welcome to participate once or often. Our evening chat is scheduled to be after dinner and chores and before we begin our evening routines, while our morning chat is scheduled before we begin our workday. Sarah Prevelige will host, with Laurel Pirelli and Cindi Scrimgeour joining her to facilitate our conversation.  In their professional lives they work with families and individuals of all ages and they are themselves parents of teens and pre-teens. 
Go to zoom.us and in the upper right corner click “Join a Meeting”
Wednesdays:  meeting ID: 474316522   Password: 744170
Mondays: meeting ID: 413315567    password: 715478
Sarah Prevelige will host the meeting via zoom. Please contact her for information on how to join the meeting drprevelige@gmail.com. 
Please send any questions you’d like to discuss to Cindi Scrimgeour at cscrimgeour@gmail.com 
 
ZOOM BINGO  SUNDAYS AT 3 PM
FUN AND PRIZES FOR ALL AGES
beginning this Sunday April 19th 
Watch for more information

For advice on guiding children through living with COVID-19 click here.
 
Virtual Easter Egg Hunt
Rachel Carpenter and Kim Stochaj have designed a virtual Easter Egg Hunt that is still available on our website.  Invite your friends for some fun! www.trinitychurchmilford.org
 
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. 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.

​Face Masks
Several people have inquired about how to make masks, and others have inquired about how to get them.  Ginny Starkis is coordinating our efforts to locate materials and to distribute masks.  Please contact Ginny if you would like to participate in this project.. vstarkis@verizon.net
How to keep up with Trinity news:  All notices, videos, and links can be found at www.trinitychurchmilford.org
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/

Community Dinners
Because we cannot plan to serve dinners in April or May, Trinity and our partners are planning to fund takeout dinners from local restaurants for our first responders at the hospital, fire hall, police station, post office and Shaw’s grocery store. To contribute to this project, please send your check payable to Trinity Church with Community Dinners on the memo line. 

Trinity GFS Scholarships are Available:  Deadline extended to May 15th
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 May 15th  and the recipients will be notified shortly thereafter.  Please direct all questions to GFS Scholarship
Committee a gfs@trinitychurchmilford.org
 
Habits of Grace: An invitation for you, from Presiding Bishop Curry
 A new video meditation will be posted on Mondays through May.