News for the Week of March 29th

​A Meditation for Sunday: The Fifth Sunday in Lent
O my people I will put my spirit within you, and you shall live [Ezekiel 37:14]
This prophecy from Ezekiel is the background for the story in Sunday’s gospel of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead.  When Jesus calls to Lazarus, “Come out!” he echoes Ezekiel’s promise that God will bring forth life in the midst of death.  Ezekiel has a vision of a valley full of dry bones; Jesus faces a tomb filled with the stench of death. Both scenes of desolation are transformed by the act of the life-giving God that they—and we—proclaim.
And so today, too, we are called to see the breath of God bringing beauty and life to the desolation we face. We are called to remind each other of the infinite possibilities hidden in long days and distant friends, in our uncertainties and disappointments.  Our church community is the group that has promised to set each other free. We have promised to come out and to unbind each other:
            Not to make our troubles disappear.
            Not to fulfill a fantasy.
            Not to prove that we are right . . . or powerful . . . or invulnerable . . .
We come together in every way that we can, to make openings, to let in the light, to share hope.
God of compassion,
be close to those who are ill, afraid or in isolation.
In their loneliness, be their consolation;
in their anxiety, be their hope;
in their darkness, be their light;
through him who suffered alone on the cross,
but reigns with you in glory,
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen 
 
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic at Trinity
The Parish Office is closed except for essential work.  Mother Judith is available by phone and email.   Videos of Mother Judith’s reflections will be posted on Wednesdays and Saturdays. Click here for this week's video.
 
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.  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:  Your Technology Team is preparing the website to be ready very soon.  Our accounts with YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram are now active.
Our diocesan website offers links to other Episcopal churches that are offering online worship.  Bishop Fisher offers Compline via ZOOM every evening at 8 pm. Click here.   
 
Worship from the National Cathedral is available online every Sunday at 11 am. Click here.
 
For a leaflet with the Collect, Scripture, and Prayers of the People for March 29th click here.
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
On Sunday March 22nd we learned how to let Jesus help push fear out of our hearts.  Here is a link to our lesson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KUuY0MchpEQ
This week we are looking at what Jesus teaches about worry in Matthew 6:31-33
As part of our teaching, I want to emphasize the fact that we have to trust God to take care of our worries and that sometimes that means that we intentionally have to give them to Him and ask Him to help us.  It seems to work better with our children if they pray in a tactile way so we need something that involves a deliberate action of release.  What better than bubble wrap!!
Prayer Activity:   God loves you and wants to take care of you.  Tell God something you are worried about and ask Him to help you.  Burst one of the bubbles as a sign that you are giving your worry to God.   *****If you don't have bubble wrap, maybe make bubbles in the sink and pop a bubble with your finger as you tell God about your worry.
For a list of family activities for Lent click here.
For a copy of the Lent Calendar click here and here.
 
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.
For the schedule of Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter livestreamed services click here. Our hope is that you will join these brief services via ZOOM.   Families will be able to share in communion with your own bread or crackers set aside for this purpose.  If possible, it will be yeast free (pita bread is ideal) but that is not necessary.  Watch for more information.

Easter Lily Memorial Forms
We will continue to accept donations for Easter flowers.  We will plan to have them at the altar for the Feast of Pentecost on May 31st. Please mail your donation to the Parish Office.

Pathway to a Better Life
Trinity will host the Winter Emergency Shelter on March 28 if the temperature feels like 30 or below and if volunteers are available, following the protocol of the Department of Public Health.  See Glenn Peterson if you are able to volunteer.
 
Trinity GFS Scholarships are Available!
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
 
Click here to read Bishop Fisher’s pastoral message in response to Governor Baker’s Executive Order.
 
Click here to listen to a message from our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry regarding the corona virus.