News for the Week of May 17th

​Meditation for the Sixth Sunday of Easter
Rogation Sunday
May 17, 2020
  
‘The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things.  [Acts 17: 24-25]
 
This Sunday we will observe Rogation Sunday, an English tradition that may have originated in the ancient world.  On this day, rural communities ask God’s blessing on their newly planted crops, and traditionally the parish priest led a procession that marked off the boundaries of the church grounds, asking for God’s blessing on the community and giving thanks for the bounty of the earth.   On this day when we recognize our interdependence with those who produce and deliver our food and we ask God’s blessing on our own gardens. And we pray that the “seeds” we may plant in our lives may be fruitful and a source of beauty.
 
Paul’s teaching about “an unknown god” gives a meaningful context for this prayer during these days.  Paul recalls discovering among all the shrines in Athens a shrine “to an unknown God.”  This is the God whom the Jews worship, he tells the Athenians; this is the God who created all human beings so that we would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him even though he is indeed not far from each one of us. This is a profound moment of awakening for Paul, who had been among the most rigid defenders of Jewish orthodoxy.  Faith illuminates the interdependence of all nations and individuals by revealing the life and longing we share.  God is beyond our imagination or understanding, but faith in God brings us together in ways so surprising and unmistakable that we do not need to understand them.
 
O gracious Father,
you open your hand and fill all things living with plenty:
Bless the lands and waters, and multiply the harvests of the world;
let your Spirit go forth, that it may renew the face of the earth;
show your loving-kindness, that our land may give her increase;
and save us from selfish use of what you give,
that men and women everywhere may give you thanks;
through Christ our Lord. Amen.
For Sunday School this week: Contact Rachel Carpenter for the access information.  [email protected].
We will be playing a board game on ZOOM through screen share focusing on Rogation Sunday and taking care of God's creation:)  We will share what twe've been working on outside in our own gardens:  be ready to show pictures if you can!
 
Responding to the coronavirus pandemic at Trinity
Keep us, good Lord,
under the shadow of your mercy
in this time of uncertainty and distress.
Sustain and support the anxious and fearful,
and lift up all who are brought low;
that we may rejoice in your comfort
knowing that nothing can separate us from your love
in Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
— Diocese of Exeter, Church of England
 
Looking Ahead: Moving Forward
Diocese Virtual Pentecost Celebration: 
May 31st 10 am
In-person worship is suspended at least through July 1st. 
To read the Bishop's Pastoral Letter click here.

Magee will be in the office on Mondays and Thursdays to do essential work.  Mother Judith is working remotely and is available by email and by phone, and she is checking phone messages regularly.    
Beginning next Week:  Wednesday May 20th  10 am
Morning Prayer & Fellowship via ZOOM
Meeting ID: 889-0515-8309   Password:  365669
You do not need a camera on your computer to join.  Please call Mother Judith if you wish to join by telephone.

In June we will begin live-streaming Sunday Worship with Virtual Coffee Hour.  Watch for more information.  We are looking for volunteers to help with the videography and recording.  Please contact Ann Marie Lockwood if you are able to help.  Please contact Peach Warren if you would like to be a Reader on any of the Sundays in June.

Videos of Mother Judith’s reflections are posted on our website and on Facebook and YouTube 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.
ZOOM ROMEOs
Friday May 22nd  1:15 pm
Meeting ID: 511-012-6825
Password: 899126
We are going to resume our monthly meetings via ZOOM. This Friday, Mother Judith will join us to discuss the transitions and preparations for new ministry. Please call Kevin Keppler or Dave Clinkman for more information:

 

 
Zoom Lunch and Discussion: Noon - 1 pm The Gospel of Thomas
Meeting ID: 834-5246-9212    Password:  516264Fridays, noon-1 pm  
On Fridays in May (May 8th,15th ,22nd, and 29th )  Mother Judith will lead a discussion of the Gospel of Thomas. The Gospel of Thomas is a collection of the sayings of Jesus that was found in 1945 among other Coptic manuscripts near the Egyptian town of Nag Hammadi. Many scholars believe that these sayings circulated before the canonical Gospels were composed. The Gospel of Thomas has been a very important source for studies of the historical Jesus, and it casts light on the diversity of early Christianity and on the various cultural forces shaping narratives of Jesus’ ministry.  You may join the conversation at any time.
For a copy of the text click here.
Zoom-Chats: Mondays @ 7am
& Wednesdays @ 8 pm
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.    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 is sour 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”
Mondays: meeting ID: 413315567    Password: 715478
Wednesdays:  meeting ID: 474316522   Password: 744170

Sarah Prevelige will host the meeting via zoom. Please contact her for information on how to join the meeting [email protected]. 
 
ZOOM BINGO  SUNDAYS AT 3 PM 
FUN FOR ALL AGESGo to zoom.us, and in the upper right corner click on "Join a meeting"
Meeting ID: 946 0462 5193    Password: 450074
Join friends from Trinity for  a weekly BINGO game on Sunday afternoons at 3 - 4 pm. We will be doing a classic 5 x 5 card array with a Free space in the center. (Numbers are 1-75) The game is open to all ages.  Members of each household  are welcome to play as a team or as individuals. We'll see how it goes, and perhaps add a second hour, or organize a tournament.

Make your own bingo cards, or go one of the following websites to print them:  (These are free.)  
https://myfreebingocards.com/bingo-card-generatorhttps://print-bingo.com/
https://bingobaker.com/view/1228516
http://www.dltk-cards.com/bingo/bingo7.asp
Sarah Prevelige is our host. Please contact her for help in making cards or entering the game. 
ZOOM Game Night:  Tuesdays at 7 pm  
We will be playing FIBBAGE + new online games every week.
                       Zoom Meeting ID: 823 3526 2364     Password: 067862
For an hour of laughter and fun for children and adults of all ages.You will need your computer to log into the zoom meeting.  You will also need a separate smart device (phone, tablet, ipad, etc) as your game remote control.   Once everyone is in the meeting we will form teams and a different code will be given to use your smart device/phone (where players will type and choose answers).  Eight people can play at once while the rest of us cheer and join in the laughter.  Come see what all the fun is about during our family friendly game night!!!  Sarah Prevelige is the host. Please contact Sarah if you have any questions: [email protected]

Community Dinners
Thursday May 28th  4- 6 pm Volunteers needed
At Trinity, we will distribute meals prepared by Oliva's.  Volunteers will set up tables, distribute meals, and take down the tables. We will certify  Community Service credit.
We plan to continue arranging for meals to be delivered to our frontline workers once a month, and to distribute meals from Trinity monthly.  Our purpose is to support our local small restaurants and frontline workers as well as to provide for our neighbors.  We continue our strong partnership with the Food Pantry and with other local churches and community organizations. Please contact Glen Peterson if you are able to help in any way.

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. Please let Mother Judith know if you would like to participate in distributing meals.

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.  

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
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/
 
Third season of The Way of Love with Bishop Michael Curry podcast began on May 5th. Click here. 
Habits of Grace: An invitation for you, from Presiding Bishop Curry
 A new video meditation will be posted on Mondays through May. Click here to view the latest.
 
Beloved Community Commission Offers "Holy Conversation with Howard Thurman,"  author of Jesus and the Disinherited . Click here for more details.

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