Meditation for the Feast of the Ascension of Our Lord [transferred]
Memorial Day Weekend May 24, 2020 I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know him, so that, with the eyes of your heart enlightened you may know what is the hope to which he has called you. [Ephesians 1:17-18] The town of Newfane, New York, where I served at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church for ten years, did not have a Memorial Day parade. Everyone in town—and I mean everyone-- would gather on the center green on Memorial Day morning to share in prayers, songs, and stories to honor the men and women who had lost their lives in war. Newfane is a small town, and different generations came together with a solemnity and reverence that was inspiring. I will never forget my last experience there when all the veterans were invited to come to the stage. The group ranged from a woman in her twenties to a man in his nineties, from veterans of World War II to veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan; some were able-bodied, while others were in wheelchairs or had artificial limbs; all had hidden wounds in various--invisible--stages of healing. Each person in that group knew more than one person who had died in war: fathers, grandfathers, mothers, sons, daughters, brothers and sisters, aunts and uncles. This diverse group, one town’s gift to our nation’s ideals of freedom and justice, is for me a breathtaking image of generosity and loss, tragedy and hope, resilience and vulnerability. This weekend we pray that, with the eyes of our hearts enlightened, we will embody the grace that endures through all devastation, and that the spirit of wisdom and revelation given to us in baptism may guide our responses to the pain all around us. Almighty God, you will make wars to cease in all the world, you will break the bow and shatter the spear asunder you will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are set upon you. We remember the men and women who gave their lives to preserve our freedom so that we might be able to respond to all victims of war. Keep them in your loving care. Comfort their families. Let their courage be remembered through the generations. To honor them, may we renew our fight against cruelty and injustice, against prejudice, tyranny, and oppression. For their sake, and for the sake of the generation to come: Grant that the nations of the world may learn your way of peace, that all may have the chance to enjoy the life you have given them and that your Spirit of Peace may be known among us. AMEN. Sunday School this week: 10 am on Sunday via zoom. Contact Rachel Carpenter for the access information. [email protected]. Responding to the coronavirus pandemic at Trinity Eternal God, by raising Jesus from the dead, you give us new and abundant life. On this Ascension Day help us not to be stuck rooted to the spot looking up to the sky for your return. Rather, help us to look at each other and find your presence there in the faces we see every day. We ask this in the name of Jesus, your Son and our brother. Amen. Looking Ahead: Moving Forward Diocese Virtual Pentecost Celebration: May 31st 10 am In-person worship is suspended at least through July 1st. The Bishops of the Dioceses of Massachusetts and Western Massachusetts issued a joint Letter with guidelines for our churches. Click here to read the guidelines. At their meeting on June 8th your Vestry will discuss a strategy for next steps at Trinity regarding in-person worship and the Rector Search. Magee will be in the office on Thursday this week to do essential work. Mother Judith is working remotely and is available by email and by phone, and she is checking phone messages regularly. Wednesdays @ 10 am Morning Prayer & Fellowship via ZOOM Meeting ID: 889-0515-8309 Password: 365669 Telephone: 929-205-6099 You do not need a camera on your computer to join. Please call Mother Judith if you wish to join by telephone. Beginning on June 7th we will begin live-streaming Sunday Worship with Virtual Coffee Hour via Zoom & Facebook Live. 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 the weekly announcements, click here. ZOOM ROMEOs Friday May 22nd 1:15 pm Meeting ID: 511-012-6825 Password: 899126 Telephone: 929-205-6099 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 is leading 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 Grab n Go Meals 4:30- 6 pm We will distribute meals prepared by Oliva's from the parking lot at Trinity on May 28th and on the last Thursday of the month throughout the summer: June 25th, July 30th, and August 27th. We have enough volunteers for this month, but 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 June, July, or August, please contact Glen Peterson. 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.
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AuthorMother Judith Lee Archives
July 2021
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Trinity Episcopal church
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Weekly scheduleSUNDAY
9:00 am — Holy Eucharist Rite II 10:00 am — Coffee Hour community THURSDAY 4:00 pm — Community Meals (Grab 'n Go) |