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Dear friends,

Last weekend, we celebrated the last Sunday of Ordinary Time with the Reign of Christ, which is the end of our liturgical calendar. This Sunday, November 30, is the first Sunday of Advent.

Advent is a season of preparation and anticipation of the coming of Jesus. It begins four Sundays before Christmas. How will you know we’ve reached the season of Advent? In church, paraments (decorative cloth covers, hanging, and clergy vestments) will be blue or purple, we’ll have the advent wreath with candles we light each week, and the church will be decorated with evergreens (PS – join us for the Greening of the Church the morning of Saturday, November 29).

In past years, we’ve shared commercially published Advent devotionals to support and daily guide us on the journey of Advent. This year as you already know, we have a special offering: an Advent devotional by and for the people of Trinity Church. Members of our community were provided a set of readings appointed for a specific day in Advent. They read, meditated, and prayed with the readings, then wrote a brief reflection on one or more of the readings. Each page includes space for your own notes, reflections, and prayers. You can use the devotional individually or discuss reflections with family and friends.

Let me close with a quote from the devotional: “No doubt, this can be a busy time of year. Our culture (and sometimes our church) tends to encourage us to busyness: cleaning, decorating, shopping, attending special seasonal events and services, cooking, baking, and eating. Please know that we offer this book of reflections as an invitation only, not as one more item on your to-do list. If you aren’t able to use it this year, or if you start but can’t finish, or if you use it in fits and starts, it’s OKAY. This is a no-guilt, no-shame invitation.”

May your journey to Bethlehem and the birth of Jesus at Christmas bring you hope, peace, joy, and love.

Jolene Miller, on behalf of the Spiritual Formation Committee

PS – Curious to learn more about Advent? Check out Advent 101.

Dear Friends,

As I write this, I’m getting myself ready to head out on my first monastic retreat since I’ve been at Trinity. By the time you read it, I’ll be on the tail end of that retreat, about to head home.

I try to take these kinds of retreats twice a year – usually sometime in early Lent and right before Advent begins. Immersing myself in the monastic rhythm for a time helps to center me in my vocation. Intentional time of reconnecting and nurturing my relationship with God – in a way that pushes me beyond my day to day routines – helps to ground me.

Spending a few days in silence and going to church five or six times a day isn’t for everyone, I know. To be honest – while this kind of thing is nurturing for me for a time, it would be tough for me if I had to do it all the time. But, as Christians, it is important for us to find the ways that we are spiritually fed. What works for you? Aside from your day to day routines for connecting with God, what are the ways that you shake yourself up from time to time to find that “reset” that we all sometimes need?

Next week, November 30th, is the first Sunday in Advent. It’s a sort of “reset” button for the church’s devotional cycle. We conclude the church year this Sunday with the Feast of the Reign of Christ, and the next week we rewind and start all over again in Advent – waiting for Jesus, growing in expectation of the coming Christ.

How might you reset your own spiritual practice so that you’re ready to align with this shifting focus in the church? How might that reset help to ready yourself for the busyness of the holiday season and the wonder and joy of the coming Christmas?

Chat with me about it sometime. I’d love to explore this with you.

In the meantime, know that I am praying for you. Please pray for me, too.

Blessings,
Jon+

Dear friends,

On Saturday, December 6 we can show up in a way that no one has in the past six years in Toledo. In the early 2010’s photographer Jeremy Cowart founded an organization that turned into a movement called Help Portrait. It was a place where our siblings on the margins could get a holiday photo with friends or family for free and walk out with a physical copy. While there was a centralized non-profit, people could hitch their wagon to it, and for almost a decade Toledo showed up and hosted a local version that ran until the pandemic shut down shifted things.

From 10am – 12pm, Trinity will be hosting our version of Help Portrait in our sanctuary, and I am asking for 12 volunteers that can donate their time. Over the past 21 months, Trinity has once again become a place where those on the margins feel safe to call home. It has been consistent with our food pantry, was reinvigorated with Breakfast at Trinity, and now we have the opportunity to show up with Help Portrait. If you would like to help, please click here for our sign up genius link, and if you have questions please email me at george@trinitytoledo.org

Grace and peace,
George M. Benson,
Director of Community Engagement

Dear Friends,

In last week’s Topics article, Jon outlined what Trinity’s Celebration of New Ministry is all about: “to mark ways that ministry is new and renewed for the whole congregation when a priest is first called to a parish.”

In my role on Altar Guild, Jon told me about his and Michael’s gift to the congregation—custom new vestments. I was under strict orders to keep this secret and under wraps. But, unbeknownst to Jon, I contacted the fabric artist they commissioned. I asked if there was anything she might have added to the order to enhance her vision of the art that she would be creating. Indeed, she did have ideas! First of all, she wanted to complete an artistic element on Jon’s chasuble (robe) that she felt completed her design. Next, she thought it would enhance the chancel if we had a matching pulpit hanging.

These two items were secretly created by Colleen Hintz and placed with the other items that were sent to Jon. Both the chasuble enhancement and the pulpit hanging had notes attached that told Jon and Michael they were gifts from Your Trinity People.

Jon and Michael, all of us at Trinity look forward to celebrating our present and future ministry with you! Let’s blossom!

Blessings,
Kyle Grefe

Dear Friends,

You’ve been hearing a lot about our Celebration of New Ministry that’s coming up. The whole staff, along with lots of other members of the leadership at this parish have been working hard for weeks (some of us months!) putting together a day that will truly celebrate the diverse and important ministries and people that make this worshiping community so special.

Celebrations of New Ministry are a tradition in the Episcopal Church to mark the ways that ministry is new and renewed for the whole congregation when a priest is first called to a parish. There was a time in the history of this tradition where the whole event began to be very much centered on the ministry of the priest. Sometimes these services almost looked like enthronement ceremonies for Rectors!

The truth, however, is that ministry for the whole congregation is renewed when there is a new Rector. It is the culmination of many months of work on behalf of the vestry and search committee; and, it is the latest capstone on the ministry of the church that has been growing throughout its history across all of its leadership. So, we have been intentional about making sure that this service on Saturday, November 8th represents a celebration of our ministry across this beautiful parish, not just the particular aspects of this ministry to which I’ve been called.

There will be many beautiful things and joyful moments that day. One that I wanted to share with you today: as a part of our joy in celebrating this ministry that we share, Michael and I have commissioned a new, custom set of white vestments and hangings as a gift to the parish that will be used for the first time that day. We’re very excited to share this with all of you, and to use it together for years to come as a reminder of this exciting time in Trinity’s history.

I look forward to celebrating all that we’ve already built together and all the potential that is still blossoming here in this community. See you on Saturday, November 8th at 10:00 am!

Blessings,
Jon+

Dear Friends,

We’re coming up on All Saints’ Sunday, and with that, there are a few things happening to get us ready for it.

First, as is our custom, we’ll be remembering the saints who have fed us and inspired us in our own lives and who have gone before. You are invited to share names with us that we will be adding to our worship on November 2. I encourage you to consider it as more than just a list of people you know who have died – but to really take this on as a spiritual exercise. Who are the people in your life who have gone on to life everlasting, but who helped to shape who you are as a person of faith? Who are the examples that you cling to in challenging or frustrating times? Who are the people who still inspire your joy? Prayerfully consider the saints in your own life. Then, take a moment to thank God for them.

There are instructions later in this email about how you can include your saints in our broader observance.

Also, this Sunday, the candles near the columbarium are returning to the church. I invite anyone who would like to know more about this beautiful tradition to join me for just a few minutes after our worship service ends. We’ll have a quick discussion about the tradition and what it means. As a part of that, we’ll also be introducing a new opportunity for children to learn about this tradition and participate in an age-appropriate way. So, if your children have shown interest in the candles in the past, I’d particularly encourage you to bring them to learn more about them.

One of the great gifts of being a part of a Christian community is that we are surrounded by the saints of the ages to inspire us with their example. A beautiful image that we often use is that we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses. Like a cloud, they envelop us. Like a cloud, they accompany us without inhibiting us. They embrace us as we journey through this life, each on our own path.

For me, that’s a comforting image. It’s always a sad thing when we are separated from those whom we love but see know longer. But they are a part of that cloud that surrounds us and supports us every day. Even through death, love lingers. It’s that lingering love that we celebrate on All Saints’ Sunday, and I invite you to explore it with us at Trinity.

Blessings,
Jon+

Dear Friends,

One of my favorite things about the people depicted in the Old Testament is their complexity. They aren’t perfect. They struggle with God. They ask the hard questions. They cry out when things aren’t going well. They have real human feelings toward their enemies and their own circumstances. In fact, the people of ancient Israel and the individuals described in these narratives are a lot like us today, even a guy named Jonah who was swallowed by a fish. Especially a guy like Jonah.

Jonah was a true believer, called by God to be a prophet. At the same time, he was sullen, angry, and defiant. He questioned God’s decisions and argued with him about everything, until he was in trouble. Then he cried out for help. Sound familiar? It certainly resembles my rocky spiritual journey (minus the prophet part).

I hope you join us as we embark on a 6-week adventure through the book of Jonah where we will learn tips about studying the Bible and discuss some weighty and relevant concepts like:

Loving our enemies
Walking the tightrope between mercy and justice
Giving and receiving grace
Learning how to worship God from “pagans”
Observing God at work in creation

We’ll also see what it looks like to have a real relationship with God through the eyes of someone who grew up in the faith and had preconceived ideas about what that meant. When God challenged everything Jonah thought he knew, Jonah responded with honest emotions. The book doesn’t tell us if Jonah had a change of heart. Instead, it leaves it up to the reader to decide how we will respond to God’s call for mercy.

Ready to dive in? Don’t worry about being swallowed by theology, we’ll have fun.

We’ll be meeting for six Sundays after church starting on October 19th, upstairs in the 2nd Floor Conference Room of the Parish House.

We will start promptly at 11:30 so come a little early, grab some lunch that will be provided and be ready for the unexpected.

Amy Saylor

Dear friends,

Some of you may only know me in the very important role of Director of Community Engagement here at Trinity. Yet there is one position I hold almost in as much regard as my day to day offers, and that is as Chief Ghostbuster. Some of you may have seen me in that official capacity last year at our first annual Spooktacular, which I am happy to announce is back! On October 23rd, at 6:30pm Trinity will be opening our doors to welcome anyone and everyone for a spooky good time.

The evening will begin with treats, and maybe a trick through our cloister, ending in the sanctuary where snacks and crafts will be available for the whole family. Finally, our incredible Trinity choir will be preforming seasonally appropriate songs, with a special guest on our organ in the loft. Is it the Phantom of the Opera, or a kid named Noah? You’ll have to come and find out for yourself!

This was such a fun time last year, and we look forward to you, your family, and friends joining us again. If you have any questions, you can reach out to a member of our Parish Life team, or the Chief Joy Officer, Chelsie Cree.

Grace and peace,
George Benson

Dear Friends,

As we enter this year’s Stewardship Campaign, A Chorus of Generosity, I find myself reflecting on why Trinity is so vital to me—and why I believe it is worthy of our continued support. I have had the joy and privilege of being part of this community since December 2003. During those years, I have witnessed many seasons of change and challenge, yet through it all, Trinity has remained steadfast in living out the Gospel of Jesus Christ with courage, creativity, and compassion.

What makes Trinity so unique is not just what we do, but how we do it. Through Trinity Music and Arts, we lift hearts and open doors to beauty that feeds the spirit. Through the Trinity Community Breakfast, we embody Christ’s love by welcoming and nourishing our neighbors. Our public support of Pride shows our commitment to stand boldly with the LGBTQ+ community, and our identity as an inclusive, progressive, and creative parish continues to make Trinity a beacon of hope and welcome in Toledo.

This year’s theme, A Chorus of Generosity, reminds us that these ministries and values do not happen by accident. They are made possible through intentionality and the faithful generosity of this congregation—through your gifts of time, talent, and treasure. Supporting the Stewardship Campaign is one of the most tangible ways we affirm who we are as a church and ensure that Trinity will continue to live its mission for years to come. Together, we are adding our voices to a chorus that makes God’s love visible—preparing the way for the Spirit to move, for love to flourish, and for Christ’s Gospel to be made known in our city.

It has been both an honor and a privilege to serve as your Senior Warden. I hope you will join me in supporting this year’s Stewardship Campaign as we continue to nurture, serve, and grow together in Christ’s love. Let us lift our voices in A Chorus of Generosity—for each other, for our neighbors, and for generations yet to come.

Remember that each one of you are Beautiful, Worthy, Loved, and Enough!

With Love and Light,
Jeffrey J. Albright
Senior Warden

Dear Friends,

The 2025 Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure will affect traffic in downtown Toledo on Sunday, September 28. Several streets will be closed as the race route completely surrounds Trinity that morning. Our primary goals are to serve our wonderful breakfast to our community and hold our normal Sunday service at 10:00 am while supporting the race and the safety of those involved.

Get downtown around 9am.

Your best bet is to make your way to Adams Street and travel East to Trinity. You may find established roadblocks. Look for a Trinity volunteer (with sign) at Erie and Adams to help with navigation.

Trinity will have their own cheering section for walkers and runners. Hop out of the car and meet us at the corner of Adams and Summit Streets to pass out water and encourage the thousands participating.

The Susan G. Komen organization addresses breast cancer on multiple fronts in order to make the biggest impact against this disease which affects 13% of all women. This means there is a 1 in 8 chance a woman will develop breast cancer during her lifetime. The Race for the Cure is the main fundraising event of Susan G. Komen. If you wish to donate to the local organization, you may do so here.

Dear friends,

Sunday, October 5 marks the start of our programming year here at Trinity, and I cannot be more excited. There are so many things happening within and outside of our walls, but what I want you all to know about is, Trinity Kids’ starts back up! Last year we kicked off our inaugural church school for elementary kids, and here we are at the start of year two. After service on Sunday, September 28, we’ll be hosting some training with our curriculum up in the Clubhouse on the second floor. As of now, we still are looking for four people who would be interested in volunteering once every five weeks.

This year we will also be adding some more structure to our nursery with the help and leadership of Ms. Nichole. If you haven’t met our new nursery attendant, Ms. Nichole, she came on staff the same time our new rector did, and we are so happy with how she has transformed the care for our 5 and under crowd. Our children and youth formation at Trinity has really picked up, and it is so exciting to see it grow. If you are interested in supporting this ministry by volunteering in a classroom, helping gather supplies, or any other way, please send me an email.

I am so thankful for all of you and cannot wait to see what this programing year brings.

Grace and peace,
George M. Benson
Director of Community Engagement

Dear Friends,

The countdown is on! It’s almost Launch Day!!

This day has had a lot of names through the years – Rally Day, Welcome Back Sunday, Homecoming Sunday, Kick Off Sunday… I’m sure there are others. The point is that we’re marking the shift between summer and the main part of our ministry schedule that happens during the school year. It hearkens back to days gone by when churches would slow down – nearly to the point of stopping altogether – during the summer months.

The fact is, that just isn’t our experience here at Trinity. Some things shift in the summer, but really, it’s not very fair to think of it as slowing. Our summer at Trinity has been joyfully full. But there are two things that make this year’s “Launch Day” something different for us.

First – this Sunday is the long-awaited return of the Trinity Choir to help lead us and inspire us each Sunday. I know I’m very happy their return is finally here, as I’m sure most of us are. Their ministry is a deeply impactful gift to us all, and a hugely significant contribution to our experience of ministry and worship at Trinity overall. I can’t wait for us all to soar with them again!

The other significant thing happening this Sunday is a parish Ministry Fair. At Trinity, there are nearly countless ways to get involved. The Ministry Fair will be an opportunity for you to casually speak with people who already engage in many of these ministries so that you can learn more about them. If you feel inspired to participate, there will be an opportunity for you to sign up to join the various teams. And don’t worry – there will be ample training for any ministry you’d like to try. We won’t just throw you out to do it on your own!

It is going to be another joyful celebration of our love of God on Sunday at Trinity – that’s nothing new. But this week, we’re all going to be flying a little higher than usual. I hope you’ll plan to launch into this new year with the rest of your Trinity family on Sunday at 10:00!

Blessings,
Jon+

The Season of Creation, September 1st through October 4th, is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation. The Episcopal Church joins this international effort for prayer and action for climate justice and an end to environmental racism and ecological destruction. The 2025 theme is Peace with Creation. In celebrating the Season, we are invited to consider anew our ecological, economic, and political ways of living.

Trinity is celebrating the Season of Creation with three events on our newly renovated and planted plaza. Tomorrow, Saturday, September 6, at 9:30 am, we’ll plant the last garden bed as a rainbow daylily garden, in bands of red, orange, yellow, green, lavender and purple flowers. It will be so beautiful next summer! All are welcome to come help! Bring trowels and gardening gloves. Also, please bring a few more hostas from home to plant in the hosta garden, to replace the irises that will be moved back to the sloped bed where they’ve been since the plaza was first planted in the 1980’s.

The second event is our 10:00 am Sunday worship service, to be held on the plaza this Sunday, September 7. We’ll make a joyful noise together as we worship our Savior Jesus Christ in the sacred space of our plaza. Parasols will be available to shade yourselves.

And thirdly, we’ll invite the community to visit the plaza on Tuesday, September 9 when we’ll host a Rain Garden Tour from 6:00-7:00 pm, in cooperation with two of our community partners, Sacred Grounds and the Toledo-Lucas County Rain Garden Initiative. We’ll also honor our other supporters: KeyBank and the Terhune Foundation, North Branch Nursery, Toledo GROWS and Ogden Station Daylilies. Special thanks to our Sacred Grounds mentor, Tom Schoen, who has shepherded us through this journey. Please wear a Trinity t-shirt and come help host this event for the community.

After the plaza renovation was completed at the end of 2023, the next challenge was to plant the large concrete containers in a sustainable way. The decision was made to follow The Episcopal Church’s commitment to Creation Care. That meant planting native plants that would support a vibrant ecosystem for wildlife and be good for the environment. More than 50 Trinity volunteers have participated in 10 plaza work days over the last 16 months to plant the garden beds. The 8 plaza garden containers were filled with 1,544 40 lb. bags of soil and mulch and then we planted:

• 3 Celebration red maple trees
• 3 Monarch Waystation beds of native plants, 2 of which are rain gardens
• A vegetable garden, planted by the children
• A rainbow daylily garden (to be planted tomorrow!)
• A hosta garden
• A bed filled with Serviceberry and Red Twig Dogwood bushes
• A bed planted with a groundcover of native Common Blue Violets

Many of you helped design and plant the garden beds. Eight of us took a Master Rain Gardener course last spring, where we learned which plants would thrive under the special conditions of the plaza. Our native plants are supporting a vibrant ecosystem enjoyed by butterflies, pollinators and birds. Trinity’s plaza has been certified as a Sacred Grounds site by the National Wildlife Federation and registered as a Monarch Waystation.

Come celebrate the Season of Creation at the parish work day on the plaza tomorrow, worship on the plaza on Sunday, and at the Rain Garden Tour for the community next Tuesday! Thank you.

Peace and Love,
Deacon Meribah

Dear friends,

It is Labor Day Weekend, which means the church office is closed Monday, and will re-open on Tuesday. While this is a time for rest, hopeful relaxation, and a nice cookout, it is important to remember how we got here. Labor Day wasn’t a federal holiday until 1894, when President Grover Cleveland signed it into law. While we now recognize this weekend as a time where summer ends, and school begins, it is something so much more. It is a time we remember the blood that was shed by union leaders to bring about fair working conditions, and to remove power from the few to the workers. From the Haymarket Affair in 1886 and the Pullman Strike in 1894, to our own autoworkers in Toledo and the Libby Glass strike that started this past week, standing up for the rights of workers remains a justice issue.

In the words of Dorothy Day, the infamous Catholic Worker leader, I offer up a prayer she wrote while praying at the Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, “I offered up a special prayer, a prayer which came with tears and with anguish, that some way would open up for me to use those talents I possessed for my fellow workers, for the poor.”

May it be so for all of us my friends.
Grace and peace,
George M. Benson

Pride Family Picnic – tonight from 5 – 8pm on our Plaza (2nd level of the Parish House)

Join us for a joyful family BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the sides you could dream of! We’ll have story readings and performances by Toledo’s finest drag artists, Juicee Strawbooty, Stevie Phoenix, Eugenia & Giovani J. Jackson, plus arts & crafts, games, a dance party, and our first-ever gender-affirming clothing swap. It’s going to be a magical evening for all ages.

Parade Waystation – Saturday, August 16th – Trinity doors at 10 am, Parade at 12 pm

We’re opening our doors as a welcoming stop during the Pride Parade—a place to cool down, use the restroom, and soak in the beauty of our sanctuary, adorned with Pride flags and banners. We’ll also be marching with other local faith communities with Better Together, and Trinity will be well represented at the Promenade in the Episcopal booth. We also have some GREAT Trinity swag this year! Big thanks to our incredible volunteers!

The Big Queer Service – Sunday, August 17th at 10 am

Our Pride weekend culminates with a truly special service—full of joyful music, thoughtful liturgy, and a Baptism. You won’t want to miss it.

Dear Friends,

Toledo Pride is ALMOST upon us, and what a joy-filled weekend we have planned for next week!

There has been an incredible build-up to this moment. The Beauty in Being event was a huge success—thank you to all who made it possible! And can we talk about those tie-dyed Pride T-shirts? They look absolutely fabulous—I’ve loved seeing the pictures rolling in from all corners of our community.

As we head into the big weekend, a quick (and bittersweet) note: our final Pride Committee meeting will be this Sunday after the service. We’ll need all hands on deck, so even if you haven’t been part of previous meetings, we’d love to have you join us. If you signed up to help at any of the events, this is the meeting you should attend. All are welcome!

Here’s what’s coming up:

? Pride Family Picnic – Friday, August 14th from 5 – 8pm
Join us for a joyful family BBQ with hamburgers, hot dogs, and all the sides you could dream of! We’ll have story readings and performances by Toledo’s finest drag artists, Juicee Strawbooty, Stevie Phoenix, Eugenia & Giovani J. Jackson, plus arts & crafts, games, a dance party, and our first-ever gender-affirming clothing swap. It’s going to be a magical evening for all ages.

? Parade Waystation – Saturday, August 15th – Trinity doors at 10 am, Parade at 12 pm
We’re opening our doors as a welcoming stop during the Pride Parade—a place to cool down, use the restroom, and soak in the beauty of our sanctuary, adorned with Pride flags and banners. We’ll also be marching with other local faith communities with Better Together, and Trinity will be well represented at the Promenade in the Episcopal booth. We also have some GREAT Trinity swag this year! Big thanks to our incredible volunteers!

? The Big Queer Service – Sunday, August 16th at 10 am
Our Pride weekend culminates with a truly special service—full of joyful music, thoughtful liturgy, and a Baptism. You won’t want to miss it.

✨ Still Needed:

Bottled water
Hard candy
Gently used clothing
Ice (Day of Parade)
Coolers

The last day to drop off donations is this Sunday, August 10th.

On behalf of the staff, the Pride Committee, and myself—thank you. We can’t wait to celebrate with you next weekend. Let’s make it unforgettable!

Happy Pride!
Michael Kidney
Pride Committee Chair

Dear Friends,

The church – like the rest of the world – changed in some significant ways during the pandemic. One of those changes that brought strength and growth to us as the Body of Christ living in the world is that we moved away from being so isolated from one another. There was a time when congregations operated like entirely solo entities. With that wild world change we all experienced, all across the church, we’ve started to recognize that we actually do need each other!

Honestly – it really does make sense. We are people of the Jesus Movement; the Body of Christ; the people of God’s incarnation in the world. So much of how we understand our faith is through our relationships with God and with each other. Of course being in relationships in our common life in the church would bring us closer to realizing the vision that we understand from God!

This week we have an opportunity to put that focus on relationships into action in a very small (though not at all insignificant) way. Since Jeep Fest is going to be keeping us from worshiping in our usual manner here in our beautiful downtown campus, we’ve decided to join our neighbors at St. Michael’s-in-the-Hills in Ottawa Hills. You may remember, some of them came to worship with us on the day of the Glass City Marathon – when they couldn’t get to their church.

We all benefit when we deepen our relationships with each other and when we learn about the ways that we’re the same and the ways that we’re different.

I do hope you’ll make it a point to worship with us at our neighbor’s place this week! It should be fun!

Blessings,
Jon+

Please join us on Sunday, July 27 as Jon blesses the newly renovated Sacristy. Now, what the heck am I talking about??

The Sacristy is the sacred space where beloved and dedicated members of the Altar Guild prepare the Lord’s supper every Sunday and at other special services throughout the year. Our TAG Team (TAG is the acronym we use for Trinity Altar Guild) is composed of Scott Dibling, Kyle Grefe, Brian Ingman, Sue Smitley, and Kelly Termin. Trinity is so blessed to have such a wonderful group of people prepare and clean up after Eucharist each Sunday.

Before the renovation of the Sacristy, our beloved TAG team worked in an old, dark, and worn-out space—the Formica countertops were cracked and ragged, the walls were a dark olive green, and who knows when that carpet had last been cleaned! With outstanding help from Heather, we made magic happen: new counters, new floor, new sink, off white paint, and lots of new lighting. We’ve created a space that truly feels sacred.

A few weeks ago, Chelsie sang a hymn at the Offertory called Mothering God, written by Tom Trenney. This spoke to me so richly of the feast offered each week by Jesus.

Mothering Christ, you took my form
Offering me your food of light
Grain of life and grape of love
Your very body for my peace

After the service on Sunday, please take time to thank TAG members for the great work they do in providing a meaningful Eucharist for you. After that, stop by the Sacristy to see our sacred kitchen. If you are feeling called to join us on the Altar Guild, please let us know!

Kyle Grefe, Altar Guild & Junior Warden