Beloved Friends,

This week has been a wonderful reminder of not only what it means to be a part of a growing community of faith in Toledo, but also a reminder of how important our connection is to the wider Episcopal Church. I began the week at a 2-day meeting of our Midwest collection of Episcopal Dioceses, Province V, bringing together all of us who are a part of the Network to Dismantle Racism. We had time for deep conservations as well as presentations from the Rev. Ron Byrd who serves as the Episcopal Missioner for African Descent Ministries. I learned so much, met wonderful companions, and left filled with hope and strength for this journey.

And my hope in God and for us all anticipates a wonderful day on Sunday, when we will celebrate the Feast Day of All Saints, a universal Christian Feast that honors and remembers all Christian saints, known and unknown. During the past few weeks we have been collecting names of those we love and who are no longer with us. These beautiful names will be chanted in the liturgy as we come forward to receive the bread and wine uniting us all- present and in spirit. 

We will also be baptizing Lucya Keune into our faith community offering the sacrament of baptism. The Episcopal church encourages, whenever possible to offer baptism on one of 4 special days on our church calendar including the Easter Vigil, Pentecost, All Saints Day and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the Sunday after Epiphany). Each time we offer this sacrament we also use it as an invitation to renew our own baptismal promises creating a day of renewed commitment for us all.

And then to top it all off we will also be welcoming 24 adults and 15 youth “home” to Trinity as they make their pledge to stand in and among us as companions along the way. 

So come home this Sunday, either for Trinity@Home or Trinity@316 for a wonderful celebration of new life, new promises, new opportunities to serve and be served. 

May you never forget that you are loved.

Lisa

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