Trinity Stories

All Jesus did that day was tell stories—a long storytelling afternoon. His storytelling fulfilled the prophecy: I will open my mouth and tell stories; I will bring out into the open things hidden since the world's first day.
Matthew 13:34-35 – The Message

RECTOR’S BLOG

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Applegate

Journey to Holy Week

Journey to Holy Week

Dear friends,

This Sunday, we begin our journey to Holy Week by celebrating Palm Sunday. This entrance of Jesus into Jerusalem on a donkey is full of expectations on his followers’ behalf. From the zealots, an over throwing of Rome’s power in Palestine, from his disciples perhaps the kin-dom of heaven establishing to earth, and everything in between. The story of Jesus’ last week of ministry this side of death is something Christians all over the earth have celebrated for almost two millennia.

It is impossible for me to prepare for Holy Week without thinking of the humanitarian crisis happening in the Middle East. For over 100 years, the Presiding Bishops of the Episcopal Church have taken up a Good Friday offering in support of The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem. This year’s offering will go to support specific ministries in The Episcopal Church in Jerusalem, look to the Easter appeal letter for more information.

For the past 18 months in our Noon Prayer Service, we have been praying for those in Palestine and Israel, and this Easter we can pray with our actions. We are inviting you to commemorate this holy season by making a special gift, beyond regular giving, to partner in this Easter offering appeal. Every cent that goes above our budgeted amount will go towards this offering.

We will continue our local direct missional support offering for the Christmas season. With everything happening in our world, we want to embrace our larger identity as Episcopalians and join the larger Episcopal Church in supporting those in the Middle East.

Thank you for your continued support of Trinity Episcopal Church and we look forward to seeing you Sunday.

Grace and peace,
George Benson (he/him)

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Kinetic Energy

Kinetic Energy

Dear Friends,

Last week I had my first visit to the Plaza! I’d seen it through the windows before, but I hadn’t had a chance to wander around outside. At last, though, a Property Committee meeting sent me up there. It’s certainly a brilliant space, and seeing it in this phase before the Spring planting and growing is beautiful and moving in a very specific way.

I remember learning in school about kinetic energy and potential energy. The plaza is bursting with potential energy. Even now, as I write this, it’s raining up there and feeding the earth and the plants are readying for a new creation.

This phase of Lent, along with our phase of life here at Trinity, are both filled with energy. From the outside, both Lent and Trinity may seem like the abundance of kinetic energy leaves room for nothing else. But living in this energy reveals that it’s really so much more. The kinetic energy here at Trinity is very real, but what it really drives us toward is the potential energy that’s buzzing just under the surface.

And that’s where we are in Lent, too. The potential energy is fed by the promise of resurrection. At Easter, it is released in all its kinetic glory.

My prayer is that we live into that Easter promise. May it guide us as we grow together.

Blessings,
Jon+

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Protect Trans Kids

Protect Trans Kids

Dear friends,

Our trans siblings have always existed, and will always exist no matter what any political or religious entity says. According to the Williams Institute, 0.6% of Americans identify as Transgender, yet, our siblings have been attacked time and again. As we look to celebrate Transgender Day of Visibility on the 31st, we will also celebrate it on Sunday morning. As a church that recognizes the image of God in all peoples, we look forward to raising up our Trans siblings not just this weekend, but throughout the whole year.

Trinity drew its line in the sand in 2023 when we adopted “Protect Trans Kids” as our theme for Pride, and we still proudly stand with our trans siblings. We are still committed to calling our representatives and working to steer them to protect our trans siblings in any way possible, and we always will be.

May we remember always that trans rights are human rights, and all human rights are worth protecting.

Grace and peace,
George Benson (he/him)

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Big Transitions

Big Transitions

Dear Friends,

I am still basking in the glow of our first Sunday together. I hope you are, too.

I know that big transitions (in any aspect of our lives – church is just one) can feel like an unsettling time. The nature of the experience is change. And change often means we won’t know what to expect.

Our transition at Trinity is still ongoing – it didn’t just end because I’ve arrived. Now we’re into the part of the transition that involves us learning more deeply about each other. What change will we bring to each other’s lives and to each other’s experience of the practice of faith? The reality is, we will change each other. That’s why we’ve been called together – not to stagnate together, but to grow together.

If we’re wise, we’ll look at this season of transition as more than a season. If we’re wise, we’ll embrace this time as a road map for embracing the truth that we are being called to grow together – to always be in transition together.

I know inertia can be a powerful force, but community inertia only has as much power as we give it. I pray that we will resist it. I pray that we will commit to growing together. I pray that we will live in transition – not for a season, but as a central element of our vocation.

I look forward to discovering the ways that I will grow through you and with you.

Blessings,
Jon+

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COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

George Benson

A Word for Sunday

A Word for Sunday

Excerpt from "Another Nautical" found in Amanda Gorman’s book, Call Us What We Carry:   Hope is the soft bird We send across the sea To see if this earth is still home.  We ask you honestly: Is it?   For those not in the know, Priest Lisa gave us this book in an...

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The Light and the Dark

The Light and the Dark

The above quote comes from the “Cosmic Order” section of the Song of Creation from the Episcopal Church’s Common Book of Prayer and it is something that I find personally comforting. For so long the church has used the word dark or darkness as synonymous with bad or...

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We Came. We Prided. We Conquered

We Came. We Prided. We Conquered

Y’all. Pride was such a good time. Thank you so, so much to everyone who came, donated water, time, candy, WHATEVER. This is the type of radical welcoming that Trinity has been known for, for decades and you help make continue to make it happen. Rest well knowing that...

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The Plan For This Weekend

The Plan For This Weekend

Y'ALL WE ARE HERE FOR PRIDE! THIS IS WHAT IS UP: FRIDAY NIGHT:We will be assembling in My Brother’s Place, volunteers, if you are able to get here at 3pm to help set up that would be great! Other than that, it starts at 4 and rolls through until 7pm. We’ll have...

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MUSIC & THE ARTS

Chelsie Cree

The one who sings prays twice. (St. Augustine)

The one who sings prays twice. (St. Augustine)

Hello, friends! It is my pleasure to share with you this lovely note from Yvonne Dubielak. Chelsie Some of the most spiritual moments in my life have been while singing: Leading 30 imprisoned men in singing “Silent Night” in a federal correctional facility during a...

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Ashley Espinosa on Music

Ashley Espinosa on Music

Hello my Friends!  As promised, this week I have another wonderful music reflection to share with you. This week, it comes from choir member Ashley Espinoza. I hope this note inspires you, too, to think about music; what place it holds in your life, how you use it,...

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Relationship to Music – by Hugh Grefe

Relationship to Music – by Hugh Grefe

My friends: For the next couple weeks, I am delighted to share with you writings from our beloved choir. Each of these stories will share something about them and their relationship with music. Today, please read this letter from Hugh Grefe. <3 Chelsie   My life’s...

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Pride!

Pride!

Well here we are: We’ve made it to TOLEDO PRIDE WEEKEND!  This weekend we have a fantastic array of great activities here at Trinity that are meant to compliment the fantastic pride event being provided by Toledo Pride. Friday Night, we’ll have a family friendly...

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