Trinity Tidings August/September Issue by Trinity Episcopal Church and School

Tidings Trinity Episcopal Church August/September 2018

Welcome to the new iteration of Tidings! Our church publication has shifted from

what was a monthly newsletter to a bi-monthly magazine, so expect to see it in your inbox (or mailbox) every other month. This new format is a work in progress, but it is designed with the intent to improve how we communicate upcoming events, and also to provide greater transparency of decision-making. One of the key takeaway messages from the surveys conducted for the parish profile and from the strategic planning sessions of the Vestry and staff is that there are clear lines of accountability and communication. We are listening! With that in mind, we welcome your feedback on the new format: trinitytidings@trinitynola.com.

Table of Contents Worship.............................................................................................................................................................1 Rev. Andy Thayer

Q&A with Our New Clergy..........................................................................................................................3 Another Summer is On the Books!..............................................................................................................5 TEEP wraps up its 51st summer

August/September Calendar.........................................................................................................................6 Trinity Visioning Overview.........................................................................................................................8 Setting priorities - Vestry and staff retreat

Youth Sunday................................................................................................................................................10 Summer Construction Update....................................................................................................................11 Trinity Loaves & Fishes Update ................................................................................................................12 A fond farewell to Scott Webster

News from the 79th General Convention................................................................................................13 The Parish Register.......................................................................................................................................13 Births, Baptisms, Deaths

Photo credit front cover: Sandy Courvoiser Photo credit above: Ginny Horner

WORSHIP Trinity excels at worship. We are blessed with a wonderful church building, a variety of meaningful worship styles, and a breadth of excellent music. Much of our energy focuses on worship because it is the basis for everything else we do. Our focus moving forward is to reinvigorate our Sunday time together so that we continue to be inspired, challenged, and more meaningfully connected to each other and to God.

“Our focus moving forward is to reinvigorate our Sunday time together...”

Soren Kierkegaard, a 19th century Danish philosopher, once clarified a common misconception about worship using the analogy of a theater. “When we come to worship God, we generally feel as though the preacher and other ministers are the performers and God is the subject of the performance and we as the congregation are merely the audience…but this is a terrible misunderstanding of worship.” By this analogy the celebrant is the lead actor, who is adorned with an impressive costume—alb, stole and chasuble—the altar is the The Rev. Andrew R. Thayer stage, the sermon is like a monologue… However worship is not a commodity to be consumed like a theater production. Church isn’t merely something you receive as a consumer but something in which you participate. Kierkegaard continues by explaining that authentic Christian worship is different from the theater. “We, the congregation, are the performers. The preachers and other ministers are the directors of the performance and God is the audience.” To think of God as ‘audience’ is an awesome responsibility and inspiring motivation for the whole church community.

Photo credit above: Bruce Parkerson

Trinity Episcopal Church • Tidings

Q&A with Our New Clergy Ashley Eastham: Tell us about your family growing up.

Where did y’all grow up?

Jane-Allison Wiggin-Nettles (JA): I was born here, so my husband as a local says, “You are from here, but you didn’t grow up here.” I was born and baptized in the Diocese of Louisiana at Christ Church in Slidell. My parents had just moved there. Dad is a cradle Episcopalian. My mother was baptized into the church as an adult. And then his first job transfer came to Myrtle Beach in South Carolina. I grew up there my whole life. I stayed in South Carolina for school, and so really the church that formed me as a young person was Trinity Episcopal in Myrtle Beach. I have very fond memories there. The church that supported me in college as was I discerning seminary was “Smoky” Saint Andrew’s in Greenville, South Carolina. It’s just the best little church you’ve ever seen. South Carolina is still very near and dear to my heart. John Pitzer (JP): I’m a native Texan - ha, that’s the way we say it there - and lived there up until high school. I did college in Kansas and a little bit of seminary in Indiana and St. Louis. Then, in the Dominican world, lived in San Antonio, New Orleans, Memphis, and Denver. I’ve lived really all over. I moved to the New Orleans area 20 years ago when I entered the Dominicans and it kind of stole my heart then and never really let go. When I had the opportunity to return two and a half months ago, even though I had just been here a few years ago, I jumped at it. Bobby Hadzor (BH): I grew up in a really small town called Dallas, Pennsylvania, which is outside of a very blue collar city near Scranton which is famous for “The Office,” the show - it is just like that. I grew up there and in 1998 my family moved to Franklin, Tennessee, which is outside of Nashville. My dad moved to Durham, North Carolina. So I spent a lot of time living in two different places. I wasn’t born in the south, but I had a lot of my formative years in the south. So I consider myself “a southerner by choice.” In 2011, after some time in Boston, I moved down here to New Orleans. Opposite page: The Reverend Jane-Allison Wiggin-Nettles, The Reverend Bobby Hadzor, The Reverend John Pitzer

“It’s indescribably good to be able to really walk in your vocation.”

Jane-Allison Wiggin-Nettles What was your church like growing up? JA: Huge rose window behind the altar - that’s the first thing that comes to mind because I was always in the choir growing up, from a very young age. We called the organ “Mother Superior” because she wasn’t much to look at, but she was formidable. My mom was in the choir too, so we would sing together. Right before the sermon, my mom and I would leave the choir loft, go down the stairs and sit with my dad, who was warming the pew. And then we would sit as a family, the three of us. BH: I grew up in many different traditions. Church of Christ when I was growing up and I remember I would go there on Sundays with my family, but on Saturdays I would help clean it with my grandfather. Some of my oldest memories are putting out the communion for the next day and taking pieces of the little communion bread and feeling like I was super special because I was near it. Which is funny now thinking, that I’m a priest. When we moved to Tennessee, we went to a very large nondenominational, evangelical type of church. So I was never in a very liturgical atmosphere when I was growing up. I joined the Episcopal Church when I was in seminary in 2009. But I think that a lot of my time in different traditions and in different churches has helped in seeing different perspectives about how God works among us, which is a real gift. JP: I was actually born and raised in the Presbyterian Church until college, when I discovered the Roman Catholic church. I was drawn to the sacraments and liturgy, and it was just a great fit. I knew nothing about the Episcopal church at that point. I have finally, I think FINALLY come home to the Episcopal church, which I call “the Catholic Church of the 21st century.”

Trinity Episcopal Church • Tidings

the way I’m leaving for the seminary next week,” and she kind of like flipped out. I went to seminary, just to try it, because that thought of becoming a priest was never going away. When I was a vocation director for the Dominicans, I was a recruiter and trying to help these young men figure their life out, that was always the common thread, “It won’t go away, it won’t go away.” It never did. It took me awhile to find where I am in the Episcopal church, via the Presbyterian and Roman Catholic churches, but it’s something that never went away.

When did you first get that little inkling in your heart about being called to the priesthood?

BH: When I was fifteen years old, I was able to go to the first Duke Youth Academy. It is a two week immersive experience for students to learn about social justice, politics and religion. Before that time, I had never known that politics and religion could go together. I learned about how our faith really should inform the way that we view the world and things that are going on around us. And it was at that time, when I was fifteen years old, that I heard my call to the ministry. I was walking a labyrinth in Duke’s cathedral and when I was in the middle of it - I just had this moment. So I went home and I told my parents, “I think I want to study religion. I think I want to do something or be a teacher or something,” at the age of 15. That led me to where I am now and I never really looked back. JP: So everybody thought I was going to be a minister growing up. Little did they know, I didn’t think that way - at all. Growing up I wanted to be an actor and a politician - in high school I wanted to be president! When I graduated from college I was doing commercials, industrial films, some print modeling and things like that. I was off to go do a shooting when I called my agent and said, “By

“I have finally, I think FINALLY come home to the Episcopal church.” John Pitzer

“I think that a lot of my time in different traditions and in different churches has helped in seeing different perspectives about how God works among us, which is a real gift.” Bobby Hadzor JA: I knew when I was a young person that I wanted to serve the church in some very active way, but I never went farther in imagining that because I thought I would have some other day job that allowed me to be really active in church. That’s just the way I thought about it. But, I also didn’t see a lot of women who were ordained. I saw exactly two female deacons growing up. But something was always there, something about Eucharist just being so important and life changing. In college, things really started happening for me. I got the very, very audible kinds of calls from God that I was freaked out by and I went running to priests I knew to say, “You know I’m losing it, I’m hearing God tell me to be a priest and that can’t be true.” Of course they were thrilled because they had been seeing me active in ministry and in the church and it didn’t shock them at all, but I was floored. And so in college it was important for me, in the arguing with God that I was doing, to go walk the Camino in Spain. By the end of a month of walking, I decided to stop running away from God when it came to ordination. So I just had a short amount of time after college to go through discernment, to go through a really great discernment process, and then it was seminary. It’s indescribably good to be able to really walk in your vocation.

Trinity Episcopal Church • Tidings

TEEP Wraps Up Its 51st Summer!

Thanks to our Sponsors

The Gaudet Fund - The Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana The Vincent Memorial Legacy Fund The Women of Trinity Church And all the individual donors who make TEEP possible!

CALEN WORSHIP SCHEDULE

SUN 7:30 am: Morning Prayer in the Chapel 8:00 am: Eucharist in the Chapel 10:30 am: Eucharist in the Church 6:00 pm: Eucharist in the Chapel TUES 7:30 am: Morning Prayer 6:00 pm: Organ and Labyrinth in the Church

THURS 10:30 am: Holy Eucharist and Healing Service in the Chapel

AUGUST 01

Intercessory Prayer Group (meets weekly) 1:30 pm in the Moore Library

12 Steps for Everyone (meets weekly) 9:15 am in the Booardroom Baptism (For information contact Tina Grant 522-0276) 10:30 am in the Church Trinity Artist Series 5:00 pm in the Church (check website for concert details)

Vacation Bible School 9:00 am - 12 noon ALANON (meets weekly) 6:00 pm in the Boardroom Recovery Meeting (meets weekly) 6:30 pm in the Moore Library

Vacation Bible School 9:00 am - 12 noon

Vacation Bible School 9:00 am - 12 noon Out and About 12:00 pm Martin’s Wine Cellar (Contact Maria Elliott if attending melliott@trinitynola.com)

Vacation Bible School 9:00 am - 12 noon

Acolyte Training 9:15 am - 10:00 am in the Sanctuary Grades 5-12 Youth Sunday 10:30 am in the Church Reception and Youth Ministry Fair in Bishop Polk Hall Trinity Artist Series 5:00 pm in the Church

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NDAR 19

Godly Play Parent Meeting 9:15 am in the School Library Youth Group Parent Meeting 9:15 am Grades 5-12 in the Chapel

Blessing of the Backpacks 10:30 am in the Church

Trinity Artist Series 5:00 pm in the Church

Acolyte Training 9:15 am - 10:00 am in the Sanctuary Grades 5-12

Saints Tailgate following the 10:30 am service in Bishop Polk Hall

Godly Play Opening and Celebration 9:15 am

Youth Kick-Off 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm Grades 5-12

Trinity Artist Series 5:00 pm in the Church

SEPTEMBER 02

Recovery Meeting (meets weekly) 6:30 pm in the Moore Library

12 Steps for Everyone (meets weekly) 9:15 am in the Booardroom Baptism (For info. contact Tina Grant 522-0276) 10:30 am in the Church

Trinity Artist Series 5:00 pm in the Church

Choristers begins (meets weekly Tuesdays from 4:30 pm - 6:00 pm in the Choir Room

Lunch & Learn on Donor Advised Funds with Andy Kopplin of the Greater New Orleans Foundation. 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm in the Parish House To register contact Raina at roneil@trinitynola.com

Finance Forum after the 8:00 am and 10:30 am services in the Chapel

Labor Day Church is Closed

Women of Trinity Church (WOTC )Meeting 8:30 am in the Boardroom Intercessory Prayer Group (meets weekly) 1:30 pm in the Moore Library

06 to 08

ALANON (meets weekly) 6:00 pm in the Boardroom

Undoing Racism (Registration Required) in the Parish House Contact Cathy Posey (cathyposey@hotmail.com) to register

Trinity Artist Series 5:00 pm in the Church

Finance Forum 5:30 pm in the Chapel

Trinity Artist Series 5:00 pm in the Church

Choral Evensong for the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels 4:00 pm in the Church

Social Media Sunday Trinity Artist Series 5:00 pm in the Church

Color Key Code

BLUE - Music Events RED - Children, Youth and Family Events

Trinity Episcopal Church â&#x20AC;˘ Tidings

Meet Your Vestry

Barbara Waller, Senior Warden Barbara.Waller@ laitram.com

Gordon Kolb, Junior Warden Gordo@ghkinc.com

Chris Martin, Clerk of Vestry martin@chaffe.com

Keith Crawford, Treasurer klc@loftingroup.com

Michelle Cox michelle@ chenault.net

John Fay jfay@ faynelsonfay.com

Cres Gardner cgardner@ beaubox.com

Philip Gordillo philip.gordillo@ whitneybank.com

Elaine Haney ElaineSHaney@ aol.com

Ellinor Howard ellinor@ bellsouth.net

Heather Lonian hlonian@ stonepigman.com

Marky Murphy markymurphy@ gmail.com

Alice Parkerson abparkerson@ gmail.com

Marguerite Redwine msredwine@ hotmail.com

Jim Theis ezeejim2@gmail.com

Carrie Wright carriewright80@ gmail.com

George Young georgey@villere.com

Trinity Episcopal Church â&#x20AC;˘ Tidings

Trinity Visioning Overview “Trinity is a community of people trying to ‘be the church’ in our time and place.” Barbara Waller, Sr. Warden Vestry, Clergy and Staff convened at the Solomon Episcopal Conference Center June 8 and 9 to identify goals and develop action plans for the next 6 to 12 months. We prayed together, voiced our thoughts and listened to each other’s thoughts, building the foundation to achieve our goals. The following objectives were set for the retreat: • Reflect on the Trinity Mission Statement and the church’s key driving values captured so beautifully in the 2016 Parish Profile. • Based on key values identified, define what successfully living these values means - create measurable metrics for each. • Brainstorm and name functional areas where the church should focus its energy. • Engage Clergy and Vestry in planning a structure that is operationally prepared and adept at addressing strategic initiatives. • Set the stage for creating a transformative and inspiring strategic plan for the next three years.

Teams of Vestry, Clergy and Staff will continue the work begun in the retreat, further defining what success looks like in each, clarifying goals, outlining action plans and target time lines to achieve the goals, and recommending resources – people, tools, funding – to execute the plans. Two additional priorities were identified: 1. Developing a process for evaluating the impact of Trinity’s many ministries vis-a-vis the investment (monetary, staff capacity, volunteer commitment, etc.) that is required. 2. Establishing a clear and clearly communicated organizational model that ensures staff, vestry, and lay members understand “who is responsible and accountable for what.” These two issues were seen as critical but beyond the scope and capacity for us to take on during the retreat. We agreed small teams will address these and report back to both Staff and Vestry members in the coming months. The retreat was productive and affirming. It reinforced our love and appreciation for the Trinity community and generated optimism and enthusiasm for the work ahead. As we continue the work, we will report back to you on progress. We are asking you to PRAY AND STAY TUNED.

Over the course of the retreat, a consensus developed on a number of overarching themes. These included: • Hospitality - creating a welcoming and inclusive environment • Invitation to and Engagement in Service developing lay leadership • Communication - improving internal and external communication and transparency of decision-making, revisiting the mission statement • Youth and Young Adults - building the ministries

Photo: Trinity Clergy, Staff and Vestry, June 2018 Solomon Episcopal Conference Center Chapel

Trinity Episcopal Church • Tidings

TRINITY YOUTH 2018 - 2019 EY-Seedlings (Grades 5-6)

Junior EYC (Grades 7-9)

Senior EYC (Grades 10-12)

You shall LOVE the Lord God

Aug. 12 youth sunday

WITH ALL OF YOUR

10:30 a.m. service Reception to follow; pick up a youth calendar.

R Sept. 9 youth kickoff

heart, soul, stre ngth & min d;

& LOVE

y ou r ne i ghbor a s y ours e lf.

following 10:30 a.m. service Activities for grades 5-12

Luke 10 :2 7

Mother Jane-Allison

jwigginnettles@trinitynola.com

(504) 295-1375

Rummage Sale! Come and Help!

Join us for an hour or two or all day – anytime that works for you is a great help to us!

• Affiliated with the Royal School of Church Music in England

Here are the following dates and times to choose from:

• Excellent music education • Character building skills in teamwork, setting and accomplishing goals

Wednesday, October 3 10:00 am to 5:00 pm (merchandise set up) Thursday, October 4 9:00 am to 2:00 pm (sale) Friday, October 5 9:00 am to 2:00 pm(sale) Saturday, October 6 9:00 am to 1:00 pm (sale)

• Work and perform with professional musicians • Grades 3 - 6 in the first year • Tuesday afternoons 4:30 - 6:00 pm beginning September 11 You do not need to be a member of Trinity or the Episcopal Church. Registration deadline is Tuesday, September 4. Tuition is $150/semester - scholarships available.

To register your child or for more information, contact Dr. Paul Weber at pweber@trinitynola.com

Please contact: Bruna Mora (brunamora@yahoo.com) or Robin Biondi (robin@awws.net)

Trinity Episcopal Church • Tidings

If you have visited Trinity this summer youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve been more than aware of the numerous, consecutive construction projects going on around campus. Here are some of the highlights: The Kitchen The old kitchen equipment was removed and donated to another local church; additional electrical service was added for some of the new kitchen equipment. New ductwork was installed, bringing the ventilation system up to code. The entire kitchen space will be steam cleaned before new kitchen equipment will be installed before the start of school.

Before

Bishop Polk Hall The three roofs spanning Bishop Polk Hall, the rummage storage area, and the kitchen all were replaced this summer. This work was much needed as the roof above Bishop Polk Hall had developed a leak causing damage to a number of ceiling tiles at a cost of $700 a piece. Fortunately, this work was completed in June, before we were well into hurricane season. Updated Bathrooms Bishop Polk Hall bathrooms are getting a much needed makeover this summer with all new fixtures, faucets and more! The bathrooms located in the undercroft of the church will also receive a complete renovation later in the summer. Most notably, all the bathrooms will be ADA compliant, making Trinity a more welcoming community for all. Many more projects are underway throughout Trinity School, and a big thank you to Bill McLean who has served as the Project Manager overseeing all of these projects, and to the Buildings and Grounds Committee! What a busy summer!

Trinity Episcopal Church â&#x20AC;˘ Tidings

Before

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in.” Matthew 25:35 During the months following Hurricane Katrina, the people of Trinity knew they must respond in order to help heal our beloved city. Out of this desire to respond, came the idea and desire to feed the hungry, and those left displaced by the storm. Thus was born Trinity Loaves and Fishes (TLF). For the last twelve years we have seen this ministry grow into a vital part of our Trinity family. However, as with anything related to family, there comes a time for change. Over the last few years, Scott Webster has blessed us with his leadership and commitment. As he moves on to Nursing School next month, we simply say thank you. We are so grateful for your service and ministry. You will indeed be missed. In the short interim, we are pleased to tell you that Ben Nobles will assist in overseeing the day-to-day operations as we await the arrival of our Interim Director Emily Harden. Emily is associated with the Young Adult Volunteers of the National Presbyterian Church. After beginning on September 1st, she will be with us for a year. During this time, the TLF board will work together to envision the future and help define goals as to how TLF can continue to meet the needs of the greater community. Let us keep Scott, Ben, Emily, and the TLF board in our daily prayers.

Above: Scott Webster serving in New Orleans East following the 2017 Tornado Right: Ben Nobles

Trinity Episcopal Church • Tidings

Presiding Bishop urges Episcopalians to embrace ‘Way of Love’ for spiritual growth By Melodie Woerman, Posted July 5, 2018

[Episcopal News Service – Austin, Texas] The opening Eucharist of the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church on July 5 included lively music in many styles, communion for thousands of people and a sermon by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry calling on members of the Episcopal Church to embrace spiritual practices that can help lead them to a Jesus-centered life. Called the “Way of Love,” the seven practices provide a Rule of Life that all Episcopalians are encouraged to adopt. • Turn: Pause, listen and choose to follow Jesus. • Learn: Reflect daily on scripture, especially the life and teachings of Jesus. • Pray: Spend time with God in prayer every day. • Worship: Gather in community for worship every week. • Bless: Share one’s faith and find ways to serve other people. • Go: Move beyond one’s comfort to witness to the love of God with words and actions. • Rest: Dedicate time for restoration and wholeness. Curry said that several months ago he had asked a group of bishops, clergy and laypeople to meet with him to explore how the church could move more deeply into being the Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement, a statement that has been the theme for his first three years as presiding bishop. He said he wanted to find a way to “help people throw themselves into the arms of Jesus.” That group concluded that the Episcopal Church did not need a new program but instead should call upon spiritual practices that for centuries have helped Christians draw closer to God. The result, the Way of Love, is an adaption of monastic traditions that Curry said would help church members “open up the soul and spirit.” Materials explaining the Way of Love have been posted on the Episcopal Church website https://www.episcopalchurch.org/explore-way-love

The Parish Register Births

(as of July 17 printing)

McLain Edward Beery, June 11, 2018 Louise Pearl Mestayer, June 21, 2018 Hayne Frances Swayze, June 30, 2018

Baptisms

Loftin Elizabeth Brooks, daughter of Loftin Ripley Brooks and Matthew Merle Brooks Jonathan Bush deLaureal, Jr., son of Marceline Strumphler deLaureal and Jonathan Bush deLaureal, Sr. Eleanor Jane Hohnstein, daughter of Eleanor Williams Hohnstein and Lucas Dean Hohnstein William Alden Marshall, son of Jennifer Scanlon Marshall and John Edward Marshall

In Memoriam

Sherrill Benjamin, 1936 - 2018 Georgia Capshaw, 1921 - 2018 Walter Carroll Jr., 1924 - 2018 Susan M. Krall, 1944 - 2018 Bill Norton, 1947 - 2018 Zelma Randle, 1927 - 2018 Sean Salvo, 2010 - 2018 Bob Wisnewski, 1925 - 2018 John Zeller, 1947 - 2018

NON-PROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID NEW ORLEANS, LA. PERMIT 411

1329 Jackson Avenue New Orleans, Louisiana 70130 504-522-0276 www.trinitynola.com

CLERGY

The Rev. Andrew R. Thayer, Rector The Rev. Katherine S. McLean, Associate Rector The Rev. John M. Pitzer, Associate Rector The Rev. Jane-Allison Wiggin-Nettles, Associate Rector The Rev. Bobby Hadzor, Associate Rector The Rev. E. Gary Taylor, Head of School The Rev. Alyce Jefferson, Deacon The Rev. Jay Albert, Deacon The Rev. Dr. Hill C. Riddle, Rector Emeritus

VESTRY

Barbara Waller, Senior Warden Gordon Kolb, Junior Warden Chris Martin, Clerk of Vestry Keith Crawford, Treasurer Michelle Cox Elaine Haney Alice Parkerson George Young

John Fay Ellinor Howard Marguerite Redwine

Cres Gardner Heather Lonian Jim Theis

John Wogan, Chancellor Bo Farrell, WOTC President Jill Pipes, Trinity School Board Chair

Philip Gordillo Marky Murphy Carrie Wright