TIDINGS Trinity’s Mission: Acting in God’s love, Trinity Episcopal Church welcomes everyone to enthusiastically live the Christian faith. We call our members to worship and prayer, lifelong education, spiritual growth, cheerful giving, and active ministry with our community. All members serve as witnesses to Jesus Christ.
Vol. XXVI No. 1 January 2017
Epiphany Inside this Issue Stewardship page 2, 3 Christian Formation page 3 Church Life page 4 Rector Search page 4 Young Adults page 4 Children and Family Ministries page 5 Trinity Connections pages 6, 7
by Katherine S. McLean, Associate Rector
As we begin the calendar year, we find ourselves concluding the twelve days of Christmastide and beginning the season of Epiphany which commences on January 6. The word, epiphany, comes from the Greek for “reveal.” In theology-speak, an epiphany is a showing or a manifestation, usually in conjunction with a divine being. The revelation to the Magi of Jesus Christ as the Incarnate God is just such an epiphany. Most of us do not think we experience a direct revelation from God…and yet we do. Creation itself may well be considered the very first epiphany, or showing forth of God. God’s creation surrounds and includes us: we are God’s people, created by God for God’s loving purposes. But what are those loving purposes and how do we discover and act upon them? Our Baptismal Covenant gives us an outline of the answer. After our profession of faith, we are asked to do certain things. The first thing we promise is to “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers” (Book of Common Prayer, p.304). When we commit to these four elements, we are committing to study, to community, to worship and to praying continuously, not just every now and then, when it is convenient, when we are in deep need or when it suits us. We are committing to and we are admitting to, our need for God in Spirit and in Word and our need for each other for support. So this year, may we with God’s help show forth God’s love by caring for others, for our environment and yes, for our selves—our souls and bodies. May we live into our Baptismal Covenant in which we promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving [our] neighbors as ourselves” (Book of Common Prayer, p. 305). Trinity Church provides many opportunities to live into this covenant, to BE the Body of Christ in our time and place. Please prayerfully consider finding a way to use your God-given gifts to assist with the upbuilding of God’s kingdom. When you do, be prepared to be surprised by the number of epiphanies you experience!
New Year’s Day we will have a 10:30 am Eucharist in the Church. Please join us. No 8:00 am or 6:00 pm services will be held.
Stewardship
Children and Money
by The Rev. Evan D. Garner Rector of St. John’s, Decatur and Member of the Department of Stewardship Whether I intend it or not, my attitude toward money is teaching my children something about God. Perhaps I should consider what lessons I want it to teach them. Like most of you, I grew up in a middle-class family that didn’t talk about money. If I ever asked how much my father made, the response was, “That’s private, and it’s rude to talk about it.” Of course, that didn’t stop me The Rev. Evan D. Garner from getting into playground arguments over whose parents made more money. Likewise, if I ever asked how much our house cost, my parents would say, “That’s none of your business, and it’s rude to talk about it.” I could tell that we lived in a nice house, but, for some unknown reason, quantifying that niceness was a social taboo. Most of my parent’s finances were hidden from my brothers and me, but occasionally they would share with us that the monthly utility bill was “a whopping $300” and that we all needed to do a better job of turning off the lights. I recall a stretch when my father was in between jobs, forcing us to cut back, but, except for a general admonition about the importance of frugality in lean times, the burden of that curtailment was kept from the children. There was one financial practice, however, that wasn’t hidden from us. Once a month in church, my father would take out his checkbook, write a check for our family’s monthly pledge, and then fold it and hand it to one of us to put in the alms basin. How exhilarating it was to be invited into this act of private devotion! I remember feeling a sense of pride and a protective instinct that was awakened within me because I had been trusted with this piece of confidential financial information. Uncharacteristically, my father didn’t forbid us from taking a peek at the amount, which, to a boy with no appreciation for finances beyond a $3 weekly allowance, seemed staggering. Enthralled by its relative magnitude, I pinched the piece of paper tightly between my fingers lest anyone else should see what was written on it. As a clergyperson, I don’t sit with my kids in church. Even if I did, we pay our pledge electronically, so there wouldn’t be anything to show them. How, therefore, might Elizabeth and I teach them the value of giving money away? How will we show them what it means to be rich toward God? Elizabeth could hand each of them a dollar bill to put in the plate, but would that instill within them the spirit of trusting deeply in God’s provision? We aren’t great at remembering to give them an allowance, so asking them to give a tenth of it away isn’t going to work either. We often encourage them to share, to be generous, and to use their time to help others, but emphasizing the “time and talent” approach to stewardship almost always obscures the exclusively treasure-focused moment of bringing our offerings to God when the ushers pass the plate down the pew. What can we do to teach our children what it means to give a significant portion of what God has given us back to God through a sacrificial, proportional, first-fruits offering? If we want our children to know what Jesus meant when he said, “Don’t worry about your life, what you’ll eat or what you’ll drink, or about your body, what you’ll wear” (Matt. 6:25 CEB), we need to start talking about money. Unfortunately, our silence is teaching them the wrong lesson. I like clipping coupons and prefer to keep our thermostat at a modest setting. We rarely eat out, and I enjoy shopping at thrift stores. And I admit that I am likely to wave a midsummer utility bill in the air as I walk around the house, turning off lamps and calling for even less air conditioning. But I don’t do those things because I am worried that we will not have enough. I do them because that’s how I value money as a gift that’s been entrusted to me. That’s how I express my stewardship of God’s blessings. And the practice of financial stewardship----sacrificial, proportional, first-fruits giving---has given me an attitude of abundance instead of scarcity, of faithfulness instead of fear. That’s the attitude I want my children to know, which is why Elizabeth and I need to talk with them about our money----specifically how much we are given and how much of it we give away. I want them to know that by global standards we are rich----in the top 0.06% of the world’s population[1]----and I want them to know
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Stewardship
Christian Formation
that we don’t take those blessings for granted. I want them to see that we give 13% of our income back to God and that we do it joyfully because that practice helps us learn to depend even more fully on God. This fall, when it’s time to fill out a pledge card, I hope everyone in my family will be involved so that we might all grow together in our appreciation of God’s blessings and our confidence in his provision. What about you? What does your attitude toward money say about your relationship with God? How do your spending and saving proclaim your faith that God will always provide? How does the transaction history in your bank account reflect your belief that God is the source of all your blessings? You might be a coupon-clipper, or you might be an overspender, but, either way, you can still use your money to build your faith. Whether we like it or not, our attitude toward money says something about our faith in God. Maybe we should all be more intentional about what beliefs it communicates.
ONGOING ADULT FORMATION
[1] To calculate your place in the Global Rich List, check out www.globalrichlist.com.
Men’s Bible Studies • Wednesdays, 6:45 am; contact Rich McConnell at rbmcc@bellsouth.net. • Mondays, 8:05 am; Wednesdays, noon; contact Fr. Mitch Smith at msmith@trinitynola.com. Women’s Bible Studies—Contact Maria Elliott at melliott@trinitynola.com. Intercessory Prayer—Wednesdays, 1:30 pm; contact Maria Elliott at melliott@trinitynola.com. Wednesday Night Holy Eucharist, Fellowship and Formation • 5:30 pm Eucharist, • 6:00 pm Fellowship, • 6:30-7:30 pm Class/Forum January 4 and 11—“An Anglican Epiphany” in which we will continue to explore our Anglican heritage. The Book of Common Prayer is the topic of the January 4 session. January 18—Sharing Our Grief (see box on page 7 for more details) Sunday Morning Forums at 9:15 am: “The Twelve Steps Are for Everyone” and “Faith and Fiction.”
by Raina O’Neil Director of Development and Communications
Thank you!
More than 400 member households have pledged support of Trinity Church for 2017! If you have not made your pledge, please do so today! You may pledge online at https://www.trinitynola.com/trinitypledge or grab a pledge card in the undercroft. Please remember that Stewardship participation is especially important during the time of searching for a new Rector. Candidates who will be attractive to Trinity Church for this position will most certainly examine our financial condition and stability, but perhaps more importantly, will consider closely the level of participation of our members in supporting the life of our Church. An attractive Church for any prospective Rector is a loving, generous, and supportive Church.
NEW IN 2017 Beginning in February Centering Prayer: Beginning in February, we will once again gather for Centering Prayer. We will meet on Tuesdays at noon in the chapel. WHAT’S UP? DOCC! Many of you have expressed an interest in a DOCC class. The full name of this adult education program is Disciples of Christ in Community, and its mission is to foster building a Christian community while encouraging individual spiritual growth. DOCC offers a step-by-step journey into the heart and soul of Christianity. The Rev. Corky Carlisle and the Rev. William Barnwell will lead. If you would like to participate as either a facilitator or a student, please contact Ashley Easham at aeastham@trinitynola.com. Dates and times to be announced. 3
Church Life MINISTRY OPPORTUNITIES Several of our ministries are in need of additional ministers! Training will be provided so no previous experience necessary. Please consider serving in our Greeter, Hospitality, Newcomer or Usher ministries. Participating in liturgy as a worship leader is a wonderful and faithful way to grow both individually and in community. In particular, we are looking for two people for a new ministry—Acolyte Masters. Trinity Dustbusters: We are also forming a new ministry to help care for our beautiful church. Stay tuned for details in the weekly bulletin and blast. For more information about any of these OFMs (Opportunities for Ministry), please contact Kit at kmclean@trinitynola.com or 504-670-2584.
Thanks to the hard work of so many in the congregation, on the staff and the Search Committee, the new Trinity Parish Profile is being finalized and will be posted on the Trinity web site soon. This month we will be entering the next phase which will be receiving candidate profiles. We will continue to post updates on the search process and we ask that everyone continue to keep the Search Committee in your prayers.
Young Adults by Ashley Eastham, Young Adults Minister (aeastham@trinitynola.com)
Young Adults Sunday Please be present on Sunday, January 22, at the 10:30 am service, for a special commissioning of all Trinity Young Adults! We will also be serving as greeters, readers, and hosting coffee hour - gathering to share photos, memories and conversation with our parishioners about our time spent in fellowship, worship and service. Please let me know how you can help by contacting aeastham@trinitynola.com. This Week Tonight Gather for a three week, small group discussion series based on the current events of our world and lives. How does our faith factor in? What prayers can we share for one another? Meet at the Easthams’ (4628 Mandeville Street, New Orleans, LA 70122) from 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm, Tuesdays, January 24, 31 and February 7. Saturday Service - Save the Date Coastal Restoration: Cypress Tree Planting in Caernarvon, Louisiana. Saturday, February 4 from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm. A day of damp, dirty and important work! Contact aeastham@trinitynola.com if you can come help!
Upcoming Baptism Dates Sunday January 8, 2017 at the 10:30 am service Sunday, February 12, 2017 at the 10:30 am service. Saturday, March 25, 2017 at 4:00 pm. Please contact Tina Grant at tgrant@trinitynola.com, if you would like to sign up for one of those Baptism dates. 4
Young Adult Progressive Dinner
Children & Family Ministries by Ashley Bond, Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries
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Trinity Connections Twenty minutes a month!
Looking for help filling vacancies in two special ministries: • Altar Guild - vest and/or divest church altar on Sunday mornings. Work as a team. Training provided. • Chapel Guild - vest and/or divest for services held on Sunday (8am and 6pm), Tuesday 7:30am, Wednesday 5:30pm, and Thursday 10:30am. Flexible schedule through the week. Training provided. Contact Mary Sutton at msutton@trinitynola.com or any clergy member.
Huge thanks to the Wednesday Morning Men’s Bible Study for helping prepare the way of the Lord by polishing brass used in worship!
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Check Out this Book in Trinity Treasures Amish Grace, How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, by Donald B. Kraybill, Steven M. Nolt and David L. Weaver-Zercher A little more than ten years ago, in the heart of a quiet Amish community near Nickel Mines, PA, a deranged gunman turned this community into a blood bath. Walking into a small one room school house, the milk man killed five young girls and wounded five others. What makes this incident unique from the all too many that have happened since is the immediate response of forgiveness by the Amish people—forgiveness for the shooter and forgiveness for his family (a wife, two children, and his parents.) The media and the nation looked with wonder at how a basic tenet of their faith was put immediately into practice. Forgiveness. How could they forgive by word and deed so readily? The parents of the children went immediately to the shooter’s home to offer their condolences. They attended the funeral of the shooter. They folded them in their prayers. The three authors of the book are authorities on the Amish faith. They felt it necessary to try to explain how and why these plain, counter-cultural people believe as they do. Parker Palmer, in his review, says this is a rare book that inspires deep personal reflection while telling the sociological story. It also explores the theological issue of forgiveness. The Amish forgive because this is what Christ directed us to do both by his example on the cross and in the Lord’s prayer. This is a very moving and inspirational book made more relevant daily as we see our culture too often bent on revenge. For Christians and non-Christians, it shows us how we should live; how forgiveness heals and benefits those who do the forgiving. Bill Moyers of PBS said it best: “This book shows us that it is still grace that saves.” by Ann Crane
Trinity Connections
Wit & Wisdom from the WOTC
Trinity Artist Series
by Karyn Kearney, Women of Trinity Church President
Trinity Rummage Donations Needed! The holidays are over and it’s time to think about some “re-gifting.” Our WOTC Rummage Sale needs your donations! Did you get some holiday gifts that brought more “oh no’s” than ho-ho-ho’s? You can give them to the rummage sale and they will be joyfully received by generous volunteers who sort, price, and re-package items for the Spring sale to be held on March 9 – 11, 2017. Bring your items to the church office any weekday. Our semi-annual rummage sales generate well over $20,000 that we donate to church ministries and community programs. Also, it’s not too early to think about volunteering for the March sale. If you are interested, contact Elaine Haney at elaineshaney@aol.com. Thanks from the WOTC for supporting this ministry! Celebrate your daily blessings on Sunday, January 15, as Trinity honors the tradition of the UTO Offering and the little blue box. The United Thank Offering (UTO) was established in 1889 as the United Offering by the Women’s Auxiliary to the Board of Missions and primarily supported the work of women missionaries. UTO later broadened its emphasis to include all areas of the church’s work. Through the United Thank Offering, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. United Thank Offering is entrusted to promote thank offerings, to receive the offerings, and to distribute the UTO monies to support mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and in invited Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the developing world. Known worldwide as UTO, the United Thank Offering grants are awarded for projects that address human needs and help alleviate poverty, both domestically and internationally in The Episcopal Church.
Sundays at 5 pm
January 1 NO Concert January 8
Louisiana Music Hall of Fame Legend David Batiste, Sr. and Sons.
January 15
Valerie Francis,soprano, and Wilfred Delphin, piano, Italian Art Songs and Operatic Arias by Puccini, Verdi, Rossini and others.
January 22
Nation-wide head liner Spencer Bohren, guitarist/singer, specializes in steel slide guitar. We look forward to his program of blues classic.
January 29
Larnisha Charles Davis, mezzo-soprano, and Ivan Koska, piano. Music by Handel, Scarlatti, Schumann, Gershwin and Traditional Spirituals.
Every Tuesday at 6 pm Organ and Labyrinth. Albinas plays the 5000-pipe tracker organ with ambient lighting and occasional guest musicians.From Bach to the Beatles and beyond! Since Katrina, a unique and magical distiinctively New Orleans musical meditation. All are welcome. See www.albinas.org for more details
Those whom we love and lose are no longer where they were before. They are now wherever we are. -St. John Chrysostom Debby Poitevent will facilitate a conversation on grief and faith on Wednesday, January 18 at 6:30 pm in the Board Room. It is often when we enter into grief with others that we can begin to heal. Please come!
Women’s Creative Process Gathering Please mark your calendars for October 12-15 More info to follow. 7
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Clergy
Worship Schedule
The Right Reverend Morris K. Thompson, Bishop The Reverend Michael E. Carlisle, Interim Rector The Reverend Mitchell T. Smith, Associate Rector The Reverend Katherine S. McLean, Associate Rector The Reverend Alyce Jefferson, Deacon The Reverend Jay Albert, Deacon The Reverend E. Gary Taylor, Head of Trinity School The Reverend Dr. Hill C. Riddle, Rector Emeritus
SUNDAY 7:30 AM: Morning Prayer in the chapel 8:00 AM: Eucharist in the chapel 10:30 AM: Eucharist in the church 5:00 PM: Trinity Artist Series in the church 6:00 PM: Eucharist in the chapel
Vestry John Fay, Jr., Senior Warden Barbara Waller, Junior Warden Kelly Duncan, Clerk of Vestry Keith Crawford, Treasurer Dawn Buckley, Elaine Haney, John Hevron, Ellinor Howard, Susu Kearney, Gordon Kolb, King Logan, Chris Martin, Margaret Murphy, Marguerite Redwine, Jonathan Shaver, Jim Theis John Wogan, Chancellor Karyn Kearney, WOTC President Sandy Villere, Trinity School Board Chair
TUESDAY 7:30 AM: Eucharist in the chapel 8:30 AM: Morning Prayer in the chapel WEDNESDAY 5:30 PM: Eucharist in the chapel THURSDAY 10:30 AM: Holy Eucharist and Healing Service in the chapel
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