Trinity Episcopal Church 316 ADAMS STREET, TOLEDO, OH 43604
419.243.1231
trinitytoledo.org
Loving God, Lead us beyond ourselves to care and protect, to nourish and shape, to challenge and energize both the life and the world You have given us. God of light and God of darkness, God of conscience and God of courage lead us through this time of spiritual confusion and public uncertainty. Lead us beyond fear, apathy and defensiveness to new hope in You and to hearts full of faith. Give us the conscience it takes to comprehend what we’re facing, to see what we’re looking at and to say what we see so that others, hearing us, may also brave the pressure that comes with being out of public step. Give us the courage we need to confront those things that compromise our consciences or threaten our integrity. Give us, most of all, the courage to follow those before us who challenged wrong and changed it, whatever the cost to themselves. -Prayer for Conscience and Courage by Joan Chittister (April, 2017) Beloved Friends,
September 2020
After an intentional time of prayer, reflection, conversation and strategic planning we, your vestry and I, have made the decision to extend “Trinity@Home” and our Sunday “on-line” worship and weekly formation opportunities through January 2021. During this time we will not regather for in-person worship, but will continue to provide opportunities to worship, learn, grow and serve together. We are committed to our safety, our spiritual engagement, our desire to be a force for good in Toledo and in the world, and to do all of that we must, for the sake of the gospel, find ways to stay connected but apart until we can all regather safely. This decision will afford us the ability to plan for our upcoming 2020 Pledge Drive in October as well as our liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas and then our Annual Meeting on January 31, where we will elect new members for our leadership team. By then we will have a new leadership team in place and will know much more than we do now about our situation and how and when we might be able to plan for re-gathering for worship. Following is a brief summary of where we have been and how we have continued to stay faithfully engaged and connected during the past 5 months staying safely apart: • Our “peak view” (views during Sunday service time) per household = 83 • Average views of each Sunday service over the same period = 490 • Over 100 people have said yes to becoming worship leaders offering readings, prayers and sermons • We have explored new ways of singing within the given guidelines, • We have been blessed with a significant increase in generous donations from nearly 40 new friends of Trinity • We have found ways to gather after services for “virtual coffee hour” • May 31- Pentecost- we welcomed 27 new members “home” to Trinity! Progressive
Inclusive
Creative
Downtown
Trinity Episcopal Church 316 ADAMS STREET, TOLEDO, OH 43604
419.243.1231
trinitytoledo.org
In addition to Sunday worship services, we have continued to explore ways to live into our call to love and serve others, seeking Christ in all persons: We have begun a series of Community Engagement & Assistance conversations trying to hear and see where God is calling us to be of service We have offered financial support and continued nurturing our relationships with building partner, Leadership Toledo (providing a full scholarship for their Youth Leadership Program) and community partner Toledo Streets (sponsoring a Thursday luncheon and creating our “100 Trinity Thank yous Campaign) And we have done all of this courageously learning together, making mistakes, and moving forward- thank you! Beyond that we have developed a new platform for ministry called “Trinity@Home” exploring ways to keep us connected while apart include: Daily Bread: a way to share needs or offerings for the community Lunch with Lisa: a Tuesday invitation to have a virtual lunch with Lisa and members of the community to stay connected Evening Exhale: a series of evening gatherings for stretching and slowing down Lectio Divina: a Wednesday evening gathering teaching and leading an ancient form of reading and reflecting on scripture Compline: a Friday night gathering leading us in the ancient prayers of the church Sacred Ground Small Groups: stating in June, 36 Trinity members began a 10-session Film-based Dialogue Series on Race and Faith In addition, throughout it all, your vestry (the 9-member elected leadership team) and your Trinity staff (5 full-time faithful servants) have stepped up and into new ways of being and serving. And while this would never have been something I would have asked for during my tenure, it is, without a doubt, a time I will always cherish for the strength, resilience, lessons and courage it has inspired and required of us all. Thank you, dear ones, for the faith and community we share this day as we continue to live into this unknown future with faith, courage, hope and love. We will keep you updated of additional changes and adaptations to our common life as the days unfold.
May the rain fall off your shoulders when you’re caught in a storm When the frost comes a’ callin’, may it find you safe and warm. May your place be set, and may your promises be kept And may you never forget that you are loved. With deep affection, Lisa The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector Progressive
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