STEWARDSHIP

Greetings Friends,

As of December 10, we have received 173 pledges totaling $705,963. Thank you to everyone who has contributed. We are deeply grateful for your generosity and profound commitment.

If you haven’t yet pledged for 2026, we invite you to do so today. Every gift makes a meaningful difference.

You can pledge in one of three easy ways: 

• Complete a hard copy form, available in the narthex or at the front desk

• Use the Trinity website link:  https://www.trinityprinceton.org/giving

• Scan the QR code provided

Thank you for being an essential part of our community. 

Bill Hackett & Cynthia Westbrook,

Co-Chairs of Stewardship

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9:30am Adult Forum

Adult Forum on the Choir Tour

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SUNDAY READINGS

First Lesson:

Isaiah 35:1-10

Second Lesson:

James 5:7-10

Gospel:

Matthew 11:2-11

Download Bulletin

December 14th

Music for Sunday | 14 December 2025

Holy Eucharist | 8 and 10:30 am

Prelude: Advent (Winter) - Hilary Tann; O come, o come Emmanuel - Calvin Hampton

Hymns: “On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry” (tune: Winchester New), “Comfort, comfort ye my people” (tune: Psalm 42), “Hark! The glad sound! The Savior comes” (tune: Richmond)

Offertory Music: (8:00) O Sapientia - Nico Muhly; (10:30) This is the record of John - Orlando Gibbons

Communion Music: Jesus Christ the apple tree - Elizabeth Poston

Postlude: (8:00) Gottes Sohn ist kommen, BWV 600 - J.S. Bach; (10:30) Acclamations (from

Suite Médiévale) - Jean Langlais

Blue Advent | 5 pm

Music of the Taizé community, featuring piano and french horn

This Sunday’s gospel reading features an interaction between Jesus and John the Baptist, where Jesus tells John that he is the Messiah, and also praises John for his work in preparing the way for Jesus. The music for this weekend was selected to feature the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus, with many references to calls for Jesus to come, mirroring John’s own call from the wilderness: “Make straight the way of the Lord!”

Our annual Blue Advent service will take a new turn this year, featuring music of the Taizé community. The music for this service will be led by our associate director of music Joseph Ferguson at the piano, his wife Stephanie Ferguson on the french horn, and other musicians.

Greetings!! We are truly excited as we prepare for our annual Advent Brunch! 

That means we need you!! It takes a village to bring all of the wonderful treats to table and taste for all - so we are asking, even if you feel you have no talent in the kitchen, there is always something you can do!! 

Below is the sign-up for a bit of kitchen duty before the Brunch, and clean up after: 

Click the link below to sign up for Kitchen Volunteers & Clean-Up:  CLICK HERE

Thank you in advance for all of your support and willingness to serve! 

Leslie Edwards - Advent Brunch Organizer

Thalia Mingo - Parish Life Chair 

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Platinum Club

Come share the warmth of your favorite Christmas memories as we move toward the joys of this Holy Season.

Platinum Club Monday December 15 at noon…Bring your own lunch

Trinity’s Children and Family Ministries

Our Trinity family Christmas Party last Friday was a slice of magic. Thank you to everyone that joined us. The living room set-up will remain in Pierce for the next few weeks. Anyone is welcome to create an ornament and add it to the tree. Pageant rehearsals are going well. Your children sound beautiful! 

Upcoming Events

12/14 9:30 a.m. Sunday School, Children’s Chapel, Youth Group and Pageant Practice after second service. Dismissal at 1:30 p.m.

8:30 a.m. Move on Mondays (will not meet December 29)

12/21 Trinity’s Christmas Pageant at 10:30 service, No Sunday School, Children’s Chapel, or Youth Group

12/22 4:30 p.m. Caroling at Brandywine (Spread some musical cheer to local seniors)

As you probably know, our choir will be touring the UK this August, spending the first week at Ely Cathedral and the second at Westminster Abbey. Trinity Church invites YOU to join the choir for the London week of the tour, August 8-17. We have been running a blurb about the tour in the E-Pistle for a while, but this Sunday is your chance to hear a presentation on the accompanying tour. We will be traveling on British Airways and staying in London about 10 minutes from Westminster Abbey. In addition to supporting our choir at Evensong and Sunday services, we will have time to tour some historic sites in London as well as travel to Oxford and Canterbury for a day. There will also be plenty of free time for shopping or your own activities. Thanks to some good group rates, the cost should be quite reasonable for a week in London. We do need to make a commitment for the group airfare soon, so please join us on Sunday at 9:30 in Pierce-Bishop or indicate your interest on this Google Form: CLICK HERE PS: In this season of Advent, do you have theological questions or questions about prayer and discipleship? These are my very favorite things to talk about! Email me and we’ll find a time to get together, or you can use my robo-scheduler here: CLICK HERE

PS: In this season of Advent, do you have theological questions or questions about prayer and discipleship? These are my very favorite things to talk about! Email me and we’ll find a time to get together, or you can use my robo-scheduler here: CLICK HERE

Adult Formation This Week:

Sunday, December 14 at 9:30 AM in Pierce-Bishop: Adult Forum on the Choir Tour

Monday, December 15 at 7:30 PM at Yankee Doodle Tap Room: Pub Theology with Fr. Paul

Wednesday, December 17 at 6:45 PM at the home of Joseph Syzdek and Joanne Witherow (320 Hamilton Avenue in Princeton): Lectio Divina Bible Study

During the season of Advent, our Wednesday Bible Study will be an exploration of Lectio Divina, a contemplative form of Scripture reading and discussion. Contact Joseph Syzdek at jsyzdek@yahoo.com for more information or if you have any questions.

Sunday, December 21 at 9:30 AM in Pierce-Bishop: NO FORUM DUE TO CHRISTMAS PAGEANT

Lectio Divina

A holy invitation awaits you this Advent —

— to pause, to listen, and to prepare your heart for the coming of Christ.  This Advent, the invitation is to pause amidst the busyness of the season.  To take an opportunity to slow down if even for a brief time. To notice the sacred in the ordinary. And to make space for joy through the practice of Lectio Divina — a traditional Christian practice of prayerful Scripture reading.

You are invited to join Joseph Syzdek and JoAnn Witherow for three evenings of Lectio Divina: December 3, 10, and 17 at 320 Hamilton Ave. We’ll gather at 6:45 p.m. for light refreshments and introductions and begin at 7:00, concluding around 8:15.

This holy invitation awaits…

To pause in the hush of the lengthening dark.

To let hope kindle where shadows linger.

To prepare a place where joy can dwell.

It is an invitation to wait with wonder.

To listen for whispers of grace.

To open your heart to Love’s arrival.

And to welcome the Light that breaks into the dark.

Come as you are.  Tired.  Longing.  Expectant.

This season is not about perfection.

But about presence.

As the Holy One draws near --

— the invitation is yours to accept.

Coming Soon

Are you new to Trinity Church, new to the Episcopal Church, or just looking for a refresher course? Join us in Advent for the all-new Foundations course, a four-week introductory class. We will start meeting on Sunday, January 4 at 9:30 AM in the Library. Email sladek@trinityprinceton.org if you’re interested.

Oregon Trailblazers Lunch

On Sunday, December 14, the Oregon Trailblazers will host a lunch following the 10:30 service. For parents in the group, this will give you a break and a chance to eat during the Christmas pageant rehearsal. But this isn't just for parents - Oregon Trailblazers is for everyone who is "vaguely middle-aged"! Let us know if you're coming so we can order enough food. You don't have to bring anything but yourselves! 

RSVP here: https://forms.gle/mDaBuHXC6KaJfpdr9

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Travel to the Holy Land

A couple of years back, some members of Trinity Church traveled with our Rector, Paul Jeanes, and The Rev. Keith Marsh and to the Holy Land.

It proved to be a marvelous and spiritually uplifting experience for all who made the pilgrimage! After retiring in June of 2023, Keith started Spirited Pilgrimages, a business devoted to planning, promoting and hosting unique, small-group pilgrimages around the world for people of faith.

Two pilgrimages have been planned for the fall of next year and you are invited to join: 

• The Footsteps of Paul – September 9-19, 2026 – travel through Turkey and Greece by land and sea - visit sites from the Book of Acts associated with St. Paul on his missionary journeys: Ephesus, Patmos, Corinth, Athens and more, including the islands of Crete and Santorini  

• Celtic Christianity – October 12-24, 2026 – follow the path of Christianity’s early years in the Celtic kingdoms, beginning in Ireland and expanding into Scotland and northern England – trace the spread of Celtic Christianity from its introduction by St. Patrick to its demise at the Council of Whitby.

These pilgrimages will be led by Keith, an experienced pilgrimage planner and host. To learn more about these two all-inclusive pilgrimages – expansive itinerary, roundtrip airfare, lodging and meal details, price and deadlines, as well as how to reserve your spot – visit the Spirited Pilgrimages website at: spiritedpilgrimages.com

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PRAYER LIST:

Please keep the following individuals in your prayers:

Susan Barry, Zoe Beaton, Gordon Brooks, Peter Brown, Peter, Chip Dongara, Daryll Eatmon, Gus Escher, Amy G., Pat Grabiec, Reverend Dana Hall, Ellen Jane, Patricia Killian, Edwin Metcalf, Nancy Metcalf, Billy Mitchell, Joan Nester, Bob Pietrucha, Cornelia Jane Reeder, Carol Reynolds, Jennifer Sanborn, Nancy Slade, Clive Muncaster, Dulcie Muncaster, Amber Schuppan, Dianne Senko, Samantha Seto, Isaiah Stevens, Gary Sykes, P.A. Tippett, and Phil Unetic

Please pray for the following souls who have recently passed:

Larry Evans

Individuals will remain on the prayer list for one month, unless we are otherwise notified.

➨ If you want to add someone to the list, please email Annie Bryson at brysona@trinityprinceton.org.

RECOVERY MEETINGS: Looking for recovery meetings? See our list of recurring meetings here.

ZOOM EVENTS: Join all Zoom meetings, unless otherwise advertised, at ZOOM.US/J/2859819016 [By phone: 1 646 558 8656 Meeting ID: 285 981 9016 Password: 1979].

ABOUT US: Trinity Church ➨ Est’d 1833 ➨ An Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New Jersey ➨ 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 ➨ (609) 924-2277 ➨ The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector; The Rev. Cn. Dr. Kara N. Slade, Associate Rector ➨ Website: trinityprinceton.org

“We believe God’s love is expansive and unconditional and that through Christ, God has called us to love one another as God loves us. We welcome all people of every gender, race, age, culture, ethnic background, sexual orientation, economic circumstance, family configuration, or difference of ability. We celebrate the worth, dignity, and gifts of every person as a child of God.”

Please know that we are here for you, to support you and pray for you however best we can. Feel free to reach out to the clergy.