“O that you would tear open the heavens and come down, so that the mountains would quake at your presence,

as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil,

to make your name known to your adversaries, so that the nations might tremble at your presence!”

These verses from Isaiah 64 will be the first words of Scripture that we hear on Sunday, at the beginning of a new liturgical year. They are words that not only announce God’s coming as a righteous judge, but that long for it and even plead for it. Advent, as the season that simultaneously looks towards the Incarnation (Jesus’ first coming) and the second coming at the end of all things, is a time when these notes of God’s judgment are inescapable. It can be uncomfortable to contemplate, especially when we think of God’s judgment as the same kind of judgment that we experience now from other humans. 

But what if we take God’s difference from us seriously? What if we started thinking of God’s judgment – that wrath to come, as John the Baptist says – not as an act of God’s violence against us, but as the act of a holy God that puts an end to violence once and for all? Isaiah’s vision of God’s kingdom certainly leads us to that conclusion: “The wolf shall live with the lamb, the leopard shall lie down with the kid, the calf and the lion and the fatling together, and a little child shall lead them. The cow and the bear shall graze, their young shall lie down together; and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder's den. They will not hurt or destroy on all my holy mountain; for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea.”

In these days of Advent we see the love of God for this world. This is a love so complete that in God’s good time “the way things are” will be transformed into “the way things should be.”  It is a love so complete that we will know conclusively that the only possible logic of the world is one of peace, of harmony, of new life, of love and redemption. We will know this because the knowledge of God’s truth will fill the world. No longer will we see dimly or guess at God’s designs. We will know at long last what Julian of Norwich saw in her vision: “Would you know your Lord's meaning? Know it well, love was his meaning. Who showed it to you? Love. What did he show you? Love.” This indeed is something to prepare for – not just by decorating our homes and getting all the festive foods ready, but by making a path in our hearts. 

Yours faithfully in Christ,

Kara

Do you need a little Advent music? Check out some Advent playlists from Trinity staff on Spotify. 

Kara's Advent playlist features contemporary versions of classic Advent hymns, plus some newer songs in the contemporary Christian genre:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4bvxy4vpm1DtXAhw39eqjL?si=cef84698c5e344d1

Meg has put together a playlist of the music from this year's Advent Lessons and Carols:

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/1NsKvBOE7fOVU3xWcuwkx7?si=b4022f1c19474d29&nd=1&dlsi=1c0a3a1d04a8489e

We hope you enjoy these musical treats for the season. 

Sunday, December 3 at 5:00 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church.

Seasonal readings and beautiful music sung by the choirs of Trinity Church to help us prepare our hearts for the coming of Christmas.

Repertoire List:

Matin Responsory - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

De caelo veniet - Jacob Handl

Earth grown old - Ghislaine Reece-Trapp

E’en So, Lord Jesus - Paul Manz

We wait for thy loving-kindness, O God - William McKie

Rorate caeli - Josef Rheinberger

O Thou the Central Orb - Charles Wood

Ave Maria - Robert Parsons

Join Kara for an Advent book group, Monday evenings on Zoom at 7 PM. We'll read Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation by Will Willimon of Duke Divinity School, former Dean of Duke University Chapel and United Methodist Bishop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_F74Y_RwSg

Zoom link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2859819016

Book available here, among other retailers: https://www.amazon.com/Heaven-Earth-Incarnation-William-Willimon/dp/1791029035/ref=asc_df_1791029035/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=663441678178&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=7351613376227992612&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9003941&hvtargid=pla-2216341697644&psc=1&mcid=dac8edffafe637fea6f2cd2bd8816783

Are you vaguely middle-aged, with kids or without? Join us for the launch of Oregon Trailblazers at Trinity at our Liturgical New Year's Eve party! We'll get together on Saturday, December 2, from 6-8 PM at the church to ring in Advent. Bring your kids if you'd like and we will make sure they leave with you - alive. Contact Kara for details (sladek@trinityprinceton.org).

RSVP here so we can get a rough estimate of how many people are coming. If you can bring a beverage, or dessert, or both, that would be awesome! - Kara and Alicia 

https://forms.gle/k5PjfhQxhg8yPYPN6

St. Nick’s Bazaar is almost upon us! Some important reminders to highlight:

1. Come to the party on Friday night! There will be food, drinks, music, singing, and dancing! Sign up to let us know you are coming. Sign up sheet available on Sunday by the reception desk and in the narthex.
2. Babysitting is available, but we have to know!
3. Don’t forget to come back and shop on Saturday.
You don’t want to miss hearing Connie Escher read an excerpt from her book about Betsey Stockton at 11 am on Saturday.
You certainly don’t want to miss the Cookie Walk, an early sell out.
All kinds of wonderful things to buy await - an antique quilt, votives made from candles burned in the Sanctuary during services, a wonderful array of knitted goods made by Trinity people. All this plus the beautiful wreaths and boxwood topiaries to Deck your Halls!
Junior Shoppers still needs presents for our young members to buy for parents and siblings!

There is still time to join in the fun of making it happen:

Boxwood trees 10-2 on Tuesday and Wednesday

Wreaths starting Wednesday night, and all day Thursday

AND, at home, cookie making or other luscious specialities of your house for the Baked Goods table.

See you there!

Join us for a writing workshop led by Dr. Elaine Pagels.

Assisted by Dr. Nithila Peter.

• 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

• December 7th, December 12th, December 21st, 2023

• January 11th and January 18th - 2024

(full capacity - around 10 - 12)

Email - nithilapeter@eileads.com or sladek@princetontrinity.org to sign up.

We welcome those willing to explore the process of writing—in the key of memoir, about something you've experienced—recently, or long ago, or whatever!  It could be about an experience or moment that has been meaningful, or a turning point, a surprising ending of some episode—whatever you decide. We'd suggest that you consider writing one to five pages a week, and, when you're ready, share what you're writing with the rest of us. We're looking forward to the challenge of just starting in, seeing what happens; often unexpectedly rewarding.  

Dr. Elaine Pagels joined the Princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a MacArthur Fellowship. Perhaps best known as the author of The Gnostic Gospels, The Origin of Satan, and Adam, Eve and the Serpent, she has published widely on Gnosticism and early Christianity, and continues to pursue research interests in late antiquity.  She has also written one personal book - Why Religion. This writing workshop is inspired by that experience.

Dr. Nithila Peter works as counsel and coach for emotional intelligence and the leadership journey @ Princeton, NJ.  She writes mini-memoirs and EI life-work/work-life stories.  She will assist Elaine in the writing workshop.

Saturday, December 9, 2023, 4:00 PM

Join Voices Chorale NJ for a festive concert featuring the heartfelt, rarely performed Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns and spirited arrangements of holiday favorite classics including, Joy to the World, There Shall a Star from Jacob Come Forth, Wassail, and joyful Hanukkah favorites. Led by Artistic Director Dr. David A. McConnell, the chorale continues its tradition of presenting engaging, challenging, and diverse music in this winter concert. Dr. Akiko Hosaki will accompany the choir on piano and organ. Visit VoicesChoraleNJ.org for more information. 

The Angel Tree project is happening again this year.  The Tree will be up in the Narthex on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We have requests this year to help 160 people with gifts from the three agencies listed below.  Many want gift cards but there will be some gifts for children.  All gifts will need to be at church by Sunday, Dec. 10th.  More specific directions will be by the tree and in future Epistles.

Housing Initiatives of Princeton – this program, which was started by Trinity Church, provides transitional housing for 24 months coupled with supportive services.  They also provide temporary rental assistance to enable low-income families to retain existing housing or acquire affordable housing.

Urban Promise of Trenton - their mission is to equip Trenton’s children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and Christian leadership.  We have supported this agency since their inception 11 years ago with the Turkey Trot, summer day camp, and of course the Angel Tree.

Arm in Arm – is another agency started by Trinity church in the 1980’s. We will support the All Kids Thrive program of 15 youth and the Housing Stability  program of 23 families.