✢ E-PISTLE WEEK OF SUNDAY, JULY 19 ✢

WEEK OF SUNDAY, JULY 19, 2026
✢ EIGHTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ✢

We Are What We Practice

Dear Good People of Trinity Church,

We often like to think of ourselves as "free spirits"—independent people who choose what we want to do, when we want to do it. Yet the truth is that we are far more creatures of habit than we like to admit. Much of our day unfolds almost automatically. We brush our teeth, make the coffee, check our email, drive familiar roads, read before bed. These repeated actions become the well-worn paths of our lives.

Ironically, while we naturally develop habits in so many areas of life, our spiritual lives often remain inconsistent. Prayer can be hit or miss. Too often, our spiritual life feels like something we have to fit into the day rather than something woven naturally throughout it.

The great Christian mystics and the Celtic saints remind us that God is not found only in extraordinary moments. God is already present in the ordinary rhythms of daily life. The invitation is simply to become aware.

Here are five simple practices to help cultivate that awareness:

1. Begin and End the Day with God
Before reaching for your phone each morning, offer the day to God with a simple prayer: "Here I am, Lord." Before bed, take a few moments to review the day with gratitude, asking, Where did I notice God's presence today?

2. Turn Ordinary Tasks into Prayer
The Celtic Christians blessed everyday activities because they saw no separation between the sacred and the ordinary. Walking, cooking, driving, folding laundry, or washing dishes can all become moments of conversation with God. Brother Lawrence called this "practicing the presence of God."

3. Practice Holy Pauses
Several times each day, stop for just thirty seconds. Before answering an email, entering a meeting, or while waiting at a stoplight, simply breathe and remember God's presence. These small pauses can gradually reshape an entire life.

4. Look for Christ in Every Person
Before each conversation, silently pray, "Lord, help me to see this person as You see them." Every encounter—with family, friends, strangers, or even difficult people—is an opportunity to meet Christ.

5. Recover the Gift of Wonder
Spend a few moments outside each day. Notice the changing sky, birdsong, trees, water, or the evening stars. Celtic spirituality teaches that God speaks through two books: Scripture and Creation. Wonder is one of the shortest paths to worship.

Frederick Buechner once wrote, "Listen to your life. See it for the fathomless mystery that it is." Perhaps the goal of the spiritual life is not to add one more thing to our already busy schedules. Perhaps it is simply to awaken—to discover that God has been with us all along.

Peace and Blessings,

THIS SUNDAY

Sermon: The Rev. Lauren J. McFeaters

Readings for The Eighth Sunday after Pentecost

First Lesson: Isaiah 44:6-8
Psalm 86:11-17
Second Lesson: Romans 8:12-25
Gospel: Matthew 13:24-43

10:00 am BULLETIN

LIVESTREAM

MEET OUR CLERGY AND STAFF

AROUND TRINITY

HomeFront School Supply Drive

Trinity Church is once again soliciting donations for our HomeFront school supply drive! Our goal is to fill 150 backpacks with supplies.

We have the backpacks, but it's up to you to fill them! See the Amazon wish list and have your donation delivered to 'Trinity Church 2026 School Supply Drive' on the menu, or you can manually enter the church address: Trinity Church, 33 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ 08540.

Updating Our Member Directory!

Have you updated your directory information yet? Just go to members.instantchurchdirectory.com and log in with the e-mail address on file with Trinity. If you have any technical difficulties, please e-mail Alicia and she will be happy to assist you!

Pick-Up Crucifers Wanted!

(No, not that kind, the liturgical kind!) For the month of July, we invite everyone - especially our children and youth - to try out what it’s like to serve as an acolyte by carrying the cross in and out of the 10 AM service. You don’t need to vest, and you don’t need to worry about helping at the altar. Meet Anne in the Narthex before the service starts and select a cross that works for your size (or your child’s size).

PETS OF TRINITY

Send Us Your Pets!

Our Pets of Trinity summer feature continues! Thank you to everyone who has shared with us. Please click here to see some of our parish’s beloved critters!

Want to feature your furry friend? Send pictures and a little bio to Greg Geehern.

UPCOMING EVENTS

JULY 18-24: The 2026 Icon Workshop

Dates:

Saturday, July 18 (10am to 4pm)
Sunday, July 19 (1pm to 4pm)
Monday through Friday, July 20 to 24 (9am to 5pm)

Cost:

$970 (includes tuition and all supplies and materials)

The Prosopon School of Iconology invites students of all levels to participate in the 2026 workshop. Each day of the workshop will begin with an iconological discussion relating to these subjects and of the liturgical steps of the process, using the Prosopon method. Practical instructions and demonstrations will follow.

For more information and to learn how to register, contact Workshop Coordinator and Iconographer in Residence, Maureen McCormick

JULY 19: World Cup Watch Party, 3 PM in the Parish Hall

JULY 20: Platinum Lunch Club

Platinum Club meets Monday, June 20 in the Thomas Room at Noon! Come a few minutes before to help set up! As always, bring your own lunch and dessert will be available.

Remember: Platinum Club is for all “older Trinity people. No proof of age required!”

JULY 22: The Faith & Fiction Summer Book Club

Father Steve Connor invites you to join an informal book club, gathering at Trinity on Wednesday evenings at 6 PM. BYOD (Bring Your Own Dinner) and get ready for good books, meaningful conversations, and stronger faith! Contact Father Steve for more information.

JULY 25: Trinity at Trenton Thunder

Saturday, July 25, 2026 at 6:00 pm
Trenton Thunder Ballpark

Trinity has reserved a block of tickets for the game. Please reach out to Annie at brysona@trinityprinceton.org if you would like tickets. Tickets are $8 each. The game will be followed by a fireworks presentation.

JULY 30: Trinity Summer BBQs Continue!

Join us at the Trinity Summer BBQs! Bring anything you would like, and bring your friends. No RSVP needed. Remaining dates are: July 30; August 13 & 27 from 6:00-8:30 PM on Trinity’s front lawn. Email Hailey Hensley if you have any questions or need more info.

FAMILY MINISTRIES

Thank you for the prayers and support during our week of Cross Roads Day Camp at Trinity! It was a great success!

Click here to read our newsletter!

MUSIC PROGRAM

Summer Choir is in Session!

All are welcome to join us, no experience necessary. Simply be at Ivy Hall by 9 am on Sundays in July and August for rehearsal for the 10 am service. We will sing simple anthems, so it's a great opportunity to get your voice in shape! If you'd like to be on the Summer Choir email mailing list, reach out to director of music Meg Harper at harperm@trinityprinceton.org.

Wanted: Instrumentalists

Do you play a musical instrument? Then we’re looking for YOU! If you’d like to play a summer prelude in July or August, please e-mail Meg Harper.

ADULT FORMATION CORNER

Mother Kara is in Vancouver on her big adventure! She will return to the office on July 20.

Formation This Week

Monday through Friday at 7:45 AM: Morning Prayer Rite II The Zoom Daily Office link is here

Monday, July 20 at 7:30 PM: Pub Theology with Deacon Greg at Yankee Doodle Tap Room

Wednesday, July 22 at 6:00 PM: Faith and Fiction group with Fr. Steve in the George Thomas Room

Education for Ministry (EfM)

Do you have questions about your faith?

Do you wish for a community of like-minded seekers?

Do you want to integrate what you read in the Bible with your daily life?

Then EfM is for you!

Want to know more?

Call Julia Garry at 609-902-1388 or email her at jspenick@aol.com.

PARISH PRAYER LIST

Please keep the following individuals in your prayers:

Joshua Alexander, Dan Van Abs, Alexey Aulov, Barbara, Susan Barry, Zoe Beaton, Vanessa Belhomme, Gloria Bellamy, Cynthia Bellamy, Pamela Brecknell, Peter Brown, Wesley Brown, Jennifer Burke, Brian Burleson, Peter, Bill Causey, Jessica Connor, Peggy Crawford, Kevin F. Cunningham, Chip Dongara, Daryll Eatmon, Gus Escher, Abigail Evans, Sue & Steve Frank, Amy G., Sebastian Godinez, Pat Grabiec, Jackie Greggs, John Hannan, William Hannan, John Havener, Ellen Jane, Anne Jarmon, Deborah Jordan, Joyce Kelleher, Jack Kenerson, Patricia Killian, Kristen Lees and Family, Alexandre Lewkowicz, Noelle Lewkowicz, Philippe Lewkowicz, Makenna Mattesi, Lucy and Megan, Edwin Metcalf, Nancy Metcalf, Clive Muncaster, Dulcie Muncaster, Joan Nester, Ross Parker, Bob Pietrucha, Lisa Witt Pinair, Elizabeth Read, Carol Reynolds, Claire Roberts, Dianne Senko, Samantha Seto, Randy States, Jody Stebbins, Mike Stebbins, Jim Stepleton, Isaiah Stevens, Gary Sykes, Ward Tomlinson, Aaron Ward, Dawn Young, Nancy, and Joshua.

Please pray for the souls of the recently deceased:

Don Edwards, Mary Aston Shackelford

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, CGS Associate Rector; The Rev. Cn. Steve Connor, 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.

PARISH CARE

PHISHING SCAMS

Please be aware that there has been a prevalence of phishing scams pretending to be clergy or staff. Please make sure to confirm that the email address is coming from the correct @trinityprinceton.org email. We will never solicit or ask you to send money or valuables to an unknown source.