✢ E-PISTLE WEEK OF SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd, 2026

WEEK OF SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd, 2026
✢ FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT ✢

Lent: A Journey of Recovery

Dear Beloved of Trinity Church,

There are recovery programs for almost every struggle imaginable because we have a tendency to lose our way. We drift. We fall. We forget who we are. Because our lives are fragile and fallible. We get ourselves caught in messes, tangled in confusion, knotted up in habits and hurts, and we often find ourselves wondering: How did we end up here?

Julian of Norwich, the 14th-century mystic, once wrote, “First there is the fall, and then we recover from the fall—and both are the mercy of God.” She names a fundamental truth of the human story: ever since the fall, we have been in a continuous state of recovery. Life itself is a soulful journey of remembering and returning—to the truth of who we are as beloved children of God.

Though we are forgiven immediately in and through the love of Jesus Christ, that does not mean we swiftly comprehend or easily live into that forgiveness. God’s renewal is given freely, but it often takes time for our hearts to receive it, trust it, and embody it.

So, I invite us, in this holy season of Lent, to accept with grace and humility the reality that we are in recovery. Not as a sign of failure, but as a sign of being human. The whole cosmos is, in some mysterious way, in recovery—groaning toward redemption. Though we continue to wrestle with sin and temptation until our final breath, God invites us to live gladly “because of the knowledge of his love.”

When we anchor ourselves in that love, recovery becomes reconciliation. Struggle becomes renewal. And we learn to trust, even in the midst of our healing, that “All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.”

Lenten Blessings,

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.

This Sunday’s Sermon:

The Rev. Paul Jeanes II

9:30am Adult Forum

Questions on the Way with Fr. Paul: Human Nature and the Church

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SUNDAY READINGS

First Lesson:

Genesis 2:15-17; 3:1-7

Second Lesson:

Romans 5:12-19

Gospel:

Matthew 4:1-11

Download Bulletin

February 22nd

10:30 AM BULLETIN

LIVESTREAM

Dear Friends,

As we enter the season of Lent, we are introducing our new Parish Directory with InstantChurchDirectory.com. Please click below to sign up:

PARISH DIRECTORY

Please update your information. You can also upload a picture if you choose! If you have any technical difficulties please reach out to epistle@trinityprinceton.org.

Thank you for helping us keep our amazing church community connected.

Peace,

Music for Sunday | 22 February 2026

Holy Eucharist | 8 and 10:30 am

Prelude: Kleines Harmonisches Labyrinth, BWV 591 - Johann Sebastian Bach

Hymns: “Shepherd of souls, refresh and bless” (tune: St. Agnes), “The glory of these forty days” (tune: Erhalt uns, Herr)

Service Music: (10:30) New Plainsong - David Hurd

Offertory Music: (8:00) Caritas patiens - Carson Cooman; (10:30) O Lord, in thee is all my trust - Thomas Tallis

Communion Music: Lord, let me know mine end - Maurice Greene

Choral Compline | 5 pm

Nunc dimittis Quarti Toni - Christobal de Morales

In manus tuas - Robert Parsons

Motet: O pray for the peace of Jerusalem - Thomas Tomkins

Marian Antiphon: Ave Regina coelorum

Choir Hosts Needed!

On Saturday, March 21, Trinity will host the choir of The College of William & Mary for a concert at 7:00 p.m. We are excited to host the choir, and we are looking for host families to house two or more students overnight from 8:30 p.m. on March 21 through 8:30 a.m. on March 22.

Please fill out the form at the following link if you are able to house two or more students! Two students can share a bed as long as it's a double or larger mattress. Reach out to Meg at harperm@trinityprinceton.org if you have questions or for more information. CLICK HERE

Trinity’s Family Ministries

NEWSLETTER

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Adult Formation Corner:

Lent Events

Dear friends,

Lent is a time to recommit ourselves to following Jesus, and to turn to Jesus as our friend as well as our savior. Part of that journey with Jesus is speding time in prayer and in study – and Trinity has several opportunities for you to do just that! On Sunday mornings during Lent starting this Sunday, we will explore the Catechism and delve deeper into what we believe as Episcopalians with our series Questions on the Way.

We will also have our traditional program of Eucharist, dinner and formation on Wednesday evenings during Lent. Starting on Wednesday, March 25, join us for Eucharist at 5:30, dinner at 6 PM, and a discussion of Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices by Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe. If you’d like to buy your own copy of the book, you can do so here: https://shop.forwardmovement.org/product/2463

Please note that due to my recent health challenges, the book discussion will be for everyone, but it will also serve as preparation for confirmation for adults. There will not be a separate confirmation class. If you’re interested in confirmation, email me at sladek@trinityprinceton.org so I can add you to the list. Please note that I will be working a reduced schedule during the season of Lent, and not working in the evenings, as I continue to recover from my recent unfortunate “cardiac surprise.” I appreciate your patience and your prayers in the meantime.

Yours in Christ, and in Christ alone,

If you’re looking for a chance to get away during this season, join us for our Lent retreat at Holy Cross Monastery in West Park, NY, from March 17-20. This will be a time of quiet, prayer, worship, and discussion as we prepare for Holy Week and Easter. If you’re interested in coming along, email me at sladek@trinityprinceton.org by March 3.

We only have 12 rooms reserved, so jump on this opportunity now!

Adult Formation This Week:

Sunday, February 22 at 9:30 AM: Questions on the Way with Fr. Paul: Human Nature and the Church

Monday, February 23 at 7:30 PM at Yankee Doodle Tap Room: Pub Theology with Rachel First

Wednesday, February 25: Eucharist at 5:30 PM, dinner at 6:00 PM, and Lent program at 6:30 PM

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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:

Barbara, Susan Barry, Zoe Beaton, Vanessa Belhomme, John Bertalot, Peter Brown, Jennifer Burke, Brian Burleson, Peter, Bill Causey, Kevin F. Cunningham, Chip Dongara, Daryll Eatmon, Gus Escher, Amy G., Pat Grabiec, Reverend Dana Hall, John Hannan, William Hannan, Ellen Jane, Deborah Jordan, Patricia Killian, Edwin Metcalf, Nancy Metcalf, Billy Mitchell, Dorothy Morin, Louise Mountford, Joan Nester, Guy Pierson, Bob Pietrucha, Lisa Witt Pinair, Cornelia Jane Reeder, Carol Reynolds, Claire Roberts, Jennifer Sanborn, Kara Slade, Nancy Slade, Clive Muncaster, Dulcie Muncaster, Dianne Senko, Samantha Seto, Randy States, Isaiah Stevens, Gary Sykes, Sylvia Temmer, P.A. Tippett, and Joshua.

Please pray for the following souls who have recently passed:

Larry Evans

The Rev. Susan Norris

Richard Pittenger

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.”

PARISH CARE

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.