TRINITY ePISTLE Sunday July 13th, 2025

WEEK OF SUNDAY, JULY 13th, 2025
✢FIFTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST✢

Groaning Old

Dear Beloved of Trinity,

Earlier this week, I had a wonderful visit with residents at one of our nearby assisted living communities. Twice each month, we gather for conversation and share in the celebration of Holy Communion.

These visits are always a source of deep joy and meaning. I hear stories of childhood and marriage, of children and grandchildren, of politics and religion, of struggles and celebrations—nothing is off the table. We talk about it all.

During one visit, a resident shared that she is writing a collection of essays titled Groaning Old, not Growing Old. She spoke of her desire to be fully alive in the days ahead—not simply to sit and wait for death, but to draw on the wide expanse of her life experience to keep learning, living, and sharing with others. As she spoke, heads nodded around the circle. The others echoed her yearning: to be fully alive, fully engaged, still useful, still needed.

I pray for the privilege of growing old—something not everyone receives. And whether we admit it or not, each day we are growing older. May we walk this journey with grace, courage, wisdom, and love.

Not groaning, but growing.

Not complaining, but creating.

Not passively waiting, but actively embracing each day, each moment, each breath.

Blessings,

For Old Age

May the light of your soul mind you.

May all your worry and anxiousness about your age

be transfigured.

May you be given wisdom for the eyes of your soul

To see this as a time of gracious harvesting.

May you have the passion to heal what has hurt you,

and allow it to come closer and become one with you.

May you have great dignity,

And a sense of how free you are,

Above all, may you be given the wonderful gift

Of meeting the eternal light that is within you.

May you be blessed;

And may you find a wonderful love

In yourself for yourself.

― John O'Donohue

From Walking in Wonder: Eternal Wisdom

for A Modern World

Summer Schedule

Holy Eucharist Rite I at 8 AM

Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10AM

Announcement:

The office will be closed July 17th-18th

This Sunday’s preacher:

The Rev. Paul Jeanes III

Paul has served as the Rector of Trinity Church in Princeton since the fall of 2008. In addition to his service at Trinity, Paul is on the board of Religious Ministries PHCS, an ex-officio member of the Trinity Counseling Service Board of Directors, as well as a member of the Diocesan Council for the Episcopal Diocese of New Jersey, and former Dean of the Trenton Convocation. Prior to coming to Trinity, Paul served for nine years as rector of St. James’ Church in Pewee Valley, KY.

He also served for two years as Assistant Priest at Christ Church Cathedral and Chaplain for Home of the Innocents both in Louisville, KY. Paul graduated from Louisville Presbyterian Seminary in 1997 with a Master of Divinity and a Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy. He also spent one year at General Theological Seminary in New York earning a diploma in Anglican Studies. Paul is an alumnus of Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC. He and his wife, Christina, have been married for twenty years and have three children Sophia, John Paul, and Luke.

SUNDAY READINGS

First Lesson:

Deuteronomy 30:9-14

Second Lesson:

Colossians 1:1-14

Sunday Forum: There will be no Sunday forum during summer.

CONTRIBUTION

Rooted in Faith. Moving Forward in Hope.

Trinity Church has stood as a beacon of worship, learning, and service in Princeton for nearly 200 years. As we prepare for the next chapter, we are launching a $7.5 million comprehensive campaign to ensure our ministries thrive and our historic campus is preserved for generations to come.

Inspired by the beloved hymn, God of Grace and Glory, this campaign reflects our gratitude for God’s past provision and our collective call to invest in Trinity’s future.

READ MORE

Summer Choir Returns!

For the months of July and August, we will have a come-and-sing summer choir open to all.

Each Sunday in those months, simply show up at Ivy Hall for rehearsal at 9:00 a.m. (arrive no later than 8:50) to learn the music for the 10:00 service.

You can sing as many or as few weeks as you like!

The music will be fairly straight forward, so it’s a great way to give choir at Trinity a try if you love to sing!

All ages are welcome, but please check with Meg if you have a child younger than age 10 who wants to sing so that we can make sure it’s a good experience for them.

You could even bring your whole family to sing together!

Contact: Meg Harper harperm@trinityprinceton.org

Treasures for Trinity Luncheon

July 30th 10:30AM-2:00 PM

Donate and Celebrate!

As a tribute to our 50th Annual Rummage Sale on October 16th-18th the Boutique Department is reviving the tradition of the Treasures for Trinity Luncheon. Bring your treasure and join us in the George Thomas on July 30th, from 10:30am-2:00 PM for a celebratory lunch and conversation. Your early participation will enable the Boutique staff to properly price your contribution and provide buyers with a provenance, or a great story.

So, scour your attics, basements and closets for treasures you would like to part with which will support our outreach partners in the Trenton area! Tax deduction forms will be available.

Please rsvp by July 25th to eschercon@msn.com or rjcilenti@gmail.com

Let's collaborate on making this the best sale ever and celebrate this legendary sale on its half century anniversary!

50th Trinity Church Rummage Sale

This is an amazing time for Trinity Church…

50 years, and going strong with the Rummage Sale!!!

Save the date: October 16th-18th 2025

Please start putting all your treasures aside this summer to support our sale! Collections will begin in September but start sorting your donations now! As always, we are not collecting furniture, pet items, baby items, broken electronics, and/or torn damaged goods.

Questions? Please email: rummage@trinityprinceton.org

PRAYER LIST:

Please pray for the following souls who have recently passed:

Carolyn Green

Michelle Romero

Bob Edwards

Charlie Huebner

Please keep the following individuals in your prayers: James Arnold, Boden, Peter Brown, Katherine Burke, Clark, Ruben C, Evon Cassier, Jason Clark, Shereese Clark, Donna Crafford, Cullen Creel, Patricia Domino, Don Edwards, Christopher Dismas Eldredge, Steve Evans, Gus Escher, Marty Fitzgerald, Pat Grabiec, Shane Greene, Kate H, William Hannan, Sissy Hoover, Tamara James, Ellen Jane, Patricia Killian, Lerose, Charles Lewis, Lillie Lim, Jay Lipscomb, Makenna, Julie Meidlinger, Richard and Marianne Merkelbach, Nancy Metcalf, Les and Joanne Miley, Candice Miller, Chris Moser, Clive Muncaster, Steven Murray, Rosemary Parish, Paul, Ed Perrott, Linda Perrott, Katrina Poskay, Kim Prior, Jason Chandler-Renfro, Freddy and Daneel van Rensburg, Roger Quinn, Kathy S, Amber Schuppan, Dianne Senko, Samantha Seto, Nancy Slade, Maria Smarsh, Mary Stevens, Isaiah Stevens, Marcia Thompson, Trisha Thorme, Phil Unetic, Anthony Wilmoth, Mike Zimmerman, Betty Zuray

➨ 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.”