Dear Friends, 

This morning at 7am, I hit the send button and submitted the first complete draft of my Doctor of Ministry Thesis to General Theological Seminary for review. Why Church?: Understanding how the next generation perceives the purpose of the Church. I conclude my thesis with a reflection on an art exhibit currently on display at the Bainbridge Art Gallery. This reflection is an edited version of my thesis conclusion.

While looking at the paintings, I was fortunate enough to meet one of the artists, Khalilah Sabree. Sabree was born in Macon, Georgia, and raised as a Southern Baptist, who, after moving north to Trenton, New Jersey, converted and became a devout African-American Muslim. In describing her collection of paintings, Destruction of a Culture, Sabree says, 

I explore how devastating changes disrupt world cultures and impact human relationships, societal structures, and the global landscape…The series began with a single image: a photo I took in Mecca of two African women gazing over a fence, as if peering into the future. The intensity of their focus captivated me; I envisioned them as bearers of a unique power able to foresee a changing world that remains hidden from others. As this photo became a series of paintings, imagination was my guiding force. I engaged in dhikr, allowing the remembrance of God to infuse my work with spiritual depth and resonance.

In conversation, Sabree shared with me that within the intensity, struggle, destruction, and truth of each painting, she intentionally put an element in clear focus, which was to draw our attention and invite us to enter into a place of spiritual refuge - a portal through which we could find safety and rest.

For this last ePistle in Black History Month, I want to turn our attention to the future. As a predominantly white church within a relatively liberal subculture of the country, it can be difficult to discern what it looks like to live out a Christian calling of radical love that demands full dignity and equal sociopolitical standing for our BIPOC members and neighbors. As we as a church continue to discern humbly and in earnest what this looks like moving forward, I want to warn us of a common trap for those inclined toward social progress, the trap of moderation.
Dr. King wrote in his striking Letter from Birmingham Jail, “I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in his stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Counciler or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate, who is more devoted to ‘order’ than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says: ‘I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I cannot agree with your methods of direct action.’” This quote has never left me, because it strikes to the heart of why police violence, economic injustice, healthcare disparity, and so much more plagues the Black community in America. This is also why Wesley Rowell is the first senior staff of Trinity’s history who isn’t white. Transformative change can only come if we’re willing to let the status quo be unsettled. 

True justice work is terrifying but liberating. I believe that if we embark on this journey together, it will sharpen our Christian witness and draw us deeper in faith and love, together as the diverse family of God. I have some thoughts of what this could look like for Trinity, but it’s ultimately not my voice that matters in this conversation. Actually, the voices we need to listen to may not even feel there is space for their voices to be heard here. Perhaps this is where we must begin to lay the groundwork for transformative love, proactively seeking one challenging conversations with humility and curiosity where we remain open to being unsettled. May our love abound and change us, that one day we might truly be one. In the words of the great James Baldwin, “Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war; love is a growing up.”

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self examination and repentance; by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God's holy Word. – BCP p. 265

Dear friends,

This season of Lent is an opportunity for each of us to turn and return to God. It’s a time to slow down and refocus our lives on the things that really matter. And, it’s a time for deepening our relationship with God in Christ through worship, learning, and fellowship. I invite you to join us at Trinity Church as we walk these holy days of Lent together.
Here’s a schedule of what’s going on at Trinity during this season:

Sundays at 9:30 AM: The Virtues

What does it mean to live a good life as a Christian? How does the shape of our lives lead to our flourishing? What kind of people do we want to be as followers of Jesus. In the Adult Forum this Lent, we’ll discuss the virtues with the clergy and ministry staff. 

Sundays at 5:00 PM: Lent Super Sundays

Join us at 5 PM for our choral evening services, followed by a program at 6 PM. The programs for youth and adults may serve as preparation for confirmation this Easter, but you don’t have to be planning to be confirmed in order to participate.

• Youth: What is life in Christ?

• Adults: Episcopal 101 with Kara

• Parents: Conversations with Paul 

Wednesdays at 5:30 PM: Eucharist, Dinner, and Lent program

Our Wednesday evening program begins with Eucharist at 5:30, followed by dinner at 6 and program at 6:30. Each week, we will focus on one chapter of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together, a classic exploration of Christian community. Even if you didn’t get a chance to read the book, join us for discussion! 

Weekdays at 7:45 AM and 5:00 PM: The Daily Office

If you’ve never experienced the Daily Office, and if you’re curious about a regular prayer practice in community, join us at 7:45 AM or 5 PM for Morning and Evening Prayer, either in the Michael Chapel or on Zoom. It’s a wonderful way to start or end your day. 

Every blessing in this most holy season,

Kara

Information Session Sunday, February 25th after the 10:30 service

Over the course of my life, I have been blessed by the time I’ve spent on pilgrimages in England, learning and worshiping in the cradle of our Anglican tradition. This time, I invite you to come with me – and with our Trinity Church family.
After flying from Newark to London, we’ll travel to Canterbury, where we will stay at the Canterbury Lodge within the Cathedral precincts. We will spend a day at Little Gidding, one of my favorite places in the world and the birthplace of post-Reformation Anglican monasticism. It’s also closely associated with the Oratory of the Good Shepherd, of which I’m a Priest Companion. We’ll then make the short trip to Cambridge and visit the collections of the Parker Library in the company of the Rev. Dr. Andrew Davison, followed by a journey east to Norwich before heading north to Lincoln, York, and Durham.
Throughout the trip, we will spend time in prayer, observing the Daily Office and celebrating the Eucharist. I’ll guide the spiritual aspects of the pilgrimage, and at each stop we will have the help of local guides who know the history and architecture of each cathedral. 
We have been planning this pilgrimage for a long time, and I hope that you’ll join me in what promises to be a wonderful, Christ-centered journey. You can learn more about the pilgrimage here:

https://lightlinena.com/pilgrimage/exploring-our-anglican-heritage-a-pilgrimage-from-canterbury-to-york/
Yours faithfully in Christ,
Kara

Our fellowship groups will be providing two of the Lent dinners for the Wednesday evening programs. We invite you to help out the parish and spend some time with old friends and new! 

If you're part of the Oregon Trailblazers ('vaguely middle-aged people'), or would like to be, we'll be doing the dinner on March 6th. Sign up here to contribute soup (including vegan and gluten-free options), salad, or bread:

https://forms.gle/3yjR5Lc9pEPfSMzaA

20's-30's Fellowship will be providing dinner on March 13th. Sign up here if you can help out! We need soup, salad, and bread, including vegan and gluten-free soup. 

https://forms.gle/NgnuMJTEAY4PvaMVA

Trinity Church and Nassau Presbyterian Church will once again co-sponsor a grief group called GriefEncounter this spring. The group meets for six sessions at Nassau on Tuesday, March 5, 12, 19, 26, April 9 and 16, from 7pm to 8:30pm. GriefEncounter is led by a trained grief counselor for folks experiencing feelings of loss due to the death of a family member, friend, colleague, anyone who has been part of your life. For additional information, please contact, Wesley Rowell, 646-279-1595, rowellw@trinityprinceton.org.  

February is about to get very busy at Trinity. I have several updates, reminders, and announcements from Family Ministries. The Sunday School announcements and Faith@Home resources are especially geared toward parents with kids from PreK-5th grade. 

First, I’ll go through announcements and updates for the special events and programs. Second, I will go through reminders for the ongoing programs.

February 28th will be the second Lenten Supper

• Supper will be soup, bread, and salad, provided by different groups in the church (Vestry, 20s/30s, Oregon Trail Blazers, Staff, etc.) 

• The schedule for Wednesday evening programs goes like this:

• 5:30 p.m., Eucharist in the church 

  1. 6 p.m., supper in the big side of the Parish Hall 

  2. 6:30 p.m., childcare in the small side of the Parish Hall 

  3. 6:30 p.m., Life Together program and discussion in the big side of the Parish Hall. 

  4. Need a copy of Life Together? Get yours in the Narthex (entryway) or at the front desk. 

  5. Don’t have time to read Life Together? That’s ok. Join us for supper and conversation anyway. 

Faith @ Home Resources for February: 

Click the link to visit the Princeton Public Library (PPL) website entry for each book.

You can find the lectionary texts for each Sunday in the BCP, or online at https://www.lectionarypage.net/. 

The Wonderful Things You Will Be, by Emily Winfield Martin, is all about the hopes we have as parents for our children as they learn and grow. This book connects to the theme of the blessings and promises God gives to Abram and Sarai, in our Old Testament reading from February 25, from Genesis 17. 

Sunday School & Playful Worship: 

Playful Worship on Sundays has been a huge success! A big thank you to Alex Englert for taking the lead on that. Until Easter, Playful Worship will meet in the Children’s Chapel, since Betsy Ashton’s beautiful portrait series is housed in the Thomas room. (If you have not had a chance to look at the paintings, they are stunning. I highly recommend taking some time to walk through the exhibit.) 

You can sign up to help with Playful Worship HERE. 

You can sign up to assist in Sunday School HERE. 

You can sign up to provide snacks for Sunday School HERE.  

Questions? Please ask. 

Just want to check in or get coffee? I’d love that!! Please reach out, and we will find a time to connect. 

Peace and blessings, 

Emily 

Please help fill Arm In Arm’s Mobile Pantry Truck and Pantry shelves with LOVE by supporting their 20th Annual Valentine’s for Food Drive to provide nutritious food for our neighbors in need.

You can help in two ways. For the month of February, you can donate via special Valentines for Food collection envelopes in the pews. You can also donate food items listed in the above flyer. Food items can be placed in the shopping cart in the narthex or the wagon near the front desk and we will get them to Arm in Arm.

What a glorious week one of our Lenten journey.

Here are a few highlights.

 Saturday Evening

Richardson Auditorium was transformed and filled with joy and vitality during the soul-stirring concert by The American Spiritual Ensemble, under the direction of the esteemed Dr. Everette McCorvey, joined by the Princeton Glee Club. The evening, without question, lifted every heart and spirit present.

Sunday, April 21, 2024

3:00 - 4:30 p.m.
Evensong at 5:00

With beautiful Spring colors on display all around, we invite you to join us for a delicious traditional English tea on Sunday, April 21, 2024 from 3 - 4:30 pm. There will be freshly baked savories, sweets and traditional scones with clotted cream and a delicious tea especially blended for us for this occasion. Our formally garbed waitstaff and beautiful floral arrangements will all take you back to an elegant era. Following the tea, Trinity Church's exceptional choir will perform a Choral Evensong in the church.

The event, priced at $35 per person ($40 at the door) is a fundraising effort for the choir. Please be sure to make your reservations early as seating is limited; if desired, entire tables may be reserved. Reservations may be made by emailing mstengel329@hotmail.com or calling 609-924-4807 and leaving a message.