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✢ THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ✢ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏ ͏
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WEEK OF SUNDAY, AUGUST 23, 2026 ✢ THIRTEENTH SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST ✢
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Dear Good People of Trinity Church, I had the privilege and blessing of traveling to London last week to hear our beloved Trinity Church choir sing Evensong at Westminster Abbey. I procrastinated and hesitated over whether to make the trip and finally, after the encouragement of friends, bought the ticket, hopped on a plane, and went. It’s one of those things you know you’d regret not doing—but you only discover how much once you’ve actually gone. What an extraordinary blessing it was, particularly in this season of my own life and ministry. I walked into that sacred and holy space mindful of the generations who have gathered there to pray and come to the Lord’s Table, bearing witness to the historic faith of God’s one holy catholic and apostolic Church, lived out through the great gift of the Anglican tradition and our Book of Common Prayer. My heart and soul were filled with emotion as I stood for the opening procession, watching the choir and clergy enter and take their places in the choir stalls of the Abbey. The officiant began with these words: Beloved, we come together in the presence of Almighty God and of the whole company of heaven to offer unto him through our Lord Jesus Christ our worship and praise and thanksgiving; to make confession of our sins; to pray, as well for others as for ourselves, that we may know more truly the greatness of God's love and show forth in our lives the fruits of his grace; and to ask on behalf of all people such things as their well-being doth require. Wherefore let us sit or kneel and keep silence, and remember God's presence with us now. It is our sacred calling and privilege to embody and bear witness to the truth that God’s presence is with us now—and always will be. There is no place, no time, no space where God is not present—nowhere we can flee, nowhere we can run, no depth of the soul or expanse of the universe beyond the reach of God’s presence. We at Trinity Church in Princeton, together with those who gather at Ely Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, and across the Anglican Communion, take our place in the continuing and unfolding story of God and God’s people—in prayer and song, word and deed. What a sacred gift it is to know and believe, to embody and share, this life-giving truth: God is present. Here. Now. In this place and every place. God has been, God is, and God always shall be. Thanks be to God!
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The Rev. Paul Jeanes, III
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First Lesson: Exodus 1:8-2:10 Psalm: 124 Second Lesson: Romans 12:1-8 Gospel: Matthew 16:13-20
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A Prayer for Our EarthComposer Jim Stepleton and his wife Betsy Ashton joined Trinity three years ago, after moving from NYC to Meadow Lakes due to Jim’s advancing Parkinson’s disease. The pandemic had shut down a planned 2021 premiere performance in Carnegie Hall of what Jim had composed to be an Earth Day Oratorio for 5 soloists, adult and children’s choirs and full orchestra based on the late Pope Francis’ “A Prayer for Our Earth.” Jim feared he would not live to witness a performance of his work. However, three weeks ago, Betsy received word from renowned organist/composer David Briggs, who agreed to transcribe the score for organ, strings and percussion. In order to pay this world-class musician’s $36,000 fee, Betsy has created “Singing to Save Our Earth.” $10,000 has already been raised. Can Trinity help get this prayer to save our common home off the ground? For more information about this project, you can click here! To donate to Singing to Save Our Earth (through non-profit Fractured Atlas), you can click here!
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Rummage 51 Coming Soon! “Thrifting at Trinity 51” will be on October 22, 23, and 24, 2026.
Your exquisite “no longer wanted” items will be welcomed on the drop off dates in the fall. Volunteers and donations are needed! More info on drop off and work dates will be available soon.
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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!
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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.
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AUGUST 27: Final BBQ of the Summer!Join us at the Trinity Summer BBQs! Bring anything you would like, and bring your friends. No RSVP needed. Come on over on August 27 from 6:00-8:30 PM on Trinity’s front lawn. Email Hailey Hensley if you have any questions or need more info. AUGUST 29: Trail Church (new date!)Join us at Mountain Lakes Nature Preserve on Saturday, August 29 at 9 AM for our next Trail Church gathering!
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SEPTEMBER 13: Homecoming Sunday and Picnic!Join your Trinity Church family for a time of fellowship, food, and gratitude together right after the 10:30 service on Homecoming Sunday, September 13. The Parish Life Committee needs our help to make it happen! Sign up here to volunteer!
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Click here to read our newsletter!
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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: InstrumentalistsDo 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.
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Candles lit in prayer at the site of St. Thomas Becket’s martyrdom
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Rhythms of PrayerDear Friends, We returned from the choir (and friends) tour on Monday, and I can confidently say it was a life-changing experience for me. I think many other people found it to be an important time in their lives as well. I was able to take prayer requests from our parish and beyond to the spot where St. Thomas Becket was martyred, a site of intercession and prayers for healing for centuries. Others from Trinity found a closer relationship with God in the daily services of choral Evensong at Ely and Westminster Abbey. After a wonderful conversation with Vestry member and choir parent Melissa Sullivan, I asked her if she would mind sharing her reflections with you all. Happily, she has done so, and here they are! I am grateful to Melissa for her spiritual leadership in putting these thoughts to paper (well, to pixels).
In Christ, Kara+ Finding Rhythm in Daily Prayer
Jetting off to England with our young chorister in tow, we were brimming with anticipation of seeing magnificent churches and touring the country. After attending each day of Evensong or service, at just about the two-week mark, I realized that I was in a new rhythm of faith. Daily music, contemplation, and prayer shaped a peaceful revelation in me. In a very quiet way, I realized that making time for daily prayer opened my heart to a deep, comforting presence of God. I will take this illumination with me back to bustling New Jersey, back to where urgent duties often shove the ineffable parts of life to the corners. Too often life's blessings are left to the cold corners, fading into regrets. I hope you give yourself the gift of time. Time to find your way home to a life filled with a daily rhythm of prayer. I hope you find your way. In peace, Melissa Formation This WeekMonday, August 24 at 7:30 PM: Pub Theology at Yankee Doodle Tap Room Monday through Friday at 7:45 AM: Morning Prayer Rite II, the Zoom Daily Office link is here Saturday, August 29 at 9:00 AM: Trail Church at Mountain Lakes Preserve (note the rescheduled date due to weather)
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Try Our Sermon PodcastTrinity Church has a sermon podcast! We tried this briefly just after COVID, but the technology wasn’t quite there yet. We’re now able to provide a podcast feed of our sermons on YouTube, Apple Podcasts, and Spotify, with both video and audio available on YouTube. Click, like, and subscribe! 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.
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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, Helen Burke, 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, Patricia Killian, Kristen Lees and Family, Alexandre Lewkowicz, Noelle Lewkowicz, Philippe Lewkowicz, Cecil Marshall, 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, Samantha Seto, Randy States, Jody Stebbins, Mike Stebbins, Jim Stepleton, Isaiah Stevens, Gary Sykes, Ward Tomlinson, Marue Walitzer, Aaron Ward, Sue White, Dawn Young, Nancy, and Joshua. Please pray for the souls of the recently deceased: Robert Crafford, Ruth B. Ekstrom, Jack Kenerson, Yook Jin Louie, Dianne Senko, George Webb 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.
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PHISHING SCAMSPlease 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, valuables, or your personal information to an unknown source.
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