I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth takes its name. I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

Ephesians 3:14-19

The parish of St. Mary the Virgin in Painswick, near Gloucester, has one of the most striking churchyards I have ever seen. I visited it briefly on Tuesday evening, just before sunset, as I took a day’s break before heading to Wales for the Oratory of the Good Shepherd’s General Chapter and retreat. It was actually my second visit to this church; the first was almost exactly 40 years ago. I was 12 years old, tagging along with my dad on an extended business trip to chemical companies in England and Scotland that supplied the raw materials for making nylon. At the time, I knew the church was beautiful. Now, I can see the theological depth that beauty contains, and there are three things in particular about the church in Painswick that I’d like to share with you. 

First, the churchyard is full of yew trees, traditional symbols of eternal life. In some places, they have grown close enough to form arches over the cemetery paths. In order to reach the church, you walk through the ‘great cloud of witnesses’ of the parish, surrounded by trees that proclaim our resurrection hope. It is a faith that is rooted in the soil and reaches to the heavens. 

At the entrance to the churchyard is a beautiful lychgate, added at the beginning of the 20th century. Dating back to medieval times, the lychgate was the place where funeral processions waited for the priest to meet them to receive the body. Over the entrance to the cemetery are the words of the Magnificat, Mary’s song of God’s world-changing victory in Christ. At this boundary between sacred and secular space, the building itself rejoices in what God has done for us in Jesus. 

Dear Trinity Church,

As we’ve shared with you in an email last week, Trinity Church has embarked upon a planning study to explore a potential campaign to strengthen the church – for today and tomorrow. As a valued member of the Trinity family, your input is important to us. Please take a few minutes to complete the planning study e-survey developed by our fundraising consultant, The Munshine Group. The survey will be open for two more weeks, until August 7th.

As always, if you have any questions or input please reach out to me at david@trinityprinceton.org or 206.407.8612. Thank you for your participation.

Peace,

David Schneider, Senior Warden

Join us for canoeing or kayaking on the Delaware and Raritan Canal! We will meet at 1 PM on Sunday, August 10 at Princeton Canoe and Kayak Rental at 483 Alexander St. We had a great time last year, and we will have a lot of fun this year too.

Please save the dates:

•  October 18-19 sale

•  September 8 - October 6 – donations accepted after both morning services

Reservations are needed and information will be included in the E-pistle beginning in late August.

New to this sale:

• Please avoid putting any different items in one box or large bag but use smaller containers that are clearly marked. Clothes are OK on hangers.

• Close to the sale, there will be times set aside for donors to hand carry in valuable and fragile donations.

To make this sale a success, please donate clean, gently worn clothing for men, women and children and also “better” ladies’ and men’s clothing; treasures for the boutique & framed art; housewares; electrical items; linens; jewelry and costume jewelry; books; toys and holiday decorations; shoes and boots; and items for the ”Vintage This & That” room!

We cannot accept: sports equipment, pet supplies, furniture of any kind, garden items and florist’s vases, and items for children including strollers, high chairs and large plastic toys.

Please save the dates and begin putting aside your donations!

With thanks,

From the Rummage Committee

Calling all instrumentalists!  During the summer, we will have opportunities for those in our congregation who play musical instruments to offer preludes and/or offertories for services.  If you play an instrument and would like to share your talents, please sign up on the digital form at this link:  https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NVTEWapN2oon5_D87IlAvv_wJuyNyf48_eloRrPT1XQ/edit?usp=sharing or on the paper sign-up in the narthex or at the front desk. Thank you!

• The 2024 Princeton Community Night Out will be held on August 6 from 5-8 PM at Community Park Pool on 400 Witherspoon St. Free pool admission, food, face painting, inflatables, DJ, and emergency vehicle display. Come on out and meet your neighbors! 

If you're traveling this summer, the Princeton Police Department can conduct vacant house checks on request to make sure everything is secure. Visit https://www.princetonnj.gov/376/Vacant-House-Check-Request?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3YuIlHtmQZjG8WxE5H8eVxo1Ab081xfHhX7i4os2mt0bjJn_JkwDExE3U_aem_GUDegnt_He8BorkzxqD-yA for more information. 

Stay up to date with Paul’s Sabbatical updates here: https://www.trinityprinceton.org/sabbatical-updates.