When I was younger and thought I knew everything, I resented that Black History Month was this thing set apart from the rest of our history, as if Black history was an anomaly  that existed without context. And while I still absolutely believe that the history of Black people in this country is intricately woven into the American tapestry, I understand and acknowledge the real necessity of having a month that specifically focuses on the uniquely African American experience in the United States.  And it’s as important today as it’s ever been. Just last year (in 2023!), the Huntington Beach, CA city council voted to cancel Black History Month celebrations, only to rescind their ruling after public outcry. 

The Book of Deuteronomy says: "Remember the days of old: consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you.” (Deuteronomy 32: 7).  The histories and genealogies of the Bible point to a very important truth: knowing where we come from, our history, our ancestry, is how we make sense of who and where we are today, and it informs what and where we can be tomorrow.

The New Testament provides two accounts of the genealogy of Jesus, one in Matthew and another in Luke. Matthew starts with Abraham and works forward, while Luke works back in time from Jesus to Adam. It’s fascinating to read aloud either account (although it is strongly advised to have a couple of practice sessions if you are the lector on the Sundays these scriptures are being read; Amminadab & Shealtil & Zerubbabel, oh my!).  What I find especially moving is not just the inclusion of highly exalted yet highly flawed folks like David; it’s also the inclusion of people who have been ignored and pushed to the margins. Here I am thinking especially of Tamar and Rahab, the kind of women who are still shunned by society. But the biblical story says that their stories are important, that attention must be paid.  And perhaps more importantly, that their stories are our stories.

I come from an ancestry of strong, resilient women. Women who were not afraid to speak truth to power, even if it cost them money, jobs, and power. My great Aunt Margaret (who was actually my 2nd cousin) was a woman who seemed unafraid of anything. She said what she needed to say with no apologies or regrets, often in language too colorful for the Trinity Church Epistle. I draw strength from Aunt Margaret’s legacy, a legacy that allows me to speak up even if my voice is trembling.  And I am pretty certain that everyone reading this has some version of Aunt Margaret in their own family tree. Perhaps even Jesus.

As we as a parish think specifically about Black History, my history, our history, may we remember and reflect on the words of Carter Woodson, the historian and founder of what has become Black History Month; “We should emphasize not Negro History, but the Negro in history. What we need is not a history of selected races or nations, but the history of the world void of national bias, race hate, and religious prejudice.”

Sunday Forums:

Feb 4 - First Sunday Breakfast - Share food, fun, and fellowship with friends old and new

Feb 11 - Parish History with the Interns - Our parish has been serving God and spreading God's love in Princeton for 190 years. Our interns Madeline, Zach, and Emmanuel will present what they have found in the PTS library and Trinity archives about life in our parish and in historic Princeton. 

Lent is coming! 

After you celebrate Shrove Tuesday and observe Ash Wednesday at Trinity, we invite you to join us for Lent programming throughout the season. Our programs for this year will explore the shape of the Christian life for us, both as individuals and as a community. We invite you to the observance of a holy Lent by learning, thinking, sharing, and praying about the kind of people and the kind of church we aspire to be. :

Sundays at 9:30

The Virtues with the clergy and ministry staff. What does it mean to live a good life? What kind of people should Christians be? How do we learn holiness as a habit? Join us as we discuss Christian virtues in history and today. 

Wednesday evenings

Life Together book discussion with the clergy and ministry staff. Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Life Together is an accessible and provocative guide to Christian life in community. We will discuss the book a chapter at a time, and you can pick up a copy in the Narthex this Sunday and next. You don't have to read the book in order to participate, but we hope you will give it a go! Our Wednesday evening programs will begin with Eucharist at 5:30 and continue with dinner at 6 and program at 6:30. We will finish by 7:15. 

Fridays at 12:15

Musical Meditations. Join us at 12:15 each Friday in Lent for a series of 30 minute recitals followed by a brief said Eucharist at 1 PM. (schedule graphic)

Sundays at 5 PM

Lent Super Sundays - Our Sunday evening programming will start with Choral Evensong or Compline at 5 PM, followed by refreshments in Pierce-Bishop Hall at 5:30. Then, we will offer three groups at 6 PM for adults and youth:

Adults: Episcopal 101 with Kara 

Youth: What is life in Christ? with Madeline, Emmanuel, Wesley, and Emily 

Parents: Conversations with Paul 

All Episcopalians are also part of the Anglican Communion. What is an Anglican Identity?

The Lambeth Conference invites you to the next Phase 3 Webinar: Being Anglican - Exploring the Lambeth Call on Anglican Identity.

Featuring Anglican guests from around the world, join us as we explore topics like what it means to be Anglican and how Anglicans are involved in missions around the world.

It will look at questions like:
What does it mean to be Anglican?

How do Anglicans use scripture?

How are we in communion through mission?

How can we share life together through Companion links with other dioceses?

This webinar is open to all.

Webinar dates and times (1 hour):
February 7, 2024
Starting at 1800 London time (UTC)
February 8, 2024
Starting at 1000 London time  (UTC)

Register now https://bit.ly/3Rk2M44

The link for the Lambeth Conference Call on Anglican Identity:

 23-24124-Lambeth-Calls-Updates-April-2023_ANGLICAN-IDENTITY-EN.pdf (lambethconference.org)

For a Zoom pre-webinar discussion of the Lambeth Call on Anglican Identity on February 4th at 3:00PM contact Bonnie Bivins at blbivins@verizon.net.

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. 

Shrove Tuesday 🡪 Ash Wednesday 🡪  Lent 

Family Lenten Spirals – available on the Family Ministries Table. 

February 13th will be Trinity’s annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper and Palm Burning Liturgy! 

• Supper is in the Parish Hall at 6 p.m. and there will be games and activities available for kids. 

• We will make Alleluia posters to put in hibernation until Easter.

• Gluten-free pancakes available!  

• Bring your old Palm Sunday palms and palm-crosses! We make our ashes for Ash Wednesday out of those. 

• Palm-Burning Liturgy after supper. 

February 14th is Ash Wednesday

• Services at Trinity at 7 a.m., noon, and 7 p.m. 

February 21st & 28th will be the first two Lenten Suppers

• 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 

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

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

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

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

  • 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/. 

Mogie, the Heart of the House, by Kathi Appelt, tells the story of Mogie, a dog who lives at the Ronald MacDonald House and uses all her energy and affection to help the children staying there heal. This book connects to the Gospel for February 4, Mark 1:29-39 and the theme of healing. 

When Lightning Comes in a Jar, by Patricia Polacco, tells the story of Tricia’s family reunion. After a wonderful day with family and good food, Tricia’s grandmother sends everyone home with jars of fireflies. The family carries the light of their reunion out into the world with them. This book connects to the Epistle for February 11, 2 Corinthians 4:3-6, and particularly to the light of God that we carry in our hearts and spread throughout the world. 

Water Come Down: The Day You Were Baptized, by Walter Wangerin, Jr., is a celebration of baptism, illustrated vibrantly, and overflowing with the excitement and joy surrounding this sacrament. We have multiple copies of this book at Trinity, and we often give them as baptism gifts. On February 18, we will read in Mark’s Gospel of Jesus’ baptism. 

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: 

In Sunday School, on February 11, we will make Valentines in Sunday School for the residents of Stonebridge and Meadow Lakes. 

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 wonderful Sunday we had last week at Trinity Church. Please see the pictures below of our Adult Forum class led by early Church History scholar, Prof. Peter Brown and a most exciting celebration for the opening of Portraits of Immigrants: Unknown Faces, Untold Stories by our very own, Betsy Ashton.

You may or may not know this, but at Trinity Church we have had a Flower Ministry since 2013, where we deliver a lovely cup of flowers to people who are sick or grieving, or who are celebrating a significant milestone or achievement. If you know someone who would benefit from this ministry, please reach out to a member of our clergy, and we will take it from there.