TRINITY ePISTLE - Sunday, January 19, 2025

WEEK OF SUNDAY, JANUARY 19, 2025
✢SECOND SUNDAY AFTER THE EPIPHANY✢

Final Sabbatical Reflection

The Rev. Paul JEanes III, rector

IN GRATITUDE: REMEMBER, REFLECT, AND RENEW

Journeying Through the Seasons of Life with Christ and One Another

Sustain us, O Lord, in your Holy Spirit.
Give us inquiring and discerning hearts,

the courage to will and to persevere,

a spirit to know and to love you,

and the gift of joy and wonder in all your works.

Amen.

Dear Good People of Trinity,

The final chapter of our sabbatical journey has now come to a close. On New Year’s Eve, the Jeanes family departed from JFK and flew to Córdoba, Argentina, beginning a pilgrimage across sacred terrain of both land and heart, time and space.

In Córdoba, we walked in the footsteps of Christina’s childhood. We visited the home where she, her siblings, and her mother once lived, and the school she attended.

Together, we walked the streets they walked and experienced places that shaped their lives 45 years ago.

From there, we traveled to La Paz, where Christina’s brother has a small “ranchito.” For four wonderful days, we embraced the beauty of the countryside—taking walks, riding horses, swimming in the river, sharing stories with friends, and yes … even played a round or two of golf. A highlight was the Argentine Asado, a feast of food, laughter, and love shared with dear family and friends.

Our pilgrimage continued with a seven-hour bus ride to San Nicolás, the town where Christina’s mother, María Luisa, was born. We visited the house where she grew up, the school where she was valedictorian, and the park near the river where she played with her sisters. A truly special moment was reconnecting with Abuela’s only remaining childhood friend, Graciela, now 91.

Graciela’s joy at our visit was palpable as she shared stories of their adventures—school days, dances at the social club, and even tales of youthful romance. “We met when we were four,” she said, “and we were friends for life—inseparable!”

On our last night in San Nicolás, we gathered on the banks of the Río Paraná. There we read poetry, shed tears, looked to the sky, said prayers, and then “earth to earth, ashes to ashes, dust to dust” - we returned a portion of Abuela’s and Tia’s, ashes to the river in which they swam and played, had picnic’s on the bank and walked to the water’s edge with young suiters to perhaps steal a kiss under the moonlight.

Our final destination was Buenos Aires. What an amazing city! Over three days, we walked nearly 10 miles a day, taking in the Teatro Colón, Plaza de Mayo, Recoleta Cemetery, Casa Rosada, Puerto Madero, the Metropolitan Cathedral, and so much more. Though our feet were a bit sore, our spirits were filled!

Yet, as with all journeys, this one came to an end. It was time to return home.

One of the most poignant moments was watching my children show Graciela pictures of her and Abuela as children. Her joy and tears captured the essence of life’s fleeting beauty: the laughter, love, and dreams of youth intimately intertwined with the wisdom and memories of age.

I wonder if when she looked at those pictures if it seemed as if it were yesterday. Only yesterday, when she and Abuela were 12 years old and going to their first dance at the San Nicolas Social Club. Wearing their best dresses and their hair done, young and full of life and dreams - looking across the room at handsome young boys and wondering if one of them would ask them to dance. And then the time came, a boy caught their eye and walked across the room, and asked for a dance. Their first dance and their hearts racing, now in the blink of an eye, 80 years have passed. Yet, I felt that within her heart and soul, I could see a young girl still full of life and dreams and wanting to dance.

Life moves so quickly, dear friends. Each day, the music of life plays, and God invites us to dance. To live and love, to hope and dream, as long as we have breath. Even when life is hard and our hearts grow weary, God is with us—through every moment, from our first breath to our last.

Let us not miss the wonder of this sacred dance.

Thank you for the gift of this time away. Thank you for loving me and my family. Thank you for giving us this holy opportunity to dance!

Peace and Blessings,

This Sunday’s preacher is The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector.

The readings for this Sunday can be found here.

Sunday Forum: Donn Mitchell continues his series on the Saints of the New Deal. See below.

Forum Series: Saints of the New Deal with Donn Mitchell

Our own Donn Mitchell is an expert on the influence of the Episcopal Church and faith in Christ on some of the major figrues of the 1930's and 1940's, including Frances Perkins and Eleanor Roosevelt. Come out and learn about faith and public life in this pivotal period in American history.

Stewardship 2025 - A Journey Together in Faith

Dear Friends,

We are moving toward the official end of the annual pledge drive. As of January 13, we have had 268 pledges for a total of $978,165 pledged! But I believe there are still a fair number of the community who have yet to pledge. Nevertheless, the annual plan for 2025 needs to be completed and the budget needs to be set. Please consider the importance of Trinity to you and your family and join in committing your support. You may contribute online at https://www.trinityprinceton.org/pledge. You can visit the full list of pledgers by visiting this page on our website, password protected for your security.

Password: Trinitypledges2025!

Thank you,

Trudy Sykes and Bill Hackett

Stewardship Co-Chairs

Calling all Tenors!

Calling all tenors! Trinity's adult choir is in need of a couple volunteer tenors. If this might be you, please reach out to our Director of Music Meg Harper at harperm@trinityprinceton.org!

Mark your calendars: Oregon Trailblazers "Generic Potluck" on Saturday, January 18

January is boring and we are too! "Vaguely middle-aged" people are warmly invited to join us for a potluck on Saturday, January 18 at 5:30 PM in Pierce-Bishop Hall. Childcare will be provided.

To sign up, click the link here.

Holiday Schedule for Daily Office

Due to the seminary break, there will be no Evening Prayer until Monday, February 3. Morning Prayer continues on weekdays at 7:45 AM on Zoom (not in person). However there will be no Morning Prayer from December 24 to December 31. Zoom Morning Prayer will resume on Monday, January 3.

If you haven't tried praying the Daily Office, our Zoom services are a wonderful way to try it out. Join us to find out how much it can add to your walk with Jesus.

New Diocesan Website for Formation

The Diocese of New Jersey has set up a new website focused on formation for all ages. If you'd like to check out their resources, see https://www.growinfaithnj.org. It's truly wonderful to see the work that Canon Susanna Cates and her team have done to make formation resources available to congregations.

PRAYER LIST: Please keep the following individuals in your prayers: Judy Anderson, Peter Brown, Katherine Burke, Bill Burks, Clark, Ruben C, Evon Cassier, Patricia Domino, Ellen Edwards, Christopher Dismas Eldredge, Steve Evans, Marty Fitzgerald, Pat Grabiec, Shane Greene, Kate H, William Hannan, Charlie Huebner, Ellen Jane, Patricia Killian, Lerose, Lillie Lim, Les and Joanne Miley, Candice Miller, Chris Moser, Clive Muncaster, Paul, Ed Perrott, Katrina Poskay, Kathy S, Amber Schuppan, Nancy Slade, Maria Smarsh, Joseph Syzdek, Marcia Thompson, Trisha Thorne, Ron Waetzman, Mike Zimmerman, Betty Zuray ➨ Please pray for the following souls who have recently passed: William Haynes, Sara Rogers Unetic ➨ 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 regardless of 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.”