Dear Beloved of Trinity Church, 

This Saturday evening, while we rest, like magic, time will dramatically move forward one hour, and we will lose an hour of sleep. We play this little game twice a year, falling back and springing forward. As if somehow, we had control over time. Yet we all know better. We understand that no matter how we set the clock, time is what time is, and all that we have is the moment in which we live and breathe this very second. And none of us are guaranteed one more breath nor one more second.  

The only thing we do have some control over is what we do with the time that we are entrusted with. Every morning, we wake up, if we are so blessed, and we are gifted with another day. How we spend the fleeting and precious seconds of each day is what defines and makes the totality of our lives. Our lives are fundamentally not formed around years and decades, but rather seconds and moments, each of incalculable worth. 

This morning, I officiated at a graveside service, and the family requested the timeless words from the book of Ecclesiastes:

For everything, there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 

a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;

a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;

a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance,

a time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; 

a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to throw away;
a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace. 

I know that there is nothing better for them than to be happy and enjoy themselves as long as they live; moreover, it is God’s gift that all should eat and drink and take pleasure in all their toil. I know that whatever God does endures forever; nothing can be added to it, nor anything taken from it. 

As we turn our clocks forward this weekend, let us remember the precious and sacred value of time -  each second, each moment, each breath, each heartbeat - and that through the love of God these endure forever. 

See you Sunday! And don’t forget to move your clock forward one hour!

Peace,

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

Bishop French's Visitation at the Easter Vigil

Saturday, March 30, at 7 PM

Trinity Church is honored to welcome Bishop Sally French as our Celebrant and Preacher at the Easter Vigil this year. Since this is her official visitation to Trinity for the year, Bishop French will do Baptisms as well as Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation of Faith as part of the service. Before she comes, we need to fill out a form listing the people being baptized, confirmed, etc. If you or your child(ren) are interested in Baptism and haven't already talked to us, please let Annie or Paul know. Young people who plan on being confirmed should contact Emily. Adults who would like to be confirmed, received, or making a reaffirmation of faith* should contact Kara. 

For confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation, we will need to know your full name, previous church affiliation if any, age, and the date and place of your baptism (a 'guesstimate' is fine). 

*What's the difference? In Confirmation, our young people affirm the promises that were made for them at their baptism. Adults from other traditions commit to living out their Christian life in the fellowship and communion of the Episcopal Church. Those who were previously confirmed in the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches are received by the Bishop rather than confirmed again. And anyone, at any time, can make a public reaffirmation of their faith with the Bishop and receive her blessing on God's continuing work in their lives. 

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.  

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.

Christians have long known the spiritual benefit of going to another place, whether in a pilgrimage or in a monastic retreat, in order to focus on God without the distractions of everyday life. Pilgrimage is praying with your feet, an active way of drawing closer to God. Retreat is another way of drawing closer to God by not-doing instead of by doing. Here at Trinity Church, we have two exciting opportunities for pilgrimage and retreat coming up soon: one is a grand expedition and one is a quiet retreat close to home. 

1. Exploring our Anglican Heritage: A Pilgrimage from Canterbury to York

October 17-28, 2024

Our very own Meg Harper carried forward our Friday Lenten concert series this week, with back-to-back concerts on Thursday at Princeton University’s chapel and Friday in our sanctuary. Her recital reportoire featured the works of Bach, Hambraeus, Pärt, and Arakelyan.