Dear Good People of Trinity Church,  

What an extraordinary Sunday we had! From the uplifting worship and the dynamic Annual Meeting to the warm gathering of newcomers at the rectory, it was a day filled with positivity and energy. The day was brought a beautiful close with Choral Compline and the youth group enjoyed a fun evening watching the Barbie movie, followed by an engaging discussion. (Surprisingly, there's a lot more to the film than one might think!)  

I want to take this opportunity to offer a heartfelt congratulations to Chris Leavell, Steve Plimpton, Nicole Shelton, and Amelia Willson—our newly elected Vestry Class of 2026! And on behalf of the entire parish, I extend deep gratitude to Elaine Pagels, Clancy Rowley, and Spencer Reynolds for their three years of dedicated service as the Vestry Class of 2023. Each of them brought invaluable gifts and insights to our leadership team.  

I would also like to echo the sentiments expressed on Sunday. We are incredibly blessed to have such a remarkable staff — Kara, Wesley, Emily, Meg, Connor, Lily, Annie, Char, Enrique, and Roberto. Their exceptional contributions enrich our community, and we are truly grateful. Special thanks to our Vestry, led by David Schnieder, our Senior Warden, Victor Gibbs, our Junior Warden, and Stephen Evans, our Finance Chair, as well as to all our lay leadership and dedicated committee members.  

On a personal note, I want to express my profound thanks for the kindness and care you extended to me and my family as we celebrated 15 years of ministry and life together. Your surprise touched me deeply, and I am forever grateful.   As we approach Thanksgiving, I am filled with gratitude to serve as your rector and to be a part of this beloved community. We are Trinity Church!  

Diocesan Convention Representatives 2024

• Paul Becker

• Bonnie Bivins

• Liz Reid

• Amelia Willson  

Diocesan Convention Alternates 2024/Deputies for 2025

• Julia Garry

• Julie Denny '

• Miranda Bailey-Russomano

• PA Tippett    

Trenton Convocation Representatives for 2024

• Helen Burke

• Bonnie Bivins

• Ed DiJoseph

• Molly Schneider

• Trudy Sykes

Peace and Blessings,

Evensong with choral music by Bernard Rose, Betty Jackson King, and George Dyson, sung by the Trinity Adult Choir.  

Bring a donation to help our community prepare for Thanksgiving.  Bring food items to donate to Arm In Arm, or make a monetary gift at the offertory.  All funds raised at Evensong will be donated to Arm In Arm.

Arm In Arm accepts the following donations:

https://arminarm.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/AIA-Food-Drive-Flyer.pdf.

Starting last Sunday, November 12, we have begun offering a new program called Playful Worship for young children during the 10:30 a.m. service! 

Here is a brief summary of the details, followed by a short explanation. 

What: Playful Worship

Who: Children ages PreK(4) - 3rd Grade 

Where: Thomas Room (next to the Kitchen) - need help finding this space? Ask one of the Ushers for help. 

When: 10:20 a.m. until approximately 11 a.m. (or during the announcements). 

Alex Englert, a parent in our parish with two young, energetic children, has offered to lead this program each week. This is an opportunity for children from PreK(4) through 3rd grade to engage in worship by practicing a bit of stillness, and plenty of movement. 

Alex will lead prayer, activities, and games for the kids during the first half of the 10:30 a.m. service. Then, he will bring the kids to rejoin the main service during the announcements, so that families can partake of the Eucharist together. 

In order to help this program succeed, we need parental volunteers! If your child will participate in this program, please sign up to help with supervision at least twice between now and the end of May 2024. Use the following LINK. Link also in the QR code.

Families can bring their children to the Thomas Room between 10:20 and 10:30 for drop-off. Children must be in PreK (4 year old) and be fully independent in the bathroom. 

Play clothes and outdoor layers encouraged! 

Are you interested in Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church? Just want to learn more about our faith? Join Kara for Episcopal 101, Sundays in November at 1 PM in the Thomas Room. Contact Kara at sladek@trinityprinceton.org if you'd like to sign up - or just come for the session.

We have been busy putting everything in place for Trinity’s biggest fundraising event of the year now benefitting 5 local organizations, ArmInArm, Urban Promise Trenton, Capital Harmony Works (Trenton Children’s Chorus), Housing Initiatives of Princeton, and Homefront. Last year we distributed $70,000 to our local groups form the proceeds of our wonderful one day event. 

You can still register to run or walk or roll our 5k Thanksgiving Day race at www.trinityturkeytrot.org. This is great way to start your Thanksgiving Day and making a difference in so many people’s lives. This is an all volunteer event and we need your help! Please sign up on our website to serve a shift on Sunday 11.20, Wednesday 11.23 or on Thanksgiving morning. 

We are also accepting non perishable food items on Race Day that will be collected and distributed to the food insecure by ArmInArm. You can drop off at their truck in the parking circle at the church. 

Join Kara for an Advent book group, Monday evenings on Zoom at 7 PM starting on November 27th. We'll read Heaven and Earth: Advent and the Incarnation by Will Willimon of Duke Divinity School, former Dean of Duke University Chapel and United Methodist Bishop.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r_F74Y_RwSg

Are you vaguely middle-aged, with kids or without? Join us for the launch of Oregon Trailblazers at Trinity at our Liturgical New Year's Eve party! We'll get together on Saturday, December 2, from 6-8 PM at the church to ring in Advent. Bring your kids if you'd like and we will make sure they leave with you - alive. Contact Kara for details (sladek@trinityprinceton.org).

Looking for Cookie, Cake, Pie and Special Treat Makers!!

Please indulge your inner pastry chef to create and make your favorite baked treats for the St. Nicholas Bazaar  "Bake Table and Cookie Walk" on December 9.  Our customers will be looking for treats for themselves and wonderful gifts to stash in their freezers.

You can leave your goodies in Pierce Hall either Friday, December 8 or early on the 9th, but please, no bought items - we have our reputation as fabulous cooks to maintain!

ST. NICK’S IS COMING…

That means your help is needed, in so many ways. Join us Sunday morning at 9 am between services and before Forum in the Parish Hall to volunteer, or let Sylvia Temmer or Pegi Stengel know you will help out: Sbjornberg77@icloud.com or mstengel329@hotmail.com.

We need your hand-made items to sell: knitted things, quilted things, aprons, scarves, anything made by hand.

AND, don’t forget Junior Shoppers, a place where children can buy presents for Mom, Dad, or siblings - and sometimes Mom/Dad can get something nice, too.  All sorts of things are needed. 

And, on Tuesday Dec. 5 in the Thomas Room, we start making Boxwood trees from 10-2pm and continue on Wednesday from 10-2pm.

Wednesday night (Dec 6) starting about 6 pm will be wreath decorating also in Thomas, which will continue on Thursday all day.

Friday is decorating the parish hall day. And Friday night is the party for all the parish! Food, drinks, music, singing, and dancing!

Then don’t forget to shop on Saturday at our St. Nick’s Bazaar!

Join us for a writing workshop led by Dr. Elaine Pagels.

Assisted by Dr. Nithila Peter.

• 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm.

• December 7th, December 12th, December 21st, 2023

• January 11th and January 18th - 2024

(full capacity - around 10 - 12)

Email - nithilapeter@eileads.com or sladek@princetontrinity.org to sign up.

We welcome those willing to explore the process of writing—in the key of memoir, about something you've experienced—recently, or long ago, or whatever!  It could be about an experience or moment that has been meaningful, or a turning point, a surprising ending of some episode—whatever you decide. We'd suggest that you consider writing one to five pages a week, and, when you're ready, share what you're writing with the rest of us. We're looking forward to the challenge of just starting in, seeing what happens; often unexpectedly rewarding.  

Dr. Elaine Pagels joined the Princeton faculty in 1982, shortly after receiving a MacArthur Fellowship. Perhaps best known as the author of The Gnostic Gospels, The Origin of Satan, and Adam, Eve and the Serpent, she has published widely on Gnosticism and early Christianity, and continues to pursue research interests in late antiquity.  She has also written one personal book - Why Religion. This writing workshop is inspired by that experience.

Dr. Nithila Peter works as counsel and coach for emotional intelligence and the leadership journey @ Princeton, NJ.  She writes mini-memoirs and EI life-work/work-life stories.  She will assist Elaine in the writing workshop.

Saturday, December 9, 2023, 4:00 PM

Join Voices Chorale NJ for a festive concert featuring the heartfelt, rarely performed Christmas Oratorio by Camille Saint-Saëns and spirited arrangements of holiday favorite classics including, Joy to the World, There Shall a Star from Jacob Come Forth, Wassail, and joyful Hanukkah favorites. Led by Artistic Director Dr. David A. McConnell, the chorale continues its tradition of presenting engaging, challenging, and diverse music in this winter concert. Dr. Akiko Hosaki will accompany the choir on piano and organ. Visit VoicesChoraleNJ.org for more information. 

The Angel Tree project is happening again this year.  The Tree will be up in the Narthex on the Sunday after Thanksgiving. We have requests this year to help 160 people with gifts from the three agencies listed below.  Many want gift cards but there will be some gifts for children.  All gifts will need to be at church by Sunday, Dec. 10th.  More specific directions will be by the tree and in future Epistles.

Housing Initiatives of Princeton – this program, which was started by Trinity Church, provides transitional housing for 24 months coupled with supportive services.  They also provide temporary rental assistance to enable low-income families to retain existing housing or acquire affordable housing.

Urban Promise of Trenton - their mission is to equip Trenton’s children and young adults with the skills necessary for academic achievement, life management, spiritual growth and Christian leadership.  We have supported this agency since their inception 11 years ago with the Turkey Trot, summer day camp, and of course the Angel Tree.

Arm in Arm – is another agency started by Trinity church in the 1980’s. We will support the All Kids Thrive program of 15 youth and the Housing Stability  program of 23 families.