✢ E-PISTLE WEEK OF SUNDAY, MARCH 8th, 2026 ✢

WEEK OF SUNDAY, MARCH 8th, 2026
✢ THIRD SUNDAY IN LENT ✢

Seeing with Fresh Eyes

Dear Beloved of Trinity Church,

Some weeks ago, I shared that a friend took me to Longwood Gardens for my birthday. It was a cold January day, but within the warmth and beauty of the arboretum, we discovered such color and life. It was an oasis in the middle of the barren landscape of winter.

When I stepped into the first conservatory, my glasses immediately fogged from the dramatic change in temperature and climate. After taking them off and letting my eyes adjust, I simply stood there—eyes wide—slowly turning in place, trying to take it all in. Everywhere I looked there was beauty: vibrant flowers, towering palms, rich greens, and bright colors alive in the middle of winter.

My friend stood nearby with a huge smile on his face and began to laugh.

“I love bringing people here and watching their reaction,” he said. “Because there’s nothing like seeing it for the very first time.”

And he’s right.

There is something sacred about experiencing things for the first time. The first time we taste something delicious, smell the fragrance of a flower, hear a beautiful piece of music, or witness a breathtaking landscape—we are filled with awe, wonder, excitement, and life. But over time, familiarity quietly dulls our awareness. What once filled us with amazement becomes ordinary. What once made us pause becomes something we pass by without noticing.

What a loss.

The French writer Marcel Proust once wrote,
“The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.”

And G. K. Chesterton reminds us,
“The world will never starve for want of wonders, but only for want of wonder.”

In this season, I invite us to awaken our souls again to the gifts of God and life that surround us—to see again, as if for the very first time, the sunrise in the morning sky, the faces of those we love, the taste of our favorite food, the sound of a song that stirs our hearts.

To see again, with fresh eyes, the gift of God’s love alive in the world—so that our hearts may be stirred, our souls nourished, and our spirits enlivened.

Lenten Blessings,

DAYLIGHT SAVINGS

MARCH 8th “Spring Forward”

Please remember that Daylight Savings is this Sunday and the time moves forward by one hour. Sleep well!

PHISHING SCAMS

Please be aware that there has been a prevalence of phishing scams pretending to be clergy or staff. Please make sure to confirm that the email address is coming from the correct @trinityprinceton.org email. We will never solicit or ask you to send money or valuables to an unknown source.

This Sunday’s Sermon:

The Rev. Paul Jeanes III

9:30am Adult Forum

Sunday, March 8 at 9:30 AM: Questions on the Way with Emma Stewart: Prayer and the Sacraments

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SUNDAY READINGS

First Lesson:

Exodus 17:1-7

Second Lesson:

Romans 5:1-11

Gospel:

John 4:5-42

Download Bulletin

March 8th

10:30 AM BULLETIN

LIVESTREAM

Calling All Future Acolytes!

Might you or your child be called to serve God and Trinity Church on the altar?

Trinity is starting an acolyte program open to all kids and teens grades 5+.

Kids and teens are invited to join our adult and seminary acolytes as torchbearers.

This meaningful and important ministry will help participants to better understand the liturgy and enable them to take a leadership role in the service.

Low-commitment, participants will be required to attend an initial one-hour training and to sign up to acolyte at the 10:30am (10am in the summer) service at least once every-other month (6x year) via a sign-up genius and will be mentored as they progress. Treble choristers are encouraged to participate on their off Sundays to experience the liturgy from a different perspective.

Email Allie Graham at allie.graham@gmail.com for more information along with your child's grade for the 2025-2026 school year as well as their height. Adults who are curious about this ministry are also welcome to inquire.

Watercolors with Hank Bristol

After Easter Sunday - please bring a friend and join Hank Bristol at church for an Introduction to Watercolors Sunday afternoons in April at 3pm

Meeting Dates: 4/12, 4/19, 4/26

[...followed by our Evening Prayer/Compline...]

Most materials will be provided.

Questions and to pre-register: call/text Hank

609-915-5134 cel

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Dear Friends,

As we enter the season of Lent, we are introducing our new Parish Directory with InstantChurchDirectory.com. Please click below to sign up:

PARISH DIRECTORY

Please update your information. You can also upload a picture if you choose! If you have any technical difficulties please reach out to epistle@trinityprinceton.org.

Thank you for helping us keep our amazing church community connected.

Peace,

New day and time! Oregon Trailblazers March 15 after the 10:30 Service

Are you 'vaguely middle-aged'? Then Oregon Trailblazers is for you! Join us for lunch after church on Sunday, March 15. RSVP here and let us know you're coming!

https://forms.gle/Yr1HX5scjPkqD4DR8

Music for Sunday | 8 March 2026

Holy Eucharist | 8 and 10:30 am

Prelude: (8:00) Attende Domine - Jeanne Demessieux; (10:30) Andantino - Flor Peeters

Choral Mass Setting (10:30): Missa Brevis - Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina

Hymns: “Come, thou fount of every blessing” (tune: Nettleton), “Now, my tongue, the mystery

telling” (tune: Pange Lingua), “Guide me, O thou great Jehovah” (tune: Cwm Rhondda)

Offertory Music: (8:00) Prelude in E Minor, BWV 555 - attrib. J.S. Bach; (10:30) Turn thy face from my sins - Thomas Attwood

Communion Music: O salutaris hostia - Herbert Howells

Choral Compline | 5 pm

Nunc dimittis: Septimi Toni - Orlando di Lasso

Motet: O Lord, the makker of all thinge - William Mundy

Marian Antiphon: Ave Regina coelorum (Plainsong)

Trinity’s Family Ministries

NEWSLETTER

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Adult Formation Corner:

Lent Continues

Dear friends,

Lent is a time to recommit ourselves to following Jesus, and to turn to Jesus as our friend as well as our savior. Part of that journey with Jesus is spending time in prayer and in study – and Trinity has several opportunities for you to do just that!

On Sunday mornings during Lent, we are exploring the Catechism and delve deeper into what we believe as Episcopalians with our series Questions on the Way. We will also have our traditional program of Eucharist, dinner and formation on Wednesday evenings during Lent. On Wednesdays, join us for Eucharist at 5:30, dinner at 6 PM, and a discussion of Walk in Love: Episcopal Beliefs and Practices by Scott Gunn and Melody Wilson Shobe.

This program is for everyone, but it will also serve as confirmation preparation for adults. If you’d like to buy your own copy of the book, you can do so here:

https://shop.forwardmovement.org/product/2463

If you’re interested in confirmation, email me at sladek@trinityprinceton.org so I can add you to the list.

Yours in Christ, and in Christ alone,

Webinar: The Future of Theology

Discover fresh perspectives on the future of theology in a webinar inspired by the recent release of Wisdom, Knowledge, and Faith: New Essays on the Future of Theology and The Episcopal Church, from Church Publishing.

This conversation brings together a distinguished panel of contemporary Episcopal theologians—Scott MacDougall, Kara Slade, Kelli Joyce, and Olufemi Gonsalves—moderated by Robert MacSwain.

Together, they will explore emerging trends, innovative approaches, and the essentials of theological education, while also sharing how their formative thinking has shaped their vision for the discipline.

You can register here (it’s free and open to the public):

Adult Formation This Week:

Sunday, March 8 at 9:30 AM: Questions on the Way with Emma Stewart: Prayer and the Sacraments

Monday, March 9 at 7:30 PM at Yankee Doodle Tap Room: Pub Theology with Hailey Hensley

Wednesday, March 11: Eucharist at 5:30 PM, dinner at 6:00 PM, and Lent program at 6:30 PM

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Travel to the Holy Land

A couple of years back, some members of Trinity Church traveled with our Rector, Paul Jeanes, and The Rev. Keith Marsh and to the Holy Land.

It proved to be a marvelous and spiritually uplifting experience for all who made the pilgrimage! After retiring in June of 2023, Keith started Spirited Pilgrimages, a business devoted to planning, promoting and hosting unique, small-group pilgrimages around the world for people of faith.

Two pilgrimages have been planned for the fall of next year and you are invited to join:

The Footsteps of Paul – September 9-19, 2026 – travel through Turkey and Greece by land and sea - visit sites from the Book of Acts associated with St. Paul on his missionary journeys: Ephesus, Patmos, Corinth, Athens and more, including the islands of Crete and Santorini
Celtic Christianity – October 12-24, 2026 – follow the path of Christianity’s early years in the Celtic kingdoms, beginning in Ireland and expanding into Scotland and northern England – trace the spread of Celtic Christianity from its introduction by St. Patrick to its demise at the Council of Whitby.

These pilgrimages will be led by Keith, an experienced pilgrimage planner and host. To learn more about these two all-inclusive pilgrimages – expansive itinerary, roundtrip airfare, lodging and meal details, price and deadlines, as well as how to reserve your spot – visit the Spirited Pilgrimages website at: spiritedpilgrimages.com

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PRAYER LIST:

Please keep the following individuals in your prayers:

Dan Van Abs, Joshua Alexander, Barbara, Susan Barry, Zoe Beaton, Vanessa Belhomme, Peter Brown, Jennifer Burke, Brian Burleson, Peter, Bill Causey, Kevin F. Cunningham, Chip Dongara, Daryll Eatmon, Gus Escher, Amy G., Pat Grabiec, Reverend Dana Hall, John Hannan, William Hannan, Ellen Jane, Anne Jarmon, Deborah Jordan, Patricia Killian, Edwin Metcalf, Nancy Metcalf,, Louise Mountford, Joan Nester, Guy Pierson, Bob Pietrucha, Lisa Witt Pinair, Cornelia Jane Reeder, Carol Reynolds, Claire Roberts, Jennifer Sanborn, Kara Slade, Nancy Slade, Clive Muncaster, Dulcie Muncaster, Dianne Senko, Samantha Seto, Randy States, Isaiah Stevens, Gary Sykes, Sylvia Temmer, P.A. Tippett, and Joshua.

Please pray for the following souls who have recently passed:

John Bertalot

Billy Mitchell

Dorothy Morin

Individuals will remain on the prayer list for one month, unless we are otherwise notified.

➨ 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 of every 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.”

PARISH CARE

Please know that we are here for you, to support you and pray for you however best we can. Feel free to reach out to the clergy.