Make Our Life Together a Sign of Christ’s Love

Dear Good People of Trinity Church,

Just before the 5:30 Eucharist on Wednesday, my phone buzzed with news: Charlie Kirk had been killed. A conservative political activist and a deeply polarizing figure—followed by millions, despised by millions—his death was immediately met with words of horror, outrage, and disgust. The airwaves filled with the usual rhetoric about political violence, gun control, and the deep divides in our society.

I walked into the chapel for worship and offered a reflection—disjointed, raw, unrefined. Today, on 9/11 of all days, I am trying to write something more thoughtful. As a priest, people expect me to offer a word: grounding, hope, faith. What follows is simply my heart and mind in this moment. Yesterday my words were different; tomorrow they may be different still.

First - why are we shocked? We live in a world steeped in violence. Every day, people are shot and killed. According to the Pew Research Center, nearly 47,000 people died of gun-related injuries in 2023—38% were murder. That is nearly 18,000 murders in one year. Someone gets angry, picks up a gun, and takes a life.

But violence is not only personal—it is systemic, national, global. Governments plot and plan wars. Entire populations are sacrificed because of power, anger, greed, and fear, but under the guise of something good and noble, necessary and courageous. Violence is not an occasional interruption in our world; it is all too often the normative reality.

And the violence of our world is not only about guns, not by any means. There is economic violence, relational violence, sexual violence, emotional violence, “tribal” violence, religious violence – violence contaminates the very fabric of our being. Some is public, graphic, and on display. Some is quiet, subtle, cunning, and seductive—yet just as destructive, just as damning.

Second - on Sunday, I said that Jesus warns us: following him will get very real. Because the world is broken—broken in a uniquely human way with envy, fear, jealousy, and hate. Since the beginning, we have continually responded to that brokenness with violence.

So, what do we do as followers of Christ? We cannot stand on some imagined moral high ground, as if we have special clarity because we “follow” Jesus. No—we fall to our knees and pray. We beg for forgiveness. We search our souls, honestly confronting the truth of our own violence—sometimes hidden in the shadows of our hearts, sometimes shockingly exposed. And we trust in God’s love and grace. Only then can we begin to live differently, see differently, speak differently, act differently—not adding to the darkness, but bringing even the faintest light. And this we believe: the darkness cannot and will not overcome the light, even when it shines dimly from our fragile human souls.

Finally - I do not know if these words bring any comfort or clarity, but I offer them in faith, as we seek our way forward together. My dear ones, there will be more violence - there always is. But, there will also be more love, more hope, more life. There always is!

I leave you with a prayer from the wedding liturgy, written for couples beginning their life together, but just as fitting for us, as we continue on this sacred journey.

Make [our] life together a sign of Christ’s love to this sinful and broken world,
that unity may overcome estrangement,
forgiveness heal guilt,
and joy conquer despair. Amen.

Peace and blessings,
Paul+

Get Ready...

Dear Good People of Trinity,

This Sunday, we gather for Homecoming Sunday and begin a new program year together. I always love the excitement, energy, and possibilities this season brings. It is a time of life and abundance as we look forward to the ways God will work through the people of Trinity Church in the coming year. Trinity now enters our 192nd year of ministry, rapidly approaching our bicentennial.

As we prepare to gather this Sunday, I pause to reflect on the thousands of families and individuals who, over nearly two centuries, have found at Trinity Church a place of grace, service, prayer, and praise.

When the first families gathered at Trinity, Andrew Jackson was President of the United States. Since then, the people of Trinity Church have gathered for worship through the Civil War and abolition of slavery, the Industrial Revolution, World War I, the birth of the Soviet Union, the Great Depression, the Holocaust, World War II, the Cold War, the Korean and Vietnam Wars, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Civil Rights Movement, the assassinations of President Kennedy and Dr. King, the moon landing, Watergate, the fall of the Soviet Union, September 11, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the explosion of technology and emergence artificial intelligence—and that is only part of the story!

Through it all, God’s people have gathered here: to sing and pray, to serve and love, to learn and grow in faith. In and through it all, we strive to make our broken world a little more like the image and likeness of God’s hope for us. We know there is still much work to be done.

Get ready …our journey continues! Forward in faith! There is love to be shared, people to be welcomed, and Good News to be proclaimed.

I look forward to welcoming you home this Sunday.

Peace and Blessings,

Paul+

It’s Good to Come Home

Earlier this week, I was blessed with an invitation to visit a dear friend on the coast of Massachusetts. It was a quick 24-hour trip, but filled with conversation, laughter, and the kind of renewal only friendship and the sea can bring.

When I arrived, my friend and his sons were still out on the ocean after a morning of deep-sea fishing. When word came that they were headed back, his wife and I went down to the dock to meet them. We stood looking to the horizon. “There’s their boat,” we thought as a tiny speck appeared in the distance. We watched it draw closer and closer until finally, it tied up to the mooring. The crew climbed into the dinghy and made their way to shore.

On the surface, nothing about it seems particularly extraordinary. But as I reflected, I realized how often we stand on the dock—whatever our “dock” may be—waiting for someone to come home. Maybe from an exciting adventure or a season of challenge. With our eyes fixed into the distance, we see a faint outline, a small figure, and we ask ourselves, Could it be? Is it them? And when we finally know for sure, our hearts race, joy fills our souls, and we breathe a prayer of gratitude: They’re home. They’re safe. Thank God.

And maybe, just maybe, it was the same for my friend and his sons. At some point, they must have looked toward the shore, wondering, Can you see the house yet? Will someone be there waiting for us? After hours of waves and wind, they were ready to return—to share their stories of fishing and laughter, of salt air and adventure—with the people who loved them.

There is something sacred about coming home. And there is something equally sacred about welcoming others home.

That’s why this year, instead of calling September 7 “Kickoff Sunday,” we are going to call it Homecoming Sunday. It will be our chance to gather again after the adventures of summer and the journeys of life, to welcome one another back to the home we call Trinity Church. A place of grace, love, and encouragement. A place where we return again and again to be reminded of God’s presence and each other’s care.

So, dear ones, whether you find yourself standing on the dock waiting for someone to come home, or whether you are the one returning after a long journey—it’s always good to come home.

Peace and Blessings,

Paul+

If We Love One Another!

Dear Beloved of Trinity Church,

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” – John 13:34–35

Earlier this week, I was speaking with a Trinity member who shared a heartfelt concern: What about those among us who may be in need but don’t know how to ask for help—or who are afraid to? Her words lifted up an essential truth: life brings challenges, and none of us are meant to carry our burdens alone. At some point, each of us will need help, and each of us is also called to offer help. That’s what it means to live in Christian community—caring for and loving one another as Christ has loved us.

I once heard someone say that we are either coming out of a storm, in the midst of one, or heading toward one. Storms are a part of life, but the good news is that we don’t face them by ourselves. Through the ministry of pastoral care, we walk alongside each other, sharing God’s love in very tangible ways.

At Trinity, our pastoral care ministry and clergy are here to support you. But we can only respond if we know of the need. That’s where you come in. If you or someone you know could use care, please reach out. We have people who make home visits, who bring the Eucharist, who pray faithfully, who deliver flowers, and who show up with presence and compassion. We can also help with transportation needs, or even connect people with resources during financial hardship.

So, let this be a gentle reminder: if you have a need, or know someone who does, please let the clergy or pastoral care team know. And if we cannot provide the help directly, we will do our best to connect you with resources that can. Together, we embody the Gospel truth: by this everyone will know that we are Christ’s disciples, if we love one another.

Peace and Blessings,

Paul+

What a Story!

Dear Beloved of Trinity,

It’s good to be home!!

This summer in Michigan, I heard the most wonderful story. A dear friend of ours, who is 94 years old, said: “You’re never going to believe what happened to me about a month ago.”

His daughter had received a phone call from a woman who began with: “I think you might be my half-sister.” Instead of shock or anger, the news was met with curiosity and kindness. The woman, now 72 years old, explained how she had always felt a bit different—like she didn’t quite belong in her family. She knew she wasn’t adopted, yet something always seemed off. After her parents passed away, she decided to take a DNA test. What she discovered changed everything.

Through the miracle of DNA, she learned that her father was not her biological father. Long ago, some 72 years earlier at Yale, her mother had shared a romance with my friend. When her mother returned home, she never told him she was pregnant. He never knew he had a daughter.

This news came at a profound time in his life. A year or two ago, he suffered a serious heart issue and nearly died. He has been struggling to regain his health. With tears in his eyes, he said, “Now I know why I’m still alive. My daughter was looking for me, and I didn’t even know I had a daughter.”

His daughter, now accomplished and well known throughout the country, had already found financial, cultural, and societal success. Yet what she longed for most was not achievement—it was to know who her father was, to know where she came from, to know the rest of her story.

This September, they will finally meet in person. They’ve already spoken over Zoom, marveling at their similarities—their gestures, tone of voice, even their facial expressions. Her half-sister said without hesitation: “She is certainly Dad’s daughter.”

Digging a little deeper, for many people, there is a restlessness in the heart, mind, and soul. They may find success, recognition, or status, yet it can still feel as though life is lived in shoes that don’t quite fit, in a sweater that itches, or through glasses with the wrong prescription. Something feels off. Something is missing.

Through God’s love, however, things are made right. We discover who we are and whose we are. We remember that the soil from which we came is sacred. Our DNA is holy. We belong to God, who has given us a home, a family, a place of belonging and love.

It calls to mind the words of Jesus in the Gospel of John:

“In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.”

In a world that often feels unsettling and uncertain—when we feel out of place or unsure of where we fit—God reminds us that we have a true home. We have a place, a belonging, and a being that is grounded in love.

And that … is the best story ever told!

Peace and Blessings,
Paul

Welcome to our new Director of Family Ministries and Family Ministries Advisor

Dear Good People of Trinity Church,

It is a joy to introduce two new members of our Trinity Church staff!

Please join me in warmly welcoming Anne Thomsen Lord, our new Director of Family Ministries, and Catherine Breed, who will serve as our Family Ministries Advisor. We are incredibly blessed to have these two faithful, wise, and dedicated leaders joining our team.

With Anne and Catherine’s guidance, we are poised to grow and strengthen our ministries for children, youth, and families—through education, service, and worship that reflect the heart of our community and the truth of the Gospel.

Their presence is a gift, and I am excited for the journey ahead as they help lead us forward in love and faith. They will officially begin on August 15.

You’ll find their bios below. I hope you’ll take a moment to read about them and join me in giving them a warm Trinity welcome.

Peace and blessings,
Paul+

Anne Thomsen Lord

Anne Thomsen Lord hails from the Nebraska prairie but has called Princeton home since 2009. She attended Arizona State University and graduated with degrees in English literature and Classics. She completed a Master’s in Christian Education and Faith Formation along with a Certificate in Theology, Ecology, and Faith Formation from Princeton Theological Seminary in 2023. 

Anne interned at St. Mary Medical Center in Langhorne, PA as an Interfaith chaplain and spent the last year working at HomeWorks Trenton, a local nonprofit. Anne loves sunshine and water and has held various positions in aquatics programs for over twenty-five years.

Since 2007, Anne has been the primary caregiver to her children. She and her spouse, Errol, have four sporty kids that challenge and inspire her. 

Catherine Breed

Catherine Breed is a religious educator with over 25 years experience working with children and youth in churches and Episcopal Schools. Most recently she taught Religion at the Lovett School in Atlanta, GA. She is a grant coordinator with StoryMakers, a non-profit creative studio in NYC which designs and produces religious education resources and curriculum.

Catherine has an undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia and Master of Arts in Christian Education from Princeton Theological Seminary. She and her husband Brennan (now a Professor of Old Testament at PTS) led the youth group at Trinity Church from 2004-2006, and she is excited to be back!

Set Your Sails — Be Ready

Dear Beloved of Trinity Church,

I write to you from Harbor Springs, Michigan, a beautiful town along the shores of Lake Michigan, just south of the Upper Peninsula and not far from Mackinac Island. For over twenty years, my family and I have been blessed to spend part of our summers here. If our timing is right, we get to witness the annual sailing regatta—an event that draws boats and sailors from across the Great Lakes.

These boats are not only beautiful but often extremely sophisticated. Their crews are seasoned and skilled. And yet, despite all their training and technology, they remain utterly dependent on one thing: the wind. Without it, they sit motionless. And when the wind comes, they must set their sails carefully and wisely to capture its power. No amount of skill or equipment can compensate for its absence.

This, dear friends, is a powerful—if imperfect—metaphor for our spiritual lives. Whether we are navigating life with seasoned faith or just beginning to explore the waters of belief, we all need the wind of the Spirit to move us. We may prepare our vessels, hoist our sails, and chart our course, but without the breath of God—without the Spirit—we go nowhere.

The Spirit of God is the wind that fills our sails, the unseen force that moves us forward with purpose, power, and direction. It is only in relationship to that divine movement that we find our true course. It is the tension between our sails and that sacred wind that carries us across the waters of life—sometimes calm, often choppy—toward a destination that is holy and meaningful.

So, I invite you in the week ahead: in your heart, in your soul, in your imagination—set your sails. Be ready. Wait and watch for the Spirit’s stirring. It may come as a gentle breeze or a sudden gust, but it will come. And when it does, may it move you in ways that are wondrous and unexpected, sometimes challenging, yet always sacred.

Forward in faith!

Peace and Blessings,

Paul+

Forward in Faith!

Dear Friends,

By the time you read this, I will have arrived in Michigan, where I will be serving the people of St. John’s Church in Harbor Springs for the next four weeks. During this time apart, please know that I will hold you close in heart and prayer—and I ask that you do the same for me and my family.

During this time, I invite you to reflect upon who we are as the people of Trinity Church, and how God is working in and through us in unique and beautiful ways. There is only one Trinity Church in Princeton—only one in the entire world. And we have our own distinct way of embodying and proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I believe God is calling us to something meaningful in the year ahead—something that will bring life and light to the world.

In the weeks to come, I encourage you to reflect on the following quote from John O’Donohue’s book Eternal Echoes. Let it speak to your own journey, and also to our shared calling as the people of Trinity Church:

“There are no manuals for the construction of the individual you would like to become. You are the only one who can decide this and take up the lifetime of work that it demands. This is a wonderful privilege and such an exciting adventure. To grow into the person that your deepest longing desires is a great blessing. If you can find a creative harmony between your soul and your life, you will have found something infinitely precious. You may not be able to do much about the great problems of the world or to change the situation you are in, but if you can awaken the eternal beauty and light of your soul, you will bring light wherever you go. The gift of life is given to us for ourselves and also to bring peace, courage, and compassion to others.”

• Who is God calling us to become?

• How do we find creative harmony with one another—and with God?

• How do we meet the challenges of this moment in history with courage and hope?

• How can we awaken in ourselves a beauty and light that brings peace, compassion, and justice to others?

There is important and holy work before us. May we trust in the goodness, grace, and love of God to lead us into the fullness of life—for God’s glory and for the care of all God’s children.

Forward in faith!

Peace and Blessings,

Paul+