Fourteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 
 

Rejoice with me, for I have found my lost sheep... Rejoice with me for I have found the coin that I had lost. — Luke 15:6b;9b

Jeremiah 4:11-12; 22-28
Exodus 32:7-14
1 Timothy 1:12-17
Luke 15:1-10

 

Note: This week’s resource corner includes texts from both Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) tracks. Typically, we read the RCL Track 2 texts at Trinity on Sundays.

As a parent, I have often felt frustrated when my children ignore my warnings. For them, parental caution, flowing from our hard-won wisdom, is almost like a dare. “What could go wrong?” they ask themselves. Does this sound familiar to any of you? In last week’s text from Deuteronomy, Moses encourages the people to “choose life.” This week’s readings from Jeremiah and from Exodus points toward the consequences of ignoring that exhortation.

Choosing life takes practice. Many of us know the saying, “practice makes perfect,” but what if “practice makes easier” instead? (This idea comes from Edmund Sprunger, a Suzuki violin teacher and writer who wrote, Helping Parents Practice: Ideas for Making it Easier (2005)). When we practice, we develop skills, and train our bodies to perform those skills with ease. In this week’s text from Jeremiah, God describes the people as “skilled in doing evil.” This skill must have taken practice to develop, which is a disturbing thought. Even the land shows the consequences of human skill at doing evil. How can we help our children practice doing good and choosing life instead of doing evil and choosing destruction? Jeannie Baker offers us some inspiration in an environmental sense, in her book Home. The story begins in a bleak urban landscape which corresponds to the desolation in Jeremiah. Over time, nurtured by cooperative effort, the landscape transforms and bloom.

When Moses is atop Mt. Sinai with God, the people convince Aaron to create a golden calf for them to worship, instead of God. Aaron, unfortunately, goes along with their request. God laments to Moses how quickly the people have forgotten and turned aside from the one who freed them from slavery in Egypt. In Beatrix Potter’s beloved Tale of Peter Rabbit, a similar plot unfolds. Peter’s mother warns her four children not to look for food in Mr. McGregor’s garden, lest they suffer the same grisly fate that befell Mr. Rabbit, who was caught and baked into a pie. Peter foolishly heads straight for danger. Instead of choosing life (blackberries and cream, with his sisters), he chose to court death in Mr. McGregor’s tempting lettuce beds. Fortunately, a chastened Peter escapes, but has lost his coat and frayed his nerves. His mother’s care – chamomile tea and an early bedtime – reflect God’s compassion on us when we go wrong.

In this week’s text from 1 Timothy, Paul shares a testimony of his own transformation. Before he knew Jesus, he says he was “a man of violence.” In other words, he chose death. After a dramatic conversion on the Damascus Road, God’s grace enabled him to choose life. His entire life changed for good. In her story, A Letter to My Teacher, Deborah Hopkinson writes about a student who always gets in trouble and the teacher who changes her life with patience and grace. Her teacher’s compassion sets the student on the path to become a teacher. We do not often hear personal testimonies of God’s grace in our Episcopal context. However, this week, I encourage you to remember instances of God’s grace expressed in your life and to share with your families how those experiences changed your life. Where has God found you? Who is God inviting you to become?

In this week’s text from Luke’s Gospel, Jesus is criticized for eating with the wrong kind of people. In response, Jesus offers two parables — one about the lost sheep and one about the lost coin. When one sheep out of a hundred goes missing from his flock, the shepherd searches tirelessly until he finds the sheep. When a woman loses one coin out of ten, she does not stop looking until she finds the coin again. When the lost sheep or the lost coin is found, it is time to celebrate! Practice looking and finding (and then celebrating with a little dance party) with the book Spot, the Cat, by Henry Cole. Spot wanders far from home and around the town. On each stunningly illustrated page, you can search for Spot, and catch sight of his owner, searching the streets for his beloved cat. Have you ever searched for, and then found, a lost pet? How did you feel when you finally found them? How did you celebrate?

 

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Whenever possible we’ll share links to independent to booksellers. Please consider supporting local and other indepedent bookstores.

Habitat Unity Build

Saturday, October 1, 2022, 9am at First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton

(3550 Nottingham Way, Hamiton Square)

Volunteers needed to represent Team Trinity to help construct a frame for a new home in Hightstown. We will build the frames in prescibed sections at the parking lot of First Presbyterian Church of Hamilton at 3550 Nottingham Way, Hamiton Square. This will be a fun opportunity for all faiths to come together to build a stronger community.

It starts promptly at 9am and breakfast and lunch provided.

The work day will probably wrap up around 2-3pm. All ages welcome and younger children will be given safe tasks. The basic skill of being able to use a hammer is all that is required.

For more information, please visit Habitat for Humanity’s event page or register to volunteer at GiveSmart. Feel free to contact Junior Warden Phil Unetic with any questions you may have.

A New Beginning

Dear Friends,

This Sunday marks the beginning of a new program year, the beginning of my fifteenth year as your rector, and the beginning of Trinity’s 190th year of mission and ministry. Beginnings are sacred gifts. Gifts filled with possibilities and dreams, with opportunities and hope. We stand at the threshold of a new beginning and the abundance that it offers us. All that can be and will be done in and through the love of Christ.

There is indeed an energy and excitement with the staff and vestry. We feel the Spirit working in our midst, and we can’t wait to see where the Spirit will lead us in the coming year.

Henri Nouwen writes,

We must learn to live each day, each hour, yes, each minute as a new beginning, as a unique opportunity to make everything new. Imagine that we could live each moment as a moment pregnant with new life. Imagine that we could live each day as a day full of promises. Imagine that we could walk through the new year always listening to the voice saying to us: “I have a gift for you and can’t wait for you to see it!” Imagine.

I invite you to join us this Sunday, as together, we cross the threshold to a new beginning that we may receive the gift that God has prepared for us, as the people of Trinity Church, and that we may go forth boldly with the promises of God and the transformative message of Good News.

Peace and blessings to all,

 

The Rev. Paul Jeanes III, Rector

 

Death of Queen Elizabeth II

 
 
 

Elizabeth II, Dei Gratia Britanniarum Regnorumque Suorum Ceterorum Regina, Consortionis Populorum Princeps, Fidei Defensor

Elizabeth II, by the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith

We join with Anglicans throughout the world, with the people of the United Kingdom and all nations of the Commonwealth, and above all with her family, in mourning the death of Queen Elizabeth II. As the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, she was the most well-known Anglican layperson in the world. Her quiet faith and her devotion to duty, from World War II until the appointment of Prime Minister Liz Truss only yesterday, stand as an example to us all.

We offer two prayers from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer, the authorized Prayer Book of the Church of England.

Almighty God, with whom do live the spirits of them that depart hence in the Lord, and with whom the souls of the faithful, after they are delivered from the burden of the flesh, are in joy and felicity: We give thee hearty thanks, for that it hath pleased thee to deliver this our sister out of the miseries of this sinful world; beseeching thee, that it may please thee, of thy gracious goodness, shortly to accomplish the number of thine elect, and to hasten thy kingdom; that we, with all those that are departed in the true faith of thy holy Name, may have our perfect consummation and bliss, both in body and soul, in thy eternal and everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

O Lord our heavenly Father, high and mighty, King of kings, Lord of lords, the only Ruler of princes, who dost from they throne behold all the dwellers upon earth; Most heartily we beseech thee with thy favour to behold King Charles; and so replenish him with the grace of thy Holy Spirit, that he may alway incline to thy will, and walk in thy way: Endue him plenteously with heavenly gifts; grant him in health and wealth long to live; strengthen him that he may vanquish and overcome all his enemies; and finally, after this life, he may attain everlasting joy and felicity; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

 
 

For who exalt themselves will be humbled and all who humble themselves will be exalted. — Luke 14:11

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. — Hebrews 13:2

Jeremiah 2:4-13
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14

 

Note: This week’s resource corner includes texts from both Revised Common Lectionary (RCL) tracks. Typically, we read the RCL Track 2 texts at Trinity on Sundays.

Though I rarely get to do it, I love working with clay. Maybe some of you remember the feel of working with clay on a pottery wheel, the process of throwing a pot, the frustration of needing to start over, or the excitement of firing the finished creation in the kiln. In this week’s text from Jeremiah, the prophet receives a word from the Lord to visit the potter’s house just when the potter had to rework a spoiled project into something new. Jeremiah must imagine God as a potter shaping and reshaping the people to bring God’s ways of life and love into the world. My Pen, by Christopher Myers, helps us to imagine God’s creativity and artistry transforming reality. (For those of you familiar with Harold’s Purple Crayon, by Crockett Johnson, this book is a fresh take on the idea that artistic creativity changes reality.) Starting from a meditation on feeling a bit small and powerless compared with rich and famous people, the narrator uses line drawings to express the power of imagination and love.

For older readers, Linda Sue Park’s story, A Single Shard, offers a reflection on how creativity transforms even the artist. Set in Korea, the story follows an orphan named Tree-ear, after he accidentally shatters a pot in a master potter’s studio. How will he repair the damage? How will he change in the process? In spare, evocative prose, Park transports readers across time and space as she narrates Tree-ear’s journey. As you reflect on God’s creativity, you might wonder together how you can participate in that creativity this week. Ask where you see God transforming the world already and then brainstorm about ways you can partner with God’s work in the world.

In this week’s lectionary text from Deuteronomy, Moses exhorts the Israelites to “choose life so that you and your descendants may live” (Deut 30:19) in the promised land. Moses knows that this is not always easy, and that in their desert wanderings, the people did not always choose life. In fact, Moses himself will not get to enter the promised land with the people because of his own disobedience to God’s command. As parents, we often tell our children to follow certain rules for their own good, and I’m sure we’ve all experienced the frustration of our children ignoring our instructions. How can we help our children understand the love lying behind the rules we enforce? Especially when the choice to be naughty is tempting. In That Is NOT a Good Idea, by Mo Willems, invites young children to join a chorus of chicks watching a situation unfold between a fox and a goose. Mo Willems’ trademark humor and illustrations will be familiar to fans of Gerald and Piggy, or the Pigeon. Other books with a similar story line to try are Chanticleer and the Fox, by Barbara Cooney, and The Tale of Jemima Puddle-Duck, by Beatrix Potter.

For older readers, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl, is a zany romp through Willy Wonka’s chocolate factory with Charlie and the other winners of Mr. Wonka’s coveted Golden Tickets. When they begin the tour, Mr. Wonka issues a warning, reminiscent of the warning Moses issues to the Israelites. The children and their chaperones are about to enter the promised land of sweets. If they want to get through the entire factory tour, they must follow Mr. Wonka’s instructions exactly, or chance the consequences. Who will make it past the (legion) temptations to stray from the path inside and who will succumb? No spoilers here. This book makes a great read- aloud!

Paul’s epistle to Philemon is the shortest book in the Bible. The lectionary reading for Sunday contains almost the entire book! In spite of its brevity, the book gestures toward several profound transformations—spiritual, physical, and relational. However, these incredibly complex changes happened in ways that might be invisible to other people. Onesimus was Philemon’s former slave who ran away and has become a follower of Christ while he was in prison with Paul. Can Philemon look past his memory of the Onesimus he used to know in order to welcome the transformed Onesimus? This question of perception, of past and present selves, is tricky indeed. For kids, coming back from summer to a new year at school might provide practice in getting to know familiar faces in new ways. Amy Krouse Rosenthal’s optical playfulness in Duck Rabbit! offers another way to explore this concept. Rosenthal incorporates visual puzzles into her story to help young readers think about differences of opinion and perception. You might wonder together how this story helps you recognize people in new ways, as beloved by God.

For older readers, Gordon Korman’s book Restart takes on the challenges of transformation through the story of Chase, a school bully who falls off his roof and develops amnesia. He forgets everything about who he was and who his friends were. As he experiences school and friendship from a totally different perspective, Chase has the opportunity to develop new habits of compassion and kindness instead of returning to his old ways of bullying. This middle-grade book offers opportunities to discuss power dynamics, fear, bullying, and repairing relationships. Parents and teachers might wonder with kids about how we can encourage fresh starts for each other and practice habits of compassion together.

Choosing life, being transformed and reshaped by God, seeing people in new ways—all these things connect to the theme of sacrifice. This week’s reading from Luke’s gospel points directly to this theme. The way of life is difficult and sometimes requires sacrifice. Luke’s Jesus exhorts his followers to consider that cost, so that we are not taken by surprise later when we realize we have to sacrifice things we love to keep following him. In our culture, this concept of sacrifice is very hard to learn and to teach. When my second child was less than a year old, they were diagnosed with severe food allergies, so we had to change our ways of cooking and eating in order to keep Teddy safe and healthy. This was a tremendous sacrifice for my oldest child, who loved peanut-butter and jam sandwiches for lunch. If you have had to give up favorite foods, you might enter a discussion about sacrifice from that point. Ginger Foglesong Gibson imagines another possible access point in Tiptoe Joe, a sneaker-wearing bear on a mission to show all his animal friends a surprise. But only if they can follow quietly. Shhhh! At the end, we all get to see what Tiptoe Joe wants to show us – new bear cubs, sleeping in the den! When we welcome siblings into a family, our entire rhythm has to change to accommodate the new, tiny person. If you are in this stage, or about to enter it, you might imagine creative ways to change as a family. What about having special quiet reading time during the baby’s naps? Or what about putting together a “nap time box” with a few special, big-kid toys that only come out during naptime? Play “Yes! And...” with your oldest kid(s) to figure out what things they might like to do as they adjust to the new family size. If it’s been a while since you had to navigate this kind of challenge, you might wonder about how this concept of sacrifice for others plays out in our church community – what will it be like to welcome new people to Trinity? If there are things that have changed recently, how have you adjusted? What changes felt like sacrifices and what changes were a relief? What did you learn about yourself and about our community as a result?

 

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Whenever possible we’ll share links to independent to booksellers. Please consider supporting local and other indepedent bookstores.

Beyond These Walls

On a very warm afternoon recently, I had the joy of making my way to Hightstown, turning in the entrance to Meadow Lakes, opening the front door and making my way to the meeting room where we once upon a pre-Covid time celebrated the Holy Eucharist with our parishioners and friends who reside there. I looked in the storage closet and there is our portable altar. I checked on the linens, vessels, and supplies. All in order.

And I checked on the current protocols for gathering and worship.

I have good news! Meadow Lakes is welcoming Trinity clergy back to begin holding Communion services for the Meadow Lakes community again. And Meadow Lakes is also pleased to welcome not just the clergy but also Trinity parishioners who are not residents to come along and join in!

On the second and fourth Thursday of each month we will host a discussion group and Holy Eucharist. At 3pm, we will gather In the meeting room for a discussion entitled “The Gospel and You: Conversation with the Clergy“ and at 4pm we will celebrate the Holy Eucharist.

It will be so good to be together at last as the greater body of Trinity Church!

On a second warm afternoon recently, I had the joy of making my way to Stonebridge in Montgomery, heading up the front stairs to the assembly room to celebrate Holy Eucharist with our fellow parishioners and friends who reside at Stonebridge. This is always such a lovely and meaningful time.

I have good news, Stonebridge is also now welcoming Trinity parishioners who are not residents to come along and join in!

On the third Thursday of the month we will celebrate the Holy Eucharist at 4pm in the meeting room followed by a brief social time.

Again, It will be so good to be together at last as the greater body of Trinity Church!

In October at Stonebridge, we will begin another opportunity for worship and community. On the first Wednesday of the month at 10am in the meeting room, there will be an Episcopal Morning Prayer service followed by a discussion group by the same name as that at Meadow Lakes, “The Gospel and You: Conversations with the Clergy”.

On an upcoming afternoon in the coming week, I will begin the conversation with Pennswood Village in Newtown about holding Communions service and conversations there as well.

The Clergy and the Parish Care Team are pleased to share all this good news with you. We bid your prayers, presence, and assistance in making these ministries successful. Please contact me if you would like to know more. Thanks be to God for this new season of new opportunities in which to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness together.

 

The Rev. Joanne Epply-Schmidt,
Associate Rector

 

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

 
 

For who exalt themselves will be humbled and all who humble themselves will be exalted. — Luke 14:11

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that some have entertained angels without knowing it. — Hebrews 13:2

Jeremiah 2:4-13
Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
Luke 14:1, 7-14

 

When he first learned to talk, my youngest child used to run after his siblings calling out, “Do not forget me!” He was tiny, but he did not want to be left out by the fast-moving big kids. In his own way, he understood the concept of “forsaking” which appears in this week’s text from Jeremiah. God’s message, through Jeremiah, is that the people have forsaken God for other, lesser, small-g gods. Heidi McKinnon’s quirky book, I Just Ate My Friend, looks at this concept from a bizarre angle. Monster has just eaten his friend. Well! That is a tricky situation. While eating your friend is not exactly forsaking them, it is similar enough to facilitate a lively discussion and prompt a few giggles.

In this week’s epistle and gospel readings, the themes of hospitality and inclusion are central. At Trinity, Rev. Paul reminds us each week, “at this table there are no outcasts, strangers, nor unwanted guests. All are welcome to come feast at the table of our Lord, so please do come and be fed.” Our Rector emphasizes this radical welcome at Trinity because of the radical welcome which Jesus practices and exhorts his followers to practice. The letter to the Hebrews reminds readers that by showing hospitality to strangers, we may entertain angels in disguise, or messengers from God, as in the story of Abraham and Sarah (Genesis 18). Kerstin Chen’s book, Lord of the Cranes, beautifully illustrated by Jian Jiang Chen, tells of a generous innkeeper who welcomes a raggedly dressed beggar. As you read, you might wonder together how this story is similar to other stories you know. How might we welcome strangers and newcomers to our church community? What would help you to feel welcome if you visited a strange place?

Jesus attends a banquet in this week’s text from Luke’s gospel. He notices how his host was treating the guests and shares a parable and then gives some very specific instructions about how to extend a proper welcome. (The assigned lectionary leaves out a few verses. If you’d like to be a biblical detective, you can hunt for this passage and read the missing verses.) As you listen to this scripture reading, what clues do you hear about the welcome Jesus received as a guest? What does he remind us to do when we host? Daniel Miyares’ hauntingly illustrated book, Night Out, explores the concept of hospitality and welcome through the loneliness of a boy away at boarding school for the first time. This book contains sparse text and rich illustrations, so it is accessible to very young readers. As you read this story, you might wonder how loneliness is connected to hospitality. You might share memories of extravagant welcoming and being welcomed. What did it feel like to offer welcome? To receive abundant hospitality? Remember, you carry that sense of welcome with you wherever you go in the world and offer it to friends and strangers. Who knows, you might end up welcoming an angel in disguise!

 

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Whenever possible we’ll share links to independent to booksellers. Please consider supporting local and other indepedent bookstores.

Evening Prayer is Back

 

Daily Office Academic Year Schedule Starts Monday
It’s the return of Evening Prayer!

As you know, I'm an enormous booster for the Daily Office. It's a way of setting apart time to spend with God each day, and to spend time with Scripture. Through the Daily Office, if you come regularly you'll hear most of the Bible over the course of two years. You'll also pray through the Psalms every 7 weeks. It has really changed my life, and with the change back to our program year, back to school, and the like, I invite you to give it a try and see how it changes yours. We have some Trinity parishioners who are there every day as part of their morning routine.From here on out, we will be using a hybrid format for the Daily Office.

If you'd like to pray with others in-person, we’ll meet in the Michael Chapel weekdays at 7:45am (MP) and 5pm (EP). But if your work schedule, location, or family situation doesn’t make in-person prayer feasible, you can still join us online. You can also call in by phone at one of the numbers below. We've tried a ‘soft launch’ of this format over the past week, and it works well. We have a new crop of enthusiastic seminary students who will be leading us as part of their training for ministry. I will be there as part of my vows in the Society of St. Mary Magdalene, and I hope you'll be there too! Give it a try.

 
 
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