Trinity Tidings – March 2024

What shall I return to the Lord
    for all his bounty to me? I will lift up the cup of salvation
    and call on the name of the Lord; I will pay my vows to the Lord
    in the presence of all his people. 

PS 116:12-14

My dear siblings in Christ,

We enter March hoping for Spring, a season of new life for ourselves and for creation. We’re a few weeks into our season of Lent, which is sometimes called the springtime of the church. In these six weeks, we’re more intentional about our prayer, fasting and giving alms – which are always part of our lives as followers of Jesus. Some of us take on additional disciplines or spiritual reading. The point of all these actions is to deepen how we are living our baptismal vows and prepare us to fully celebrate the great feast of Easter in the holy triduum, the great three days.  The triduum is one long celebration beginning with Maundy Thursday, continuing on Good Friday and ending with the Easter Vigil.  This year we will gather to celebrate on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, and will have one service Easter Day (3/31). 

Since Trinity does not have a long standing tradition of celebrating the vigil, we’re going to put our energy this year into having a robust celebration of Maundy Thursday. Maundy comes from the Greek word mandatum, or commandment. Jesus tells us we are to love one another as he loved us, in humility, service and self-sacrificial love. We remember that each year as we hear the story of Jesus washing the disciples feet. Since the physical space of our sanctuary makes foot washing difficult, we will have the first part of our service in the parish hall, where we will hear the Scriptures and serve one another by washing one another’s hands.  After the exchange of peace, we will process up to the sanctuary and continue the liturgy. 

All our actions in worship are intended to shape and form us for living faith in our daily lives. Self-giving love is meant to be a fundamental sign of our Christian identity. I encourage you to participate in as much of our Triduum celebrations as you can. All evening services will be at 7 pm. 

There’s a lot more going on this month – acolyte training, Family Service, our Lenten studies and the WOT soup sale. Keep reading for all the details!

Peace and all good,

Karen+

Please join us

Sundays                      9:30 am – Holy Communion Service and Sunday School

Tuesdays                    10 am-12- Stitch-n-Chat

Thursdays                   4pm Figuring out Faith service and discussion (in church)

                                    6pm Practicing Forgiveness Lenten study group (in meeting room) 

Coming Events Save the Date

Coffee Hour                            March 3           following 9:30 service

Acolyte Training                     March 3           following 9:30 service

Soup Making                           March 8           9:30 am

Soup Pick-up                           March 8           4-7pm parish hall

Vestry Meeting                        March 10         following 9:30 service

Healing Eucharist                   March 19         11:30 parish hall

Holy Week

Palm Sunday                          March 24         9:30am

Maundy Thursday                  March 28         7pm

Good Friday                            March 29         7pm

Easter Sunday                         March 31         9:30 am

Please call the church office at 716-683-1111 if you are in need of Pastoral Care.

For Pastoral Emergencies call 716-445-5653.

Prayer List

Paul, Linda, Rosie D, James, Mike, Andrew, Dan, Carol, Ruth Ellen, Christopher, Rose P, Lynell, Ashley, Allen, Valerie, Jack K, Ron, Cheryl, Diane S., Mary B, Don M,  Brad M, Douglas B, Melanie H, Bonnie, Kathy P, Richard C, Cooper C, Todd, Tracey, Beverly M, Shari, Kathy H, Barbara, Rita C, Trina A, Robert Z, Dave K, Jennifer G and Trinity Church

Vestry Summary 

The vestry met February 11, 2024. Portions of the parochial report were reviewed. The cost of an upgrade to Servant Keeper is being researched. A pastoral care cell phone has been obtained.   The narthex repairs have been completed.  Vestry continued to discuss by-laws and make some amendments. They also agreed to purchase Vestry resource handbooks. They are planning a vestry retreat to use feedback from the annual meeting to plan for the parish’s future. Holy week services have been planned. Rev. Karen will attend a preaching conference May 13-17.

Vestry Members

Cathi Crapa 716- 684-7416                 Mary Rose Kotlowski 716-380-3641              

Len Gacek 716-432-5883                    Chris Gregoire 716-684-9347

Karen Walczak 716-901-6454           

Sunday School

All children are welcome Sunday mornings at 9:30 am in the main hall.

Rev Karen will hold an acolyte training March 3 after the service for those interested. March 10 will be Family Sunday.

Altar Guild

An Altar Guild meeting was held February 18. We reviewed our finances and monthly scheduling. Easter memorial and thanksgiving forms are in the bulletins and on our web page. They are due 3/17 so we may place our order and print the bulletins. Thanks to your memorials/thanksgivings Trinity always looks beautiful Easter morning!  We will be cleaning the church 3/30 at 10am. anyone is welcome to join us.

 Women of Trinity

 The Women of Trinity held a luncheon on February 7 at the Olive Tree Restaurant.  It was good to be back at the Olive Tree and was well attended. We were happy to have Rev. Karen join us. Thank you to everyone who signed up to bring soup ingredients, please be sure they are in the kitchen prior to March 8 as we plan to make the soup on March 8 at 9:30am. Soup pick-up is 3/8 from 4-7pm. We are also planning a Shoe Drive Fundraiser; we are collecting new and gently used shoes. Men’s, women’s, kids, dress, sneakers flip flops everything but roller blades and ice skates. Only shoes that could be reused, no shoes that are wet, moldy or have holes.  We are really excited about this and hope everyone will check their closets, ask their friends and family too!  Our goal is to make $1000.00.

Dash’s Receipts

Please continue to save your Dash market receipts and ask your friends for theirs.  We are collecting them as part of a fundraising project. There is box located downstairs in the parish hall or put them on table in the front of the church.  We recently turned in $8000.00 worth of receipts and are expecting a check for $200.00! This is a success thanks to all of you.

Outreach

Trinity’s food pantry numbers are up.  Food donations, cleaning products and personal care items are always welcomed.  Please place in basket in the front of church or on table downstairs. Thank you for sharing what you can.

 In February $259.58 was deposited in our account from St. Pauly, great job! Please pass the word, about the St. Pauly’s Shed in the parking lot. It’s a win- win situation, people in need get clothing, blankets etc.  and church gets paid by the pound for donations. Thank you!!!

March Birthdays           

8 Paul Goerner       16 Jill Cascio          20 Marlane Hodgekiss         20 Brian Harder          20 Melanie Higgins            27 Robert Zamrok           28 Clayton Higgins

March Anniversaries 

Robert and Melisse Machnica   March 22