Trinity Tidings – November 2024
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 4:6-7
In November our thoughts often turn to gratitude. I’m aware that this November, many of us are anxious and a focus on gratitude may feel a bit out of reach. But really, when we’re anxious, we need gratitude more than ever.
God did not create us to live in fear. As Paul wrote to Timothy, God did not give us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. (2 Tim 1:7) Gratitude roots us in who we are – God’s beloved children created to live in love. As God’s creation, we are much like the hazelnut which Dame Julian of Norwich saw in one of her visions. In her vision Julian saw a little hazelnut representing all of creation. She wondered how it persisted because it was so tiny. And God showed her three attributes of the hazelnut – God made it, God loves it, God protects it.
We humans are part of that little hazelnut. Gratitude helps us remember that we are made, loved and protected by God. Gratitude enables us to live out of the truth, and to love boldly. Like most forms of prayer, gratitude requires practice to become a habit.
This month we’ll have a couple opportunities to learn more about gratitude, how we can practice it in our daily lives. On November 17th we’ll be considering the connections between gratitude and generosity as we celebrate our Stewardship ingathering. Following the service, please join me for a Pastor’s forum on gratitude. We’ll learn how a regular practice of gratitude changes our minds and hearts, try out using gratitude dice and begin to build our parish gratitude tree. Wednesday November 24, we’ll have our Thanksgiving Eve service at 7 pm. We’ll be blessing food to be used in our Thanksgiving meals, so bring along some of those sweet potatoes, apples or whatever you haven’t cooked yet.
And don’t forget to follow our Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/trinityinlancaster You’ll find prompts for practicing gratitude throughout the month from our friends at United Thank Offering.
Peace and all good,
Karen+
For Pastoral Care call 716-683-1111 For Pastoral Emergencies call 716-445-5653
Please join us
Sundays 9:30 am – Holy Communion Service and Sunday School
Tuesday’s 10 am – Stitch and Chat, 11/26 Healing Eucharist @11:30am.
Coming Events Save the Date
Snowflake Bazaar November 9 10-3pm
Ingathering Sunday November 17 Pastor’s forum on gratitude
Thanksgiving Eve November 27 7pm
Prayer List
Paul, Linda, Rosie D, Andrew, Dan, Ruth Ellen, Valerie, Jack K, Brad M, Douglas B, Melanie H, Richard C, Cooper C, Beverly M, Robert Z, Dave K, Jennifer G, Aaron Z, Paula A, Danielle M, Luann L, Johnny, Dan, Andy T, Andy D, Dave S, Linda W, Tamara, Scott G, Evan G, Ben G, Sue G, Kathy S, River S, Donna P, Denel N, Denise B, Robbie W, Klaw Reh, Marie R., Gretchen B., Bill F. and Trinity Church.
Sunday School
All children are welcome Sunday mornings at 9:30 am in the main hall. We’d love to see your children’s smiling faces! This is an all-ages group and everyone is welcomed. The second Sunday of the month is Family Sunday and there is no Sunday School, but Pastor Karen does a children’s homily in church. Please plan to join us!
Vestry Summary
The vestry met October 13,2024. The parking lot sealing has been completed. A new priest-in-charge job description was approved by vestry. Maryrose gave highlights of the 2024 convention. A new” You Are Welcome At Our Table” banner will be ordered to replace the missing one. Fall clean-up day was 10/27 thanks to everyone who helped.
Vestry Members
Cathi Crapa 716- 684-7416 Mary Rose Kotlowski 716-380-3641
Len Gacek 716-432-5883 Karen Walczak 716-901-6454
Chris Gregoire 716-684-9347
Altar Guild
Trinity will continue to enjoy our fall decorations thru Thanksgiving. There will be a brief Altar guild meeting November 3th following the 9:30 am service. This is a rewarding ministry and new members are always welcome. November altar schedule includes Cathi and Pat.
Women of Trinity
Our SNOWFLAKE BAZAAR will be held November 9, 10-3. We will have our famous clam chowder lunch, soup to go quarts, baked goods, crafts, basket and Afghan raffles and of course Granny’s Attic! Our Basket Raffle will feature over 70 baskets and gift cards. Donors have been very generous! We have many gift cards and beautiful baskets. We even have an autographed Buffalo Bills cleat and Buffalo Sabers hockey puck. Baked goods needed for the bake sale, and can be dropped off 11/8 or 11/9. This is a major fundraiser for the church and we’re hoping for a huge success! Please help spread the word and come support this event!
Stitch and Chat
Please join us Tuesdays from 10 am -12 pm. The last Tuesday of the month we have a healing Eucharist service at 11:30am. This is a wonderful opportunity for those who find the 9:30 service difficult to attend, all are welcome at our table.
November Birthdays
7 Ken Casio 8 Ryan Tomaka 12 Dan Giza
16 Dallas Wutz 17 Judy Borschel 25 Melisse Machnica
28 Glen Stoltman 30 Norah Heyd
Outreach
Trinity’s food pantry is always appreciative of your donations. Keep up the good work. Donations may be left in the basket in church or the table downstairs. Thank you! The food pantry will be holding its 1st annual fundraising campaign. Please support any way you can.
In October $399.41 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!!!
We have also reached out to a Lancaster Elementary School about our Christmas Giving Tree. Hopefully we will be able to continue the tradition. More info to follow.
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. Thanks to your efforts we are ready to turn in another batch of receipts, $5000 worth. We should receive a check $125.00, thanks to everyone who saves them.