Trinity Tidings – February 2025
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Romans 15:7
What does it mean to welcome someone? Usually when we welcome someone into our home, we greet them by name, help them get settled, maybe hang up their coat, offer hospitality by making sure they have what they need. Welcoming newcomers to church works much the same way. Welcome begins with our very first interaction.
If you come into church through our red doors, you may have noticed we now have materials to help welcome newcomers. The welcome bags stand out clearly. But you may not have noticed the basket of nametags for parishioners. Why nametags? Nametags send a message to anyone who walks through our doors. They say we want you to feel comfortable here. We’ll help you remember our names. We want to learn your name.
We started our nametag project by making nametags for everyone who worked at the Snowflake Bazaar in November. At last weekend’s annual meeting, we asked people who already had nametags to wear them, and those who did not to wear temporary ones so we know who else needs them. Now we’re making a list of to be sure everyone gets a nametag. If you don’t find your name in the basket, please add your name to the list, so we can get one made for you.
And most importantly, I’m asking you to wear them on Sunday in church and at coffee hour. It may feel a little strange at first. But I want you to imagine what it’s like to walk into a new place for the first time and not know anyone’s name. And while many of you know one another’s names very well, not everyone does. Wearing nametags is a simple way we can welcome one another as well as any newcomers. Nametags make it little easier to ask questions, to talk to people we don’t know well, to share a little of our stories, and ask about theirs.
Frederick Buechner’s words on loving our neighbor may give us both courage and food for thought, “If we are to love our neighbors, before doing anything else we must see our neighbors…. [W]e must see not just their faces, but the life behind and within their faces. Here it is love that is the frame we see them in.”
Let’s take the next step to see our neighbors by sharing our names and learning theirs.
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, Feb.25 Healing Eucharist @11:30am.
Coming Events Save the Date
February 4 Wot luncheon 12noon at Hillview
February 2 YUM Youth United Ministry 4-8pm St Matthias, East Aurora
February 9 Instructed Eucharist 9:30am
February 9 Vestry 10:45am
Prayer List
Paul, Linda, Rosie D, Andrew, Valerie, Jack K, Brad M, Douglas B, Melanie H, Richard C, Beverly M, Dave K, Aaron Z, Paula A, Danielle M, Luann L, Johnny, Robbie W, Klaw Reh, Marie R., Bill F, Caroline W, Andy T, Jane G, Donald M, Raymond, Kathy S, Sue G and Trinity Church.
February Birthdays
3 Dennis Noonan 11 Drew Walczak 12 Michael Brehm
14 Benjamin Giza 26 Patricia Harder 27 Beverly Tomaka
Sunday School
– All children are welcome Sunday mornings at 9:30 am in the main hall. This is an all-ages group and everyone is welcomed. The second Sunday of the month is Family Sunday. This month we will have an instructed Eucharist Feb 9th.
YUM- Stands for Youth United Ministry and is for students grade 5 and up. This group aims to connect students in this age group in the diocese. The February 2 gathering is at St. Matthias in East Aurora from 4-8pm. Each event will include fun and games, dinner, Table Eucharist and great fellowship. Please plan to attend if you can. March 23 gathering will be held at Advent Church in Kenmore and April 27 Trinity plans to host. Stay tuned
Vestry Summary
The vestry met January 12,2025. Just before Christmas we had no heat in the upper parish hall. The boiler bearing unit needed to be replaced at a cost of $4400. The Trinity Food Pantry stepped up and donated $2000 to help cover the costs. We are extremely thankful for their generosity. The fire alarm control unit began to misfunction shortly after Christmas and is scheduled to be replaced at a cost of $2794. The 2025 budget was approved and will be presented to the congregation at the annual meeting.
Welcome our new vestry!
At our annual meeting on January 26, 2025. We elected four people to new 3-year terms on vestry. Please welcome our vestry members for the coming year: Cathi Crapa (28), Len Gacek (28), Maryrose Kotlowski (26), Karen Walczak (28), Stephanie West (28). Len has thankfully agreed to continue as our Jr. Warden. We also elected delegates to Diocesan Convention: Maryrose Kotlowski and Patricia Harder. Cathi Crapa was elected as an alternate delegate. We will be commissioning our new vestry and diocesan delegates at Sunday Eucharist on February 9th.
Annual Meeting Packets. Extra copies of our annual meeting packets are available on the table in the parish hall for anyone who was unable to attend.
Altar Guild
The altar guild is excited to announce we have commissioned a seamstress to complete our purple altar frontal and lectern hanging. Once completed we will have a complete purple set for Lent. This is possible due to Christmas, Easter and regular memorials you have made throughout the year. You can make a memorial/ thanksgiving request anytime, just fill out the form located in back of church or downstairs and put it in collection plate or office door. We also have ordered Lenen devotional booklets for those who would like them. Our next Altar Guild meeting will be March 2 after service.
Women of Trinity
WOT luncheon is Feb. 4 at Hillview Restaurant at noon. All are welcome to attend. We will once again be making red clam chowder and vegetable soup for our Lenten fundraiser. Sign-up sheets for ingredients are posted on the bulletin board opposite the kitchen. Order forms will be in bulletins and online or you may phone the church to place your order. Quarts of soup will once again be $10. We will be making the soup March 6 and pick up will be March 7. Please support this fundraiser any way you can.
Stitch and Chat
Please join us Tuesdays from 10 am -12 pm. This is a wonderful opportunity for those who find the 9:30 service difficult to attend, all are welcome at our table.
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. Dash’s is the only store in the area with a tape saver program and we are very appreciative of their support.
Outreach
Super Bowl Sunday is February 9th.Please help celebrate by bringing a can or two of your favorite soup to church for the food pantry and we can make it a Souper Bowl Sunday for our food pantry clients.
Trinity’s food pantry numbers are up. The pantry has grown and now serves Elma, Alden and Lancaster. Food and monetary donations are always welcomed, especially this time of year. Please place in basket in the front of church or on table downstairs. Thank you for your generosity.
In January $351.89 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!
Building our Trinity Phone Tree We are setting up a system to send out text or phone notifications to parishioners when there is urgent news like a weather related cancellation or the sudden death of a parishioner. Thank you to everyone who provided their preferred contact information and method at the annual meeting. If you didn’t have the chance to do this, please fill out one of the cards in the basket marked Phone Tree Contacts and return it to the same basket. Please be sure to write down if you prefer a text or a phone call. Thanks!