Trinity Tidings – May 2025

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

1 Thessalonians 5:11

May is Mental Health Awareness month. As Episcopalians, we promise in our baptismal covenant to seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves.  This promise impels us to work for the flourishing of all people. One way we can love our neighbors as ourselves is to strengthen our bonds of connection with all our neighbors.

Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, 21st Surgeon General of the United States described loneliness as a critical public health issue. Feeling isolated and disconnected from other people hurts our mental and physical health. While his report was written in 2023, the concerns about decreased social connection and the importance of strengthening our communal bonds are still pressing.

As a community of faith, we are uniquely able to offer opportunities for social connections which decrease isolation. We can invite friends and neighbors to join us for activities or events, whether they are religious or not. Over the next six weeks, we’ll be sorting food donations at the Stamp Out Hunger Drive, planting our community garden, and working on a Spring clean-up of the grounds. Each of these times of service would be a great time to invite someone to join you. Sometimes it’s easier to connect with others by doing something together. And there will be food!  You’ll find dates and details later in this newsletter. 

One way we are offering care and growing connections is through the new ministry of our Family Caregiver group. This group will meet on the last Thursday of the month, beginning on May 29th at 7 pm. The group is open to anyone who is caring for a family member. This is new ministry of care and connection was requested by your vestry at our planning retreat last year. Please help us get the word out to those who may want to participate. There will be flyers in the parish hall beginning May 4th, which you are welcome to distribute.

I look forward to hearing your stories of how you are living out your baptismal promises and building relationships in our Lancaster community.

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, 5/29 Healing Eucharist @11:30am.

Coming Events Save the Date

May 4 YUM 4-8pm at Trinity 

May 8 Flower pick up 11-1pm or 6-7 pm

May 10 Stamp Out Hunger food drive and luncheon 10-2

May 29 Caregiver group 7pm

Spring Clean Up and Garden Blessing – June 1st

Wear your grubby clothes and bring your garden tools to church. After service we’ll have a short blessing for the community garden and spend time cleaning up the grounds.

Prayer List

Paul, Rosie D, Andrew, Valerie, Jack K, Brad M, Douglas B, Melanie H, Richard C, Beverly M, Dave K, Paula A, Danielle M, Luann L, Johnny, Marie R, Bill F, Caroline W, Andy T, Jane G. Donald M, Raymond, Sue G, Justin W, Gator, Dave S, Candi W, Teresa S, Andy D, Shirley M, Zach C, Lincoln C, Bob M, Marybeth, Sandy D, Chris B and Trinity Church.

May Birthdays

 2 Julia Heyd
12 Clara Giza
17 Mary Ellen Giza
20 Jack Hodgkiss
21 Dale Fehringer
23 Dawn Gacek
31 Chris Gregoire

May Anniversaries

27 Mary and Daniel Giza
31 Ken and Jill Cascio

Sunday School

All children are welcome Sunday mornings at 9:30 am in the main hall and everyone is welcomed. The second Sunday of the month is Family Sunday.

YUM- Stands for Youth United in Ministry and is for students grade 5 and up. Please join us May 4 at 4-8 pm as Trinity hosts this event. This group aims to connect students in this age group in the diocese. Each event will include fun and games, dinner, Eucharist and great fellowship.

Vestry Summary

The vestry met April 13,2025. Maryrose Kotlowski will be serving as Trinity’s senior warden. She recently attended the vestry wardens meeting. Pastor Karen will be away 6/3-6/9 for continuing education. Fr. Terry Bull will be here June 8. Vestry was polled for their viewpoints on combined dioceses to advice delegates of their position. Convention is May 3. Work continues on the Caregivers group to begin in May.

Altar Guild

 Altar Guild wishes to thank everyone for their generous memorials for Easter, the church was beautiful and smelled wonderful!  Monies from memorials are used to purchase all altar supplies throughout the year. Serving this month Cathi and Pat.

Women of Trinity

WOT Mother’s Day Flower Sale was a huge success. Thank you to everyone who purchased flowers. WOT will again be hosting a luncheon for all the Stamp Out Hunger volunteers on May 10. We can always use help making sandwiches, serving and sorting incoming foods. Come join the fun!  Our next luncheon will be June 3, noon at Hillview and all are welcome.

Gardeners Wanted!!

We’re looking for gardeners of all skill levels to plant and maintain the Trinity Garden.

You’ve probably seen our summer produce garden near the side door of the church. This garden is a community outreach to help supplement the Trinity Food Pantry clients. All produce goes directly to Pantry clients. Time Frame June-September, Tuesdays 3-4:30 and Fridays 10-11:30. Please sign-up downstairs in the parish hall. Garden planting will be later in May and the Garden Blessing will be June 1.

Stamp Out Hunger

The postal food drive is May 10. Please leave your non- perishable donation by your  mailbox for pick up. Postal workers and volunteer route drivers pick up donations and  bring them to Trinity to be sorted and used by the Trinity Food Pantry. This is the Pantry’s biggest food drive. Please help anyway you can. Thank you! 

More Outreach 

The Lancaster Youth Bureau has reached out and asked us to collect school supplies and small denomination gift cards to Walmart and Target for them over the summer. They will  be used to purchase specific school supplies requested for the 2025-26 school year.  We will share more details as we receive them.

Bringing Back United Thank Offering

Don’t forget our UTO ingathering will be Trinity Sunday June 15, 2025. Each of us have things for which we’re grateful. The United Thank Offering (UTO), is a long-standing ministry of The Episcopal Church which offers us a way to share our gratitude through giving that empowers others. Each year UTO provides grants for ministry projects across the Anglican communion which offer hope to those in need. 100% of our offerings are paid out in grants. UTO boxes are still available for those who would like one. 

Building our Trinity Phone Tree

If you haven’t done so, please fill out a card to be included in this text or phone messaging system. Also please let us know if you are not receiving e-tidings and would like to.

Dash’s Receipts

Please continue to save your Dash market receipts and ask your friends for theirs. There is box located downstairs in the parish hall or put them on table in the front of the church. This is a great program; we receive cash for your receipts!  We recently turned in $8000 worth of receipts and Dash’s will pay us $160. Thank you! 

April 4, $564.40 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!