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Beloved Ones, we will celebrate All Saints Sunday on November 6th at our 9:30 AM service of Holy Eucharist. We invite you to share names in advance with our church office if you would like them read aloud in worship.
We also invite you to bring photos of your Saints, your loved ones, to place in the nooks and crannies around our historic Sanctuary. Oh, the stories such pictures tell! They are a visible reminder of an invisible truth: the communion of saints are surrounding and upholding us, always. As we age, the more Saints we know. To become older is to be filled with memory, with grief - which, sometimes, melts into wisdom; and, occasionally, flares into deep, abundant joy at the beauty of this life, of relationship, despite the loss. All Saints Day. A day when we can almost see through the veil between this world and the next; a day when we glimpse eternity. On All Saints Day, we remember those saints of Christian history who exhibited unusual courage, extravagant generosity, and peace in the face of adversity. We remember those who gave even their very lives. We remember as well our own saints, those who taught us courage and honesty, how to love and do justice and walk humbly with God. Perhaps they were not famous people, but they were good and faithful and helped, in their own way, to build the kingdom of God on earth. They are here, with us! They are in us, among us, between us … all around us. Invite a friend to pray with us on All Saints Sunday.
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We announced with joy on Sunday, October 16th that our new neighbor, The Rev. Alan Dennis, will reside as a member of Trinity Episcopal Church as ‘Priest Associate.’ What a gift!
The Rev. Alan and his spouse Jenny have been worshiping at Trinity for a year now, as Alan has settled into retirement after many years in ministry. Jenny and Alan settled in Sandy Hook, and they have grown children and grandchildren nearby. Over this past year, Rev. Andrea and Rev. Alan discerned together God's call. ‘Priest Associate’ is a common designation in an Episcopal Church for a retired clergyperson who chooses to offer service – at times of his or her own choosing – in various aspects of ministry in a home parish. Rev. Alan desires specifically to offer his gifts in the areas of liturgy and spirituality. Rev. Alan is also busy providing pulpit supply in many local churches without settled clergy in both New York and Connecticut. We will therefore not see him every Sunday, as he is often needed – but we will cherish times he is able to pray with us. In the past, Trinity has employed multiple clergy – let us be reminded that this is not a staff position … but a gift from a seasoned and gifted retired Priest. We invite you to attend a talk offered by Rev. Alan and Jenny Dennis on Wednesday, November 9th at 6:30 PM in the Johnson Room/Library at Trinity Church. Come and learn about their fascinating journey! For biographical details, please read more here! Beloved Ones, as we know so well, Halloween on Main Street in Newtown is a dramatic event. Last year was the first time the Wyatts experienced Halloween visitors at the Rectory – wow!
This Halloween of 2022, Rev. Andrea has decided to hang out at the Church, helping to pass out treats, offering hospitality, and giving tours of our historic Sanctuary to curious visitors. This means that we will need volunteers to help at both the Church and the Rectory. Please contact Rev. Andrea awyatt@trinitynewtownct.org to sign up or use this google doc! It is time to begin amassing the voluminous amounts of candy needed for 2 Main Street locations. The sugar - oh, my! We will have boxes located at each entryway to the Church for your donations. On behalf of the thousands of folks who will visit us, we thank you for your generosity. We have plans for ‘spooky’ live organ music to accompany the evening’s festivities, and our Halloween Great Pumpkin Challenge will be on display. Come join us in costume! On Sunday, October 2nd, you might just see a modern version of Saint Francis of Assisi, who so loved all of God’s creatures, at Trinity Episcopal Church! We will undoubtedly see some interesting ‘critters.’
We invite you to bring your beloved pet/s or barnyard animals for a special Blessing of the Animals as we celebrate the Feast Day of St. Francis of Assisi. Bring your puppy, kitty, turtle, chicken, llama, hamster, etc. Anybody have a goat?? Come join us at the Gazebo/Labyrinth area behind Trinity Church – bring a lawn chair and hang around for conversation! We remind you that during the 9:30 AM worship service - earlier the same day - all children are invited to bring their favorite Stuffed Animal for a special blessing! Sunday, September 18th – 10:45 AM in the Library/Johnson Room
Dear Visitors or Newcomers to Trinity Church, It has been a blessing to have you praying with us at Trinity Church in Newtown. Spiritual community is such a gift, especially in these times. I have been a visitor and newcomer at plenty of churches - it can be strange to be new! I have always loved the opportunity to sit with other newcomers. I love doing it in my role as Priest! So, here is an invitation for you: Please stay after worship on Sunday, September 18th for conversation (and treats!) with other visitors or recent newcomers to Trinity. Perhaps a few ‘old-timers,’ too. Let's gather in the Library (just around the corner from the Sanctuary), and get to know each other a bit. If you have questions about ways to get connected, this is a perfect place to bring them. We can ask each other: How did the Spirit of God lead you here? You will be able to meet a few members of the Trinity parish family. RSVP or questions, please, to Rev. Andrea. May God's peace be with you in these early days of Autumn! Rev. Andrea Castner Wyatt Beloved Trinity Friends,
I give thanks, as always, for your faithfulness and for your compassion. I hope you have been able to enjoy holiday time this week … and we pray for those affected by shooting in Highland Park, Illinois. I look forward to being fully back among you, soon! We offer prayers of ongoing healing for the Rev. Diana Rogers, who is recovering well and resting comfortable at home. I am grateful for those who stepped in this past Sunday to help – especially our dedicated Wardens Bob Gardner and Sue Roman. We appreciate Rev. Diana’s time with us at Trinity this summer. This coming Sunday, we look forward to the presence of the Rev. Salin Low, familiar to Trinity Church as supply Priest in recent years. Rev. Salin’s Sundays were fully planned this summer … except for July 10th – miraculously! - and we are grateful to her for stepping in at short notice. We are indeed a village here in ECCT. After attending services with the Merrill family Thursday and Friday, I will travel to Boston this weekend, as planned, to visit with my daughter Emma, and with my new grand-puppy, a chocolate pug named ‘Beep’!! I look forward to re-connecting with a dear friend and her family. I plan also to worship on Sunday, July 10th at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul on Boston Common, with my sponsoring Priest – now Cathedral Dean, the Rt. Rev. Amy McCreath. If you’d like to check out their many and varied ministries, you can read about it here: https://www.stpaulboston.org/ I spent many years commuting to the Cathedral from the suburbs, and it will be good to visit. I look forward to being back in the office on Tuesday, July 12th, and to welcoming Frances Chamberlain who begins her ministry with us on Wednesday the 13th as Children’s Ministry Coordinator. Stop by to say hello if you are in town! If you are traveling, be safe and come back to us refreshed and renewed. Peace be with you, Rev. Andrea Castner Wyatt Beloved Families of Trinity Church .... we are so excited to announce that Frances Chamberlain will join us as Children's Ministry Coordinator this summer! Frances comes to us from St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Wallingford, where she has served as Director of Christian Education and Formation since 2017.
Frances comes highly recommended by those who have served in Christian ministry with her. Frances has a Bachelor of Science degree in Ecology from the University of Michigan School of Natural Resources and Environment, and had a prior career in agriculture. Frances is warm and engaging with families, and exhibits creativity and innovation as Church life continues to evolve. In recent years, she has sought training about Christian formation, fostering inclusivity, children's ministry in a post-pandemic world, and talking about race with young people. Frances is excited to meet with Trinity families this summer, and is energized by the challenge of collaborating with us to build a new program at Trinity. Here is a 'Hello' from Frances! “Hello! My name is Frances Chamberlain and I am your new Children’s Ministry Coordinator. I am excited and proud to serve Trinity Episcopal Church in this role! My husband and I have two teenage kids and we live in Wallingford. I enjoy hiking, baking, listening to audiobooks, and being with our lovable dog. I look forward to getting to know you and learning how I can best serve you. If you have ideas about children’s ministry programming, please don’t hesitate to reach out or stop by my office to talk.” Beloved ones, let us walk – process – together into Lent this first Sunday of Lent with The Great Litany. The Episcopal Church tells us of the history of this ancient prayer. It is:
“an intercessory prayer including various petitions that are said or sung by the leader, with fixed responses by the congregation. It was used as early as the fifth century in Rome. The Litany was the first English language rite prepared by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. It was first published in 1544. Cranmer modified an earlier litany form by consolidating certain groups of petitions into single prayers with response. The Litany’s use in church processions was ordered by Henry VIII when England was at war with Scotland and France.” https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/great-litany-the/ You will find the Litany on page 148 in your Book of Common Prayer. (If you don’t have one at home, I will give you one!) The Choir and Clergy will process around the Sanctuary while the Litany is chanted. We invite you, if you wish, to ‘fall in’ and process a turn around the Sanctuary with us, returning to your seat as the prayer concludes. (Directions will be given in the Welcome.) Beloved Ones,
Please pray with us on Sunday, February 27th as the season of Epiphany concludes with Christ’s Transfiguration on the mountaintop. As we follow with great concern the news from Ukraine, it is so important to be together, to pray in community. Let us raise our hearts and minds and souls together to God with prayers for peace. Transfiguration, a moment of glory, is also the prelude to the cross, as we look forward to Ash Wednesday and the season of Lent. The Collect for Transfiguration Sunday prays: “O God, who before the passion of your only-begotten Son revealed his glory upon the holy mountain: Grant to us that we, beholding by faith the light of his countenance, may be strengthened to bear our cross, and be changed into his likeness from glory to glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” As COVID numbers continue to decline around us, we do invite you to return to the Sanctuary according to your own comfort. Also, join us on Wednesday, March 2nd at 6:30 PM for the Imposition of Ashes and Holy Eucharist - as our Choir also rejoins us following a time of hiatus. Again, the Collect of the day: “Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” We will invite those praying with us virtually to make their own sign of penitence, while those in the Sanctuary will receive ashes with these words: “Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.” Remember also that God loves us, every step of the way on this journey from the mountaintop to Jerusalem, from glory to the cross. Faithfully, Rev. Andrea Exciting News! Trinity Church families gathered with Rev. Andrea on February 9th to approve a Job Description for a part-time Children’s Ministry Coordinator. We plan to publicly post that position soon and begin receiving applications.
We believe the Holy Spirit is active among us, and we hope and pray God will send us candidates soon. Depending on the timing of interviews, we hope to add this person to our team this spring. We remain in a time of experimentation, adaptation, and flexibility – and hope to offer something at our 9:30 service and also perhaps at our 11:15 Chapel in the Garden service … after the snow melts! Please pray for this time of discernment, and please contact Rev. Andrea if you would like to be part of our Children’s Ministry Team. awyatt@trinitynewtownct.org |
The Rev. andrea castner wyattThe Rev. Andrea Castner Wyatt is honored to accept the call of Trinity Episcopal Church to serve and lead as Rector. She looks forward with joy to walking with the people of Trinity Church, and to discovering with you what Jesus is up to in Newtown, CT. Contact Rev. Andrea at awyatt@trinitynewtownct.org or by calling 203-426-9070. |