​On Sunday, October 3rd , you might just see St. Francis, who so loved all of God’s creatures, at Trinity Episcopal Church! 1:00 PM, at the Labyrinth/Gazebo, behind the Church.

You will see some interesting critters. Meow, cluck, woof … moo??

We invite you to bring your beloved pet/s – or barnyard friends, 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 – hang around for conversation.

If you are unable to load up your llama or hamster, we invite you to share in this Prayer of St. Francis:
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
   where there is hatred, let me sow love;
   where there is injury, pardon;
   where there is doubt, faith;
   where there is despair, hope;
   where there is darkness, light; and
   where there is sadness, joy.

O, God, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
   to be understood as to understand;
   to be loved as to love;
   for it is in giving that we receive;
   it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
   and it is in dying
   that we are born to eternal life. Amen.

An Invitation for all Newcomers and Visitors at Trinity Church …
New friends - we value the gift of your presence among us, and we’d love to get to know you.
Please stay after worship on Sunday, September 17th for conversation and treats. Come to the Library, meet with Rev. Andrea and other newcomers, and learn more about the Trinity parish family. How has God’s Spirit brought you here at this time?
Bring your questions about Trinity Church and your hopes for what spiritual community can mean in 2023.
RSVP or questions to Rev. Andrea. If you’d like to be added to our weekly E News, contact us at: trinity@trinitynewtownct.org or call at 203-426-9070.

It’s September! Oh, my! We welcome our families back to worship and Church School

… and we are so excited to Bless our Backpacks in this ‘Back to School’ season. Adults, too, may be going to the office, or beginning new adventures.
So … Kids and Adults alike … bring your backpack, laptop bag, tote bag – whatever! - to Church for a special blessing! We will pile them up during the Worship service and pray for all of us to enjoy new learning and growing this fall.
Remember, the Spirit of God is with us everywhere we go, and we can share the love of Jesus with everyone we meet.

Beloved ones, our life together at Trinity Church is beginning to take on aspects of Summer Sabbath - and we celebrate this!! Church School and Choir are entering a time of rest, and some are beginning to travel.
But for those of us who are in town … a special invitation! Immediately following worship on Sunday, June 25th we are invited to process down the driveway (or the elevator) to our newly-renovated elevator door entrance.
We will bless our now fully-accessible entrance with prayer. This door now operates with a push-button for those using wheelchairs or walkers. The door is also linked with our electronic key-fob system, and will be programmed to be open at the same time as the glass doors at the rear of the building.
Join us for a brief ceremonial but informal blessing. Trinity has had an elevator for decades … but the door has never been fully accessible until now. This is indeed something to celebrate!
We are invited to come back in for conversation at 11:00 AM with Trinity’s Creation Care Team about current environmental initiatives – all are welcome.
Rev. Andrea

I am glad to be back in the office this week.  I am so grateful for your prayers as I recover from surgery. Chuck and I are both thankful for your many expressions of support. Trinity has been blessed with lay sermons from Vestry members Patrick Corrigan and Lisa Mages, and clergy support from the Rev. Alan Dennis and the Rev. Salin Low. We are well launched into the season of Pentecost.

And what a week for re-entry! We look forward to an amazing concert on Saturday evening, June 10th at 7:30 PM. The Connecticut Choral Society will present John Rutter’s Mass of the Children; your donations will benefit Newtown Youth and Family Services.
With gratitude, we also anticipate our final day of Church School on Sunday, June 11th with appreciation of our many volunteers in our formation programs for children and youth. Come - enjoy some special music offered by the children of our Church School.
As Frances Chamberlain prepares for summer sabbath with her family, we celebrate her magnificent accomplishments this past year. ‘Miss Frances’ has tenderly nurtured a brand new program for children - with such creativity, and with love. What a year we have had! We rejoice in her many gifts, and wish her blessings until late August.
We pray for all those affected by wildfires, and by wildfire smoke.  Stay safe this week! See you soon.
Rev. Andrea

On behalf of the leaders and staff of our Trinity Episcopal Church, I wish you the many blessings of Holy Week.
We need to be together to pray about Christ’s passion, and crucifixions in our day. We need to be together to ponder suffering and redemption.
I invite you to be present for our observance of the ‘Triduum,’ the most holy time in the
Christian liturgical year. Maundy Thursday begins ‘The Paschal Triduum’ – meaning, ‘the three days.’
Since the days of ancient Christianity, the three services of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil are one continuous liturgical event. This liturgy represents the heart of the Christian faith, the message of salvation, and the healing power of redemption.
The Triduum commemorates the Paschal mystery - the Institution of the Eucharist at the Last Supper, Christ’s Passion, his Crucifixion, his descent to the dead, and his glorious resurrection at the Great Vigil of Easter. During these three days, we pass over with Christ from death to life.
We will remember each event in the drama of salvation and enter together into the mystery of dying and rising again with Jesus Christ. May the peace of Christ be with you all.
May God's peace be with you,
​Rev. Andrea Castner Wyatt

Risk, a Christian way of life, following Jesus!
Please join Rev. Andrea on Sundays at 11:00 AM - Noon during the season of Lent! Grab a snack at coffee hour and gather in the Library/Johnson Room. We will begin on Sunday, February 26th and will continue on Sundays, March 5, 12 and 26. Please read the Introduction and Chapter 1 for our first conversation. 
We will use as our text Professor Amy-Jill Levine’s book Entering the Passion of Jesus. Please register with Rev. Andrea by email. Also, let Andrea know ASAP if you need a copy of the book, or click here to purchase it yourself. 
Here’s a description of the text: “Jesus’ final days were full of risk. Every move he made was filled with anticipation, danger, and the potential for great loss or great reward.
Jesus risked his reputation when he entered Jerusalem in a victory parade. He risked his life when he dared to teach in the Temple. His followers risked everything when they left behind their homes, or anointed him with costly perfume. We take risks as we read and re-read these stories, finding new meanings and new challenges.
In Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week, author, professor, and biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine explores the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story. She shows us how the text raises ethical and spiritual questions for the reader, and how we all face risk in our Christian experience.”
​Amy-Jill Levine (“AJ”) is Rabbi Stanley M. Kessler Distinguished Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace and University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies Emerita, Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies Emerita, and Professor of New Testament Studies Emerita at Vanderbilt University.

Trinity Episcopal Church will begin hosting two new support groups this month. 
Led by clergy and trained volunteers, both groups are open to all. They are interfaith and nonsectarian.
You Are Not Alone: Grief Support Group will begin Thursday, February 16, 4-5:15 pm.
You Are Not Alone: Caregiver Support Group will begin Thursday, February 23, also meeting 4-5:15 pm.
All are invited to share their story and receive and give support in a confidential, non-judgmental listening space. Groups meet in the library, on the second floor of Trinity Church, 36 Main Street. Entrance to the building is through the glass doors on the eastern side of the building. Use the driveway at 12 Church Hill Road, shared with Newtown Hook & Ladder. There is ample parking at the church. Registration is requested and can be done here.
​Additional information is available at 203-426-9070 or by email.