Post-Pentecost 2016.Pub

Trinity News TrinityFall 2016Parish of Newton 1 Centre Newsletter

PostPostPost-Post ---PentecostPentecost ♦ Fall 2016

This fall, through Fr. La Macchia’s series of All Are Welcome at our workshops on Centering Prayer, we have an Weekly Services: opportunity to more fully root our parish’s mission in prayer; please see the

Sunday Eucharist, announcement on page 2. If you do not 10:00am already have a daily practice of prayer, I Wednesday Service, encourage you to set aside the time and to 7:00pm make it a priority to participate in these sessions. Daily prayer will not only enrich your life individually, but your prayer will also help our new parish undertake its activities well, with adequate motivation and Rector’s Column: pleasure.

I N S I D E Praying Leading to Mission, As we are faithful in prayer, our spreading of Mission Leading to Prayer Jesus’s Good News can fill us with joy. Centering Prayer 2 Pope Francis writes:

Liturgical Celebrations An evangelizing community is filled with joy.

Bring Your Voice 2 In his recent exhortation, “The Joy of the It knows how to rejoice always. It celebrates Earliest Choirmaster 2 Gospel,” Pope Francis wrote of the dangers of Bishop Gates’ Visit 3 every small victory, every step forward in the a church undertaking mission without first work of evangelization. (paragraph 24) rooting itself in prayer: Spiritual Formation Diocesan Dates 5 With God’s help, we will know that joy. I Public Healing 5 The problem is not always an excess of invite you to join our parish in becoming Contemplation in Action 5 activity, but rather activity undertaken badly, “contemplatives in action,” spreading the Scripture Readings 7 without adequate motivation, without a Gospel of Christ as our prayer leads to Joy of the Gospel 7 spirituality which would permeate it and make mission, and as our mission leads to prayer. Sunday School News 7 it pleasurable. As a result, work becomes

more tiring than necessary... Far from a See you Sunday, Parish & Neighborhood content and happy tiredness, this is a tense, Why I Give 8 burdensome, dissatisfying and, in the end, Saving A Mural 8 Thank You, Jeff 9 unbearable fatigue. (paragraph 82) B-SAFE this Summer 11 Fr. Miller Salvation Army 11 At its April retreat, the Trinity Parish vestry Bread & Gift Cards 11 adopted a vision statement that roots our Loose Offerings 11 mission in prayer: Food Pantry News 12

Consecration Sunday 12 Our new parish seeks to spread the Gospel of Upcoming Issue 12 Jesus Christ as contemplatives in action: Image Top: Pope Francis prayer leading to mission, mission leading to prayer.

Our new parish seeks to spread the Gospel by being “contemplatives in action.” Being “contemplatives” may seem a stretch, but we are closer than we realize. See Contemplation in Action on page 5. Being “in action” may seem like something we already do – notice the examples of our parish’s “action” on pages 11 and 12. But our new vision statement calls us to examine the motives of our action, what energizes it, and whether our action is rooted in “a spirituality which would permeate it and make it pleasurable.” 2 Fall 2016 Trinity News

Invitation to Centering Prayer Liturgical Celebrations The Catechism of our Book of Common Prayer de- fines prayer as “responding to God, by thought and by deeds, with or without words.” Contemplative Prayer , the pure gift of God, is the opening of the mind and heart —our whole being —to the Divine Presence and action within us, beyond thoughts, emotions, conversation, and even consciousness itself. It is the fruit of exterior and deep, interior silence.

Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares our spiritual faculties to awaken to the gift of contemplation. It leads to an intimate relationship with Christ that is beyond words, and moves into communion with him both in daily prayer and in action. Through the work of the Holy Spirit, Centering Prayer leads to deeper intimacy with the living Christ so that, in the words of Saint Paul, “It is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me.” (Gal 2:20) It tends to build communi- From Your Choirmaster: ties of faith and to bond its members together in mutual friend- Bring Your Voice to Worship ship and love as “contemplatives in action.”

- “Invitation to Centering Prayer” is a seven session introduc- Once again, I invite you to bring your voice as we tion to the method of Centering Prayer . It aims to introduce come together in worship each Sunday. Join us participants to both this way of praying and its integration into in song and praise, whether in the singing of daily life and the Christian spiritual journey. It consists of a hymns, the chanting (occasionally) of psalms, or Saturday experiential workshop in the method of Centering lending your talents to the choir of Trinity Parish Prayer from 10:00 am -12:30 pm, followed by six follow -up - - (speak to me anytime after worship, or send e sessions on Sundays from 12:00 1:30 pm. These sessions will mail to [email protected]). include a period of Centering Prayer, followed by viewing and discussing refinements of the method presented by Father The music schedule will be printed and posted Thomas Keating, OCSO, the founder and mentor of Contempla- this season; look near the entrances to the sanctu- tive Outreach. It will also prepare willing participants for a ary and parish house for more information, as parish Centering Prayer group organized around Fr. Keating’s - well as the parish Website. If you follow the ser- five part series “The Spiritual Journey.” The program will be mon blog, you may find excerpts to listen to as well. led by the Rev. James LaMacchia, a commissioned presenter of the method of Centering Prayer for Contemplative Outreach . With thanksgiving,

• Saturday, September 17 -Session 1: Joshua T. Lawton Introduction to the Method of Centering Prayer You can always view Trinity’s current music and Choir sched- • Sunday, September 25 -Session 2: ules at trinitynewton.org/worship_music.html. Prayer in Secret

• Sunday, October 2 -Session 3: The Discipline of Centering Prayer Trinity Parish History: Leland A. Arnold, Early Choirmaster • Sunday, October 16 -Session 4: What Centering Prayer Is Not & What It Is Right from the beginning, music has • Sunday, October 23 -Session 5: been synonymous with Trinity Parish, The Basic Principles of Centering Prayer and throughout the decades Trinity therefore became a place where music • Sunday, October 30 -Session 6: and worship became interwoven, with The Method of Centering Prayer I many voices young and old coming together in praise and thanksgiving to • Sunday, November 6 -Session 7: celebrate the presence of and the of The Method of Centering Prayer II spirit of God. Of course none of this could have been accomplished without CALL TRINITY PARISH OFFICE the talents of outstanding organist and AT 617 -527 -2790 TO REGISTER choirmasters, such as the likes of Mr. Trinity News Fall 2016 3

Leland A Arnold. Mr. Arnold, was Bishop Gates at Trinity, May 31 indeed one of the pioneers of this marriage. On Tuesday, May 31, the Feast of the Visitation, our Diocesan Mr. Arnold might Bishop, The Rt. Rev. Alan Gates, was present to help us cele- not have been the brate the new parish formed by the merger of Messiah, Auburn- first choirmaster of dale and Trinity, Newton Centre. Bp. Gates preached the fol- Trinity, especially lowing homily. in the new ‘white” building, but he was Why Has This Happened to Me? the first long - termed choirmaster Remember back when the Olym- who was hired by Dr. Sullivan in pic ice skater Nancy Kerrigan was 1921, and would whacked in the knee by a pipe - remain with Trinity wielding assailant? Her instant for the next twenty reaction was splashed across the years. Playing and headlines: “Why me?” As it performing every turned out, there was a reason – Sunday at the 11 o’clock service, his sort of. The attacker was associat- choirs consisted of both youth and adult members; male and fe- ed with Kerrigan’s archrival Tonya male, all consisting of about twenty plus parish volunteers. Harding. But her anguished response was a typical human reac- In 1944, Mr. Arnold unexpectedly passed away, and the follow- tion to hardship or challenge; when ing resolution in respect to this individual was recorded in the something bad happens, we cry: vestry minutes to honor his 23 years of service: Why me?

Striving constantly for perfection in the rendition of Church Mu- sic, his fine musicianship and exacting but ever kindly leadership In our Gospel lesson this evening, have made his fine work widely known throughout the Dio- the same question is posed, but in cese.His choirs were his pride and joy. Their willing cooperation opposite circumstances. In the tale and fine spirit of friendliness gave him the deepest satisfaction we heard, Elizabeth, six months pregnant, is visited by her kins- and he often spoke of them as his happy family. Leland Arnold woman Mary. Upon Mary’s arrival and greeting, Elizabeth’s [also] loved Trinity Church and to it he gave unsparingly of his child leaps within her womb, and she cries: “Why has this hap- best. With no thought of self he was ever ready to be helpful and there were few activities of the Parish in which he was not a pened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?” Eliza- part. [The Church] has lost a valued co -worker and fine friend. beth is given a moment of spiritual intuition or revelation – an Sincere, modest, and dependable, he set an example of loyal epiphany. It’s not entirely clear how she knew. I expect plenty service to the Church which we shall long remember and for of pregnant women have had a good hard kick from their un- which we are deeply grateful. born child without presuming it to signal the presence of the

Mother of God. But somehow Elizabeth gets it – she realizes Following his death, it was reported that an Arnold Memorial - Window would be given to the church by the Arnold family. that her relative is carrying the as yet unborn messiah. And her

This window is currently located in the sanctuary, positioned to response is: “Why me?” Why should I be so blessed? the right of the Altar. The medallion in the window depicts the Braque of St. Peter, which is the symbol of the Church. It was So here we have the “Why Me” polarity, from Nancy Ker- also reported and moved that donations given by the parishioners rigan’s “Why has this bad thing happened to me?”, to Saint to the Arnold Memorial Fund be appropriated toward the instal- Elizabeth’s “Why have I been so fortunate?” It may well be - lation of much needed pews in the chapel. It should also be not- that for many of us the Bad -Thing -Why -Me comes more quick- ed that a pair of candlesticks for the Chapel Altar were also giv- - - - en in memory of Leland by his family. ly and instinctively, while the Good Thing Why Me might have to be cultivated. As Paul Simon once sang, “When something Thank you Leland A Arnold for setting a high standard and tra- goes right, it’s likely to lose me, it’s apt to confuse me, ‘cause dition for outstanding music at Trinity Parish that continues to it’s such an unusual sight.” We often take the blessings for this day. It has been greatly enjoyed and much appreciated granted, don’t we? So it is a very good thing to pause, when throughout the decades. something goes right, and to ask with Elizabeth, “Why me?

— Why should I be so blessed?” David MacNair We are gathered this evening to celebrate the coming together 4 Fall 2016 Trinity News of two congregations. Trinity Parish and the Church of the opened your hearts and minds to the possibility of change and Messiah. It is striking to me that you held your first official new direction. Well done! joint service on the First Sunday of Advent, and are now hold- ing our formal celebration of the merger on The Feast of the So Elizabeth’s question, “Why has this happened to me?” – Visitation. Either you are exceptionally Marian in your piety why has this happened here, at Trinity? – will invite some and devotion, or else there is in this endeavor some deep sense grateful insights from the past. But let’s not stop there! The of Advent hope and expectation and looking forward. question, “Why has this blessing come to us?” is a question which must look not just back, but especially forward. Not I have no doubt that the conversations and deliberations leading just, ‘What past circumstances led to this moment of bless- to this merger were difficult, and have included some signifi- ing?’ – but now, ‘What future good is bound to come from cant grief – especially for members of the Auburndale congre- this blessing?’ Not so much, ‘How did it happen’, but now, gation. But the timing of your Advent Sunday launch and a ‘What’s it for?’ celebration on the Feast of the Visitation invite a focus on new beginnings. Already many answers to this question are evident in the life of your parish. Your worship is rich and nourishing. You Elizabeth and Mary came together at that particular moment have a strong emphasis on formation for all ages. You seem to because both were facing into some hard stuff. Elizabeth’s situ- delight in being together, including lots of small groups. You ation is difficult by definition, first, because she is married to a have outward -directed mission of all sorts, from Your Ten priest, which I am told is not easy. Second, she and her hus- Percent Fund and Center Street Food Pantry to your partner- band are well beyond typical child -bearing age. And third, no ships with Salvation Army, and B -SAFE. sooner has she become pregnant than her husband was mysteri- ously struck dumb. Not helpful. Mary, meanwhile, is pregnant If it is true that you are stronger together than apart, as I am but not yet married, and an angel has announced she will bear certain it is, then what is it that the future holds for the newly - the Messiah. Not an uncomplicated situation. So they are strengthened ‘you’? This is ultimately a path to be charted not drawn together, these two – drawn together by facing into so much on spreadsheets of budgetary analysis as on the musi- somewhat similar challenges, and drawn together by their rela- cal scores of your own heart -strings. That is where the gospel tionship, by their kinship with one another. They derive tune will find its motifs and crescendos in your parish life strength from being together. together. And this is my challenge for you: to keep asking, again and again – and keep answering: What is it for, this Now your two congregations have likewise come together. blessing which is the now -merged Trinity Church? What is it Drawn by your similar challenges, and drawn by your kinship for? with one another. Elizabeth’s question, “Why has this happened to me?” might for a moment invite us to look back. In- Fr. Todd has articulated a delightful description of Trinity in deed, as applied to this parish merger, it is a question which his online welcome. Yours, he says, is a parish some of us in the diocese are asking about the Trinity -Messiah … that encourages curiosity and invites questions, that values process. beauty and joy, that is afraid neither of uncertainty nor silence, and that finds life in the tensions and spaces of God's There are many congregations in our diocese facing the chal- mystery. Trinity Parish is a community that loves good music lenges that your two congregations have encountered – logis- and good food, that is committed to justice and helping those tics, membership, budget, property. But in many places the in need, and that strives to walk ever more closely with the resistance to having this conversation is just too great. So we Lord in our daily lives. ask the question, “Why has this happened here?” And I expect that we have a lot to learn from your experience – from things I would be hard pressed to articulate a better mission state- that have gone well, and things that have been really hard; from ment. So, people of Trinity Parish – congratulations, and keep ways the wider diocesan community was helpful and ways we at it! The Spirit equips, and the Spirit calls, and those direc- were not helpful. tions in which you are called – continuing and new – will emerge in direct proportion to your faithful openness to that I expect that your congregations were able to make hard deci- call. sions and come together in part because you had already begun to form Christian relationships. Not least in this is the collegial “Why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord bond between your two very fine priests, and their openness to comes to me?” asked Elizabeth. The answer, surely: faithful- change. I am grateful to them. Your lay leadership and mem- ness in the past; openness to the future. May these likewise bership is also to be commended. You had come to know one mark the next chapter in your own life together. This is our prayer for you. another as brothers and sisters in Christ, not as franchise com- petitors but as companions in ministry. Only this could have Trinity News Fall 2016 5

A Public Service of Healing, Spiritual Formation First Wednesdays at 7:00pm

In April, we began offering “A Public Service of Heal- ing” at 7:00pm in the chapel on the first Wednesday of each month. Based on our experience to date Fr. La Macchia and I will continue to offer Diocesan Dates this liturgy in the months ahead, and it may become a permanent part of To learn more about or to sign up for the following events, go to our parish’s liturgical life. If you desire healing – be it of body, diomass.org/events/upcoming mind or spirit – I invite you to come and take part in this liturgy. The service is brief, roughly half an hour, and is preceded by a period of silent meditation and prayer. If you would like more Friday, September 16, 6:00pm – 9:00pm, Bridging the Polit- information about this rite please speak to me or Fr. LaMachia. ical Divide: Dinner and Short Course, Church of the Good You can find the rite itself in The Book of Occasional Services . Shepherd, Watertown Renowned writer and theologian Parker Palmer believes our — Fr. Miller current political climate provides a rare opportunity to think more deeply about who we are as people and a nation. On Fri- day, Sept. 16, come for a simple dinner and a "short course" featuring video presentations featuring Parker Palmer. We will be joining more than 500 Episcopalians around the country who Contemplatives in Action are also using this resource from ChurchNext!

Saturday, October 1, 9:00am – 2:00pm Diocesan Resource Day At its April 30 meeting, our vestry This year's annual diocesan Resource Day for congregations -- adopted a vision statement for our new "Sharing Our Bounty: Best Resources for Being Church" -- parish: “Prayer leading to mission, promises to be one of our largest learning events ever, with a mission leading to prayer.” On Sun- record number of workshops being offered in areas including day, June 19, Fr. Miller preached the youth ministry, pastoral care, leadership, worship, social media following homily about prayer and strategies, financial stewardship, global mission and more. mission.

Thursday, October 20, 7:00 -9:00pm, Pre -Diocesan Conven- tion Forum, Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Boston The text for the homily this morning is not so much today’s gospel text itself Pre -Diocesan Convention forums offer an important opportuni- as it is the text around today’s gospel ty for learning and discussion about the issues and business to text. In particular, Jesus’ rhythm of come before the convention, including resolutions and the pro- mission and prayer – Jesus going out on mission, then withdraw- posed budget. – ing to deserted places to pray that Luke set up three chapters – - earlier, in chapter 5: Saturday, October 22, 12:00noon 6:00pm, Pre Election Walk and Talk with Bishops, Many crowds would gather to hear him and to be cured of their Church of the Nativity, Northborough – Episcopalians of all ages are invited to join Bishop Alan Gates diseases. But he would withdraw to deserted places and pray. Luke 5:15b -16 of the Diocese of Massachusetts and Bishop Doug Fisher of the Diocese of Western Massachusetts as they walk a stretch of both dioceses together and then join for a panel discussion with The context of today’s gospel is Jesus’ rhythm of going out on youth. mission and then withdrawing to deserted places to pray; Jesus’ mission leads to prayer, Jesus’ prayer leads to mission. Mission – and prayer is the rhythm of Jesus’ ministry in Luke. Friday, November 4 Saturday, November 5, Diocesan Convention, Holiday Inn, Mansfield But I don’t want to begin there. I want to begin rather with Pres- For more information visit the Diocesan Convention 2016 page: - diomass.org/diocesan -convention -2016. ident George W. Bush’s “faith based initiatives.” In some ways “faith -based initiatives” make sense to me: the Church is often 6 Fall 2016 Trinity News the one with “boots on the ground” trary to many of the messages our culture sends us, we hu- and best positioned to help. Rather man beings are more than doers of tasks. We have an interi- than reinvent the wheel, why not sup- or life. We have a soul. We need to love and be loved. port something already in place and And how much greater is the love we have and show when working? But – aside from questions it is the same love which “has been poured into our hearts about the government shirking its re- through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us” (Rom sponsibilities to the poor, and aside 5:5)? Christ’s love, poured into our hearts, is the love the from questions about the separation of world craves. Christ’s love, acting in us, is the water that Church and state – the concern I have can quench all human thirst. The love of Jesus manifest in with “faith -based initiatives” is that it us is the bread that will give life to this world! If we truly plays into the false but common im- wish to carry on Jesus’ mission in the world, we will need to pression that the Church is primarily a do more than good works. (Even the wicked do good provider of social services. works, says Augustine.) We must also be people of prayer, so that the love of Jesus may be developed in us – that we I hope the Church does provide for those in need! What kind of might be “contemplatives in action.” a Church would we be if we didn’t minister to the poor, the out- cast and the needy? But the Church is much more than a provid- And so James and I and the Wardens and vestry invite us to er social services. The Church is the Body of Christ. The become “contemplatives in action.” We invite our new par- Church is indwelled by the Holy Spirit. The Church possesses ish to learn to breathe through both of our God -given truth for all people, everywhere, all the time. The Church “lungs,” that of mission and that stands both in an outside of time, reaching back to the apostles of prayer. Our parish already and reaching forward to the Kingdom. The Church is not just breathes well through our lung of another 501c(3) non -profit, the Church is a “wonderful and sa- mission – Salvation Army, B - cred mystery” rooted in Christ, who went out on mission SAFE, and some of us with the AND… who withdrew to deserted places to pray. Food Pantry, for example. We encourage you to continue to In our contemporary culture of action and accomplishment, it is develop the prayer practices you easy to focus on the “mission” part of Church - like our support may already have (e.g., going to of the Food Pantry, Salvation Army or B -SAFE – and to forget Eucharist, reading the Scriptures, the other lung through which the church breathes: prayer. centering prayer). If you don’t already have a regular prayer The Trinity Parish vestry recently developed a “vision state- practice, and you’d like some ment” to help guide our new parish in its first few years. Our suggestions, beginning this fall vision statement honors Jesus’ rhythm of mission and prayer, James will offer a series of ses- and makes a connection between the Church’s two “lungs.” sions on prayer. Please watch for the announcements; and please make time in your calendar Our new parish seeks to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ as to attend. The world needs our good works; it also needs contemplatives in action: prayer leading to mission; mission the love of Christ “which has been poured into our hearts.” leading to prayer. I am going to leave us with a quote from “The Joy of the We hope that our new parish might become “contemplatives in Gospel,” by Pope Franics – a book the vestry is presently action,” disciples who follow Jesus’ rhythm of prayer leading to reading – in which the Pope speaks about prayer and mis- mission, and mission leading to prayer. sion going hand -in -hand:

When we hear the word “contemplative,” we might think of Spirit -filled evangelizers are evangelizers who pray and monks in a monastery and assume that such prayer is not for us. work. [Prayer} without a solid social and missionary out- But, as Thomas Merton writes, contemplation is not “something reach [is] of no help to evangelization, nor are… social… essentially strange and esoteric, reserved for a small class of practices which lack a spirituality... These unilateral and almost unnatural beings and prohibited to everyone else.” Mer- incomplete proposals… curtail the Gospel. What is needed ton continues: is the ability to cultivate an interior space which can give a Christian meaning to commitment and activity. Without Contemplation is the work of the Holy Spirit acting on our prolonged moments of adoration, of prayerful encounter souls… with special intensity to increase… our love for Him. with the word, of sincere conversation with the Lord, our These gifts are part of the normal equipment of Christian sancti- work easily becomes meaningless… The Church urgently ty. They are given to all in Baptism, and if they are given it is needs the deep breath of prayer, (Evangelii Gaudium, 262) presumably because God wants them developed. (From the opening of What is Contemplation? by Merton) Please pray for our new parish. Please pray that we might be “spirit -filled evangelizers” who live out Jesus’ rhythm of If we are Baptized, we have “the normal equipment” for being mission and prayer. And please just pray so that the love contemplatives; we have the capacity to let the Spirit act in us to which has been poured into our hearts might more fully de- “increase… our love for Him.” velop, so that by our very lives we might manifest to a hurt- ing world the love that it craves – the love of Jesus Christ. Which is the reason why mission alone is not enough to bring about God’s kingdom here on earth. Love is needed, too. Con- — The Rev. Todd Miller Trinity News Fall 2016 7

Scripture Readings for the Sunday Eucharist

September Sunday Eucharist October Sunday Eucharist November Sunday Eucharist

Pentecost XVI September 4 Pentecost XX October 2 All Saints November 6 Proper 18 Jeremiah 18:1 -11 Proper 22 Habakkuk 1:1 -4, 2:1 -4 Daniel 7:1 -3,15 -18 Psalm 139:1 -5, 12 -17 Psalm 37:1 -10 Psalm 149 Philemon 1 -21 2 Timothy 1:1 -14 Ephesians 1:11 -23 Luke 14:25 -33 Luke 17:5 -10 Luke 6:20 -31

Pentecost September 11 Pentecost XXI October 9 Pentecost November 13 XVII Jeremiah 4:11 -12, 22 -28 Proper 23 Jeremiah 29:1, 4 -7 XXVI Isaiah 65:17 -25 Proper 19 Psalm 14 Psalm 66:1 -11 Proper 28 Canticle 9 1 Timothy 1:12 -17 2 Timothy 2:8 -15 2 Thessalonians 3:6 -13 Luke 15:1 -10 Luke 17:11 -19 Luke 21:5 -19

Pentecost September 18 Pentecost XXII October 16 Pentecost Last November 20 XVIII Amos 8:4 -7 Proper 24 Genesis 32:22 -31 Christ the King Jeremiah 23:1 -6 Proper 20 Psalm 113 Psalm 121 Psalm 46 1 Timothy 2:1 -7 2 Timothy 3:14 -4:5 Colossians 1:11 -20 Luke 16:1 -13 Luke 18:1 -8 Luke 23:33 -43

Pentecost XIX September 25 Pentecost October 23 Advent I November 27 Proper 21 Jeremiah 32:1 -3a, 6 -15 XXIII Jeremiah 14:7 -10,19 -22 Isaiah 2:1 -5 Psalm 91:1 -6, 14 -16 Proper 25 Psalm 84:1 -6 Romans 13:11 -14 1 Timothy 6:6 -19 2 Timothy 4:6 -8,16 -18 Matthew 24:36 -44 Luke 16:19 -31 Luke 18:9 -14 Psalm 122

Pentecost October 30 XXIV Habakkuk 1:1 -4; 2:1 -4 Proper 26 Psalm 119:137 -144 2 Thess. 1:1 -4, 11 -12 Luke 19:1 -10

Vestry Book: “The Joy of the Gospel,” by Sunday School News Pope Francis

Our new parish’s vestry has been read- Trinity’s Sunday School’s first day back to the academic year ing Pope Francis’ book, “The Joy of and the Godly Play curriculum is September 18. Grades K -5 the Gospel.” In this book, his first will meet promptly in the large classroom at the end of the apostolic exhortation, the Pope lays hall downstairs at 9:45 each Sunday. Please pay attention to out his vision for a Church rooted in Trinity’s E -weekly and Sunday announcements for infor- intimate encounter with Christ while mation about the Junior High class. Trinity’s Sunday School yet focused outward in mission. We teachers are Carrie Burr, Ashley Duggan, Holly Henson, have been impressed with Pope Fran- Jessika Perry and Meg Silver. The Junior High class will be cis’ joy -filled message and warm en- led by the Rev. Sharon Cicarelli. To learn more about Trini- couragement, and we are hopeful that ty’s Godly Play Sunday School curriculum, go to our discussion of the Pope’s book will www.godlyplayfoundation.org. To ask a question about shed light on how our new parish Trinity’s Sunday School, or to tour the space or to sign up might harness the energies of prayer your child, please speak to Carrie Burr or Ashley Duggan. and mission to help us better proclaim For more information about Trinity’s Junior High group, the “Joy of the Gospel” here in Newton Centre. Would you like please speak to Sharon. to read the Pope’s book, too? “The Joy of the Gospel” can readily be ordered online. If enough are interested, Fr. Miller will host a For our youngest members, Trinity offers childcare every discussion group. Sunday beginning at 9:45. 8 Fall 2016 Trinity News

haps we learned to rely more on God, trusting God to provide Parish & Neighborhood for our needs. Whatever the reason, that Lent we learned the great freedom that comes from giving.

Ashley and I continue to find great joy in giving. We no longer give 50% – such a level of giving would be hard to sustain long - term – but we do tithe (10%), which is the Episcopal Church’s standard for giving. In our giving, Ashley and I continue to be amazed by and grateful for the countless blessings God has given us. And I know that our sense of gratitude and abundance is a direct result of giving.

— The Rev. Todd Miller

Saving a Mural Why do I give?

Recently I listened to a homily that preached on vanity of vani- I give because giving helps me tie s (Ecclesiastes 1:2), how when we get stuck on things or realize how much God has places or rituals, they become obstacles to our being free to let given me. I have often told them go and to move forward. “You can’t take it with you” has the story of the time, shortly been on my mind over the past months as I watch people from after Ashley and I were mar- various parishes come to see if they can use any of the things ried, when Ashley was in gra- we left behind when Messiah came to Trinity. That homily date school and I was working struck home when I remembered how I felt when people would as a church musician, and we look up at the Jesse Tree mural on the chancel wall and say, lived in Santa Barbara, Cali- “Surely you’re not going to leave that!” And I wondered is it fornia, one of the more expen- vanity that makes me want to save the biggest art work I have sive places to live in the Unit- ever done? ed States. We felt pinched for money every month. The constant fear that our bank account When the Church of the Messiah was officially put on the mar- would run dry was an ever -present stress to us and to our rela- ket it was our hope and that of the Diocese that the property tionship. Ashley, in an inspired moment, pointed out to me one would be sold to another church. If that couldn’t be done, then evening that to live in perpetual fear of running out of money sell it to a non -profit organization. It soon became obvious that was not only unwarranted – I was working and Ashley had a the value of the property made the sale to another church out of graduate stipend – but was also crippling us with an attitude of the question. This is when I had to face the prospect that who- scarcity. “Just look at how many families in Santa Barbara live, ever buys the church would most likely renovate the interior for six or eight or even more people to an apartment the size of their purpose and it was then that I made up my mind. The mu- ours, and they are doing fine,” she said. She told me that our ral would be removed. attitude toward money was eating away at our capacity for life On a Saturday morning last June I met my son -in -law Chris and and joy. I knew she was right. “What can we do?” I asked. his father at the church and watched as the mural was cut into Ashley said, “This Lent, let’s try giving away 50% of every- four panels and pulled away from the chancel wall. I have to thing that comes through our house: money, food, new clothing, explain that Chris was at one time a master carpenter building etc.” I balked. “But how could giving 50% of everything that sets for off -Broadway productions. There couldn’t have been comes through our house possibly help? Then we’ll have even anyone better qualified to handle this project than someone who less money!” Ashley prevailed, however, and we began our knew how to build, take down, and transport big heavy things. experiment. Though it seems counter -intuitive that by giving We loaded the four 5’ x 8’ wood panels onto a trailer and I con- away money we should feel that we had more of it, that is ex- vinced Chris that they would fit in my apartment den. Much to actly what happened. In a way that I can attribute only to grace, his disbelief the elevator handled them and they actually prop we gave 50% of our income away (and our groceries, and pur- nicely against the wall of my den with 3” of clearance at the chased clothing, and…) and we were freed from worrying about top. money. Completely freed. Moreover, we began to feel as though we had plenty: we had food to eat, a roof over our As with every other item saved from the Church of the Messiah heads, clothes on our backs, gainful employment, a supportive I hope that this mural will eventually find a home. It is not circle of friends. We lacked for nothing; life had never been meant to be in four parts shut away in my apartment. And I better. What had caused such a change? Perhaps giving away pray that we’ll find that home while I can still climb up on a half of our income and doing with less helped us focus on what ladder and fix Mary’s face and anything else that was in the we had rather than on what we didn’t have. Perhaps giving way as the electric saw cut neatly up the center. helped us to own money, rather than money owning us. Per- Trinity News Fall 2016 9

The Jesse Tree mural was painted in 50 days, begun the day after Easter, 1979, and finished for the Feast of Pentecost. It Thank You, Jeff! was dedicated to the memory of my father and I chose his face for Joseph. To this day I don’t remember making many deci- sions as I painted this mural except to have it resemble a Medie- When did you come to Trini- val tapestry and to decide, with the help of Fr. Bill Lowe and parishioner Donald Ross, who would be on the tree. I credit ty? What brought you at first? God with the results. He worked through me; I just held the I came first in 1991 when I had just brush. finished my graduate program at Bos- ton College in ESL (teaching English — Martha Bancroft as a Second Language). I found the parish to be people friendly, but not overbearing. The atmosphere and beauty of the church was quite com- pelling after seeing quite a number of different churches.

I am originally from New York State and have Lutheran and Catholic parents. I have found Trinity to be a welcome place for both married and single folks.

Over the years, you’ve served in many capacities and ful- filled many roles at Trinity. What are they? I have been involved in four different ministries, but teaching Sunday School is by far my favorite. The older Middle School age students have a yearly ritual of coming over to my house for a home Eucharist to emphasize that prayer should be a part of one’s life and not just something performed in church on Sun- day morning.

Also, I have sung in the choir under Barbara Roth -Donaldson, coordinated the Sunday coffee hours and other special events Two by fours, cord, and a ladder Cardboard protects the mu- involving hospitality, and have served as the usher in the back help to lower the panel. Brilliant ral as the first panel is cut welcoming people to worship.

What did you find rewarding/challenging in these experi- ences? Trinity in the 90’s was a good place to be. I remember the avail- ability of many good practical mentors and spiritual guides. One such couple from England named David and Faith grew close to me to the point that I used to visit them when they moved back to England.

Our biggest challenge has been retaining the children when they grow older and have other interests outside of church. I hope to keep teaching in the Sunday School to possibly help stem this decline in numbers.

I myself went through a period of wondering whether I should try parish life elsewhere, but I came to settle on Trinity as the place to be. I realized that I became burned out doing one particular ministry (coffee hour) and that if I just stepped back from it entirely, it would give me a new perspective on church. Two panels to go, moving up, 16 feet up finishing the That strategy has worked. rung by rung vertical cut Do you have some good advice about parish life in closing? I think of church as a kind of personal anchor. It is important for all of us to check in often to gauge how we are doing against some standard or rule outside of ourselves. I am very grateful for Trinity being my anchor.

Thanks, Jeff, for all that you have done for Trinity all these years!

10 Fall 2016 Trinity News

Pictures from Spring, 2016

Pentecost Sunday

Todd & David transplanting iris and lilies from Messiah to Trinity

Sharon, with junior high students

Placing hoops around the peonies in the Memorial Garden The Memorial Garden dogwood in bloom Trinity News Fall 2016 11

BBB-B---SAFE,SAFE, July 25 ––– 29, 2016 Salvation Army Dates

This summer Trinity Parish once again served alongside St. Eight times each year, Trinity Parish volunteers to prepare and John’s, Newtonville and St. Paul’s, Newton Highlands, to pro- - serve the evening meal for guests at the Salvation Army in vide a team of volunteers to provide food for the diocese wide Framingham. Upcoming dates for the Salvation Army dinner in BSAFE (Bishop’s Summer Academic and Fun Enrichment) pro- 2016 are: gram. Our parishes’ assigned dates were July 25 – 29. On Mon- day through Thursday we provided lunch for approximately 120 Monday, September 12 Monday, November 14 young people at the Epiphany School in Dorchester. On Friday, we hosted BSAFE and provide them lunch on a trip to Lake Please note that we do not serve a meal in March, June, October, Cochituate. Thanks to all who helped out or in December. Please sign up on the sheet in the Dunbar Room to help out.

Bread & Gift Card Ministry

The Brown Bag Lunch program has a new name. Announcing the Bread & Gift Card Ministry! Funded through the Rector’s Discretionary Account, this ministry offers everyone who comes to Trinity in need as many loaves of bread as they desire along with one supermarket gift card worth $10. Each person/family can receive this $10 card once every two weeks.

Many area residents have long taken advantage of this service and have used the chapel to pray on their occa- sion of visiting the church. If you wish to donate to this ministry, please make out checks to “Trinity Parish” with “Rector’s Discretionary Fund” in the memo line.

Loose Offerings

Every fourth Sunday is designated as the loose offering Sunday in which all of the money collected during the service will go to different charities sponsored by Trinity. The following is a list of upcoming offerings:

Sunday, September 25 Centre St. Food Pantry Sunday, October 23 Episcopal City Mission Sunday, November 27 Bread & Gift Card Ministry 12 Trinity Parish of Newton Centre Fall 2016 Trinity News Episcopal

11 Homer Street Newton Centre, MA 02459 617 -527 -2790 ♦ [email protected]

The Rev. Todd Miller Rector

The Rev. James La Macchia Associate Rector

The Rev. Sharon Ciccarelli Priest Associate

Joshua T. Lawton Music Director

Aaron W. Friar Parish Administrator

The mission of Trinity Parish is to nurture spiritual growth through the worship of God in Christ, and through fellowship and service to others.

Food Pantry News Consecration Sunday, November 20

Thank you Vikram! Sunday, November 20, is Consecration Sunday, the day on We are still pinching ourselves --- our summer which we are invited to make a pledge of financial support to Pantry Manager Vikram was the BEST we could Trinity Parish for 2016. Our guest preacher at Eucharist will be have hoped for and more. He was on top of the Mr. John White, the Missioner for Legacy Stewardship for the many details involved in running the pantry all Diocese of Western Massachusetts. Pledge cards will be hand- while treating our shoppers with utmost respect. ed out at announcement time, and may be turned in at the end AND translating for our Spanish speakers! Boy howdy, will of the liturgy. Following the liturgy, a catered luncheon will be we miss him now that he is headed back to college. held to celebrate our giving for 2017.

And welcome back Natalie! We sure missed your insights, humor and amazing energy! The shoppers will be so glad to see you at your desk this month... And thank you to the Aerus Electrolux firm in Newton High- lands for mending our vacuum.

Interpreters Needed! We are REALLY trying to find people to come help our shoppers who do not speak English yet. Do you know people who speak Mandarin? Spanish? Russian? Send them to us, please. It will have an happy impact on ALL the shoppers and Upcoming Issue volunteers.

Ride for Food, September 25 The following is the last issue scheduled in 2016: Join the fun as a rider, volunteer or donor toward our Centre Street Food Pantry team. It's our first time participating in this Issue Submissions Due Date great bike event to increase food security in New England. And Advent, Christmas, Epiphany Monday, November 14 we're in amazing company! There are teams from all sorts of (December, January, February) great non -profits doing this good work, many of whom we partner with! Check out the Ride for Food website for the Centre Please email the office if you have any comments or sugges- Street Food Pantry page and help in whatever way you can! tions for future issues. Thank you. ride.threesquaresne.org/fundraise/team?ftid=76327 Your Editors, The Rev. Todd Miller & Aaron W. Friar