a word from our sr. pastor - trinitynorthborough · pdf filetidings november 2016 vol. 68 no....
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TIDINGS
November 2016
Vol. 68 No. 11
A Word from Our Sr. Pastor
"Offer to God a sacrifice of thanksgiving, and pay your vows to the Most High."
(Psalm 50:12)
How is it possible that it is November already?
Summer and fall just flew by and now we are gearing up for the holidays and the
winter.
And then 2017 will be here before we know it.
As you are reading this, take a moment to stop and give thanks.
Whatever comes to your mind. What are you thankful for, here and now?
You may want to start a list and keep it where you can see it every day. Watch it grow
longer and longer.
That list is a testimony of God's generosity. Everything we have and everything we are,
is only thanks to God.
How will you show your gratitude to God?
Do you give thanks when you pray?
Do you give gifts of time, talent or treasure, as thank-you gifts to God?
You will have an opportunity very soon to show your generosity and your gratitude to
God: Northborough's faith communities will be celebrating a week of gratitude from
November 20 - 27. See below for more information.
And it is Stewardship season at Trinity!
This year, our theme is generosity: God's, and ours.
Because God is generous to us, we are able to be generous toward others.
We have some ambitious projects for 2017 that we can only pursue with your
generous support.
We are grateful for all your faithful giving this year that has helped us once again to
close the deficit in our budget, and we anticipate to finish the year out strong.
On November 20, we will join in worship to dream about what Trinity Church might
look like five years from now, as part of our Visioning process. And we will dream big!
With your pledges, we can move closer to the vision that God has for Trinity Church.
November 6 will be the kick-off of our stewardship campaign, and celebration Sunday
will be on November 13.
Please join us in worship to celebrate God's generosity, and all of yours!
Let us give thanks.
And may our generous and loving God continue to bless you and yours with abundant
grace.
Pastor Valeria.
Wonderful Wednesdays!
Pastor Valeria offers an open discussion group on Wednesday afternoons. Do you
have thoughts or questions about the Sunday sermon? Is there a particular Bible
passage you grapple with? Are you interested in a book study?
Join us at C'est la vie Bistro to share our faith journey with each other. We will discuss
as a group, which format we want to follow. C'est la vie is located at 30 Main Street,
next to the library. Entrance and parking in the back. Look forward to seeing you on
Wednesdays.
Worship Info
Sunday Service, 10am
November 6: Generosity Sunday with Communion
November 13: Celebration Sunday (please bring your pledge cards to worship)
November 20: Vision meeting during worship, in Fellowship Hall
November 27: First Sunday of Advent - Worship for All Ages
Vision Team Update
We want to thank everyone who was able to participate in the meeting on October
23rd to help us draft a Mission Statement for Trinity Church. We had 5 tables with lots
of discussion. Each table generated a statement and from those, the Vision Team
developed our first draft of a Mission Statement. There were a few criteria which we
tried to follow: the statement must be brief, broad enough to cover the primary work of
Trinity Church, clear to everyone, and memorable. Our proposed draft is:
Trinity Church's mission is to fill its people with the love of God and share God's love in
the world.
This statement is posted in the fellowship hall along with the 5 proposals from the
meeting. Please take some time to look at the statement and let your Vision Team
know what you think of it, especially if you think it needs some editing.
The next step in our vision process is to generate a vision statement for Trinity. This
will be a description of what we believe Trinity and our community will look like when
Trinity lives out its mission and values over the next five years. To do this, we will
have another all congregational meeting on November 20 in which we will ask you to
help generate the vision statement. This will be the final meeting in the process and
we need your help to look toward the future. More information about this meeting will
be coming in future emails.
As always, we need your prayer support as we continue along the process. The team
is asking everyone to read this month's scripture (Acts 16: 6-10) and prayerfully reflect
on the questions:
How does God give vision in this scripture to God's people?
How might God give Trinity vision for the future?
If you have any questions about the vision process, feedback on the Mission
Statement or Core Values, or information to pass on to us, please see any of your
Vision Team members.
Tom Danforth, Valeria Schmidt, Allyn Phelps, and Kelly Zajdel.
Outreach News
How We Support Worcester Fellowship
Trinity Church participates in WF services, which is very important to their work. In
addition, we are part of a mission to break down barriers and to 'own' our common
humanity.
We sponsor WF in our budget.
We provide 60 lunches many times per year.
Individuals may check supply levels in the WF closet (coat rack area) and replenish
them at any time.
*Lunch supplies stored on the closet shelves:
- Juice boxes
- Bags of chips
- Pudding cups
- Granola bars
- Peanut Butter and Jelly
- Bottled Water (May, June, July, Aug., Sept.)
- Condiment packets (Mayo, Mustard)
- Lunch bags (size #5)
- Sandwich bags (fold top)
- Spoons
*Perishable items needed at the time lunches are made. Contact the Outreach Team
to donate.
- Turkey (2 medium thick slices per sandwich)
- Ham (2 medium thick slices per sandwich)
- Cheese (1 medium thick slice on both turkey & ham sandwiches)
- Bread
- Bananas
Our upcoming WF 'lunch schedule' is: November 20, December 18, January 15,
March 19, April 16, June 18.
We donate personal items:
White socks, hats, gloves, scarves, underwear, feminine hygiene items ~ place in the
WF drop-off box (in the designated cabinet by the bulletin board area).
We donate Dunkin Donuts gift cards:
$2 for parishioners, $30 for ministers (Bible studies, Prayer groups) ~ please give
cards to Kathie Nichols.
We invite all who haven't been to the Worcester Common on a Sunday, to join in any
time!
Sincerely,
Trinity Church Outreach Team,
Buzz Hamilton, Barbara Mulligan, Kathie Nichols, Mary Robbins, John Posluszny
Pastoral Care Team
Nursing Home Services
Our November dates for our nursing home services are Tuesday, November 15 at
Coleman House, 2:30pm and Tuesday, November 22 at Beaumont Northborough,
2pm. Won't you please consider supporting this ministry once or twice a month? Your
helping hands, cheerful faces, and singing voices are always appreciated!
Please speak with Pastor Valeria if you would like to
help, [email protected].
Trinity's Coffee House
Friday, November 18, 7pm
Open mic - welcoming singers, guitar players, poetry readers and musicians.
Coffee and refreshments will be served with a suggested donation.
BYOM (Bring Your Own Mug).
$5 entrance fee ($10 max family), NO charge to performers.
Please contact Janet Robbins at [email protected] for more info of if
you can lend a hand.
Saturday Breakfast Fellowship
November 19, 8am
Everyone is welcome to join us for discussion and breakfast on Saturday, November
19 at 8am. We will begin with breakfast and follow with our discussion.
For more information or to add yourself to the Saturday Breakfast Fellowship email list,
please contact Tom Danforth, [email protected].
Count Your Blessings
Trinity's Thrift Shop
The seasons have changed and our Fall and Winter clothing is now out. Stop by our
thrift shop on Tuesdays, 10am - 3pm and on Saturdays (new time beginning Nov. 12)
10am - 1pm.
Please contact Linda Corbett if you have questions, [email protected].
Trinity T-Shirts Make Great Christmas Gifts!
If you're interested in purchasing a Trinity T-Shirt as a Christmas gift, please contact
Linda Corbett to place your order by December 1st.
T-Shirt prices are $15 each or $10 each for 4 or more. Colors are blue or white.
Adult and Youth sizes.
Linda can be reached at 508-688-9392 or [email protected].
STOP: Students Together Opposing Prejudice
An informational meeting for Trinity's 7th and 8th
graders and their parents will be held on Sunday,
December 4, 11:30am.
S.T.O.P. is a youth education and leadership
initiative. The program is a seven-week curriculum, targeted to 7th and 8th grade
students. The sessions take place in participating houses of worship and other
organizations.
(View the flyers posted throughout the church.)
Sessions are held weekly, on Thursdays, from 6pm to 8:30pm, starting with a pizza
dinner and socializing for the first half hour, so the students are able to get to know
each other informally.
2017 S.T.O.P. Sessions:
February 2, 9 and 16
March 2, 9, 16 and 23
(Snow date: March 30)
S.T.O.P. addresses all forms of discrimination and prejudice, including prejudice based
on race, gender, sexual orientation, physical appearance, class, disability, background
and religion. Traditionally, sessions are held in houses of worship to give the
participants an opportunity to learn about different beliefs, besides their own, but non-
religious organizations are also involved.
For more information contact Rev. Valeria Schmidt (Trinity
Church), [email protected].
Upcoming 'Special Events' at Trinity!
November Events:
~ Afghan Raffle:
This full-size afghan, hand-made by Doris Hobbs, will be
raffled off and the proceeds will go toward the expenses for
Kathie Nichols mission trip to Nicaragua. Colors are neutrals
(white and tan) with a gold trim.
Raffle tickets are $1 / 1-ticket; $5 / 6-tickets and will be
available after Sunday worship or you can email Pam Jones
The raffle will run through Sunday, November 20.
~ Northborough Interfaith Clergy Association (NICA)
Thanksgiving Service:
NICA invites you to our town's annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service ~ "250 Years of
Gratitude", followed by hospitality in the Fellowship Hall ~ Tuesday, November 22,
7 - 8pm at Trinity Church.
Preacher will be Rev. Chad McCabe from Church of the Nativity.
A free-will offering will be taken to benefit Worcester Fellowship.
Please bring a bag of non-perishable food items for the Northborough Food Pantry.
We are looking for children and teens who'd be willing to participate in a litany
of gratitude: A brief statement about what they are thankful for. If your child is
interested, please contact Pastor Valeria.
December Events:
~ Mistletoe Mart:
Our famous Mistletoe Mart Christmas Fair is back and will be held on Saturday,
December 3 from 10am - 3pm. The fair will include the sale of real wreaths and swags,
a 'festival of wreaths' raffle, a cookie walk, multiple crafters (Trinity, as well as crafters
from elsewhere), and a delicious lunch.
In addition to our 'wish list' of items needed (posted on the bulletin board), we're
looking for ribbon to make wreath bows, wired, at least 9' in length (Christmas colors /
designs). Also, gift cards for craft stores. There is a drop-off box for the supplies in the
hallway of the church (by the bulletin board area - labeled Mistletoe Mart).
We're also looking for places to find 'greens' to make up the swags. If anyone has
evergreen type trees and bushes in their yard, or knows of any places around town to
find these (holly, junipers, scotch pines....), please let Linda Corbett
know, [email protected].
Would also appreciate volunteers to help out the day of the fair for set-up and clean-
up. There will be sign-up sheets available this month.
~ Life-Line Screening Health Event:
On Tuesday, December 13 (9am - 5:30pm), Trinity Church is please to offer a
potentially life-saving health event with Life-Line Screening, a leading provider of
community-based preventative health screenings. In addition to the many low-cost
health tests being offered (details at www.lifelinescreening.com/community-
partners and also posted on the bulletin boards), a sister company, Life-Line
Community Healthcare is now also proud to be offering screenings to all Medicare-
eligible beneficiaries with NO out-of-pocket cost.
To learn more and to see if you are eligible for registration, please call 866-579-5069
or visit www.lifelinescreening.com/awvcommunitypartners.
Church Community Events
~ NICA Week of Gratitude:
A Week of Gratitude
for 250 years of blessing upon our town of
Northborough.
Sponsored by the
Northborough Interfaith Clergy Association (NICA)
As we conclude a year celebrating our town's 250th
Anniversary, it is most appropriate that we express gratitude for all the blessings
received during this time. NICA encourages all of our town's people to make special
effort during this Week of Gratitude to express your gratitude for all that our great town
is and has been. The following are some recommended suggestions for how you
might, in your own way, express that gratitude and continue to bless
Northborough. You are welcome to be creative and come up with an idea of your own!
Private Prayer
- Each day this week offer a prayer for the safety and blessing of all the people of
Northborough.
Communal Prayer
- Include a special prayer petition for continued blessing of Northborough in your
congregation's weekly service(s) this week.
- Attend the NICA Thanksgiving Service on November 22 (7:00 p.m.) at Trinity
Church. Come and pray with your neighbors. Let's make this a shining town of
graceful gratitude for yesterday, today and tomorrow!
- Offer a prayer for our townspeople at your Thanksgiving Day meal with family &
friends.
Actions of Gratitude in Town
- Clean up a public area of town.
- Assist an elderly or disabled person with fall yard or house clean-up.
- Volunteer at the Northborough Food Pantry.
- Send a note of gratitude to Northborough public servants ... fire & police
departments, town hall officials and employees, school administration & teachers &
employees. Sometimes an unexpected note of appreciation can provide a big lift!
- Make special effort to thank service workers like store cashiers, wait staff, etc.
- Visit a neighbor who may be in a nursing home or assisted living center.
Contribute to:
- Northborough Food Pantry
- NICA Voucher Fund for emergency assistance
- Northborough Library for the benefit of new generations.
~ Grief Support Group:
A Grief Support group meets at Trinity Church the first Tuesday of every month at
7:30pm. Come support and share with others who have experienced loss. All are
welcome.
If you have questions, please contact Carey Rublesky, 774-258-1814.
~ Community Meal:
Join us on Wednesdays, 6pm in the Fellowship Hall. Each Wednesday there is a new
community group hosting the meal. Please join us - all are welcome!
~ 'The Time has Come for Peace':
With orchestra and the Assabet Valley Mastersingers chorus conducted by
Dr. Robert Eaton; the Algonquin Regional High School Chorus, Kathrine Waters,
Director; and soloist Catherine Helberg, Mezzo-Soprano.
Sunday, November 13, 3:30pm at Algonquin Regional High School (79 Bartlett St.,
Northborough).
Active duty military and Veterans admitted Free.
$25 General Admission; $20 Sr. Citizens / Students; $3 discount for advance
purchase. Tickets available at the door as well.
For more info call 978-562-9838; visit www.AVMsingers.org.
Daily Devotional for Advent
The season of Advent is an incredibly busy time. And as we get caught up in all the
holiday stress, we easliy lose the true meaning of the season: to open our hearts for
Jesus.
Pastor Valeria invites you to do a brief devotional each day during Advent: Preparing
for Christmas, by Richard Rohr.
"Advent is not about a sentimental waiting for the Baby Jesus," Rohr asserts. Advent is
a time to focus our expectations and anticipation on "the adult Christ, the Cosmic
Christ," who challenges us to empty ourselves, to lose ourselves, to surrender.
Preparing for Christmas offers daily meditations, prayers, Scripture readings, and
questions for reflection for each day.
Available as paperback or on Kindle.
Read it on your own, with your family, or a friend.
If you are interested in discussing this devotional as a group (Wednesday
afternoons or Sunday evenings), please contact Pastor Valeria by Thursday,
November 17! Copies can be ordered through the church.
Nicaragua MissionTrip
February 17 - 26, 2017
I am excited to announce that I will be representing Trinity Church and attending the
2017 Nicaragua Mission Trip as organized by the First Baptist Church in Beverly, in
support of AMOS Health and Hope. Your financial support, to help me cover
expenses, would be greatly appreciated.
AMOS Health and Hope is a Christian public health not-for-profit organization
sponsored by the American Baptist Churches. The mission of AMOS is to improve the
health of impoverished communities by working alongside them in health, education
and development. They currently serve 27 communities. For more detail,
visitwww.amoshealth.org.
We will be making and installing water purification systems in people's homes.
If you are able to help me financially, please make your check payable to Trinity
Church, with a note in the memo section, "Kathie Nichols Mission Trip". Or, you cold
place cash in an envelope marked with the same note.
Thank you very much for your support.
Kathie Nichols
Church Office Closed
The church office will be closed on Friday, November 11 in observance of Veteran's
Day and on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25 in celebration Thanksgiving.
We hope you all enjoy!
Church Family
In Our Thoughts & Prayers ~
~ Barbara Baker, recovering from knee replacement surgery
~ Dick Sargent, undergoing treatment for cancer
If you know of someone who is hospitalized, ill, suffering from the loss of a loved one,
or troubled in some way and in need of a pastoral call, please call Pastor Valeria at the
church office, 508-393-8156.
Trinity Church
23 Main Street ~ Northborough, MA 01532
508-393-8156
[email protected] (Colleen)
[email protected] (Graciela)
Rev. Valeria Schmidt, Sr. Pastor
www.trinitynorthborough.org
Trinity Church is an Open and Affirming / Welcoming and Affirming Congregation
"Let us remember that, as much has been given us, much will be expected from us,
and that true homage comes from the heart as well as from the lips,
and shows itself in deeds."
~ Theodore Roosevelt