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In This Issue:

From the Rector –1

Lrssons&Carols– 2

Christmas Eve—3

Children’s Christ-

mas Pageant– 4,5

Christmas Party—6

Racial Justice— 7

Holiday Express,

Toy Distribution

and a Poem—8

The New!The New!

TT R I N I T Y R I N I T Y T T I M E SI M E S

Christmas/Epiphany 2015/16Christmas/Epiphany 2015/16

From the Rector

The season is upon us; one that for many seems to be an endless whirlwind of activities; some

of them fun - festive holiday parties, for instance; some of them not so fun - I’m thinking of

those exhausting forays into the retail world in hopes of checking off all of the items on one’s

gift list. With so much to accomplish and so little time to get everything done, we have no

choice but to rush about and hope that time doesn’t run out on us. There is all of the extra

baking and cooking that the holidays seem to require, the gift wrapping (and gift hiding),

Christmas concerts, visits with family and friends and, of course, the joys and frustrations of

hanging lights, trimming the tree and decking the halls...plus that one last trip to the stores

(once more into the breach!) when, in a panic, you realize that something on your shopping

list was overlooked.

The Holiday Season is a busy, chaotic time in our culture; one that seems to gain mo-

mentum through the weeks of Advent and culminates in a frenzied climax on Christmas Eve

when the whole world seems abuzz. But then, suddenly, almost shockingly, the world grows

peaceful and quiet as we sing “Silent Night”... and for the moment all of the hustle and bustle

outside fades, allowing us to just “be” as we remember what has brought us together on this

night.

The gentle, tender peace that we feel in

that moment is a foretaste of what our world

can become when we live fully and consciously

into the love of God; the love that God showed

for us by coming to live among us; the incarna-

tion of God in the birth of the Christ Child; Em-

manuel. This is the peace that Christ brought to

this world when he came to us not as a victori-

ous warrior or mighty king but as a helpless

baby.

As you sing and look around at the bright, shining faces of your neighbors and

friends, hold on to that peace, let it so fill your heart that you can see Christ in all others, espe-

cially those you have difficulty loving – the stranger, the enemy. Hold on to that feeling as

long as you can and the true Christmas story, God’s gracious gift of peace to the world in

God’s Incarnation, will transform your heart.

So, this Christmas and every day – for all of your life, I wish you Peace. I wish peace

for us all. Merry Christmas!

Michael+

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Deacon Gail Goes on Sabbatical Father Michael’s Installation

The Blessing of the Pets!

The Last “Front Porch Friday” of the season!

2015 Lessons and Carols

The Chorister Tradition

By Diane Caruso

As I sit here listening to the BBC broadcast of Lessons and Carols from King’s Col-

lege, Cambridge (founded in 1441), with their world-class choir, I am reminded how

privileged I am to be able to do this sort of work here at Trinity with our own Chor-

isters in Trinity’s Choir School. And our parish is committed to teaching this long

tradition to Choristers to whom it might not be familiar. They get to hear and learn

music that has handed down the Christian faith in new and different ways. They

learn to read music fluently, and interpret it as independent musicians. They learn

to sing in different languages and find out how related they all are. They sing with

adults on an equal level, and learn that they are capable. This is not always an easy

task, as children come with their own issues, expectations, and traditions to pass on

to us as well. And we do learn from each other.

The choir at King’s College is one that boards – the Choristers live and study there

during the week, and only go home at certain times, while ours come after school

two days a week. Yet we are able to achieve so much in that short time. Our Choris-

ters of Trinity Choir School are part of a long and proud Anglican tradition of com-

mitment to teaching the Christian faith through music. We are not at a foundation

from the 15th century, like King’s, yet in Asbury Park, we are all so privileged to

support and continue this tradition here – with our own Choristers!

The Trinity Chancel Choir and Trinity Choristers Sang for the Traditional Service of Advent Lessons and

Carols on Sunday, December 13. The Service consisted of 9 Lessons , each followed by music—whether by

Choir, Choristers or Congregational Singing. It was by all accounts sublime!

Father Michael Bids us pray to keep a

Holy Advent.

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Christmas Eve At Trinity

Christmas Eve is a magical time for us at Trinity. We “do” Christmas well! The

Music is glorious. The Church is adorned with holiday decorations. The tower-

ing Christmas trees, the crèche, and the pew candles are all aglow. Everything

is bathed in a golden light that seems to harken back to the manger scene of

long ago in Bethlehem, where a star illumined the Holy family, and all who

came to bear witness to the birth of the Christ Child. This light seems to bring

out the best in people as for a moment we realize just how profound and sacred

this moment is; and we smile warmly and greet each other with genuine cheer.

In the stillness, we understand what it would be like to have peace on earth.

Here, and in the pages that follow, the serene beauty of the candlelit Mass is

captured in photographs as is the unabashed fun experienced in the Christmas

Pageant. Enjoy!

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Thursday Vespers

Chorister Camp at Cape May

The Way of St. Paul Team

Faure’ Requiem for All Souls

Parish Thanksgiving Beach Baptism

Paul and

Trinity’sTrinity’s 2015 2015 CChhrriissttmmaas s PPaaggeeaanntt:: “All Quiet on the Set! ‘The Glorious Impossible’ take 1; Lights, Camera, ACTION!”

Thus began Trinity’s 2015 Christmas Pageant. Billed as “the best Christmas pageant ever,” it

certainly did not disappoint! Trinity Church was transformed for the occasion into a sound stage

for a television production. Our director, Jill, explained the concept to all of us in attendance –

the nativity was going to be “filmed” before a live studio audience! Our narrators, Liza and

James, kept the story moving. Our cue card holder, Michael, let us, the studio audience, know

when we were supposed to laugh, or gasp in amazement, or boo and hiss the villain (King Her-

od). And assorted stagehands, dressed in black, kept everything in order and made sure the ac-

tors (Trinity’s children) hit their marks. What a creative way to tell the Christmas story! The

added bonus was that this became a no-stress pageant. There was no rehearsal beforehand; eve-

ryone who showed up and wanted to participate was given a costume and a part to play – and

no lines to remember! Another Trinity tradition has begun!

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““TheThe GloriousGlorious ImpossibleImpossible””((Made Made forfor TVTV!!))

6 Christmas in July

The Beach Mass

More “Front Porch Fridays” at the Rectory

The Best Parish Christmas Party Ever!The Best Parish Christmas Party Ever!

A time for Jumping for Joy!

No one complained about the line, the food was THAT good!

Thank yous to our kitchen, setup and breakdown volunteers!

Decorations were whimsical and helped get us all into the Spirit!

Trinity folks just love to gather together!

The Dynamic Duo run the Caesar Salad Station

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Trinity’s Racial Justice Project hosted a

Racial Justice Workshop in October,

which was facilitated by two members

of the Diocese’s Anti-Racism Commis-

sion. It was a rich, interactive work-

shop where we addressed our own

assumptions about race, were chal-

lenged to think about the ways that

racism may be present in our own

hearts, and were inspired to act for jus-

tice. The Racial Justice Project intends

to offer more of these half day work-

shops in the future for those who

missed the first one. Keep an eye on

the bulletin for dates.

From January 21-23, 2016, Trinity AP

will be a live streaming partner site

(bit.ly/sacredconversations) when a

leading group of activists, scholars,

authors, artists and experts on racial

inequality come together to hold life-

giving conversations on the racial is-

sues of our time, including structural

racism, mass incarceration, and policy

change during Trinity Institute’s 45th

National Theological Conference,

“Listen for a Change: Sacred Conversa-

tions for Racial Justice.”

Dcn. Carolyn and Fr. Michael at

the Beach Mass

Racial Justice Ministry –

A Priority for Trinity By Liza Minno-Bloom

The heavy cross being borne is that of

lynching, church burnings and bomb-

ings, police brutality and the murder of

innocent worshipers. Even until today,

the children of ‘Black Simon’ continues

to be ‘laid hold upon’; grieved but deter-

mined souls struggling with Christ to-

wards justice and peace for all. The Un-

ion of Black Episcopalians call upon all

in our churches and community to join

us in prayer, moral support and visible

actions for the public repudiation of ra-

cial violence and injustice in our socie-

ty.”—Statement from National Union

of Black Episcopalians

Trinity has a new Racial Justice Pro-

ject that is open to all. The aim of the

Racial Justice Project is to educate

ourselves around issues of racial in-

justice in our society and our church,

to reflect on our role in perpetuating

or benefitting from racial injustices,

and to act for racial justice as a way

to move towards wholeness and

healing as Christians and as humans.

Item number four of the Five Episco-

pal Marks of Mission reads: “To seek

to transform unjust structures of

society, to challenge violence of eve-

ry kind and to pursue peace and rec-

onciliation.” We believe that racism

in the U.S is not simply a matter of

personally held prejudices, but is an

unjust structure that influences every-

one’s opportunities at health, well-

being, financial stability, education,

employment, housing, incarceration,

etc. based on their perceived race. It

is, therefore, part of our task as Epis-

copalians and as people of conscious

to challenge and transform this un-

just structure.

TI2016 brings action-oriented theologi-

ans and thought leaders, including

Nicholas Kristof, Anna Deavere Smith,

and Emilie Townes, to provide you

with inspiration and ideas you can use

in your community to make a positive

impact. To register or learn more, visit

bit.ly/sacredconversations. Trinity is

offering a pay-what-you-can with our

sliding scale ticket fees to make this

affordable to everyone.

We must have an open dialogue about

how systemic racism is hurting us and

what we can do to create change—a

process that starts with listening.

TI2016 recognizes that many of

us avoid conversations about race be-

cause they’re difficult, uncomfortable,

or risk being perceived as prejudiced.

Instead, the conversations in TI2016

will be learning opportunities: chances

to talk skillfully and with less appre-

hension about charged issues with peo-

ple who might have differing perspec-

tives.

Please register here:

bit.ly/sacredconversations

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Annual Parish Meeting

1/24/2016

Following the 10 o’clock Service

sh

What If…? What if I was the Chosen One?

The one to whom God had spoken.

What if I was given the news?

The news that I would carry His son.

What if I was an ordinary person?

Just a person whom Jesus encountered.

What if I was asked to believe?

To believe in a man come from God.

What if I said I believed in Him?

A belief that would alter my life.

What if I was condemned for my choice?

My choice to follow and further His walk.

What if I lived with no written word?

No word of the truth of His deeds.

What if I followed purely by faith?

The faith that comes by connection with God.

What if I could protect Him from death?

Protect Him by saying the truth without fear.

What if I was the one born to die?

To die and to suffer so others could live.

What if I live because He took the nails?

The nails He received because of His love.

What if I follow His love and His light?

The light to shine in a world full of dark.

But, now, what if the Chosen One said No?

And then what if there was no hope?

Trinity Celebrates Christmas by Serving our NeighborsTrinity Celebrates Christmas by Serving our Neighbors

Trinity Episcopal Church Service Schedule:

The Rev. Michael Way, Rector Weekend Holy Eucharist (Mass)

Beverly Morey, Warden Saturday @ 5PM (Casual)

William Pearson, Warden Sunday @ 8AM (Spoken)

The Rev. Gail Bennet, Deacon Sunday @ 10 AM (Music)

The Rev. Dr. Carolyn Bradley, Deacon Midweek Services

Jill Osis, Parish Administrator Wednesday Mass @ 6:30 PM

Derek Minno-Bloom, Dir. Anti-Hunger Ministries Thursday Candlelit Vespers @ 7PM

Diane Caruso, Dir. of Music with Taizé music

Jon Carl Lewis, Dir. of Youth

Bill Borror, Dir. Community Engagement

Address: 503 Asbury Avenue

Asbury Park, NJ 07712

Telephone: 732.755.5084

Email: Office@TrinityNJ.com

Website: http://www.TrinityNJ.com

Toy Distribution to the children in our neighborhood Every year the parish organizes the collecting of toys for children of families who come to our Satur-

day Soup kitchen and weekday pantry. The toys collected are lovingly wrapped and labeled. They

are distributed by Santa a few days before Christmas. Again this year, any child aged birth-14 that

came accompanied by a parent or guardian received a toy. We gave out approximately 300 wrapped

toys. It is truly a joyous celebration that we look forward to every year! Many thanks to Bob Judge

and his elves who wrapped and distributed the toys.

Holiday Express Christmas Party at Trinity

Trinity welcomed Holiday Express again this year as they

hosted an amazing Christmas extravaganza. Over 600 mem-

bers of the community and dozens of volunteers gathered in

the gym for a festive party, complete with music, dancing, a

beautiful holiday meal and terrific fellowship. Holiday Ex-

press also distributed gift bags for everyone in attendance.

(Incidentally, Trinity parishioners donated many of the

items that were included in these bags through our Christ-

mas in July collection.)

It was truly joyful to see so many bright, happy faces!