06/12/2022
Send Us Out to Do the Work You Have Given Us to Do: Trinity Sunday of Giving Continues
And now, Father, send us out to do the work you have given us to do, to love and serve you as faithful witnesses of Christ our Lord. |
You can almost set a clock by it, the predictable whiplash of reactions following a public tragedy. Most visible on social media, we also find it in more private conversations at home, at work, and in the pew. First, the thoughts and prayers. Sometimes heartfelt, sometimes performative, sometimes a little of both. Nearly always followed by a second wave, a crossing out of thoughts and prayers in favor of policy and change. Sometimes righteous, sometimes self-righteous, frequently holier-than-thou. I get it. I succumb to this temptation all the time. I have a graduate degree in public policy, and I am on board big-time for policy and change. I am also a Christian. And as a Christian, I am on board big-time for thoughts and prayers, too. Thoughts and prayers first, in fact. Morgan Allen, our rector here at Trinity, helped me see this ordering in a new way in a footnote to his sermon last week, and I share those words here: “I understand the frustrations expressed by the “thoughts and prayers” offered in response to horrors like the shootings in Buffalo, Uvalde, and now Tulsa. Even so, we in The Episcopal Church are a thinking and praying people – not solely, but importantly, essentially. By thinking and praying we keep the needs of the hurting before the needs of ourselves. By thinking and praying we realize our strength as parish communities. By thinking and praying we discern God’s hope for our collective action. By thinking and praying we sustain our movement toward greater Love, greater Peace, greater Joy.” The faith of God’s people and the prayers of the Church are essential to the healing of our communities. Not just our own individually but our own collectively. And not just here in Boston but everywhere, and particular to this moment, in Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas. At St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Buffalo, New York, nearly 150 faithful followers of Christ pray together, for their own needs and those of others. Among other ministries, they operate a food pantry every Wednesday on the East Side of Buffalo, the community where a racist gunman killed 10 shoppers at Tops grocery store on May 14. At St. Philip's Episcopal Church in Uvalde, Texas, a faith community of nearly 250 prays together, for their own needs and those others. Among other ministries, they operate an Episcopal elementary school just about one mile from Robb Elementary School, where a gunman killed 19 children and 2 teachers on May 24. At Trinity Church in the City of Boston, many hundreds and even thousands of faithful followers join our prayers with theirs. As Morgan preached last Sunday, “While we do not presume to share the deeply personal griefs of our aching kindred, we can find strength in the hope we share in Christ Jesus ... we can find consolation in the advocate we share in the Holy Spirit ... and by the ’wonderful and sacred mystery’ of our Communion, we can take heart that what we do here, makes a difference there, in spirit and in substance.” What we do here makes a difference there. Your generosity on this Trinity Sunday of Giving will allow our parish to partner with theirs in significant ways, spiritually and financially. One third of our fundraising total today will be given, unrestricted like the limitlessness of God’s love for us, to each of these churches – St. Philip's, Uvalde and St. Philip's, Buffalo. |
For our own needs and those of others, Lonsdale Koester Director of Stewardship |
06/12/2022
We Sing for Life in Us Begun: Trinity Sunday of Giving Rolls On!
To God the Father, God the Son; To God the Spirit, always One, We sing for life in us begun: Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia! |
Good morning, Trinity Church! Good morning in Copley Square, good morning in living rooms everywhere. When Jesus told his disciples “wherever two or three are gathered in my name, I am there in the midst of them,” He might not have imagined church on Zoom and Facebook premiere. But I am convinced He has been there nonetheless with us as we have moved from zoom squares to pre-recorded worship in an empty church to wind-blown worship from the west porch to reopening our wide and welcoming doors even while continuing to broadcast live each week. How do I know? Because you all told me so. |
Notes have been coming in from all over in response to a recent call for your stories of finding Trinity, either again or for the first time or on a continuing basis but in a new way, during these last two years online. Some of us are nearby, long-time worshippers at Trinity who have shifted online for a Sunday or for a season due to circumstances beyond our choosing, who are glad to gather even in this way. Or we are former Trinity parishioners and forever Trinity friends who’ve moved beyond a reasonable commuting distance and have loved this means of rekindling connection. Some of us are far away, with no previous connection to Trinity, led to our community by a Google search or a chance invitation or more likely the Holy Spirit while seeking a home for our faith, grateful for a broadband connection from here to there and back again. Or we’ve known of Trinity for a long time, despite not living in Boston anymore or ever, and are excited that the new normal makes the previously impossible now wondrously available. |
Hundreds of people from the Ukraine and around the globe joined their prayers with hundreds of us in person during our March 6 prayer service with the Ukranian Cultural Center in response to the invasion of their nation. Just last week, the godparent of one of the children being baptized at Trinity’s font joined the service live via FaceTime from London. The Good News of God in Christ knows no boundaries, geographic or otherwise. The ability of technology to amplify our proclamation of that Good News is a tremendous gift. Excellent worship experience, whether in our building or outside, in person or remote, is one of the greatest gifts we can give to the glory of God and to the renewal of God’s people on earth. Excellence in worship helps us fulfill our baptismal covenant, to continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in the prayers... to proclaim by word and example the Good News of God in Christ. Excellent worship experience is a gift, and it takes all our gifts to make it so. Funds raised today will, in part, help us purchase upgraded audio and video equipment to enhance our worship from wherever we join our prayers: These enhancements will include complete replacement of the primary bank of speakers in the nave, replacement of the wireless audio equipment used by our worship leaders, and re-tuning the entire audio system. We will also purchase video equipment to improve the quality of our broadcasts and increase our flexibility by reducing our reliance on rented equipment and outside vendors. For our own needs and those of others, Lonsdale Koester Director of Stewardship |
06/12/2022
Opening Acclamation: Trinity Sunday of Giving Is Here!
There is one Body and one Spirit; There is one hope in God’s call to us; One Lord, one Faith, one Baptism; One God and Father of all. Grace and peace to you on this blessed Trinity Sunday, and welcome to our second annual “Trinity Sunday of Giving!” On this liturgical feast day we celebrate the sacred mystery of the Trinity, our God the three-in-one and one-in-three. Likewise, we celebrate our identity as the triune God’s beloved community – for though we are many members (and many friends and many visitors), we are one Trinity Church. Online, in the pews, from the West Porch: one parish. |
We celebrate with our worship liturgy and with our generosity. “Trinity Sunday of Giving” is a 24-hour email-based campaign to invite members and friends to make a gift for a timely purpose outside our everyday operating budget. Importantly, the event focuses on the number of gifts received, rather than the dollar amount raised. This focus allows for equity in our appeal; everyone can participate at the same level, for every gift will count the same: as one. For some, these gifts will be in addition to one's pledge; for others, these gifts will comprise the heart of one's annual giving. Wherever this invitation finds you, know that the Trinity Sunday of Giving seeks to meet you where you are, as you are, with joy and thanksgiving to God! We at Trinity Church are blessed beyond measure and called to be a generous blessing in response. There is Good News to proclaim, hope and healing to endeavor. This is the work God has given us to do. |
So let’s do it, Trinity Church! Let us join our gifts – of every shape and size and yet all generous and faithful – for a glorious Trinity Sunday of Giving. These gifts together will accomplish God’s purposes for us in three important ways:
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As the sun rises toward Copley Square where in a few short hours a chair will be waiting for you to join the first Sunday of our outdoor worship this season, we ask for your generous response. Our campaign page is ready and waiting! For our own needs and those of others, Lonsdale Koester Director of Stewardship |
