Trinity TimEs/DRAGON TALES
JANUARY 2008
Highlights this Month........................................... 1
Rector’s Ramblings............................................... 2
Diocesan News.................................................... 2
Vestry............................................................. 3
Lenten Retreat................................................... 3-4
Outreach.......................................................... 4
Special Thanks................................................... 4-5
Puppet Ministry Committee.................................... 5-6
From the Parish Office.......................................... 6
Community News................................................ 6
Prayers of the People............................................ 7
Worship Ministers............................................... Insert
Calendar........................................................... Insert
“The Stonecutter”............................................... Insert
Trinity REGULAR Schedule
n Holy Eucharist (Rite 2) Sundays at 8:00am
& 10:30am
n
Thursday Noon
Prayers—Holy Eucharist weekly in the library.
n
Second Sunday —Healing Service
Off-Site
Eucharist
n
Wed. ,January
16th, 2:30pm—Park Ridge Vlg.
n
Monday,
January 21st, 11:00am—Legacy
St. George’s REGULAR Schedule
n
Holy Eucharist
Sundays at 10:00am
n
Rector in
Office, Wednesday PM
n
Deacon in
Office, Thursday PM
n
Stories,
Prayers, Hymns 2nd & 3rd Wednesday at 10:30am—Fleming Point
n
2nd Tuesday of
Month, January 8th
×
Silver Spoons,
12:30pm @ Brewski’s
n
Sunday,
January 13th (CHANGED)
×
Vestry
following service.
The
Twelfth Day of Christmas: This
year the Feast of the Epiphany is on Sunday, January 6th and so Trinity will celebrate the 12th day of Christmas with the
carols and readings for Epiphany. Sometimes called “little Christmas” and
“Twelfth Night” Epiphany focuses on the
other Nativity story in Matthew with the visitation of the Magi as the
beginning of the manifestation of Jesus to the Gentiles. Join us for Epiphany and see what we
manifest….
“The Stonecutter”: Open
Hand Theatre of Syracuse presents “The Stonecutter” performed live at Trinity
on Sunday, January 13th @
10:30am. They will also lead us in
a workshop for everyone who is interested in participating in Trinity’s puppet
ministry and after the workshop there will be lunch for all!
“Young-at-Heart” Lunch: Wednesday,
January 16th @ 12:30pm, Greece
Family Restaurant (corner of North Ave and Ridge Rd). For more information on
our Young-At-Heart Group please call Betty MacGregor at 225-5598; or if
transportation is needed call John Montstream at 227-2592.
Annual Meetings: Are
scheduled for January 27th/Trinity and February 3rd/St
George’s. We encourage you to
attend the meetings and elect a warden and vestry members for your
congregations.
Baby Jesus comes to your house: A
“Jesus doll” has been given to us (thanks Sandy Pacyga). Trinity’s Discovery Time students starting
in January will be able to take baby Jesus home for a week and record his
journeys in a notebook provided by Trinity.
Let us know where baby Jesus traveled during his time with your family. More information will be forthcoming from the
Discovery Time Teachers.
Lenten
Dinner & Book Study: The Lenten Program
(beginning February 13th) this year will look at what it will take
for Trinity and St George’s to grow and become a recognized entity in the
larger community. The study will use a book called/ The Externally Focused
Church/ from Alban Institute as the basis of the program. The Wednesday evening program will begin at
6:00 pm in the Library of Trinity Church with a potluck supper and the program
will begin at 6:45 and end by 7:45. Members
of Trinity and St George’s are encouraged and invited to attend.
RECTOR’s
R A M B L I N G S
New Year’s Revolutions
Why is it that
New Year’s resolutions are so hard to keep?
For me it is often because while well intentioned they look at making large
changes in habits and attitudes. This
is hard to do in the short term which also means they are impossible to
continue over the long term. So should we give up and not use the beginning of
the New Year as a natural time to begin a new? NO, but it does mean we should
be more realistic in what we resolve to change or do.
What if
instead of drastic changes we take them incrementally? Instead of saying I am
going to read the bible every day this
year, what if I were to say for the next month I will use Forward Day by Day
(available among the booklets and tracts in the foyer) to guide my reading from
the bible and think about the daily reflection they provide. Then for Lent, I
might decide to read not just the suggested scripture but add the Psalm or Old
Testament lesson during the season of Lent. Or I could use the daily devotions
for morning or evening as provided in the prayer book or any other spiritual
process.
By the time
Lent has finished I will have been reading scripture and thinking about its meaning
through a short daily reflection for 10 weeks. Long enough to make it a habit,
and to see the results in terms of my slow but steadily increasing knowledge of
the bible.
What we have
there is not a massive unmanageable change but two steps that lead to an
objective of a spiritual revolution and in a way that an individual can handle.
Revolutions
always start out small – a single step that leads to other steps bringing about
massive change. In a world that is increasingly talking about spirituality and
spiritual growth – it is often painfully difficult to achieve if we try to do
too much too fast. And it is not achievable at all if we are unwilling to take
the steps necessary for us to begin.
Let us use the
New Year and an early Lent as a time to take a few steps that may start our
spiritual revolution or at least begin to lead us closer to the spiritual
maturity we seek.
Don+
Diocesan News
The electing convention for our next Bishop will be held in
Geneva on Saturday, February 2, 2008.
The three delegates who will represent Trinity at the convention are
Dorothy Romanet, Jerry Stoll and Nancy Woodworth-Hill. For St. George’s the delegates are Janet
Myers, Ray Rauscher and Sarah Stoll.
Please speak to them regarding your opinions and/or requests for
information on the five bishop candidates.
More complete information, along with the
"walkabouts," or public Questions and Answer session will give you an
opportunity to get to know the candidates more completely. The walkabout will be held the week of
January 21. Please go to www.rochesterepiscopaldiocese.org for schedule and
information on each candidate.
Trinity Vestry—December 20, 2007
Stewardship:
Þ Pledge
campaign update—As of January 2, 2008 fifty-nine households have pledged a
total of $86,299. We still have pledge
cards outstanding. If you have not yet
pledged, please return your pledge card to the office as soon as possible. If your card has been misplaced or you never
receive a card, please call the office at 225-7848.
Þ Most
parishioners were receptive to the CD talks and follow up phone calls as part
of the stewardship campaign for 2007/2008.
2008 Draft Budget:
Þ Vestry
provided with spreads sheets of the proposed 2008 budget. Two items were proposed and passed. 1) Curriculum writing aids increase to $700
and classroom supplies decreased to $300.
2) three percent cost of living increase will be provided to the support
staff.
Other:
Þ Three-thousand
dollars to be moved from the columbarium fund to reimburse the operating
account for work provided by the A-Team for maintenance of the columbarium in
2006 and 2007.
Rector’s Report:
Þ
The projection bulb has been replaced in both
projectors resulting in brighter images.
Þ
The joint service for the Bishop’s visitation was by
all reports well done and well received. We had participation from both
congregations, and from confirmands and their family members. It worked well in the foyer, narthex and
library and food was sufficient in quantity and very good.
Þ
The joint service for Thanksgiving at St George’s was
well received though not very well attended.
Þ
Bryan Bedell was interviewed by the Commission Ministry
and Standing Committee, they will soon make a recommendation to the Bishop
regarding his ordination as a Priest.
Þ
Bryan and Don have been taking home communions the week
before Christmas. If you know of
someone we have not visited and would like a visit please let us know.
Þ
Open Hand puppet theatre will have a presentation
during worship and a workshop following the service on January 13th. Please sign up for the workshop. . We
received a grant for the cost of the workshop.
Þ The
$45,000 from the Lilly Endowment has been received and has been deposited in
its own account.
2008 LENTEN RETREAT
Coming soon…
Friday, February 22 (from 7 to 9 pm)
Saturday, February 23 (8:00am breakfast,
9:00am to 3:00pm lunch provided)
* come away
* give yourself a
Sabbath
* learn &
practice prayer techniques
Learn to walk
a prayer Labyrinth
Experience
silence in the presence of God
Meditate in
candlelight
Talk with
others about strengthening your prayer
life
Take time to
read for inspiration
Pray while
working with your hands to
create
Practice
writing in a Prayer Journal
Sign up for a
session of personal Spiritual Direction
You will be able to choose to experience a variety of
six prayer activities at your leisure :
The Sanctuary:
corporate worship, presentations and discussions/ alternating with
times of music, sounds of nature or silence (your choice)
A Reading room: silence maintained in this area offering a variety of prayer life
reading materials
A Meditation Room:
a quiet, darkened, candle lit space offering sight/sound touch
to enhance prayer
Labyrinth:
an area laid out for your walking prayer
Two Breakout Areas: where discussion will not disturb those desiring silence
Artful Prayer: create in prayer your hands a variety of prayer reminders to take
with you
Suggested Donation:
$7.50 per person. ($3.50
without lunch-proceeds to fund Lenten
Mission
Boxed Lunch
Please join us anytime on Friday or Saturday. If you can’t be with us the entire time,
come and participate for a while.
Presentations in the Sanctuary on the hour. Otherwise, experience your felt need as you
choose.
Sign up coming soon!
Invite your friends!!
OUTREACH
THANKS to all who contributed white gifts for the clients at
Alternatives for Battered Women! We didn't get to count our gifts, but the car
couldn't have held many more if it was to hold us! This was still another
example of Trinity's generosity when doing the Lord's work.
Mission and Service Update: The first Millennium Development Goal was to eradicate
Extreme Poverty and Hunger. The second
is to Achieve Universal Primary Education for Children. When we contribute to UTO through our blue
boxes, we are working toward this goal.
Some of the UTO grants are given to after school programs, to transportation to schools, and
to schools themselves. Our diocese
contributes to the Right On School run summers by St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene.
Early next year, we will have an
opportunity to learn about Water for the Sudan, a program run by Salva Dut of Rochester, which provides wells
to the tribespeople of Southern Sudan, freeing girls who previously spent their
days carrying water to attend school.
We are contributing in many ways to
this essential Millennium Goal.
Special
Thanks To:
The A Team for relamping the church with brighter
bulbs consuming much less energy.
John Montstream for his research that led us to a
computerized system that has provided set-backs to thermostats in the nursery/music room, parish office and main
preschool room – overcoming the limitations of the our pneumatic control
system. And John Cook for providing the necessary wiring we need where
we need it.
Julie Walsh and Kim Branco for coordinating
the reception for the Bishop‘s Visitation. We thank the puppeteers, musicians,
choirs, readers acolytes and other participants for an impressive and
celebratory service.
All who helped the Altar Guild decorate the church
for Christmas.
Matt Graney and Kelly Stoll who coordinated
gift wrapping efforts provided some fund raising on behalf of the parish. And for those who provided crafts and
other goods for the Christmas boutique.
Our wonderfully talented and creative staff members who
support our ministries: Alice Neff, Marge Smith, Cathy Steklenski (from
the Pre-school), our Secretary, Lisa Scoppo, our Music Director and Liturgist, Nancy Woodworth-Hill,
and our sexton Gloria Cooper.
A Note of Thanks
During December a number of people added color to our
worship’s musical offerings. Many thanks to these individuals for their gift of
sound, and the time they spent rehearsing:
Carol and Stuart Caswell who accompanied an anthem with hand bells; John
Montstream for piping the procession on the day of the Bishop’s visitation;
Sarah Swertfeger, Kayla Lehmann, and Dorothy Romanet who accompanied the choir
anthem with oboe, flute and cello for the Bishop’s visitation; Patricia Stelzer
for playing piano in a duet with the organ for the Bishop’s visitation; Bob
Neusatz for playing piano for the hymns during the Bishop’s visitation; The
choirs of Trinity and St. George’s who sang together for the Bishop’s
visitation; Marion Bedell for joining the choir for the Bishop’s visitation;
Pam Fitzmorris who sang on Christmas Eve; Paige Janis who sang at the Bishop’s
visitation and on Christmas Eve; Pat Woodworth who played hand bells on
Christmas Eve; Dorothy Romanet who provided cello versions of Christmas songs
on December 30; Our choir members – Betty, Cherie, Bridget, Paige, Dorothy and
Marion – for their continued gift of music which enhances our worship
AIW Thanks You!
It is hard to believe that Christmas has come and gone
already. Our Christmas pageant is now
a fond memory. The committee would like to thank the following people for all
of their hard work and devotion in creating this year’s musical pageant. Thank you to our Angel Choir: Grace and
Anna Walsh, Matthew and Emma Branco, Jacquelin Janis, Kyle Moyer, Michele and
Ryan Graney, Ariana Lehman, Emily Irwin and Jack Stoll. Thank you also to our fine actors: Kim and
Fran Branco in their return engagement as Mary and Joseph; inn keepers Ray
Janis, Marion Montsteam, Megan Graney and Amy Moyer; shepherds Dorothy Romanet
and Betty Fitzmorris and last but certainly not least; our fine Wisemen Mark
Moyer, John Montstream and Matt Graney.
Our pageant would not have been possible if not for the beautiful
musical accompaniment performed by Nancy Woodworth-Hill. A huge thank you also goes out to technician
Jack Dobberstein and our wonderful costumer Julie Walsh who brought our Jr.
Choir vestments back to life after years and years of storage. Hopefully we will get to see these used by
our Angels again this year. Many
blessings to all of you in 2008.
Puppet Ministry Committee to Present Open Hands Theatre!
What a busy group the Puppet Ministry Committee is. The committee members have been actively
preparing for a very special event that you won’t want to miss. Trinity will be hosting the Open Hand
Puppet Theatre for the 10:30 service on Sunday, January 13th. This nationally recognized and multi award
winning group will be presenting The Stonecutter, a Japanese Folktale. In this morally based story, the Stonecutter
comes to a mountain to do his day’s work.
He falls asleep and wakes up to find a prince nearby. In a series of wishes, he becomes
transformed into several different, always more powerful things. Finally he realizes that power comes full
circle to who he truly is. It is a
wonderful lesson for children and a great reminder to all of us. This performance/lesson will take up the
bulk of the service time however there will still be communion as part of the
abbreviated service. For most people,
this will be a once in a lifetime experience.
We urge you to come and bring your family, friends and neighbors.
After the service, Open Hand Theatre will be hosting a fun
hands-on workshop for anyone from grade 4-adult. This is for anyone who is interested in participating in our
puppet ministry in any way. It is only
1 hour long and should be a lot of fun.
After the workshop, the Puppet Ministry is hosting a free luncheon for
all. What a great event it will
be. Please consider signing up for
this laugh a minute workshop and yummy luncheon. The sign up is in the narthex by on the puppet table. Please see Pam Fitzmorris, Matt Graney or
and Puppet Ministry committee member if you have any questions or would like to
volunteer in any way. We look forward
to seeing you on Sunday January 13th.
PARISH OFFICE NEWS
Þ Attention
Trinity Commission & Committee Chairs! Summary reports for our annual
meeting are due by January 18th, please submit via email to
office@trinity-greeceny-org or written to Lisa.
Þ In
late January, Trinity members will be receiving 2007 pledge statements. This will list all your contributions made
during the year. Please review your
statement and contact Lisa Scoppo or email office@trinity-greeceny.org with any
concerns.
Þ Trinity’s
2007 pledge envelopes are on the table in the narthex. Please pick yours up today. If you do not have envelopes and would like
some please call the parish office at 225-7848 for an assigned envelope
number.
Þ Trinity
Times/Dragon’s Tale is a publication of
Trinity Episcopal Church, Greece, NY and St. George’s, Hilton, NY. It intends to inform, educate, and uplift
the members and friends of our Parishes.
Contributors may leave articles for publication in the church office or
submit them by email to office@trinity-greeceny.org by the third
Thursday of the month for inclusion in the next month’s issue.
COMMUNITY NEWS
Aurora House VOLUNTEER meeting, Wednesday January 16th 7:00 p.m., Ogden
Library Meeting room: New volunteers are
welcome! If you want to know
more about aurora house—please attend. Aurora
House is a Local not-for-profit charitable organization that will
provide a home for the dying and their loved ones, provide compassionate care
in a loving, home-like setting in our west side community. Services are provided free of charge
to the residents. Questions: Please call Sandie Ville at 313-9553. Check out our website: www.aurorahousewmc.com
¡ MEALS ON WHEELS NEEDS YOU! Meals on wheel’s
volunteers deliver hot meals and warm smiles to elderly and homebound
individuals. Routes are available in
many areas of Rochester and Monroe County, and delivery only takes an hour or
so at lunchtime. Volunteer either
weekly, monthly or seasonally. Join the
Meals on Wheels team. Call 787-8326.
¡ Don’t forget the Greece/Hilton Food Shelf.. Please
remember we always are in need of various foods items like… Canned
Goods/Jams/Jellys/Soap/Detergent/Cereals and Rice/Pancake Mix/Syrup…anything
dried or canned. Please bring and leave
in the large basket by the Welcome Table.
Thank You!
¡ Clothing Closet…
The clothing closet gives
garments to needy Greece and Charlotte residents. There is always a demand for gently worn children’s clothing in
all sizes, from newborn through 14.
Donations may be dropped off at the Department of Human Services at 500
Maiden Lane between 9:00 am and 11:00 am.
¡ Urgently Needed Greece F.I.S.H. Volunteers willing to give one day a month to help
the elderly and disabled in the Greece
area with transportation for medical appointments. Greece F.I.S.H needs you to drive or to use
your home phone to receive calls from the answering service and arrange for the
needed rides. Our clients have no other
means of transportation and you will be rewarded by the knowledge that you are
performing a much needed service. If
you are interested, please call 453-2370.
Trinity Birthdays
1 1 Herb Long
1 2 Richard Burch
1 3 Richard Russnow
1 3 Joan Steele
1 4 Marjorie Murray
1 7 Jim Wackerow
1 9 Elinor France
1 12 Ruth Summers
1 14 Melissa Lehmann
1 14 Mary McGovern
1 15 Alyssa Falbo
1 16 Linda Bohrer
1 16 Anne Fredlund
1 16 Nancy MacArthur
1 17 Alyssa Fedyk
1 19 Edward Bohrer
1 19 Margaret
Keirstead
1 20 Rebecca Sage
1 23 Scott Swertfeger
1 26 Jack Dobberstein
1 27 William Bechtold
1 27 Dorothy Romanet
1 31 Jacquelin Janis
Those celebrating Wedding
Anniversaries…
Trinity
Mr. & Mrs. Roger Bennett—January 9th
PRAYERS OF THE
PEOPLE
For Parishioners and
Friends...
Bill & Donna Albert Betty
Ketterer
Troy Driver Pete
McAnn
Bernice Foland Gloria
Noble
Betty Gardner Ruth
Summers
For those facing long-term challenges:
Norma Astill, Pete Beers, Susan Beers, Joan Cody, Lee Connolly, Beverly
Crouture, Lauren Ellison, Michael English, Eric Farmborough, Lee Gonzalez,
Charles Gremke, Barbara Headridge, Marlin Hazen, Gail Janis, Betty John,
Virginia Kammerdiener, Bridget Martin,
Bev Meintel, Simon Meyer, Meagan Nelson, Jim Nelson, Helen O’Meara, Terry Pepperman, Sage
Richardson, Stephanie Romanet, Ray & Meg Stein, Katherine Streb, Rosemary
Streb, Robert Streb Sr., Tim, Erica & Amanda Streb, Linda & Walt
Swicke, Jim Van Nostrand, Terry Verbeck.
A Prayer to Live With Grace
May we discover through pain and torment,
the strength to live with grace and humor.
May we discover through doubt and anguish,
the strength to live with dignity and holiness.
May we discover through suffering and fear,
the strength to move toward healing.
May it come to pass that we be restored to health and to vigor.
May Life grant us wellness of body, spirit, and mind.
And if this cannot be so, may we find in this transformation and passage
moments of meaning, opportunities for love
and the deep and gracious calm that comes
when we allow ourselves to move on.
The Rev.
Donald B. Hill, Rector (H: 436-6848)
The Rev.
Nancy Guenther, Assisting Rector
Rev. Bryan
Bedell, Assisting Cleric
Nancy
Woodworth-Hill, Music Director
Marion
Montstream, Trinity Chruch School Director
Tammy Maier,
St. Georges Church School Director
Lisa Scoppo,
Secretary
Gloria
Cooper, Custodian