february 2010 trinity topics newsletter, trinity toledo episcopal church

8/8/2019 February 2010 Trinity Topics Newsletter, Trinity Toledo Episcopal Church

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Trinity TopicsThe Newsletter of Trinity Episcopal Church in Toledo, Ohio

FEBRUARY

2010

May we be filled and satisfied,by the word which you give us.

Teach us to be loving,not only in great and exceptional moments,

but above all in the ordinary events of daily life.May we abstain from what we do not really need,

and help our brothers and sisters in distress.May we bear the wounds of your Son in our bodies,

for through his body he gave us life.

Jorge Silva/Reuters


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liturgy

&e

vents

2

SonoNovo Chamber Ensemble

BALLET THEATRE OF TOLEDOFriday, March 12, 7p / Saturday, March 13, 2p

Vivaldi The Four SeasonsAnthony A Narnian Fantasy

Nigel Burgoines Ballet Theatre of Toledo performsoriginal choreography to Vivaldis timeless master-piece, as well as the premier of a new ballet byTrinitys own Wayne Anthony, inspired by C.S.Lewiss The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe.Tickets $20 / $15

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 21LENT 1 CDeuteronomy 26:1-11; Romans 10:8b-13; Luke 4:1-13

9:30a Childrens Formation10a Parish Eucharist

11:30a Parish Work Day

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28LENT 2 CGenesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35


SUNDAY, MARCH 7LENT 3 CExodus 3:1-15; 1 Cor 10:1-13; Luke 13:1-9


SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7EPIPHANY 5 CIsaiah 6:1-8 (9-13); 1 Cor 15:1-11; Luke 5:1-11

9:30a Childrens Formation10a Annual Meeting/Parish Eucharist

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14LAST EPIPHANYExodus 34:29-35; 2 Cor 3:124:2; Luke 9:28-36 (37-43a)


11:30a Pancake Breakfast

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 17ASH WEDNESDAY

12n Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes7p Eucharist & Imposition of Ashes

SonoNovo Chamber EnsembleONCE IN A BLUE MOON PLAYERSFriday, February 19 7p

Bernstein Trouble in Tahiti

This comic troupe of Toledo troubadours joins theensemble in one of the rarely heard delights of

Bernsteins musical output. Join Sam and Diane asthey jazz their way through less than marital blissin this one-act operetta about 1950s suburbia.Tickets $15 / $12

POSTP

ONED


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Vacationing with the Beloved

We enter Lent, the time of soul reflection before Easter, in just over two weeks.

So what is Lent about, really? When Jesus was baptized by John theBaptist, the Holy Spirit descended on him like a dove, and a voice fromabove said, You are my son, the beloved; in you I am well pleased. Shortly

afterward, the Spirit drove him out into the wilderness. FIRST he heardGods love, THEN he went out to pray and listen and find out who Goddreamed him to be. God had given him certain gifts, would ask him to docertain things, and Jesus needed to get away so he could hear what thosethings were. Toward the end, when he was the most physically empty, hewas tempted to misuse the gifts God had given him. But out of the grace ofbelovedness and listening, he had the clarityto say NO. After that, he understood howthe Spirit was filling him and working in hislife, and his true mission began.

We participate in the season of Lent not

just in surface-level imitation of Christ, butfor the same reason Jesus did: to carry Godslove for us into a time of listening for Godsdream for our lives. Consider it, if you will, a40-day vacation from what distracts youfrom hearing the Holy. If the word vacationsounds indulgent to you, consider that theroot of the word means freeing or emptyinggood Lenten words, indeed. And just aswe pack, make plans, and prepare for anyvacation before we actually get in the carand leave, I invite you to spend time nowpreparing for Lent.

Plan on giving up smoking? Go talk toyour doctor to get whatever support youneed. Want to help folks in Haiti? Spendsome time researching charities. Dont knowwhere you want to go for Lent? Consider

this issue of Topics a Not-So-Lonely-Planet guidebook to exploring Lententravel. There are books to read, prayers to consider, random acts of graceto share, and stories of people right next door and around the world whoneed our prayers, money, love and help. I and other writers can point outsome places and ideas that we really like, and you may find them quitehelpful. You may identify much better ones--please let us know so we can

make this guide better! The important thing is to prepare an itinerary thatgives you a meaningful journey toward a destination called Closer toGod, or Gods Dream for Me.

Pack lightly, and enjoy the view. Let God get you there safely. Well allmeet up with Jesus after his resurrection, for breakfast on the beach (see

Johns gospel, Chapter 21).

Liddy

fromtherect

or


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cong

regation/world

H1N1 Flu Shots

Overall flu activity in the United States, caused byeither the H1N1 or seasonal flu viruses, is expected tocontinue for several more months. The Centers forDisease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendsvaccination as the first and most important step inprotecting against the flu. Because the supply andavailability of the H1N1 vaccine have increased dra-matically, the CDC is now encouraging everyone toget vaccinated.

The Ohio Department of Health has a website(Flu.Ohio.gov) devoted to information on H1N1, in-cluding links to current vaccination sites locally. Youcan also call the Ohio H1N1 Information line at 1-866-800-1404 for answers to questions about swine

flu. This information line is staffed from 8:00am to5:00pm, Monday through Friday.

The Lucas County Heath Department is offeringthe H1N1 vaccine to everyone at no charge at numer-ous sites throughout the county. Retail pharmaciesincluding Walgreens, Rite Aid, Kroger, and GiantEagle are also offering the vaccine, although they maycharge a fee.

February 3..... ...........Hydie RalstonFebruary 4..... ...........Jason RaheFebruary 6..... ...........Robert HindsFebruary 7..... ...........Jenny RaheFebruary 8..... ...........William Ramsay, Jr.February 15... ...........Mildred HatfieldFebruary 16... ...........Jean SchmidtFebruary 20... ...........Marjorie Blackwell........................ ...........Karen KaleFebruary 21... ...........Rosaline SmithFebruary 22... ...........Nash GadwayFebruary 24... ...........Cindy LaboeFebruary 26... ...........Ed Newman

Birthday Blessings

MEMBER MATTERS

Doug and Wendy (Aey) Steinman welcomed their

daughter Sophia into the world on January 6 (nearly sixweeks early). All are doing well.Ruth Nemire, Pharm.D., daughter ofHerb and KarenLandis, is serving with a UN medical team in Port-au-Prince, Haiti.

There will be a Celebration of New Ministrywelcoming the Rev. Ann Webber as the rector ofChurch of the Holy Cross in Novi, MI by BishopWendell Gibbs, Jr. on Thursday, Feb. 4 at 7:00pm.The Church of the Holy Cross is located at 40700 W.Ten Mile Rd. in Novi.

Annual Parish Meeting andSuper/Souper Gathering onFebruary 7

The community of Trinity EpiscopalChurch is called together on Sunday, Feb. 7for our annual parish meeting. As always,the meeting will take place in the context ofthe 10:00am Eucharist. During the meeting,we will elect members to vestry service andthank those whose service is ending; discussthe state of the parish; and celebrate the ac-complishments of 2009.

Well also observe the NFLs Super Bowlevent with our own Souper Bowl Sunday onthat day. Please bring cans of soup or othernon-perishable food for Salem Lutherans

Feed Your

Neighborprogram,and stay fora parishlunch (soup,of course)followingthe liturgy.

The Role of the Vestry

It would be easy to evaluate our community lifeby how many members we have, how extensive ourfacilities are, or how much we collect in pledges. Yetit is quite possible to grow in all these ways and stillfail at our basic purpose. More important than

counting people and things is the need to measureour progress in accomplishing our mission.

Leaders do not come into a church as blankslates. We bring with us a broad range of knowl-edge, skills, and experience. Indeed, it is essentialthat we utilize these resources in managing ourmoney, caring for our ageing facilities, working withpeople, and planning for the future. But more thananything, leaders must sustain our focus on the vi-sion and mission of our community.


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In 2009 we succeeded in not using any unbud-geted endowment principal to cover expenses. Ournave loan interest payments also were well underbudget, thanks to low interest rates and GregShumakers diligent work with Keybank.

Staff members were wonderful stewards of theirprogram areas and lived within their budgets. Re-member that significant cuts were made in staffsalaries to make a balanced 2009 budget possible. Inaddition, we were blessed to have received more thanwe expected from the Jobst Foundation.

As a result of all of the above, we ended 2009 inthe black by $12,008 dollars. We begin 2010 with abalanced budget and a prayer that together, we canrepeat what was accomplished in 2009.

Respectfully submitted,Jane BuecheParish Accountant

The financial health of our community is a sharedresponsibility, and we welcome your questions orcomments. Contact Jane Bueche, Parish Accountant,at [email protected].

Budget Update 2009Actual

2010Budget

Revenue

Plate Offering 7,825 6,500

Pledge Payments 143,548 166,287

Combined InvestmentIncome 246,663 211,000

Other Operating Income 60,297 51,000

Total Revenues 458,333 434,787

Expenditures

Personnel 193,362 193,336

Buildings & Grounds 151,173 141,636

Net Surplus/(Deficit) 12,008 0

2009Budget

7,500

154,500

226,400

51,000

439,400

194,105

140,917

0

Operations 29,300 23,018 27,550

Diocesan Assessment 41,516 51,729 40,270

Local Outreach 5,500 5,379 4,620

Programs 28,062 21,664 27,375

Total Expenditures 439,400 446,325 434,787

Nave Loan Interest 33,600 10,653 10,000

Parish Work Day

Help us clear some space for God. Wear yourgrubbies and stick around after church for a parishwork day on Sunday, February 21, the first Sunday ofLent.

Well be moving furniture and cleaning out roomsto make space for Outreach, My Brother's Place, andNext to New. And there may be a painting projectletthe church office know if you have a steady hand andthe patience for painting trim! Lunch will be provided.

Coffee Hour Hospitality

Coffee hour is a time to relaxand talk after church and get toknow folks who are new. Therewill always be coffee, but therest is up to you! It doesn't haveto be fancy--cookies, chips andsalsa, some cut up veggies oreven a crockpot of soup. Grab a friend and pick a date the sign up sheet is on the curved wall as you enterchurch.

Sunday Parking

Please do not stamp your parking garageticket on Sundays. We are granted free park-ing in the garage for all liturgies, but we getcharged for any tickets showing Trinitys

name. DONTUSE

ASH WEDNESDAY

EUCHARIST ANDIMPOSITION OF ASHESFebruary 17, 2010

Noon and 7:00pm


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Eighteen men from theCherry Street Missionenjoy a family dinnertogether, hosted by MyBrothers Place.

6

Bring Socks & Underwear forUndie Sunday Feb. 14

Times running out foryou to shop for new socksand underwear for thegirls at the Stewart Acad-

emy (grades K-6). Thesocks should be white ornavy blue; the underwearcan be any color.

Well gather and bless these items on UndieSunday, February 14.

January saw the beginning of a new kind of outreachat Trinity, through Elizabeth Sorge and the employeesand volunteers who operate My Brothers Place.

Davids Dinner was an opportunity for men in-volved in the Cherry Street Missions Ready for Lifeprogram to sit down together in the warm, welcoming

atmosphere of My Brothers Place and enjoy a dinner oftheir choice from the MBP menu. Donations made inmemory of David C. Nelson covered the cost of thefood, Elizabeth and her workers contributed their timeand effort, and Trinity members were there to welcomethese guests into our home.

Watch for future opportunities to support thissimple but meaningful monthly ministry to shelterresidents.

My Brothers Place Hosts First Davids Dinner

Personal Hygiene Packs

During Lent, well becollecting personal hygieneitems for men, women andchildren staying in localshelters. Bags containing alist of the requested con-tents will be available onSunday, Feb. 21, and wellgather them in the following month, on Sun-day, March 21 for blessing and delivery to theshelters. Please take a bag or two and fill themwith the items on the list.

Emanuel Childrens HomeReceives Donations for Nursery

Just in time for the arrival of the first infants atEmanuel Childrens Home in San Pedro Sula,Honduras, the orphanage has received two giftsfrom the Diocese of Ohio.

In response to a grant request submitted byLiddy, the diocesan Commission on Global andDomestic Mission recently sent the Home a checkfor $3,000 to support the opening of the newlycompleted nursery. And the offertory collectionfrom David Nelsons ordination service in January

was designated for theChildrens Home.

For information on ways inwhich you can support

the children andprograms of our

ministry partner inHonduras, contact Lucia

Cooper.

outreac

hings

Nobody gets to heaven with-out a letter of reference fromthe poor.

Rev. James Forbes


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Rick Loomis/Los Angeles Times

7

I have a standing joke with a friendever since he asked me about a sermon Iwas preparing: "Which bodily fluid willyou be mentioning this time?" He hadpicked up on my tendency to gravitate

toward symbols that derive from thebody. So during Lent, long before wearrive once again in Holy Week toconfront the primal imagery of thecross and "the water and the blood"which the evangelist John tells us tonotice, we can think about tears.

What place do tears have in ourspiritual lives? Tradition speaks ofthegift of tears. Lent is supposed to be atime for reflecting on our own religious

experience, and a rewarding disciplinemight be to question ourselves aboutour own tears, the tears we permit andthe tears we repress. Here is an experi-ment: During Lent set aside half an houreach week, sit quietly in a private placewith notepad and think where yourtears are. Which are the kinds of tearsthat connect us with God and ourselvesand one another? Do I ever allow any ofthese tears to flow?

I can already think of some of theheadings I could use to help me focus ondifferent aspects. Perhaps the first wouldbe Forbidden Tears. Many of us havegone through life with unshed tears pent

up inside us because some authorityfigures forbade us to cry. I've lost countof the men whom I have had to helprelease the tears their parents shamedthem into suppressing. It is one thing forparents to stop us whining in self-pity. It

is another to censor the expression ofgrief and loss. The terrible truth is thatmany adults have been trained not tocry. So many griefs turned to ice in thedeep freeze of the heart's recesses! Many

of us will never warm up, or becomeopen and free, until those tears have

thawed and we allow them to flow. Theold hymn Veni Creator Spiritus prays

"what is frozen warmly tend " There isan entire spirituality of healing con-tained in that petition. Imagine what abreakthrough might begin if we had thecourage to confess before God that wedon't know how to mourn, and needhelp.

Another category might be Tears ofTruth. Here we venture into the territoryof discernment. Tears tell us differentthings. Some tears expose our shallowsentimentality. We sob in spite of our-selves at tear-jerking movie scenes. Wechoke up at martial music and mawkishsongs. Other tears reveal our vulnerabil-ity to manipulation. How easy it is for

so-called evangelists and politi-cal orators to work us. Thelump-in-the-throat tears theystimulate warn us that hackersknow exactly how to get intoour emotions for their ownends.

But we also cry because wehave allowed truth though ourdefenses. These are differenttears that cleanse and heal us.

They tell us that we don't have hearts ofstone after all, and that makes us grate-ful. We can be moved by what is true,what is good and what is beautiful.Tears can assure that we are touched bytruth, braced by its painful realism, in-

spired to embrace its integrity and honorits demands. Sometimes when I playsongs by two artists who have touchedmy life, Mili Bermejo and Abby Lincoln,I weep, but not from sentimentality.

These songs bring tears because theyremind me what these women taught

me about passion, and the wholenessthat can only be discovered by hon-oring loss and desire, grief andyearning, fierce anger and tender-ness.

And there are Tears of Connection.Paul sums up our spirituality of mutualservice succinctly: "Rejoice with thosewho rejoice, weep with those who

weep." (Rom. 12:15) And the shortestsentence in scripture is, "Jesus wept."Tears of self-pity make seeds of resent-ment germinate. Tears of empathy joinus to each other. A heart that is open toGod's Spirit allows us to shed tears of joyat the successes and delights that cometo others. (Saints even shed tears of joy atblessings given to those they don't evenlike.) Tears of compassion allow us toshare the burdens of others. Tears ofintercession might even be ways we cancry on behalf of others, so that thanks toour connectedness in the Spirit, theymight not have to cry as much.

Our list of tears can get longer: Tearsof Compunction through we which weadmit our own brokenness and surren-der denial. Tears of Bliss. Tears of Relief.Above all, Tears of sheer gratitude. Thinkabout them. It won't be long before werealize why the spiritual masters spokeof the gift of tears. Most of us in our veryemotionally controlled Episcopalian

milieu haven't opened that gift up yet.We need to ask God very simply andsincerely for that gift.

Rev. Martin L. Smith is a spiritual writer andthe senior associate rector at St. Columba's,

D.C. From theWashington Window(http://www.edow.org)

Thank God for the Gift of TearsBy Martin L. Smith

Here is an experiment:during Lent, set aside half

an hour each week to thinkabout your tears.


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Small Group Prayer Project

One component of the NCD action plan to nurturethe passionate spirituality of our community involvessmall groups. Each small group in the parish (vestry,Altar Guild, Next-to-New workers, and many more) isbeing asked to develop a short prayer for itself, specificto its ministry. The group and its members will then beasked to pray its prayer every time it gathers/ministers.

For example, heres a choirs prayer:Loving God, be with us as we gather in your name. Open ourminds to your creative Spirit. Help us to find and use the giftsyouve given us, and grant that what we sing with our lips, wemay believe in our hearts and show in our lives. Amen.

If a group doesnt meet to-gether to do its ministry (likethe Bread Guild), members ofthat group should pray the

prayer individually everytime they minister.

We may also develop anonline prayer calendar withlinks to small group prayerson appropriate days (e.g., sothat all could pray with/forthe Finance Committee on thesecond Thursday of themonth).

Trinitys NCD PrayerMerciful Creator, we invite you to be with us

here and now. As we embrace Natural Church

Development, keep us mindful of our purpose

in this work to empower your people, grow

and strengthen your church, and glorify yourname. Fill us with your Spirit of Wisdom and

Truth as we humbly examine ourselves and

our community. Help us to embrace new op-

portunities for growth and improvement. Re-

new our energy, guide our work, and lead us

to new life in you, through Jesus Christ our

Lord. Amen.

One guide to use on your Lenten vacation (andstaycations are discouraged) is the 2010 LentenMeditations booklet offered by Episcopal Relief andDevelopment and available at Trinity. The devo-tionals theme is healing ourselves and a hurtingworld. Its daily meditations will encourage, chal-lenge and inspire you to reflect on your own lifesneeds, as well as what you might do to help thosewho live in even greater need.

Here, as an example, is the meditation for Satur-day, February 27:

Seasons are just one more thing not in ourcontrol. That doesnt sit well. Lent is a seasonof waiting, of darkness, and notjust becauseits winter. In the darkness, theres no clearvision; the outlook is bleak at best. Yet everyyear, the earth lies fallow for a season. Whileit appears theres nothing happening below thesurface, we know from experience its nottrue. I dont understand the exact biologicaland chemical changes that occur belowground, but I have seen the bulbs I planted inOctober sprout into daffodils in April. Six

months of waiting Lent is only six weeks.Lent can be the fallow ground we crave forour spiritual growth time to be still, to donothing, to let the wisdom of Gods seasonwork below the surface.

If youd prefer to have these meditationsemailed to you each day, go to www.er-d.org/Lent and click on Subscribe to DailyLenten Meditation Emails.

Daily Lenten Meditations

Reading the Bible Dinner &Discussion Begins February 24

Martin Luther helped make the Bible accessible forpeople in the 16th century. Marcus Borgs book ReadingThe Bible Again For The First Time is an attempt to do thesame for people in the 21st.

Well be discussing this book on Wednesday eve-nings during Lent, beginning on Feb. 24 . Well start at6:30pm each Wednesday at Trinity with a simple soup

and bread supper, followed by discussion of Borgsideas. Members of St. Marks congregation may partici-pate with us.

If youd like to get more wisdom from the Bible, geta copy of Borgs Reading The Bible Again For The FirstTime: from your favorite bookseller or library and joinus beginning Feb. 24. If you can bring a crockpot ofsoup or some tasty bread on one of the 5 Wednesdays,please let Becky Roth know.


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One of the vital challenges facing thoughtful Christians ishow to read the Bible faithfully without abandoning oursense of truth and history. Many mistakenly believe thereare no choices other than either fundamentalism or simplyrejecting the Bible as something meaningful. Answering thisdilemma, Marcus Borg reveals how it is possible to recon-cile the Bible with both a scientific and critical way ofthinking and our deepest spiritual needs.

Borgs Reading the Bible Again for the First Time shows ushow to read the Bible as it should be examinedin anapproach the author calls historical-metaphorical. Borgexplores what the Scriptures meant to the ancient com-munities that produced and lived by them. He then helps usto discover the meaning of these stories, providing theknowledge and perspective to make the wisdom of theBible an essential part of our modern lives.

Borg traces his own spiritualjourney, describing how he movedfrom an unquestioning childhoodbelief in the biblical stories to a morepowerful and dynamic relationshipwith the Bible as a sacred text brim-ming with meaning and guidance.Using his own experience as an example, he examines the

misinterpretation of biblical texts as historical records anddivine dictation, and opens readers to a truer, moreabundant perspective.

This unique book invites us to engage the Bible, wrestlewith its meaning, explore its mysteries, and understand itsrelevance. Borg shows us how to encounter the Bible in afresh way that rejects the limits of simple literalism, andopens up rich possibilities for our lives.

Book Review

READING THE BIBLE AGAIN FOR THE FIRST TIMETaking the Bible Seriously but Not Literallyby Marcus J. Borg

Learn to Pray in a Whole New Way

Ask any follower of Christ what he or she needs to improve on most, and prayer will be a popular answer.All of us could stand to pray more. Few believers need to be convinced of its benefits, but actually doing itconsistently and cheerfullycan become a chore.

How do you keep your prayer life fresh? Learn how to pray in a new way.

If you typically pray mentally, try praying out loud. Find a timeand place where you can do this without looking like a crazypersonor just hold your phone to your ear and no one will batan eye.

If you tend to rely on spontaneous, off-the-top-of-your-headprayers, try praying according to a prayer book. The Book ofCommon Prayer is a good place to start. Another option? PrayScripture.

Does prayer feel too intangible? Do you have trouble stayingfocused? Add a physical aspect to your prayer life by using

prayer beads or rosaries. (Google prayer beads for abundant tips and products.) Or change your posture bykneeling, standing or lifting your hands.

Drop a few raisins into the oatmeal of your prayer life this year. I think youll be amazed by the results.

From Resolve This: 10 Ways to Get it Together in 2010

by Jason Boyett, in the Jan-Feb 2010 issue of

Relevant Magazine (www.relevantmagazine.com)

Catherine Bremer / Reuters


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Listening for God, Living into Lent

After his baptism, Jesus went out to the wilderness. Jesus did not go into the desert to suffer for sufferings sake; he did soto get away from all that would fill his ears and distract him from listening and watching for what God wanted him to be.

The best Lenten disciplines help us do two things: they help us to listen for God and they help us see and serve Christ ineach other. With that in mind, I offer you these 40 possibilities. You may have one that is much better for you thats not on thislist--by all means, follow it! Take one a day, one a week or keep one for all of Lent. Lastly, keep others in your prayers as they

take on or give up something in order to grow into the people God dreams them to be. ~ Liddy

Give blood. Give up complaining. Turn off the TV. Really. Hang up and drive. Take a hot bath and get to bed early. Say yes when someone offers to help you. For one day, buy nothing. Share dinner. Do something special with/for your least favorite

child.

Pick up your dogs poop. Volunteer. Walk in the woods. End the affair. Sign up to be an organ donor. See Christ in the next person you view. Listen. Waiting for your turn to talk isnt listening. Look up (carefully). Leave an exorbitant tip. Write down what you eat. Give yourself a half a day of silence. Dont answer

the phone. Ask for help.

Add some art to your prayer life. Find out the name of the homeless person who

comes in at coffee hour. Shovel your neighbors walk. Learn your neighbors name. Share music. Say I love you--and mean it. Do the dishes. Make a place of prayer in your home. If you give something up, like cigarettes, lattes, etc.,

put what you would have spent daily in a jar. Cele-brate Easter by sending the money to a worthycause.

Learn about a non-Christian faith tradition. Bring your partner/spouse coffee in bed. Reconnect with an old friend. Do one thing that scares you. For one afternoon, follow your pet. Give to a good cause. Name 3 good qualities of someone you cant stand. Gather your tax stuff early. Speak only what is true. Pray in traffic.

Ash Wednesday, an echo of the Hebrew Testa-ments ancient call to sackcloth and ashes, is a continu-ing cry across the centuries that life is transient, thatchange is urgent. We dont have enough time towaste time on nothingness We need to repent ofour senseless excesses and our excursions into sin,our breaches of justice, our failures of honesty,our estrangement from God We need to getback in touch with our souls

Ash Wednesday confronts us with what we havebecome and prods us to do better. Indeed, Lent, welearn on Ash Wednesday, is not about abnegation,about denying ourselves for the sake of denying our-selves. It is about much more than that. It is aboutopening our hearts one more time to the Word of Godin the hope that, this time, hearing it anew, we mightallow ourselves to become new as a result of it. It isthe call to prayer, to liturgy, to the co-creation of the

world. It is about our rising to the full stature of hu-man reflection and, as a result, accepting the challengeto become fully alive, fully human rather than simply

grossly, abysmally, self-centeredly human.

In the early church, Ash Wednesday be-came a time to wear penitential garments,

to do public penance, to be banished fromthe church, to be sprinkled with the sign of human

degradation. In a church more knowledgeablenow about what it means to be embodied to begold dust in vessels made of clay it is the momentof accepting what we have allowed ourselves to be-

come and beginning to be all the rest of what we aremeant to be.

by Joan Chittister, from The Liturgical Year:The Spiraling Adventure of the Spiritual Life

Ash Wednesday


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arou

ndthek

ingdom

They will know we are Christians by our loveTHE CHURCH CONTINUES TO PROVIDE RELIEF IN HAITI JANUARY 26, 2010

Two weeks after a 7.0-magnitude earthquakedevastated Haiti, the scope of the death and de-struction is staggering. The most recent estimatesindicate that at least 200,000 deaths and 194,000injuries have occurred. At least one million people

have been left homeless and in need of temporaryshelter.

The capital is transformed into an immenserefugee camp, stated Bishop Duracin in a recentletter posted on the Episcopal Diocese of Haitiswebsite. They call desperately for food, water andmedicine.

With support from Episcopal Relief & Develop-ment, Bishop Duracin and his colleagues continueto run a tent camp for as many as

3,000 survivors on the rocky fieldnext to College St. Pierre, one ofthe dioceses many structuresdestroyed by the quake.

In a letter to Episcopal Relief& Development President RobRadtke, Bishop Duracin said,We are directing emergencyrelief to those who need it most,and we already are making plansand moving forward to help ourpeople.

In addition to supporting those in the tentcamp in the Episcopal Diocese of Haiti, EpiscopalRelief & Development is continuing its work withthe Episcopal Diocese of the Dominican Republic,IMA World Health and World Village. Activities

include making daily shipments of food and medi-cal supplies to affected Haitian communities; orga-nizing air drops to communities not easily accessi-ble by roads; establishing communication betweendioceses through the provision of satellite phonesand solar chargers; and responding to the needs ofthose who have crossed the Haitian border into theDominican Republic in search of aid.

The Church is a place of refuge for people inthe midst of crisis, said Radtke. While it is pro-

viding critical aid and

caring for people in theinitial period followingthis disaster, the Churchsrole will become evenmore significant in thecoming months and yearsas people struggle to re-cover and rebuild.

From Episcopal Relief &Development

www.er-d.org/HaitiJan26

The seas roar, the earth shakes,buildings crumble, roofs toppleand walls turn to dust.Have mercy on the people of Haiti, O God.

Nations watch, alarms sound,traffic halts, utilities stop,and news is hard to verify.Give us compassion to weep with those who weep, O God.

People die, families mourn,mountains split,infrastructure and superstructure alike are gone.

Make us swift to help and persistent to rebuild,not just things and structures, but lives, O God:Through Christ, the solid Rock. Amen.

A Prayer for the People of Haiti by Taylor Burton-Edwards

The calamities of the world do not invite us to divide what we already give

into smaller and smaller fractions, or to divert contributions from existing

concerns to new ones. Those with whom we share today still require our

support. Rather, these events call us to re-examine our needs and desires

and grow our giving. Do I need what I want? In exchange for todays latte,

can I satisfy a childs thirst for clean water?


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Our hearts are broken, as we sittransfixed before images of devasta-tion and ruin, the bodies of childrenand elders piled in the streets,

buildings crushed to dust, pleadingarms and voices raised toheaven. We respond inlament and grief andsorrow, we push backagainst the senselessmystery of lifes pain. Weyield to those ancientquestions: Why? Whatsort of a God permitsdestruction like this?What can I do, how can I

help? Those questionscant ever be fullyanswered, yet they aremost important in times like these.The reality is that life is not safe orpredictable, but what we do with ourlives gives them meaning. God doesnot cause suffering or punish peoplewith it, but God is present and knownmore intimately in the midst ofsuffering. Above all, we become morehuman through our broken hearts.

That ability to suffer with, to feelcompassion, is one of the gifts of beingfully human. We may only be able torespond through being with, bystanding alongside, even at a distance.We can pray with the grieving, andwe can reach out.

Compassion is pouring out acrossthis nation and across the globe, as theworld feels the suffering in Haiti.Suddenly strangers have become hun-

gry brothers and thirsty sisters, peoplein pain, without a place to lay theirheads, mourning the death of lovedones.

Compassion is a gift that changesthe world. We have discovered andremembered our sisters and brothersin a land many of us will never see

our common humanity is staring us inthe face, and we have chosen to meetthe gaze of Haiti. We are changedforever, if we will only remember the

terror of that gaze.

Remember and let yourself beshaken. Feel something of the terror inHaiti. Terror, the word, comes fromshaking; this terror started in theshaking of the earth. It has a parallel inthe fear that periodically consumesthis nation. May this terror shake usout of complacency and willful igno-rance. Remember the people of Haiti.Reach out to those who have lost

loved ones, to those who still wait fornews of the missing, to Haitian-Americans in the neighborhoods

around us.

The answer to terror is solidarity.The shaking stops when we stand to-gether, when we remember thatsisters and brothers, linked across theworld, are stronger than fear.

Haiti is filled with resilient and

persevering people, but much of thenations resources and systems arelost and broken. Many nations arealready moving to stand alongside.

We can give thanks for the rapid anddeep response from these UnitedStates. There are immense seeds ofhope in the response to this disaster,seeds that must continue to bewatered and nurtured for the future.Weve seen some of the hopeful seedsin Haitians gathering in broken streetsto sing and pray, even childrenplaying with empty boxes in whichfood arrived. Hope abounds, but itmust be answered.

Our remembering has to be long-term, it must endure, if it is going tobeat back the terror of this disaster.The longer and harder task is toremember the ancient hope ofhumanity, that vision Isaiah proclaimsas repairing the ruined cities andbuilding up ancient ruins anddevastations. The long arm ofremembering will give the strength tosee that the hungry and thirsty and illand homeless are cared for.Rebuilding the infrastructure of Haiti

will take years, just as it has in theaftermath of Katrina. We cannotforget.

The disaster of this earthquake isthe most recent and the mostdevastating of a long series of terrors hurricanes, political coups andinstability, the centuries-long struggleof former slaves to make a home in aforeign land. There is some deepsolidarity in praying for Haiti on the

Let Yourself be ShakenSermon at a Prayer Service for Haiti at the Washington National Cathedral, January 17, 2010By the Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, Presiding Bishop

The answer to terror is solidarity. The shaking

stops when we stand together, when we remem-

ber that brothers and sisters, linked across theworld, are stronger than fear.

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Damon Winter/The New York Times


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eve of our nations remembrance ofMartin Luther King. His message wasfilled with the biblical vision of theprophets, that heaven on earth comeswhen the poor are cared for and allGods children are treated with justice.

That vision applies to the poorest hereand equally to those a few hundredmiles south of our borders, to all wholive in abject poverty, hungry for theworlds justice.

The words of prophets also come

with challenge. Its easy to missIsaiahs caution the prophet pro-claims that eternal dream of a restored

world, but also the day of Godsvengeance. Matthews version comesin the verses we didnt read, that thosewho dont feed and care for the poorwill be consigned to what we usuallycall hell its not the poor who end up

there, but those who ignore them andtheir suffering. The ancient vision of ahealed world demands that all peoplehave decent and dignified lifepossibilities clean water, adequatefood, shelter, medical care, educationfor their children, stable government,

the possibility of meaningfulemployment. Here in this nation weshelter that vision under the banner of

life, liberty, and thepursuit of happiness.That vision will never bepossible in any nationwhile some live in wantand fear.

Terror is not limited toHaiti. The prophetsremind us that the kind ofterror that leaves usshaking in our boots

comes from poverty ignoredand justice denied. Thatshaking is calmed and healedi n r e m e m b e r i n g , i ncompassionate solidarity withthe suffering of the world.

We are seeing immense

generosity in the compas-sionate response to thisearthquake. Our challenge willbe to remember that sufferingthrough the years to come,when the desperation is nolonger on our screens 24 hoursa day. The shaking and theterror will stop as the ruinedcity is rebuilt and thedevastation of generations ishealed. May todays compas-

sion be transformed into asteely will to continue caringfor the least, the lost, and theleft out until not one is left.May Haitis poor be our pooruntil that day dawns. May thesuffering in Haiti be felt hereand around the world until theoil of gladness blesses everybrow, and every tear is dried,and every cry of grief is turnedto joy.

May todays compassion be transformed into asteely will to continue caring for the least, thelost, and the left out until not one is left.

13

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Haiti Disaster Relief: How to ContributeFor those interested in contributing to help victims of the earthquake in Haiti, here are a few agencies providingrelief. More information about wise giving, for Haitian relief and other causes, is available online from the BetterBusiness Bureau (www.bbb.org/us).

AMERICAN RED CROSS2025 E Street, NW

Washington, D.C. 20006800.REDCROSS (733.2767)www.redcross.org

EPISCOPAL RELIEF &DEVELOPMENT815 Second AvenueNew York, NY 10017800.334.7626, ext. 5129www.er-d.org

PARTNERS IN HEALTHP.O. Box 845578

Boston, MA 02284-5578617.432.5256www.pih.org

IMA WORLD HEALTHP.O. Box 429New Windsor, MD 21776877.241.7952www.imaworldhealth.org

Tips for safe giving: Dont respond to any unsolicited e-mail about

giving to Haiti, and be skeptical of individuals repre-senting themselves as surviving victims or officialsasking for donations via Facebook. Be leery of e-mails that claim to show pictures ofthe disaster areas in attached files; the attachmentsmay contain viruses. Dont assume that a link sent by a well-meaningfriend represents a suitable relief organization. Be-fore giving, vet the charity to make sure its notfraudulent and is best equipped to actually help anduse the money responsibly.

Ivanoh Demers/Associated Press


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Trinity Episcopal ChurchOne Trinity Plaza Toledo, Ohio 43604-1585

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Par ish Of f ices Mon thru Fri, 8:30 am 4:30 pmPhone 419.243.1231 Fax 419.243.0920Email: [email protected]

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Tr in it y Top ics news l e t t e r Becky Roth, EditorEmail: [email protected]

servicesSUNDAYS 10:00 am, Holy Eucharist

HOLY DAYS as announced

prayersRemember those for whom our prayers have been requested: Casie Bowman,Barbara Clarke, Ebony, Nancy Graumlich, James Hamilton, Linda Keblesh, Herb Landis,Susan Lowrey, Christel Mann, Gordon McIntosh, Rowena Meeks, Nancy Paulas, PegSammons, Pete Shafer, Jessica Snyder, Josh Steele, Wendy, Doug & Sophia Steinman, andKim Weber; the children and staff of Emanuel Childrens Home, especially David andEstrella; the vestry and wardens; the Church Health Team; those on death row, includingMark Brown, who is scheduled to be executed by the state of Ohio on February 4; allvictims of war and violence; our ministry with Food for Thought and Cater Me; newlyordained Rev. David Nelson; Sara & Todd Alcroft, awaiting the birth of their first child.

Prayers for those who have died: Henry Charles Coyle II (Cathy & Brian Johns);

David Walker-Epp (Dave & Cindy Schlaudecker)

vision & missionTrinity is called to be a progressive, inclusive, creative urban faith community.

We will practice radical hospitality.

We will be engaged in the life of our city.

We will stand with those in need: the poor, the sick, the friendless, the marginalized.

We will actively invite all to experience and celebrate Gods living presence.

We will journey together toward a Christ-centered life, pursuing personal ministriesthat connect us to God, to one another, and to the world around us.

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