TIDINGS Trinity’s Mission: Acting in God’s love, Trinity Episcopal Church welcomes everyone to enthusiastically live the Christian faith. We call our members to worship and prayer, lifelong education, spiritual growth, cheerful giving, and active ministry with our community. All members serve as witnesses to Jesus Christ.
Vol. XXV No. 6 June 2016
Inside this Issue Stewardship page 2
Christian Formation page 3
Children and Family Ministries page 4
Young Adults page 5
Trinity Connections pages 5, 6, 7
The last two issues of Tidings began with letters from Edie and Henry. Both shared a common theme of change that we are experiencing as a Trinity community; Edie’s letter in April bringing the news that we have called Corky Carlisle to serve with us as interim rector, and Henry’s in May reflecting on his time as shepherd of the Trinity flock. We have all known since last fall of Henry and Mary Beth’s decision to retire, but when the announcement came (perhaps accelerated by Albinas’ own decision to enjoy life in retirement) the actual day of Henry’s departure seemed far down the road. It wasn’t. The day is upon us. A time of change causes us as a community to reflect on our past and traditions, and to plan for our future growth in our faith and service to God. As members of the Trinity community we all share in the responsibility of ensuring that as we progress through this period of transition, we not lose sight of the mission that God has for our church in caring for each other and our greater community. We frequently hear that change is good, but as often as we hear it, we still struggle with it. Most of us dislike change and seek to avoid it. It disrupts our comfort levels, leaving us anxious and uncertain, and for some maybe even fearful. It challenges our expectations, our routines, our sense of community and how we live in it. It can test our traditions. In this time of change it is comforting to know that God is with us to ease the adjustment of Henry and Mary Beth’s retiring, to share the joy of their next adventure together, and to provide the wisdom, patience and strength we will need to call a new rector to Trinity Church. Moses’s words to Joshua and the Israelites on the bank of the Jordan River recount for us God’s unwavering support in this time of transition. Moses had led God’s people for many years. But before reaching the Promised Land Moses announced that he was stepping down and would not lead them any further on their journey. Imagine being one of those Israelites. For many of them Moses was the only leader they ever knew. How frightening it must have been for them to hear Moses speak these words. In that time of uncertainty Moses counseled Joshua and the people of Israel, “The Lord himself will lead you and be with you. He will not fail you or abandon you, so do not lose courage or be afraid.” Deuteronomy 31:8. So too the Lord will be with us and lead us in this transition. God has designed change to be a process, not an event. Calling our new rector will not happen quickly. Our successful transition will take time and require our patience. We are blessed with a talented and dedicated Search Committee that is already hard at work preparing for this important task. Each of us will be invited to provide input for the search process, and it is our shared responsibility to respond to that call. It is through our reflection on who we are as Trinity Church, and who we want Trinity Church to be in the future that we have the opportunity God is giving us to grow in His grace. Let us share this opportunity together. John Fay Sr. Warden
Stewardship
by Raina O’Neil, Director of Development
Trinity Connections
GiveNOLA day was Tuesday, May 3, 2016 and as you are probably aware there were technical failures with the giving platform. Trinity Church members and friends however, rallied strong and turned out in droves to support our beloved church! It was truly remarkable! Thank you to all the GiveNOLA day donors for your patience throughout the day and for your generosity! We won’t know the final results until sometime in June as the Greater New Orleans Foundation tabulates all the donations from more than 700 nonprofits throughout the region. We’ll update you via the weekly blast and Tidings once we receive the final results. Again, thank you for your generous support! 2016 Fiscal Year Wrap-Up Our 2016 Fiscal Year comes to a close June 30. Thank you to all who have contributed to the life and ministry of Trinity Church. I would especially like to thank our 2016 Stewardship Chairs, Kim and Marshall Page, for their hard work and dedication! Thank you both! 2016 Stewardship Summary Total Pledges: 427 Average Pledge: $2,546 Total Pledged: $1,087,050 Other Cash/Stock (not part of a pledge) Gifts: $292,900 Goal: $1,565,000 Final Tally for FY2016: <$183,651> under goal While our overall goal for pledge revenue was not met, we saw an increase in new pledging members with 31 new pledges this year. Let’s also celebrate your tremendous support for our vibrant ministries – the TCTC Gala in the fall, our beloved TEEP summer program, and our joint-venture with Household of Faith to build a Habitat House, to name a few. As I look to the coming year, the summer will be a time of reflection, discernment and much planning for how we approach our goals of supporting the mission of this great church. We are grateful for Alice and Bill Wright and Holt and Gordo Kolb for their leadership in our new Development Committee. Plan to see exciting changes in the fall! In the meantime, let’s continue to build our relationships with one another by sharing our stories, by making meaning in our lives. Pray deeply, worship weekly, learn constantly, serve joyfully, give generously and love extravagantly. 2
Please join us as we welcome our Interim Rector, The Reverend Corky Carlisle, to Trinity Church on Sunday, June 26 after the 10:30 am service in Bishop Polk Hall.
Congregation Elects Vestry Members On April 17, 2016, voting for four vestry members culminated with the following members elected for four-year terms: John Fay, Ellinor Howard, Marky Murphy and Jim Theis. We wish to thank all the nominees who agreed to stand for the vestry. Each one brought a wealth of experience and individual talents, and all nominees would have served our congregation well. We are ever grateful to all for their commitment to Trinity and for the selfless work they do for us!
Christian Formation by The Rev. Kit McLean, Associate Rector
As I look back over the last year and ahead to the next, I’d first like to thank the incredible Christian Formation team of Ashley Bond, Ashley Eastham, Maria Elliott, and Patrice Mimitte for the passion, creativity and commitment each has brought to this ministry. Half of our team is new—myself included—and so this has been very much a time of prayer, experimentation, research, discussion, and learning. Together we have been building a foundation that we believe will serve the Trinity community well as we move forward. Our guiding principle is that faith formation is a whole life and lifelong endeavor and is a ministry of stewardship and discipleship. As disciples of Jesus, we have been commissioned to love as we have been loved, and each of us has within us the capacity to do just that. We all have been given gifts of the Spirit to use to live that love, not just here at Trinity but also out in the world beyond our doors. At different times in our lives, we have more time, talent and treasure than at others, but we all always have something to give for the benefit of all. Our hope is that we will be able to meet people wherever they are in their faith life and help facilitate the identification, nurture and sharing of our God-given gifts. As we say Godspeed to Henry and Mary Beth and await the arrival of our interim rector, we are busily working on plans for the next twelve months. Many exciting ideas are being considered, and our adult curriculum will likely include classes on Anglican history, spirituality and theology and the Book of Common Prayer. We hope to offer a pilgrimage to the United Kingdom to explore our Anglican heritage next Spring.
Summer Faith & Film Series This exciting summer program will gather for monthly discussion to examine issues of our formal and personal faiths as we do, or do not, encounter them in contemporary “movies.” Each month, a group viewing of the selected film will be scheduled on a Thursday from 6:00 pm - 8:30 pm in Bishop Polk Hall, although members may choose to view the film on their own. The discussion will then take place on the following Sunday, from 9:15 am - 10:15 am in the Parish House. Please contact Ashley Eastham at aeastham@trinitynola.com or 504-670-2426 with any questions. June Film: Crimes and Misdemeanors (1989) Rated: PG-13 VIEWING: Thursday, June 9, 6:00 pm DISCUSSION: Sunday, June 12, 9:15 am July Film: Dead Man Walking (1995) Rated: R VIEWING: Thursday, July 7, 6:00 pm DISCUSSION: Sunday, July 10, 9:15 am August Film: The Way (2010) Rated: PG-13 VIEWING: Thursday, August 11, 6:00 pm DISCUSSION: Sunday, August 14, 9:15 am
Confirmation Sunday
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Children & Family Ministries
by Ashley Bond, (abond@trinitynola.com) Director of Children, Youth and Family Ministries
Children’s Ministry
Youth Ministry News
We had a wonderful year of Godly Play. The children listened, wondered and worked on 27 stories from Creation to Paul’s Discovery. Thanks to the generosity of the Women of Trinity Church (WOTC), we are able to purchase a few more stories for our older classrooms, as many of our children completed their third year of Godly Play. These new stories enrich and extend the core narrative, which tells how the People of God sought the elusive presence of God.
Now that the school year has come to an end, our Summer Sundays begin! A community Sunday School class is offered 10:3011am in the Library beginning June 5. So that our faithful Godly Play teachers can have a break from teaching, please sign up to lead a community class: bit.ly/SummerSundaySchool. All materials will be provided. If your children have enjoyed sunday school this year, please consider giving back by signing up for a slot (or two).
Vacation Bible School is scheduled for July 25-29 for children ages 4-12yrs. Register today at bit.ly/VBSReg2016. We are also in need of adult volunteers and student leaders. Please email Ashley if you are available to help!
Summer Choir Camp and Vacation Music School (Aug 1-5). This summer we will offer Choir Camp for rising 4th-12th grade students. Class will include choral singing, sung prayers and liturgy directed by Dr. Paul Weber, Interim Organist and Choir Master and supported by Children’s & Youth Ministry Director, Ashley Bond. This camp aims to provide a healthy balance between work and play. Register today! bit.ly/ChoirCamp2016
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Thanks to your generosity in supporting our Pancake Breakfast Fundraisers and the generosity of the Women of Trinity Church, we raised $4600 for our summer youth mission trip to South Dakota! Over the next few weeks, we will be getting ourselves ready to serve our brothers and sisters of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate (Burnt Thigh Nation), one of the poorest populations in our country. Part of the physical work on the reservation will include home and church improvements, building new wood bins, and cutting wood. Our spiritual work comes from stepping outside our comfort zones, building relationships and serving others where they are with humility and gratitude. Please pray for us!
Young Adults
by Ashley Eastham, Young Adults Minister (aeastham@trinitynola.com)
Young Adults Potluck @ The Easthams’ Please join us on Wednesday, June 1 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the home of Ashley and Evan Eastham (4628 Mandeville Street, NOLA 70122). Please bring a dish to pass, dessert and/ or beverage to share! Please RSVP to aeastham@ trinitynola.com by Tuesday, May 31. Young Adults Clue Carre Live Escape Game On Tuesday, June 28 at 7:15 pm meet at Clue Carre (830 Union Street, Suite 101, NOLA 70112). We will then be locked in a room together. Our goal? Find the clues, crack the codes, and solve the puzzles to escape the room in 60 minutes or less! Cost is $14 per person (discounted from $28). Please sign up by emailing aeastham@trinitynola.com as spots are limited (10 people total).
Trinity Connections Thank You, Mary Beth and Henry Denise and I met Henry and Mary Beth Hudson 13 years ago. It was and remains one of best things that has ever happened to us. Denise and I are grateful for their friendship, their prayers in times of need, and most importantly, their love. When I received the call from Henry and the invitation to come to New Orleans and have dinner I have to admit I was a bit skeptical. I was a rector of a growing church, my kids were happy in school, and Denise and I were well settled into our life. Why would I move and become an associate? To make a long story short, Denise and I accepted the invitation and after a few days of seeing Trinity’s ministries and sharing with them a few fabulous meals we knew in our hearts what we were going to do. A couple of weeks later when Henry called we accepted the job. In truth, as a priest, Henry is not necessarily the easiest guy to work for. His expectations are always high, his liturgical style is precise, and the hours that he puts in and has put in for the past 40 years of ministry are mind-boggling. I can’t tell you how many times I have slipped into Trinity on a Saturday morning expecting to have the building to myself and heard Henry’s whistling in the halls, nor can I tell you how many times he has left work only to go to the hospital and sit with a family for hours on end. In short he presented by his life and example a model for the Priesthood that has shaped and will continue to shape my ministry. Henry’s willingness to tell me when I have not measured up to both my standards and his, only served to better the feeling of an unprompted “good job” or “good sermon, bud”. His demands for a high quality of pastoral care and programing are nothing harder than what he has required of himself and for these things, and so much more, I am incredibly grateful. For these past 5 years it has been my pleasure to work with my friend and mentor Henry Hudson. His legacy has helped to shape this church for years to come and I am glad to have played a role in that. Henry has made a mark on my life and on the life of dozens of associates that he has had throughout the years. He has made this mark in a loving way, for he has cared for all of us as a mentor and teacher, father figure and friend, and through it all he has preached and worked with integrity and passion. Henry’s love of the Lord and his love of the ministry has been inspiring. On behalf of my family and all those whom he has mentored it is my honor to be able to say thank you and to wish him and Mary Beth a happy, fun, restful, and exciting retirement. Faithfully, Mitch Smith
Molly’s House Art
When a group stays at Molly’s House we ask them to create an original work of art. The piece of art can be representative of the volunteer work the group did in the city, the groups place of origin, or some central theme of the trip for that group. The hallways of Molly’s House tell a continuing story of the rebuilding, reconnecting, and reinvigorating of New Orleans.
Art by: Calvert Hall (Towson, MD) Christ Church (Needham, MA)
Group from Christ Church Needham. They volunteered with St. Bernard Project during their visit to New Orleans. 5
Trinity Connections
Out and About
Out and About offered a make-up trip to the Port of New Orleans after being rained out twice. Since there is so much enthusiasm for this outing, we will re-schedule for one in October. In May we visited Kingsley House and had a wonderful tour of the facility that Trinity helped to found. Many of our parishioners continue to support Kingsley House where we found the city’s largest Head Start Program and an active adult daycare for folks needing memory care. On Sunday, June 12, we will have our year-end gathering with a Pot-Luck in the Parish House after church. Please bring your favorite dish and join us. To reserve your place, kindly contact Maria Elliott 670-2535 or melliott@ trinitynola.com and let her know what you’d like to bring.
Congratulations It is with great pleasure and joy that we announce that David Musser is graduating from Virginia Theological Seminary. His grades were stellar throughout his time there. David will leave seminary and do one year of Clinical Pastoral Education at a hospital in Dallas. We continue to pray for David and his wife Lisa as they close this chapter in their life and prepare to welcome a baby into their home. May God continue to bless them. It is also with great pleasure that we announce that Trinity Church has recommended and signed a letter of support for Ben Nobles to begin the process towards ordination as a deacon in the church. Ben has been a volunteer with Trinity Loaves and Fishes for the past 5 years. He has also helped Mary Sutton set up, serve, and clean up countless worship services. Ben’s call to minister to those on the fringes of society is a powerful reminder to all of us that God sent his Son so that all might be saved. Ben’s love and passion for service has been a blessing to Trinity and we know that it will continue to be for years to come.
SAVE the DATE On Saturday, October 1, we will have a day long retreat with The Reverend Rob Voyle. The topic will be Practicing Forgiveness and Releasing Resentment. 6
Pastoral Care
Sandra Smith offered an Introductory workshop on using the Enneagram system for deepening spiritual awareness. The workshop was very well received and drew 40 participants. Sandra will return in October for continued exploration by type. If you would like to set up a time to explore your type, contact Maria Elliott at 670-2535.
Wit & Wisdom from the WOTC by Karyn Kearney, Women of Trinity Church President
Women of Trinity Church Seeking Volunteers! Are you looking for an opportunity to fit service into your busy life? Are you longing for fulfillment by giving to others? The energetic ladies of WOTC dedicate their time and talents to the Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Funerals, Weddings, Helping Hands, Coffee Hour, Special Events and many other church ministries. Please take a quiet moment to think about how you may become involved in WOTC. It will be a tremendous blessing in your life. Contact WOTC President Karyn Kearney at 504-329-2444 or kkearney2009@livecom to join this multi-generational talented group of ladies.
Joey Brown, outgoing WOTC President and Karyn Kearney, incoming WOTC President
Trinity Connections Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)
An advocate is the heart of CASA Jefferson’s mission. CASA Jefferson welcomes advocates from all walks of life. You do not need any special background, education, or experience working with children to become an advocate. CASA Jefferson, Inc. will provide all the training you need and supervision to gather information to make recommendations that judges decide the best possible outcome for the children in foster care. Volunteers must be 21 years of age, be passionate about improving children’s lives, and have the ability to remain objective while investigating and advocating for their CASA child. To become an advocate, you attend an orientation, fill out an application, participate in an interview and go through training. Below is an upcoming schedule for CASA Jefferson.
Trinity Artist Series Sundays at 5 pm June 4 at 7 pm World Premiere of “Earth’s Grace from God” by Hezekiah Brinson directed by Dr. Jean Montes with members of the Moses G. Hogan Chorale, New Orleans Black Chorale, the Zion Harmonizers, S. Carver Davenport and members of the Dillard Concert Choir, members of the Loyola Music Department, Ashbury United Methodist Church Bells Choir, Lula Elzy and the Lula Elzy Dance Studio, Internationally known soprano Bridget Bazile as featured soloist, and many more.... June 5
The Cincinnati Boychoir, one of the premiere professional boychoirs in the US.
June 12
Clear Lake Band and Choir from Wisconsin.
June 14 at 8 pm International Septet TANGO Rendezvous” a concert of Tango Music. Strings and piano led by Argentinian violinist extraordinaire Alejandro Drago.
June 2016 Orientation Schedule 11:30-12:30 pm: June 9, 17, and 27 6-7:00 pm: June 7, 13, 22, and 27 July 2016 Training Course 6-9 pm: July 6, 11, 13, 18, 25, and 27 9 am-4 pm: July 16 and 23. See www.casajefferson.org for more information. Contact Deacon Alyce by cell 909-1326 or by email ajefferson@trinitynola.org with any questions.
June 19
“Mothers and Daughters” Vocal divas and professors of voice, Valerie Francis and Phyllis Treigle perform with their daughters Imani Francis and Emily Sheeps in a Father’s Day Tribute,
June 26
16th Annual Patriotic Music Festival starts at 3 pm - 6 pm: with the U.S Marine Corps Concert Band, Ellis Marsalis and Delfeayo’s Uptown Jazz Orchestra and more. A reception to follow in Bishop Polk Hall. ALL are invited!
ORGAN and Labyrinth with Albinas, Every Tuesday at 6 pm is BACK by Popular Demand!
Altar Flower Memorials Would you like to honor the memory of a loved one and contribute to the church at the same time? You can give the flowers/greens on the altar in their names. Contact Joey Brown at joey@awb3.com for more information.
Opt Out of Receiving the Tidings in Paper Format In an effort to help the environment we are asking you to Opt Out of receiving the Tidings by snail mail and begin receiving it via email. We are hoping to use less paper and reduce the amount of copies that are mailed each month. If you would like to receive the Tidings via email only, please email Kriste Buck at kbuck@trinitynola.com.
21st Annual Women’s Creative Process Retreat: CPR for the Soul
“Finding Your Bootstraps When You are Barefooted” Life is full of challenges and struggles. If that part is a given, how do we find what works to help restore our sanity, our joy and our hope? What makes us resilient? There are still some spots left for this retreat, and we hope you will join us. All are welcome-especially those who do not consider themselves “creative”! Presenter: The Reverend Anne M. Maxwell, Associate Rector, Christ Church Covington Dates: October 13-16, 2016 at the Solomon Center in Robert, LA Registration info: www.solomoncenter.org. Contact Lisa Holden lisatompkinsholden@gmail.com. 7
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Clergy
Worship Schedule
The Right Reverend Morris K. Thompson, Bishop The Reverend Henry L. Hudson, Rector The Reverend Mitchell Smith, Associate Rector The Reverend Katherine McLean, Associate Rector The Reverend Alyce Jefferson, Deacon The Reverend Jay Albert, Deacon The Reverend Jesse Adams, Priest Associate The Reverend Gary Taylor, Head of Trinity School The Reverend Dr. Hill C. Riddle, Rector Emeritus
SUNDAY, 7:30 AM: Morning Prayer in the chapel; 8:00 AM: Eucharist in the chapel; 10:30 AM: Eucharist in the church; 5:00 PM: Trinity Artist Series in the church; 6:00 PM: Eucharist in the chapel MONDAY through FRIDAY, 8:30 AM: Morning Prayer in the chapel TUESDAY, 7:30 AM: Eucharist in the chapel
Vestry John Fay, Jr., Senior Warden Barbara Waller, Junior Warden Kelly Duncan, Clerk of Vestry Keith Crawford, Treasurer Dawn Buckley, Elaine Haney, John Hevron, Ellinor Howard, Susu Kearney, Gordon Kolb, King Logan, Chris Martin, Margaret Murphy, Marguerite Redwine, Jonathan Shaver, Jim Theis John Wogan, Chancellor Karyn Kearney, WOTC President Sandy Villere, Trinity School Board Chair
THURSDAY, 10:30 AM: Holy Eucharist and Healing Service in the chapel
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