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DEAR FRIENDS

Invitation to a Holy Lent

Dear Friends,

This Sunday is the “Shrove Sunday” pancake breakfast just after church. And that means that Lent is just around the corner. It is, in fact, less than a week away. Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, which is February 18th this year.

We will have two services that day – at noon and 7:00 pm.

A significant part of that service each year is a reading, from the priest to the congregation, that is an “Invitation to a Holy Lent”. It tells a little bit of the history of the season and invites us all to turn ourselves over to this tradition for a time – to let it guide our lives a little.

Today, I invite you to consider that. Consider the ways that you might intentionally deepen your sense of faith as we lead ourselves down this holy pathway that points the way for us between the finality of death and the eternity of life in Christ.

Lent is a time to take our lives as faithful people a little more seriously. For some that means “giving something up”, though not always. Sometimes people like to take on a new spiritual discipline. Either way – or if you have something else entirely – the real point is to focus on faith with greater intentionality. It’s not like a “New Year’s Resolution” – it’s a refocus. And we need that time to refocus, because each of our lives will get disrupted sometimes. We all get pushed off our ideal paths every now and then.

But Lent is about remembering – not just at this time of year, but any time of year – that even when the path is rocky and treacherous, even when we think we’ve lost our way entirely, Easter is always waiting on the other side. Renewal is always coming.

The story of God is always a story of hope, joy, and love. Lent helps us to remember that the tough times are never the end, and they’re never the point. New life through God’s grace is always just ahead. Even when we can’t see it. Especially when we can’t see it.

I invite you to walk with your church family on this journey of discovery. The more you’re willing to give yourself over to the process, the more rewarding the other side will be.

Blessings,
Jon+

SHROVE PANCAKE SUNDAY


Sunday, February 15 is sneaking up on us and we need to hear from you! In addition to gathering our RSVP list of those attending, we need a bit of kitchen help. This is always a spirited event of Mardi Gras fun and frivolity. Follow the link to our Sign Up Genius HERE


ASH WEDNESDAY

OFFICE CLOSED MONDAY, FEBRUARY 16

PROPERTY COMMITTEE UPDATE

We have great news to share! On Wednesday morning, our first-floor bathrooms in the Cloister were equipped with touchless automatic door openers. This is a huge step forward in making Trinity accessible to all.  Go give them a try Sunday!


SOUP, SALAD, AND THE SACRED


Soup, Salad and the Sacred Begins Feb 25
Give me that Olde Tyme Lent? Sackcloth and ashes? Not at Trinity! Come taste the goodness of the Lord. Wednesdays in Lent you’re invited to explore friendship with God via podcasts and questions while sampling soups in My Brother’s Place. We’ll listen to undocumented saints who willingly share their spiritual life with Jesuit Fr. Jim Martin on his The Spiritual Life podcast: Would you believe who’s there? Stephen Colbert, Whoopi Goldberg, Richard Rohr, Brene Brown, Joyce Rupp and more. Join the soup line! Taste and see the goodness of our soup and share the joy of growing in relationship with God and make more Trinity friends. Dinner starts at 6:00 pm, and we'll wrap up by 7:30 pm. Sign up here .


LUNCH AND LEARN


Sunday March 1st, right after worship service we’ll have our first of four Lunch and Learn’s for Community Engagement. Have you wondered what the Trinity Response Team does? How this community supports Pride efforts? Curious about what it means to participate in Breakfast at Trinity? Or even asked yourself, who are all of these cool people that help make the worship service happen? This is your opportunity to find out! Click here to RSVP


TRINITY FAMILY OUTING

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED!


Coffee Hour hosts needed!  We have plenty of slots open for coffee hour in the coming weeks. You don't have to be a pastry chef to be a part of this - promise. Snacks of all kinds can add to our fellowship on Sundays. You can email Lucy Russell at lucybrus@aol.com or sign up at the clipboard in the sanctuary. 


FEBRUARY BOOK CLUB


Theo of Golden - a novel by Allen Levi, is our next book club selection. We meet via Zoom on Sunday, February 22 at 6:30. Sign up and join us! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/ZoomBookClub#/


CROSS AND THE LYNCHING TREE


Feb 21: Join our friends at All Saints Episcopal for Cross and The Lynching Tree film and discussion from 12-3pm. The church address is 563 Pinewood Avenue, Toledo, 43604.


GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION FORUM 2026


Thursday, March 5, 2026 | Virtual Summit
9:00am - 2:00pm Eastern Time

This event is free and informative. You can register here for this HERE  Mainstage content will be streaming on the website: https://preventgunviolence.com/agenda/?events=2026


DIOCESAN CELEBRATION


2025 Diocesan Celebration of the Commemoration of the Rev. Absalom Jones and the Consecration of the Rt. Rev. Barbara Clementine Harris


The annual Festal Eucharist celebrating the Rev. Absalom Jones and the Rt. Rev. Barbara Clementine Harris will be held on February 14 at 11:00 a.m. at Christ Church, Shaker Heights, hosted by the Wilma Ruth Combs Northeast Chapter of the Union of Black Episcopalians in collaboration with the Diocese of Ohio and Christ Church. Jones was the first African American ordained as a priest in the Episcopal Church, and Harris the first woman consecrated as a bishop in the Anglican Communion.


The Rt. Rev. Anne B. Jolly will be the celebrant, and the Rev. Megan Allen-Miller will be the preacher. For those interested in participating in the choir, please contact Mickey D. McGroarty, Director of Music for this year’s celebration. All are welcome to join in the celebration of these inspirational clergy, whose lives and ministries have left a profound impact on the church’s communal life and ministry. Clergy are invited to process in cassock, surplice, and white stoles.


WHAT'S HAPPENING?

ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL PANCAKE SUPPER


Join our friends at All Saints for their annual pancake supper on Tuesday, February 17. The church address is 563 Pinewood Ave., Toledo, Ohio. They will be serving 10am - 7pm. Eat in or take out available! $12


TRINITY'S PRAYER LIST


Trinity continues to have an active prayer list. If you’d like prayers for yourself or for someone you know, you can request them by contacting the Trinity office (trinity@trinitytoledo.org or 419-243-1231). All prayer requests are shared only with a small intercessory prayer group who, along with parish clergy, offer recurring prayers for each request. When a request is received, it remains on the prayer list for four weeks before it’s taken off. Requests can always be renewed or submitted again; having an “expiration date” simply prevents the list from overflowing with prayer requests that are out of date.

TRINITY@HOME LIVE-STREAM


Trinity@Home is now a live-stream of Trinity’s 10:00 am in-person service with an interactive chat.


www.trinitytoledo.org/live


EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE

International Women’s Day webinar will focus on human rights

[World Council of Churches] A webinar titled “Rights! Dignity! Action! Faith in Focus for Women’s Matters” will be held March 9 in conjunction with...

How much is enough? WCC launches Lenten fast on climate and inequality

[World Council of Churches] The World Council of Churches invites faith communities worldwide to observe a Global Systemic Carbon Fast during Lent...

WCC launches Seven Weeks for Water 2026, highlighting women’s water justice

[World Council of Churches] Water holds profound spiritual significance in Christian tradition as a gift from God. Yet 2.2 billion people worldwide –...

Pennsylvania Episcopalians, church to celebrate life and legacy of Absalom Jones

[Episcopal News Service] Church leaders and Episcopalians in the Diocese of Pennsylvania will celebrate the Feast of the Rev. Absalom Jones, The...