Trinity Topics March 7, 2025

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DEAR FRIENDS

Dear Friends,

This weekend, we will usher in Daylight Savings Time at 2:00 a.m. EST on Saturday, March 9th, by “springing” our clocks ahead an hour. With it comes extended daylight hours and the anticipation of warmer weather. Spring is approaching.

Like all changes, there are challenges even when we anticipate and welcome them. We switch our external clocks an hour forward while our internal clocks lag a bit, trying to catch up. For many of us, our biorhythms take much longer to adjust to this hour shift.

Time, or the changing times, seems to have that effect on us. Whether we're adjusting the hands of a clock or witnessing history unfolding before us, we can all agree that change is often an unsettling yet undeniable constant. Still, it endures, just as we do.

Lent is also upon us, just before our time change on Saturday. A sacred time of sacrifice, giving, and prayer. One could imagine no bigger change or uncertainty than Jesus’ experience as he walked into the desert ahead of his impending death. Alone, weary, tired, hungry, tempted, afraid, yet persisted for us and with us.

As we walk through our metaphorical clocks springing forward, watching the world in all its chaos swirl, let us be reminded of the persistence, faith, and hope of Jesus during his 40 days and nights in the desert. That the loss of an hour is no comparison to the loss of a life for us and our sins. However, we choose to sacrifice, give, or pray during this Lenten season, a time of change and a change of time, let it be knowing that we can do so with the assurance that no more tremendous sacrifice was made than that which he made for us. And he will rise, as will we. Through trials and uncertainties, chaos and hatred, he suffered, died, and was buried…but rose again. So shall we.

Karen Keune

WELCOME HOME, JON+!

Friends, it's time to throw an after-church Trinity Party like no other! March 16th, Trinity welcomes home our next Rector, Jon+ and his husband, Michael. We need YOUR HELP! Trinity's got the sandwiches and beverages covered, but we need your magnificent side dishes and desserts. Please RSVP at the link below and let us know what fabulous side dishes you'll be bringing. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/welcomehomejonandmichael

LENTEN SUPPER AND BOOK STUDY STARTS MARCH 12

One of Trinity’s Lenten traditions is to gather on the Wednesdays in Lent to gather to share a simple meal and have discussion. This year, we’ve chosen to read Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde’s 2023 book, How We Learn to be Brave: Decisive Moments in Life and Faith. Church will have a small number of copies of the book to purchase at cost ($28) from a local independent bookstore, though copies of the book can be purchased on your own (including Kindle and audiobook formats). Our supper and discussion series begins on Wednesday, March 12, at 6:00 pm. Discussion will begin around 6:45 pm. To give some cushion time for book delivery, on March 12, we will be watching a video of Bishop Budde. Please sign up for supper so that we can plan appropriately.

PS - If you can only make some of the sessions, that’s fine. Come when you can! https://www.signupgenius.com/go/howwelearntobebrave

KATE BOWLER 'THE HARDEST PART' 40 DAY DEVOTIONAL

"Life is this strange, tender mix, isn’t it? Joy and sorrow, love and loss, heartbreak and hope, all tangled together. This year, we invite you to embrace Lent as it is—raw, honest, and tender. This is the season that asks us to stop pretending we’re holding it all together. It’s a time to pause, sit with what’s fragile and unfinished, and let God meet us in the hardest parts of our lives.”

You’re invited to use this Lenten devotional to draw closer to God in the hard time. Each day in Lent (except for Sundays) has a reflection, a prayer, and a question or topic for you to explore. On each Sunday in Lent (except for March 16), we will be gathering in the Walbridge Room after church for open discussion – all are welcome! Download the Hardest Part Daily Guide here: https://katebowler.com/lent/

We will also have a small number of printed guides available.

SAVE THE DATE

Sunday, April 6 (following worship)

Why is this church building so big? What’s behind that door? What lies beyond those steps? For a church dedicated in 1866, Trinity Episcopal Church remains a landmark in downtown Toledo. For many of us, though, we take a short walk down a hallway connecting the parking garage to the sanctuary and enter and stay in the sanctuary. But there’s much more to see….

Save the date for our 2^nd Trinity Church tour. Grab a cup of coffee and a goodie after the service and gather in the Cloister (space where first floor bathrooms are located). We will be heading down below to the Undercroft. Isn’t that a much better name than basement? There’s a whole world down there so many of you have never seen, and rich with history.

There is elevator access. This tour will require walking unlike our kick-off tour. Our own Heather Meyer is excited to guide us!

BOOK CLUB

Join the book worms on Sunday, March 16 at 6:30pm via Zoom to discuss James, a book by Percival Everett. A brilliant reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn—both harrowing and ferociously funny—told from the enslaved Jim's point of view.

MARDI GRAS FUN!

We packed My Brothers Place last Sunday to celebrate Fat Tuesday. Thanks to all who joined us. A special thanks to our amazing cooks and kitchen help. The life of this parish continues to grow and celebrate with one another!

WOMEN'S BIBLE STUDY

Join us for women's Bible study on March 15th from 9:00-10:30 am. We will explore and pray with the gospel selection appointed for the following day at church. Bring a Bible (print or online) and an open heart. The great news is that it doesn’t matter how much experience you have (or don’t have) with scripture. We'll learn together.
When you sign up, you'll include your email address. The week of Bible study, Jolene will email you directions to the house and a copy of the passage under discussion, so you can read it in advance. If you have any questions, please email jolene278@gmail.com.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B084AADAC23A0FD0-54105807-womens

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

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