Trinity Topics July 19, 2024

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RECTOR'S BLOG

Dear Friends,

The Gospel reading for this coming Sunday talks about lots of people “coming and going” around Jesus and his disciples. It seems an appropriate scripture passage for this week when Trinity has lots of comings and goings on among our building partners.

We purposely use the term “building partners” instead of “tenants” for the entities that occupy parts of our building because the parish doesn’t rent space to just any organization or business looking for a downtown location. We choose to share space with organizations that align with Trinity’s mission to be engaged with the life of the City of Toledo and that share our progressive and inclusive values.

Leadership Toledo, our longest-running building partner, has – these last weeks – been steadily moving out of the offices they’ve occupied on the third floor of the Parish House. They’re taking some furniture with them, donating some to Habitat for Humanity’s ReStore, recycling outdated electronics, and tossing out everything else. Trinity shared in the cost of the dumpster Leadership Toledo brought in so we could also clear out the kinds of things that always seem to accumulate at churches. (Thanks, by the way, to the fifteen volunteers who showed up this past Monday evening to help!) We’ll miss our colleagues at Leadership Toledo but take solace and even some satisfaction in this church’s part in providing space for them to grow as they were starting their work with both adults and youth.

While Leadership was moving out upstairs, Toledo Streets Newspaper (TSN) was moving furniture and other items into their new location downstairs in the former Next-to-New space. Their first vendor meeting at Trinity was yesterday and, since it was our turn to provide the vendor lunch, we hosted lunch for them in My Brother’s Place. We are delighted to welcome this organization whose goal is to give the Toledo community a program to lift individuals out of poverty through work. TSN will have access to their space from their entrance on N. St. Clair.

And, finally, while these two organizations were “going and coming,” Trinity finalized an agreement with Girls on the Run Northwest Ohio (GOTR) on Wednesday. In the next two weeks, they will move into some of the space being vacated by Leadership Toledo.

GOTR serves fourteen counties in northwest Ohio and offers programs designed to inspire girls of all abilities to recognize and embrace their inner strength and make meaningful connections with others. It’s about so much more than running! Trained coaches use physical activity and discussions to build social, emotional and physical skills while encouraging healthy habits for life. They’ve served over 7,000 girls in northwest Ohio since 2012.

Part of the national GOTR organization, our newest building partner offers a welcoming space where all can have a meaningful and engaging experience and feel like they belong. When GOTR says “all,” they mean people of all races, ethnicities, income levels, sexual orientations, gender identities, religions, and abilities. Their commitment to radical hospitality mirrors ours.

Farewell and godspeed to our friends at Leadership Toledo, and welcome to our newest building partners. We look forward to many years of mutually beneficial relationships.

Blessings,

Stephen Applegate

WORSHIP AL FRESCO!

This Sunday, July 21 at 10am, we will worship on Trinity Plaza as the weather forecast is looking fantastic. We have special guest musicians, Blockhouse Valley, joining us. A few suggestions for our good people:

Wear hats, sunglasses and some sunscreen. That sun really reflects off all that new, bright concrete. Casual dress encouraged!
We have concrete amphitheater seating plus chairs from our dining area, My Brothers Place. If you'd like to bring a favorite chair - please do.
If you're sitting on the built in concrete seats, consider bringing a blanket or beach towel.
For this Sunday only, we are moving the Kids' Room up to the room always known as "The Bride's Room" on the 2^nd floor with a direct access door to/from the Plaza. We will have good stuff to keep our kids busy with Miss Wendi and will follow the same guidelines as we do on the 1^st floor.
If you utilize the Four SeaGate parking garage, enter our building as usual but proceed up the stairwell or use the elevator to the 2^nd floor to access the Plaza.
If you park on the street, bike or walk to us, head on up the exterior Plaza steps at the corner of Adams and Summit.
WE WILL HAVE ADEQUATE SIGNAGE AT OUR FRONT DOORS DIRECTING. FOR SAFETY REASONS, WE WILL BE LOCKING FRONT ENTRANCE DOORS AT 10:10AM. That doesn't mean latecomers can't join us, it just means they need to proceed up the exterior steps at Adams and Summit.

If you have a question that isn't covered, please email Heather Meyer at heather@trinitytoledo.org See you Sunday!

WHO IS JESUS ANYWAY?

First Session This Sunday after Church

Grab a snack at coffee hour and join us in the Walbridge Room as we begin to explore who Jesus is, using Diana Butler Bass’ book Freeing Jesus: Rediscovering Jesus as Friend, Teacher, Savior, Lord, Way, and Presence as a springboard. (Here is a video of the author introducing the book if you’d like to learn more.)

These discussions are open to everyone, whether you have read the book or not, whether you can attend all the sessions or not, whether you know who Jesus is to you or you have no clue. Here are some questions to ponder for this week (Jesus as teacher; Jesus as friend):

What has been your understanding of Jesus throughout your life? How have you seen that change over the years?
“Jesus calls us friends. God reaches toward us, not as a fearsome master or judge, but a friend, beckoning us to reach back” (p. 16 of the book). Do you view Jesus as a friend of yours? Why or why not?
Which of the teachings of Jesus is most compelling or attractive to you? Which teaching is most challenging or frustrating? Why?

The rough schedule for the rest of the sessions:

July 28: Jesus as Savior

August 4: No session

August 11: Jesus as Lord

August 18: Jesus as Way

August 25: Jesus as Presence

September 1: Bonus session: The Universal Jesus

If you have any questions, contact facilitators Jolene Miller and Amy Saylor. Bring your questions, we’ll bring ours!

PRIDE DONATIONS

Through August 18 we are asking for donations of 8oz water bottles and hard candy for Pride! You can drop them off at our “drop off station” by the columbarium. PLEASE, no chocolate as it tends to melt in the August sun. Any chocolate donated will be considered a tithe for our Director of Operations. If you have any questions please contact our Director of Community Engagement through email at, george@trinitytoledo.org

COMPREHENSIVE PLAN FOR NEIGHBORHOOD SAFETY

Sunday, August 18 1:00-3:00 p.m. Epworth United Methodist Church, 4855 Central Ave. Presentation of the City of Toledo’s Comprehensive Plan for Neighborhood Safety
Malcolm Cunningham, Director of the Mayor’s Office of Neighborhood Safety & Engagement (MONSE), will provide an overview of the City of Toledo's new Comprehensive Plan for Neighborhood Safety. Malcolm will host an interactive forum after the plan presentation. Many people from the community have been working on this plan over the past year, and it is bearing fruit in reducing gun violence. Come learn about the positive steps our community is taking! Free, open to all. Sign up here.

Download information flyer here.

Diocesan Office for Mission Peace and Justice

Click here for the resources page.

TRINITY PRAYER LIST

Did you know that Trinity has 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) or our interim rector, Stephen Applegate (in person or via email at stephen@trinitytoledo.org).

At the moment, all prayer requests are shared only with a small intercessory prayer group who, along with parish clergy, offer recurring prayers for each request. This is not a closed group. If you want to join Trinity parishioners who’ve committed to the practice of regularly praying for others, ask Stephen about joining the prayer team.

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. However, having an “expiration date” will prevent the list from overflowing with prayer requests that are out of date.

BOOK CLUB

Book clubbers! We’re taking a bit of a hiatus for July and August but add this to the late summer reading list so it’s fresh in your mind for discussion on September 8. Stay tuned for sign up and zoom information. (*Our library has print, ebook and audio copies.)

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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