The Trinitarian

Trinity Episcopal Church, 44 North Second Street, Ashland OR 97520 (541) 482-2656 FAX 482-1260 office@trinitychurchashland.org

The Reverend Doctor Anthony Hutchinson, Rector

The Reverend Carol Howser, Deacon December 2011
Trinitarian Online Edition

The Reverend Meredith Pech, Deacon

www.trinitychurchashland.org

Annual Epiphany white gifts widen the sharing The Giving Tree ingathering is Sunday, Dec. 4. Please place your gifts in a bag or unsealed gift box under the tree with the original ornament-tag attached, and check off your name on the Master List so we know your childs gift has arrived. We ask that gifts be unwrapped or in unsealed gift boxes so our volunteers can double check the list and then sort and wrap the gifts by caseworker before transporting them to Jackson County Child Welfare. Questions? Contact Judy Clintonor Carol Harvey. We will celebrate Epiphany Sunday on January 8 with the annual gathering of White Gifts during both morning services. This Outreach Ministries Project focuses on those in our community who need extra assistance during the cold winter months. Like the Magi who journeyed to present their exotic gifts to baby Jesus, we will travel down the aisle to place our more practical offerings at the altar- items such as new sleeping bags, blankets, pillows, sweaters, jackets, non-perishable food items, and small appliances. There will also be the option of making monetary gifts, which will be used to purchase additional needed items. A white box will be placed at the altar to receive white envelopes containing checks. Checks should be made out to Trinity Church with White Gifts noted on the memo line. Afterwards, volunteers will be invited to help carry the gifts to one of the classrooms. There the gifts will be unwrapped, sorted and transported to the Ashland Community Food Bank and local agencies for distribution to the homeless and other families or individuals in great need. Questions? Contact Carol Harvey.

Trinitys Christmas Pageant this year will be part of the 10 a.m.

service on December 18th. Be sure to attend the later service to see the children give their version of the familiar Christmas story.

Christmas/Epiphany Worship
Saturday 4:00p 6:00p 10:30a 11:00p Sunday 10:00a 5:00p Sunday 10:00a 5:00p Sunday 8:00a 10:00a 5:00p December 24 Christmas Eve Family Service Holy Eucharist with carols Carol Sing with choir Festal Choral Eucharist December 25 Christmas Day Holy Eucharist (without choir) Evening Prayer Jan 1 Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Eucharist with Carols Contemplative Eucharist January 8 Epiphany, Observed, Holy Eucharist with White Gifts Holy Eucharist with White Gifts Evening Prayer with White Gifts

The Anglican Covenant

The Anglican Communion has prepared a document known as the Anglican Covenant, which summarizes the core beliefs of the member churches. All the churches in the Anglican Communion are now reviewing that document. The 77th General Convention of the Episcopal Church, meeting in Indianapolis in July 2012, will be debating whether or not to approve the Covenant. Becky Snow and Anne McCollom will explain the history, present information and invite your observations, questions and concerns about the various parts of the Covenant at four Sunday Forums during Advent, beginning on Sunday November 27th at 9:05. Documents relating to the Anglican Covenant and a Study Guide may be found at http://generalconvention.org/ec.
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Trinitarian Online Edition

Father Tonys letter to the Trinitarians

Via Media Holidays A few years ago one of my friends, a bartender who was very much a professional and proud of his profession, gave me an interesting but troubling factoid. What day of the year, do you suppose, is the biggest sales day for bars, pubs, and taverns in the United States? I dont know, I replied, Id guess maybe New Years Eve or St. Patricks Day? Wrong, he said, News Years Eve, most people are going to parties that night and not to bars, though it is a very heavy night at bars because of loners who dont have parties to go to or people who want to top up before they go to parties. Only a portion of the population celebrates St. Patricks. The heaviest night of the year, surprisingly, is the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving Day. How could that be? Just think about it a minute. Thanksgiving is the holiday for all Americans, not just Christians, not just Irish Americans and Irish American wanna-bes. College kids, young professionals, and even some middle-agers, both with and without young families, are all headed back to the family manse to be with their parents or in-laws, and with siblings. Often its to celebrate the holiday with people theyd rather not spend time with. Older parents are about to have their calm, happy, empty nests invaded by the offspring they finally succeeded to launch on separate living arrangements. All those nervous, slightly discontented people head to the bars with spouses, partners, or friends for one last chance to get loaded before they descend into a day or two of the Hell of Bringing Up Father or the Brady Bunch! They drink at bars because they cant drink at home, either because theyre traveling or theyre already uncomfortably on stage at where they are spending the holiday. This sad factoid gave me a perspective on the holidays I had never had. There are many reasons to love the season, but there are also tensions. The holidays bring with them a whole lot of expectations, what we need to do, who we need to be with, what we ought to do, to properly celebrate and to not give offense. The holidays can bring us face-to-face to our own failings, those places where we do not measure up, either to the expectations of others or to our own. Ten years ago, Jo Robinson and Jean Staeheli published their little book, Unplug the Christmas Machine: A Complete Guide to Putting Love and Joy Back into the Season. They discussed how our expectations could distract us and ruin the season, and how a simpler celebration could help fix matters. It is still a good read with a lot of good suggestions for having a joyous, and even holy, festival. We must not beat ourselves up over the fact that we have not simplified enough. That too is an expectation that produces unhappiness. The point is that we need to pace ourselves, and truly celebrate in ways that bring joy to us and to those about us. The Feast of the Nativity, or Christmas (Christs Mass), is the Feast of the Incarnation, of God becoming truly human. By becoming truly human, God tells us that it is O.K. to be not O.K., and shows us that acceptance of who we are and who those about us are is the starting point of spiritual progress. Jesus liked a good party, but did not want party planning to control life. Note that in the story of the wedding at Cana, he provides hundreds of gallons of the finest wine to the joy of the guests, but also questions his Mothers desire to control every little detail.

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Trinitarian Online Edition

Father Tonys letter Continued

Anglicans and Episcopalians have always held to the Via Media, the middle way, whether between Catholicism and Protestantism, the traditional and the innovative, or smoky and clangy High Church ceremony or snake-belly low, hands-in-the-air come-to-Jesus Evangelicalism. Treading the path between two extremes in order to be as inclusive and as comprehensive as possible is the hallmark of English Prayer-book Christianity. We need to walk a middle path in our approach to celebrating the holidays too. We often hear this time of year calls to put Christ back in Christmas. People complain about commercialization, too much partying, and not enough praying. This phrasing of the question gets the issues all wrong. It separates the partying and celebration from spirituality. Granted, some people see the holiday solely as a consumer or marketing event. The holiday is thus diminished, often becoming a source of stress and depression. The problem, however, is not too much celebration, but too little. I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my whole being shall exult in my God says Isaiah. It is not just the spiritual side of us that should rejoice. To want to turn Christmas into a sectarian prayer meeting rather than the public, boisterous, and commonly shared party that it currently isfor both believer and unbelieverstems from bad theology. Incarnational theology demands that our prayer be common prayer, or prayer in community, and our holidays be publicly shared. The fact that in the Western catholic tradition we observe a light penitential season, Advent, just before Christmas helps us moderate having too much fun in the run up to Christmas. The fact that we celebrate the nativity of Christ for twelve full days, Christmastide, from December 25 to January 6, forces us to pace and moderate the celebration. Elena and I will be arriving in Ashland on December 30, and look forward to starting our lives together with you before Christmastide is over. Lets all get through the holidays in one piece, happy, but rested as well. Peace and Merry Christmas.

Father Tony +

The Transition Team for Fr. Tony has been constituted and is working with our new rector on the details of his
arrival and assumption of his new position in our parish. The members of the Team are Steve Clinton, Chair, John Sanders, Suzanne Lang, Chris Amorelli, Shirley Woodring and Sara Hopkins. Fr. Tony will arrive in Ashland on December 30 and will conduct his first service with us at 10:00 a.m. on January 1, Holy Name Day. Please note that there will be no 8:00 a.m. service that day. Nor will there be an Adult Forum. We will start our day with the 10:00 a.m. Choral Eucharist which will be followed by a special New Years Day coffee hour. Fr. Tony will speak briefly at the coffee hour and then its on with the party. Please come and join us as we welcome Fr. Tony and his wife Elena to Ashland. Mark this important day on your calendar and plan to attend this first service of our new rector.

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Trinitarian Online Edition

Senior Wardens Report

My Lord, what a morning. Thats the song that was going through my mind today at coffee hour. I kept singing that line from our anthem several weeks ago over and over--fortunately just in my head, not out loud. This was one of my favorite Sundays of the year--the day after the S.W.A.T. quilt and mincemeat bazaar when we buy the remaining quilts and donate them to Jamie, who, through his work, gets them to children affected by neglect and violence. I can just imagine a child somewhere in our community wrapping him or herself in that soft flannel quilt and maybe, just maybe feeling a little warmer and cared for. During this same blessed morning I looked over at our Christmas giving tree and saw that every name was taken. That means that over 50 children will be receiving new warm coats, hats, mittens and socks from the people of Trinity. Over 50 of us will be shopping with care to purchase things in the colors that give each of these children pleasure, giving them something they desperately need. All of this made me think of the Gospel reading this morning where Jesus said that all who feed the hungry, soothe the sick and cloth the naked are in fact feeding, soothing and clothing Jesus himself. It seemed to me that we people of Trinity were heeding Jesus call this morning and it felt so right. Thank you for being the loving and generous people that you are. The feeling in the Parish Hall this morning was overwhelming. My Lord, what a morning. Merry Christmas, Mindy Ferris

Your VESTRY
SENIOR WARDEN Mindy Ferris (2011)

JUNIOR WARDEN Milt Morgan (2012)

Jeff LaLande

(2011)

Kathy Griffin

(2011)

Rhonda Loftis

(2011)

Jean McDonald

(2012)

Ward Wilson

(2012)

JUNIOR WARDENS REPORT

Whether parishioners or not, Ashland residents and visitors know Trinity Church, the classic white American Gothic church building on Second Street in downtown Ashland. They recognize the wonderful sound of our bell each Sunday calling the parish to worship. We now have a new icon that Ashland residents and visitors alike identify with Trinity and enjoy--our labyrinth. Often when I am about town I see people of all ages walking and enjoying our Labyrinth. We are so fortunate to have this unique and special place on our grounds to share. It is our gift to ourselves, to Ashland and to visitors. Labyrinths and mazes have been confused for centuries. They are very different. A maze is a game, a cognitive challenge to see how quickly you can find your way to the goal with dead ends and a confusing path. A labyrinth has no dead ends, cul-de-sacs or multiple entrances. It has one clear but circuitous path to the center. A maze is designed to make you lose your way and a labyrinth is designed to help you find your way. There are two ways to walk a labyrinth; as a solitary walking meditation or as part of a ceremony. As a solitary walking meditation a labyrinth is a flow, remembering as you prepare to enter, releasing as you walk to the center, receiving as you sit, stand or pause at the center, and resolving as you return on your path to the outside world. Trinity has a ceremonial labyrinth walk during this Advent season designed to draw people together, to find common resonance, connection and understanding. Fortunately for us, Sara Hopkins has organized this ceremonial labyrinth walk on December 14th. This year it celebrates the Mexican Advent tradition of Los Posadas. The details of this ceremonial walk are contained in another article in this months Trinitarian. I urge you to enjoy the Trinity Labyrinth and this Advent celebration of Los Posadas. There are not that many full labyrinths; it is very unique that Trinity has this special outdoor place on our grounds. Use it often as a solitary meditative experience all year and enjoy the ceremonial labyrinth walk this Advent season. Peace and warmest personal wishes during this Advent season. Milt Morgan
Vicki Gardner (2012)

Greg Gonzalez

(2013)

Tom Harrington

(2013)

Carol Harvey

(2013)

Donna Ritchie

(2013)

Your Vestry meets the 2nd Wednesday of the month at the Parish Hall. Parish members are welcome to attend. Submit written proposals for Vestry action to the Rector or the Parish Clerk (Phyllis Reynolds) one week prior to the meeting.

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Trinitarian Online Edition

A SPECIAL TIME OF WELCOME!

As we continue the work of our Lord we took time in our busy schedule to stop, listen and welcome our new members on Monday, October 24th at a dinner held in their honor. On Sunday, November 13th, the parish welcomed the new members officially. Trinity is blessed to have these wonderful members of the All Saints Class of 2011 join our church family. They are: Kathryn Cogswell, Judi Honor, Robin Hughes, and Wendy & Dave Tracy. Please take some time to get to know our new members as they travel their spiritual journey with us. - Trinity Newcomers Committee

Vestry Highlights
Nov. 2, 2011 Re good news on expenses, the costs for the rector search have proven to be far less than expected. Some expenses will still accrue related to office furnishings and vestments, but moving expenses will not have to be paid by Trinity as that is handled by Fr Tonys former employer, the Department of State. Also related to expenses, kudos were given to Junior Warden Milt for work done last year that has led to $1000 less expenditure for utilities so far this year. The Vestry took an initial look at a draft of the 2012 budget. Pledging is excellent with a few changes in spending expected for the new year. Discussion led to suggestions and questions in the continuing effort to balance needs for the future with cost-cutting measures; these ideas will go to the Finance Committee for consideration, with the final budget due for Vestry approval at the December meeting. Approval was given for payment of fees for SAFE church classes. These classes are a Diocese requirement for all staff and volunteers who work in the church setting. Two of the three classesPreventing Sexual Exploitation and Preventing Sexual Harassmentwere recently held at Trinity on October 29. It was a full house in the Parish Hall with a total of 29 taking one or both of the classes, many from Trinity as well as from other local churches. Money for an upgrade of the church sprinkler system was approved. This is a fire department requirement with the system inspected on a regular basis. Current cost includes replacement of a sprinkler head and 55 gallons of new anti-freeze to keep pipes from freezing. A report re the Transition Team clarified they already have carefully laid out plans to help Fr Tonys arrival be a smooth one, with detailed church information sent to him ahead, initial housing, plans for his first Trinity Sunday service January 1, and special welcoming events. The Vestry applauded Mindy for her intrepid leadership during the rector search. Discussion centered on a reprise of the search, especially the number of people involved over the past year, from the 100 or so parishioners who participated in the initial discernment meetings last February to the profile team, the search committee itself, and the Vestry. The date for Trinitys Annual meeting was set for February 12, 2012. - Phyllis Reynolds, Clerk of Vestry

Kathryn Cogswell Judi Honor (husband Chris) Robin Hughes (husband Mike Vanderford) Wendy & Dave Tracy

This is the online PDF version of The Trinitarian. Personal contact information has been edited out of this version. If you have any questions or need to contact someone in regards to an article, please call the Parish Office at 482-2656.

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS
The Ten Months Ending October 31, 2011 INCOME EXPENSES Budget this year $$201,266 $207,050 Actual this year 205,358 173,437 Actual last year 209,573 195,761 Financial Reports are posted monthly on the Vestry Bulletin Board in the Parish Library. Jim Littlefield

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Trinitarian Online Edition

Friendship Dinners.
Its time to sign up for Friendship Dinners for 2012. Signups are in November and December for 2012. A group of 8 or 9 get together 4-5 times during the year, January to December, to have a good time and get to know each other. It can be a dinner, brunch, picnic, restaurant outing, a game of cards or bowling or anything that group would like to do. You have the whole year to get together; at the end of the year the group disbands and new ones are formed. For information call Ruedi & Emilie Vest, 541-535-2190, sign up in the parish hall or email Ruedi.

Have you seen our Healing Hands Quilts?

The day after my hip replacement surgery, members of our Search Team visited me in my hospital room. As they passed my bed, they lovingly spread over me the maroon and green quilt splashed from corner to corner with rainbow-colored hand prints ranging in size from toddlers to adults, each cut from brightly patterned material, and stitched with fingers interlaced-- a work of healing art and prayer. Healing because those handprints were and are the actual handprints of people in our parish (and there were too many for one quilt, so we are graced with two quilts) lovingly traced, matched with material, and then carefully stitched on by Maggie McCartney, who spent time each day for several months doing this complicated work. When I asked Maggie about the process of creating the quilts, she said Rev. Anne first talked about seeing them used in another parish, and her longing for one at Trinity translated quickly into SWAT taking on this creative task. About four years ago, the quilts were dedicated and blessed by our congregation, and their healing ministry begun. Virtually every person who came into my room, whether nurses, or the person cleaning the room or bringing in my lunch tray---everyone paused and asked about this quilt. So I could explain the healing hands of my parish covering me with love and prayers, talk about the SWAT Team, under whose auspices it was created, and my visitor could take in the beauty and love and promise of healing that the quilt evokes. It felt like a holy moment, a moment of dropping down into Gods love made concrete. And I began to feel that our two quilts should always be out and about with persons in our parish rather than folded neatly in the Ministries Office, where they often reside (I sometimes offer them to persons during spiritual direction). And that they could be offered or requested, not only by persons undergoing surgery, or facing life threatening illnesses, but also for the persons Eucharistic Ministers take communion to (they could keep it until the next visit), or for someone who is simply longing for comfort and the sense of not being alone. I kept mine for a month after surgery, placing it gently over my down comforter every night. A week before his surgery, I passed it on to David Clements who welcomed our healing hands quilt with deep gratitude and a sense of being cared for. Like me, I believe he will experience being held and covered over by the love of all of us in the parish, and by God, who loves through our hands and prayers. So, please, lets keep these quilts covering persons with love. Request one for yourself or someone else from Huberta or the Pastoral Care team, and continue the ministry of healing presence they carry. Perhaps, Maggie suggested, its time to make a new quilt with the hands of parishioners who have become a part of Trinity during the past four years. P.S. And did you know that a quilt is pictured on our Trinity Church tile located on the Peace Wall outside the Ashland Public Library? - Nancy Linton

Our 2012 Party of Parties is now in the Planning Stage!!...

Reach Out and Party! Q: Where can you go to eat, drink, be merry AND contribute to the greater good? A:Trinity Ashlands "Party of Parties" our Shrove Tuesday/Mardi Gras gala to be held February 21, 2012. Music starts at 5:30 p.m. Come to the Party of Parties, and sign up for some of the many smaller parties that follow. But!!... Now, during the closing weeks of 2011, we're mainly looking for those of you who can host one of 2012's parties. That's right, its now time to develop the 2012 season line-up of those many fun and fund-raising parties that we hold throughout the year. These parties contribute to Trinitys Outreach--a program with many wonderful ways of sharing our bounty with those who are less fortunate than us. Many of you have held parties before, sometimes for several years in a row. Others of you have great ideas for your own new party: Gourmet dinners, Bar-B-Qs, wine-andcheese get-togethers, history walking/driving tours, game nights, hikes with lunches provided, you-name-it Jeff LaLande is taking the lead in organizing this coming years party calendar. If you're willing to host a party, please let Jeff know the party's theme, the number of people your party can accommodate, and any particulars that might be important in scheduling the event. (If you can pick/suggest a date, time, and place for your party, that'll be good too.) Jeffs email is jmaxlalande@gmail.com. His phone number is 541-482-0711. Linda Wilson will be coordinating the Shrove Tuesday/ Mardi Gras Party of Parties (with its pancake supper and live music). She's looking for your contribution of items for the silent and live auctions. She can be reached at lindalorna@gmail.com. Her phone is 541-708-0189. Lets everyone get involved this year. Its all to the good!

Trinitarian Online Edition

Trinitarian Online Edition

Highlights from Diocesan Convention

Trinitys Convention Delegates Anne McCollum, Carol Harvey, James Johnson, and Kathy Griffin attended the 123rd Convention of the Diocese of Oregon on November 10-12 in Salem. They were among the 290 delegates in attendance: 110 clergy and 180 lay. Along with lots of healthy human interaction and excellent exhibits from all over the diocese, the Convention conducted numerous items of business, including elections, reports, debating and passing several resolutions, and approval of the 2012 budget for the Diocese. Convention elected one clergy and one lay member to the Standing Committee for four year terms. James Johnson was elected as the lay member. This eight member body (four clergy, four lay) serve as an advisory body to the Bishop. Also elected by Convention were one clergy and one lay member each to the Board of Trustees, and two clergy and two lay members each to Diocesan Council, all for three year terms. (An additional clergy was elected to finish the one year remaining on a vacated Council clergy position). The Board of Trustees manage the property and assets of the Diocese, and Council oversees mission, ministry, and budget for the Diocese. Council is composed of these elected atlarge positions for three years as well as Convocation representatives (which are delegates). Bishop Michael made a number of appointments, including Trinitys former rector, the Rev. Anne Bartlett, to the Disciplinary Board. Convention resolved (i.e. passed) several proposals. The first changed the due date for Parochial Reports to give congregations an additional month. The second resolution is to continue to offer both medical and dental insurance to employees in the Diocese. In compliance with General Convention, this included any employee of 20 hours a week or more, but General Convention only addressed medical coverage. It has been the tradition of the Dioceses of Oregon to offer both medical and dental. A third resolution encouraged the congregations in the Diocese to include Thomas Fielding Scott on the liturgical calendar on or about July 14th. Scott was the first Missionary Bishop of Oregon, elected in 1853 at General Convention. There were four late resolutions proposed at Convention. The first encouraged a standard of practice for Eucharistic Ministers when a communicant crosses their arms. The response by EMs varies from congregation to congregation, and offering wine to a communicant in recovery is uncomfortable for them at best. The second late resolution brings the Diocesan policy on alcohol served at parish-sponsored events up to date with current state law. The other two late resolutions were essentially recommendations for General Convention. The third late resolution petitions General Convention to adopt the resolution Pursuing a Just Peace in the Palistinian/Israeli Conflict. The four supported the continued work of the Standing Commission on the Structure of the Church to develop recommendations for reorganizing The Episcopal Church for the 21st century. There were numerous reports, including that of the Board of Trustees, who shared the many grants and loans they had made to requesting congregations, all totaling around $400,000 of support by the Diocese to congregations. The 2012 budget was presented to Convention. Aside from one clarifying question, it was approved without debate or changes. Most of the discussion of the budget takes place by delegate during several Convocation Councils throughout the year . Delegates dont just do stuff one weekend a year, but meet about three times a year in regional Convocation Councils to discuss budget drafts and provide feedback and input to Diocesan Council. John Dally, author of Choosing the Kingdom and professor of Christian Communications at SeaburyWestern, talked about the Reign of God in American Society. In his address to the convention, Bishop Michael Hanley urged Oregon Episcopalians to proclaim the reign of God while living gospel lives. To help individuals and congregations to take actions that insure that this happens as a diocese, the bishop outlined a new mission plan, based on a 2008 vision plan and the 2009-2010 bishop search material. This plan presents four strategic directions: Congregational Life, Mission Development, Missional Leadership, and Gospel Justice. For more detailed information on the Resolutions and to read Bishop Michaels address to the Convention, please visit the Diocesan website at http://www.episcopaldioceseoregon.org and click on Convention 2011. If you dont have access to the Internet, please find one of your delegates and we would be happy to answer your questions. Kathy Griffin & James Johnson

The text of the various resolutions, and their accompanying explanations, can be found on the Diocese website at http://www.episcopaldioceseoregon.org/node/74

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Trinitarian Online Edition

Trinity Episcopal Church 44 North Second Street Ashland, Oregon 97520

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the Trinitarian December 2011

Trinity worship Sunday Mornings 8:00 AM, Holy Eucharist, Rite II 10:00 AM, Holy Eucharist, Rite II with Choir Godly Play
10:00 - 11:30 AM, Infant care

The trinity vision To be the Episcopal presence in Ashland, welcoming all who seek Christ in a parish family, where all of Gods children can find, celebrate, and grow in Gods grace.

Sunday Evenings 5:00pm Dec: 4 Contemplative Eucharist December 11 and 25: Evening Prayer Thursdays 12:00 PM Holy Eucharist with Healing Christmas Eve 4:00 pm Family Eucharist 6:00 pm Holy Eucharist w/ Carols 10:30 pm Christmas Music 11:00 pm Festal Choral Eucharist

Trinity Office Hours Monday Thursday, 8:30a 3:00p Friday, 8:30 12:30p (541) 482-2656
Trinity Episcopal Church, 44 North Second Street, Ashland OR 97520 publishes The Trinitarian monthly. James Johnson and Ann Magill, Editors. Submit articles to office@trinitychurchashland.org at the church office by the 20th of the month. For more information, visit Trinity Episcopal Churchs website at www.trinitychurchashland.org.

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