WELCOME BACK!

Lilian Revel, our Associate for Pastoral Care and Spiritual Formation, is back with us after a sabbatical of three months. She is ready with new energy to focus on the needs of our parishioners. Don’t hesitate to call Lilian if you need a visit or phone call and wish to talk to someone about what’s going on in your life, both the difficult aspects as well as the joyous ones, and the spiritual questions you may have. Lilian will offer you a listening ear, will pray with you, and bring communion. Tel. 203 858 1243. Email: lrevel@trinitynewhaven.org or pastoralcare@trinitynewhaven.org.  

IRIS stands with Afghan families. We’re currently welcoming evacuated Afghan families and are ready on 24-hour notice to receive as many as needed.

HOW YOU CAN HELP:

ADVOCATE: with elected officials to rescue refugees. We must not leave our allies behind.

DONATE: defray costs of essentials upon arrival and emergent costs.

JOIN: a local community group in towns around the state and work with IRIS to welcome families in your community. Email: amakar@irisct.org.

COLLECT: backpacks, school supplies, winter coats and waterproof winter boots. Our storage is limited but please hold for 30 days and email info@irisct.org to coordinate a drop-off.

Trinity is very proud to announce that our very own Akkila Campbell has been awarded the 2021 Justina O. Anako Memorial Scholarship, established this year for women of color embarking upon studies in a STEM field! Chineye Anako joined us to award the scholarship to Akkila, who was joined by her mother, Anniebell. Congratulations Akkila! We can't wait to see what you'll do in your studies and beyond!

Left to right, Rev. Luk De Volder, Chineye Anako, Akkila Campbell, and Anniebell Campbell.

With the COVID-19 virus persisting through its variants, we still face uncertainty about the restoration of regular activities. For that reason we will continue our current Sunday service schedule this fall, with an 8:00 AM Eucharist (Rite 1), a 10:00 AM Eucharist (Rite 2), and 2:00 PM Chapel on the Green, along with the addition of a collaborative 5:00 PM service with the Episcopal Church at Yale.

Even so, we are excited to announce that this fall, we will resume choral singing on Sundays, including congregational singing. After a conversation including medical doctors and church leadership, we feel reassured that singing at church remains a relatively safe activity for anyone who is vaccinated and masked. Of course, there is always some risk involved, so vaccination and masks will continue to be essential protection measures. This means that our choirs will soon be able to return to church (starting Sunday, September 19) and that we all can resume singing during the church service (starting Sunday, August 29th).

Our 10:00 AM service will remain accessible through YouTube streaming. In case you may have concerns about safety or personal health, you can stay connected with our Trinity community by watching our 10:00 AM service on YouTube. Our Wednesday 12:10 PM Eucharist is another opportunity to attend church in-person with greater safety measures, as there will be no congregational singing at this small midweek gathering.

We are taking these steps in the hopes of providing clarity to our parishioners for the coming months, but, as we have experienced over the last 17 months, we are not sure what the future might bring. What we do know is that vaccines for children younger than 12 are on their way. Once younger choristers will have access to vaccination, we may be able to re-evaluate or restore our regular service schedule. Stay tuned.

Lastly, we look forward to welcoming the Episcopal Church at Yale (ECY) to worship in our building at 5 PM on Sundays, throughout the fall semester. ECY will mirror whatever safety measures we take at Trinity throughout the changing course of the pandemic. Since ECY has struggled to find a worship venue due to Yale University’s guidelines about staff affiliation, we are glad to be able to extend this hospitality to our partners in ministry.

The Rev. Luk De Volder, Rector

The Rev. Heidi Thorsen, Associate Rector

Fall Sunday Service Schedule:

8:00AM: Holy Eucharist (Rite 1), with one hymn sung by a cantor

9:00AM: Sunday School

10:00AM: Choral Holy Eucharist (Rite 2)

2:00pm: Chapel on the Green (Outdoors)

5:00pm: Episcopal Church at Yale Eucharist (with occasional joint services with Trinity, to be announced)

PAIGE NELSON TO LEAVE TRINITY

Paige Nelson, our Children, Youth and family Minister will be leaving Trinity this summer. She has done an amazing job during this pandemic. Through her ministry at Trinity she built a strong connection with many children and families in our parish, for which we are very grateful. It is hard to say goodbye, and these transitions are never easy.

In recognition of Paige's ministry, we are opening a "purse" to collect donations. Please send your donation to our parish office with the memo reference: "Paige Nelson". Thank you very much, Paige, for all you have brought to our community.

WELCOME TO OUR NEW CHILDREN, YOUTH AND FAMILY MINISTER: ANGELA ARPINO

We are excited to welcome our new Children, Youth and Family Minister, Angela Arpino. After working in corporate publishing for many years, Angela felt called to ministry when asked to become the Director of Faith Formation for a church West Haven. There, she led hundreds of children and families in sacramental preparation, faith-growing experiences, and Bible Study. Later, at a church in Oxford, CT, she led learners of all ages in an intergenerational, family-focused model of faith formation featuring a meal, lessons, and outreach efforts. She has a certificate in Faith Formation from Fordham University and has graduated from the 4-year Catholic Biblical School, where she remains an occasional instructor. Angela and her husband Rob live in West Haven, just a couple of blocks from the beach. She enjoys gardening, practicing yoga, walking their dog Zuzu, and volunteering.

Message from Angela

Hello to the Families of Trinity Church on the Green:

I am Angela Arpino and extremely blessed to be part of the team here guiding you on your faith journeys. As the Children’s, Youth, and Families Minister, I recognize that each member of your family is on an individual – and lifelong -- path to God’s loving presence. I pray that my enthusiasm for Scripture, experience in faith sharing with families, and the working of the Holy Spirit helps us along the way!

Over the years, I have worked with hundreds of families and the children in them. As a matter of fact, I first started sharing Jesus’ lessons with children decades ago, shortly after graduating from Southern Connecticut State University and beginning my corporate career as a journalist and page designer. I’ve enjoyed just about every job I’ve had but the one I first felt “called” to was that of Director of Faith Formation for my church in West Haven. There, I worked with many families and volunteers, working to creatively bring Jesus to life in our modern world.

After 13 years there, I explored – and fell in love with – the family/intergenerational model of faith formation. The volunteers and I implemented fun and easy activities and liturgical events to help parents and children build strong foundations of faith and prayer. I’m so looking forward to doing that with you, too.

Be it Vacation Bible Camp for little ones, prayer services and mission trips with our teens, or bible study with you and other parents, I can’t wait to get going! I know you’ll be patient with me as I learn more about Trinity, the activities and ministry work you enjoy, and each family, as well.

Please come up and introduce yourselves to me on Saturday, Aug. 29, at our Back-To-School Blessing for Children and Educators (Edgerton Park, 9 AM). Your friends, neighbors, and relatives are invited, too!

Praying for your safe travels and the launch of a new and healthy school year in the upcoming weeks,

Angela Arpino

Children, Youth & Families Minister

Support to Haiti through the Episcopal Relief and Development Fund

A devastating earthquake struck Haiti on Saturday, August 14, 2021, with a 7.2 magnitude Nearly 2,000 people died and more than 9,000 people were injured, according to the United Nations. The UN also said the quake impacted more than 1.2 million people. The quake destroyed buildings and infrastructure, including nearly 61,000 homes, and damaged more than 76,000 more. Thousands of families are in need of humanitarian assistance.

The Episcopal Relief and Development Fund (ERD) is ready to support 400 vulnerable households in 21 isolated communities. https://www.episcopalrelief.org/press-resources/press-releases/2021-press-releases-press-releases/supporting-partners-in-haiti-after-the-august-2021-earthquake/

Donations to the ERD Haiti fund will bring support, supply critical necessities, and help to recover. Thank you. https://support.episcopalrelief.org/haiti-relief?ID=210816DWADS0100&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=fy21haitiearthquake&utm_source=210816DWADS0100

Supporting Partners in Haiti After the August 2021 Earthquake

Episcopal Relief & Development is supporting long-term development partners in Haiti after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake struck the country on Saturday, August 14, 2021.

www.episcopalrelief.org

Trinity Celebrates Pride 2021

At Trinity, we believe that God has made us and loves us just as we are – lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer, and straight. Join us as we share Jesus’ message of radical welcome in our community, in worship and at community events.

Trinity at PRIDEfest

Saturday, September 18 from noon to 7pm

North Haven Fairgrounds (290 Washington Avenue, North Haven)

We will have a table with gifts and welcome information about Trinity and other open & affirming Episcopal communities in the greater New Haven Area. Learn more about the event here, and email Rev. Heidi if you plan on joining us - hthorsen@trinitynewhaven.org

Pride Worship Service

with the Episcopal Church at Yale

Sunday, September 19 at 5pm

Trinity Church on the Green (or join us in Prayer via our YouTube Livestream, link tba)

Join us for a joint worship service with the Episcopal Church at Yale celebrating how the incarnation of God is beautifully present in our LGBTQ+ siblings in Christ. This service will also be livestreamed; join us in prayer if you can’t join us in person!

Volunteer for International Overdose Awareness Day on August 31st

Join us on the New Haven Green to raise awareness about the overdose epidemic from 12-6pm on Tuesday, August 31st. We will be hosting a memorial display as well as other activities on Trinity's apron, and we need volunteers! If you would like to volunteer, please contact Christy Stang at cotg@trinitynewhaven.org. Click here for a flyer in English or here for a flyer in Spanish.

Trinity Welcomes A New Organ Scholar

A warm welcome to NICO TJOELKER, who begins his tenure as the thirty-third Trinity Organ Scholar with the start of choir camp on August 8. Congratulations also to Manuel Piazza who assumes the post of Senior Organ Scholar this year!

Nico recently completed a Bachelor of Music in organ at Sydney Conservatorium of Music (Australia), where he studied under Philip Swanton. He graduated with First Class Honors, receiving high distinction on his thesis on the topic of early twentieth-century recordings of organ music on paper rolls. Nico previously served as organ scholar at two Sydney churches: St. Mark’s Anglican Church, where he served for one year from August 2020 - 2021, and St. Stephen’s Uniting Church, where he served from 2017 - 2021.

From October 2018 to February 2019, Nico completed a semester exchange at the Hochschule für Musik in Freiburg, Germany. In July 2018, Nico attended the Haarlem International Organ Festival in Holland, where he received instruction from renowned European organists, including Jean-Baptiste Robin, Louis Robilliard, Leo van Doeselaar, and Olivier Latry. He was selected to be one of five participants in the Lucerne Organ Masterclass, Switzerland in August 2018 under the direction of Wolfgang Sieber.

In July 2016, Nico completed the Organ Scholar Experience course at Cambridge University, UK, and performed five recitals in an international organ recital tour in the UK and the Netherlands. In July 2017, Nico toured the historical organs of Europe with the Sydney Conservatorium organ department. He played for the Australia and New Zealand College of Organists Academy recital in Napier, New Zealand in 2018, and was the guest organist for the New South Wales Youth Orchestra’s inaugural concert in 2015. He was awarded first prize in the 2013 Sydney Organ Competition – Intermediate Section, and first prize in the 2016 Sydney Organ Competition – Open Section.

In addition to organ, Nico enjoys reading, jazz, bushwalking, learning German, and learning computer programming. He looks forward to commencing a Master of Music in organ at Yale in September 2021, where he will learn from Martin Jean.

Constance Cahill, member of the Pastoral Care Committee, is coordinating a new GRANDPARENTS fellowship group at Trinity. The group will meet to talk about the joys and challenges of being a grandparent these days. The schedule, whether ad hoc or regular, will be set based on interest. If you are interested, please send Constance an email with your thoughts using the form below.

Announcing the Justina O. Anako Memorial Scholarship

We are very pleased to announce the creation of a scholarship for young women of color bound for STEM fields. See the link below for application details and additional criteria. Applications are due July 1st.

The Justina O. Anako Memorial Scholarship is in honor of the matriarch of the Anako family, whose family have been long-time members of Trinity Church on the Green since they emigrated to New Haven, CT in 2000 from Lagos, Nigeria. Mrs. Anako lost her 3-year battle to colon cancer on April 8, 2016.

Born on November 17, 1952 and raised in Nigeria during the Biafra war, Justina, at the young age of 15, supported her family by walking for days to find food and water during the famine caused by the war. Her faith and courage in God are what guided her during those unprecedented times. In 1970, she had the opportunity to attend Pratt University in New York City and pursued a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics. It was during that time that she found her real passion in fashion design. Although she graduated with her bachelor’s in nutrition, she made a career as a businesswoman designing West African attire for merchants across the world.

As a Christian, part of Justina’s work involved giving back to the communities she served. She was a long-standing member of St. Savior’s church in Lagos, Nigeria and served on the Women Guild Association. Throughout her life, she was a dedicated daughter, wife and mother, who instilled the importance of hard work and education in her 5 daughters.

The Justina O. Anako Memorial Scholarship will help our country’s next generation of STEM students reach their goals.

Crafters rejoice! Trinity’s ministry of making, the Wednesday Club, will resume its weekly meetings in the Trinity Undercroft from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. starting Wednesday, June 9th. Sewers, knitters, and crafters of all stripes are always welcome!

Young Adult House Church

Hosted by Young Adult Episcopalians (YAE) and the Episcopal Church at Yale (ECY)

From YAE: This summer we are hosting three House Churches for young adults (twenties & thirties) in the greater New Haven Area, sponsored by Young Adult Episcopalians (YAE) and the Episcopal Church at Yale (ECY). Each House Church starts at 5pm on a Sunday, beginning with Eucharist, and continuing with a meal. Eucharist + Dinner is on us. Bring your own beverages, and/or dessert to share!

RSVP, and we will send more details about a week prior to our gathering - including directions for ordering food (we've got you covered up to $20!) and the address for the upcoming House Church, since we'll be meeting in multiple backyards over the summer.

Link to RSVP >> tinyurl.com/nhvhousechurch

From Lilian Revel, Pastoral Care Associate:

"After five years of serving Trinity’s congregation in my capacity of Associate for Pastoral Care and Spirituality, I will be going on a sabbatical from Memorial Day (May 31) through Labor Day (September 8). I am looing forward to this break; this will be a time for renewal and self-care, a time to enjoy my family, nurture some friendships, commune with nature; a time to grow spiritually and pursue some long-harbored ideas and projects.

Most of the activities I have been facilitating will also take a break for the summer. I hope to be back in September, fully refreshed and with new energy and ideas.

During my absence I will continue to receive emails but will not reply to them immediately. If you require any assistance or need to speak to someone, please call the office (203 624 3101). I will keep you all close to my heart, in my thoughts and prayers.”

— Lilian Revel, Pastoral Care Associate

Re-Introducing:

Trinity Backyard Church Groups

While we are looking forward to resuming in-person church in the very near future, some of us may not be ready for that but would still like to meet with a small group of Trinity folks. Last summer we formed several Backyard Church groups that met in backyards, patios, and even at the beach! This is a great way to meet new people, renew connections, and join in fellowship with others.

These will be groups of 8-10 people, invited to meet in outdoor spaces for fellowship several times throughout the spring and summer. We hope to arrange the groups before the end of May. The guidelines below are for group meetings with adults. Meetings with children and for children have different needs and standards, which we will explore later.

We are also excited to reach out to students from the Episcopal Church at Yale (ECY) and other young adults to see if those remaining in the area this summer would like to attend gatherings and get to know Trinity parishioners in a safe and convivial environment. You may check the box on the form linked to below if you would like to invite young adults to your gatherings.

If you are interested in being a part of a “Backyard Church,” please express your interest by filling out the following form  https://forms.gle/9t51ZZzFiwwvqmoi8

Please also let us know if you are interested in hosting one of these gatherings in your outdoor space or coordinating when groups meet electronically. Consider your own vulnerability and risk level when deciding whether to join a Backyard Church Group. If you are not comfortable meeting in person at this time, we encourage you to get connected with one of the Zoom fellowship options that are already available, such as Bible Studies or the Thursday evening Prayer Service.

Backyard Church Format Suggestions

How “churchy” is backyard church? That depends on your group! We will provide a resource booklet suggesting different ways to bring faith into your group gathering – with options ranging from a simple prayer opening a time of fellowship, to a time of evening prayer or scripture reading."

The format of each group is up to the members of that group; we offer here some suggestions as a way to get started.

●      Opening Prayer – We suggest the following text as a common prayer:

○      Loving God, we ask that you would be present with us today. Be present in our conversation, be present in our laughter, be present in our silence. Help us to remember that wherever two or three are gathered together in Jesus’ name, you are in the midst of them. May this time be full of blessing, instilling deeper connection within ourselves, with one another, and with you. Amen.

●      Fellowship through Conversation

○      This doesn’t have to be specifically “religious.” We recognize that God is present in our everyday lives and connections with others.

○      Conversation Starters – we’ll provide hosts with a list of fun, meaningful questions as an option to guide conversation.

●      Closing Prayer

○      Ask if there are any specific prayer requests this evening.

○       Lift up those requests in whatever way feels best to the group. Someone can offer to pray, or this can be as simple as concluding with the words, “Thank you, God, for hearing the prayers of your people. Amen.”

Backyard Church Health and Safety

Trinity will continue to keep track of and follow CDC and State guidelines around vaccinations and mask wearing and we ask you to keep in mind the evolving state of public health as you organize or attend Backyard Church gatherings.

Preventing Gun Violence is increasingly a matter of urgency. This week The Right Reverend James E Curry, Bishop Suffragan (retired) of The Episcopal Church in Connecticut, who has been leading the Episcopal Swords to Plowshares initiative (www.episcopalct.org/news/swords-to-plowshares/) is sending us this call to action.

“Dear friends,

Too often I have stood with the families of victims of gun violence at the site of their loved ones’ death. Last Monday I stood and prayed with the mother and family of Randell Jones, Jr., a three year old who was shot and killed as he sat in the back seat of his mother’s car on the corner of Garden and Nelson Streets in Hartford on April 10. This shooting and our continued inability to stop gun violence is a heartbreaking tragedy and a national disgrace. 27 years ago, Marcelina Delgado, a seven year old sleeping in the back seat of her father’s car was shot and killed just outside her grandmother’s apartment in Hartford. 27 years ago, Marcelina’s death should have moved us to change our culture. It didn’t. We owe Marcelina and Randell a pledge to do everything we can to address the epidemic of gun violence. Enough is enough.

I need your help to get Connecticut to do more to address the crisis of urban gun violence, which disproportionately impacts communities of color. With gun homicides in Connecticut up 50% last year, there's an urgent need to put more resources into community-based violence prevention programs. These strategies have a proven record of reducing the gun violence that's taking so many young lives in Connecticut.

I just contacted Gov. Lamont and my state legislators asking them to launch the CT Initiative to Prevent Community Gun Violence. I'd be grateful if you could do the same.

The CT Initiative is a proposal by CT Against Gun Violence to establish a state-level grant-making authority tasked with funding and implementing evidence-based, community-centric, programs and strategies to reduce street-level gun violence in Connecticut’s larger urban centers. It's modeled after similar programs in other states.

Please click this link to send Gov. Lamont and your two state legislators an email asking them to make the CT Initiative a reality: http://cagv.salsalabs.org/create_community_gv_commission/index.html?sl_tc=at

Thanks for using your voice to help save lives!

Peace, Jim

The Right Reverend James E Curry
Bishop Suffragan (retired)
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut”

Gun Violence Response

All of us are deeply saddened and feeling powerless that gun violence and police shooting of African-Americans has been increasing. Let us pray for all victims and for a profound change of heart in America regarding the impact of gun violence.

O God who Remembers, we hold before you all who have died from the plague of gun violence in our land. We remember those who have taken their lives with a gun, those who have died in school shootings and mass shootings, those who have died by a gun in the course of an argument or from abuse or by accident or during the commission of a crime. We lift our voices in sorrow and frustration knowing that every life is infinitely valuable to you. Receive all who have died into the arms of your mercy, bless those who mourn with the hope of eternal life, and strengthen our hearts and our arms to bring an end to this scourge. This we pray in the name of the one who overcame the power of death, your son, Jesus Christ. Amen.

This rise of gun violence is also a call for action. Here are some places that help us get involved.

Bishop Ian's Douglas leadership in Bishops Against Gun Violence: https://bishopsagainstgunviolence.org

Episcopal Swords to Plowshares by bishop Jim Curry: https://www.episcopalct.org/news/swords-to-plowshares/

The Sandy Hook movement against Gun Violence: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org

Edited

Home | Bishops United Against Gun Violence

bishopsagainstgunviolence.org

COVID-19 FEMA Funeral Assistance Program

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought overwhelming grief to many families. FEMA is ready to help people before, during and after disasters. We are dedicated to helping ease some of the financial stress and burden caused by thevirus. FEMA is providing financial assistance for COVID-19-related funeral expenses incurred after January 20, 2020

https://episcopalrelief.app.box.com/s/047a7xjiuoscmnr7i9hnqyehcc2tm7u4 https://episcopalrelief.app.box.com/s/weh8b08xd4d8g41toalz818lljxif20a https://www.fema.gov/disasters/coronavirus/economic/funeral-assistance

From our colleagues at St. Luke’s Whalley Avenue:

”We are hosting our third 'pop-up' vaccination clinic at St. Luke's on April 22, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

We need your help to reach out to people outside our community with word of this free event. Please share the word of this pop-up clinic widely.

People can register at:

https://forms.gle/KGSKjxkLHeXVVHai6

This free vaccination clinic is open to anyone who meets current requirements for receiving the vaccine.

We don't know which vaccine will be offered - currently, the Johnson & Johnson vaccination is not available.

Please note we are not well equipped to handle changes of time or cancelations. Everything past the initial sign-up form is done by hand. Once someone has registered, we will - within 24 hours - send a confirmation email that includes your appointment time. Please do not register more than once.

We are continuing to work with the Hill Health Center and the City of New Haven Public Health Department.

This is a free vaccination. Registration closes at noon on Monday, April 19.”