In Loving Memory: Toast Balassa-Reed

Dear Trinity Community,

We write with great sadness to share the news of the death of a member of our choir community, Toast Balassa-Reed.

Toast began as a chorister 8 years ago, and was planning to continue singing in the Schola after graduating from the Chorister program this spring. They loved Latin poetry, their Hungarian roots, and the Trinity choirs. Trinity’s retired Music Director Walden Moore shares, “In addition to their musical gifts, Toast was an example of strength and resilience in their time with the Choir - we will remember them with fondness and are indeed grateful for the time they were with us.” Please keep Toast and their family in your prayers: mother Judit, father Peter, and older sister Anna.

While every loss is full of grief, we recognize that this is a particularly challenging loss as it touches many of the youngest people in our community. Know that our choir staff and pastoral care team are always available for further prayer and conversation. There will be a private prayer vigil for members of our choir community this week; we will keep the community posted about future plans for a memorial to celebrate Toast’s life.

God of hope, we come to you in shock and grief and confusion of heart, as we mourn the death of our friend and community member Toast. Help us to find peace in the knowledge of your loving mercy to all your children, and give us light to guide us out of our darkness into the assurance of your love, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Liz Hanna Comment
Clean the Green: July 26 & August 30

Join the Friends of the Green on July 26 and August 30 for Clean the Green. For these two summer dates, we’ll meet at 9 am (to beat the heat) and pick up trash to show our care for the Green and the New Haven community.

Liz HannaComment
School Supply Drive for Kenyan Students

We’re collecting school supplies for parishioners Ralph and Mary Ann Stroup’s nonprofit which serves children, schools, and libraries in Kenya. All ages are welcome to participate! We’ll collect supplies from Aug. 1 to Sept. 21 then we’ll hear what the supplies will do for Kenyan students at a future Coffee Hour. All ages welcome! Donations can be brought to church OR delivered through the Amazon Wish List:

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1N8T90YG81UVM/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2

Presented by Trinity’s Children, Youth and Family Ministry.

Liz HannaComment
Summer Pick-up Choirs

Ever wondered what it's like to be in our choir? Now's your chance to find out! Whilst our choir is on their summer break, we will be having a mixture of music to lead our worship. No sign-up is necessary, just turn up on one of the dates below and find out what its all about! Dress smart and for the hot weather; we will not be wearing choir robes. 

 Remaining dates:
August 10 & 24
September 7

We will meet at 9:30 to rehearse an easy anthem, which we will then sing during the 10:30 Eucharist.

Any questions, talking to our Director of Music, Simon Lee (slee@trinitynewhaven.org). All are welcome!

Liz HannaComment
Trinity at New Haven Pride

On September 7th, Trinity will be tabling at New Haven Pride 2025. Festivities will take place from 12-6p at Crown and Orange Street. If you’d like to join the fun, we’d love to have a big group showing off Trinity as a parish that affirms the dignity and kinship of all of God’s children. To get involved, email Bill Pagano at paganob944@hotmail.com.

Liz HannaComment
Christmas Market 2025

Proceeds go to the Trinity Organ Restoration Fund.

2025 Market Dates

Thursday November 20: Preview Party, $30, 6:00–8:00 pm

Friday November 21: 12:00 pm–6:00 pm

Saturday November 22: 10:00 am–5:00 pm

Sunday, November 23: 9:00 am–1:00 pm

 

Tag Sale: please start collecting items to donate to our great tag sale section. Donation drop-off dates:

Saturday September 27: 10 am–noon

Saturday October 25: 10 am–noon

Any Wednesday in October: 9:30 am–noon

 

Clean out your jewelry box and bring in your donations.

 

Contact leighcromey@gmail.com for more information/questions.


Liz HannaComment
The Oxford Family Welcomes Naomi!

Last Sunday evening, Rev. Heidi Thorsen and Will Oxford welcomed a new member to their family, Naomi Dean Oxford! Heidi, Will, and Selma are beyond happy. We give thanks to God for the gift of life and the love that Naomi will share with her family. Please continue to pray for them as they settle into a new routine of love and kisses. Rev. Heidi will be on maternity leave through the first Sunday of August.

Augie SeggerComment
Adult Education: Faith & Gender

Starting this Sunday, May 4, Rev. Charles Lemert will lead a three-part seminar exploring the place of gender in faith. Each of the writers studied were women of faith who made important cultural and political contributions to American society. The seminars will consist of an introduction followed by discussion. Handouts will be provided, and longer readings can be requested—email lemertcharles@gmail.com.

Schedule:

May 4 – Anna Julia Cooper, "The Colored Woman's Office"

May 11 – bell hooks, "All About Love"

May 18 – Fannie Lou Hammer, "I'm Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired"

Each session takes place at 9:30 a.m. in the undercroft library.

Augie SeggerComment
This Sunday: Family Worship & Beartastic Bake Sale

The Rev. Cecil Tengatenga, parishioner and father to Shami and Sekai, will lead our monthly Family Worship Service in the undercroft this Sunday. Join us at 10:35 a.m. for this shorter celebration of the Eucharist where our children are musicians, readers, and gift bearers.

Following the 10:30 service, our Spirit Quest Youth Group will be holding their Beartastic Bake Sale. Support the efforts of our young parishioners by purchasing an item or two! Thank you to all the parishioners who shared their baking talents with us. Cash only donations.

Augie SeggerComment
Notice of Rector's Sabbatical

This summer, our Rector, Rev. Luk De Volder, will be on sabbatical from June 16 through October 10. During this professional leave a group of clergy will cover our normal rhythm of Sunday services. The Rev. Peter Sipple, our Priest Associate, will lead our Sunday worship on many Sundays. Also, Rev. Ellen Tillotson, former Associate Rector at Trinity, and her husband Rev. Bill Cavanaugh will be joining us for several Sundays. All in all, between Rev. Heidi Thorson's maternity leave and Luk's sabbatical, there will only be six Sundays during which our regular clergy are not present (Heidi will return to work on the first Sunday of August).

Our Community Care Minister, Lisa Levy, will be present to cover any pastoral calls or coordinate funerals if they occur. To contact the office, Kyle Picha, our Office Manager, and Liz Hanna, our Administrative Administrator, will be present. All three of them will be able to connect you with clergy if need be. 

During his sabbatical Luk will take some time to write, follow an executive management course, participate in a practical theology course, spend time with family and friends, and with the Lord for spiritual deepening. In case of emergency, the wardens and the Trinity staff will be able to get a hold of him. 

Sabbaticals are recommended for clergy formation and ministry refreshment at least every five years. Details of clergy sabbaticals are processed with the Wardens, the Vestry, and the Bishop. 

Augie SeggerComment
Trinity Book Group: The Moffats

The Trinity Book Group is meeting at the home of Carolyn Gould in North Haven, on Monday, May 12, at 4:00 p.m. (address provided upon RSVP). We will be discussing The Moffats (or any in that series), a children’s book first published in 1941 by Eleanor Estes (the mother of Helena, one of our members). It tells the story of four young children and their mother who grow up in a small town in Connecticut.

If you would like to join us, or to learn more about the book group, please contact Jenny Briggs. jenniferobriggs@gmail.com

Augie SeggerComment
Bakers Needed to Help Spirit Quest

Our Spirit Quest Youth Group is asking parishioners to help them raise funds for the Beardsley Park Zoo by baking items to sell at their Beartastic Bake Sale. Items are needed by Saturday, April 26 so they can be packaged and sold on Sunday, April 27. The proceeds will help take care of the animals. Coming up in May, Questers will be doing some spring cleaning at the zoo as a service project. Can you bake? If you can, contact Angela. family@trinitynewhaven.org

Augie SeggerComment
Earth Day Clean Up 2025

The City of New Haven Earth Day Community Clean Up takes place on Saturday, April 19 and Saturday, April 26 at various locations. For the complete list of locations and times and to sign up, please click HERE.

Augie SeggerComment
Easter Memorials

At Trinity, we list the names of departed loved ones in our Easter bulletin each year. Memorial contributions may be made in their name to support the special offerings of music and flowers at Trinity's Easter services. 

If you'd like to memorialize a loved one, please follow these steps:

  1. Submit the names of those you'd like remembered in the bulletin using THIS FORM.

  2. Make a memorial contribution by sending a check to the Trinity office with "Easter Memorial-Flowers" or "Easter Memorial- Music" in the memo line or by using this REALM GIVING FORM.

Memorials must be submitted by Thursday, April 17 at 5 p.m.

Augie SeggerComment
An Invitation from the Yale ISM

On Palm Sunday (April 13), at 7:30 p.m. at Christ Church New Haven (84 Broadway), Yale ISM students Rachel Segman, Augie Segger, Eliana Barwinski, Mahima Kumara, and Alex Whittington will present James MacMillan's monumental Seven Last Words from the Cross. This work will be performed by an ensemble of local singers and instrumentalists from Yale and the greater New Haven community. Simon Lee, Kyle Picha, and Sarah Reed are members of the ensemble!

"Widely admired as one of MacMillan's finest achievements, his Seven Last Words promises an absorbing and moving experience in concert for performers and audience alike. This cantata follows Christ's final utterances at the crucifixion, meditating on each to form a dramatic and emotional sequence. This is rightly regarded as MacMillan's masterpiece. It is not easy—none of MacMillan's music really is—but what riches there are for those who scale those heights. MacMillan's conviction in this music, stemming from his deep faith, is passionately obvious and could not leave anyone unmoved by this experience." —Paul Spicer

Augie SeggerComment
Food Bank Donations

Food banks are facing reduced supplies and increased strain due to a recent $1 billion in federal funding cuts and pauses by the USDA, impacting programs like the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and local food purchasing initiatives.

Milford Senior Center Food Bank—serving seniors, community families, and the unhoused. DONATE HERE

Loaves and Fishes—a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides food, clothing, and access to services that meet our neighbors' basic needs. All donations to Loaves and Fishes are tax-deductible. DONATE HERE

Augie SeggerComment
Gone But Not Forgotten: A Fundraiser to Memorialize the Tritton Family

Following our March 9 Service of Lamentation and Healing telling the stories of Lucy & Lois Tritton, we invite members of Trinity and the wider community to donate money towards a grave marker at the unmarked resting place of Lois and her grandson Frederick, at Blake Street Cemetery, to memorialize their important place in New Haven history.

This project is a collaboration between Jill Snyder (community historian), Friends of the Green, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, and Trinity on the Green.

GIVE HERE

Augie SeggerComment