Trinity’s service schedule has traditionally shifted during the summer months to accommodate parishioner travel, staff leave, the end of the school year for choristers, and (not least!) sweltering New Haven heat.

This year, we will be trying a new service schedule in May as well. As we return to more normal conditions for worship, we’ve been exploring the shape that worship will take and listening to one another via after-church discussions. Accordingly, we will be experimenting with our service offerings to see what best fits our community’s worship preferences.

Starting May 1st, Trinity’s Sunday services will be as follows:

• 7:45 a.m. Quiet Holy Eucharist, Rite I

• 9:00 a.m. Morning Prayer, Rite I

• 10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II

We encourage feedback during this month of experimentation! If this service schedule is well-received, it may be extended, though to reiterate, we are committing only to a trial period of one month at this time.

As the CDC has updated its guidance and many have lifted the mask mandate, it seems appropriate to make mask wearing optional at church. Starting this upcoming Sunday, March 27, 2022, masks will no longer be required in order to attend our church services. Mask wearing will remain an option for anyone who chooses, and we recommend them strongly to anyone who has symptoms of a cold. In general, to everyone who feels sick, we recommend staying home and staying advantage of online access to our services as a practice of self-care and protection to others.

While we remain hopeful that our days of obligate masking are behind us, it is important to acknowledge that COVID-19 is still with us. We must remain mindful of possible surges resulting from variants or sub-variants and recognize that we may need to return to mandated mask wearing at some point in the future. For now, we will move forward into this mask-optional period as we have from the beginning, caring for one another as a community and holding sure hope in the knowledge that our community will be measured equal to the challenges presented.

Rev. Luk De Volder

As we move closer to the celebration of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we remember our loved ones who have been called back to the Lord by printing memorials of the departed and by making donations to support the continued works of the church.

Altar Guild Work Days – Join us!

The mission of the altar guild is to prepare our church space for worship – through the care of linens and candles, seasonal arrangements of greens, flowers, and palms, and more. Anyone can contribute to this important work – and we especially invite your participation (including newcomers to this ministry!) on the following workdays:

• Saturday, April 9 from 10am – noon in the church

• Saturday, April 16 from 10am – noon in the church

On April 9 we will focus on preparations for Palm Sunday, and on April 16 we will focus on preparations for Easter. Both workdays will conclude with refreshments in the undercroft. RSVP encouraged, but not necessary – email Patricia Thurston if you are interested in joining! (patriciathurston@sbcglobal.net)

Jesus' Earthly father was a carpenter and we honored St. Joseph on his special day, March 19. Several Trinity families came together to build birdhouses and learn more about the man who taught Jesus how connect pieces of wood to create something useful. The parent/child and grandparent/child teams did a terrific job!

How can people of faith walk the line between embracing diversity in our music, without appropriating other cultures and identities?

As Christians, it is part of our baptismal covenant to “persevere in resisting evil,” and to “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being.” In our current context, this includes acknowledging the sin of racism, and working to overcome it in all that we do – in our actions and service, and in our prayer and music. This panel conversation is particularly inspired by our efforts to be thoughtful about how we honor music from racial and ethnic backgrounds that extend beyond the Anglican origins of the Episcopal Church. Our hope in hosting this conversation is to be more intentional about what we sing, and how we sing it. Even as we recognize that there are no universal answers to questions about diversity and appropriation in music, we hope to listen and gain more perspective so that we can continue to sing and make music in ways that are life-giving and liberating.

Moderator:

The Rev. Canon Ranjit Mathews | Canon for Mission Advocacy, Racial Justice, & Reconciliation, the Episcopal Church in CT

Panelists:

Nathaniel Gumbs | Director of Chapel Music, Yale Divinity School, New Haven, CT
Dr. Sandra T. Montes | Dean of Chapel, Union Theological Seminary, New York, NY
Walden Moore | Director of Music, Trinity Church on the Green, New Haven, CT
Janet Yieh | Director of Music, Church of the Heavenly Rest, New York, NY

Chat Resources

Thanks so much to the dozens who participated in Intentional Diversity in Church and Choral Music: A Panel Conversation! It was really wonderful to feel your interest and enthusiasm for this good and necessary work. The energy in this discussion was infectious, and the Zoom chat quickly filled with recommendations and resources, which are compiled below for those interested in doing some homework.

HYMNALS

Mark A. Trautman (he/him/his) mentioned Glory to God a Presbyterian hymnal, and One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism a new, inclusive African American hymnal by GIA Publications, Inc.

Ed Stannard pointed to the Episcopalian hymnal Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing as an example of an existing and perhaps underutilized source of inclusive liturgical music.

Katie Burk suggested the 1619 Project, a series of articles and podcasts, that "aims to reframe the country's history by placing the consequences of slavery and the contributions of Black Americans at the very center of the United States' national narrative."

COMPOSERS & CHORAL REPERTOIRE

Janet Yieh recommended the spreadsheet Beyond Elijah Rock: The Non-Idiomatic Choral Music of Black Composers as “a working list of the non-idiomatic choral music of black composers.”

Florence Price (1887-1953) was brought up at a number of points, exemplifying a composer of color whose public profile has increased dramatically in the past few years.

Jane Meditz brought up Nathaniel Dett (1882-1943) Canadian-American Black composer, organist, pianist, choral director, and music professor, whose works may be of interest to participants.

CONSIDERING DIALECT 

On the specific topic of the use of dialect, participant Mark A. Trautman recommended A New Perspective for the Use of Dialect in African American Spirituals: History, Context, and Linguistics by Felicia Raphael Marie Barber, Foreward by Andre Thomas link, while panelist A. Nathaniel Gumbs suggested Way Over in Beulah Lan': Understanding and Performing the Negro Spiritual link.

Sunday Spark (School) starts this Sunday at 9 AM, in the Undercroft, with age-appropriate classes offered to our children and their adults. Please meet in the Undercroft by 9:00. We plan to have four Sunday Spark classes, through May, sprinkled between the special events listed on this SCHEDULE, which also appears on the Children, Youth, and Family webpage. Our Nursery is open during the 10 AM Service for children 5 and under. Contact Angela Arpino with questions, family@trinitynewhaven.org.

Volunteer at Chapel on the Green This Sunday!

This Sunday, March 20th, we need your help to make and serve sandwiches at Chapel on the Green! We will gather at 1pm in the undercroft to put together sandwiches. Trinity is providing all the supplies–all you have to do is show up! If you would like to make cookies or bring something else special for Chapel on the Green on your own, you are also welcome to do that. As always, the service will be at 2pm, lunch at 2:30, and cleanup around 3:00-3:15pm. We would love to have you with us for any part of that process. If you are interested in volunteering with us on Sunday, please contact cotg@trinitynewhaven.org. Thank you!

Holly Huff, one of Trinity’s past seminarian interns, is getting ordained! She writes:

Dear friends,

Just a brief note to let you know about my upcoming ordination to the priesthood in the Episcopal Church, to which you are warmly invited. The service will be Friday, March 25th at 5pm Mountain Time (7pm Eastern) at my parish, the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Clergy: white stoles.) If you happen to be able to attend in person, it would be my pleasure to see you there. Masking is recommended. The service will also be livestreamed on the St. Mark’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC48Rk0PmGRSq-i4wB38lWpA

I am so grateful for the ways each of you have walked with me these past years. Please remember me in your prayers etc. in the coming days. I hope you are well, well enough, hanging in there, getting through these difficult times. And may you know the joy of God's presence right in the midst of it all.

All my love,

Holly

Sacred Earth: Calling all artists

Trinity will sponsor an art exhibit titled “Sacred Earth” to celebrate the glories of the Lord’s Creation and acknowledge humankind’s responsibility as stewards of this most wondrous of gifts. The exhibit will be on display in the nave of the church from June 18 to June 26. All who are interested in displaying works should contact Bill Pagano at wpagano@nyc.rr.com.

With updated federal and local guidance on indoor mask wearing, the Trinity community can now begin to move away from mandatory masks at our indoor services.

Our services will be mask optional for all participants (clergy, parishioners, and choir members) from March 20th. It is important to remember in this time that while many of us are extremely relieved to remove our masks, many are also anxious. For some the 20th is a long wait. For others it is too soon. We encourage anyone with concerns to continue masking as suits their comfort or to avail themselves of our streamed services which will continue to be broadcast indefinitely.

Having lived with masks for two years, we've learned how useful they can be. Please wear a mask if you come down with a cold, and please do not come to church if you have any symptoms more specific to COVID, especially fever and changes in smell or taste.

Please do not hesitate to reach out to the office if we can be of help during this period of adjustment.

New Haven’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade returns this Sunday! Vibrant and exciting, this parade is a deeply beloved tradition for locals and visitors alike. In the interest of being good neighbors and ensuring no friction between our worship services and the day’s festivities, please note that:

1. Trinity’s Children’s Chapel will not meet Sunday morning.

2. Most roads along the parade route (see image) will be shut down at 11 a.m. Church Street will be shut down at 6 a.m. We have assurances that Chapel Street will be open for parishioners attending services to leave through approximately 1 p.m. We urge parishioners attending service to please ensure a timely departure from the downtown area to prevent issues with towing. While standard Sunday parking is available in principle, we also recommend that parishioners consider parking off of Chapel Street in garages or lots.

3. Chapel on the Green will meet at 11 a.m. instead of 2 p.m.

4. This week’s evening music & prayer service, a Taizé service sung by the Choir of Adults & Girls, will be conducted at 7 p.m. instead of 5 p.m.

For more information: https://stpatricksdayparade.org/

Dear Companions in Christ,

As the horrific and unjust Russian invasion of Ukraine continues, so do the inevitable repercussions of war. Over 400 civilian deaths have been reported in Ukraine. According to the United Nations Refugee Agency, more than 2 million people have fled Ukraine in the days since the invasion began. This is not the way of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.

We write to you today asking you to continue to join us in prayers for an urgent ceasefire and a withdrawal of Russian forces in Ukraine. Pray earnestly that this unwarranted act of aggression by Vladimir Putin will come to an end and that the people of Ukraine will be freed from death and destruction. The brave people of Ukraine need our support. We can, and must, avoid a World War III.

Many of you have been inquiring on additional ways we can demonstrate our support for the people of Ukraine. Below are a number of statements, prayers, and reflections from others within our church about this conflict, as well as resources and ways that we can support the Ukrainian people during this time of crisis.

Pray for the peace of Christ.

The Rt. Rev. Ian T. Douglas, Bishop Diocesan

The Rt. Rev. Laura J. Ahrens, Bishop Suffragan

Statements:

• A Message from the Very Rev. Miguelina Howell, Dean (Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford)

• Call and Prayer for Averting Conflict (Episcopal Church Executive Council)

• A Faith Vigil for Peace in Ukraine (The Episcopal Church and Friends Committee on National Legislation)

• An Interfaith Call to Peace for Ukraine (Presiding Bishop Curry and Other Interfaith Leaders)

• Statement on Russian divestment from Episcopal Church CFO Kurt Barnes

• Joint Statement from Archbishops of Canterbury and York

• Episcopal News Service Digest of Statements

Events:

• A facilitated conversation and space for prayer hosted by Christ Church Cathedral - (more information to come)

• War in Ukraine: Understanding the Religious Dimension - (St. Bart's, NY Special Tuesday Edition of The Forum Today March 8, 6 PM, Online only)

Resources and Links:

• Episcopal Relief & Development (Donation Page)

• Episcopal Relief & Development (Resources for Congregations, including bulletin inserts)

• World Central Kitchen

• Amnesty International

• UN High Commission on Refugees

• UNICEF

• Médecins Sans Frontieres/Doctors Without Borders

• Voices of Children (A Ukrainian Charitable Foundation working with children traumatized by armed conflict)

• Sunflower of Peace (Provides first aide medical tactical backpacks for paramedics and doctors on the front lines of the conflict)

• Save the Children

• CARE

• International Medical Corps

With spring on the horizon, New Haven's vibrant athletic community begins to shake off the winter torpor, and the downtown road racing season begins. Our friends at the Shamrock & Roll 5k have alerted us that their race on Sunday morning will close large portions of Whitney Avenue and Grove Street during the 9:00 hour. Please build in extra time to your Sunday trip to church, and we recommend avoiding routes that pass through the East Rock neighborhood if possible.

During the pandemic, Trinity's office mail was routed to a PO Box. Our PO Box service will expire on March 31, 2022. Please discontinue any mailing to that PO Box. Instead, please send all mail to the Chapel Street office address.

As pandemic conditions improve and staff presence in the office returns to near normal, we ask that you double check that all mail is sent to the following address:

Trinity on the Green
950 Chapel Street, Floor 2
New Haven, CT 06510

Christmas Market News

April is Jewelry Month

Clean out your jewelry box and bring your donations to Trinity.

Put it in the pink box in the Sexton’s Office.

Help us get a jump start on the Christmas Market (always the weekend before Thanksgiving, November 18 & 19, 2022)