The Trinity Bell Volume 14, Issue 3 Newsletter of Trinity Episcopal Church May/June 2016 The vision of Trinity Church is to be relevant to the Lake Region Community serving and drawing others to the gospel of Jesus Christ as a growing Episcopal Church. A Word from Father Tony New Era of Growth In Our Diocese There’s much in the News about the demise of Christianity in the West, the rise of secularism in the U.S.A., the shrinking numbers in our Churches, (not just Episcopali- ans!) With aging congregations and a lack of youth and young families, many priests and laity alike are asking whether we are indeed a dying denomination. Not in the Diocese of Florida! While we certainly face difficult challenges, our Bishop, clergy and laity are committed to strengthening and growing congregations! In a very recent communiqué to the clergy, Bishop Howard writes, “I am excited by the possibility of real growth – spiritu- ally and numerically – and I am hopeful that the Spirit of God will lead us to find new ways to work together. The process will begin at the grassroots in our Diocese, as we talk and visit. As I said at convention, this initia- tive for growth belongs to all of us together and not to just a few. Our aim is to ensure that we achieve a model of "being Church" which will carry us into a new era for our Diocese.” To that end, the Bishop and the Diocese are committing resources for education, training and empowering con- gregations to take the steps necessary to achieve the goal to grow our churches, both “spiritually and numeri- cally.” What we need at Trinity are new and brave ideas to make ourselves known in the community and open our doors wide through programs that make a differ- ence. I invite you to stay in touch with the many offerings of the Diocese and support Trinity as we seek new oppor- tunities to reach out and “be church” in our community. Please keep Trinity, her staff and Vestry in your prayers and ask God what you can do to continue to make Trinity more inviting. Help us to fulfill our dreams to be a dynam- ic, sustainable church; focused on the loving God we know through Jesus, dedicated to loving others as he first loved us. May we be leaders in this new era of growth in our Diocese. Warmly, Tony+ The Next First Sunday is: May 1, 2016 One Service at 10:00am Potluck Lunch will follow the service. On May 15, 2016 The Bishop will be here and it’s the Day of Pentecost One Service at 10:00am Lunch will follow the service. BISHOP HOWARD WILL BE WITH US The Bishop is the only one who can, with the laying on of hands, confirm members. Bishop Howard will be with us on Sunday, May 15th, which is also the Day of Pentecost (wear some red clothes) and there will be only one service that day at 10:00am. If you are interested in being Confirmed, Affirming your baptismal vows, or being received into the Episcopal Church (if you are coming from another denomination) please talk with Father Tony. He has started an Inquirer’s class (it’s not too late to join) between the services so eve- ryone will be ready when the Bishop is here in May. There is a book, “Those Episcopals” that goes along with the class and Fr. Tony will see that you receive one.
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The
Trinity Bell Volume 14, Issue 3 Newsletter of Trinity Episcopal Church May/June 2016
The vision of Trinity Church is to be relevant to the Lake Region Community serving and drawing others to the gospel of Jesus Christ as a growing Episcopal Church.
A Word from Father Tony
New Era of Growth In Our Diocese
There’s much in the News about the
demise of Christianity in the West, the
rise of secularism in the U.S.A., the
shrinking numbers in our Churches, (not just Episcopali-
ans!) With aging congregations and a lack of youth and
young families, many priests and laity alike are asking
whether we are indeed a dying denomination.
Not in the Diocese of Florida! While we certainly face
difficult challenges, our Bishop, clergy and laity are
committed to strengthening and growing congregations!
In a very recent communiqué to the clergy, Bishop
Howard writes,
“I am excited by the possibility of real growth – spiritu-
ally and numerically – and I am hopeful that the Spirit
of God will lead us to find new ways to work together.
The process will begin at the grassroots in our Diocese,
as we talk and visit. As I said at convention, this initia-
tive for growth belongs to all of us together and not to
just a few. Our aim is to ensure that we achieve a model
of "being Church" which will carry us into a new era for
our Diocese.”
To that end, the Bishop and the Diocese are committing
resources for education, training and empowering con-
gregations to take the steps necessary to achieve the
goal to grow our churches, both “spiritually and numeri-
cally.” What we need at Trinity are new and brave ideas
to make ourselves known in the community and open
our doors wide through programs that make a differ-
ence.
I invite you to stay in touch with the many offerings of
the Diocese and support Trinity as we seek new oppor-
tunities to reach out and “be church” in our community.
Please keep Trinity, her staff and Vestry in your prayers
and ask God what you can do to continue to make Trinity
more inviting. Help us to fulfill our dreams to be a dynam-
ic, sustainable church; focused on the loving God we know
through Jesus, dedicated to loving others as he first loved
us. May we be leaders in this new era of growth in our
Diocese.
Warmly, Tony+
The Next First Sunday is:
May 1, 2016
One Service at 10:00am
Potluck Lunch will follow the service.
On May 15, 2016
The Bishop will be here and it’s the
Day of Pentecost
One Service at 10:00am
Lunch will follow the service.
BISHOP HOWARD WILL
BE WITH US
The Bishop is the only one who can,
with the laying on of hands, confirm
members. Bishop Howard will be with
us on Sunday, May 15th, which is also
the Day of Pentecost (wear some red clothes) and there
will be only one service that day at 10:00am.
If you are interested in being Confirmed, Affirming your
baptismal vows, or being received into the Episcopal
Church (if you are coming from another denomination)
please talk with Father Tony. He has started an Inquirer’s
class (it’s not too late to join) between the services so eve-
ryone will be ready when the Bishop is here in May. There
is a book, “Those Episcopals” that goes along with the