TheTrinity Herald - Constant Contactfiles.constantcontact.com/210e6a77201/dcf692f8-272...The Trinity Parish Herald is published monthly except during July and August and is a publication

TheTrinity Herald

Trinity Episcopal Church650 Rahway Ave., Woodbridge, NJ

Tel: 732-634-7422www.trinitywoodbridge.org

January 2017

In this issue

Mother Angela............1, 2Rectory Open House......3Annual Parish Meeting.............................4Grave Clean-Up...............450/50 Winner.....................5Coffee Hour......................5Potluck Dinner..............6,7New! Men's Study Group............................................8Stewardhip.......................9SundaySchool................10St. Anne's Unit...............11DOK.................................12Diocese of NJ............13,14Bishop Curry.............15,16Food Pantry.....................17Herald Submissions.....17Images.............................18Christmas Images..........19Birthdays.........................20Calendar..........................21

Mother Angie's MusingsIt is the beginning of a new year and many people are making efforts to renew their lives in various ways. This however can be seen in contrast with the fact that we are heading into the heart of winter when days are often bleak and things appear to be dead. This seeming contradiction of beginnings in the midst of ‘deadness’ is a great metaphor for our lives as Christians in this world. We are called to proclaim the Good News that Jesus has come to redeem all of creation from sin and death, and yet we continue to live in a world that is torn and broken daily by the sinfulness of humankind. Our challenge is to have eyes that see the amazing love and work of God that is the beginning of the arrival of the Kingdom of God while walking through the ‘winter’ of sin that surrounds us. This is not an easy task nor is it something that we can accomplish on our own; like all our Christian life, we do it ‘with God’s help.’

We can be discouraged on our journey through this world not only because of the sinfulness that surrounds us, but also because we often struggle for the resources to be able to accomplish our mission in this world. It can be overwhelming to think of Jesus’ command to clothe the naked and feed the hungry simply because there are so many people in this world who are in need. How can we possibly make a difference in a problem so huge?

I know that there have been times when I have felt this way, both in regards to ministry resources and in my own financial life. I was once out of work for several months and it became very difficult not to fall into great anxiety about how I was going to pay my bills. Sometimes people would say to me: ‘God always provides’ but I had a hard time believing it because my resources kept getting smaller with no relief in sight. And yet, I am here to tell you that God did always provide what I needed (though not always what I wanted). Many times throughout that period of my life God provided through the kindness and generosity of my family, friends, and even at times through strangers. Friends and family would give me a ride some place when I did not have any gas in my car. A stranger behind me once paid the difference at the grocery store when I was a few dollars short. I also had to realize that sometimes I had to ask for the help I needed – people did not know what I did not tell them. All in all, I had a roof over my head and food in my stomach and I learned to think of the ways in which I was blessed even in my struggles and ways that I could still provide blessing to others. God taught me an important lesson about living with the outlook of abundance instead of scarcity. I still had a great deal to be grateful for and that I could use to minister to others around me.

Life as a parish is not much different at times. We have bills to be paid and we can sometimes fall victim to an outlook of scarcity. We can begin to see all the pitfalls and cliffs that are approaching because of our deficit budget and we can turn inward - scared to spend

The Trinity Parish Herald is published monthly except during July and August and is a publication of Trinity Episcopal Church 650 Rahway AvenueWoodbridge, NJ 07095732-634-7422Fax [email protected]

Publisher: Rev. Angela Cipolla

Wardens: Jane Strauss Ginny Kershaw

Editor: Gemma Murphy

Photographers: Allen E. Francis David Forsythe Gemma Murphy

Contributors Arlene Guellnitz Janet Temchus Allison Brennan

@Trinitywdbridge

Mother Angie2

any money and instead spend valuable time worrying instead of working on building the Kingdom of God. I will not sugarcoat it, Trinity has a huge deficit – as I write this, our projected deficit for 2017 is almost $40,000.

That is cause for alarm in the sense that it is not a sustainable budget and will eat into our limited reserves if left unresolved. We are in a ‘winter’ situation where everything can look bleak. However, it is not time to panic; it is time to take stock of our resources and see what God is up to in our lives and in our parish. God has blessed Trinity with an abundance of loving and passionate people who gather together to worship and work together to serve God in the world around Woodbridge and far beyond.

God will continue to provide for Trinity, but saying that does not mean that money will miraculously fall from the sky. Each of us is called to contribute to the finances of the parish so that we can continue to accomplish our mission in this world. That means that we all must take a close look at our finances and pray about our stewardship pledge. Have we made a pledge for 2017? If so, are we really giving to God’s work to the level that we are able, or are we functioning from an attitude of fear and scarcity and closing our fist tight around the money that God entrusted to us? If we are to continue to minister, we must become serious about raising the money that we need to accomplish that ministry. This is going to take a lot of hard work, dedication, and personal sacrifice on all our parts if we are to close this budget gap and work toward a sustainable future together. It is work that I am committed to doing and I ask you to join me in that commitment. It is holy work because it allows our ministry to continue to thrive and to grow.

On January 18th the Bishop and some of his staff will be coming to meet with the vestry to see how things are going at Trinity now that we are about half way through my contract. One of the important issues that will be discussed is our financial situation and our plans for the future of the parish. This will be a difficult conversation given our projected deficit, but it is one that we must have honestly and thoroughly in order to be the best stewards of the ministry that we share. The vestry and I will provide the parish with a summary of this meeting with the Bishop at the annual meeting that will be held on Sunday January 22 (snow-date of January 29).

Despite the cold and bleak days, winter is actually my favorite season of the year because it is in the cold that snow is possible. Snow is amazing in so many ways. Each snowflake is so tiny and yet when they are all put together they can transform a dreary landscape into one that shimmers and sparkles in the light. Each snowflake is also unique in its structure and beauty. Each one a testament to the inexhaustible creativity of our God. Each one of us is like a snowflake - each a unique creation of our God. Each one of us is a shining reflection of the Light of the World. And when each individual person joins together, the Light is capable of doing what a single snowflake is not, transforming the dreariness of this world.

We must remember that snow is only possible during the cold of winter and that Jesus’ resurrection was only possible because of his death. Let us seize this opportunity of our ‘winter’ and look for ways and opportunities to join together, pool our resources, and watch as God uses us to transform the world around us through Love. Will you join me in joining your resources to ours as we embark on a new year of ministry to transform the world? Let us show the Bishop how committed we are to that work by closing our budget deficit. Please contact myself or treasurer Phyllis Tory to give us or increase your pledge.

I wish you all a Blessed and Happy 2017!

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The Rectory Open Housewill be held on January 8 at 2PM

Everyone is welcome! Please come by and enjoy fellowship, great food, and a chance to get together

to unwind after the holidays!This will also be a great chance to see "in person"

all of the amazing renovations that have taken place in the past year!

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Our annual Parish meeting will be held on January 22nd at 10am (snow date Jan. 29th).

Please plan to join us for our annual meeting. There is so much to discuss that will be of great importance to our parish's future. We will also be voting on 1 Warden position as well as 3 Vestry positions. Please let Mother Angie know if you are interested in running for any of these vital positions.Please note that there will be one service on this date, at 9am. No 8am or 10am services.

If you decorated or left a wreath or blanket for the holidays at a grave in the Trinity Cemetery, it must be removed by February 1st. Wreaths, grave covers, and any holiday decorations should be removed and left by the parish hall stairs on the grass, not the dumpster. This will enable the town pick-up.

Also, since there are some who have loved ones in our cemetery who are from out of town or are elderly or disabled, we are asking those of you who can to prayerfully consider removing grave covers from neighboring graves of your loved ones as an act of kindness.

Grave Clean-Up

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Coffee Hour is an important part of our fellowship after 10am Mass

 If you agree won't you sign up for one Sunday?  Just bring something to eat and we will take care of the rest. Thank you for your anticipated help to keep this fellowship alive! 

Arlene and Janet

And The Winner Is...

David and Amparo Forsythe

Our 50/50 drawing was held on December 11th during coffee hour and the winners were Amparo and David Forsythe. David has actively been involved with the rectory restoration since the beginning so we were all so very happy that he won this 50/50. Congratulations Amparo and David! God Bless you both!

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Our Annual Christmas Potluck Dinner/ Christmas party was a great time of delicious food, great fellowship, and oh so much laughter and fun!

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Men's Study GroupBeginning in early 2017, we plan to reinstate a men's study and fellowship group. Modeled after the Brotherhood of Saint Andrew's tenets of Prayer, Study and Service, we hope to learn together, inspire each other and support each other as brothers should. Topics will vary and be taken from Scripture, relevant books or even the days headlines. Some examples might include:

A quick refresh on the four main types of prayer.What do Episcopalians do and why do we do it?The epiphanal 'duh', or, how can I recognize what was God trying to tell me anyway?Can the Letters to the Romans and Corinthians still apply to Washington D.C and New York today?How can the short letter to James get us through the day/ week / year (for those who don't care for long reads)

You get the idea men. No prior bible study experience is necessary. We are all on a journey together so the companionship is key, not our credentials. The time and length of meeting will be flexible to accommodate the schedules of anyone interested in joining the group. I will be talking to many of you over the next couple of weeks to gauge interest, but if I miss you, by all means get back to me.

Steve Kalista at [email protected] or 732-850-6117

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Stewardship

....You lack one thing: go sell what you own, and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven: then come follow me. Mark 10:17-31

Several years ago I had the privilege to serve at the Anglican Cathedral in Cape Town, South Africa. While serving on the clergy staff, I was mentored by one of my heroes, Archbishop Desmond Tutu. “The Arch” has often remarked that the spiritual life is about learning to dance to the tune of the one who makes the music (God). Picking up on the Archbishop’s metaphor, I believe that the key that God most often composes in is “The Key of G”; “G” because it is within God’s grace and generosity that we live, we move and have our being. Accordingly, if we wish to be Disciples

of Jesus Christ, we are called to live in the key of G.

Living in the key of G is what the Rich Young Man is invited to do by Jesus. He considers himself a proper and pious Jew who obeyed the law. He respectfully asks Jesus what must he must do to inherit eternal life. Jesus begins with the recitation of the Law in the form of the Ten Commandments. The Rich Man is able to say that he has kept all those since his childhood. Then Jesus lovingly perceiving the man, as only he can, focuses on the chink in this man’s discipleship – his attachment to his wealth. The man walks away grieving.

It is important to say that Jesus was not focused on the man’s wealth per se, but his attachment to that wealth. He was unwilling to let go of possessions that did not come from God’s generosity and are temporal. His wealth was not eternal, nor was it deserved fruits of labor of a self-made man. To quote Martin Marty, the highest form of idolatry is the self-made man who worships his Creator. A Christian understanding is that all that we have (our life, our freedom, our gifts, our talents and whatever measure of wealth we attain) is from the Grace of a Generous God.

Thus, we are called to respond to God’s love as a gift of grace. This grace requires us to live each day in gratitude for God’s grace and with a spirit that calls us to be generous to God and others with our time, our talent and our treasure. Our call is to put money and possessions into a right relationship with God.

That is what is I mean by living in the “Key of G”.

The Very Rev. Walter B.A. Brownridge, DeanThe Cathedral Church of St. Andrew The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii

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Allison Brennan

In December our Sunday School students had fun learning about Advent and different ways we celebrate Christmas. There will be no Sunday School on Christmas Day, New Year's Day or on Jan. 22nd. When we meet again on January 8th we will be learning about the Epiphany.

St. Anne's UnitArlene Guellnitz

We will have our next meeting on Jan 9th. This is a change due to a schedule conflict for the hall. This will be a business

meeting. It is an important meeting as we need to make some decisions for projects for the rest of the year. Refreshments will

be served. See you all on Jan 9th at 7pm

Planning ahead … On Feb 6, St Anne’s will be having an auction.

On Monday, December 5th, we had our annual Christmas celebration. We had dinner, appetizers, and desserts that were wonderful! We exchanged gifts and celebrated our relationships and friendships in a very special way.

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Dear God, Open our hearts to Your grace and love that we may realize that where we are is where You planned for us to be.

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News Briefs from the Daughters of the King Janet Temchus

"I can not do all things but I can do something. Lord what will you have me do?"

We Welcome All Parishioners To Join UsWe will be discussing the Gospel readings of the Second Sunday of each month. What does the Gospel mean to us in our daily lives? How can we live the Gospel message? When we are given the mandate to "go out to love and serve the Lord" for any particular week, what does that mean? What is expected of us? The answers to these questions and many others will be discussed at our next meeting onJanuary 8th. Please join us! All are welcome! 

Mary BaumannMary has invited everyone in the parish to come and visit her. She currently resides at Roosevelt Care Center in Old Bridge. She loves and misses everyone. So, if you are in the area or just want to to take a short drive, she would love to see you!

Dear People of the Diocese of New Jersey,While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because ther was no place for them in the inn... Luke 2:6-7Greetings! Christmas is upon us. For many, it is a time of great joy and delight. For others, it is a time of anxiety and loneliness. For all, it is a time when our Savior's coming is promised again.In the next two days, many visitors and strangers will make a point

of attending churches across our diocese. There will be all kinds of people and all kinds of reasons they are coming to church.Some are being dragged to church by other family members. Others are hurting - perhaps ill, perhaps having recently experienced the death of a loved one. Some are anxious about the future. Some long to experience a feeling of Christmas they lost long ago. All are seeking comfort, solace, communion with God and with others. They are seeking hope. They are also seeking a warm and hospitable welcome from the church they visit.I know from experience that some "regular" church folk resent visitors who only show up on Christmas and Easter. They forget Jesus' parable of the workers in the vineyard (Matthew20:1-16)Everyone who comes to church over the next two days - those who attend regularly, those attend infrequently, those who have never attended - have one yearning: to experience the birth of the living Christ into their hearts and souls and into our world.For a child has been born for us,a son given to us;authority rests upon his shoulders;and he is namedWonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6)Will they experience that birth in your church? Will they experience the light and love of Christ from you as an ambassador of Christ?I pray that all of our churches will be places of exceptional hospitality and welcome, not only this Christmas, but whenever they welcome strangers.Susan joins me in wishing you and yours a joyous and blessed Christmas filled with the wonder and love of Our Savior, Christ the Lord.With warmest wishes,

The Right Reverend William H. (Chip) Stokes, D.D.XII Bishop of New Jersey 13

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The 233rd Diocesan Convention

March 3-4, 2017Hyatt Regency Hotel, Princeton, NJ

with featured speaker Becca Stevens of

Thistle Farms

General Information is now online!

Pre-Convention hearings announced!

Resolutions now being accepted!Nominees still needed for select

positions!

Every week, we’re happy to share Good News in the Garden State with you. Our weekly newsletter features a message from Bishop Stokes and news and events from the Diocese. Additionally, we include events from our 150 churches in New Jersey and links to articles around the web with new perspectives and happenings throughout the Episcopal Church.Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Good News in the Garden State

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Episcopalians take stock of Hurricane Matthew’s damageDanger not over for Carolinians, officials sayBy Mary Frances Schjonberg | October 10, 2016 1 Comment |

A utility pole with a no-parking sign sits in a Fayetteville, North Carolina, creek after a lake burst its dam because of a deluge from Hurricane Matthew Oct.10. Photo: REUTERS/Jonathan Drake[Episcopal News Service] Episcopalians along the southeast coastal United States are assessing the damage wrought by Hurricane Matthew.

Some still cannot return to their homes because of severe damage in their communities or because rain-swollen rivers and creeks are still flooding.The storm killed more than 1,000 people in Haiti by the estimate of the Reuters news service. Officials there have begun burying people in mass graves.At least 21 have died in the U.S. – nearly half of them in North Carolina, according to the Associated Press. Most were swept away by flood waters and officials worry that the U.S. death toll may rise as impatient people drive around road barricades into swiftly moving floodwaters. Water from the torrential rains that hit eastern North Carolina over the weekend continue to swell rivers and levees and dams are threatened. Some people missing since the storm have been found but others are still missing, the news service saidEpiscopal Relief & Development said Oct. 10 that it continues to provide technical assistance to local partners in the areas affected by Hurricane Matthew, as the storm dissipates over the Atlantic Ocean. In the places most severely impacted, information gathering is hampered by downed communications lines, widespread power outages and damage to critical roads and bridges, the organization said.”“From what we are seeing so far, the damage is extensive in a number of areas and it will take a long time, even years, for many of these places to recover,” said Abagail Nelson, senior vice president for programs.Members of the Diocese of North Carolina on Oct. 10 were still trying to assess damage there, but “as of this afternoon, we don’t have reports of major damage sustained by churches within our diocese,” Director of Communications Christine McTaggart told Episcopal News Service via email. Diocesan officials had not yet heard about major damage to any church.“We’ll continue to stay in touch with churches in the areas hardest hit until rivers have finished rising and the danger of additional flooding has passed,” she wrote.Diocese of East Carolina Bishop Robert Skirving and the Rev. Canon J. M. “Sonny” Browne, canon for diocesan life, worked from home Oct. 10 to check in with parish leadership. The two had learned that Trinity Center, the diocesan camp and conference center at Pine Knoll Shores sustained light wind damage and tree loss; Trinity Episcopal Church in Chocowinity had several inches of water enter its undercroft; and St. John’s Episcopal Church in Fayetteville experienced some flooding.The Fayetteville Observer reported that St. John’s parking lot was submerged Oct. 9, as well as the children’s playground and bottom floor of the church. The choir room, preschool chapel and an administrative office on the bottom floor were among the areas that sustained serious damage, according to member Mary Holmes, who said the church had recently undergone a major restoration in anticipation of its 200th anniversary next year.More than 45 people came to help clean the church out early on Oct. 9, Holmes told the paper. By afternoon, rugs and children’s toys littered the parking lot as volunteers worked to save what they could.Diocesan House in Kinston, North Carolina, was without telephone and internet service. Water entered offices there; it was “fortunately not deep, but enough to wet the carpet thoroughly,” Browne said via email.“Bridges are closing as I write this email, as the rivers are swelling,” Browne reported. “At this hour, we are unaware of catastrophic loss of parish property in our diocese.”Later in the day, Browne emailed to say that East Carolina was experiencing horrible flooding and evacuation.  “The damage to the state’s road infrastructure is astounding with a great many roads washed out in one or more places,” he wrote.Member of the Episcopal Church in South Carolina were also regrouping on Oct. 10 and trying to find out how congregations in the Lowcountry along the coast fared, Holly Behre, director of communications, reported via email.Information posted on the diocese’s Facebook page pointed evacuees to Episcopal churches in the Dioceses of Upper South Carolina, Western North Carolina, North Carolina and Atlanta.Members of four of those coastal congregations had organized Eucharist together the day before near Hendersonville, North Carolina. Most of those attendees were from All Saints Episcopal Church on Hilton Head Island, which was very hard hit. They are still not able to return home, Behre said.The Rev. Richard Carroll Lindsey, All Saints’ rector, wrote on the church’s website that an eyewitness reported that the church weathered the storm with only a street light down, a small tree across the entrance and the cross on the steeple damaged.

Trees knocked down in Hurricane Matthew lie outside of the doors of St. Francis of the Islands Episcopal Church in Savannah, Georgia. Photo: Diocese of Georgia via FacebookIn the Diocese of Georgia, six of 24 coastal churches held services on Oct. 9. As evacuees were returning home Oct. 10, Bishop Scott Benhase said that damage on the coast was “less than was feared or forecasted.”

However, Benhase said, “we know that others in the southeastern United States, and particularly our sisters and brothers in Haiti, the Dominican Republic and the Bahamas, did not fare so well. Our hearts and prayers go out to them.”He urged people to donate to Episcopal Relief & Development.Twenty-two coastal churches and the retreat center suffered minor damage or even no damage from the storm, Benhase said. St. Francis of the Islands Episcopal Church, Savannah, lost a significant number of trees, which in turn damaged the church porch, education building and playground. No survey of All Saints Episcopal Church on Tybee Island has yet been possible, although some areas near the church experienced flooding and wind damage, the bishop said.“In the days ahead there will be insurance claims to file and lots to repair and to clean up. We will do that and move on,” Benhase predicted. “God has called us together so that we might be the hands and heart of Jesus for others.”

Federal Emergency Management Agency officials survey damage on Highway A1A near Daytona Beach, Florida. Photo: FEMADiocese of Southeast Florida Bishop Peter Eaton voiced similar concern for those in the Caribbean after Matthew. “While we in our diocese were not hit by the full force of this storm, others have been terribly hit, and I hope that we can give from our strength and sense of gratitude,” he wrote Oct. 8.

In Jacksonville, Florida, St. John’s Cathedral opened its doors during the storm and became a sanctuary for some people, the Very Rev. Kate Moorehead said.The dean predicted in her Oct. 9 sermon that the congregation would not soon forget the hurricane or the anxety of wondering if they would see each other again. She recounted riding out the storm with her husband and sons in one part of their home away from the side shaded by a large water oak tree. They worried that the tree would fall on the house but, instead, it fell into the front yard. “We just have one hole in the roof – a small one,” she said.However, the downed tree trapped the family in the house for two days until they could cut through some limbs with a chainsaw and get her car out of the driveway. Freed, Moorehead and one of her sons drove down the street and almost got hit by an oncoming car in an intersection.“Aren’t you grateful after this storm to be alive?” she asked.Such gratitude, she said, is about “opening our eyes to the truth that God has given us life and, no matter what happens, all we can say is ‘thank you.’ ”

People walk along a street in downtown Jeremie, Haiti, Oct. 6, two days after Hurricane Matthew made landfall nearby. While the capital Port-au-Prince was mostly spared from the full strength of the class 4 hurricane, the western cities of Les Cayes and Jeremie received Matthew’s full force. Photo: Logan Abassi UN/MINUSTAHMeanwhile, nearly a week after Hurricane Matthew began its destructive journey, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Oct. 10 that nearly $120 million in aid was needed to help the devastated portions of Haiti.

Local aid officials struggled to get food, medicine and water to increasingly desperate communities still isolated almost a week after the blow from Hurricane Matthew, the Associated Press reported. Officials said that young men – some of them armed – in villages along the road between the hard-hit cities of Les Cayes and Jeremie were putting up blockades of rocks and broken branches to halt convoys of vehicles bringing relief supplies.Episcopal Relief & Development it will support local partners such as the Bishop Tharp Institute (BTI) in Les Cayes to provide food and water to displaced people sheltering on the school’s campus.“Papa, J’ai peur, je veux du soleil (Daddy, I am scared, I want to see the sun),” Ernest Cajuste’s 4-year-old son told him as the hurricane bore down on their Haitian homeCajuste, an Episcopal Relief & Development program officer, wrote that “the strong winds made it sound like our house might disappear into the air,” about riding out the hurricane in Haiti. “We could hear a high, shrill, piercing clatter when our window frames vibrated. This is the first hurricane he has lived through. That was certainly a scary moment for him, but after the long, dark night of tension, we were fine. We were lucky.”– The Rev. Mary Frances Schjonberg is an editor and reporter for the Episcopal News Service. 

From Isaiah Chapter 9: For unto us a child is born,unto us a Son is given;and the government shall be upon His shoulder;and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. 

These words of Isaiah are often seen as words that foretell and foreshadow the coming of Jesus of Nazareth, born of Mary. The truth is, these words befit Him because this child changed the world. This child changes lives. This child changes us.

I remember when our oldest daughter was a baby. My wife and I were young. We were footloose and fancy-free.  It was just the two of us newlyweds, so if we wanted to go out to eat dinner, we went out to eat dinner. If we decided to go to a movie at the last minute, we just went.  We actually felt like we had money back then.  And we did have a little bit of discretionary income. We could pretty much do what we wanted to do, within reason, and we didn't have to think too much about the consequences or impact of a spontaneous decision and what we had to do to make that happen.

And then, all of a sudden, this little, innocent human being, a little child, came into our lives, and literally gained control over our entire world. Before we could do anything else we had to think about, "Who's going to keep the baby?" or "Is this a good time for us to go without the baby?"  We soon learned that we were not in control of our lives anymore.  Even our sleeping patterns became very different. We would stay awake when the baby was awake and we went to sleep when the baby went to sleep. Literally this child began to control our lives and the child didn't even know she was doing it. And then we had a second one she did the exact same thing. And I've since learned that that's what babies do.  When they arrive they take over!  And their parents begin to develop their lives around this child. To mold their entire lives around this precious needy baby.(cont'd next page)

From the Presiding Bishop

Isaiah wrote, "Unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given... and His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."  This child who was born of Mary changes everything. This child born in a manger, wrapped in swaddling clothes changes how we live. This child born to the sound of angels singing Gloria in excelcis Deo - this child to whom the wise ones came from afar bearing gifts - this child, changed the way the entire world works.

And this Jesus, born into a world torn by strife and hatred and division and pain and poverty, this child is born anew wherever men and women say, "I'll follow Him. I'll follow Him as my Savior. I'll follow Him as my Lord."

 When this child grew up, He said His reason for coming, again quoting Isaiah, from the 61st chapter, he said,The spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach Good News to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, the recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty all those who are oppressed, and to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

This child, when He grew up, came to show us the way to live lives of love, lives of compassion, lives of goodness, lives of kindness, lives of justice. This child came to show us how to change the world. So this Christmas, make room for him to change us.  This Christmas help us change the world.  And make a new commitment, to go out from this day, to let this Christmas Day, be the first day of a new world.

God bless you. God keep you. Have a blessed Christmas.  A Happy New Year.  And go on out and change the world!

The Most Reverend Michael B. CurryPresiding Bishop and Primate of the Episcopal Church

A video of the message is available here.

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Please Remember the Trinity Food PantryIt continues to be a difficult time for the food pantry, especially as prices increase and the economy dips. Our resources are depleting due to the high demand for help. There is a way that you can help. When you are shopping, please buy one extra can or box of one of the items listed below and bring it with you to Mass on Sunday. Just one extra can or box can make a difference!

We are always in need of Boxed cereals, Canned/Dried soups, Canned Fruits, Dried/Canned Milk, Canned Vegetables, Canned Pork & Beans, Sugar, Pasta/Spaghetti, Canned Fish/Meat, Rice, Tomato Paste, Puddings/Jello, Dried Beans, Tomato Sauce, Cake Mixes, Tea/Coffee, and Flour.

Also diapers, diapers, diapers! Especially needed are diapers in sizes 5 and 6. However, diapers in all sizes are very welcomed and needed.

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The Herald Is Your Newsletter!We encourage you to submit articles and photos on everything Trinity! All submissions will be thoughtfully considered. It is your newsletter and we want to reflect that.You can submit articles and/or photos through our website at http://trinitywoodbridge.org or you can submit them directly to me at [email protected]. We request that all submissions are made no later than the 20th of each month. If you are unable to make this deadline, please email me at the above address.

Images of Trinity

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Christmas Images of Trinity

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Birthdays, Anniversaries and Commemorations for the week of January 3-9. Birthdays: Jane Strauss, Kathy Krupa, David Counselman, Sr., Theresa Beni, Christopher Fuller, Tierney Mullins, Susann Bergacs, Robert Santorelli, Ronald Ugi, Joseph Lomba, Jr., Summer Palme. Commemorations: Carol Rickwalder, Joseph Belko, James Storey. In our parish cycle of prayer, we remember the following: Veronica Carr, Cynthia Joseph-Walker, Christopher Parks, Jordan & Mya Walker; Mark, Mary Jane, David and Alexis Christian; Steven, Brooke & Charlotte Christian; Ingrid Christoffersen; Mtr. Angela & Jenna Cipolla; James & Erin Collins; Fr. Geoffrey Collis; John, Hope, John, Jr., Nicholas & Anthony Colucci; Gerald & Diane Composto; Ruth Connor; Valerie, John, Ross John, & David Matthew Cooper; Dorothy & Charles Corrado; May Corrado; Robert & Sharon Counselman; Don, Holly, Brooke, Zachary & Bobby Counselman; David, Marijane, David, Jr., Sharon, Jessica & Joseph Counselman; Michael, Christine & Emily Rose Cowen; Max Crawford; Glenn, Laura, Kristen, & Dana Cunningham; Joseph, Lisa, Samantha & Sabrina DeBenedictis; Sam Hsu & Robert DeCesare; Carl, Donna, Christina & Alexander DeCicco; Frank, Leah, Angela & Frances DeCicco; Dawn, Robert & Dale DeHart; Maryanne DeSantis, Matthew, Staci, Theo & Kennedy Duffy; Betty Earl; Dorothy Edwards; Karen, Jacqueline, Jennifer & Jessica Eletto; Mary Ellinger; Donald EnglisBirthdays, Anniversaries and Commemorations for the week of January 10-16. Birthdays: Sharon Counselman, Jacob Kreusch, Donald Selingo, Jr., Natasha Strauss, Sierra Meredith, T. Hunter Palmer, Dawn DeHart, Marijane Counselman, Carol Buford, Janice Beutelschiess, Lise Bonalski, Austin Reinhart. Anniversaries: Carlton & Maureen Yackel. Commemorations: Esther Storey, Eleanor Outerbridge, Arthur R. Snelson, Mary Hoffman, Allen Stewart, Jane Ward, Bertha Clark, Dorothy Izzo, William Tait, Ferdinand Houtenbrink, Pauline Wedemeyer. In our parish cycle of prayer, we remember the following: Christopher, Anthony & Gale Ferraro; Thomas, Amanda, Julie & Hailey Foerster; Linda Foley; Frank & Audrey Foley; David, Amparo & Joshua Forsythe; Allen & Norma Francis; Mary Francis; Pat, Lynn, Lisa, & Tara Fratello; Sister Elias Freeman; Charles Frederick; William Frelish; Richard & Bridget Fritzch; James, Maureen, James Jr. Ryan & Christopher Fuller; Kyle & Anastasia Geardino, Lukah McCann-Juliar; Randy, Janet & Tori Geardino; Edwina & Carmen Giampino; Preston, Christine, Megan & Jeremy Giles; Lorraine Godleski; Chakkrapani, Priya, Joanna & Evan Grandhi; Linford, Lisa, Brianna & Stephen Grant; Daniel, Beverly & Daniel Harvey Green; Robert, Arlene & Ross Guellnitz; John, Sandra, Jonus & Joseph Gurski; Frank & Lynn Haley; Ronald & Maureen Harbachuk; Jack, Beth, Maggie, Joshua, Samantha, Jake & Lilly Heyer; Joseph, Melissa, Leanne & Abigail Higgins;

Richard & Bridget Fritzch; James, Maureen, James Jr. Ryan & Christopher Fuller; Kyle & Anastasia Geardino, Lukah McCann-Juliar; Randy, Janet & Tori Geardino; Edwina & Carmen Giampino; Preston, Christine, Megan & Jeremy Giles; Lorraine Godleski; Chakkrapani, Priya, Joanna & Evan Grandhi; Linford, Lisa, Brianna & Stephen Grant; Daniel, Beverly & Daniel Harvey Green; Robert, Arlene & Ross Guellnitz; John, Sandra, Jonus & Joseph Gurski; Frank & Lynn Haley; Ronald & Maureen Harbachuk; Jack, Beth, Maggie, Joshua, Samantha, Jake & Lilly Heyer; Joseph, Melissa, Leanne & Abigail Higgins; Joseph Higgins, Sr.; Colleen, Nicole & Chelsea Hodgeman; Mary Hoffman; John, Susan & Bryan Hogan; Paul, Beth, Heather, Kristen & Joy Hoglund; Gene, Debbie & Michael Howe.Birthdays, Anniversaries and Commemorations for the week of January 17-23. Birthdays: Lorraine Godleski, Tianna Zaremba, Fr. Robert L.Counselman, Thomas Byoris, Donna Byoris, Jason Valetutto, Amber Incles. Anniversaries: John & Anne Vignola, Manuel & Judith Torres. Commemorations: Hertha Blatz, Frank Marziali, Eliza Peoples, Dorothy Turner, Beatrice Daub, Donna Frank, Marilyn Grandjean. In our parish cycle of prayer, we remember the following: Barry & Janis Idell; Daffodil Isles; Lauren Jeffs; Douglas, Colette, Annabelle & Katherine Johnson; Christopher, Kelly & Christopher Robert Joy; Steve, Sandra, Jessamy & Megan Kalista; Kay & Brian Karlick, Dean Rogich; Joseph & Mae Karnas; Virginia Kershaw; Matthew, Amanda & Mia Kershaw; John, Lisa & Molly Kocher; Conrad & Ann Kochevar; Patricia Koebel; Rana & Daniel Korintus; Brenda Kowal; Peter Kozlakowski; Judith & Paul Krall-Russo; Raymond, Laura, Raymond, Jr., & Jacob Kreusch; Allen & Kathy Krupa; Allen, Jr. & Rachel Krupa; Matthew, Samantha, Tyler & Lily Krupa; Christopher, Kathy & C J Krupa; Fran Kurtz; Marlene Layne; Don LaPenta; Leonard & Danielle Larsen; Bill Leeming; Ray & Dorothy Leone; Lorraine Lescinsky; Michelle Lewis; Libby, Janet & Meghan Lichauco; Larry Lopez, Rikki Portner, Morgan Lopez & Leo Portner; Jeanne Lutz.Birthdays, Anniversaries and Commemorations for the week of January 24 – January 30. Birthdays: Raymond Kreusch, Jr., Lily Heyer, Violet Springle, Katelyn Dowd, Linda Foley, Blenda Wilson Fair, Laura Cunningham, Jordan Reinhart, Stacie Strack, Jessica Bernath, Jeanne Boyle. Anniversaries: Carroll & Michele Thomas. Commemorations: Adeline Grunden, Ruth Houck, Frances Post, Patricia Larsen, Dennis Karlick, Elizabeth Totka, Anne B. Hogan, Richard Earl, Eleanor Perez Yelle. In our parish cycle of prayer, we re-member the following: James, Andrea, Emily, Ethan & Leah Machado; Jean Malkin; Chris & Denise Mariconi; Ted & Joy Martin; Jessica & Alexander McNerney; Bryan & Robin MacArthur; Sierra Meredith, Summer Palmer & T. Hunter Palmer; Carlos & Karla Mercado; Glenn, Beth & Danielle Mohr; Alan, Dianza Lair-Monastersky & Nicholas Lair; John, Kathy, Stephanie & Allyssa Mondano; Frank, Tania, Thomas & Kate Mongioi; Jeffrey, Karen, Corey & Megan Moran; Tom, Gemma & William Murphy; Richard & Sharon Nemeth; Lisa, Elianna & Abigail Nikolov; Grace Jean Noble, Jason, Beth, Jake & Brandon Nowak; David & Lorraine O’Keefe; Kara & David Olejnik; Melissa & Alexis Olsen; Kirk, Teresa, Victoria & Cynthia Olsen; Dan & Dorothy Otero; James & Linda Palmieri; Catherine Patryn & Maya Trzeciak; Rose Anne Pelo; Amy, Jon, Brittney & Allyssa Philip; Jeffrey & Amparo Pikarsky; Michele, Brian & Eric Portman; Irene & Daniel Powers, Ian and Sean Caldwell.

The Trinity Herald

Trinity Episcopal Church650 Rahway AvenueWoodbridge, NJ 07095-3530

Address Correction Requested

January 2017 Edition