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Our only possession

The house of our good friends burned in an instant this past Wednesday in Altadena, CA. So did their beloved church—St. Mark’s —just a few blocks away.

Through the tears, Lynn and I are asking primary spiritual questions: What do we really have? What do we really need? What is of greatest value?

Or, the question we pastors often ask at retreats: If you have 15 minutes to pack a few bags, and then leave everything behind, what do you grab? Or, do you simply walk away?

Jesus is the most comforting and aggravating at this moment. He incarnates: All we need is the love of God, and the love of each other. That is treasure in heaven, our only true possession. Earthly possessions, much less a barn full of them, are transitory and distracting.

One of the least known rubrics (i.e. rules) in the Prayer Book (page 445) states that clergy are to instruct the people to “arrange for the disposal of their temporal goods.” I’ve never taught what the fires prove, that “temporal” and “temporary” are the same words.

How do we find comfort in such agony or answer questions of such perplexity? The only place I trust is the Church, where I’ll see you this Sunday, again, for it is where our greatest possession lives: the love of God, and of each other.



Timothy Safford, Interim Rector

Stewardship 2025

Step by step, we are getting closer to our goal of $360,000. A big thank you to all of our members who added their pledge this week.

With 107 pledges received to date (1/7/25), your generosity totals a little over $338K. The Stewardship team is delighted to see that 13 of those pledges are new this year, and many of the pledges are increased over last year.

If you have not yet made a pledge for 2025, it’s not too late. You can make your 2025 pledge online with a click here.

If you need a pledge card or coaching to enter your pledge online, Terry Commodore or Molly, the Parish Administrator, can help with that.

Happy Birthday

to Ginny Beltz

1/11/1925

On Saturday, Ginny will celebrate 100 amazing years on this earth.

The Christmas Gifts for Trinity Guests! 

 The gifts provided by our parish were well received at the Community Meal on January 6^th, especially with the temperatures during this cold snap.

Thank you! – Deacon Christine and the Community Meal - Trinity Team.

Community Meal Needs Volunteers

A warm meal and comradery can make a difference. We have been very busy this year and are serving about 100 guests per meal. We delight in providing a restaurant-like experience for our guests but need your help! Please consider joining the team (we have a lot of fun!) by signing up for the many open volunteer slots here: Community Meal Calendar Sign Up. We always serve on the 1st, 4th, and 5th Mondays of the month. - D'arcy Carr.

Trinity Church Reading Group: The next meeting will be on January 13 at 5:00PM. We will discuss the writing of “The Lost City of Z”, by David Grann. Mr. Grann researched and wrote about the expedition of Percy Fawcett in 1925 into the jungle of the Amazon with the aim of discovering the location of the legendary city of gold as described by the native tribes of that region. If you are interested, please contact annedglenn@gmail.com.

Pumpkin Patch Follow-Up:

Pumpkin Patch 2024 was a huge success. Because of the generosity of many hours of volunteer time, baked goods and a commitment to our mission the following were the benefactors of our work: St. John’s Episcopal Church, Montogomery, AL for the support of a school in Honduras; McKinney Shelter; Lucy’s Hearth; RISING; Seaman’s Church Institute; Martin Luther King Center; Salve Regina University and Manna Food Bank, Ashville, NC. – Diane Myers & Deb Lengyel

Trinity Loves and Cares 

Trinity Loves and Cares is a ministry of pastoral care of praying for and providing support to members of Trinity Church for January 2025, the TLC coordinator is Pam Alexander, who can be reached at rkalexander1@cox.net. 



Message from TLC: "People will forget what you said, forget what you did, but they will always remember how you made them feel.” – Carol Burnett, Comedian and Actress

Construction as of 1/9/2025

Trinity Serves Capital Campaign

Behan Bros is making great progress on the construction of the Education and Administration building.  Additional funding is still needed to ensure we do not need to finance a long-term loan.

Your gift presents a unique opportunity to secure our future and be permanently recognized in the new building. Consider taking advantage of the available naming opportunities listed below. You may choose to honor a family member or friend and leave a lasting tribute through your philanthropy.

New Construction Naming Opportunities:

Classroom A                                    $100,000

Classroom B                                    $100,000

Mill Street Entrance                        $75,000

Nursery                                             $50,000

Landscaping and planting             $30,000

Ground floor furnishings                $20,000

Built-in storage (3)                           $10,000 / Office

Restroom (2)                                    $10,000 / Room

Main Entrance Plaque                    $5,000 and above

Thank you

Norris Commodore

Senior Warden

Musical Notes for your 2025 Calendar

Music at Trinity Winter Events:

Sunday, February 2 10:00AM

Choral Eucharist for the Presentation

Palestrina: Missa Aeterna Christi munera.

Motets of Byrd and Eccard

Sunday, February 9, 2025 – 3PM

Newport String Project. String quartets from Latin America

           Tickets: $30

Sunday, February 23, 2025 – 4PM

Evensong for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany. to celebrate St. Matthias, the Apostle.

With Bach cantata 115, the Choir of Trinity Church, members of the Providence Baroque Orchestra and the Choristers of Newport County. Free will offering.

How to get involved

Mens Bible Study: Meets weekly on Wednesdays, 12:00-1:00PM via Zoom. If interested in joining, please contact john_gilmartin@mac.com.

Choir Practices: If interested, please contact the Michael at michaelbahmann@yahoo.com or Fred at fjodry@trinitynewport.org.

Prayer Shawl Group (PSG) This Group meets the second and fourth Thursday of each month, 1-3PM in the Hawes Room. The group creates Prayer Shawls, Baptismal Blankets and fellowship. All knitting and crochet talent welcomed.

*Should you have any questions, contact the Parish Administrator, Molly Chamberlain. 401-846-0660

The Trinity Altar Society is happy to assist you in providing flowers as a beautiful symbol of what we offer to God in our worship. Whether to honor a loved one’s memory, to celebrate a special occasion, or simply in thanksgiving, it only takes a phone call or an e-mail to Chris Pimentel, cap5182@cox.net

Tower Lighting

The historic spire of Trinity Church is lit nightly. When you contribute to the cost of lighting, you may memorialize a person who has passed or give thanks for an event, like an anniversary or birthday. The traditional offering is $50, but please give as the Spirit moves! Contact Molly Chamberlain, Parishadmin@trinitynewport.org to make arrangements.  

Worship Participants

Preacher: The Rev. Timothy Safford

Celebrant: Noël Robinson

Co Music Director & Organist: L. Frederick Jodry

The talented and gifted Trinity Choir

Acolyte & Crucifer: 8:00AM Larry Pulice, 10:00AM Bob Smith

Lector & Intercessor: 8:00AM Mary de Pinho, 10:00AM Anne Glenn

Ushers: James Patterson, Ellen Patterson and Geer Isdale

Altar Society:: Mary dePinho, Ellen Patteron, Chris Pimentel,

Tricia Baylor and Anne Glenn.

A/V: Dennis Kretzschmar

Sunday School: Dolores Bauer & Melissa Moniz

Coffee Hour: Jeff and Melissa Moniz