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The Trinity Church e-Tower
for the
The Feast of the Presentation of our Lord
February 1, 2026
8 AM and 10 AM Worship
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Message from the Rector:
In my sermon last week I briefly mentioned that this Sunday we’d be hearing the Beatitudes, a section from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount in Matthew’s gospel. Almost as soon as church was over I realized I had gotten mixed up, because, in fact, we are celebrating the Feast of the Presentation this Sunday, as our choir offers a sung mass as part of the celebration. The Beatitudes won’t be read Sunday as a result, but I wanted to take a moment here to reflect on this series of blessings that Jesus in Matthew's gospel. We hear these blessings early in his ministry, and right away he begins to let people know what he’s about. The Kingdom of God is not what you think: it will be found with those you might least expect: the meek, the peacemakers, the persecuted.
The words of the Beatitudes have become so familiar with me over the years that their meaning is almost lost of me sometimes. I don’t always realize how poignant they were at the time – how radical it would be for Jesus to suggest that God will come among the oppressed instead of the powerful.
Years ago Nadia Bolz-Weber, a Lutheran priest and writer, wrote a powerful piece on the Beatitudes that has stayed with me ever since, and has expanded my understanding of these beautiful passages of scripture. She writes:
"Maybe Jesus was simply blessing the ones around him that day who didn’t otherwise receive blessing, who had come to believe that, for them, blessings would never be in the cards. I mean, come on, doesn’t that just sound like something Jesus would do? Extravagantly throwing around blessings as though they grew on trees?
So I imagine Jesus standing among us offering some new beatitudes:
Blessed are the agnostics.
Blessed are they who doubt. Those who aren’t sure, who can still be surprised.
Blessed are they who are spiritually impoverished and therefore not so certain about everything that they no longer take in new information.
Blessed are those who have nothing to offer. Blessed are the preschoolers who cut in line at communion. Blessed are the poor in spirit. You are of heaven and Jesus blesses you...
I hope you’ll read all of them for yourself, and then I invite you to imagine: who might Jesus bless among us today? Who might be shown care and compassion when they least expected it of when they felt forgotten? How might Jesus bless you in the places where you feel most tender and uncertain?
Blessings abound,
Meaghan
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Funeral for Larry Glenn
A funeral for Larry Glenn will be held at Trinity today at 2pm and all are welcome to attend. Please park in the Mary St. Lot or on the side streets: the snow has made parking at Trinity difficult and we want to save parking on the property for the family and those who require handicapped parking.
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Winter Weather (STILL!)
We are keeping a close eye on the incoming weather for Sunday. We will update the website and our social media pages if there are any changes to our Sunday morning services. If you are on the schedule to serve in any capacity and do not feel comfortable traveling, please do not hesitate to reach out.
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Stewardship Season
A special thank you to everyone who has made a pledge towards our ministry for 2026. We are so grateful for your commitment to Trinity! If you believe you have made a pledge but don't see your name on this list, please contact Alison at the parish office. A pledge can be made at anytime, so your participation is still welcome!
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Terry Abbott
Richard and Pam Alexander
Mr. Lockett Ford Ballard, Jr.
Scott and Debbie Bartlett
Joan Bartram
Dolores Bauer
Tricia and Peter Baylor
Bradford and Marie Beebe
Alan and Susan Bernard
Nancy Bills
Patricia Blakeley and Richard Oppel
Helen Brennan
Meaghan and Jonathan Brower
James and Elaine Burress
David and Mary Bush-Brown
Jason and D'Arcy Carr
Mary Jo Carr
Brad Carter
John and Sara Cassis
Molly and Douglas Chamberlain
Caroline and Peter Clark
Jeffrey Clark
Elaine Clement and Eugene Martin
Norris and Terry Commodore
Dan Cordeiro
Karen Corr
Robert and Didi Cowley
Norey Cullen
Alexandra and Simon Day
Rosaline and George Day
Michael and Heather dePinho
Mary dePinho
Kimberly Matheson Doherty
Andrea Dwyer
George and Donna Ellis
Dwight and Vicki Escalera
Robert and Nancy Evans
Kristen Fagan and Joseph Palumbo
Antonia Farzan and Christopher Parmenter
Mohamad and Dorienne Farzan
Philip and Cissie Ferzoco
Ray and Pamela Fisher
John and Candy Gilmartin
Tom Glassie
Larry and Anne Glenn
Fredrick Green
John Hattendorf
Thomas Hodgkins and Kaity Ryan
David and June House
Morgan Huntley
George and Geer Isdale
L. Fredrick Jodry
Charlotte Johnson
Mary B. and Robert Johnstone
William Karner
Alda Louise Kaye
Dodie Kazanjian
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John and Jane Kazanjian
Powel and Sahira Kazanjian
Jeanne Kelley
Martha Klebart
Dennis and Fran Kretzschmar
Frank Leith and Carole Kenny
Patrick and Debby Lengyel
Anne Livingston
Phoebe Livingston and Sergio Lopez-Ruiz
Bob and Bev Lobecker
Phyllis Lohrum
Kathryn Longo
Emily Lyons
Barbara MacGowan
William Mayer
Rufus and Polly Meadows
Susan Millis
Jeff and Melissa Moniz
Meryl and Jeff Moore
Nancy and David Murray
Chris and Diane Myers
Karen Nash
Heather Ogletree and Ned Breen
Cynthia O'Malley
Stephen and Carol Parfet
Jim and Ellen Patterson
Chris and Chrissy Pimental
Wayne Porter
Larry Pulice
Janie Raffa
Ted and Jane Roach
Peter and Kim Robey
David Robinson
Mark Robinson
Noël Robinson
Peter and Meredith Rugg
Nancy and Tim Ryan
Turner Scott and Kathy Pratt
Lesley Seaforth
Wilma Simpson
James and Mary Sinnott
Emily and Christopher Skeehan
Diana Slocum
John and Kate Smith
Robert Smith
Ann Souder
Susan and Edward Staats
Norman MacLeod and Elizabeth Stevens
Maggie Thomas
Harle Tinney
Lisa Trainor
Kimberly Tuite
Jesse and Nicole Tumblin
Karina and Nikita Valencia
Kathleen and William Wallace
Philip Wilson
Jeremy and Amy Wintersteen
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A note from the Treasurer:
Yearly giving statements for 2025 were issued this week,
primarily via email. If you would prefer a paper statement,
please contact Elaine Burress, the treasurer, at projectmanager@trinitynewport.org
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Spiritual Finances
Spiritual Finance teachers Kerry Cudmore and Diane Myers will teach an interactive Class Series devoted to helping people create a healthy relationship with money that is fully aligned with their values. The Class Series has a value of $300, but will be offered at no-cost-to-participant.
The classes will take place from 1-3pm on the following dates: Feb 15, March 8 and March 22 in person at Trinity Church in the Glenn Family Center and March 1 and March 15 via Zoom audio. You can find out more information and register for the class series here *make sure you look for the class at Trinity Church as there are other offerings available on this site. If you have any further questions or to RSVP please call (401) 924-5531 or email Diane.
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Celebrating Trinity's Tricentennial Year
The Trinity300 Committee has been at work, for two years, preparing to honor our history, our treasures, our traditions, our campus and our landmark sanctuary—and share it all with Newport and our many expected visitors.
If you would like to help make this wonderful programming possible, please consider “$300 for 300” or any amount that may be appropriate for you. A donation link is available on our website, or you can send a check to the church with "Trinity 300" in the memo line.
Thank you and Happy 300!
| | Upcoming Events and Ministry Opportunities | |
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We continue collections for Lucy's Hearth, this week. Lucy's Hearth is a 24-hour emergency and transitional shelter in Newport County serving children and their families who are experiencing homelessness. We have supported Lucy's Hearth many times through our Pumpkin Patch, and they have a list of food needs that are tailored to families in particular. If you can bring any of the items from this list to church with you in the coming weeks, we will be sure to deliver the food to Lucy's Hearth. If you have questions about this effort, please email Diane Myers.
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Music at Trinity
The Newport String Project will perform on Febraury 8th at 3 pm in Honyman Hall in part of the Music at Trinity Series.
This program will feature the project’s resident ensemble, the Newport String Quartet, performing works by Mozart, Jimenez, Washington and Roustom.
This colorful program is a musical celebration of childhood, playfulness and memory. Inspired by the Jamestown Arts Center’s upcoming exhibit “Picturing Play”, the Newport String Quartet will perform an eclectic set of works that draw inspiration from children’s folk songs from Mexico, Haiti, Afghanistan, Mali, Syria and Ghana. Closer to home, Shelley Washington’s evocative Middleground depicts her memories of travelling cross country with family gathering memories of cycling, fireworks and ice-cream. The quartet will also perform Mozart’s beloved String Quartet in B-flat “The Hunt” which brims with optimism and delight. This heartwarming afternoon of chamber music is not to be missed.
Tickets available here.
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The Tower will be lit on
February 1st
in loving memory of
Canon Lockett Ford Ballard,
the 25th Rector of Trinity Church on the anniversary of his installation in 1954,
by L. Ford Ballard
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Sunday, February 1
8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Worship
9:00 a.m. - Bible Study in the Glenn Family Center
10 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. - Sunday School in the Glenn Family Center
Monday, February 2
5:00pm - Community Meal
Wednesday, February 4
12 p.m.- Healing Service
12 p.m.- Men's Group
4 p.m.- Winter Blessing Series
Thursday, February 5
7 p.m.- Trinity Choir Practice
Sunday, Febuary 8
8 a.m. and 10 a.m. - Worship
9 a.m. - Bible Study in the Glenn Family Center
10 a.m. - 10:40 a.m. - Sunday School in the Glenn Family Center
3 p.m. - Music at Trinity
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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 February 2026, the TLC coordinator is
Kay Winston Click on her name and you can write her an email.
Prayer Shawl Group
This group meets every second and fourth Thursday of the month in the Hawes Room. All those who crochet or knit, experienced or inexperienced are welcomed to join. Please contact Pam Alexander for more information.
Community Meal
Join an amazing Newport community service and work with fun good-hearted people. You will go home knowing you made a difference in a person’s day. Please consider volunteering at the Community Meals, the 1st, 4th and 5th Monday of the month. You can sign up here:
Community Meal Calendar Sign Up.
Men's Bible Study Group
Wednesdays, 12 noon. Please Contact John Gilmartin if you are interested in Joining this special group who often meet by Zoom.
| | | | We give thanks this month for the February birthdays of Diane Myers, Bob Lobecker, Grant Ducharme, Isla Palumbo, Jasmine Giesler, Chris Pimentel, Addie Rucker, Juniper Baker, Margot Rous, Brad Carter, Jeremy Wintersteen, Jr., Douglas Chamberlain, Michael Bahmann, Karl Weintz, Andy Green, and Melissa Danks. | | |
Worship Participants
Sunday, December 21st
Rector: The Rev. Canon Meaghan Kelly Brower
Co-Music Director & Organist: Fredrick Jodry
Musicians: The Trinity Choir
Acolyte & Crucifer: 8:00 am Larry Pulice; 10:00 am Phoebe Livingston
Lector & Intercessor: 8:00 am Terry Commodore; 10:00 am Ann Souder
Ushers: Scott Bartlett, Debbie Bartlett, Karina Valencia
Altar Society: Mary Sinnott, Jeanne Kelley, Helen Brennan, Candy Gilmartin, Nancy Murray, Brad Carter
Coffee Hour: Nikita Valencia
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