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The Trinity Church e-Tower
for the
Second Sunday of Lent
March 15, 2026
8 AM and 10 AM Worship
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Message from the Rector:
One of the songs we always sang at summer camp (at the Episcopal Conference Center) was the Pete Seeger hit (was it a hit?) “If I had a Hammer.” We sang it in worship all the time, and it never really occurred to me that it wasn’t a church song because we sang so enthusiastically about the hammer of justice and bell of freedom and having a song to sing about love that it pretty much felt like it aligned with the gospel (and it was fun to sing).
Earlier this week the “hammer” that chimes our bell at Trinity was returned to us after being taken away for a repair. It was sandblasted and painted, and the mechanism that moves the hammer was replaced so that it rings as it is meant to on the hour, every hour. You can see it in the photo, in position and ready to work.
I climbed up to the bell tower to see it in position and couldn’t help but hum the familiar tune. Because – of course – I was looking at both a hammer and our big old bell, that has been ringing from our steeple for so many years. The sound of it might be something we’ve grown accustomed to, something we take for granted. But I wait for the chime every week as our worship starts, and it does call us together as we pray for justice and freedom, and sing our songs about the love we have for our brothers and our sisters .
The next time you hear our church bell chime, I hope that you’ll celebrate that it’s back in good working order, but more than that I hope you’ll think about the significance of its ringing. For centuries the bell chime has called us to worship, it has reminded Newport of our steadfast presence and service to God in a changing world. I am especially grateful this week that we have a hammer, and we’ve got a bell, and we’ve got a song to sing – all over this land!
With gratitude,
Meaghan
PS. When I googled the Pete Seeger song I saw
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LENTEN PROGRAM
Holy conversations about death and dying
Thank you to everyone who came out for our delayed but successful first meeting of the Lenten Series this past Wednesday. Our program continues this week on March 18, and will wrap up on March 25
The meal will begin at 5:30pm in the Hawes Room, and the program will run from 6-7:30 pm.
Children are welcome at the meal and childcare will be provided in the Glenn Family Center during the program.
Please RSVP if you plan to attend so we can be sure to provide enough food!
| | Upcoming Events and Ministry Opportunities | | |
Wild Worship
The Rev. Noel Bailey Robinson will lead a Wild Worship event at 2 p.m., Saturday, March 21, at the Norman Bird Sanctuary, Middletown. Wild Worship brings people together to experience the presence of God in the more-than-human-world around us, to pray, to sing and to reflect. All are welcome and there will be no charge for entering the grounds. Click here for more information on Wild Worship and the work of the Creation Care Ministry team.
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Join the Outreach Team
at Trinity!
Out
When I was a child, every Lent my Episcopal church in Greenwich, Connecticut gave out “mite boxes” to Sunday School kids. Over the forty days of Lent, we dropped our pennies, nickels and dimes into the small cardboard boxes, and at Easter, we presented our full “mites” at the altar, to be used for charitable purposes. From a young age, we imbibed the Christian belief that we were called to care for our neighbors and those suffering in the world. Episcopal children no longer put their dimes and nickels into mite boxes, yet there are many opportunities for all of us to serve Christ in those who suffer. Trinity Church has had a strong tradition of outreach to those in need in our community, and the wider world, both through raising funds for financial contributions and through actual service, in programs like our Community Supper.
Over the years some Trinity parishioners have worked tirelessly on such projects. Now we are forming an Outreach Team to support those current efforts and to try to discern possible new ways of serving Christ on our island and in the world. Our first meeting will be on Tuesday March 24th at 10:30 a.m. at Trinity. All are welcome. If you would like to participate in this initiative, please contact me at 203-215-0135 or email me here.
Thank you,
Elizabeth Stevens
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Easter Donations
A mailing will be going out in the next few weeks, but there is no need to wait!
Simply select the ministry listed below you would like to support. The link will bring you to each individual payment page. Once you've made a donation, you will be re-directed to an online form to fill out with dedication and date requests for the Easter season.
If you have any questions or would prefer to have us navigate the technology for you, please don't hesitate to email or call the office (401) 846-0660 and Alison will be happy to help.
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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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Sunday, March 15
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
Wednesday, March 18
12 p.m.- Healing Service
12 p.m.- Men's Group
5:30 p.m.- Lenten Program
Thursday, March 19
1 p.m. - Prayer Shawl Group
7 p.m.- Trinity Choir Practice
Sunday, March 22
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
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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 March 2026, the TLC coordinator is
Pam Alexander 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.
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We give thanks this month for the March birthdays of Lisa Trainor, Laynie Sobin, Bob Johnstone, Timothy Safford, Charlotte Day, Bev Lobecker, Bill St. George, Patrick Lengyel, Ellen Patterson, Amy Wintersteen, George Ellis, Jeanne Kelley, Wolff Bardenheier, Andie Dwyer, Susan Millis, Suzy Hardy,
Steve Parfet, Alison Hosford, Hellen Brennan, David Fernandes, and Violet Geisler.
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Worship Participants
Sunday, March 15th
Preacher & Celebrant: The Rev. Canon Meaghan Kelly Brower
Co-Music Director & Organist: Fredrick Jodry
Musicians: The Trinity Choir
Acolyte & Crucifer: 8:00 am Larry Pulice; Brad Carter
Torch Bearers: 10:00 am Alexa Collins & Avery Collins
Lector & Intercessor: 8:00 am Terry Commodore
Lectors: 10:00 am Teddy Sargent & Emily Brower
Intercessor: 10:00 am Isla Fisher
Presenters: 10:00 am Grant Buckles & Arthur Ducharme
Ushers: Norris Commodore, Alan Bernard, Larry Pulice,
Charlotte Day, Noah Moniz
Altar Society: Miriam Smith, Bev Lobecker, Debbie Bartlett, Donna Ellis,
Heather Ogletree
Coffee Hour: Pam & Richard Alexander
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