View as Webpage

December 1, 2024: The First Sunday of Advent

8 a.m. & 10 a.m. Services

Waiting in Advent

As Tom Petty sang, "The waiting is the hardest part."

But I am not very good at waiting. I generally refuse to stand in line for the latest movie, the trendiest restaurant, or the blockbuster art show. I board airplanes last when the lines have dissipated.

Advent, which begins this Sunday, is all about waiting. We proclaim each week that “Christ will come again” and “We await his coming in glory.” We know not when and are left to wonder about what it actually means, but we are to be on the tiptoe of expectation, knowing not the day or the hour, with our lamps filled full and ready.

How do we prepare for this second coming? Here is where Christmas comes in. We spend four weeks preparing ourselves to receive the gift of God’s incarnation—Jesus, the Word made flesh— which isn’t a historical event but an ongoing blessing. Like expectant parents, we are to build a crib within our souls and spirit. As the carol says, “Let every heart prepare him room.”

Timothy Safford, Interim Rector

Stewardship 2025

A big thank you to all of our members who added their pledge this week.

With 88 pledges received to date (11/27/24), your generosity totals nearly $297K. The Stewardship team is delighted to see that 10 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.

Construction as of 11/27/2024

Trinity Serves Capital Campaign

I want to thank everyone that attended the Start of Construction Celebration on Sunday. As you can see, Behan Bros is making great progress on the construction.

As for the Trinity Serves Capital Campaign, we have made great progress but have a short way to go. 

Help us unlock a challenge gift of $75,000 if we can collectively raise $275,000 by December 31, 2024.

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

Rector’s Office Suite                   $100,000      

Doors at Mill Street Entrance        $75,000

Nursery                                         $50,000

Large first floor windows               $35,000

Landscaping and planting             $30,000

Ground floor furnishings               $20,000

Palladian Window                         $15,000

Kitchen                                          $15,000

Built-in storage                              $10,000 / Office

Restroom                                      $10,000 / Room

Main Entrance Plaque                   $5,000 and above

Thank you

Norris Commodore, Senior Warden

There will be no Sunday School On December 1, 2024. Please plan accordingly.

Wednesday, December 4, 2024:

Noon Healing Service

Join the Rev. Noël Robinson for a quiet service of reflection and prayer, with communion and the laying on hands for healing.

Trinity Church Reading Group: At our meeting on Monday evening, we decided to skip our meeting in December and fully enjoy the holidays. Our next meeting will be on January 13 at 5:00PM. In the meantime, we decided to read The Lost City of Z, by David Grann. Mr. Gran researched and writes 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. 

Trinity’s Silver Tea

Our Christmas in Newport event, Trinity’s Annual Silver Tea, is just around the corner, December 7^th, 1-4 PM in the Hawes Room! We are hoping that once again, you will be able to help us ensure its success!

The craft group that has been meeting on Monday afternoons has finished up, but will come together again on Monday, December 2^nd at 12:30 to polish silver. Join us! 

Should you have any crafts that you have completed at home, we ask that you bring them in by Friday, December 6^th. Homemade jellies and jams are also much appreciated.

There are now sign-up sheets located on the piano in Hawes Room. We are looking for contributions in the form of tea sandwiches, finger desserts and holiday cookies. Your help in this area is so crucial! Baked goods can be dropped off on Friday or Saturday, and sandwiches on Saturday morning.

And we are especially in search of fresh cut greens from parishioner’s yards! Please let us know if you can help in this way. We can cut or pickup!

Finally, and most importantly, if you do nothing else, plan to visit Trinity on December 7th!

Chris Pimentel     cap5182@cox.net

Deb Lengyel      debby.lengyel@gmail.com

Community Meal Needs Volunteers

Please join us in serving the community! 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.

Calling All Angels and Shepherds:

The Christmas pageant will take place once again at the 4 o’clock service on Christmas Eve Children of all ages are welcome and needed! Contact Dolores Bauer dbauer104@gmail.com.

December Dates to Remember

Wednesday, Decemebr 18th -7:00PM

Blue Christmas with The Rev. Noël Robinson

Trinity Church

Sunday, December 2nd – 4:00PM

Christmas on Historic Hill - Lessons and Carols for Christmas.

Trinity Church

Tuesday, December 24th

Christmas Eve Services at Trinity Church

• 4:00PM Pageant and Family Service.
• 9:00PM Festal Eucharist – with Charpentier “Messe de Minuit”.

                                                     Trinity Choir with members of Providence Baroque.

Wednesday, December 25th - 10AM

Christmas Day Service with The Rev. Della Wager Wells at Emmanuel Church located at 42 Dearborn St., Newport, RI. This is a service for Trinity Church, St. John the Evangelist, and Emmanuel Church on a very special day.

Help! Volunteer needed for Morning of

December 3, 2024

for a mass Christmas mailing.

Please call the Parish Administrator for more information. 401-846-0660

How to get involved

Christmas Services Volunteers: Please contact the Parish Administrators, Molly Chamberlain, to be an Usher, Intercessor or Acolyte for Christmas on the Hill, December 22, 4PM, or one of the Christmas Services, December 24, ,4PM or 9PM. These services are not only special to Trinity but to the Newport Community as well.

Message from TLC:

As Ruth Bader Ginsberg once said, "Each thing I do comes with a heightened appreciation that I am able to do it." TLC is always accepting of your talents. Please contact Pam Alexander for more information. rkalexander1@cox.net.

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.