Trinity Episcopal Church PROGRESSIVE Inclusive
CREATIVE DOWNTOWN
2021 Annual Pledge Drive Twenty-Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
Trinity@316
November 14, 2021
11:00am
Welcome to Trinity Episcopal Church Good morning and “welcome home” to Trinity! Whether you are new to our community or have found yourself coming back again and again, we want you to know you are both welcome and wanted here among us. For some, church is as comfortable and familiar as a good pair of jeans, or like coming back to your childhood home (if it is one filled with good memories). For others, church might be like visiting a foreign country where you experience unfamiliar language or customs. And then, sadly, for some, church has become equated with feelings of hurt, shame or rejection. We get all of that and believe church can be different. We are a diverse community of seekers, believers, and doubters held together by the hope that together we are better, kinder, and more courageous when we stand side by side and face into the challenges of our lives and in the world together. We challenge the practices of our tradition that have at times kept others out and instead embrace Jesus’ mandate to welcome all, no exceptions, as a core value. And, we get that if people are brave enough to either walk through the doors of a big gothic-looking church in downtown Toledo, or tune in to Trinity@Home on line, we better be serious about being explicitly progressive, inclusive and creative in all we say and do. We love our Episcopal tradition, AND we love people from all walks of life even more! It is our hope and prayer that together we will navigate our way through each gathering, worship service, opportunity to serve, class, meal and social time together with humility, grace and laughter all infused with radical hospitality. So thank you for being here today; for trusting the yearning that brought you through those ancient doors. May we all find our way into the heart of God’s love as we make room for each other in this community and this world- we believe we are better and love more when diversity is celebrated and the bounds of God’s love are stretched wide. This bulletin is a guide to accompany you through the “liturgy”- meaning the “work of the people”- which is how our tradition approaches worship. It does indeed take a village bringing all of its gifts together to create our expression of gratitude and devotion week after week. Here is a quick little guide to help you follow along as we worship together: • • •
Italicized Print = singing Bold Print = everyone is invited to join in reciting a prayer/reading Bold & Italicized Print = everyone is invited to join in singing
Welcome Home! May you never forget you are loved, Lisa The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector www.trinitytoledo.org 2
The Liturgy of the Word Prelude
What You Need (Grace Mauk and Michael Barlos)
Welcome
from It’s Only Life by John Bucchino
The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray
(Please stand as you are able.)
Opening Hymn
O God, Our Help in Ages
The 1982 Hymnal #680
We will sing verses 1, 3, 4.
Collect of the Day Leader: People: Leader:
Prayers for an Inclusive Church
The Lord be with you. And also with you. Let us pray.
Subversive God, deconstructing temples of power in which we would keep you trapped and tamed: lead us through violent times, unafraid to speak for peace, untempted by those who promise easy answers; may we follow him alone who renews the world in love; through Jesus Christ, who sits at God’s right hand. Amen. 3
The Reading Reader:
Daniel 12:1-3 A reading from Daniel.
The Lord spoke to Daniel in a vision and said, “At that time Michael, the great prince, the protector of your people, shall arise. There shall be a time of anguish, such as has never occurred since nations first came into existence. But at that time your people shall be delivered, everyone who is found written in the book. Many of those who sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt. Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever.”
Reader: People:
Gradual
The Word of the Lord. Thanks be to God.
Lead Me, Lord
THE GOSPEL Leader: People:
LEVAS #251
Mark 13:1-8 The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Mark. Glory to you, Lord Christ.
As Jesus came out of the temple, one of his disciples said to him, “Look, Teacher, what large stones and what large buildings!” Then Jesus asked him, “Do you see these great buildings? Not one stone will be left here upon another; all will be thrown down.” When he was sitting on the Mount of Olives opposite the temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew asked him privately, “Tell us, when will this be, and what will be the sign that all these things are about to be accomplished?” Then Jesus began to say to them, “Beware that no one leads you astray. Many will come in my name and say, ‘I am he!’ and they will lead many astray. 4
When you hear of wars and rumors of wars, do not be alarmed; this must take place, but the end is still to come. For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there will be earthquakes in various places; there will be famines. This is but the beginning of the birthpangs.”
Leader: People:
The Gospel of the Lord. Praise to you, Lord Christ.
Sermon Affirmation of FAITH
The Rev. Dcn. Megan Allen From Ross Mackinnon, Glen Waverley Uniting Church
We believe in God, our Maker, and Creator of the universe. God created the Earth and all that is in it and saw that it was very good. We believe that God has called us to protect and care for the Earth – its landscapes, waterways, oceans and skies, its flora and fauna, and its human inhabitants. We believe God calls us to consume only what we need, and not unthinkingly to grab what we want out of selfishness and greed. We believe in Jesus the Anointed One, Preacher, Teacher and Healer, sent by God to show us the way to live and to love. Jesus teaches us still. His message of God’s Reign, a Reign of peace, justice and love, a Reign which favors the poor and the pariahs is our eternal goal. We believe we are called to work with God to make this Reign a reality for all people. We believe in God’s Spirit, a powerful moving motivator, available to us at all times, to be used by us to show God’s great love to those in need. We believe in God’s community of saints, past, present and future – this great gathering of people working for the greater good. We are grateful for God’s saints down the ages – Christian thinkers, Christian pioneers, renewers of society, reformers of the church, faithful servants, people of prayer and witnesses to Jesus. May we be numbered among them. Blessed be God for ever. Amen.
5
The Prayers of the People Please join the leader in sharing the responses in bold. Leader:
People:
In peace, let us pray to a God of many names- source of all transforming Love. For the Church of God, striving to be the best version of itself being radically transformed into the most generous of places, filled with generous people willing to grow, learn and serve as agents of change filled with love, generosity and truth transforming our community and your world; May your transforming love guide us and shine through us.
Leader: People:
For the leaders of our nation, and the leaders of all nations; May your transforming love instill in them compassion and good judgment, and guide them in the ways of justice and peace.
Leader:
For all who hold authority in your Church, that they may embrace radical transformation to embrace your ways of love and peace as they lead; May your transforming love inspire them with creativity, renew their energy, and give them wisdom and courage.
People: Leader: People:
Leader: People: Leader: People: Leader:
For blessings on all of our human endeavors, and for the just and proper use of the beauty and abundance of creation; May each of us love and serve you in ways that transform our communities and beyond freeing your world from poverty, hunger and oppression. For the sick in body, mind or spirit, especially those on our Trinity prayer list and for those we now name in our hearts. May your transforming love bring hope and healing to all who suffer. For all who have died, for those who grieve, and for those we now name in our hearts; May your transforming love comfort and strengthen all who grieve. Oh God, source of radically transforming love, in your infinite generosity you have created a world with resources to sustain all of your children with abundance of food, work, safety and peace. Help us embrace transformation in our own lives so that every day we are living out the power of your love. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.
6
The Confession of Sin & Absolution Priest:
Wonderings Through Life and Other Such Nonsense
The prophet speaks of the coming light of God which calls all the people of the earth to come together in God’s realm of shalom. Let us confess the ways in which we have rejected God’s vision of wholeness.
Priest and People: God of light and darkness, we have seen the glimmer of your star-light beckoning to us, but we have turned away and followed other paths. We confess that we have not loved you with all our heart, with all our soul, with all our mind, and with all our strength. We have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. Forgive us, Holy One. Strengthen our faltering steps and guide us in your holy way of peace.
Priest: People:
Lift up your eyes and see the grace of God poured out into our lives. The light of God shines through the darkness. Our hearts rejoice for Christ is in our midst. Amen.
THE PEACE Deacon: People:
The peace of the Lord be always with you. And also with you.
Sharing our Trinity Story
Bob Meeker, Pledge Drive Co-Chair & Jeffrey Albright, Trinity Member
Announcements Offertory To give online, visit www.trinitytoledo.org/online-giving/, choose GIVE NOW and Sunday, November 14. You can also text the word “Give” to 419-OMG-LOVE (419-664-5683) to make your weekly offering. This season we will not “pass the plate” at the time of the offertory; offerings can be deposited in our Giving Box stationed at the back of the sanctuary.
7
Offertory
I Know I’ve Been Changed
LaShun Pace
(Trinity Section Leaders, featuring Bradley Baker)
I know I’ve been changed, I know I’ve been changed Angels up in heaven done signed my name
Lord’s Prayer
version by J. Manny Santiago
The congregation is invited to join. Our Parent, who is among us, blessed be your Creation. May your reign be a reality here on earth. May we become more interested in building your kin-dom here and now than in waiting for it to come down from above. Let us share our bread with those who hunger. Let us learn to forgive as well as to receive forgiveness. Help us through the time of temptation, delivering us from all evil. For ours are the eternal blessings that you pour upon the earth. Amen.
Blessing
May the rain fall off your shoulders when you’re caught in a storm. When the frost comes a callin’ may it find you safe and warm. May your place be set, and may your promises be kept. And may you never forget that you are loved.
8
Sending Hymn
Sign Me Up
9 9
LEVAS #142
Dismissal Deacon: People:
Let us go forth to love and serve the Lord. Thanks be to God.
10
Why should I make an annual pledge? Can’t I just put money in the collection plate when I’m in church or give online? This question actually has 2 separate but related answers: 1) Part of our spiritual path calls us to embrace radical transformation in our lives, recognizing the abundance of gifts we have in our lives and offering a portion of those gifts back to do the work we are called to do in the world. 2) Trinity remains faithful managing its resources wisely establishing an annual budget for the year ahead. Using a combination of the annual pledge commitments and additional income from legacy gifts allows the vestry to approve a budget geared towards radical transformation in the year ahead.
Who decides what to do with the money pledged? Approving the annual budget is the responsibility of our vestry; the 9-member elected leadership team made up of parish members. One of their responsibilities is to act as agents and legal representatives of the parish in all matters concerning its corporate property including finances. Over the past three years Trinity has developed a clear budget process that begins in July and ends with the ratification of the budget by the Vestry in December. Then the Sunday prior to the Annual Meeting in January, the Rector, Treasurer, Vestry and Finance Commission host an all-parish gathering to discuss the approved budget for the year ahead- all are welcome to attend.
How many people/families make an annual pledge to Trinity? Currently, 79 households have made a pledge over this past year supporting the 2021 budget. The total amount pledged for 2021 was $198,244.00 making up approximately 25% of our overall operating budget of $788,625.
How does Trinity make up the gap between the pledge amount and the resources needed to fund the Operating Budget? Trinity is richly blessed with outside resources supporting our ministry through funds entrusted to us by those who have come before. We are also challenged at times in our ability to communicate the importance of cultivating a more generous and engaged commitment of stewardship from the overall membership in order to decrease our disproportionately weighted reliance on these funds to balance our budget. We will continue this conversation and education this year as together we give thanks for all the resources we share.
11
Trinity’s Daily Bread- As a community of faith, we are called to love and be loved; to serve and be served, to give and to receive. In short, we don’t want anyone to “fall behind or drop out.” In this season of connecting in new ways, we are introducing Trinity’s Daily Bread. Please let us know if you need prayer, assistance or connection by filling out our Daily Bread form on our website, www.trinitytoledo.org!
Trinity Episcopal Church Vestry Leadership Donna Steppe, Sr. Warden, Jeffrey Albright, Jr. Warden Leah Reed, Clerk, Gary Franklin, Treasurer Dennis Degnan, Becky Koskinen, Fritz Hany, Bob Meeker & Jamie Paul
Parish Staff The Rev. Dr. Lisa Tucker-Gray, Rector The Rev. Megan Allen, Transitional Deacon, Curate Heather Meyer, Director of Operations and Community Development Chelsie Cree, Choir Director Grace Mauk, Trinity@316 Accompanist, Brian Buckner, Trinity@Home Accompanist Lynzi Miller, Next To New Manager & Communications Coordinator ADDITIONAL RESOURCES & COPYRIGHT INFO: Collect of the Day from: Prayers for an Inclusive Church by Steven Shakespeare, 2009. Readings and Gospel from: Revised Common Lectionary: lectionarypage.net, 2021. Psalm: From Psalms for Praying © 2007 Nan C. Merrill. Reprinted with permission of the publisher Continuum International Publishing Group www.PsalmsForPraying.com. Affirmation of Faith: From Ross Mackinnon, Glen Waverley Uniting Church Confession & Absolution: From Wonderings Through Life and Other Such Nonsense. Lord’s Prayer: version by J. Manny Santiago. Bulletin Image: Artwork created by Brent Lohman from B-Creative Studios (921 Washington St, Toledo, OH 43604 - https://www.b-creativestudio.com) for Trinity, Toledo 2021 Pledge Drive. All printed music from The Hymnal 1982, Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing, My Heart Sings Out, Wonder, Love, and Praise was used by permission through purchase of riteseries.org. All other printed music permission through purchase of CCLI Copyright license #20577215 Size B Streaming License #20577284 Size B Secular music permission through purchase of CCS WORSHIPcast Copyright license #13190 All printed music from Gather permission through purchase of onelicense.net License # A-700000
TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH PROGRESSIVE INCLUSIVE CREATIVE
DOWNTOWN
316 Adams Street, Toledo, OH 43604 (419) 243-1231 www.trinitytoledo.org Facebook.com/TrinityEpiscopalToledo
12