We are thrilled to welcome Clarke Mortensen as our new seminarian. Clarke Valencia Mortensen is a second year M.Div. student at Yale Divinity school and a postulant to the priesthood from the diocese of Ohio. A Midwesterner born and bred, she has lived all over Ohio, as well as Kansas City. She graduated from Kenyon College in 2020 with a degree in English, but after graduation worked in all kinds of places, from campus ministry to a farm. Her wife Dani and two dogs keep her home life full of adventure and joy. Welcome, Clarke!
Last week, Morning Meditation returned after a summer hiatus. Continuing this week, we will again join online via zoom to meditate together for 20 minutes. We typically use the Centering Prayer method for meditation, but everyone is free to do what feels best to them. Starting the day with a period of interior silence in which we allow the Divine to be closer to our souls than we ourselves are, sets a deep intentional way for the day to unfold. All are welcome. We meet on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:00 am.
Any questions? Call Lilian Revel at 203-858-1243.
Meeting ID: 846 3363 3168
Passcode: 019925
Choristarters starts a new year on September 10 at 4:30 PM. This group is open to all children aged between 4 and 8 years old. It is non-auditioned and offers children a chance to explore music making through game songs, Kodály-based activities as well as developing their singing voice. Sessions are 45 minutes long and free. For more information, please contact Simon Lee, our Director of Music (slee@trinitynewhaven.org)
In regards to the presentation of the interfaith group this past week, a parishioner brought up the fact that the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, which has been in existence for thirty years and is a highly respected charity, is working to get seriously injured children to safe places for medical care. Go to pcrf.net to donate.
Educators, Students, School Staff: Join us Aug. 24
Head back to school with love and prayers from our church community! Join us on Sunday, Aug. 24, at our 10:30 AM Service where we'll bless you and some of the school supplies we've collected for Kenyan students. Children are invited to be readers, musicians, singers, ushers. Contact Angela for more information: Family@TrinityNewHaven.org. Click this link to donate to the School Supply Drive via the Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1N8T90YG81UVM/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2
On Sunday, September 28 during our 10:30am service, we will bless and pray for those who have chosen to become a member of our community over the past year.
Let us know if you have recently decided to call Trinity your home, and would like to join this moment of prayer in the service. Since this is the first time we have offered this kind of blessing in recent years, we encourage participation from anyone who has started worshipping with us in the past two years, or who has renewed their commitment to this community. Email Rev. Heidi (hthorsen@trinitynewhaven.org) if you are interested, or would like to discern more about this opportunity.
What does it mean to be a member of Trinity? Read more on our website here: https://www.trinitynewhaven.org/welcome
The Season of Creation, September 1 through October 4, is celebrated by Christians around the world as a time for renewing, repairing, and restoring our relationship to God, one another, and all of creation.
At Trinity, we will mark this season with additional prayers on Sundays, during the Prayers of the People.
You are also invited to sign up to receive daily devotions from Province One EcoRegion, including information about the species and a reflection on how their life informs the writer’s image of God and a prayer. Trinity’s own Lilian Revel has contributed a devotional in this year’s series!
Do you like to bake cookies? We do too! Join us on Saturday, September 27 from 9:00 am - noon as we bake cookies in the Trinity Undercroft. These cookies give us a head start for the famous Christmas Market Cookie Walk. Recipes and instructions are provided, come join in the fun. Contact gloria.hoda@gmail.com for more information.
Dear Trinity Community,
We write with great sadness to share the news of the death of a member of our choir community, Toast Balassa-Reed.
Toast began as a chorister 8 years ago, and was planning to continue singing in the Schola after graduating from the Chorister program this spring. They loved Latin poetry, their Hungarian roots, and the Trinity choirs. Trinity’s retired Music Director Walden Moore shares, “In addition to their musical gifts, Toast was an example of strength and resilience in their time with the Choir - we will remember them with fondness and are indeed grateful for the time they were with us.” Please keep Toast and their family in your prayers: mother Judit, father Peter, and older sister Anna.
While every loss is full of grief, we recognize that this is a particularly challenging loss as it touches many of the youngest people in our community. Know that our choir staff and pastoral care team are always available for further prayer and conversation. There will be a private prayer vigil for members of our choir community this week; we will keep the community posted about future plans for a memorial to celebrate Toast’s life.
God of hope, we come to you in shock and grief and confusion of heart, as we mourn the death of our friend and community member Toast. Help us to find peace in the knowledge of your loving mercy to all your children, and give us light to guide us out of our darkness into the assurance of your love, in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Join the Friends of the Green on July 26 and August 30 for Clean the Green. For these two summer dates, we’ll meet at 9 am (to beat the heat) and pick up trash to show our care for the Green and the New Haven community.
We’re collecting school supplies for parishioners Ralph and Mary Ann Stroup’s nonprofit which serves children, schools, and libraries in Kenya. All ages are welcome to participate! We’ll collect supplies from Aug. 1 to Sept. 21 then we’ll hear what the supplies will do for Kenyan students at a future Coffee Hour. All ages welcome! Donations can be brought to church OR delivered through the Amazon Wish List:
https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1N8T90YG81UVM/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_2
Presented by Trinity’s Children, Youth and Family Ministry.
Ever wondered what it's like to be in our choir? Now's your chance to find out! Whilst our choir is on their summer break, we will be having a mixture of music to lead our worship. No sign-up is necessary, just turn up on one of the dates below and find out what its all about! Dress smart and for the hot weather; we will not be wearing choir robes.
Remaining dates:
August 10 & 24
September 7
We will meet at 9:30 to rehearse an easy anthem, which we will then sing during the 10:30 Eucharist.
Any questions, talking to our Director of Music, Simon Lee (slee@trinitynewhaven.org). All are welcome!
On September 7th, Trinity will be tabling at New Haven Pride 2025. Festivities will take place from 12-6p at Crown and Orange Street. If you’d like to join the fun, we’d love to have a big group showing off Trinity as a parish that affirms the dignity and kinship of all of God’s children. To get involved, email Bill Pagano at paganob944@hotmail.com.
Proceeds go to the Trinity Organ Restoration Fund.
2025 Market Dates
Thursday November 20: Preview Party, $30, 6:00–8:00 pm
Friday November 21: 12:00 pm–6:00 pm
Saturday November 22: 10:00 am–5:00 pm
Sunday, November 23: 9:00 am–1:00 pm
Tag Sale: please start collecting items to donate to our great tag sale section. Donation drop-off dates:
Saturday September 27: 10 am–noon
Saturday October 25: 10 am–noon
Any Wednesday in October: 9:30 am–noon
Clean out your jewelry box and bring in your donations.
Contact leighcromey@gmail.com for more information/questions.
Trinity Parish Picnic 2025
College Wood Pavilion - East Rock Park | 41 Cold Spring Street, New Haven, CT 06511
Sunday, September 14th
10:30 AM – Holy Eucharist
Picnic to follow
Join us for a joyful day of worship, food, fun, and fellowship by the water!
There will be games and activities for the whole family — don’t miss it!
More details to come — mark your calendar now!
Last Sunday evening, Rev. Heidi Thorsen and Will Oxford welcomed a new member to their family, Naomi Dean Oxford! Heidi, Will, and Selma are beyond happy. We give thanks to God for the gift of life and the love that Naomi will share with her family. Please continue to pray for them as they settle into a new routine of love and kisses. Rev. Heidi will be on maternity leave through the first Sunday of August.
Starting this Sunday, May 4, Rev. Charles Lemert will lead a three-part seminar exploring the place of gender in faith. Each of the writers studied were women of faith who made important cultural and political contributions to American society. The seminars will consist of an introduction followed by discussion. Handouts will be provided, and longer readings can be requested—email lemertcharles@gmail.com.
Schedule:
May 4 – Anna Julia Cooper, "The Colored Woman's Office"
May 11 – bell hooks, "All About Love"
May 18 – Fannie Lou Hammer, "I'm Sick and Tired of Being Sick and Tired"
Each session takes place at 9:30 a.m. in the undercroft library.
The Rev. Cecil Tengatenga, parishioner and father to Shami and Sekai, will lead our monthly Family Worship Service in the undercroft this Sunday. Join us at 10:35 a.m. for this shorter celebration of the Eucharist where our children are musicians, readers, and gift bearers.
Following the 10:30 service, our Spirit Quest Youth Group will be holding their Beartastic Bake Sale. Support the efforts of our young parishioners by purchasing an item or two! Thank you to all the parishioners who shared their baking talents with us. Cash only donations.
This summer, our Rector, Rev. Luk De Volder, will be on sabbatical from June 16 through October 10. During this professional leave a group of clergy will cover our normal rhythm of Sunday services. The Rev. Peter Sipple, our Priest Associate, will lead our Sunday worship on many Sundays. Also, Rev. Ellen Tillotson, former Associate Rector at Trinity, and her husband Rev. Bill Cavanaugh will be joining us for several Sundays. All in all, between Rev. Heidi Thorson's maternity leave and Luk's sabbatical, there will only be six Sundays during which our regular clergy are not present (Heidi will return to work on the first Sunday of August).
Our Community Care Minister, Lisa Levy, will be present to cover any pastoral calls or coordinate funerals if they occur. To contact the office, Kyle Picha, our Office Manager, and Liz Hanna, our Administrative Administrator, will be present. All three of them will be able to connect you with clergy if need be.
During his sabbatical Luk will take some time to write, follow an executive management course, participate in a practical theology course, spend time with family and friends, and with the Lord for spiritual deepening. In case of emergency, the wardens and the Trinity staff will be able to get a hold of him.
Sabbaticals are recommended for clergy formation and ministry refreshment at least every five years. Details of clergy sabbaticals are processed with the Wardens, the Vestry, and the Bishop.