 Our neighbors are hungry - can you help?
Bring non-perishables to Trinity Church Tariffville and they will be delivered to the Simsbury Food Closet at Simsbury Social Services. We also accept checks, made out to "Simsbury Social Services." The collection will happen over the weekend of September 19-20, at 11 Church Street, Tariffville, CT.
Suggested non-perishable items include:
On the day of the collection, you can drive or walk in and volunteers will help unload your donation. Safe distancing practices, including wearing masks, will be observed. At our last Fill the Truck event - donors arrived by car, pick-up, bicycle, and even walk-ins from the neighborhood. Come however you can get here, and remember - no donation is too small!
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 2020 has definitely provided many reasons to lament. Father Taylor Albright wrote a special prayer for lament, based on Psalm 13, that was prayed on August 23, 2020. Please feel free to join us in this prayer.
Litany of Lament in the Time of Coronavirus Based on Psalm 13 - a psalm of lament Written by Father Taylor Albright Trinity Episcopal Church, Tariffville, Connecticut ©August 23, 2020 All, together: Out of the depths have we called to you, O Lord; Lord, hear our voice; let your ears consider well the voice of our supplication. Lector/Celebrant: Holy and gracious God, Creator of all that is, we humbly bend the knees of our hearts as we make this prayer to you. All: How long, O Lord? Will you forget us forever? How long will you hide your face from us? Lector/Celebrant: Lord, you have demonstrated the extent of your love for this world you have made in sending your Son, Jesus Christ, to come among us, to show us a holy life, and to give himself as an atonement for our sins on the cross. This morning we bring before you the pain and loss the coronavirus has caused. In your great compassion, hear our prayer. All: How long shall we have perplexity in our minds, and grief in our hearts, day after day? How long shall our enemies triumph over us? Lector/Celebrant: We have suffered, Lord, from the lethal effects of this disease. 790,000 people have died throughout the world, 175,000 people in our country, 4,500 people in our state. Mothers, sisters, grandmothers, dads, grandfathers, brothers, friends. Real people who became very sick and could not be saved. We grieve the loss of every life. All: Look upon us and answer us, O Lord our God; give light to our eyes, lest we sleep in death. Lector/Celebrant: Millions have lost jobs and businesses have closed. Many cannot pay their rent or meet their mortgages. And others have struggled to buy the food they need. We have been unable to visit those whom we love while they suffer in hospitals and care facilities. So many are isolated and alone. All: Lest my enemy say, “I have prevailed over him,” and my foes rejoice that I have fallen. Lector/Celebrant: We grieve the loss of a regular week, at school at work, and at church. We grieve the loss of graduations and weddings, being close to family and friends, vacations and gathering for support at critical moments like burials and wakes. We miss church as we once knew it. We ache to be able to gather to sing and worship, to receive Communion and healing prayer, to shake hands and hug, to enjoy being together as a community. All: We cry out, How long , O Lord, how long? But we put our trust in your mercy; Our own hearts are joyful because of your saving help. Lector/Celebrant: In your great mercy, rise up, O Lord, and heal our world. Comfort and heal those who are sick, strengthen those who are afraid, and help us to reach out to everyone who is alone. Give refreshment and new energy to those who labor day and night in hospitals, labs, nursing homes, and those who provide emergency medical care. Protect all those whose work puts them at risk: in supermarkets, warehouses, gas stations; who work as cleaners and servers, drivers, and those who deliver to our doors. Protect hospital chaplains, counselors, 12 Step supporters, and clinicians. All: We will sing to the Lord, for he has dealt with us richly; We will praise the Name of the Lord Most High. Lector/Celebrant: We know we are not forgotten, and that you are faithful to the promises you have made. We know that, even in our despair, you are with us and working to restore the whole creation to yourself. We trust you, Lord, and we will follow where your Spirit leads. All: Awaken us to your call to serve, even now. Lector/Celebrant: Praise to God the Father, Creator of heaven and earth. All: God’s mercy endures forever. Lector/Celebrant: Praise to God the Son, Redeemer of the world. All: God's mercy endures forever. Lector/Celebrant: O God the Holy Spirit, Sanctifier of the faithful, All: Have mercy upon us. Lector/Celebrant: O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, one God, All: Have mercy upon us. Lector/Celebrant: May the almighty and merciful God accept the prayers of God’s people, and strengthen us to do God’s will. Amen.  Social Media Sunday is a day when people of faith everywhere are invited to use digital tools to share and invite others to church. So, you might wonder, how is Social Media Sunday in a pandemic different from every other Sunday?
Good question! After all, we’re already getting hundreds of views on our Sunday services on Facebook and YouTube. Haven’t we fully succeeded at figuring all of this out? Almost. It’s true that Trinity has done a truly fantastic job of pivoting to online worship. The gifts, creativity, and many, many hours of work that Father Taylor, Manda, Carole, Paula, Moe, Geri, Kathy, Stan, Tara, Ethen, Judy, readers, musicians and others have put in means that our digital worship services are reaching more people now than our in-person services could have. But, we are called to do more. And more of us are called to do something. If you have a Facebook account or an email address, God just might be calling you to use those tools to serve and invite others. And that’s what we’re going to focus on this year, on Social Media Sunday. So, in September, you’ll be seeing a list of social media lessons and challenges on our Facebook group that will help you easily learn what you can do to share what God is up to at Trinity Tariffville. We’ll also do a Zoom workshop on Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at 7:00PM to answer all your questions. And on Sunday, September 27, 2020, we’ll be ready to share what we learned by sharing Trinity on social media. And by “we” I mean YOU, me, everyone who has a social media or email account. We can do this. Are you ready to answer God’s call to digital ministry on Social Media Sunday 2020?  People have lost jobs, or had hours cut. And it's getting harder to sometimes put food on the table, even for those who don't qualify for assistance.
Did you know that the Simsbury Food Closet will help anyone who asks and needs help? We're collecting food to help our neighbors! We can help fill empty plates and hungry stomachs in our community. Come be a part of it! We'll be practicing safe distancing during the collection - drive in one driveway and drive out another. You can stay in your car and have us unload your donation, or you can place your donation on a table and we'll take care of it. Your donations will go to feed hungry neighbors. Learn more on the Facebook event, here.
Our online services continue to be meaningful times for us to gather, worship, and share faith.
The Good Friday service was a beautiful time to reflect on our Lord's sacrifice. From the Book of Common Prayer: Almighty God, we pray you graciously to behold this your family, for whom our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to be betrayed, and given into the hands of sinners, and to suffer death upon the cross; who now lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
What a beautiful, and meaningful service at Trinity, remembering our Lord's last supper with the disciples. Holy Week has not lost its meaning in this time of social distancing.
Love one another. You are loved.  Starting March 18, you can join Trinity Church Tariffville online at 8:00 am for Morning Prayer, and 8:00 pm for Compline.
These beautiful, short services from the Book of Common Prayer, will help you start, and end your day in God's presence. We'll be gathering online, using Zoom. You can find information about signing up for Zoom here. Click the link below to join the service.  Preparing your home for participating in the live-streamed service.
Pick a place where you will be as free from as many distractions as you can. A TV in the background will never let you listen to the service, or God. So do your best to rearrange a spot. Set your laptop, iPad or phone into a good position on a table. Clear everything else off. If you have a candle, put that near you. An Icon is great, too. When ready, we will pray together the following prayer adapted from the Book of Common Prayer, p. 567: Throughout time, Almighty God has moved people to set apart places to pray, to worship, and meeting with God. Let us pray. Almighty God, we thank you for making us in your image, for making your presence known, and for calling us to know you. We set apart this time and this place for your worship. Sanctify it all, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. May all we do here be to your glory. Through Christ we pray, Amen. At this time, light your candle. When the service ends, thank God for being present. Blow out the candle and cross yourself in the name of the Trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Dear Members of the Trinity Church, Tariffville Community,
On the first Easter morning, the disciples discovered first hand the power of God confirming that Jesus was not only alive, but Lord. In a time when the pandemic is dominating our thoughts, it is important to remember that our lives are centered in Christ Jesus, who is good, who is alive and still Lord of all creation. After many hours of consultation about the impact of the virus and in consideration of our members, their extended families and friends and especially our neighbors, we have made the decision to exercise the greatest care about all of our gatherings. Our situation seems to change quickly, so we will continue to update you on changes as we move forward. First, we will not gather at the church for worship on Sunday starting this week, March 15. As I said last week in church, our perspective is always about our call to love one another, and to be especially attentive to the most vulnerable around us, "the least of these." After considering a variety of smaller worship settings, the best counsel at this time is not to risk passing the virus to someone who is vulnerable for greater, possibly fatal outcomes from an infection. However, we will continue to worship! A small skeleton crew will meet and live stream the service at a designated time so that we can be present to one another as we worship. Later today, you will receive instructions on how to join in and a copy of the service we use so you can actually participate. Trinity will worship together Sunday, as families gather at their home tables. Be open to how the Lord might be doing something very new! Check your email later this afternoon for the link, the instructions and the service. We will also be postponing all activities at the church until we feel it is safe. That includes services, small groups, Bible studies, and meetings. We will be working hard and quickly to find creative ways to facilitate groups through a variety of digital avenues that we will be sharing with you. Our Digital Ministry team is already developing access, and we will be sending instructions and video how to's. We need to remain a connected community. Today, we will be using the directory to create church neighborhoods- areas where members' homes are in close proximity. Each 'neighborhood' will have a person who will help facilitate pastoral care and communication. In that way, we can check in and help support one another - shop, encourage, pray, and provide practical support especially if someone is sick. During this time, the office staff will work at the church, but we would encourage you not to come to the church without making an appointment. I am available as before, and, as always, use my cell to contact me, 413-478-5367. Two requests. Please take care for yourself so that you can care for others. And, please pray. Pray for your neighbors, pray for our leaders, pray for those in the medical community who are about to be overwhelmed. Pray for those who are sick and those who are afraid. We are in a moment to moment adjustment right now. In history, it has been times like these where Christians have found ways to serve those who are struggling in a way that brought comfort and witnessed to the presence of Christ. We pray that we might be like them. Fr. Taylor Albright Click Here For A Video Message From Fr. Taylor |
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