 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.
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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  Come start the season of Lent with Ash Wednesday services in Tariffville, Connecticut. Services are available throughout the day.
Learn the latest on the Facebook event, here.
 Pancakes for dinner? Why, yes, I think I will!
Come bring the whole family for a pancake supper to celebrate Mardi Gras on February 25, 2020, from 5:30 - 7:30 PM! This traditional "Shrove Tuesday" feast means you get to eat breakfast for dinner, and there is no cooking, no drive-through, no dishes to be done. Just come and enjoy pancakes in Tariffville!  God has a dilemma. God wants to share the beauty and strength and joy and love of the life that is at the very heart of God with us.
But we're stuck: Stuck in the routines and schedules that take up our lives, and, we can't imagine that the life God offers is much more than the one we already have. Lent is a gift. Lent gives us 40 days to make an adjustment toward God that results in more of God's life, even after Lent is over. You are invited to join in a community-wide program that seeks to make us open to God's grace called, The Spirituality of Knowing Jesus. We will have seven Friday evenings that begin with dinner together. Then, we will hear a talk on a spiritual practice that opens us to a greater awareness of God in our daily lives. We will take some time in smaller groups to do what we have just heard, and come back to reflect on it together. During the week, we will have the opportunity to practice what we have learned. By the end of the 40 days of Lent, you will have made some new friends, gone deeper with God, and have developed your own plan for using practices that work best for you. Each Friday night begins with dinner at 6:00 and ends at 8:00. The program is based on the book, Sacred Rhythms, by Ruth Haley Barton, which you should buy before starting. Ordering it on Amazon is fast, and the book is also available for immediate download. We begin on Friday, February 21 with an introduction. One Friday, we will have a break for Trinity Open Mic, just for fun. At the end of the program, we will enter into Holy Week together. Not everyone will find Friday nights the best night to meet. Fr Taylor will be arranging a condensed version on three Saturdays during Lent. Message the Trinity Church Tariffville Facebook page if you'd like to be a part of that option; or call the church office. All are welcome. Find out more at the Facebook page for the Lenten series, here. |
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