 Get the 2018 program here.
Find the 2018 version here. In this most unusual year, Trinity didn't want to miss the opportunity to gather, safely, virtually, to celebrate the season with Lessons and Carols. Since we can't gather together in a candlelit church, we're going to gather online and enjoy TWO services of Lessons and Carols on consecutive Saturday nights in December. Thanks to Simsbury Community TV for generously sharing the videos from 2018 and 2019. On Saturday, December 5, at 7:00pm, we'll gather on Facebook to watch the 2018 Lessons & Carols. Learn more here. On Saturday, December 12, we'll gather on Facebook to watch the 2019 Lessons & Carols. Learn more here. Invite your friends! Share the events on Facebook! Download the program to sing along here! Merry Christmas to all!
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 Rev. Frank Howard July 28, 1927 ~ September 25, 2020 Rector of Trinity Church, Tariffville from 1975-1999 O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death, and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that your servant Frank, being raised with him, may know the strength of his presence, and rejoice in his eternal glory; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Due to the Covid-19 restrictions, the funeral will be private. However you can watch the service on the Trinity Website or on the Trinity Facebook page Memories
You are encouraged to add your own memories of Fr. Howard in the comments below.From a Former Junior Warden
A good friend of mine often talks about the "golden thread" that holds all of us together in our spiritual life. She often thanks God for weaving us together with this golden thread. If that is so, Fr. Howard was the spindle that directed the weaving at Trinity. I met Frank at a time when my little family was in crisis. New to town, actually new to the state, I called the church because I had no one else to reach out to at the time. Fr. Howard paid my family a pastoral visit which was both awkward and touching. He seemed shy but determined to find out what he could do. I remember him patting my hand and he assured me that he would pray for our situation. Before long things seemed to smooth out in my life and he introduced me to other women of Trinity. Within months I rediscovered my childhood faith but with a huge dose of the Holy Spirit. I believe Frank's visit and subsequent prayers are what launched me into this Christian adventure. If's nearly impossible to separate Frank from the people and experiences that manifest God in this church. Frank was always the facilitator but never sought to be front and center. He invited speakers, organized retreats, invited folks to bible studies and lunches. Every bible study, faith alive, alpha, Cursillo, vestry retreat, parish retreat was Frank's working model of person to person evangelism. Honestly, he rarely shared his own faith story, but tilled the ground so that all of us, the sprouting Christians, would tell out own stories to each other. Frank preferred to fan the flames and let the fire grow. I am at a loss to find a way to fully describe the gentle power of Fr. Howard's ministry. It was about his faith, his faithfulness to prayer, his conviction that God is a God of Love and that,"The Best is Yet to Come". He often spoke of the thin veil that separates us from the realm of God. How can I be sad when I know that Frank is finally, eternally home again? Thank you for your faith and witness, Fr. Howard. In Christ~ Kathy Sutton  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!  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. |
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