April 2016 Trinity Times - Trinity Memorial Church

Visit us on the web at
www.trinitymemorial.org
Trinity Memorial Church
An Episcopal Church in the
Diocese of Central New York
and a Jubilee Ministry Center
44 Main Street
Binghamton, NY 13905
Phone: 607-723-3593
Fax: 607-724-6945
Church E-mail:
[email protected]
The Rev. Glenn Mahaffey
Priest
The Rev. Dorothy Pierce
Deacon
Timothy E. Smith
Organist & Choirmaster
Arlene Ghilardi
Office Manager
Chris Brown
Financial Secretary
Jeff Fellows
Building & Grounds Manager
David Brown
Sunday Sexton
Marcy Keeler
Trinity Times Editor
Virginia Chatterton
John Chaffee
Wardens
Sally Akel, Brad Bennett,
Patricia Creagh, Darlene Croston,
Deena Dement, Robin Fellows,
Nicole Huff, Rob Lacey,
Barbara Manzo, Jack Moulton,
Bill Palmer, Jody Zakrevsky
Vestry
Gary Muehlbauer
Treasurer
Darlene Croston, Clerk
Our Mission: To serve Christ
passionately through self, family,
parish & community.
Our Identity: A diverse people
responding to God through worship
& music, friendship & formation,
generosity & service.
Published monthly by
Trinity Memorial Church
April 2016
Vol. 10 — No. 4
Trinity Memorial Church
From the Warden: An Update
Dear Fellow Parishioners,
I am happy to report that the Ad Hoc Committee on Ministry
Development, after four hard-working sessions, has made
recommendations that the Vestry accepted at its meeting on
March 14. These are, first, that Trinity not begin a search for a
new priest until this fall at the earliest (after the new bishop is in
place), and second, that the Vestry state a preference for a priest
-in-charge as our eventual next step rather than a rector. The
committee also expressed concern about the issue of
administrative oversight in the absence of a full-time priest.
These recommendations require some explanation.
The possible timing of a search for our next priest is complicated
by the fact that our bishop, Skip Adams, is retiring and a new
bishop will be elected in early August. That election will not
become official, however, until it is approved by a majority of the
Diocesan Standing Committees of the Episcopal Church, a
process that could last until December. Given the central role of
bishops in the calling and appointment of priests – with practices
varying from bishop to bishop – the Committee and Vestry both
agreed that it would be unwise to conduct a search that might not
be concluded before the August election. Thus we would have to
either initiate very quickly – something that we felt Trinity was not
ready for – or wait until we could get guidance and approval from
the new bishop concerning our search.
Central to our thinking in this matter was our delight with Fr.
Glenn Mahaffey’s service as long-term supply, and his very
generous commitment to continue on with us as long as we have
need of him.
The key reason for our preference for a priest-in-charge was a
widely expressed desire to be able to have a “try out” period, a
time in which the priest and congregation (or legally, the Vestry)
would discern whether the relationship was a successful one.
According to our current diocesan practice, a priest-in-charge,
who has all of the authority and responsibilities of a rector except
for tenure, comes in with a three-year contract, in the second
Parish Life
Ministry Planning Committee
year of which a discernment process results in a
decision either to call the priest as a rector, or not to
renew the relationship, in which case a new search
would occur during the third year of the contract.
Sunday, April 3: Easter II
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Sunday, April 10: Easter III
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist
11:30 a.m. Trinity Forum
Sunday, April 17: Easter IV
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist
11:30 a.m. Trinity Forum
Sunday, April 24: Easter V
8 a.m. Holy Eucharist
10 a.m. Holy Eucharist
11:30 a.m. Trinity Forum
7 p.m. Concert: Honoring
Peter Browne
Remember CHOW
Let’s bring
Fruit or
Fruit juice
for the CHOW basket this
month.
The priest-in-charge option has its drawbacks. The pool
of possible candidates is much smaller than that for a
rector, for most priests would understandably prefer to
be a rector from the outset. Again, according to current
diocesan practice a parish desiring a priest-in-charge
does not do a normal search, beginning with the
evaluation of multiple candidates; rather, the bishop
selects and vets the candidates, and then presents
them to the parish, pre-approved, but one by one, with
the parish then deciding whether or not to call the
individual so offered. Finally, we are quite aware that
the new bishop may have very different opinions about
and procedures for priests-in-charge. Thus we are
declaring our preference for the priest-in-charge in the
knowledge that, after consulting with the new bishop,
we might engage in a search for a rector rather than a
priest-in-charge.
Concerning the administrative oversight of the staff and
the church program, in the absence of a rector (or priest
-in-charge), this is the responsibility of Virginia
Chatterton, my fellow Warden, and me. It is a challenge,
made considerably easier by the excellence of our staff,
but still one that neither she nor I had anticipated.
Although we are the ones who are charged by our bylaws, with making all decisions about the staff, it was
agreed at the March 14th Vestry meeting that she and I
would discuss staffing issues with the Vestry on a
regular basis.
Let me close this too long message by stating what is
probably obvious to all of you. Despite its challenges,
Trinity is in a good place. Attendance is up, people have
taken to Fr. Glenn, and there is excitement about our
music program and its special services. I believe that
we are engaged in God’s work and ask for your
continued prayers and support as we continue in it.
In peace,
John Chaffee,
Warden
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Finances
Thanks Be!
Thanks be to God and thanks to many at Trinity for making this Lenten
season meaningful and memorable.
We began Lent on Ash Wednesday with “Ashes to Go.” Deacon Dorothy
Pierce and Barbara Manzo offered ashes and prayers to over 30 people in
front of our church.
Fr. Glenn presented an enlightening Trinity Forum series on The Last
Week, a book detailing the last week of Jesus as recorded in the gospel of
Mark. Many questions were raised and in the readings and discussions, we
acquired a new understanding of what happened in Jesus’ last week.
Our music in Lent was special. We began with The Great Litany and ended
with an Evensong service that included works of Purcell and Byrd.
Sunday evenings in Lent were filled with food and fellowship and worship
and music. “Sundays at Seven” included Three Evensong services, an
organ recital by Tim Smith and a chamber concert by the ensemble “Early
On.”
Before each of the five services, we offered a “Simple Supper at Six,”
sponsored by the Christian Education Commission, Buildings and Grounds
Commission, the Worship and Music Commission, the Altar Guild, the
Trinity Choir, and our Vestry.
The attendance at Sunday worship is increasing and the attendance at the
Evensong services and concerts exceeded our expectations. We welcomed
many guests from the community at these events.
So to all who made Lent so special, we offer our great thanks!
Peter Koeppel
For there is hope for a tree, if it is cut
down, that it will sprout again, and that
its shoots will not cease.
Job 14:7
OPERATING BUDGET
Feb 2016
16% of 2016 Full yr
ACTUAL
BUDGET
INCOME
Offerings
$33,544 20% of
$170,150
Endowments
$19,401 12% of
$168,115
Other Income
$6,149 71% of
$8,700
TOTAL INCOME
$59,094 17% of
$346,965
EXPENSES
$59,798 17% of
$346,965
Parish
Record
DEFICIT
$704
A Word to the Church from The House of Bishops
In this moment, we resemble God’s children wandering
in the wilderness. We, like they, are struggling to find our
way. They turned from following God and worshiped a
golden calf constructed from their own wealth. The
current rhetoric is leading us to construct a modern false
idol out of power and privilege. We reject the idolatrous
notion that we can ensure the safety of some by
sacrificing the hopes of others. No matter where we fall
on the political spectrum, we must respect the dignity of
every human being and we must seek the common
good above all else.
"We reject the idolatrous notion that we can ensure the
safety of some by sacrificing the hopes of others.”
On Good Friday the ruling political forces of the day
tortured and executed an innocent man. They sacrificed
the weak and the blameless to protect their own status
and power. On the third day Jesus was raised from the
dead, revealing not only their injustice but also
unmasking the lie that might makes right.
In a country still living under the shadow of the lynching
tree, we are troubled by the violent forces being
released by this season’s political rhetoric. Americans
are turning against their neighbors, particularly those on
the margins of society. They seek to secure their own
safety and security at the expense of others. There is
legitimate reason to fear where this rhetoric and the
actions arising from it might take us.
We call for prayer for our country that a spirit of
reconciliation will prevail and we will not betray our true
selves.
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Trinity Forums: Focus on Environment
Trinity Forums: Spring 2016
Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 12:15p.m.
In the Common Room
“Climate Change and the Environment:
Our Stewardship of the Earth”
As we enter the Easter season, the Trinity Forums Committee is presenting a series that
reflects the seasonal theme of death and rebirth. We will explore environmental issues facing
us today from both global and local perspectives and consider our role as Christians in
addressing these issues.
April 10, 2016
“The Impending Environmental Threat”
Dr. Julian Shepherd
Dr. Shepherd, professor of Biology at Binghamton University, is a specialist in the
physiology, behavior and ecology of arthropods (especially moths, ticks and
mosquitoes) and assessment of local environments.
April 17, 2016
“Laudato Si’: On Care of Our Common Home:
The Papal Encyclical on the Environment”
Scott Laufer
Scott Lauffer is the Chair of the Susquehanna Group of the Sierra Club. He found
himself drawn to the issue of Climate Change and participated in a 6 week
discussion of Laudato Si’ with the Catholic Community. He has been encouraged
that faith and environmental groups can unite over care and concern for the
Planet.
April 24. 2016
“Moving Over the Water”
Rick Shumaker
Formal education in geology, environmental studies, geography and engineering
science has helped Rick achieve his lifelong goal of better understanding the
natural systems of our home planet, Earth, and our role as humans within these
systems. Feeling a strong sense of place while paddling canoes and kayaks on
rivers, lakes and streams has led him to be an advocate for helping others
understand our roles and responsibilities in these systems.
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Forums scheduled
May 1, 2016
“Should Liquefied Petroleum Gas Be Stored in Salt Caverns
under Seneca Lake?”
Susan Thornton
Susan Thornton grew up in Rochester and spent 30 summers on the shore of
Seneca lake where she learned to swim, to water ski, and to sail small boats. She
still visits there as often as she can. Three years ago, she discovered on social
media (specifically Facebook) that a Texas oil company had plans to create a
storage facility and transportation hub for LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) 10 miles
from where she used to stay on the lake shore. She began to research the plans for
this development and would like to present her findings on this issue.
May 8, 2016
"Building a Sustainable Strategy for the Food, Water and
Energy Nexus"
Dr. Yuxin Wang
Yuxin Wang is a visiting instructor for Sustainable Engineering at the State
University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in
Syracuse. She also serves as an expert witness for drinking water and wastewater
discharge permit litigation. Yuxin was a Steinbrenner Institute Research fellow at
Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, where she earned her MS and PhD in
Civil and Environmental Engineering. Her PhD research focused on water quality
engineering and energy-water issues.
May 15, 2016
“Trinity and the Environmental Challenge”
A discussion
Trinity Lunchers
The Trinity Lunchers will meet on Monday, April 18, 2016, at 12 noon for a Dutch Treat
lunch at the Spot Restaurant, Upper Front Street, Binghamton.
Our guest speaker will be author and actress, Eileen Patch. Dressed as her greatgrandmother, Sarah Inglis, Eileen will dramatize a living history performance while
highlighting the Civil War letters of Sarah's brother, George Magusta Englis. Eileen's
presentation, “A Voice From the Civil War,” dramatizes excerpts from 57 letters written
home from assignments with the 89th NY Regiment of Volunteer Infantry between 18611865. Like peeling layers from an onion, each letter puts the listener closer to the soldier's
soul. George most often closed his letters - “This from George,” which coincidentally, is the
title of the book written by Eileen and published by the Broome County Historical Society.
Please plan to attend and witness this unique and innovative presentation.
Fred Alexander, Coordinator
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Celebrations
Happy April Birthday
2
Carol Robertson
3
Shannon Sage
5
Beverly H. Dorsey
7
Christine Baxter
8
Catherine Stuckart
13
Thomas Hanes
13
Bill Palmer
14
Patty Bloomer
14
Kent Turner
17
Susanne Harding
19
Charles Carpenter
21
Martha Gebler
24
Gregory Keeler
25
Barbara Bowell
26
Sheila Morrison
27
Bryan Sloat
28
Cynthia Evans
29
Jan Muehlbauer
28
Michael Rodney
30
Melanie Cebula
30
Lynne Lacey
30
Beverly McLean
30
Benjamin StewartRynone
Parish Fun
Our next
miniature golf
tournament
will be
Sunday, May
29
from 4 to 6
p.m.
2nd Annual
Parish Picnic
Sunday, June 12, 2016 from
4 to 7 p.m.
at Arnold Park in Vestal.
Stafford Scholarships
Trinity parishioner John H. Stafford left an endowment to Trinity
Memorial Church in 1930 “to be used in assisting boys and young men
along educational and training lines.” It was Mr. Stafford’s desire to
provide financial assistance, especially to those who were studying for
the ordained ministry. A number of years ago, the Vestry enlarged the
provision to enable men, and later women, to apply for loans to support
their general college education. The loan program was discontinued in
2006. Since 2011 funds have been distributed as outright scholarships.
Communicants in good standing at Trinity Memorial Church are eligible
to apply for a Stafford Scholarship. Applications are invited from students
entering or continuing in undergraduate or graduate degree programs, or
vocational or licensure programs. Priority will be given to students
seeking ordination in The Episcopal Church.
Application materials can be obtained from Stafford Scholarship chair,
Dr. Sandra D. Michael. E-mail her at [email protected];
Phone: 777-6517 (work), 748-7520 (home).
Although electronically prepared applications are preferred, they may
also be typed or hand written. All applications must be submitted to Dr.
Michael or the church office. The deadline for receipt of applications
is May 1. For more information, contact Dr. Michael.
Message from Bishop Adams
Alleluia, Christ is risen! Because Jesus is risen, you are called to live a
life immersed in the sure and certain hope that God’s life is always
wrapped up in yours. This truth is to be born in your faith community, in
your apartment, in your college dorm or office, or even in line at the
grocery store. We are called to witness to this truth, point to it, live it and
be it, for the sake of all God’s people, especially the poor,
disenfranchised and marginalized.
The great Easter truth is not so much that we are to live anew after
death, but that we are to be new here and now by the power of the
Resurrection. God’s love, a love that defeats death and everything that
leads to death, invites us now into life as God’s new creation.
The proof of the Resurrection is when we ourselves live into God’s
invitation. Our life is to be one that matters and makes a difference—a
life that challenges and resists the words of fear, division and anxiety all
around us; a life that is generous and grateful; a life that knows we have
been given all we need to be a passionate people in love with a
passionate God who is wildly in love with us.
You are to be a sign, a sacrament if you will, of God’s new creation. May
the Great Fifty Days of Easter be a new beginning for you.
With love and in thanksgiving for the privilege of being your bishop,
+Skip
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St. Patrick’s Day Parade
Honoring Peter
This year’s St. Patrick’s Day parade was awesome. It was
bigger and better than last year. Trinity had a little parade
within the parade. We had a beautiful float with pipe organ
music recorded by Tim Smith, and a confetti blaster and
bubble machine provided by Terry Burke that thrilled the
crowd. We had Fr. Glenn, Naomi, and our own Irish
princess, Heavenly, greeting and blessing everyone as we
passed.
Our very special Grand Marshalls— Virginia Chatterton,
Bobbie Johnson, JoAnne Maniago and Carol Robertson—
road in a white convertible that preceded our float. Our
streamers were leading the whole procession with the
Trinity banner. There were people carrying a Shamrock
(which represents the Father, Son and Holy Spirit), and
others who handed out candy bars to the children.
Altogether we had about 50 members and guests
marching or riding in the parade representing Trinity. What
a grand way to present Trinity to our community, showing
them “We are Trinity” and proud of it.
We want to thank the hard=working Parade Committee:
Sally and George Akel, Debra and Bruce Parmelee, Jan
and Gary Muehlbauer, Tom Harding, Terry Burke, Robin
and Jeff Fellows, Jack Moulton and Kathy Luce our
visionary and driving force for this event. The committee
would like to thank everyone who participated in this fun
parish event—all the decorators, marchers, riders, and the
clean up crew.
Our motto was “Cead Mile Failte” which means “100,000
Welcomes” in Gaelic. Our presence in this parade is one
way to extend an open welcome to all to our church.
Jeff Fellows
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On April 24 we will honor
the gifts of Peter Browne,
Church Musician at Trinity
Memorial for 34 years.
Organist, choral director,
composer,
teacher,
accompanist, recitalist—a
musician of many talents.
Peter molded the Trinity
Choir into a disciplined
balanced ensemble. He
exposed dozens of Trebles
to Anglican church music.
He founded our handchime
choir, explored a wide
range of organ repertoire,
collaborated
with
the
chamber
musicians
of
“Early On,” and conducted
the
Harpur Chorale at
Binghamton University. All
of these musical pursuits
will be celebrated in a
concert on Sunday, April 24
at 7 p.m. His friends are
eager to sing and play
Peter's music for you.
Shortly before his death
last spring, Peter made a
CD with the choir of music
made at Trinity. Featured
on the CD are seven
anthems composed or
arranged
by
Peter.
Anthems by Hilton Baxter,
Bruce Borton, and Conrad
Chaffee are also included.
The CD, “I’ll Sing On,” will
be available to purchase.
The cost is $10.
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PAID
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The Church Mouse Says “Thanks”
Peter Koeppel described this past Lenten season on page 3 and expressed his
appreciation for all that happened. Jeff Fellows recognized those who helped with the
Trinity float in the St. Patrick’s Parade. From my vantage point, I see many behind-thescenes activities and I would like to augment the list of those who deserve our thanks for
making Lent, Holy Week, AND Easter so special in so many ways.
Our thanks to:
• Fr. Glenn Mahaffey for inspiring sermons and a very informative Trinity Forum book study
• Tim Smith for beautiful and uplifting music throughout this season
• The Trinity Choir and Trinity Ringers for their dedication to enhancing our worship
• Jeff Fellows and his crew for keeping our buildings warm, clean, and efficient
• Jeff Fellows for his ordering, arranging, caring for, and distributing Easter flowers
• Kathy Luce for decorations in the Hoyt Room
• Arlene Ghilardi and Chris Brown for keeping the Church Offices running smoothly and bills paid
• Robin Fellows, Ladene Bourne, Estelle Gerber, Joan Lacey, and Marcy Keeler for help in the office
• David Brown for all he does on Sunday mornings
• Phil and Cynthia Evans and Dan and Ginny Hill for making the palm crosses
• Alice Zakrevsky and her helpers for a tasty and elegant reception on Palm Sunday
• All who contributed to Easter flowers in memory or in thanksgiving for loved ones
• All who took plants to homebound parishioners
• All who support our worship: ushers, Altar Guild, worship leaders, lectors, and Eucharistic ministers
• The Executive Committee—Virginia Chatterton, John Chaffee, Peter Koeppel & Gary Muehlbauer–
for ALL they do!!
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