Let’s Have Supper Together Tonight! Community Life at Trinity Church

Dear Trinity Friends,

 

The Greek word ekklesia is often translated as “church” or “a people assembled.” When most of the world thinks of a “church,” they imagine the bricks and mortars of a building rather than a people gathered. How many times have you told someone you go to Trinity Church only to have to explain that there is indeed a vibrant people assembled within one of Boston’s most treasured and iconic buildings?

 

We are so much more than our stones and windows, but our worship space holds so much spiritual meaning for each of us. It is a place where the walls sing of our story and speak to our souls. It is a building where many of us were married, where we baptized our children, where we have laid our love ones to rest. It is a space where we feel safe to weep in our sufferings and rejoice in our celebrations. It is a place where we encounter the Divine in sublime music, in feasting at the table, in profound preaching, and in our communal prayers.

 

Yes, we know we are more than the building, but, in the same breath, in our times of need it is a building that provides us great comfort. So when our doors closed on Friday, March 12, under orders for social-distancing and staying-at-home, we were left with the question how we would be ekklesia beyond our building? How would we connect? How would we worship? How would we pastor? How would we grow in our faith without one another? How would we continue Being Trinity Church in this time without one another’s physical company? 

 

Last Sunday’s familiar Old Testament from Ezekiel (37:1-6) lesson asked some of these same questions: The hand of the Lord came upon me, and he brought me out by the spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me all around them; there were very many lying in the valley, and they were very dry. He said to me, “Mortal, can these bones live?” I answered, “O Lord God, you know.” Then he said to me, “Prophesy to these bones, and say to them: O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Thus says the Lord God to these bones: I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live. I will lay sinews on you, and will cause flesh to come upon you, and cover you with skin, and put breath in you, and you shall live; and you shall know that I am the Lord.”

 

Mortal, can these dry bones live? In this dry season – “very dry,” with sickness, fear, and anxiety – God is breathing a way forward for us, putting new flesh and sinews on the bones of our connections to one another. By the grace and grit of our parish family and in barely two weeks (can you believe it’s been just more than two weeks!), we have seen brilliant and imaginative ways of gathering and Being Trinity Church. There is a new life – and even dancing! – among our bones.

 

From Morning Prayer to evening Compline we are worshipping! Our choirs have threaded together their beautiful individual voices while in different locations to create heavenly harmony. Our lay liturgists have led us in prayers and lessons from their kitchen tables, our priests have preached the good news of the Gospel.  

 

We are learning! With the help of Zoom, we have spent time with our youth and children for sharing time and Lenten lessons, we adults have enjoyed two beautifully reflective and intimate Forum experiences. Our regular Bible Studies continue to gather virtually to go deeper in their knowledge of the Holy Scriptures.  

 

We are caring for one another! Before that first weekend even started, a team of parishioners has been calling the most vulnerable in our community, and plans are underway that every member of our parish will receive a phone call by mid-April (stay tuned!). In addition, our Boston Warm team has continued to deliver food to those who have no shelter and continue to be hungry. Our Bereavement group and Cancer Support group have met virtually, and our prayer team continues to hold our church in daily prayer.

 

We are connecting with one another! Even though we are not in the same location, Sundays now continue with three, rich Community Hour experiences, and many ministries, from Stitching in the Spirit to our choirs, are finding ways to check-in and stay connected with one another.

 

But wait! There’s more! We will be trying on some new ways to connect in the weeks that follow. First up:

 

Supper Together!

Details for joining the Zoom meeting 

https://zoom.us/j/419972315

or dial 1 646 558 8656 and enter the meeting ID: 419 972 315 

 

Join us tonight from 5:15-6:30 p.m. to cook a meal together and close with a short evening devotion. We are excited to have Joscelyn Chapman, one of our dynamic-duo that makes our Parish Breakfasts come together each month, host us for a cooking gathering via Zoom.

 

We can all join in as we learn a fantastic and easy spaghetti sauce. She will walk us through each step, and we will finish our time together with a short evening devotional service. You can improvise ingredients, but if you have these items on your shelves, please pull them out for Tuesday. This is the perfect time to include your kids in the process!

 

• 2 cans crushed tomatoes  

• 2 cans tomato puree  

• 1 can whole peeled tomatoes 

• 1 can tomato paste 

• dry oregano 

• dry thyme 

• fresh rosemary 

• fresh basil 

• garlic 

• onion  (helps to put in the fridge first!)

• olive oil 

• sugar 

• salt 

• pepper 

 

and of course spaghetti!  

 

Kitchen tools that will prove helpful include: a good knife, a cutting board, a wooden spoon or spatula, a large pot for sauce, and a large pot for spaghetti.

 

This sauce will make roughly 8 servings of food, and about twice as much fun! We hope you will join us.

 

I look forward to sharing in this amazing ekklesia with you! #BeingTrinityChurch 

 

Blessings and Peace, 

 

The Rev. Paige  Fisher

Interim Associate for Community Life