This Coming Sunday:
Children's Formation:
This Sunday, September 17, will be the first day for Church School, with Godly Play classes for Kindergarteners through Fifth Grade. Children will begin their Sundays in church, and follow the cross out in procession after the first reading to their classes in Trinity Hall. Parents may pick up their children for Communion if they wish, or else do so right after church has concluded.
Announcements:
We are delighted to announce the appointment of Aaron Klinefelter as our new Associate for Children and Family Ministries. Aaron currently resides in Berkeley, where he will be finishing his Master of Divinity degree at CDSP (our seminary there) on a part-time basis over the next couple of years. Aaron and his wife, Sarah, along with their three children, expect to move over to the Peninsula next summer. Aaron will begin his ministry with us on Sunday, September 24! After that time, he can be reached by email at aaron@trinitymenlopark.org and by phone at 650-326-2084. Initially, Aaron expects to be working on campus on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays, and from home in Berkeley one additional weekday. We expect to be organizing a get-together so Aaron can better get to know our community of families with young kids, and they can get to know him, a bit better. Stay tuned for details!
The annual Bishop's Ranch Retreat is coming up fast, September 29-October 1. Our new Associate for Children and Family Ministries, Aaron, will be there with his children. The theme for the programmatic portion of the retreat is "Receiving the Gift of Today", and will be led by Jennifer Kitt, a very active Episcopalian in San Carlos and an Assistant Vice President for Development at Stanford. More information, including the registration link, is found here.
Upcoming Events:
September 17: Sunday School Kickoff
September 24: Aaron's First Day at Trinity!
September 29-October 1: Bishop's Ranch Retreat
Fall 2017:
September 17 - Sunday School Program Kickoff
September 23 - Godly Play Training
Growing as God’s People: Sacred Stories & Supporting the Circle of Children
Trinity is hosting a series of three trainings this fall in Trinity Hall on Saturday, Sept. 23, Oct. 14 and Nov. 18 from 8 am - 5 pm. All in our congregation are invited to attend the trainings for free.
This is a great way to be introduced to Godly Play, the formation program for our children here at Trinity. And it is free for Trinity members!! We have a need at Trinity to increase the number of Godly Play teachers we have, so that teaching remains a joy for our teachers and doesn't start to feel too demanding. Most teachers would tell you their own spiritual journey has been enriched through their Godly Play ministry.
Di Pagel, the instructor, is wonderful and inspiring. I highly recommend that you come if you can. If you complete all three trainings, you will earn a Core Training Certification.You will need to register separately for each training session.
Please contact Cathy Sage for the registration code. You must register separately for each training. To register, please go here: https://www.trailblz.info/godlyplay/eventcomplete.aspx?eventid=74.
September 24 - Sunday Formation Session "Receiving the Gift of Time"
There will be a children's offering that coincides with the adults. This will take place after a community lunch and will end around 12:45 p.m.
September 29 - October 1 - All Church Retreat at the Bishop's Ranch
The theme of this year’s All Church Retreat at Bishop’s Ranch will be, “Receiving the Gift of Today”, and will invite participants into a reflection on the gift of time and space – all in the context of the beautiful Bishop’s Ranch, which truly offers us both of these gifts. There will be a children's offering that coincides with the adults on Saturday morning. More information and registration link here.
October 14 - Godly Play Training
Engaging God’s Playful Word: Parables & Honoring the Spirituality of the Child
Trinity is hosting a series of three trainings this fall in Trinity Hall on Saturday, Sept. 23, Oct. 14 and Nov. 18 from 8 am - 5 pm. All in our congregation are invited to attend the trainings for free. Please contact Cathy Sage for the registration code. You must register separately for each training. To register, please go here: https://www.trailblz.info/godlyplay/eventcomplete.aspx?eventid=75.
October 29 - All Saints & All Souls Party
November 12 & 19 - Sunday Formation Session "Interfaith"
More information about this program will be available soon! There will be a children's offering that coincides with the adults. This will take place after a community lunch and will end around 12:45 p.m.
November 18 - Godly Play Training
Building Holy Rituals & Spaces: Liturgical Action & Creating Sacred Environments
This is the last of three trainings this fall at Trinity from 8 am - 5 pm. All in our congregation are invited to attend the trainings for free. Please contact Cathy Sage for the registration code. You must register separately for each training. To register, please go here: https://www.trailblz.info/godlyplay/eventcomplete.aspx?eventid=76.
December 3 - St Nicholas Visits / Advent Festival & Advent Wreath Making
December 10 & 17 - Christmas Pageant Rehearsals
After the 10 a.m. service, the children who are participating in the Christmas pageant will rehearse until 12:30 p.m.
December 24 - Christmas Pageant
The children's Christmas Pageant will be at 3 p.m. with a call time of 2 p.m. for a dress rehearsal.
2018:
January 14 - Sunday Formation Session "GAIA"
More information about this program will be available soon! There will be a children's offering that coincides with the adults. This will take place after a community lunch and will end around 12:45 p.m.
January 21 - Family Skate Social
Join us for our annual family gathering at Winter Lodge, Palo Alto, 5 - 7:30 p.m. More details forthcoming in Fall 2017.
February 13 - Shrove Tuesday Pankcake Supper & Ash Tuesday Service
Every year on Mardi Gras - the day before Ash Wednesday - the Trinity community gathers for an evening of pancakes and fun in Trinity Hall. Join us at 6 p.m. for dinner, pancake races, and more! We will be concluding the supper with a children and family Ash Tuesday service with the imposition of ashes and a shorter service geared toward our families.
March 4 - Scouting Sunday
This Sunday, we honor our Girl and Boy Scouts in the 10 a.m. service. Scouts will wear their uniforms, serve as ushers and be blessed during annoucements.
March 4 & 11 - Lenten Sunday Formation Session
More information about this program will be avaliable soon! There will be a children's offering that coincides with the adults. This will take place after a community lunch and will end around 12:45 p.m.
March 25 - Palm Sunday
All children begin their worship with the congregation outside in the courtyard at 10 a.m. and then are lead to Angus Hall for a special Passion reenactment led by the Youth Group. Children will be brought back into the church at communion and rejoin their families.
April 1 - Easter Sunday
Children are invited to join our community in church during our Easter morning services. During the 10:30 a.m. service, the children will "resurrect the alleluia" and flower the cross. Also, the 10:30 a.m. service is followed by an Easter egg hunt for children in the courtyard. Please bring your children's Easter baskets for the hunt. Childcare will be available during the 10:30 a.m. service.
April 22 - Explorers Serve in Church
Our Explorers will be participating in a variety of ways in the 10 a.m. service. They will serve as oblaters, readers, crucifiers, ushers and more!
June 10 - Last Day of Sunday Children's Programming
June 18 - 23 - Family Service Week
Families will be engaged in local service opportunities to serve and grow together as a community. More details will be share in early 2018.
July 23 - 27 - Art Camp
Mark your calendars for our first summer camp that will run Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. The camp will be open to all in our community and will focus on learning more about other faiths through visual and performing art. More information about this program will be available soon!
