REMINDER:

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From Father Greg…

The message of Advent is transformation: big changes are coming! Our world will be changed. Our lives will be rocked!

Early in Advent we hear these words from Isaiah (see 40:1-11 for the big picture):

A voice cries out:
‘In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
Every valley shall be lifted up,
and every mountain and hill be made low;
the uneven ground shall become level,
and the rough places a plain.
Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed,
and all people shall see it together,
for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.’

Notice that the changes proclaimed by Isaiah are not tweaks or minor modifications. These are earth-shattering alterations: high places are made low, and low places are filled in. The wilderness is to be transformed into a level place, a highway for God.

To be honest, I don’t always want or welcome change. In my life there have been changes and sudden losses that grieved me. Some of my high places have been toppled (I have my pride, and my ego is bigger than I’d like to admit). In my grief I don’t easily see the wisdom of God or sense the presence of God in these unwelcome changes. Where are you, Lord? Why? Come Lord Jesus!

As much as I want change – I need to change, let go of mental habits, attitudes and behaviors, ask God for help – I resist change. I’m afraid. I want things to remain the same. Often I’m blind to my need: I think things are ok, even when they’re not. And I forget that God’s will for me is greater and wiser than my desires and understandings.

Fortunately, God is the one who initiates change. God acts to transform the world and our lives. God comes to us, enters into our world, wakes us up, breathes new life into us, raises us to our feet, and sends into the world for the sake of God’s purposes for our lives.

Here are a few questions for your reflection:

Where are the empty places in your life that cry out to be filled?
Where are the mountains in your life that cry out to be made level?
What is the discomfort in your life that is your need to be comforted?
What is it you hope for?

Church is a place where these questions are honored, a community where we proclaim the Word of God and listen to what the Spirit is saying. Above all, church is where we go in the expectation that we will be transformed Sunday after Sunday, day by day, as we offer our lives in service to God.

God welcomes us just as we are. But God will not leave us alone. God promises to transform our lives and change our world. Thanks be to God!

In Christ,
The Reverend Gregory Bezilla+
Episcopal Chaplain to Rutgers University
bezilla@rci.rutgers.edu 732-932-1278

Memorial Garden at Holy Trinity

In the interim between Father Phil’s retirement and our employment of a new priest, the records for the Memorial Garden are being held by Bruce Richardson, who can answer questions from members of the parish about the interment site behind the church. He has the records and knows how to make contacts in the event a parish member wants that to be the final resting place for their ashes. He is reachable at (732) 238-7085, (908) 208-6082 or via email at BERICHNJ @aol.com.

 

Holy Trinity Book Club to Read “The Faith Club”

Our selection for Holy Trinity Book Club discussions in January is “The Faith Club,” a book that grew out a Muslim mother’s need to answer her children’s questions about their faith following September 11 when the twin towers in NYC and the Pentagon were targets of terrorists. She sought help from others of different faiths. The result was the formation of a Faith Club by mothers from three faiths -- Islam, Christianity, and Judaism -- who got together to write a picture book for their children that would highlight the connections between their religions. But no sooner had they started talking about our beliefs and how to explain them to their children than the differences led to misunderstandings and their project nearly fell apart. They didn’t give up, and the result is a gripping novel that you’ll likely find hard to put down once you start. We’ll pick a meeting date in January. 

 

REMEMBER IN YOUR PRAYERS

For Our Parish Members and Families:

Marion Aubrecht, Peter Bowman, Dot Bromley, Guan Ti Chan, Esther Charban, Kimberly Clarke, William Clarke, Mitch Greenbaum, Alyce Knittel, Robert Manigault, Ellen McConnell, Jim McConnell, Joe Peel, Jared Picone, Sondra Sutter, Steven Webb, Helen & Wellington Wei 

For Others:
Ken Berry - request of Claudia Miller 
Madison Brandt – request of the Brandt family
John Creviston – request of Bill Kendrick
Janet Contursi – request of Beth Donnamaria
Robert Dohm – request of Melissa Devlin
Jean Downey – request of Bill Kendrick
Isabella – request of Jo Molinari
Clara Quesada – request of Chet Brandt
Delaney Rose – request of Claudia Miller
Nicodemo Scali – request of Scali family
Stacey Shephard – request of Tom & Claudia Miller
John Simoes – request of Greg Palaski
Betty Spaulding – request of Alicia Picone
Lawrence Street – request of Picone family
Dean Tisdale – request of Matthews family

For our Military Serving Around the Globe:

Samuel Palmer, Brian Racek

HOLY TRINITY SCHEDULE OF LITURGICAL MINISTRIES 
CHRISTMAS EVE 
December 24, 2011 

4:00PM 
CRUCIFER Arthur DeSarno 
SERVER Meghan Moore 
BANNER Alexa Hornchak 
BANNER Ryan Matthews 
TORCH Morgan Prime 
TORCH Brooke Mathews 
LECTOR H. Palmer Koroma 
LECTOR Beth Donnamaria 
PRAYER LEADER Marge Sparkes 
LEM Jennifer Brandt 
LEM Royce Flippin 
USHER Martin Spielman 
USHER Ruben Scolavino 
PRESENTER Rafano Family 
GREETER Bill Hawksby 

11:00PM

CRUCIFER Brandon Patton
SERVER Wesley Wei
TORCH Shelby DeSarno
TORCH Jennifer Scali
THURIFER Beth Ann Hyland
LECTOR Henry DeSarno
LECTOR David Clarke
PRAYER LEADER  Sue Dell
LEM Jennifer Brandt
LEM Kristine Wei
USHER  Fred Wei
USHER  Chet Brandt
PRESENTER  Picone Family
GREETER Claudia Miller

“THE SOLDIER’S NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS’

Twas the night before Christmas, he lived all alone, in a one bedroom house made of plaster and stone.
I had come down the chimney, with presents to give and to see just who in this home did live.
As I looked all about, a strange sight I did see, no tinsel, no presents, not even a tree.
No stocking by the fire, just boots filled with sand. On the wall hung pictures of a far distant land.
With medals and badges, awards of all kind, a sobering thought soon came to my mind.
For this house was different, unlike any I’d seen. This was the home of a U.S. Marine.
I’d heard stories about them; I had to see more, so I walked down the hall and pushed open the door.
And there he lay sleeping, silent, alone, curled up on the floor in his one-bedroom home.
He seemed so gentle, his face so serene, not how I pictured a U.S. Marine.
Was this the hero, of whom I’d just read, curled up in his poncho, a floor for his bed?
His head was clean-shaven, his weathered face tan. I soon understood, this was more than a man.
For I realized the families that I saw that night owed their lives to these men, who were willing to fight.
Soon around the nation, the children would play, and grown-ups would celebrate on a bright Christmas day 
They all enjoyed freedom, each month and all year, because of Marines like this one lying here.
I couldn’t help wonder how many lay alone, on a cold Christmas Eve, in a land far from home.
Just the very thought brought a tear to my eye. I dropped to my knees and I started to cry.
He must have awoken, for I heard a rough voice, “Santa, don’t cry, this life is my choice.
I fight for freedom, I don’t ask for more. My life is my God, my country, my Corps.”
With that he rolled over, drifted off into sleep, I couldn’t control it, I continued to weep.
I watched him for hours, so silent and still. I noticed he shivered from the cold night’s chill.
So I took off my jacket, the one made of red, and covered this Marine from his toes to his head.
Then I put on his T-shirt of scarlet and gold, with an eagle, globe and anchor emblazoned so bold
And although it barely fit me, I began to swell with pride, and for one shining moment, I was Marine Corp deep inside.
I didn’t want to leave him so quiet in the night, this guardian of honor so willing to fight.
But half asleep he rolled over, and in a voice clean and pure, said “Carry on, Santa, it’s Christmas Day, all secure.”
One look at my watch and I knew he was right, Merry Christmas my friend, Semper Fi and goodnight.

~written by LCpl James M Schmidt, USMC, 1986

May God watch over and keep safe all of our military personnel who are still serving anywhere!

 THIS, THAT AND REMINDERS

MINISTRY SCHEDULE for Christmas Eve is posted in the back of the church and this newsletter. Please, if you cannot serve, find a replacement and call Marian at the office ASAP.

ANGEL TREE GIFTS are due Sunday, December 18th.

FOOD BANK ITEMS for December peanut butter, jelly, ketchup, mustard and mayonnaise. VOLUNTEERS STILL NEEDED.

ANNUAL MEETING in January. All reports are due January 8th. Meeting is January 22nd. Mark your calendar. This is important to the parish!!!!!

THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE is lurking about. And what are you doing for the next three years of your life?

Don’t forget about SCRIP. They make great gifts and help the parish at the same time. Keep those folks behind the table busy.

HEADS UP FOR THIS ONE

The deadline for the January/February Trumpet is December 26th. Yes, gentle people; I am going to try this approach at least once to see how and if it works. This means that there will be 2 calendars and 2 Ministry schedules due for this deadline. If you are planning an event or have an article for February, same deal. There are many parishes in the diocese that choose this form of communication for their least busy months. Hopefully it will save us a certain amount of postage and encourage all of us to think ahead instead of at the last minute. This is not etched in stone, however. It is an experiment. The months following will stay as they always are. All of this having been said, I plan to move shortly and leave no forwarding address!

The Last Word…

Thanksgiving is hardly over and most of us are already neck deep in Christmas preparations: what to spend, what to eat, what parties to attend, etc. In the midst of this hectic season, Advent beckons us to retreat from all the glittering activities around us and to refocus on the deeper meaning of Christmas. It is a time to reinvest our lives in Christ and in his gospel message of love, service and the pursuit of peace.

This God came down to our level in poverty and displacement. He was born to the Virgin Mary and came into the world under the protective care of a man named Joseph. He was found in a cave surrounded by sweet hay, the warm breath of animals and the glow of the brilliant star that shone on that holy night.

Was it a quiet, silent night? Don’t think so – at least not if you read Luke’s Gospel, Chapter 2, verses 1-20. There were hosts of angels about who filled the skies with their glorious presence and songs of a newborn king –“your savior” – and promises of peace and goodwill. The shepherds in the field saw the angels and heard the news. They found the infant, wrapped with swaddling cloth, with Mary and Joseph. And once they encountered the Christ, their lives were changed forever. They went back into the fray of life praising God for all that they had heard and seen. God had really come among them.

In Advent, we should take time to once again become excited about Christ in our lives. We should relish his gifts! Advent makes us shift our eyes to the coming of Jesus – to reflect on his birth with thanks and praise. It is a time to prepare and invite him into the manger of our hearts so that we can begin to experience more concretely the words of St. Paul:”…no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me. The life I live now in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me. (Gal 2:20)

In Advent we should get our ducks in a row and gather the sheep together so we know we are but one flock during this time of transition. We should all prepare and anticipate nothing but the best from this transition and beyond.

I wish you all a Blessed Christmas and a New Year filled with the wonder and joy of God’s love. And may He continue to love and bless this place called Holy Trinity…

So be it,
Judi