The Assembly of Acolytes

The focus of all attention recently has been on the lock-down – the quarantine – the extraordinary stress caused by the COVID19 outbreak. But, please know that our Acolytes have been continuing their connection to Trinity in many ways.

Thank you to all the Acolytes who continue to visit the Outdoor Chapel at various times and various days of the week. There, on the grounds of Trinity, they recite the Lord’s Prayer – and take pictures of their visit. I search my emails all week to find those photos.

The congregation may know the Acolytes as they see them in their white robes every Sunday. But, I am witness to know them away from their duties on Sunday as well. This Assembly of Acolytes represents Trinity’s youth doing the will of God, not from habit, but from learning the way of the Lord in our Children’s Chapel every Sunday.

Praise be to God.
And keep those pictures coming.

Lillian Griber 

The Corona Virus and Me

The image of Andrea Bocelli on Easter Sunday singing in the empty, magnificent Duomo in Milan captures my experience of the coronavirus pandemic. Despite the Judeo-Christian myth of man’s dominance over nature, when face-to-face with a virus causing thousands of deaths within weeks across countries, I experience how small and fragile we are, like Bocelli in the immense cathedral.

I am one of the fortunate ones. I can carry on my work remotely from home. After initial cancellations and adjustments, the disruption to my life, compared with others, has been minimal. I have had the opportunity to reflect and the privilege of realigning priorities.

The image of Bocelli, one lone voice, singing in the empty cathedral has solidified in me the desire to be about what really matters, a call I believe we all have to answer to that which lies deepest within. I have a renewed resolve to focus my attention and energy on that “for which I was born.” This focus helps me laugh more and fear death less.

Penelope Yungblut

Reflections on Self-Isolation - Love in Action

In my last couple of Weekly E-Genesis, I asked folks to submit brief snippets of how they are coping during this Pandemic and glimpses of their lives during self-isolation. My hope is that by sharing uplifting messages and thanksgivings that we will feel hope and encouragement to forge on until we are back together again.

Shortly after the self-isolation order came out my husband Peter and I took a trip to Walmart. We ran into our daughter-in-law Amanda. After a short visit we headed home. Before we got back to the house, all 4 of our children texted us and told us we were “Grounded,...Indefinitely”. How the times have changed!

Their love for us and their determination to keep us as safe as possible is truly a blessing and not something we will forget. They keep us connected via weekly DUO sessions where we can see and talk with them and our grandchildren through a safe modem. It’s not quite the same as holding them in your arms but for now it will have to do. I hope you enjoy the articles and that they will lift your spirits. I pray that this time has led to special moments in your lives that you will never forget. Change is inevitable, we will never be back to the “normal” we were used to and that isn’t so bad.

To quote an anonymous source, “If you do things the way you always did, the future will look a lot like the past”.

Di Demaree