Waiting on the LordFrom Mother Virginia

In a time of our earthly transi-

tions: graduations, weddings,

students moving out of dorms,

plans for summer trips taking

people far away and yes, even

death, we come to one of the big-

gest heavenly transitions in the

life of the church: Ascension Day,

the day when Jesus leaves his

d,isciples and returns to the Fa-

ther. Ascension Day always falls on

a Thursday, 40 days after Easter.

It reminds us of the final triumph

of Jesus as Lord, King of Kings in

the fulfillment of all the hopes and

promises of ancient times. How

will this fulfillment be realized? It

is no easier for us as post-modern

Christians than it was for the dis-

ciples to fully grasp the reality of

an empty tomb or a body ascend-

ing into heaven.

What kind of a promise is this anyway? Even though the Messiah didn’t fulfill all the expectations of the Jews by completely turning over the political system, God promised to usher in a new world order, an era when peace, justice, mercy, for-giveness and love were going to be the core values…not military, eco-nomic or political might. But…there was one caution: They must wait. While the disciples gazed up into heaven, watching as Jesus ascended, they were instructed to remain in Jerusalem, to wait for the Holy Spirit to come before moving on.

As I thought about this wait-ing, I realized how much time we spend waiting in this world.

We wait and wait for our 16th birthday when we can get a license and go out on our own. We wait hours and hours for a plane to arrive. We wait for our exams to be over. We wait for our children to leave the home. We wait for a promised phone call. We wait for the right person to sweep us off our feet and to live happily ever after. We wait for the results of medical tests. We wait for a hoped for promotion or new job. We wait

for retirement. We wait for the election of OUR candidate who will solve the world’s problems.

We wait for the Dalai Lama to come and teach us about peace or even to bring us peace.

We wait… and wait… and wait for the next thing — something in the future. Much of our waiting carries anxiety and stress. While we wait, we often miss what is happening right around us. We miss the love that God has for us in the present moment through the beauty of the relationships around us, both in our relationships with each other and the beauty of the creation. And while we wait for something grand in the future, we miss the small things we can do right here and now.

When the disciples asked Jesus if he was going to restore the King-dom to Israel, they missed the point. Again. They were looking backward toward the past, wishing things would return to the “good old days.” Jesus reminded them that it was not for them to know the times or sea-sons which the Father has fixed but that they would receive power when the Holy Spirit comes to them. They must wait for this power, unseen at the present time, but promised before they would be able to become witnesses to the miracles they had seen. They so dearly wanted to hold on to what they knew, the physi-cal body and presence of Jesus that

Those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,They shall mount up with wings like eagles,they shall run and not be weary,they shall walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)

Trinity Topics

PAGE 2 Trinity Topics June, 2010

111 S. Grant St.Bloomington, IN 47408

(812) 336-4466 | FAX (812) 336-6016

admin@trinitybloomington.orgwww.trinitybloomington.org

Trinity StaffRECTOR

The Rev. Charlie DupreeCLERGY ASSISTANT

The Rev. Virginia B. HallDEACON

The Rev. Connie PepplerPARISH ADMINISTRATOR

Janet BrinkworthBOOKKEEPER

Mona BakerADULT EDUCATION/NEW MEMBERS

Ross Martinie-EilerDIRECTOR OF EDUCATION

Danica D’OnofrioYOUTH COORDINATOR

Michael KurthDIRECTOR OF MUSIC

Marilyn KeiserCHURCH MUSIC INTERN

Hillary SullivanSEXTONS

Mike Peppler, Jim Shackelford

Trinity VestryRECTOR’S WARDEN Randy Lloyd

PEOPLE’S WARDEN Kimberly HurleySpencer AnspachMary Jo Barker

Mary Ellen BrownKelly CarnahanNorm Crampton

Jim CripeMary Ann Hart

Chris JohnsMary Ann Keko

Todd LaDowEarl SingletonLarry Taylor

Susan WilliamsCLERK Janet Stavropoulos

Family faith and fun update

reassured them of God’s love and power. Jesus wanted them to find this power within.

How often when we are waiting for something, rather than being completely present in the moment. We are planning for the next thing. How often have I talked with young people and even my own daughters to find them multi-tasking and not really paying attention to a conver-sation. The music is on and they are texting yet another person. How hard it is in our waiting to actually drink in God’s goodness and not be thinking ahead. How hard it is to rest in God’s presence, God’s promise that God will be with us to the end of time. How hard it is to “pay atten-tion.” Give God our attention, now. We get distracted by all kinds of things. We wish we were somewhere else. We wish we weren’t tired. We wish we were as smart as someone else. We wish, we wish, we wish were different — taller, prettier, smarter, or more athletic. You name it.

The kind of waiting Jesus wants for us is trusting in God’s power to affect the plans of his fulfillment, to fill all things with his glory. What more proof do we need: feed-ing 5,000, nets full of fish, water turned into wine, healing — oh, so many healings — and finally his

resurrection and teachings. The Spirit that Jesus promises his dis-ciples is one of love, the most power-ful thing of all: to be in an intimate relationship with the here and now — with each other.

As a child in my elementary school, I remember running outside to test an experiment our science teacher told us to try. We would take a magnifying glass, capture the sun’s rays through this tiny glass only to be amazed as we set a piece of paper on fire. What a small object and what power to focus the energy of the sun to cause fire. We, followers of Jesus, the Church, have the same ability to harness the power of the resurrec-tion when we focus on God’s pres-ence and God’s plan for us. We can and do become a channel for God’s grace to touch and heal one another and the world we live, here and now. Do we really need more evidence?

As Jesus ascends into heaven, he leaves us with a mission and a promise. As we await the spirit of Pentecost here at Trinity, seven days from today, may we be surprised at how God is waiting to send us forth into the next 100 years and how God plans to use each one of us to renew the face of the earth. Keep watch, my friends. Keep watch, wait and listen with the ear of the heart.

CONTINUED from page 1

by Director of Education Danica D’Onofrio

Plans are underway for another fabulous year of faith, fun, and fam-ily formation

• August28:Sundaes for Sun-day School, Trinity courtyard

• August29: Sunday School and Children’s Chapel (9 a.m.) Resume

THANK YOU to all who have

ministered to our young people this year: Betsy Birch, Ben Brabson, Cynthia Brabson, Katie Brambrink, Kimberly Clay, Anna Donley, Caitlin Duffin, Kimberly Hurley, Mark Hur-ley, Margaret Jones, Michael Kurth, Kyra Kramer, Toni LaDow, Alex May. Georgia Parham, Briana Priester, Nancy Rayfield, Susan Siena, Anne Stright, Margie Taylor

PAGE 3Trinity Episcopal Church BLOOMINGTON, IN

by Deacon Connie Peppler

Have you ever wondered at the end of the Sunday service why

members of the congregation come up to the altar to receive a small box from one of the clergy, usually the deacon? What is taking place is a step in extending the Eucharist to those who are unable to attend church, an important and holy part of the work of the church. It extends the Eucharist beyond the boundaries of the building itself and provides a way of including those who are ab-sent. The congregation is reminded that those who are not in church are still part of the of the body of Christ and are not forgotten. It is important that everyone experience the gener-osity of God’s table.

The small boxes are portable com-munion kits containing the vessels

and consecrated elements from the Sunday Eucharist. This ministry began in the early church when the leftover elements were distributed - to prevent spoilage - to the commu-nity, especially to those in need. As the church changed, so too did the distribution of the consecrated ele-ments. Eventually, elements conse-crated during the Sunday Eucharist were placed in special containers and these were then taken to parish-ioners who had not been able to at-tend due to illness or incapacitation. This is currently the practice at Trin-ity. Any parishioner who is not able to attend the Eucharist is invited to still partake of the communion.

Those who take the “kits” dur-ing the service are called Lay Eu-charistic Visitors, and each has gone through training to prepare them for this ministry. They follow

a pre-determined service bulletin which is an abbreviated form of the Eucharistic service, approved by the Standing Liturgical Committee. The visitors may also take the regular service bulletin, flowers, news of the church, as well as a summary of the sermon for that Sunday. The LEV and the parishioner or a caregiver decide the best time of the day on Sunday to receive the visit. If you would like to see a “box” close up please ask Dea-con Connie or one of the Altar Guild members to look in the box.

If you know of anyone who is un-able to participate in the Eucharist and would appreciate receiving com-munion at home please let Deacon Connie know. Plans can be made for that person to receive communion as soon as possible.

What’s in the box?

Children’s Hymnody Class to be offered this summerby Church Music Intern Hillary Sullivan

A few years ago, while serving as organist and children’s choir

director at an Indianapolis church, I asked the kids at rehearsal to pick up a hymnal. One little girl looked up at me and said, “What’s that?” It was then clear to me that church music education is not only important for adults, but for our children as well.

This past semester, I had the opportunity to design a children’s hymnody course for a church mu-sic class. I am offering this class to the kids of Trinity this summer. All children between the ages of 9 and 12 are encouraged to attend — par-ents are welcome, too! The class will run Tuesday, June 8, through Friday,

June 11, from 4 to 5:30 p.m. We will meet each evening in either the Choir Room or the Ararat Room. Together, we will learn about the contents of the Hymnal 1982 and its important historical and musi-cal figures. We will also learn how to use the hymnal as a tool for worship and spiri-tual reflection through several different activities: reading and writing, singing, painting, craft-making, listening to recordings, and even snack-time! We will also talk about what kinds of hymns are sung by other children around the world.

I hope you and your children will

consider joining me as we explore and get to know our hymnal. After all, these young minds are the future leaders of the Church that will carry its Song into the next generation. If so, please fill out the form in the church office and return it to my Trinity mailbox.

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PAGE 4 Trinity Topics June, 2010

S P I R I T U A L F O R M A T I O N

By Rev. Virginia Hall

Several times in the life of an Episcopal priest, the

Church Pension Group invites clergy to come away and rest awhile. In other words, STOP and LISTEN. Listen to their physical, financial, vocational and spiritual needs. In caring for others it is easy to neglect some of our own needs. The conference is called CREDO, the Latin word for “I believe.” CREDO causes us to gently take a look and see if we are prac-ticing what we preach. Are we looking at all areas of our lives with honesty and compassion? How are we praying, thinking, exercis-ing, paying our bills? CREDO does this by gathering together 20 to 30 priests with a faculty skilled in these four areas of living. They are people like us who have lived and are living in simi-lar positions in the church and who share insights from their journeys.

In preparation for the eight-day conference, (mine was in Prescott, Arizona) each CREDO participant asks five to 10 people who know them well to answer a set of questions about the participant. Responses of the profil-ers are matched with the clergy’s own self-perception of their work, spiritual, physical, and financial health. What does this person do well, what could they improve on to be more effective in their ministry?

It is a humbling experience to listen to one’s strengths and not shy away from areas in which one needs to grow. The CREDO faculty begins by leading us through a process that focuses on strengths and by sharing the ways they have faced the more dif-ficult challenges in their own minis-tries. They make themselves available

as consultants but do not make any demands except that we show up and participate. Changes in our lives are best accomplished in a loving atmo-sphere, not one that thrives on making demands or generating guilt.

Rest and time to relax, play, and sleep are a big part of the week. The clear Arizona skies and sun at an elevation of 5,500 feet gave me much relief from Indiana’s humidity. Meet-ing with colleagues from across the country and finding the author of one of my favorite books in my small group were special delights. Having time to really listen to friends and colleagues ‘ concerns over how I might take better care of myself was both loving and challenging. Encouragement for not losing my prophetic voice reminded me that as difficult as speaking up can be, the church recognizes its impor-tance.

At the end of the week we each wrote down a CREDO plan to help us be accountable for positive changes we intend to make in our lives. I have gathered a small discernment group here at Trinity to help me to do that. I invite each of you to share ways that

have helped you make positive chang-es in your spiritual journeys AND to take quality time this summer to find ways to rest, relax and play. Some spe-cific things I plan to work on are:

1. Pay more attention to regular physical exercise.

2. Engage in a spiritual discipline using the Rule of Benedict with my spiritual director.

3. Create space for personal hob-bies and recreation, i.e. better time management with the help of a therapist.

4. Attend to end-of-life legal docu-ments.

In all of this, I give thanks to each of you who, through your contribu-tions to Trinity, allow the Church Pension Group to offer such a wonder-ful gift that will ultimately help us be healthier spiritual leaders for each of you. My prayer is that each of you will take time for yourselves to do a similar kind of inventory. Both Charlie and I have benefitted greatly from CREDO and believe that as a community we each need to make our own CREDO plan and we stand by ready to share and support you in yours.

CREDO: An invitation to come away and rest awhile

LEFT: Outdoor chapel at Chapel Rock Conference Center at CREDO May 2010

TOP: Mother Virginia during her trip to CREDO

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PAGE 5Trinity Episcopal Church BLOOMINGTON, IN

S P I R I T U A L F O R M A T I O N

As adults, our Christian journey can be exciting and challenging. Have you

wondered how you were going to make it sometimes? Wondered about what is unique to our tradition as post-modern Christians, as Anglicans? Trinity has a group for you. Its in-house jargon is E-F-M, Education for Ministry. EfM is a program from the School of Theology of the University of the South.

As every baptized person is called to ministry, EfM provides people with the resources to explore and carry out that ministry. With the Bible in one hand, great theologians, the newspaper and our person-al lived experiences in the other hand, week to week we search for God’s voice. One year at a time we engage one another and all that is available to us to pray, think, reconcile and live out the questions of life. Over a course of four years (the whole program) we become more cognizant of the directions that our personal ministries appear to take and how our call to ministry can change.

Students sign up one year at a time deciding at the end of each year their own commitment to continuing the study. Over the four years the students study the basics of a theological education in Old Testament, New Testament, church history, liturgy and theology. A group of six to twelve people that includes one or two mentors/par-ticipants meet weekly in seminar sessions during the school or calendar year. Meeting times are selected by the group and meet for about 2 ½ hours. Alternative scheduling can be made with the group’s decision. Each year participants can be granted 18 Con-tinuing Education Units from The School of Theology at Sewanee, and at the completion of the four year program, a certificate is awarded.

A new year will begin with our fall cal-endar starting in late August. If interested in learning more about EfM, please plan to attend an introductory meeting, Tuesday, July 13, 6:30 – 8 p.m. or call Trinity’s co-mentors, Gloria Hasler (334-1599) or The Rev. Virginia Hall (812-336-4466).

Education for Ministry: a road map for your journeyFirst year student Marie Shakespeare

Whenever I heard people talk about EfM, it sounded like it would be hard, churchy and not much fun — definitely NOT my style! I go to church ev-ery Sunday and sing in the choir. I hear plenty of the Bible already. Besides, every time I’d gone to an Episcopal Bible study, everybody there seemed smarter than me. But, several of my cool friends were going to the introduc-tory EfM meeting last summer, so I went along. Some of the EfM people there were from Bedford, and they seemed really down-to-earth. One of them said something like “I used to go to Bible study, and we’d all talk about the passage, and then the pastor would tell us what it REALLY meant. EfM is not like that at all.”

I read the first “free” lesson on-line. Wow! It talked about where the Bible really came from, who wrote all this stuff down in the first place, and why it was so important to write it all down, even when writing itself was a very new thing. When the class met, we all shared our thoughts and questions about what we had read — some members were reading the Old Testament with me, and others were studying the New Testament or church history or theol-ogy. Everyone had a chance to talk, and nobody acted any smarter than me! I became good friends with people I never would have taken the time to know before.

“Education for Ministry” sounds like studying to be a priest. Yikes! But the Catechism says “Q - Who are the ministers of the church? A – The min-isters of the church are lay persons, bishops, priests, and deacons.” Regular Christians like you and me, “lay persons,” come BEFORE bishops!

EfM has enlivened my worship by connecting me to the Old Testament people who first met God face to face. The strength of their experiences preserved in the beautiful imagery of the Bible carries through the centuries into Trinity Church today.

4th year student John Moore When I first heard about EfM I felt like an unlikely candidate. In college

I had majored in Religion and I had attended Seminary on two occasions, acquiring 99 hours before finally completing a Master’s degree. Still, it had been a while since I last studied the Bible in depth or church history or the-ology, and I thought I might enjoy a refresher course. EfM turned out to be that and a lot more.

Certainly it was a review: from the Garden of Eden to the new Jerusalem, from Genesis to the Apocalypse, Abraham to Zachariah and from Jesus to Paul I enjoyed rereading the scriptures. I loved passing through the centu-ries of the Church and meeting a panoply of figures, names like Athanasius, Augustine, Irenaeus, Tertullian, and a whole host of early church leaders. From Anselm to Zwingli, I renewed my acquaintance with church fathers, reformers, theologians; from Teresa of Avilla to Catherine of Sienna, from Perpetua to St. Joan, mystics and martyrs. Priests and Bishops, missionaries and preachers, kings and queens, especially noteworthy for Anglicans.

During my four years of EfM I viewed a tapestry of the life of the church. But I also shared that journey with about 20 other fellow travelers out of which a community formed who shared their stories and their own discover-ies. Together we explored the meaning not only of the great figures of the past but of our own Christian ministries; and we came to see how each of us is a part of that tapestry of the work of the Church. EfM proved to be more then a review; rather it was four years of exploration and renewal.

PAGE 6 Trinity Topics June, 2010

S T E W A R D S H I P : G I V I N G T I M E , T A L E N T , T R E A S U R E

By Betty Rose Nagle

This letter of thanks comes to Trinity come from Cuttington

University, an Episcopal university in Liberia. Civil War forced it to aban-don its main campus in 2003, and the library and other facilities were looted. Classes resumed in 2005, and restoration and replacement efforts continue.

Students who struggle to pay tuition and fees often cannot af-ford textbooks and have to make do with photocopies, borrowed copies, etc. Verlon Smith, a Trinity parish-ioner with ties to Liberia, sponsored Cuttington’s application for a 2010 Outreach Grant to purchase required texts to provide copies on library re-serve for such students to use. Verlon has sponsored Cuttington’s applica-tion in the past, and his involvement with the project goes well beyond

simply sponsoring the grant; he pur-chases textbooks from a “want list” supplied by Cuttington, takes them along on one of his frequent flights to the country, and delivers them to the university.

Are you involved with the ac-tivities of an organization—local, national, international—which could make use of a grant (maximum amount $1000) from the Outreach Commission? Perhaps Verlon’s ex-ample will inspire you to sponsor an application for 2011. Sponsors need to have some sort of tie with the sponsored organization (e.g., volun-teering at Shalom or the Community Kitchen), and must submit a simple letter endorsing the application which the organization itself must write. Verlon’s hands-on involve-ment with the project funded by the grant is not typical and not expected of grant sponsors.

Cuttington University, Liberia, West Africa Dear Chairman,

Cuttington University is indeed happy to hear that she is once again a recipient of your gener-ous gift of one thousand US dollar ($1000) for the purchase of needed books for our students. Please accept our heartfelt thanks and extend same to the Outreach Committee at Trinity Episcopal in Bloomington. The books shall be used by students and faculty.

We have already submitted a list of some of the needed books to Dr. Verlon Stone for procurement.

The enrollment at Cuttington is on the increase as such there will always be need for textbooks and supplies.

Once again, please extend our thanks to the wonderful people of your church.

Graciously yours,

Charles K. MulbahVP/Research and Development

A letter of thanks from West Africa

by Rev. Virginia Hall

As we grapple with questions throughout our lives, we

often need new resources to help us navigate our journeys. When Charlie and I receive honorariums for weddings, funerals or bap-tisms, we look for ways that these funds can be used for extending our ministries in ways that are not budgeted. Faith development is an on-going process, and so we have decided to create a scholarship fund for lay continuing education.

In the past we have relied on Diocesan funds and special grants. We’d like to invite all of you to consider a way you might give thanks for the mentors in your lives and the opportunities you have had to deepen your faith by giving back to others.

Consider donating to a Trinity fund to support adult continu-ing education (see below). This fund will support those who are looking for help to attend confer-ences, retreats or classes such as Education for Ministry, Leadership Bloomington Monroe County, and stewardship opportunities. Thank you for your generosity.

How to donate to the Scholarship Fund

Make check payable to: Trinity Episcopal Church

Memo: Adult Continuing Education

Scholarship helps deepen our faith, widen our embrace

PAGE 7Trinity Episcopal Church BLOOMINGTON, IN

S T E W A R D S H I P : G I V I N G T I M E , T A L E N T , T R E A S U R E

by Kelly Carnahan

Trinity’s Vestry voted on May 14 to allow Shalom Community Center

to use its facilities in June and July. Shalom requested Trinity’s support as it transitions from its current location at First United Methodist Church.

A Vestry task force met in early May to discuss the details of the re-quest. Task force members weighed pros and cons, and after much discernment, developed a plan and a resolution that the Vestry voted to adopt. The plan makes every ef-fort to safeguard the Trinity family, property and grounds. Addition-ally, the plan focuses Trinity’s offer in terms of time, use of space and operational support.

While Shalom Community Center delivers a wide range of services, Trinity’s Great Hall will primarily be used to provide a condensed version of its feeding ministry. “Our facilities

limit what we are able to offer,” said Rector’s Warden Randy Lloyd at a re-cent Forum. “Our kitchen isn’t com-mercial. Our appliances are more upscale residential and not suitable for commercial use.”

The feeding ministry will serve a continental breakfast and a brown bag lunch from 8 to 11:30 a.m. on weekdays.

Shalom’s volunteers will continue to staff Shalom during its time at Trinity. Shalom’s sexton will be working closely with Jim Shackel-ford, Trinity’s sexton, to see that our facilities are cleaned and main-tained.

“While we are called to be neigh-bor to all of our brothers and sis-ters,” said Father Charlie+, “I also want to pay particular attention to our immediate neighbors. Undoubt-edly, this will have an impact on them, although our intent is to keep it at a minimum. If you’re consider-ing having a meal out this summer,

consider visiting one of our neigh-bors on Kirkwood, such as the Pizze-ria, Village Deli, Soma, and Laughing Planet.”

Trinity is one of several groups supporting Shalom through August. First United Methodist will continue to house Shalom’s administrative of-fices. Also, First Christian Church has extended Shalom’s annual lease two months to continue services such as counseling, showers, laundry, mail-boxes and lockers.

In August, Shalom will open its doors at its new facility at 620 South Walnut Street. A recent Herald Times article quoted the president of the Shalom Center’s board, Joe Emerson: “By August, we will have everything under roof, which will make things much more convenient for our cli-ents. The only exception may be our free legal counseling services, which may stay at Trinity Episcopal for a while after we make the move to South Walnut Street.”

Trinity to host Shalom feeding ministry in June, July

A special task force is gathering this summer to plan an upcom-

ing community conversation on the use of our facilities. The Vestry ap-pointed Susan Williams to facilitate the task force.

Trinity has dealt with an increas-ing number of challenging requests to use of the building. For example, the Vestry recently voted to allow Shalom Community Center use of the kitchen and great hall to continue its feeding ministry over the summer. Also, Trinity has expressed a contin-ued interest in hosting the Interfaith Winter Shelter.

“The Vestry believes that it is important to have a community

conversa-tion about people’s concerns about such issues and how we understand our com-mitment to be open to all,” Father Charlie said.

The task force will meet to design a program for a conversation in which participants explore feelings and raise spiritual concerns. “We would like to try to address the many

different contexts in which these is-sues arise, including the less obvious examples, such as the times when we are confronted by people in services or other church activities who make us uncomfortable,” Williams said.

The task force hopes to hold the first stage of this community conver-sation in late August or early Sep-tember.

For more information about the task force and its plans: In June, contact Mother Virginia at vhall@trinitybloomington.org. In July, contact Susan Williams at shwillia@indiana.edu.

Task force planning community conversation on facility use

Susan Williams

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PAGE 8 Trinity Topics June, 2010

C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T

Pentecost, Centennial CelebrationMay 23 was a dual celebration. Trinity celebrated Pentecost and held its final Centennial Celebration. For Pentecost, the sanctuary was filled with red, a sculpture of kites hung from the ceiling. The service, attended by almost 300 people, included voices speaking in a variety of tongues: Everyone could hear the Word in their own language. The service was followed by a Centennial Dinner. In addition to Trin-ity Parish, a variety of special guests were invited, including former Rectors, long-time friends, and community partners. Jazz music was provided by Bob Stright.

PAGE 9Trinity Episcopal Church BLOOMINGTON, IN

C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T

See all the photosLocal photographer Ann Schertz (www.annschertz.com) took more than 80 photos of Pentecost and the Trinity Centennial Dinner. See the full photo gallery on the Trinity Web site, www.trinityblooming-ton.org. The site links to our Photobucket account, from which you can download photos and order prints.

PAGE 10 Trinity Topics June, 2010

PARENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS: New groups forming for you

C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T

by Ben Brabson, Buildings and Grounds Commission

During the winter of 2007 – 08 our beloved Trinity Episcopal Church

became a bit greener. Architect Christine Matheu helped us renew not only our lovely buildings but also the efficient use of our space. By moving walls, installing efficient heating and lighting, and designing a new kitchen, Christine took us into a new and delightful world of lower energy bills and exciting use of small spaces.

To start Trinity replaced its old inefficient boiler with three small boilers in series. Now, only one is used most of the time, greatly reducing our natural gas use. Lovely natural light through clerestory windows helps to reduce our need for electric lighting during the day. Electricity-saving warm compact fluorescents (CFLs) have replaced the old stark tubes.

Inexpensive infrared sensors in the bathrooms turn on lights only when needed. Meanwhile, photosensitive detectors make sure that outdoor lighting stays off during the day. Be-cause of the new highly efficient and warm-colored bulbs, even our sanctu-ary lighting is now largely CFL.

Churches and synagogues are a bit different from other buildings in that all parts are not always in use. Eleven heating and cooling zones at Trinity, each controlled by a programmable thermostat, save substantial energy by being heated or cooled only when needed. Folks using a room can adjust the temperature but the clever ther-mostats will go back to energy saving mode after the folks leave.

Most importantly, there is a new awareness of sustainability at Trin-ity. Several of our Sunday discussions have centered on the underlying

reasons for taking care of our earth. Our highly knowledgeable buildings manager, Jim Shackelford, is also our energy czar and reminds us of many things including places where we may save energy. Jim has given talks on this subject and I’m sure would be willing to share his deep knowledge with others.

Several other smaller changes are making our life at Trinity less CO2 intensive. These include transparent “LEXAN” covering on all stained glass windows, still clear after 12 years. Also, we are using foamy soap, 100 percent recycled paper, and greatly reduced chemical cleaning in all bathrooms. Our new commercial dish-washer is marvelously parsimonious in use of both time and water. By care-ful attention to the number of mem-bers of the insect kingdom at Trinity, we have also been able to reduce our use of bug spray.

As we look to the future, there are several ways that Trinity needs to reduce its impact on the environment. For example, at the moment we have a coffee maker with hot water constant-ly available — an energy hog, indeed. Buildings and Grounds is consider-ing giving lessons on drinking room temperature coffee. (Just kidding!) Seriously, the Buildings and Grounds Committee has recently proposed and the Vestry has approved new shingles on our sanctuary and Great Hall roofs. A substantial layer of insulation will be added under the new sanctuary shingles, greatly reducing our future heating energy costs.

If sustainable ideas occur to you as you read this note, please send them along to me at brabson@indiana.edu and I’ll make sure they get to your Buildings and Grounds folks.

Green thoughts from here!

Greening of Trinity continues

Two new groups are forming that may be of particular inter-est to young adults and parents:

Breaking BreadBreaking Bread is a new min-

istry of Trinity Parish for young adults in their mid-twenties to late-thirties. Join us for our de-but event on Friday, June 4, at 6:30 p.m.

We will meet at Trinity and then leave for a restaurant for dinner. Childcare will be pro-vided.

Our time together will provide an informal and open environ-ment to discuss religious topics. Bring questions and ideas for dis-cussion to this and future events.

If you plan to attend and/or have questions, please contact Dominic and Erin Thompson at dominicanderin@me.com or (812) 589-1797 by Tuesday, June 2.

Kirkwood Ave. DinnersAre you a parent of a child and

are looking for a place to connect with other parents? Then consid-er joining us at our trimesterly fellowship dinners. We will have a brief service of evening prayer followed by supper.

Childcare is available for kids preschool and under. All children are welcome to join us for din-ner and conversation. Or, get a babysitter and spend a night out! Meeting dates will be available in August.

PAGE 11Trinity Episcopal Church BLOOMINGTON, IN

C O M M U N I T Y S P I R I T

The following book review is not necessarily the opinion of Trinity Episcopal Church. To submit a book review, please see the section about TriniTy Topics, below.

THE GNOSTIC GOSPELS, by Elaine Pagels (1989). New York, NY: Random House. ISBN: 0-679-72453-2 (151 pp.) plus Introduction (23 pp.) and Notes (21 pp.).

This book introduced Elaine Pagels and her outstanding scholarship

to the non-academic world. It informs the reader about the struggles of the early church and the daunting ques-tions that it had to address. Pagels’ exploration of these struggles is well researched with supporting citations to early documents and writings. The reader is advised to begin by read-ing the author’s introduction, which provides an overview of the archeo-logical discovery in Egypt (1945) of 52 ancient texts. These texts are called

the Nag Hammadi texts and are not the same thing as the Dead Sea Scrolls, found at about the same time. The Nag Hammadi texts are, however, as histori-cally significant. Since about the second or third Century, we in the church have been living with the answers that the WINNERS of these first Century struggles had expressed. The Nag Hammadi texts give us a good glimpse at the arguments and practices of the losers (the Gnostics) of those first Century struggles.

Among other things, Pagels explores for us the early organi-zation of the church. We can see, for example, how earlier diversi-fied forms of church governance, which were more relaxed and open to participation by everyone, gave way slowly to a hierarchy of church offices which (except for the Order of Widows) were filled by men. A study of these texts through Pagels’

enlightened understanding of the languages of their writing and of the history of the early church, is a satisfying experience, well worth the effort.

—review courtesy of Barbara Bloom

T R I N I T Y T O P I C S

TriniTy Topics is a publication of Trinity Episcopal Church, Bloomington, Ind. It is in-tended to stimulate greater awareness of and appreciation for the activities of Trinity Episcopal Church. All contents Copyright © 2010 Trinity Episcopal Church. Permission to reprint any part of TriniTy Topics must be obtained in writing from the managing editor. TriniTy Topics is published monthly.

Submit an article: The heart of TriniTy Topics is writing by parishioners. Whether you choose to write about an area of expertise, a Trinity event (past or present), or a current church news topic, your information may interest and assist members of the Trinity Parish community. TriniTy Topics is now accepting book reviews. (Reviews should be 200 – 300 words in length.) Articles for consideration are due to the editor by the third Monday of the preceding month. While all articles are considered, preference is give to those with direct relevance to Trinity Episcopal Church, its activities, and its mission.

Trinity Topics seeking a puzzle editor. To create crossword puzzles, word searches, and more! All ages encouraged to volunteer. Contact trinitytopics@gmail.com to regis-ter your interest.

Address changes: Send updated contact information to Janet Brinkworth, Parish Ad-ministrator, by postal mail, or e-mail admin@trinitybloomington.org.

Topics TeamPUBLISHER

Trinity Episcopal ChurchMANAGING EDITOR

Kelly CarnahanCOPY EDITOR

Georgia ParhamCONTRIBUTORS

Barbara Bloom Ben Brabson John Moore

Betty Rose Nagle Marie Shakespeare Dominic Thompson

Erin Thompson Susan Williams

Jim WittenYour name here

Bookreview

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BIRTHDAYS1 Lee Hirt2 Nathan Lohrmann2 Sandra Freund2 Jim Wilson2 Matthew Ludwig2 Katie Baker3 Janet Brinkworth3 Brian D’Onofrio3 Leslie Frye 3 Jim Witten3 Todd May3 Jim Shackleford5 Tamara Hallett6 Abbey Martin 7 Sarah Goy7 Susan Kinzer 8 Wayne Craig 9 Jane Herzel9 Clare Mattsson 10 Bob Stockton10 Peter Hinnefeld

11 Mary Jo Barker 11 Jeanne Smith13 Stephen Baker14 James Umphress 15 Scott Mahan 16 Gail Gayer Hale 16 Hannah Laughlin 16 Geoff Minger 17 Michael Kurth 17 Sarajane Costas 18 Nancy Laughlin 18 Isaac Laughlin 20 Becky Hrisomalos 21 John Hirt 21 Aaron Furniss 22 Hilary Hamilton 23 Sara Wood 23 Alexandra Ludwig 24 Lisa Hosey 26 Ida Medlyn 26 Murray McGibbon 28 George Van Arsdale

28 Bob Bottoms 29 Nathan Dau-Schmidt 29 Hugh Laughlin30 Alistair James Noel Andrews

ANNIVERSAR IES3 Marci Bryan and Steve Gable3 David and Weezie Smith10 Lisa and Thomas Ritchel14 Don and Sandra Freund14 Joan and Gordon Hershey14 Murray and Sue Robinson16 Roger and Sharon Herzel18 Carol-Anne and Don Hossler22 Stephen and Susan Young24 Alison Baldwin and Steven

Heyman26 Ann and Peter Mitchell27 Matt and Susan Sienna28 Michael Molenda and Janet

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