Christmas Eve Service

Join us for an "Acoustic Christmas Eve Service", December 24th @ 7pm in the Baseline Middle School Cafetorium. Guitarist Charlie Fritsche and vocalist Star Fritsche will lead in the singing of the traditional Christmas carols. A special procession for the children will begin the service, and each child will have the opportunity to place a figure around the manger. Come celebrate the coming of Christ!

Lessons and Carols Service

Holy Trinity Anglican Church will hold a special Lessons & Carols Service this Sunday, 10am, @ Baseline Middle School. Come hear the stories that lead us to Christmas, and share in the carols that prepare the way. Singing will be accompanied by pianist Sharon Fanger, and musician Andru Bemis.

History in the Making

A group froim Holy Trinity will be traveling to this event on December 3rd. If you would like to join the carpool, you can contact Fr. Andrew for more details. One group will be leaving in time for the 2pm reception (Central Time), and the other group will be leaving after work for the 7:30pm worship service. So what is it? The press release is below:

WHEATON, IL, Nov. 17-Leaders of the Common Cause Partnership, a federation of more than 100,000 Anglican Christians in North America, will release to the public on the evening of Dec. 3 the draft constitution of an emerging Anglican Church in North America, formally subscribe to the Jerusalem Declaration of the Global Anglican Future Conference (GAFCON) and affirm the GAFCON Statement on the Global Anglican Future at an evening worship celebration in suburban Chicago.

This historic event comes in the wake of GAFCON held in Israel last June with leaders from more than one-half of the world's 77 million Anglicans. At the close of that gathering, Anglican leaders released the Jerusalem Declaration and the GAFCON Statement on the Global Anglican Future, which outlined their Christian beliefs and goals to reform, heal and revitalize the Anglican Communion worldwide.

"One conclusion of the Global Anglican Future Conference held in Jerusalem last June was that the time for the recognition of a new Anglican body in North America had arrived," observed Bishop Robert Duncan of Pittsburgh, moderator of Common Cause Partnership. "The public release of our draft constitution is an important concrete step toward the goal of a biblical, missionary and united Anglican Church in North America."

Provinces, dioceses and parishes around the world have been making formal decisions to support the Jerusalem Declaration and the GAFCON Statement on the Global Anglican Future since its release this summer. Leading bishops and representatives of the North American Common Cause Partnership will officially subscribe to the Declaration and affirm the Statement at the public worship service at Wheaton Evangelical Free Church in Wheaton, IL at 7:30 p.m. CST on December 3. All Anglicans in attendance will also be given an opportunity to individually subscribe to the Declaration and affirm the Statement.

"We enthusiastically issue a public invitation to all fellow Christians in hopes that they will witness, participate in and celebrate our unity and common mission," Bishop Duncan added.

Prior to the evening service, at 2 p.m. CST earlier on Dec. 3, a reception will be held at the Billy Graham Center in Wheaton to give thanks and learn about the mission of Christ Awakening. Rooted among Anglicans, Christ Awakenings are quickly spreading to the larger Christian community. The first Christ Awakening was held in September 2007 in Chicago. Since then, the grassroots movement of Christ Awakenings has held events in Vancouver, Ohio and New England to call Christians to work together, in unity, partnering for mission worldwide. After the reception, a media briefing with Common Cause leaders will follow at 5:30 p.m. CST, addressing the significance of the historic worship celebration that evening.

The Common Cause Partnership is a federation of Anglican Christians that links together eight Anglican jurisdictions and organizations in North America, including the American Anglican Council, the Anglican Coalition in Canada, the Anglican Communion Network, the Anglican Mission in the Americas, the Anglican Network in Canada, the Convocation of Anglicans in North America, Forward in Faith North America, the Reformed Episcopal Church, and the bishops and congregations linked with Kenya, Uganda, and South America's Southern Cone. Together they represent more than 100,000 Anglican Christians worshiping each Sunday in the United States and Canada.

Parish Gathering Sunday November 23rd

The Vestry and Clergy of Holy Trinity Anglican Church invite you to an informational meeting following the Sunday service, November 23rd.

Over the last year your leaders have been spending time in prayer in discernment as we seek to follow God's direction for us as a church. We are excited about where God is leading us and want to share with you a part of the vision that God is giving us so that you can be involved in both prayer and ministry as we move into the coming year.

Plan to stay for the hour following worship on Sunday morning.

A brunch will be provided by the youth. Donations will be most welcome and all proceeds will go to their Pilgrimage Fund.

Bishop's Visit & One Year Anniversary!

Save the dates of November 5th & 6th!

Bishop Guernsey will be making his visit to the parish on these days, and you will have the opportunity to spend some time with he and his wife Meg.

Here's the schedule:

November 5th: Bishop Guernsey will be visiting the Men's Group on Wednesday morning, and the Bishop and Meg will both be visiting the Women's Group Wednesday afternoon. Wednesday evening, beginning at 6pm, we will meet at Baseline Middle School for Evening Prayer and a time of teaching by the Bishop, followed by dessert, coffee, and a Q & A session. For those who haven't yet been able to meet the Bishop, this is a perfect opportunity to get to know him and understand a little more about Christianity in general and Anglicanism in particular.

If you are willing to make a dessert for this event, or help setup/tear down, we could use some volunteers for this evening. Contact Fr. Andrew if you are available to help.

November 6th: Our one year anniversary celebration is Thursday evening between 6pm and 9pm at Baseline Middle School. This is a great opporunity to invite your friends for a relaxed evening of games, music, and food. We will serve chili and cornbread, have games for kids, and music for everyone. The bluegrass/folk group, Smalltown Heroes, from West Lafayette, Indiana will be performing as the main act, and our own Holy Trinity Praise Band will be opening for them. Drop in for 15 minutes or spend the whole evening, but be sure not to miss it.

If you would like to provide Chili, cornbread, or a drink you can sign up over the next few Sundays (sign up sheets are in the back of the church) or you can contact Fr. Andrew. We could also use some help setting up and tearing down.

Men's Retreat

Holy Trinity is sponsoring a Men's Retreat October 9th throuth 12th at Pine Lake Villa in Wellston, Michigan. Feel free to invite your friends and come for all 4 days, or one or two. Whatever you can do...it's all good.

Among the activities there will be: Fishing, Golfing, Praying, Hiking, Eating, Sleeping, Canoeing, Hunting, Staring at a Campfire, and whatever other manly things you feel like doing...even if one of those things is nothing at all!

To RSVP, contact Fr. Andrew at 269-214-2979.

The Global Anglican Future Conference

Our bishops and Archbishop recently met in Jerusalem with 1200 Anglican leaders from around the world. Out of that gathering there came an encouraging and historic statement that will change the face of our denomination for years to come. The Global Anglican Future Statement can be found here.

The media coverage surrounding the conference has been largely inaccurate, but this remarkable little article appeared in the Guardian (a British newspaper) and I highly recommend it.

If you have questions about the Global Anglican Future Statement, feel free to post a comment. I will gladly answer your questions to the best of my ability.

Tuesday Beach/Game Nights

Tuesday’s during the summer is Holy Trinity Beach / Game Night. Each Tuesday you have a standing invitation to gather at the beach & softball field between 6 & 9 for an evening of fun and fellowship. Here’s how it will work:

Those who are interested in softball can play in the church softball league game at either 6, 7:30, or 9 (depending on the week)*.

We will all be together at the beach before or after the game for fun and fellowship.

On days that rain, we will gather together to play board/card games.

Come for the whole time, or come for a few minutes, but come when you can!

*We will be playing together with our friends at Hope Reformed. This is a co-ed, just-for-fun-league, where everyone plays and there is no pressure. To be eligible, you must be at least 16 years of age and registered.

Holy Trinity Campout

I know it seems early, but it really is time to plan for our church campout!

Camping dates are set for Friday, July 18-Sunday, July 20. We will again camp at the Covert Township Park located on 32nd Avenue, off Blue Star Highway, south of town. It is a cozy, shady campground with 62 campsites on 50 acres with two playgrounds and a 5 minute walk to Lake Michigan. Check out their website at http://www.covertpark.com/.

The rate is $29 a night, for a total of $58. There is a $3 a night charge for pets. You are allowed 2 cars that fit on your site without charge. Cancellation of a reservation within 2 weeks of July 18 will cost you $29, but if you cancel earlier there is no charge.

For those who have not camped with us before here is a little overview. Each family has their site. One RV or two tents are allowed on a site, with a maximum of 6 people per site. Some of us tent camp and some of us have recreational vehicles. We have a cook out together Saturday night and a pancake breakfast together Sunday morning and we are on our own for the other meals. Check in on Friday is between 3 and 10 pm with most people coming as they can after work. We always help each other set up. Saturday morning and afternoon we like to go to the beach to find lake treasures and swim as a group. We all look forward to Ron Darling’s extreme games in the late afternoon. Then we have our potluck cook out and campfire time. Sunday morning we start with our joint pancake breakfast followed by a Eucharist service in the park. Check out time is 1 pm. All parishioners are welcome!

PLEASE RSVP WITH KATHY SICARD FOR A SITE BY SUNDAY, APRIL 13! 637-7405

Easter & Holy Week

Easter Sunday & Holy Week

Easter
Join us for a Sunday of inspiration and
Joy!

•Procession of the Cross with the Easter Flowers
•Music by Star and Charlie Fritsche & the Trinity Praise Band
•A special children’s message

10am @ Baseline Middle School

Holy Week @ Baseline

"The New Commandment:To Love as God Loves"

Maundy Thursday (3/20) @ 8pm

Stations of the Cross

Good Friday (3/21) @ 8pm

Holy Trinity's Kids Share God's Love

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." Matthew 22:37-40

The children of the Worship Center have been collecting an offering each week (it now totals $44) and recently decided it should go to the American Cancer Society in the name of Jesus Christ. They are learning what it means to practice stewardship, the love of God, and the love of our neighbors.

The Alpha Program

What is Alpha?
Over 8 million people worldwide have now attended an Alpha course. It is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life, running in tens of thousands of churches of all denominations, and at universities, in prisons and on military bases across the world.

At an Alpha course people explore the Christian faith in a relaxed setting over ten thought-provoking weekly sessions, with a day or weekend away.

How Will the Alpha Course be Run at Holy Trinity?
We will be holding the course in people’s homes starting the second week of February and running through Easter. Each home group will meet weekly for an hour and a half of fellowship, Bible study, and prayer. A typical evening will begin with dessert, and a 20 minute video focusing on one aspect of the Christian faith. Following the video is time for reflection and discussion as a group, and then the evening will conclude with a short service of Compline.
These home groups will be an important part of our church’s common life and Lenten preparation this year. This is also a perfect opportunity to invite friends who are interested in exploring faith in a more low key atmosphere. A complete list of days and times when the course will be offered will be presented at the Parish Gathering.

You can learn more by going to www.alphana.org/

Shrove Sunday Party

The Shrove Sunday Party will be held at Baseline Middle School following the Sunday service on February 3rd. The original location had a conflict that day. We will bring in pizza, pop, and salad and have board games and video games set up (we'll try to use the big screen if we can). Children bring a gift to give ($5 maximum), and adults bring a "white elephant gift" to exchange ("white elephant gifts" cannot be bought, must come from your home, and are preferably tacky in an endearing sort of way.) All are welcome!

Parish Gathering & Potluck Brunch

This Sunday we will be coming together as a parish to celebrate God's providence, and make plans for the future. Immediately following the service we will set up tables and have a time of food and fellowship. Please bring a dish to pass and plan to join us for lunch. This is an event you will not want to miss. We hope that all can attend!

Newsletter for the Week of January 20th

You can find out the latest news from Holy Trinity by clicking here.

New Parish Calendar

This News & Event's page now has a link to the Parish Calendar along the right hand side of this web page. You can click on the link to see the Calendar and get up to date information about Holy Trinity's services and events. If you have a church event that you would like to see added you can email Fr. Andrew (frandrewgross@gmail.com) with the details.

Newsletter for the week of January 13th, 2008

You can view the latest newsletter by clicking here.

The Latest Newsletter - January 6th

You can view the latest newsletter by clicking here.