Welcome to Trinity Episcopal Church!!
Make Trinity Church your spiritual home. Join us as we live into God’s abundant love and caring in our worship, fellowship and community service. We believe that Christ’s presence is in all persons, we nurture and support a deeper relationship with Jesus Christ and we faithfully give of ourselves in response to God’s abundant gifts.
Join us in worship where all are welcomed at Christ’s table.
Reverend Dave Dalzell
Fr Dave’s contact information: (207) 284-4852, or by email at: fatherdavedalzell@gmail.com
Fr. Dave is available by appointment. Please use the contact information above.
A weekly message from Father Dave:
In today’s Gospel, we hear a fairly famous Bible verse. One that is often read at funerals. But that first line, “Do not let your hearts be troubled…” I don’t know about you, but my heart is troubled right now. Thinking about all the people we don’t know who have died because of this virus. And thinking about those of you, and friends of mine and the people in our circles, who have lost family members and friends because of this virus. And worrying about what might happen and what is still to come. And struggling with feeling lonely and alone. And thinking about all of you and how you’re holding up and the things you might be struggling with. And thinking about some of the people in my circle of friends who are struggling with all of this, right now. My heart is most certainly troubled right now. And I am weighed down with compassion and concern.
And today’s Gospel doesn’t leave me, or any of us whose hearts are troubled, in that place alone. In today’s Gospel, Jesus also says, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” And I know we sometimes hear that as a salvation slogan, but its also a promise of good news now, right now, in this hard moment. And it is the promise of God’s presence with us, through Jesus. We know the struggles Jesus faced, on his journey. And perhaps we can find comfort knowing that Jesus understands our struggles, and all that we are going through now, and the things we go through, and struggle with, in life.
“I am the way and the truth and the life.” Even in hard times like this. Especially during hard times like this. And when we think about the ways Jesus teaches us to care for our selves by loving our neighbor… And when we think about that even when Jesus was struggling, Jesus reached out to heal others, to comfort others, to be present with others… Jesus shows us a way through this hard moment. Jesus shows us the way through this hard moment. Jesus shows us our neighbor.
And it is always the case, that when we reach out to love and care for others, we take care of ourselves. It is always the case. It’s not necessarily an equivalence. It’s just how grace works in God’s world, and in our lives. Our Presiding Bishop might name this as “the way of love”.
On Sunday, I will be doing something I haven’t done in a while. I will be at the church, in the sanctuary. For a few minutes, anyway. For a baptism. Long before this pandemic descended upon us, Matthew and I scheduled his baptism for this Sunday. Some of you might remember having met Matthew. Matthew is heading out for basic training with the National Guard later this month. And so Matthew and his parents and I will gather around the baptismal font in the Sanctuary for a few minutes, for his baptism. With our masks on. Please keep Matthew in your prayers this Sunday, and later this month as he heads out for basic training. I wish you all could also be there. I wish we could surround Matthew with the full sense of community we know to be Trinity Church. I wish we could celebrate with a cake. But we can’t do those things right now. Instead, we can hold Matthew in prayer. And we can give thanks that we have been able to be solid ground on his faith journey, as he prepares to head out into a new chapter in his life.
And we can give thanks for all the ways that Trinity has been solid ground for the faith journeys of so many, through the years, and for us, along our faith journeys, and throughout our lives. And we can give thanks for all the ways Trinity helps all of us to live our faith journeys following Jesus, who is the way, the truth, and the life.
Amen.
As always, please wash your hands.
And stay calm.
And check on your neighbors.
And call one another.
In Christ,
Fr Dave
Trinity’s Response to Corona Virus
PLEASE NOTE:
The Bishop has suspended access to all the church buildings in the Diocese. The letter from the Bishop is available on the Diocesan website and facebook page. During this time, no one should be stopping by the church for any reason. Questions can be directed to Father Dave Dalzell.
SUNDAY RESOURCES:
The Book of Common Prayer is available as a downloadable resource:
BCP
Today’s Readings:
Sunday, May 10th Readings
Today’s musical reflection from our Music Director, Mr. Kevin Smith:
Here I Am, Lord
The National Cathedral’s worship service begins at 11:15am on their website and on facebook:
National Cathedral website
National Cathedral facebook page
The Diocese of Maine has compiled a on-line worship directory if you’d like to find a mid-week service during the week ahead:
Diocesan Worship Resources
Prayers:
A Prayer at Baptism;
Almighty God, by our baptism into the death and resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ, you turn us from the old life of son: Grant that we, being reborn to new life in him, may live in righteousness and holiness all our days; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A Prayer When Regular Services Have Been Canceled:
Almighty God of the Cross and Loving God of Community, we are not in a church building today but Church is never canceled. We are not wise, and not very often kind. But we are the Body of Christ in your suffering world. We know that our vocation is to be the Light of this Christ whose Body we are. Give us courage to be the Church and to keep our minds on what matters—which is to keep loving the world which you have called good. Buildings crumble; the Church Year passes; but your Church endures from generation to generation. Make this for us a Feast Day of your Protection, your Plenty, your Purpose, your Plan and your Peace. All this we ask, as we pray apart, and yet still together, with all the Saints, and with each other. Amen.
A Prayer for Our Nation and the World during this Pandemic:
Ever-creating God, be with us as the pall of this COVID-19 pandemic falls upon this “fragile earth” which is our “island home.” We hold in our hearts and prayers all who are suffering in our nation from “sea to shining sea.” We pray for the whole world. Our common anxiety is making us one, undivided human family. We pray for world leaders as they chart these unknown waters. Strengthen them to walk into the Light of a new, healing day for the whole planet. Help us to cross our broken lands and be for each other bridges back to heaven. Lift the cares to which we cling. Descend, O God, on us all to be our Guest. Show us how to find in everything blessing and rest. May this be our prayer while we do not know how to pray and until the last light lingers in the west. Amen, in the name of our creating, redeeming and sustaining God.
The Episcopal Church has put together a printable prayer resource for us to use:
Prayers for Self, Church, Community, and World, Amidst the Coronavirus Pandemic
RESOURCES AND LINKS
The Episcopal Church is posting daily morning and evening reflections on their website and facebook page:
https://episcopalchurch.org
The Episcopal Church facebook page
The Diocese of Maine is posting helpful information on their website and facebook page:
https://www.episcopalmaine.org
Episcopal Diocese of Maine facebook page
