Trinity Episcopal Church May, 2012 Lawrence, Kansas
THE TRINITARIAN
This issue of the Trinitarian is focusing on the many ministries that make Sunday
worship possible, and I was asked to talk about my role and responsibilities in that
regard. I suppose that, in light of the fact that so many people are so involved with
the process, my job is make sure that everyone has done their job. Thankfully this
is a very easy task on Sundays, because we are blessed with so many responsible
people here at Trinity.
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a conversation, or a article I read, or just some random event synchronizes with the
readings for that week, and becomes the core of the sermon's message.
But failing that (or in addition to that) I ask myself what one or more of those
passages are saying to Trinity Church. After preaching pretty consistently for ten
years, I have usually written at least three sermons on that Sunday's lesson, but a
previous sermon at another parish isn't always appropriate for this parish. I ask
myself, what does Trinity today need to hear about these passages of Scripture?
And I will say, I do think of the parish as a whole -- just in case you sometimes
thought I might be singling out a particular parishioner (maybe yourself). I also
ask myself if that message resonates for someone who might have just walked into
Trinity for the first time. Maybe he or she is coming into a church for the first time
in their lives that day -- what do they need to hear, in what might be the only
sermon to which they are exposed? It's a balancing act that all preachers need to
walk: writing to the people they know are going to be there in addition to the
people who might be there. This is important, because if we as a church don't
anticipate the newcomer, we will never have any.
But if there is one significant
personal contribution to the Sunday
worship, it is the preaching of the
sermon. It's a fairly well-known fact
that I don't write my sermons down
beforehand, and haven't for many
years. But this doesn't mean that I
don't know what I'm going to say
before I step into the pulpit! The
creation process of composing a
sermon begins for me first thing on
Monday morning, when I review the
readings for the upcoming Sunday.
Sometimes I have even begun
earlier because my preaching review
group works two weeks in advance.
But I am not looking for a sermon
topic right off the bat; instead I just
read the passages several times over
just to familiarize myself with them.
Then I wait. I wait and see what the
week brings to me. It's surprising
how often an offhanded comment in
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Most importantly, however, I listen to God. There have been some nights where I
am laying in bed on Saturday and I hear a voice saying, “You should talk about
this instead”, and I scrap the whole thing in favor of whatever new idea has
occurred to me.
So that's an admittedly pretty vague description of the process. When approached
about the topic of what I do on Sunday, I have to admit my first thought was one of
appreciation for all the people who do so much to make things go smoothly, both
staff and volunteers. Having to make sure everything is in its place is pretty easy
when people contribute continually and responsibly to do their part. This
Trinitarian is a chance for us to both learn and appreciate all that hard work.
T
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Dick Tracy, Rita Tracy, and Steve Segebrecht serve as Deacons to Trinity
Episcopal Church. The Deaconate is a full and equal order of ministry, especially
ordered to symbolize and enable Christ-like ministry to those often forgotten: the
hungry, the poor, the lonely, those persecuted, and all those living on the fringe of
society. A Deacon functions with the direction of the Rector, and is subject to the
oversight of the Bishop.
There are numerous liturgical responsibilities of a Deacon. In the Eucharist, the
Deacon may read the Gospel, may lead the prayers of the people, and may
Trinity’s Dedicated
Deacons
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introduce the confession. A Deacon waits on the table, assists with others in the
administration of the Eucharistic elements, dismisses the people, and in general
acts as herald and attendant. A Deacon performs at the Eucharist each Sunday
morning, and in the principal liturgies on Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Maundy
Thursday, Good Friday, the Easter Vigil, Easter, and at other times, as the Rector
wishes. Our Deacons take the Eucharistic elements to the sick and homebound,
particularly at Christmas and Easter.
Trinity’s Deacons also assist from time to time at other liturgies in the Parish, such
as Holy Matrimony and the Burial Office, if needed. In the absence of a Rector,
Deacons may also officiate at Baptisms, Holy Matrimony, or at Funerals,
following the Book of Common Prayer.
Deacons keep an intercession list to include the prayers of the people, and they
help organize the praying of the prayers of the people. Deacons help the Rector
enable, encourage, recognize, and support our Parishioners to perform the servant
ministry that each has been given through baptism.
Our Deacons meet regularly with the Rector to discuss the servant ministry of the
Parish and of the Deacons, as well as any pastoral matters. When problems arise
which affect the welfare and unity of the parish, our Deacons bring them to the
Rector, and shall follow his counsel and advice. Deacons keep in communication
with the Bishop about the needs, concerns, and hopes of the world, and about areas
in which our Parish might provide ministry to the world. Our Deacons work in the
world to proclaim the gospel through their work, their family relations, and though
their examples. Our Deacons strive to bring to the attention of Trinity the needs
and concerns of the world by being closely involved with the needy and others.
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Trinity’s Altar Guild
The Altar Guild prepares the chancel and the altar for each Sunday service. The
Guild consists of three teams, eight members each, who serve for the Sunday
morning services. A fourth, smaller team tends to the cleaning-up duties after the
Sunday Evening Solemn High Mass.
On Saturdays, members set out the Eucharistic Candles on the altar, the Missal
Stand, the Altar Book, the Gospel Book, and the Vested Communion Chalice.
Hymn numbers are posted in the Nave. The brass collection plates are polished.
The Cruets are filled with wine, and the Ciborium, with wafers. All of the candles
are filled with oil. Other items used in the service are the water pitcher, the lavabo
bowl, and the linen towel for washing the Celebrant’s hands. Other linens include
the purificators (small towels which a chalice bearer uses to wipe the rim of the
chalice); and the corporal, a square cloth which the Celebrant places on the altar
beneath the wine and wafers.
On each Sunday, after an 8:00 a.m. Service, the Altar Guild prepares for the 10:30
a.m. Service. Chalices and Purificators are washed. Wafers and wine are set out.
The Eucharistic Candles are refilled with oil. After the last Service, all of the
materials used are cleaned as required, and stored in cabinets or the safe in the
Sacristy. Laundering the linens is a responsibility of the Altar Guild, and each
team has designated members who do this very necessary task each week.
Altar Guild Teams each serve four months over the course of a year. The Altar
Guild Coordinator coordinates the annual schedule, which runs from July to June
of the next year. The Altar Guild Teams each have a Captain, who draws up the
schedule for his/her assigned months.
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The Altar Guild Coordinator meets monthly with Father Rob to discuss the
services coming up in the next two months in order to coordinate their special
needs. This information is then sent to the Captains. The Altar Guild Coordinator
procures the wine, wafers, candle oil, and cleaning supplies, and then oversees the
care of the vestments.
Two of the three Altar Guild Teams meet for a polishing session of the brass and
silver twice each year -- once on a Saturday morning in December (in preparation
for Christmas); and once in March (in preparation for Easter). Once each year, the
Guild gets together for fellowship and discussion of matters old and new. This
year, the annual meeting will be in September.
New members of the Altar Guild are needed, and always welcome. Training is
done by each Team Captain, a new member serves with a veteran. A manual with
instructions and illustrations of the duties is available as a training tool.
--Joan Ring, Altar Guild Coordinator
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Trinity’s Flower
Guild
The Flower Guild currently has
five members who volunteer to
buy and arrange flowers for the
Altar each Sunday, except during
Lent and Advent.
The Members of the Flower Guild also
coordinate with the Wedding and Funeral
Coordinators, to find out if there a wedding or
funeral the day before, which took place in the
Church, and whether those flowers could be
used for the upcoming Sunday Service. The
Members of the Guild rotate throughout the
year, so one Member coordinates the Altar
flowers about once a month. During the latter
part of the week, the designated Guild Member
purchases the flowers and the greenery, which
have been requested or specified, and arranges
them on the Altar and at the front of the Church.
There is a Flower Account which has been
incorporated into the Trinity budget to cover
these expenses, and individuals requesting
flowers for a special Sunday frequently donate
to the Flower Fund, as well.
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Usually on Saturday mornings, the flowers are arranged in two or more vases for
the Altar. On some occasions, such as Mother's Day, or at other special times, the
Flower Guild makes extra bouquets for individual tables in the Parish Hall. As
soon as Sunday’s Services are over with, the flowers are removed and placed in the
Flower Sacristy. Then, on Monday or Tuesday, the same person who made the
bouquets, discards the old, dead flowers; cleans the vases; and creates a couple of
bouquets with the leftover, good flowers. These bouquets are given to the Church
Office, or taken by the Deacons to deliver to shut-ins and those who are ill. The
Members of the Flower Guild generally do not hold formal meetings; however
they do have a Christmas Planning Meeting, to coordinate the Christmas
decorations. The Coordinator of the Flower Guild, Pat Kehde, assigns particular
Sundays to each member of the Flower Guild, and if the schedule is not workable
for someone, a member may trade with another to better fit her schedule.
The Flower Guild makes arrangements for special events, funerals, parties,
receptions, or other occasions, as requested by the Rector or members of the
Parish. Members of the current Flower Guild are:
Ann Elizabeth Bishop
Pat Kehde
Gerry Miller
Pam Paden
Mary Stauffer
-Pat Kehde, Coordinator Flower Guild
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Greeters, Membership, Hospitality and Kitchen
Committees
There are 32 Greeters at Trinity! Three of them are scheduled each Sunday.
Greeters are stationed at the front doors of the Church, and at the side door of the
Church. Their jobs are to greet all attendees, and to be particularly aware of any
newcomers or visitors who might be coming to a service. In the event there are
any newcomers, the Greeters will ask them to join the hospitality event after the
service.
Each Sunday after the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. Services, the Parish Hall
becomes the scene of food, beverages, and congeniality. Many volunteers of the
Hospitality and Kitchen Committee help to make this a success. Thirty Trinity
Parishioners are currently scheduled to coordinate and facilitate these activities.
There are many openings on the Committee which need to be filled for the rest of
the year.
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Lectors, Intercessors, and Chalice Bearers
The schedules for our Sunday Morning Services are mailed a week before the first
Sunday of the month. The schedules are prepared for three months at a time.
Those schedules are for the months of: December/January/February;
March/April/May; June/July/August, September/October/November.
In the scheduling process, it is helpful to use the previous schedules from the past
month, because it often works well to just change the dates and use the same
people. There is a list of people who do these jobs and their preferences for the
8:00 a.m. or the 10:30 a.m. service. It works well to assign people equal numbers
to serve during the quarter when possible.
It is necessary to check with Father Rob to inquire if there will be any special
services during a three-month period. When the lists are ready and complete,
copies are printed, and sent out to each Lector, Intercessor, and Chalice Bearer.
Copies are placed in the Sacristy and the Church Office for reference.
If changes are needed to the schedule, a phone call to the Church Office is
necessary to update the schedule.
--Marty Smith, Coordinator
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The Ministry Of Playing the Organ
When asked to write an article about the preparation of organ music for the Sunday
morning Eucharist, I was a bit overwhelmed because there are so many facets to
this position, many of which the average parishioner is probably unaware. The life
of a dedicated church organist involves far more than sitting at the console on
Sunday morning, flipping the on/off switch, and playing a few hymns. Join me as
we take a little trip into the weekly cycle of preparation.
Organ Solos at Prelude, Postlude, Communion. Organ preludes and postludes
(sometimes called “voluntaries”) are selected and appear in the Sunday bulletin
each week. This is the music that frames what we do in corporate worship. The
prelude helps to establish the mood of the Eucharistic celebration, while the
postlude provides a summary and conclusion. When I have the occasion to visit
other churches, I like to listen -- really listen -- to what the organist is playing for
the prelude and postlude because I know he or she has probably put a lot of
thought and practice into this offering of music.
In planning preludes and postludes, I usually map out several months’ worth at one
time. Sometimes this music is seasonal in nature and is based on hymn tunes for
Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, and Trinity. J.S. Bach
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wrote numerous works based on liturgical hymns. Even though the great Bach was
Lutheran and wrote for the congregations he served, many of the hymn tunes he
used are also sung by Anglicans. Aside from Bach, there are countless
contemporary composers who write liturgical music for the organ and their music
is also heard at our services. When the prelude and postlude is not hymn-based, it
is selected to express a feeling of the human condition, such as joy or
contemplation. Depending on the difficulty of the selected music, it may be
practiced for one or two weeks. It is not uncommon to hear a voluntary that has
taken six months or more to master. I am fortunate that in my organ studies at KU,
I am able to delve deeply into organ masterworks, most of which are liturgically
appropriate, and share them with you.
Solo organ music is also played following the reading of the gospel and at
communion. The “gospel walking music” as I call it, is my favorite part of the
service to prepare because it is generally improvised, based on the tune of the
Sequence Hymn that was sung prior to the reading of the Gospel, and expressed
the mood of the reading. Although this music only occupies 30 seconds, and is
used as a segue between the Gospel and the Sermon, it sometimes requires a
considerable amount of preparation time. I heard a counterpart to the “gospel
walking music” while on a trip to Germany a few years ago. It was their tradition
that the organist provide a full-length improvisation following the sermon. So, I
heard the Gospel proclaimed in spoken form, then explained through the sermon,
and reinterpreted through music.
Solo organ music is also played after the singing of the Communion Hymn, as
Parishioners receive the Eucharist and return to their pews for prayerful
meditation. Like all of the organ music discussed so far, the Communion Music is
either based on the hymn that was just sung, on other Communion Hymns, or is
contemplative in nature.
Hymns, Service Music, Psalm. The singing of Hymns, Service Music, and the
Gradual Psalm are some of the ways Parishioners actively participate in worship.
Much like the selection of organ solos, hymns are selected several months in
advance of their use. At present, Trinity’s organists meet to plan this music. The
Episcopal Church publishes The Episcopal Musician’s Handbook that offers some
direction in the choice of appropriate hymns, but we always read through each
Sunday’s Gospel Lesson, in order to select a Sequence Hymn (the hymn sung prior
to the Gospel Reading) that expresses some element of the lesson. In addition,
Opening Hymns, Closing Hymns, and Communion Hymns are chosen because of
their suitability for the particular Sunday. Besides selecting the hymns, we choose
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the Service Music (i.e., the Gloria, Kyrie, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei). A set of
Service Music is usually sung for 6-8 weeks, and then another set is implemented.
There is a degree of continuity and familiarity in singing the Service Music for this
period of time without boredom. The music for the weekly Gradual Psalm is also
selected. This music is also alternated every 6-8 weeks, and may include what is
called the “Anglican Chant”, Double Anglican Chant”, and “Simplified Anglican
Chant”. When the choir is on vacation for the summer months, we select hymns,
service music, and psalm music that are absolutely familiar, and can be sung by the
congregation with ease.
Putting Everything Together. After the Preludes, Postludes, Hymns, Service
Music, and Psalm Music have been selected, they are typed into a manageable list
and emailed to the church office for inclusion in the Sunday bulletins. Given that
practicing of the Preludes and Postludes has been an ongoing process for weeks or
months, we come to the rehearsal for Sunday’s Eucharist which I like to do on
Saturdays. This rehearsal usually requires two hours. I play through each musical
facet of the service sometimes once, sometimes twice, or as much as it takes to get
it right. There are many creative aspects to an organist’s work, but my favorite is
selecting the stops. You’ve all heard the expression “pulling out all the stops”.
This saying refers to the selection of particular sets of pipes used in the playing of
the music. An organist chooses from flute-sounding pipes, string-sounding pipes,
reed-sounding pipes (e.g., trumpet, oboe, clarinet), and principal-sounding pipes
(the pipe organ’s own unique sound.). Organ stops are chosen or “registered” for
each piece of music and notated on post-it notes. The stops are often changed for
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particular verses of hymns and psalms to emphasize the text – a sort of musical
word painting. From a musical standpoint then, the formation of each Sunday’s
Eucharist is a unique creation.
Other Services. Besides the regular Sunday Eucharists, special services requiring
organ music are held on Ash Wednesday, Holy Week, Thanksgiving, and
Christmas. In addition, the organist provides music for weddings and funerals.
Planning for weddings and funerals requires meeting the families and helping them
select appropriate music. It may require engaging a vocalist or other
instrumentalist, such as a trumpeter, and rehearsing with that person.
Other Duties. Playing the organ at the weekly Eucharist is just a fraction of the
organist’s responsibilities and time commitment. It is the only portion that most
Parishioners see. Other duties include attending weekly staff meetings,
accompanying choir rehearsals, and preparation of the music the choir will sing.
Just as organ solos require various amounts of practice time, so do choral anthems.
The Senior Organist and the Associate Organist have been coordinating the Choir
since Easter of this year. I am especially grateful to Judy Heller for graciously
directing the Choir for the 10:30 a.m. Service. Her guiding spirit has provided
direction for the choir, and has allowed me to do what I do best (i.e., play the
organ). Associate Organist, Filippa Duke, ably directed Trinity Consort (the choir
for the 6:00 p.m. Solemn High Mass) with the assistance of substitute organists.
Another responsibility is the coordination of special music during the summer
months when the choir is away. Singers from the Morning and Evening Choirs
have volunteered to sing solos, duets, and trios at the place of the usual Offertory
Anthem through the summer.
Organ Maintenance. By now, you are beginning to get an accurate picture of
what I do. Some tasks are done on a weekly basis, others are less often. One such
duty is the coordination of maintenance on the church organ. This typically
requires monitoring any mechanical malfunctions, keeping a “fix-it” list, and then
reporting these details to the firm that provides maintenance and tuning.
Lightning Strike. With the lightning strike that recently disabled the organ,
adaptability was the name of the game. The small digital piano in the choir loft
was our source of music for several weeks. Music that would have been played on
the organ was useless with the piano. The piano and organ both have keyboards,
and that is where the commonality stops, as the writing style of each instrument is
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vastly different, as well as the technique to play each instrument. The Reuter
Organ Company of our hometown came to the rescue by providing a loaner pipe
organ now positioned in the balcony. They not only made modifications to this
instrument to make it more useful for our purposes, but also worked quickly and
efficiently – installing it just two weeks after the fateful lightning strike. In the
meantime, we will have the necessary time to consider what options are best for
the organ that has served Trinity faithfully since 1956.
Conclusion. I am sometimes asked what I do the remaining six days of the week.
Many times, I’ve heard the statement, “I bet you are really busy with Christmas”.
Actually, my vocation keeps me busy throughout the year, and I am blessed that
my work is, in some ways, like a hobby. For me, it involves a life commitment
and lots of creativity. I am rarely far from it. An organist’s duties are varied and
multi-faceted. What you see and experience on Sunday Mornings is just the final
product of all the activities that have occurred behind the scenes.
--Mark Stotler, MM, Senior Organist
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Trinity’s Solemn High Mass
During the school year, Trinity holds a Solemn High Mass at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday
evenings. We have a predominately-student Choir which conducts a final
rehearsal an hour before the start of the Service.
The group of people preparing the meal for the congregation following the service
arrive early to begin the food preparation. Usually, Vashti Winterburg works in
the kitchen during the service, joined later by David Severance. The Master of
Ceremonies and others also arrive early to set up for the service: checking to make
sure that the charcoal is lit; the vessel for the Asperger (water sprinkling) is filled;
the Hymns on the boards are correct; the appropriate vessels are at the back of the
Church for presentation at the Altar during the Offertory Procession; and making
sure the appropriate form of the Canon is on the Altar, along with other
miscellaneous items. The Deacon and Priest arrive, and Father Baldwin blesses
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the water for the Asperses, the Clergy and Acolytes vest, and gather with the Choir
members for prayers before the Opening Liturgy and Processional. Ushers and
Greeters pass out service leaflets, and welcome members of the congregation.
After the Service, the Altar Guild Members clean up, G.I.F.T. cards are sold,
Ushers lock up the church, dinner is served, and the dishes are washed and put
away.
Preparation, the actual Service and Dinner, and clean-up involve the participation
of several Volunteers and Congregants, beginning at about 5:00 p.m., and lasting
until about 8:30 p.m.
--Patrick Musick
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TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
1027 Vermont Street, Lawrence, Kansas 66044
Phone: 785-843-6166 Fax: 785-843-6984
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.trinitylawrence.org
Worship Schedule
Holy Eucharist, Rite I, Sundays, 8:00 a.m.
Holy Eucharist, Rite II, Sundays, 10:30 a.m.
Solemn High Mass, Sundays, 6:00 p.m. (during school year)
Morning Prayer, Mon, Tue, and Wed, 9:00 a.m., Matthews Chapel
Wednesdays at Trinity, Wed, 6:30 p.m., Meal and Prayer
Clergy:
The Reverend Rob Baldwin, Rector
Dick Tracy, Deacon
Rita Tracy, Deacon
Stephen Segebrecht, Deacon
Vestry:
Patricia Henshall, Senior Warden
Steven King, Junior Warden
Maria Thompson, Clerk
Rev. Rob Baldwin, Ex Officio
Proctor Crow
Lindy Eakin
Dave Griffin
Brian Haupt
Pat Kehde
Terry Mandle
Donna McCain
Patrick Musick
Debbie Pitts
Staff:
Marilyn Bean, Parish Administrator
Patty Johnson, Financial Secretary
Bill Benso, Church Treasurer
Ruth Turney, Parish Librarian
James Ralston, Music Dir. Emeritus
Mark Stotler, Senior Organist
Susan Ralston, Youth Music Director
Chris Worley, Office Assistant
Filippa Duke, Associate Organist
Jasmyn Turner, Nursery
Natalie Wilkins, Nursery
Diane Leming, Sexton
David Paden, Sunday School Coord.
Sandra Willey
Our Vision: To be One in Christ, To Love, Listen, and Learn
Our Mission:
To love one another as Christ loves us through:
Listening and Responding to the Holy Spirit;
Welcoming and Nurturing all People;
Learning and Teaching the Gospel;
Caring for, and Sharing, God’s creation.
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