Trinity Episcopal Church, Dallas, Texas
April 8, 2012
TRINITY WEEKLY NEWS
From Canon Rob...
Welcome Visitors!!!!
Life After Death
This is the morning after the tornados and the sun
is streaming through the bushes screening my
study window. As the light hits the leaves all the
variegated shades of green are highlighted and the
leaves tremble in the light breeze.
Storms are part of life. The Psalmist says, “Deep
calls to deep at the thunder of thy cataracts; all thy
waves and thy billows have gone over me.”i Some
of the storms that hit us have an intensity that we
can scarce survive. At one point St. Paul confesses, “We were so utterly burdened
beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself.”ii But Paul also confesses that,
“this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things
that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are
unseen are eternal.”iii
There is in this a rhythm that reflects the dying and rising of Jesus, for even the Son
of God had to die in order to be raised from the dead. “For I delivered to you as of
first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with
the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance
with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.”iv
At the very heart of our faith and our creeds is the eternal rhythm of our dying and
rising God, and it is the death and Resurrection of Jesus that is the model for our
own dying and rising again to eternal life. We push away the reality of death with
many distractions and denials, yet it will overtake us all. Unless we go through the
gate of death there is no entry into heaven.
The Resurrection of Jesus provides us with the model for eternal life. When he rose
from the dead he was fully physical and his wounds were clearly evident, and he could
eat of fish and of honey comb. Yet his resurrection body also had transcendent properties as he appeared to his disciples behind closed doors and finally, in physical form,
ascended into heaven. When we die, if we belong to him, we shall be with him, fully
physical, fully alive, and fully transformed. That is our resurrection hope, and without
that hope St. Paul tells us “we are of all men most miserable.”v
I said, “If we belong to him, we shall be with him.” That’s a big “if.” We have a
guarantee. Those who truly search for him will find him; those who seek him not
cannot find him. In the final analysis “There are only two kinds of people in the
end: those who say to God, ‘Thy will be done,’ and those to whom God says, in the
end, ‘Thy will be done.’ All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there
could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it.
Those who seek find. To those who knock it is opened.”vi Those who seek him will
live with him forever in the heavenly kingdom.
i
Psalm 42:7 RSV
2 Corinthians 1:8 ESV
iii
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV
iv
1 Corinthians 15:3-5 ESV
v
1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV
vi
C. S. Lewis, The Great Divorce, (New York: HarperCollins, 2001), p.75
ii
We are so happy to have
you worship with us today.
Be sure to sign our guest
register and pick up a
newcomer gift bag. Please
call the church office if you
have any questions.
Sunday Bible Study
The Sunday morning
Bible Study for
adults and older children did
not meet today. A new study
entitled “Living the Resurrection” will begin next Sunday,
April 15, at 9:15 am.
Sunday School
The Sunday school
class for younger
children was not held today. It
will resume on Sunday, April
15, at 9:15 am.
Child Care
Child care is provided during
the 10:30 Sunday service each
week in classroom 6.
Evening Prayer
A said Evening Prayer
Service is held in the
chapel every Wednesday night
beginning at 6:15 pm.
Wednesday Bible Study
Join us for a study of
Nehemiah. A catered
meal begins at 6:45 pm,
followed by Bible study at 7:15.
Please email nparkhurst@
tecdallas.org to RSVP so our
chef can plan dinner.
Benedictines Meet
Trinity’s Benedictine
chapter meets in the
parish hall on the 2nd
and 4th Sunday of every month
at 12:45 pm for lunch, followed
by a 1:45 service in the chapel.
News and Notes
New Sunday Morning Bible Study
A new Sunday morning Bible study entitled “Living the Resurrection Life” will begin next week, April 15. The first
two classes will look at the Doctrine of the Resurrection. Please join us at 9:15 am.
Kairos Weekend Coming Up
The next Kairos Prison Ministry weekend is set for April 19-22. As always, several levels of volunteer
involvement are available: participate in the ministry, come for the closing day service, support the ministry
financially, and/or help make cookies for the prisoners. Contact Deacon Phil for details about the weekend
event. Come to the parish kitchen at 10 am on Tuesday, April 17, to help make cookies. Donations for cookie
dough will be gratefully accepted!
Silent Auction and “Free” Food Truck Dinner, Saturday, April 28
Come at 6:30 to look over the auction items and at 7 enjoy a meal of pizza, pasta, chicken fried steak, salad, soups,
sandwiches and much more provided by Dallas’ newest food truck TX Delizioso, a creation of Sydney Brown, son
of our own Sherrill and Linda Brown. For dessert, Sydney’s food truck Enticed will also be here to provide the best
shaved ice in Dallas. What can you do to help with this event? First, contribute items for our silent auction. Be
creative! (Look in the box below to see the items that have already been donated.)
Susan and Clare Mills enjoy the dinner group at Janet Page’s house.
Thanks to those of you who have already brought items!!! Second, let us
know you will be coming. Christy West will be circulating with a sign-up
sheet, so let her know you will be here. And finally, invite your friends
and neighbors! All proceeds will go into a fund to replace the pew
cushions in the church.
Dinner Group
On Saturday, March 31, Janet Page hosted one of two Trinity dinner
groups at her home. If you would like to join one of these groups, but
have not done so yet, contact Carolyn Bowling at 214-850-7022.
There will be no coffee hour today, but join us for coffee and
donuts following next Sunday’s service.
Serving Today, April 8
Sermon
Chalice
Altar Guild
Lector
Tellers
Ushers
Clean Up
Canon Rob
R. Bayh
Team 1
T. Benson
C. West & G. West
B. Bowling & H. Lewis
Fr. Michael
D. Smith
Team 2
R. Crawford
Serving next Sunday, April 15
R. Crawford & J. Page
Silent Auction Donations to Date: Ranger tickets, Culwell &
Son gift certificates, dog/house sitting, a hand-made patriotic wreath,
professional baby sitting, an El Fenix gift basket, a lamp, dog walking, a
decorative bird house, a 5000 piece puzzle, 5 signed children’s books,
wine, and a painting of your pet made from your favorite photo.
Prayer Requests
Please pray for: Rebecca; Eleanor; Helen and Renee; Mary Alice;
Kristi; Joe; Tom; Lauren; Graeme; Anne; Will; Laura, Janet, and Russ;
Judy and Karl; Gabe; Rexx; Scot; Franco; Cindi; Joyce; Johnny;
Maegan and Anthony; Betty; Patricia; Paula and Jake; Kathye;
Brenda; Daniel, Christina, and their children; Gene; Monica; Shirley;
Micayla; Elizabeth and Tim; Aimee; Edward; Jenny; Joe; Brandon;
Gerry; Amy; Marsha; Rachel and her family; all who are struggling
financially; and all those in areas of conflict around the world.
Please contact the church office to add names to the prayer list.
B. Bowling & H. Lewis
T. Benson & R. Crawford
Trinity Episcopal Church
12727 Hillcrest Road
Dallas, TX 75230
972.991.3601
tecdallas.org
Priest-in-Charge The Rev. Canon Dr. Robin (Rob) P. Smith
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 214.906.5656
Assisting Priest The Rev. Michael Mills
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 214.793.0542
Deacon
The Rev. Phil Snyder
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 972.423.2384
Organist/Choir Jean-Pierre Gabriels
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 817.480.3157
Administrator Luan Hardy
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 972.991.3601 ext. 102
Parish Secretary Nanci Parkhurst
Email: [email protected]
Telephone: 972.991.3601 ext. 101