TRINITY CHURCH
ANNUAL REPORT - 2024
ADULT MINISTRIES
Sunday Formation 2023-2024
Faith formation is a lifelong process, a belief that Trinity lives out by offering a diverse, engaging, and timely slate of Adult Education opportunities throughout the year.
We experimented with having two adult formation offerings every Sunday morning, one in the Undercroft and one in the Clark Room. While this was successful in many ways, people missed the casual camaraderie of the old Parents in Conversation meeting in the Clark room, so in the fall of 2024 we revived it.
Exploring the Episcopal Experience is a foundation-level class that examines all aspects of the Episcopal Church. It also serves as training for those new to the Episcopal Church and as a review for anyone interested. The Rector led this class for many participants in the first month of 2024, while in the Clark Room a number of parishioners shared about their favorite saints from church history.
Through Lent, Dr. Tim Owings led an eight week class on The Gospel of Mark as Story, so well attended that it was moved to the Redwood Chapel. In the Undercroft, the Creation Care Committed hosted a series of guests.
The Rev. Dennis Fotinos led a class in the Clark Room called “Getting to Know the BCP,” which was very appreciated, and paired well with our move to a more minimal printed bulletin, inviting congregants to use their red books more often. In the Undercroft, a series on doctrine included lessons from Peter Hartwig and Deacon Bob Zito.
In May, all came together for a series on prayer, led by Rev. Amy and a number of lay leaders. This more conversation-oriented series took place around round tables in the Undercroft .In the fall, Parents in Conversation resumed in the Clark Room. In the Undercroft, a variety of speakers organized by Ed Bleynat led a series called “Reading the Bible Literately, not Literally.”
Our October plans were thrown off by Hurricane Helene, but in November we welcomed The Very Rev. Tim Kimbrough from Duke University and heard George Stein on Searching for Wisdom and the Power to Become Children of God.
Rector's Bible Study
The Rector's Bible Study has been a bright light in the middle of this dark time of COVID-19. The study was born out of COVID-19 and our inability to gather in person. Begun soon after in-person worship was suspended the study continues to flourish and has become one of the largest online gatherings at Trinity, drawing up to 60 participants or more. Our first book studied was Paul's Letter to the Galatians. Now we are working our way through the Acts of The Apostles. We have every intention of continuing this study even when in-person gatherings resume. God has the power to take our darkest moments and do something amazing with them. This study is one of the blessings of COVID-19.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott White.
Weekly Formation
Women's Bible Study
The Women’s Bible Study (WBS) continued its weekly meetings this year for prayer, fellowship, and discussion of the Sunday lectionary texts. Averaging between 10 and 20 participants each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., both inperson and online, WBS provides a warm, engaging, and fun environment in which those gathered share their joys and prayer requests, listen for God’s guidance, and enjoy each other’s companionship. Conversation around shared life together and around the scripture text is lively, engaging, and encouraging.
Several newcomers have become regular participants in the group this year, leading to an ever-more diverse set of perspectives in our group, which is a gift. We also had several off-campus gatherings hosted by Cheryl Paben this year. Over the summer, we enjoyed a short series of “un-lectionary” studies, looking specifically at texts that never appear in the Sunday morning lectionary.
While I lead this Bible study most weeks, other clergy and lay members of the group lead on occasions when diocesan commitments require me to be at other meetings. WBS remains a strong, important spiritual gathering in the life of Trinity Episcopal Church.
Respectfully Submitted,
Amy Peterson
Women’s Bible Study
The Women’s Bible Study continued its faithful weekly meetings this year to hold morning prayer and to discuss the past Sunday’s lectionary texts. Averaging between 10 and 20 participants each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., the WBS provides a warm, engaging, and fun environment in which those gathered share their joys and prayer requests, listen for God together, and enjoy each other’s companionship. Conversation around shared life together and around the scripture text for the week, is lively, engaging, and encouraging.
Because of the pandemic, the WBS moved to an online platform only since March. However, Zoom has enable participants who had not been able to attend for many months (whether by location or health) to rejoin this beloved group and find weekly support and connection during a time of social isolation. We’ve had folks join from multiple states away at times.
The Rev. Scott White and the Rev. David Henson continue to alternate weeks leading the group and facilitating discussions, with adjunct clergy, Nancy McCorkle, or other members of the group on occasions when diocesan commitments require our clergy to be at other meetings. The Women’s Bible Study remains a strong, important spiritual gathering in the life of Trinity Episcopal Church.
​
Respectfully Submitted,
Scott White
The Men’s Morning Prayer and Bible Study
“Thy words were found, and I ate them, and thy words became to me a joy and a delight of my heart, O Lord, God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16
The men’s group meets using ZOOM at 7:30 A.M. for approx. an hour and a half each Friday. The group has grown to an average of 10 often gathering 12 or 13. Still, in the quietness of the early hours, we continue to pray for the health of Trinity Parish family, the local community, our Country, our nation, and the world. We also pray for those of personal concerns. We than take time to reflect on the following weeks Gospel lesson.
​
We welcome any and all to gather with us using ZOOM at the following address https://zoom.us/j/7480056 which can also be found in the weekly updates at trinity.org.
Submitted by Bill Myrick
contact # 262-203-2670 or 4wmharris@gmail.com
Rector's Bible Study
The Rector's Bible Study began the first week of the COVID pandemic in March of 2020. Born out of our inability to gather in person, the study is an online (Zoom) study only. The study continues. Our time together is a classic Bible Study, with time for fellowship, prayer, and scripture study. We’ve studied Galatians, Acts, Philippians, Revelation to John, Romans, a comparative study of the Synoptic Gospels, and more. This coming fall, we are diving into the prophet Isaiah.
In the Fall of 2024 we began a study grounded in the Creeds of the church but focused on looking at the basic questions of the faith: On God, Jesus, The Spirit, The Church and more.
Using the Zoom platform for this study benefits many of our members. When the time changes and our evenings turn dark, during the winter months of questionable weather and more, this platform allows us to continue meeting consistently. Many of our participants live 20 minutes away from the church building, so what would be a nearly two-hour block of time to participate is strictly the one hour of the study.
Respectfully submitted,
Scott White.
Education for Ministry
EfM provides a four-year curriculum that develops theologically informed laity who are prepared to listen for and respond to God’s call. EfM helps participants discover and exercise their varied gifts for ministry in their everyday lives.
An EfM group is 6-12 participants who meet weekly over 36 weeks. The classes are about 3 hours in length. Students are given weekly assignments to study and then come back to class ready to discuss the readings. Year One students study the Old Testament, Year Two, the New Testament, Year Three is Church History and Year Four is interfaith encounters and ethics. EfM is open to all denominations and is an international program.This class meets by Zoom on Monday evenings. New classes begin in January 2025 and there are still openings for students. For more information, please contact Peggy Buchanan for the evening classes.​
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Buchanan
Friday Morning Prayer & Reflection
The group (formerly Men's group) meets using ZOOM at 7:30 A.M. each Friday for about an hour. The group has an average participation of 6 to 8. Still, in the quietness of the day we continue to pray for the health of the Trinity Parish family, the local community, our country, our nation, and the world. We also pray for those with personal concerns. We then take time to reflect on one of the following week's lessons. Often, contemporary national and international issues influence our discussions and prayers.
​
We welcome any and all, men and women, to gather with us using ZOOM
​
This information can also be found in the weekly updates at www.trinityasheville.org.
​
Respectfully Submitted,
John Bordley
Education for Ministry
EfM provides a four year curriculum that develops theologically informed laity who are prepared to listen for and respond to God’s call. EfM helps participants discover and exercise their varied gifts for ministry in their everyday lives.
​
An EfM group is 6-12 participants who met weekly over 36 weeks. The classes are about 3 hours in length. Students are given weekly assignments to study and then come back to class ready to discuss the readings. Year One students study the Old Testament, Year Two, the New Testament, Year Three is Church History and Year Four is interfaith encounters and ethics.
​
EfM is open to all denominations and is an international program.
​
Trinity currently has three EfM classes representing all four years of study. Two of the classes are held on Monday evenings at Trinity. One class is held during the day at Deerfield.
​
New classes begin in September 2020 and would welcome new students.
​
For more information, please contact Peggy Buchanan or Sandy Grant for the evening classes or Rhonda Kilby for the day class.
Becoming Beloved Community (BBC) Book Club
This hybrid book study group meets on Wednesdays in the Clark Room and via Zoom, with seasonal schedules.
Fall 2024 the group is reading “Dear White Peacemakers: Dismantling Racism with Grit and Grace” by Osheta Moore, one of Sharon’s picks. Additionally, the group plans to read and discuss Ta-Nehisi Coates’ “Between the World and Me” in December 2024, “The Fire Next Time” by James Baldwin in January 2025, and “Having Our Say” by The Delany Sisters (Sarah and A. Elizabeth Delany) in February 2025.
The partnership with Barb Matthews and Susan Edwards began in 2023 and continues. They bring a regular contemplative practice and reflection to every group gathering. This ritual invites the group into a deeper prayer practice.
The group size ranges from 5 to 20 people. We welcome group members to enter into dialogue in a safe and supportive setting with other fellow Trinitarians and church leaders – to discuss questions about the text that can be challenging and uncomfortable. Because conversations invite vulnerability and challenge members to examine their our own biases and understanding of race, class, and gender, we set the following intentions:
-
Building relationships, following Jesus into the wilderness, and learning together,
-
Practicing making changes where we can, no matter how big or small,
-
Committing to the work for a lifetime, making it a lifestyle choice
-
Seeking the Third Way of gentleness, creativity, and divestment of power, not only in our social justice work but in our relationships with each other. ​
In exploring the works of Black, Indigenous, and People Of Color (BIPOC), we deepen our faith, expand our understanding of Christ’s call for reconciliation, consider the role of the white dominant culture in social justice efforts, and commit to walking in the Way of Love.
The group’s journey is to do “the work” of learning what BIPOC brothers and sisters have experienced (and continue to experience in our world), how did (and do) they feel, what have they learned (and what can we learn from them), where did (and do) they find God in the midst of racism, oppression and violence, and most importantly -- what is our role in doing God’s work as fellow Christians.
We share our own stories of personal growth, shame, healing, and where we find hope and opportunity to embrace the larger community of faith that includes all God’s children. We discuss ways we -- as individuals, a group, a community and a world -- can promote social justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Originally started in June 2021 through a collaboration between David Henson, former Associate Rector, and parishioners, Sharon Lechner and Page McCorkle, the group specifically selects books written by BIPOC authors. Books previously read and discussed include:
-
"Jesus and The Disinherited" by Howard Thurman
-
“Sisters in the Wilderness” by Delores Williams
-
“I’m Still Here, Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness” by Austin Channing Brown
-
“The Cross & The Lynching Tree” by James Cone
-
“The Vanishing Half” by Brit Bennett
-
“Beloved” by Toni Morrison
-
“Long Division” by Kiese Laymon
-
“The Office of Historial Corrections” by Danielle Evans
-
“Change the Game” by Collin Kaepernick
-
“We Survived the End of the World: Lessons from Native America on Apocalypse and Hope” by Steven Charleston
-
“The Four Vision Quests of Jesus” by Steven Charleston
-
“The New Jim Crow” by Michelle Alexander
-
“The Night is Long but Light Comes in the Morning” Catherine Meeks
If you are interested in joining us, then please contact Page McCorkle or Sharon Lechner.
Respectfully submitted
Page McCorkle
2nd Chapter Book Group
What better way to share in our community of faith than to come together in a small group for honest conversation about a good, or not so good, book? We are a group of women who enjoy reading and getting together to talk about what we have read. Sometimes you read a book you may never have chosen if it was not on the “list” and it opens new horizons of thought.
This daytime group meets six times per year on the second Thursday of the even numbered months at the church from 10-11:30AM. 2023 marks our eleventh year of meeting to discuss a variety of fiction and non-fiction books chosen by the group that lend themselves to good conversation.
We have approximately 20 active members with average attendance being 10. Being a member of this group is a great way to meet new people if you are new to Trinity. Anyone interested in joining us should contact Barbara Fotinos (bfotinos@gmail.com) for more information.
​
Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Fotinos
2nd Chapter Book Group
What better way to share in our community of faith than to come together in a small group for honest conversation about a good, or not so good, book? We are a group of women who enjoy reading and getting together to talk about what we have read. Sometimes you read a book you may never have chosen if it was not on the “list” and it opens new horizons of thought.
​
This daytime group meets six times per year on the second Thursday of the even numbered months at the church from 10-11:30AM. 2020 marks our seventh year of meeting to discuss a variety of fiction and non-fiction books chosen by the group that lend themselves to good conversation. The year started normally with our first meeting at the church but quickly changed in April to a Zoom format online. Attendance usually varies from 6-8 women from our list of regulars and continues to see those numbers as we adjust to virtual meetings. Anyone interested in joining us should contact Barbara Fotinos (bfotinos@gmail.com) for more information.
​
Respectfully Submitted,
Barbara Fotinos
Monday Evening Book Club
The Evening Woman’s Book Club meets on the 4th Monday every other month, beginning in January. We meet in homes about 6:00, bringing a dish to share, for social time, dinner, and a directed discussion of a book, chosen yearly at an animated (but civilized) organizational meeting. Often we have been able to snag a local author. We have read fiction, non-fiction and poetry. In 2024 we had six meetings.
The group, which has about 40 on the roster, is open to all, of course, and it’s a great way to meet other literary types. We frequently gain members, both newcomers and old timers; three or four in 2024.
Respectfully submitted,
Erwin Gunnells