TRINITY CHURCH
ANNUAL REPORT - 2023
ADULT MINISTRIES
A Message from the Scott
Adult Ministries
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.
In the Fall of 2022, we started the Adult Formation series with a big welcome for the Rev. Amy Peterson. It’s hard to believe it’s only been a year since Amy arrived. Mr. Peter Williams (a member of Trinity) took over to lead a class on the spirituality of architecture. The Rector led a six-week session titled “God in Real Life,” where participants read articles from current affairs and considered how God shows up in our world. Our vestry led one Sunday to share vestry news with the parish. On the last Sunday of October, we welcome Dr. Norman Wirzba, the Gilbert T. Rowe Distinguished Professor of Christian Theology and a Senior Fellow at the Kenan Institute of Ethics at Duke University. He led a session titled “Hope for a Wounded World” and encouraged us with God’s care for creation and God’s children. The Rev. Amy Peterson then led a four-week session on “The Women in Jesus’ Family Tree.”
Meanwhile, in Parents in Conversation, the Rev. Amy Peterson led the group with sessions titled “Genesis: Bad Parents of the Bible.” And the Rev. Gus Boone led a session on the Enneagram.
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 half 2023.
In Lent, the Rector led a season on the Crucifixion, and during that session, our former bishop, the Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor led a session on his new memoir. The Spring finished out with sessions on the Resurrection.
​
The weekly women’s Bible study continued meeting through the year, both in person and online, to discuss upcoming lectionary texts.
In addition, the Becoming Beloved Community book club, led by Sharon Lechner and Page McCorkle, continues to meet every other week in person and online, reading and discussing books by Black writers. Its members are deeply committed to anti-racist work and support each other’s endeavors outside the group.
The Rector maintained a Thursday night Rector’s Bible Study on Zoom that was consistently well-attended, averaging 20-30 people weekly. We continue to host a large class of Education for Ministry.
We give thanks, especially to all those who led a formation series or offered their professional expertise and spiritual wisdom.
​
Respectfully submitted,
Scott White
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.
Women’s Bible Study
.jpg)
The Women’s Bible Study (WBS) continued its weekly meetings this year to hold morning prayer and discuss the Sunday lectionary texts. Averaging between 10 and 20 participants each Tuesday at 9:30 a.m., 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.
Because of the pandemic, the WBS moved to a hybrid platform that allows members to participate either in person or online, and members have continued to appreciate this option. The Zoom online version of the program allows members who are not able to attend in person (whether by location or health) to join this beloved group and find weekly support and connection. We’ve had folks join from multiple states away at times.
While I lead this Bible study most weeks, other clergy and lay members of the group lead on occasions when diocesan commitments required 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 the COVID pandemic started in March of 2020. Born out of our inability to gather in person, the study is only an online (Zoom) study. 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.
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.
Friday Morning Prayer & Reflection
The group (formerly Men's group) meets using ZOOM at 7:30 A.M. each Friday for a little over an hour. The group has grown to an average participation of 8 to 10. Still, in the quietness of the early hours, 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 at this address This information can also be found in the weekly updates on the Trinity website.
Submitted by
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.
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.
-
Trinity currently has 10 students. This class meets by Zoom on Monday evenings.
-
New classes begin in September 2024, and would welcome new students.
-
For more information, please contact Peggy Buchanan for the evening classes.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Buchanan
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
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
If you are interested in joining us, then please contact Page McCorkle or Sharon Lechner.
Respectfully submitted
Page McCorkle
Becoming Beloved Book Study
Reimagining Our Place in the Story
This hybrid book study group meets on Wednesdays in the Clark Room and via Zoom, with seasonal schedules.
Fall 2023 the group is reading “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer, the group’s first Indigenous author. Discussion meetings occur every other Wednesday. NEW this season, Sharon and Page have partnered with Barb and Susan Matthews to integrate Lectio Divina, Visio Divina, and Contemplative Practice.
The group size has grown from 6 to almost 30 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.
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. 2022 marked our tenth 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
Monday Evening Book Club
The Evening Woman’s Book Club meets on the 4th Monday of every other month, beginning in January. We meet in homes about 6:00 pm, 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. We have read fiction, non-fiction, and poetry. In 2023 we had six meetings, including one led by a local author.
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.
Respectfully submitted,
Erwin Gunnells