“Create in Me a Clean Heart, O God;
Place an Upright Spirit Within Me.”
Psalm 51
Holy Trinity
Episcopal Church
Fruitland Park, FL
www.holytrinityfp.com
TIDINGS
FEBRUARY 2009
FEBRUARY 2009
FEBRUARY 2009
FEBRUARY 2009
From Father Michael
Dearly Beloved,
We had a fine Annual Parish
meeting with more than 100
parishioners in attendance! In
addition to reports and
amendments, the discussion
revolved around the goals and difficulties of
selecting a new Rector. I firmly believe that
God has placed someone out there who will
become our new leader.
We all have our opinions and wishes, but in
the end, have faith that God will reveal the right
person for Holy Trinity. Our job is to fill out the
Parish Survey, say our prayers and trust in
God. No reason to worry.
We are in the season of Epiphany, the season
when we talk and sing about the light of Christ.
God is counting on us to spread the love of God
to the world.
We are now moving closer to Lent and Ash
Wednesday. It is a time of sharp contrast to
Epiphany. Instead of the Light, we enter Holy
Darkness and Silence as we wait and prepare
for Holy Week and Easter.
Our Ash Wednesday liturgies will be held on
February 25, with service times at 10:00 am in
the morning and 6:00 pm in the evening. Begin
planning your Lenten Discipline.
In Gods Love,
Michael+
Priest in Charge
Newcomer’s Party
There will be a party for
those who are new to the
Parish at 5:00 pm, Sunday,
February 22 in Holy
Trinity’s Parish Hall. We
want to get to know you
better and we want
to answer any questions you have concerning
life as a member Holy Trinity. We’ll also be
serving refreshments. Please join us.
Father Michael & The Vestry
In Focus:
Bible Study on the Square
Every Tuesday morning, a group
of Parishioners meet at the Gazebo in Spanish
Springs Town Square in The Villages to share
Bible Study and fellowship in a unique way. The
group, formerly known as Bott’s POTS (Prayer
on the Square) starts at 10am, and follows up
with lunch at Too Jay’s.
Each Tuesday, the group shares prayer and
discussion on the Gospel reading for the
upcoming Sunday, and reflects on how the
reading relates to their own lives. Donna Bott
moderates, but everyone is encouraged to
share their reflections and prayers with the
whole group.
Please bring your own Bible or a copy of the
lectionary reading for the upcoming Sunday.
See or call Donna Bott for information at
259-6087.
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Please Note: There will be no
Wednesday Morning Service
on February 11th
New Format for Sunday Booklets
Beginning March 1, the first Sunday of Lent,
the entire Sunday service will be printed in a
booklet as we have done for earlier seasons.
Hymns will not be printed in this liturgy booklet,
although there will be the regular preprinted
insert of the Lessons and Collect of the day.
From time to time when we use hymns that are
not in the Hymnal or Lift Every Voice and
Sing, we will pre-print those hymns and include
them as an insert. We hope this will be an aid
in simplifying the service, and will also save
paper. We are also looking into some other
formats as well.
Until we see whether those efforts bear fruit,
we’ll give this format a try for Lent. All special
Holy Week services will be printed in book form
as we had last year.
Fr. Michael
Shoebox Gifts were a Big Hit!
Forgot to mention it last month! Holy Trinity
Parish delivered 47 Shoeboxes for Christmas
for children in Lake County. Now that we have a
great start, let’s see if we can double the
number for next Christmas!
Thanks to all who helped make this drive a
huge success!
Lenten Quiet Time
The Church will be open for quiet Lenten
Meditation on Wednesday, March 11, from
10:00 am until Noon. Please feel free to use this
time of silence and inspired devotions to allow
God to speak to you in the silence of your heart.
Note: Bishop Howe will be visiting the Parish on
Sunday, March 29. If you wish to be received,
or confirmed in the Episcopal Church, please
see or call Fr. Michael at the office: 352-787-
1500. He’ll meet with you and prepare you for
this most important Sacrament.
A Few Details About Finding a New Pastor
A number of Parishioners raised some great
questions at the Annual Meeting regarding the
Search Committee’s criteria for finding a new
Rector. The issues were a bit too complex to
discuss in a large group, so hopefully, this might
help clarify a few of the nuances we face as a
Parish:
1.) Are we large enough for a full-time pastor?
This is a concern both in Parish size and
funding. If we go part-time, what if we
switch from a part-time to a full-time
priest?
2.) We’re a semi-rural, small parish, with an
older population, more than an hour from
any major city. These demographics are a
major factor in selection;
3.)
Our new Pastor will be leading our
“moderate” Episcopal Parish, but we
happen to be located in one of the most
“conservative” diocese in the nation.
While our choices are many, it is vital that all
Parishioners return the Search Committee’s
survey in a timely manner. The Committee has
worked very long and hard to develop a document
that addresses our needs. And remember- neither
Fr. Michael nor the Vestry are involved in this
search process.
Sweet Adelines International Chorus
To Perform in Benefit at LSCC
The Sounds of Sunshine is a live fundraising
performance for the LSCC Scholarship Fund
Save the date- 3 PM, Sunday, February 22, for a
special fundraising performance by the world
famous Sweet Adelines International Chorus.
Proceeds will benefit the Scholarship Fund of
Lake-Sumter Community
College.
The Adelines are a
female group of
barbershop singers- more
than 50 in all! Their
performances combine
costumes, choreography and music for a
delightful afternoon, and it’s all for a good cause.
Tickets are a tax-deductible $12, and the
performance is on the LSCC Campus in the
Williams Performing Arts Center Auditorium (park
in the rear of the campus)
For information, call Bev Pignetti at 352-
365-1967.
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Join in on Saturday, February 28 at 8:00 AM for a morning of sprucing up
the yards. Russell Casson leads a great group of volunteers who help keep
our buildings and grounds in beautiful condition
CROP Hunger Walk February 22nd
Once again, Annette Freeman is leading the
Parish in participating in the 61st annual CROP
Hunger Walk in Leesburg. The walk is one of
more than 2,000 walks held throughout the United
States. Last year’s CROP Walk raised more than
$16 Million to fight a variety of universal issues
that cause human suffering throughout the world.
CROP, which stands for Communities
Responding to Overcome Poverty, is an
outreach of Church World Service, and has
earned an A rating from the American Institute of
Philanthropy, with 85% of proceeds going directly
to services.
The ministry focuses on the grassroots,
hunger-fighting development efforts of partner
agencies in some 80 countries, as well as
providing emergency relief when needed. CROP
Hunger Walks help to provide funding for
methods that empower people to meet their own
needs. From seeds and tools, providing clean
wells and water systems, technical training,
helping refugees, and sponsoring micro-
enterprise loans, people work with CWS to
identify their own development priorities and
needs.
In addition, each local CROP Hunger Walker
can return up to 25 percent of the funds it raises
to local hunger programs. This year, that money
will go to the Lake County Food Bank. Walkers
are also asked to bring food (peanut butter)for the
Food Bank as well
.
Fr. Michael and the entire Vestry urge ALL
Parishioners to join Annette in participating in this
worthy cause. If you can walk, walk. If you can get
others to walk, please do so. If you can pledge, or
get others to pledge, please do that too.
This year’s motto for the CROP Walk is:
“We walk because they walk”
THEY
are the 852 Million people who go to bed
hungry every night throughout the world.
THEY
walk for food, water & firewood.
THEY
walk to
escape violence, to seek shelter, to till their fields,
to find work and to go to school.
Check out their website and services at
www.churchworldservice.org
Let the whole Parish, and your friends,
join in this wonderful cause!
See Annette or call her at 753-0025
Search Committee Seeks Everyone’s Input
The Search Committee is continuing the
process of locating Holy Trinity's new priest. The
next step is to gather our various opinions, wishes
and desires into a picture of our community. The
committee is requesting that each person aged 12
and above complete a parish survey. It is online
and can be accessed two (2) ways:
Go to the Holy Trinity website; click on the
“Profile Survey” link on the page and fill
out the online form:
www.holytrinityfp.com
Between church services, see Sheri Banks
to log you in and coach you through the
survey
Your responses to the questions are
confidential. Please read each question
thoroughly and answer honestly, prayerfully and
thoughtfully. There are questions about yourself,
your perceptions of Holy Trinity as a parish, as
well as characteristics and qualities of a new
priest.
The resulting information will be incorporated
in our Parish Profile. The Search Committee will
use the profile to assist in defining the Parish's
needs and desires as we consider candidates for
our next priest. It will also allow potential priests
to gain a more complete and accurate picture of
Holy Trinity.
The Search Committee will include all surveys
received by February 28, 2009, in the parish
profile.
We also ask that you lift up Holy Trinity, the
Search Committee, the Vestry and the search
process to our great Lord daily in prayer.
If you have any questions or need any help
contact Sheri at (352)348-9393.
Pledging Recap:
Have you Made yours Yet?
Here's a breakdown of the 2009 Parish pledges
:
<$999: 27 $1000-$1999: 31
$2000-$3999: 23 $4000-$6999: 7
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Page 4
Parish Office
:
352-787-1500
Rev. E. Michael Rowell
Priest-in-Charge
The Vestry
Donna Bott, Sr. Warden 259 - 6087
Russell Casson, Jr. Warden 787 - 0508
Hank Childs 430 – 1028
Frances Justison, Secretary 787 - 2186
Pauline Kepner 750 - 6160
Rob Michaels 750 - 0246
Don Pruitt 314 - 9895
Amy Rowell 288 – 3008
Jerry Wang 343 – 8874
Carol Wang, Treasurer 343 – 8874
Elaine Grae,
htecns@aol.com
Parish Administrator
Sharon Redding, Music Director
Bob Mower and David Snow, Sextons
Thomas Boyd, Headmaster,
Holy Trinity School
Rob Michaels, TIDINGS Editor
ptownrob@comcast.net
February Anniversaries
Fred & Marianne Pla 2/01/64
Katherine & Phillip Shannon 2/14/74
John & Mary Jo Neidow 2/16/74
February Birthdays
Hillary Tanner 2/02
Kathy Jones 2/03
Russell Casson 2/03
Marilyn Limberg 2/04
Joe Smith 2/06
Joseph Rydant 2/09
Jean Salmen 2/10
John Neidow 2/14
Charlene Hill 2/19
Carol Rydant 2/20
Barbara Coulter 2/22
Jane Buohl 2/23
Harold Topping 2/24
Weldon deMeurers
2/25
Norman Turner 2/28
Visit our Website at
www.holytrinityfp.com
Holy Trinity Hotline
holytrinityfp@yahoogroups.com
(You must join yahoo and the “club”-
it’s very easy)
Sunday Eucharist 8am & 10am
Sunday Forum at 9:15 a.m.
Holy Eucharist and Healing Wed. 10 am
Office hours Mon - Thursday 8:30am – 1 pm
Fax: 352-787- 8063
htecns@aol.com
Parish Members in our Prayers
Sheri Banks
Daryl Braden
Pat Casson
Mary Childs
Terry Colla
Sally Dover
Dottie Heckters
Jean Howe
Lu Michaels
Margaret Piper
Phil Shannon
Lee Shawcross
Patty Taylor
John & Mary Torrey
Mimi Trout
Carol & Norman Turner
Prayers for Friends & Relatives
PJ – Iraq: grandson-in law of John Falconer
Thomas Banks - Iraq: Son of Terry & Sheri Banks
Paul Schultz- Father of Donna Bott- Deceased
Jean Schultz- Mother of Donna Bott
Lewis Herman – Husband of Sara Herman
Arleen - Relative of Sara Herman
Kortney Scruggs – HTEC School student
Carol Cohan - Friend of Donna Bott
Chester Morton - Brother of Pauline Kepner
Emma Jean Conover - Sister of Pauline Kepner
Bonnie Provenchur - Neighbor of Pauline Kepner
Cathy Erdelyi - daughter - Jan & Anthony Cannella
Kyle Wanningan-Iraq:
Grandson of Bev & Emil Pignetti
Jean Yasner - Friend of Diane Donovan
Sandy Torre - Granddaughter of Frances Justison
Around the Parish
pg_0005
Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday
1
8 & 10 am
Eucharist
9:15 Forum
Fellowship
6 pm
2
Groundhog
Day
3
10am
Bible
Study on
the Square
4
10 Eucharist
& Healing
7pm-Choir
5
6
7
8:30 am
Men’s Prayer
Group
9:30 am
Altar Guild
5:30 Ultreya
Cursillo
Pot Luck
(All Welcome)
8
8 & 10 am
Eucharist
9:15 Forum
Fellowship
9
10
10am
Bible
Study on
the Square
11
7pm-Choir
12
6:30 pm
Vestry
Meeting
Lincoln’s
Birthday
13
14
Holy
Hackers
9:30am
Sign up Parish
Hall or Call Pat
at 751-6487
to confirm
St. Valentine’s
Day
15
8 & 10 am
Eucharist
9:15 Forum
Fellowship
16
Presidents’
Day
Office Open
17
10am
Bible
Study on
the Square
18
10 Eucharist
& Healing
7pm-Choir
19
20
21
22
8 & 10 am
Eucharist
9:15 Forum
Fellowship
23
24
10am
Bible
Study on
the Square
Mardi Gras
25
Lent Begins
7pm-Choir
26
27
28
January
Garden &
Grounds
Day – 8am
FEBRUARY 2009
No Services
This
Wednesday
Ash
Wednesday
Liturgy
10am
&
6pm
CROP Hunger
Walk-
Annette
753-0025
Sweet
Adelines
Fundraiser at
LSCC-Call
Bev 365-1967
Newcomer’s
Party – 5 pm
at the Parish