The Tower Online

Trinity Christmas Pageant

 The Trinity Christmas Pageant 2010

Trinity Church held its annual Christmas Pageant on Sunday, December 19 at 4 p.m.  Over 300 people attended this beautiful candlelit service of lessons and carols. The story of the Nativity was told in a tableau format with the 4^th and 5^th graders as the cast of angels, shepherds, King Herod, the 3 wise men and their pages.  Pastor Kathleen Adams-Shepherd was the narrator and the music was provided by the youth choirs: The Trinity Choristers and the Primary Choir with Fiona Smith Sutherland as the director. 

The gifts on the steps were brought in by the children who attended the pageant.  They are for the children at Amos House - a transitional homeless facility in Danbury, and were taken there in time for Christmas.

Sue Vogelman, Minister of Children and Youth Education directed the pageant. “This was my 10^th pageant as director and it was just beautiful. The kids did a great job as usual.”  The Symes family portrayed the Holy Family with Christopher as Joseph, Heather as Mary, and 3 month old Ryder as baby Jesus.  Mason Symes (2 years old) portrayed a little angel who flitted around the manger.  Christopher Symes was also in the pageant almost 20 years ago as a shepherd.  His parents (Curt and Connie Symes) were thrilled to see their own child and then their grandchild be in the Trinity pageant  a few decades later!

 

St. Nicholas Day

posted by Sue Vogelman

On Saturday, December 4, 2010, over 30 children and their families celebrated St. Nicholas Day at Trinity.  Starting in the side hallway to line up their shoes, the children left hay and carrots in them as treats for St. Nicholas' horse. 

 

Then we journeyed back into time through our Magical Dutch Village and when we arrived, we found St. Nicholas himself fast asleep. 

The children awakened him and St. Nicholas told us a wonderful story about how he gave away his inherited wealth to help the less fortunate. 

 
Then St. Nicholas gave each child a few gold covered chocolate coins before going on his way. 

 

Everyone joined in at various centers to make ornaments, a jingle-bell necklace, a decorated bag and cookies, too! 

 
 
There were games like Pin the Miter on the Bishop, Toss the Gold Through the Window, and Sneak, Sneak, Give. 

  

A wonderful time was had by all - but especially by the children who when they went to retrieve their shoes, found them filled with small treats and toys from St. Nicholas!

 

 

All Youth Kickoff Canoe Trip

The youth ministries programs kicked off 2010-2011 with a canoe trip to northwestern Connecticut.  Peter Anderau organized the trip with Clarke Outdoors www.clarkeoutdoors.com for over 50 people.  After a long ride up to West Cornwall, we ate lunch together (organized by Temple Whitaker) and then were driven to the launch point above the dam in Canaan, CT.  Two hours of canoeing down the beautiful Housatonic river - and no one fell in!  A few got turned around backwards and went zig-zagging down the river, but it was a safe and fun time for all!  Here are a few photos of the fun.

Getting our instructions and life preservers:
 

The very steep launch site. 

 

 

 

A beautiful day for all!

Leftovers Turn into Red Carpet Event

by Hannah Albee

Once again, Trinity pushes the envelope on pre-conceived notions about church fellowship.  Think again if you are imagining the run-of-the-mill church potluck: a la boring casseroles and Jell-O salads.  Parishioners turned out for the "Turkey Again?" potluck and advent wreath workshop hosted by Christian Formation on November 30th with creative Thanksgiving leftovers that would make even Hollywood chef Wolfgang Puck drool.  Awards were handed out to the new stars of potluck cuisine. Set designers worked busily on advent wreaths to bring home. And up-and-coming names in show biz posed for glam shots. Dress was kicked up a notch too: this was indeed a Red Carpet night at Trinity.

These judges of glamorous post thanksgiving cuisine have high standards when it comes to left over Turkey, Jell-O, Cass-a-Roles, Desserts and Soups….  

The coveted Nutcracker Award for Best Creative Use of Jell-O and/or
Jell-O Mold goes to Michele McBride. Makes sense that a "mover and shaker" of the night would win the award for the food that moves and shakes, does it not?

The Lifetime Achievement Award – Green Bean Casserole – goes to The Steins! Congratulations!

Best Dessert Award for Assorted Swiss Mousses goes to chocolatier Peter Anderau.

Cory Benson won The Best Use of Turkey in a Cass-a-Role for her Green Chili Turkey Casserole. They like it! They really like it!

Not shown, (photographer was pushed aside by paparazzi): The Jones-Boyle family for their Wild Rice Salad which beat out some pretty stiff competition for the Best Veggie in a Supporting Role Award.

The Filiato family for Best Foreign Dish--Granma's Banana Graham Cracker Deluxe and for Best Costume Award--Mashed Potatoes.

For Best Make Up & Special Effects – Snow and Leaves Sweet Potatoes – The Chamiec-Case/Chamiec-Pauneto Family.

And for Best Overall Entrée – Tortilla Soup – The Lonsinger Family took their new found fame in stride.

Stewardship Dinner Caps off a Day of Visits

As part of the Stewardship Campaign, Trinity parishioners received visits today from each other to share stories about their faith journey and their life at Trinity. Later many gathered in the Undercroft to celebrate our life together with a meal. Here are photos of that dinner.