Advent at Trinity
A Note About Advent Grace
​On Sunday, December 1, we enter the season of Advent. Advent is when the church calendar compels us to consider that which we would often neglect, the end of time. Advent demands that we consider our own ending as well as the ending of time as we know it. Yet, it does so as we prepare for the promise of the Messiah, Jesus. The combination is intentional. On the one hand it is good and right that we consider the end of time, the quality of our lives, the depth of our sin, but on the other hand, we are steeped in the promise of the one who comes with grace for us and the whole world. It is not too much of a stretch to say that our world is in turmoil and for us locally, trauma. War rages in Ukraine, Israel/Palestine, and conflict ranges in many places of the world. The popular vote of the November 5th presidential election is turning out to be the one of the slimmest in history. As disciples of the Prince of Peace, we are being called to be truth tellers and peacemakers. We can do it because we have the grace of the one who came among us with grace for the living of these days.
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May your Advent be filled with reflection and hope.
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Advent Devotions
Now a Trinity tradition, members of Trinity have written a brief devotion for each day of Advent. We will share these devotions through a daily email. You are already included if you have been on this daily email list for devotions in the past. If you have not or are unsure, send a note to Nanette Popa at nanette@trinityasheville.org. She will be happy to add your name.
Reflecting on the Season in Worship
The season of Advent is one of reflection. Therefore, you will notice some changes to our Sunday worship. The season's color is traditionally violet, but there is an English tradition of using blue during Advent. Blue is the color for Mary, the Mother of our Lord, and Advent is Mary’s season. As Mary waits for the birth of her child, so do we. Trinity has blue vestments so we will use blue. You will notice greens on the altar instead of flowers to reflect the simplicity we seek at this time of year. Likewise, our music will align with the reflective nature of the season, and we will use homemade communion bread. All of these changes will be “lifted” on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Feast of the Nativity.
Advent Wreath Making
Sunday, December 1 in Tuton Hall
Join us for an all-ages beloved annual event making Advent Wreaths. Be sure to pick up the devotional booklet that goes along with the wreath. Don’t want a wreath for your own home? No problem. Come make one for us to deliver to our many parishioners living in care facilities who can’t attend church each week. We will have all of the supplies but can use extra greenery. If possible, make a $10 donation per wreath to offset costs.
Letters to the Homebound
Sundays at Trinity in December
Each year, we give everyone the opportunity to write a note to our members who are confined to their homes or a healthcare facility. You will find letters (and a space to write your note) to each homebound member on a table in the hallway leading to Tuton Hall. Please stop by and share your Christmas greeting. We want to be sure all members of Trinity know that they remain in our hearts, though they cannot be present.
Advent Recital Series
Wednesdays in December at Noon
December 4, 1, and 18 in the Nave 12:00 p
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December 4 - Kyle Ritter (organ)
December 11 - Kate Steinbeck (flute) &
Jessica Schaeffer (harp)
December 18 - Bill Bares (jazz piano)
Take a break from the hustle and bustle of the holiday season this December, and plan to attend Trinity's Advent recital series. This year, we have an eclectic mix of music throughout three Wednesdays.
Kicking things off on December 4th, we welcome Kyle Ritter, Canon for Music, at All Souls Cathedral here in Asheville. Kyle will share some of his Advent and Christmas favorites on our mighty Austin pipe organ.On December 11th, we are pleased to welcome back to Trinity a duo from one of Asheville's premier chamber music groups: Pan Harmonia. Flutist Kate Steinbeck and Harpist (and Trinity member!) Jessica Schaeffer will join us again for what promises to be a peaceful and meditative concert.Finally, on December 18th, we will welcome Bill Bares, jazz pianist and director of jazz studies at UNC-Asheville.
Advent Book Club
Friday, December 6, 5 to 6:30
Join Lauren Winner and Amy Peterson for this special Advent Book Club. Come for discussion, wine, sparkling water, and cocktail hour snacks. We’re reading All the Living by C.E. Morgan. Registration closes December 1.
Advent Quiet Day
Saturday, December 7, 10 to 3
Join us for an Advent Quiet Day on Saturday, Dec. 7, from 10 to 3. From hymns about blooming roses to Scriptural readings about the flood, the seasons of Advent and Christmas repeatedly invite us to turn our attention to the natural world. During our five hours together, we’ll interweave teaching from Duke professor the Rev. Dr. Lauren Winner with periods of quiet reflection and group discussion. Lunch will be provided. Registration is open now. This event is open to the diocese, and you are welcome to invite a friend to join, too. Registration closes Deceomber 1.
Bishop of Myra Sunday
December 8 at the 10:45a service
We expect a visit from a very special bishop. This bishop has traveled halfway around the world to be present with us. Bring all of your young friends and friends of friends to enjoy this annual tradition. Our overall service will be much abbreviated to accommodate our guest. “Santa” is a Dutch derivation of the English word for “Saint.” The Dutch word “Klass” and the German “Claus” are variants of the name “Nicholas” in those languages: Niklass and Niklaus, respectively. For those who follow Jesus, the story of a man who partakes in random acts of kindness at Christmas is a story of the Saints of God.
Lessons & Carols December 15 at 5:30p
Lessons and Carols services have a rich history that dates back to 1880 when Truro Cathedral developed the service to incorporate Christmas Carols into liturgy. The first celebration of Lessons and Carols in the United States was at Brown University in Rhode Island, which instituted the service in 1916. In 1919, King's College in Cambridge developed its own lessons and carols service.
This service quickly grew in popularity and was nationally broadcast for the first time in 1928. It has been broadcast worldwide almost every year since, and the term "Lessons and Carols" has become almost synonymous with King's College. The service is structured around nine readings from scripture taken from the Old and New Testaments. The scriptures weave a narrative of the history of salvation, prophecies of the coming of Christ, and, of course, the Nativity story itself. These lessons are supported by the singing of carols and anthems by both the congregation and the choir, beginning with the classic carol, “Once in Royal David’s City." Trinity’s Chancel Choir will lead the service, and anthems by Poston, Handel, Rachmaninoff, Howells, Tavener, and Davies will be sung. A Brass Quintet will accompany congregational hymns. This service will take the place of our typically scheduled Celtic Eucharist at this hour, and nursery care will be provided.
Adult Formation - 9:30 Sunday mornings
The Adult Forum
December 1, 8, 15 & 22
The Infancy Narratives
with Tim Owings
What would the Advent and Christmastide seasons look and feel like without the stories in the first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel? No visit by Gabriel to the Virgin Mary, no Magnificat, no shepherds or angel chorus singing “Gloria,” no Bethlehem stable, and no baby Jesus in a musty manger. To our great joy and wonder, those and other treasured stories are the gifts Luke gives the Church. In this 4-week study, we’ll journey through these first two chapters of Luke’s Gospel, asking why Luke might have felt the need to tell us about our Lord’s birth. How did he come to learn these stories that Mark omits and that Matthew and John do not seem to know? And most importantly, how do these stories function as a prelude to the rest of Luke’s Gospel?
Tim Owings will lead this study, which will meet in the Undercroft. An ordained minister, Tim holds a Ph.D. in New Testament literature. He and his wife, Kathie are active members of Trinity Church.
Please bring a Bible to the class.
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Parents in Conversation
Parents in Conversation will meet in the Clark Room.​
Children & Youth
Bernardo Bitti, Coronation of the Virgin, 1575–80
Youth Formation for grades 6-12
Jennine Hough will be joining our middle and high school classes during the formation hour.
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December 8: The Legendary and Biblical Mary: Her birth, marriage (Legendary); and the Biblical marriage, Nativity, etc.
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December 15: The Biblical Mary, through Pentecost; the Councils of Nicea and Ephesus, and the Madonnas.
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December 22: The Cathedrals, The Council of Trent, her Coronation, Dormition and Assumption.
EYC and Club 345
Sunday, December 8
Join us for ACT’s "The Sound of Music" production on Sunday, Dec. 8th, 2024. The show is at 2:30 p.m., and tickets are $22.50 each. We are combining our Youth group with Club 345 for this event. Please drop your youth off at the Asheville Community Theatre at 2:00 and pick them up at 5:30 p.m. Limited tickets!
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Christmas Pageant Rehearsal
Dec. 22 at 9:30 a.m.-10:30 a.m. (during the Sunday School hour)
This is our one and only rehearsal for the 3 pm Christmas Eve children’s pageant.
Attendance at this rehearsal is mandatory for children playing major roles (Mary, Joseph, Wise Men, Lead Angel, Angel carrying the baby) and is strongly encouraged (but not required) for everyone else!
Christmas
the Feast of the Nativity
Christmas Memorials and Dedications
As is our custom, we invite you to make a donation as a memorial for a loved one who has died or in thanksgiving for a loved one. The Christmas Eve bulletin will include the names of those you request. Your gift, as always, helps to adorn Trinity with decoration and music for our Christmas celebrations. Neither our decorations nor our music (brass included) will disappoint. You may make your dedication and donation using the envelopes which will be in the pews from now until December 17, or you may use THIS FORM. Deadline is December 17.
Christmas Eve Services
Children's Pageant and Holy Eucharist
Come to this beloved service, where our children will lead us in the dramatization of the story of Jesus’ birth. All Trinity children, their friends, and any young visiting family members are welcome to participate in the pageant. All children should be at Trinity by 2:30 p.m. to claim a costume. This service will conclude with the Holy Eucharist and include the traditional carols of the season. Nursery Care will be provided.
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5:00 pm
Choral Prelude to the 5:30 Holy Eucharist with choir and brass
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5:30 pm
This service is a traditional Christmas service of the Holy Eucharist. Trinity’s Adult choir will lead traditional carols of the season along with a brass quartet, other instrumentalists, and the Trinity Choir. Nursery care will be provided.
This service will be livestreamed. Click here.
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10:30 pm
Choral Prelude to the 11:00 Holy Eucharist with choir, brass, and strings.
11:00 pm
Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Christmas Creche.
This service is a traditional Christmas service of the Holy Eucharist. Trinity’s Adult choir will lead traditional carols of the season along with a brass quartet, other instrumentalists, and the Trinity Choir. Nursery care will not be provided.
Christmas Day Service
10:00 am
Holy Eucharist with Carols
At Trinity, the quiet of Christmas morning is experienced with deep joy. This simple celebration of the Holy Eucharist will include carols. If your schedule allows and you are “over” the crowds of Christmas Eve, this service may be for you.
Christmastide
The First Sunday After Christmas
Sunday, December 29
All our regular Sunday services will take place at 8:00, 10:45, and 5:30. We will not hold traditional Sunday School or Adult Formation classes, but there will be breakfast and a Children’s Hour starting at 9:30.
The Second Sunday After Christmas
Sunday, January 5
We return to our regular Sunday Schedule with Sunday School for all Ages. At the 10:45 service, we will have the Feast of Lights (described below). Feast of Lights and Burning of the GreensSunday, January 5, at 10:45 serviceOn this day, we anticipate the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6). Epiphany is the date the Wise Men, or Three Kings, are said to have arrived at the manger to worship the Christ child. Nearly fifty percent of the Christian World (Orthodox Christians) keep this day as the celebration of the Feasts of the Nativity rather than Dec. 25. The season of Epiphany is the season when we celebrate the light of Christ shining out into the whole world.
At the close of this service, our younger members will help us remember those of the faith who have spread the light of Christ, and they will help us carry the light out from the church into the courtyard, where we will burn the Christmas greens symbolizing an end to the Christmas season.​​​​​​​​​