Beloved of East Carolina:
Over the past six months, I’ve had the joy of spending time at Trinity Center. It is a place of rest and refreshment, and it’s a place of life and growth. Last week, I was with over sixty Episcopal Church Women who gathered. In our conversations and prayers, they reminded me of the Gospel imperative to love your neighbor as yourself. A few weeks before, during Eucharist at Camp Trinity, the children of this place gave me hope. One after the other, insisting on selfless love and compassion for all whom we encounter. My favorite phrase from that time, coming from the youth: love is a chain reaction. Another day, I spent time with one of our more senior members of the Diocese, who spoke to me about the power of praying the Daily Office in the Julian Chapel. She told me how this practice had changed her life and deepened her faith. It is clear to me that the Holy Spirit moves in this sacred space.
Trinity Center is one of the strongest heartbeats of the Diocese. It is a place where you can come and find friendship and renewal. It is a place to grow deeper in faith. There is hope and holiness steeped in the water and the land. And Trinity Center needs our help. Short term and long term, this beloved place needs repairs, renewal and imagination for how we will approach the future. The Board of Managers is doing that work in partnership with the staff at Trinity Center and with me. I anticipate you will hear more from us in the coming months and years about how we can ensure Trinity’s long-term health and vitality.
In the short term, we need help with this budget year. Our goal is to raise $200,000 by the end of 2026. Mandy and I are committing to this work by pledging $5000 to the 2026 Annual Appeal.
If Trinity Center is one of the places etched deep in your heart, I invite you to join us in giving to the Annual Appeal. No amount is too small and every gift is gratefully received. You can give a one-time gift to the appeal, or like me, you might choose to give your gift monthly.
Below, you will find a link that you can use to give online to the Annual Appeal. If you would like information on how to send your pledge by mail, reach out to Trinity Center at 252-247-5600.
https://bit.ly/annualappeal2026
I am grateful to be among you in this beautiful corner of God’s good, good creation.
With every blessing,
