Cocktails (or mocktails) & Desserts to Die For
June 19, 7 p.m.

Summer Picnic on the Porch
July 17, 7 p.m.

Each dinner is limited to 10 people; early registration is suggested. Cost: Donation amount of your choice. Vegetarian options will be available. Contact intern Alex Barton at 410-245-3267 or adbarton11@gmail.com to RSVP.

Share food, fellowship, music, swimming, volleyball, basketball, and more with your fellow Episcopalians from the Diocese of Ohio. The main course will be provided; each individual, or group, is encouraged to bring a side dish to share.

The picnic will be held at the proposed site of a new Camp and Retreat Center. Spend the afternoon at this beautiful property with a five-acre swimming pond. As part of the festivities, we will also be celebrating the 25th anniversary of Bishop Bowman’s and Bishop Williams’ ordination to the Episcopate. Bishop Bowman was ordained Bishop of Western New York in 1986, and Bishop Williams was ordained Bishop Suffragan of the Diocese of Ohio, also in 1986.

RSVP no later than Monday, June 18. Click here to sign up via Eventbrite or call Karyn Calaway at 216-774-0462.

Faith communities across Ohio are speaking out strongly against the death penalty. Last month, more than 230 Ohio faith leaders called on Governor Kasich to show mercy to Mark Wiles, who was executed despite an overwhelming show of support for clemency. Momentum for ending the death penalty in Ohio is growing like never before. Now is the best time to get involved with the movement to end Ohio’s death penalty.

Join Ohioans to Stop Executions (OTSE) on Thursday, May 31 from 6:-8:30 p.m. in the Holy Family Center at St. Joseph Church in Strongsville, 12700 Pearl Road, Strongsville 44136. Learn how you can play a role in repealing the death penalty with others in your community.

Participants will have the opportunity to meet other community members and hear from current volunteers with OTSE about simple ways individuals and groups can help. Current and new members will have the opportunity to collaborate on projects and advocacy work.

Representatives will be on hand from Lorain, Cuyahoga, Summit, Wayne, Ashland, Medina, Lake, and Geauga counties.

A light dinner will be served from 6-6:30 p.m. The program will run from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Please RSVP by May 29 to Adrian Griffin, agriffin@otse.org or 216-688-1180. Include your county so that you can be placed in a group of others from your local community.

Baby Boomers
Potluck dinner on Sunday, June 10 at 6 p.m.
RSVP by Thursday, June 7

Adults in their 20’s and 30’s
Potluck dinner on Sunday, June 17 at 6 p.m.
RSVP by Thursday, June 14

Third Half of Life, Trinity’s group of active seniors
Potluck lunch on Monday, June 18 at noon
RSVP by Thursday, June 14

Families with children and youth
[bring swimsuits and towel]
Potluck picnic and swim party on Sunday, August 19, 3-7 p.m.
RSVP by Thursday, Aug. 8

Please bring an appetizer, side or dessert to share. Hotdogs, burgers, veggie burgers and beverages provided. RSVP required: Contact Jane at jflaherty@dohio.org or 216-774-0415. We regret that the dean’s home is not wheelchair accessible.

Here at Trinity Cathedral, we celebrate family in all shapes and sizes. Some of these families, including mine, have been a topic of national conversation this past week as President Obama indicated his evolving support for same-sex marriage in the wake of North Carolina’s passage of a referendum that will prohibit gay marriage and civil unions.

In our reading from The Acts of the Apostles, we hear the ending of a remarkable account about conversion and inclusion that might inform this national conversation. Let me tell you the rest of the story.

Cornelius was an officer in the Roman army who lived in Caesarea, a lovely seaside city. Cornelius was a devout man who worshiped God with his whole household. He practiced Judaism, gave alms generously and prayed constantly, but because he was not circumcised, he was considered a God-fearer rather than a full-fledged Jew.

One afternoon Cornelius received a vision from an angel of God saying, “Your prayers have been answered…Send your men to Joppa and get Simon Peter.” Cornelius sent two of his slaves and a devout soldier under his command to seek out Peter, first among the apostles.

About noon the next day, as the Cornelius’ entourage was approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray, but he was distracted by hunger and wanted something to eat. Waiting for his meal to be prepared, Peter fell into a trance and received a vision. He saw the heavens open and something like a large sheet being lowered to the ground by four corners. In it were all kinds of animals, reptiles and birds. Then he heard a voice: “Get up, Peter; kill and eat.” But Peter refused: “No way Lord! I have never eaten anything that is profane or unclean.” The voice replied: “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” This happened three times, and then the sheet and the animals were suddenly taken back up to heaven. Peter could not figure what had happened.

At that very moment, Cornelius’ men arrived looking for him. While Peter was thinking about his vision, the Spirit spoke to him again: “Three men are searching for you. Now get up and go with them for I have sent them.” So Peter got up and went down and greeted the men: “I am the one for whom you are looking. Why are you here?” They answered: “Cornelius, a centurion, a God-fearing man, who is highly regarded by the Jewish people, was told by an angel to send for you so that he could hear what you have to say.” Peter invited them in and gave them a place to stay for the night.

The next morning, accompanied by some of the Christian believers in Joppa, Peter went with his guests to the home of Cornelius. When they arrived at Caesarea, Cornelius met them, immediately fell at Peter’s feet and began to worship the apostle.  Peter said, “Stand up, for I am only a mortal.” They went inside and Peter continued: “You know that it is unlawful for a Jew to associate with you or visit a Gentile. But God has shown me that I should not call anyone profane or unclean.” Cornelius replied: “Four days ago, I was praying and I had this vision. A man showed up in my house. He told me my prayer had been answered. He instructed me to send for you. And now you’ve arrived. So now we’re here in the presence of God to listen to all that the Lord has commanded you to say.”

Peter began to speak, delivering one of the great sermons in all of Christian tradition: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality but in every nation anyone who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to God.” He then recalled the story of Jesus.

While Peter was speaking, the Holy Spirit fell upon all who heard the word. The circumcised believers (that is, the Jewish followers of Jesus) from Joppa were astounded that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out – even on these Gentiles. Then Peter asked: “Can anyone withhold the water of baptism from these believers,” after which he baptized them, and stayed on for several days.

When the apostles heard about this irregular, unauthorized liturgical event, they criticized Peter: “Why did you go to the uncircumcised and eat with them?” Peter explained everything that had happened. After telling the whole story, he said, “I remembered the word of the Lord, how he said ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If God gave them the same gift God gave us when we believed in Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?”

When Peter’s examiners heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God.  Hear what the Spirit is saying to the church and the nation!

This is a Bible story about the tension between embrace and exclusion within the early Christian faith. Peter could have refused to go to Cornelius’ house. He could have visited with Cornelius and refused to eat with him. He even could have eaten with Cornelius and refused to share the story of Jesus. He could have even shared the story of Jesus and refused to baptize Cornelius and the other uncircumcised Gentiles upon whom the Spirit landed. Peter could have followed the rules to maintain the unity of the early church, but he didn’t. Peter, the first apostle, broke down the walls, gates, fences and boundaries erected by the early Christian faith. And in doing so, in opting for inclusion, not only was Cornelius converted to the way of Christ, but also Peter himself was converted to a new way of being in Christ.

When I re-read this story over the past week, I couldn’t help but think about the debate over homosexuality in this country, especially over the issue of same-sex marriage. The question asked by Peter: “Can anyone withhold the water for baptizing these people who have received the Holy Spirit just as we have,” reminds me of the words once spoken by Episcopal gay activist and founder of Integrity Louie Crew: “Don’t baptize us, if you’re not going to ordain us or bless our relationships.” In other words, don’t offer us one sacrament and then withhold the others. If we’ve received the Holy Spirit just as we are, then make us full members of the Body of Christ and full heirs of God’s eternal kingdom. The same could be said in the secular realm. Don’t call me a citizen and deprive me of the full and equal rights of citizenship.

Coming out during college in the seventies, I have watched the issue of sexuality evolve in both church and state over the course of nearly four decades. I am convinced that our civil rights, and our ecclesiastical and societal inclusion, has resulted from of one-on-one relationships and first-hand experiences that have led family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, and even strangers to a moment of conversion and acceptance.

A number of years ago, I had a vision that everybody who was lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered would turn purple at the same time. Then my vision grew. I envisioned that everybody who had a LGBT spouse, parent, or child would turn purple. I envisioned that everybody who had a LGBT doctor, dentist, pharmacist, lawyer, accountant, realtor, insurance agent, teacher, hairdresser, legislator, rabbi or minister would turn purple. And then I envisioned that everybody who had a LGBT relative, friend, neighbor, student, employee, or employer would turn purple. By the time I was finished, the world was a beautiful tapestry of richly woven purple; and the conversation had changed, the hearts of the people had changed, the policies of our government had changed, and the practices of our faith communities had changed.

However, I never believed that it would happen that way. We have to turn ourselves, and those whom we love, purple. We have to change the conversation, win the hearts of the people, and secure our civil and religious rights one-step-at-a-time by being open and true to ourselves. God won’t do our work, but God will be with us in the trenches. That is the promise of salvation.

So, over the course of the last nearly 40 years, I’ve done my part, and I have been grateful for others who have done their part. I’ve also held fast to the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, remembering that “the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice.” But as President Obama reflected on the 40^th anniversary of Dr. King’s death, “The arc does not bend on its own. It bends because each of us in our own ways put our hand on that arc and we bend it in the direction of justice.”

This past week, the arch was bent a lot. First it bent backward by voters in the state of North Carolina, but then it took another bend toward justice as President Obama came to the conclusion that gay and lesbian couples deserve the same rights and privileges granted to heterosexual couples. Watching a series of videos interviews over the past eight years, you can see that like Peter, President Obama has evolved, maybe even has been converted, to a new understanding of inclusion.

Some say, “How dare he.” Others say, “It’s long overdue. And still others say, “It’s about time.” But I say, “Welcome Mr. President and thank you!”

As you know, I am very careful not to make any partisan endorsements from this pulpit, and I’m not about to begin today. However, I want to give credit to the President of the United States for coming to a new and broader understanding of marriage, and of what it means to love all of God’s children and their families. I want to thank our President for supporting my civil rights and those of my gay brothers and lesbian sisters, and for coming out on this issue in spite of some pretty loud public opposition and potential political cost. I also want to praise the President for being faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ, as he understands it.

One of the most difficult and courageous things a leader – especially an elected official and most especially an elected official during a campaign season – can do is change his or her mind on a controversial and publicly held opinion. It can make one seem weak and indecisive. And yet, as Peter demonstrated in his decision to baptize Cornelius, and as Jesus demonstrated when the persistent widow insisted on eating the crumbs under the table, there are times when we are called to change our opinion, our direction, and even our action. That is precisely what the President did with regards to same-sex marriage. He said: I have changed my thoughts on this matter. I have evolved to a new understanding about same-sex marriage. This is also what Ohio State Supreme Court Justice Paul Pfeifer recently said about the death penalty, a law that he helped to write as a young state senator 30 years ago.

In today’s gospel reading, Jesus said: “There is no greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for a friend.” In the midst of a presidential election, on the heels of the North Carolina state referendum, President Obama took a risk and potentially laid down his political life for families like mine.

Christian discipleship is about being willing to lay down our lives not for our friends, but also for our neighbors, our sojourners, and our constituents. It applies to gas station attendants, shopkeepers and factory workers; doctors, teachers, lawyers, and clergy; corporate executives, mayors, governors, and yes, even presidents. Yes, the grace of God can be costly; it can even cost one his political career or her life, but that is what faithful discipleship is all about.

Jesus also tells us “to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last.” We all are called to bear witness to our faith. Married couples (gay and straight alike) are called to nurture loving and faithful relationships. Parents (gay and straight alike) are called to raise children in loving homes. Civil servants are called to protect the rights of all families (gay and straight alike). The Church is called is to welcome and offer God’s blessing and support for all of God’s children (gay and straight alike). And yes, the LGBT community and our allies (including our parents) are called to do the work of liberation – to come out and speak our truth in love – so that those who don’t yet accept us might evolve to a new understanding and be converted to the unconditional love of God as expressed by Jesus.

Often bearing witness is pretty simple. Emily’s mom demonstrated this to me a number of years ago. It was my first summer as chaplain and preacher at the Chautauqua Institution, and I was the first openly gay, partnered chaplain the Institution had welcomed to its pulpit. Emily’s mom and two aunts drove out for the closing service, and I acknowledged them in the congregation. Later that day, a man whose daughter had recently come out walked up to Emily and said, “My daughter has just told me that she’s a lesbian, and I don’t know what to do about it.” Emily’s mother, standing next to her, smiled at him and said, “Love her. All you have to do is love her.”

MidTown Fresh Stop is run by volunteers from Trinity Cathedral and the MidTown neighborhood in cooperation with City Fresh, a nonprofit program of the New Agrarian Center. The goal of City Fresh is to build a more just and sustainable local food system in Northeast Ohio. City Fresh seeks to meet the needs of both urban and rural communities by improving access to fresh locally grown food for urban residents and marketing opportunities in the city for local farmers.

Fresh Stops offer weekly “share bags” that include a mix of produce available from local farmers each week. The contents of each bag will vary according to what produce is available that week. The share bag program is a form of cooperative purchasing in which a group of neighbors purchase a share of produce from a local farmer. The farmer receives payment upfront in exchange for a bounty of produce throughout the growing season. This is a form of “community supported agriculture” in which a group of people support a local farmer or group of local farmers by committing a portion of their weekly food budget to supporting that farm.

On Tuesdays (beginning June 12) during the growing season, shareholders visit Trinity (2230 Euclid Ave., free parking is available in the lot on Prospect Ave.) to pick up deliveries of fresh produce grown by farmers within 75 miles of downtown Cleveland. Shares must be pre-ordered one week in advance.

Family Share (for 3-4 people):  $28*
Single Share (for 1-2 people):  $15*

*Persons on limited income according the WIC guidelines can purchase their shares $16 for a family share (3-4 people) and $9 for a single share (1-2 people) and pay on the day of pick-up with Ohio Direct Card.

To order a share, email midtownfreshstop@gmail.com for an order form or download a form at: http://cityfresh.org/sign-up-shares. To volunteer, please see Ben or Chris Borns or email midtownfreshstop@gmail.com. Thank you for your support of local and sustainable food!

EDUCATION TEAM:
After four weeks of research and deliberation involving hundreds of conversations with parents, students, teachers, administrators, and others connected to the Cleveland Metropolitan School District, GCC announced its support for Mayor Jackson’s Education reform legislation in a Plain Dealer op-ed. Our teams launched a letter-writing campaign to our State Representatives and Senators in Columbus to urge passage of this legislation without changes.  Thanks to our education team for all of the hard work. Our next steps are to understand the details behind the proposed fall school levy in Cleveland and discern our role in that campaign, and to investigate how we can work to bring more resources to the crucial area of early childhood education.  Meanwhile, we are working to build teams of parents in CMSD schools that be an active voice in the  implementation of school reform. Our next team meeting will take place on Tuesday, June 5 at 7 p.m.

HEALTH CARE TEAM:
Our team successfully mobilized to support the Cuyahoga County health and human services levy this March, which preserved funding for numerous crucial programs. In the midst of uncertainty about the fate of the federal health care reform law, the Health Care team has decided to focus on the provision of mental health services.  In May and June, the team will conduct individual meetings and house meetings with members of our congregations connected to the mental health system as patients, professionals, and family members to discern where GCC can make a difference.  Our next Health Care team meeting will be on Thursday, June 7 at 7 p.m.

FOOD ACCESSIBILITY TEAM:
The Food Accessibility team is working to build a constituency of residents living in neighborhoods identified as food deserts. Our future action steps will be determined by the interests and commitment of this new constituency.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE TEAM:
After a successful County Prosecutor Accountability Action, the Criminal Justice team is looking at local and state legislation that can remove barriers to employment for ex-offenders. Groups are also working to assess the viability of making an impact on the death penalty, racial profiling, and expungement. The next meeting will take place on Monday, May 21 at 7 p.m.

JOBS TEAM:
The jobs team is launching a pilot  program to help job hunters in our congregations improve their  effectiveness in seeking employment, and to connect them with potential employers in our congregations. Find out more about this program at our next jobs team meeting on Tuesday, May 22 at 7 p.m.

Volunteers are also needed at the urban farm (located at E. 35th and Cedar) every Saturday. Workdays typically last from from 9 a.m.-noon but even if you have only 30 minutes to spare, do stop by. The Plain Dealer recently reported on the farm’s new water supply. Contact farm leader Scott Blanchard to learn more about this neighborhood ministry.

Farm highlights so far this year include:

• The first harvest of collard greens was served at A Place at the Table in April – the earliest harvest in the farm’s history.
• Fifteen beds have been planted with spinach and collard greens.
• One of the farm’s six compost bins has been cleaned out; compost harvested and prepared for use throughout the year.
• Four new fruit trees—apple, cherry, peach and nectarine—have been planted as a result of attending an OSU Extension Fruit Tree workshop. There are now a total of eight fruit trees at the farm.
• Trinity’s Flower Guild has used flowers (daffodils, tulips and more) from the farm for Cathedral arrangements. Willow branches have been planted and will be used by the Flower Guild later in the year.

Photo courtesy of The Lake View Cemetery.

Saturday, June 9  2 p.m.

Trinity members Martha and Wayne Bifano will lead a one-hour presentation at Lake View Cemetery’s Wade Memorial Chapel on June 9 at 2 p.m. The chapel is dedicated to the memory of Jeptha Homer Wade, founder of The Western Union Telegraph Company.

It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the interior was designed by Louis Comfort Tiffany and his studio. “Everything inside was designed and executed by the Tiffany Studio,” says Martha Bifano. “Doors, walls, pews, lighting…everything.”

The building was designed by Dominick Benes of Hubbell-Benes. Benes also designed the Cleveland Museum of Art and the West Side Market. “It is probably the most beautiful building you’ve never seen,” adds Martha. “Come. Take the voyage and discover the meaning of this place.”

The cemetery is located at 12316 Euclid Avenue and the tour is sponsored by the Visual Artists at Trinity. Suggested donation: $3. For more information, to RSVP or arrange a carpool, contact Ginger Bitikofer.

Volunteers are always welcome. The urban farm is located at E. 35th and Cedar. Workdays are typically held each Saturday from 9 a.m.-noon but even if you have only 30 minutes to spare, do stop by. This Saturday, May 5, work includes extending some of the raised beds, planting some more spring crops from seed and prepping the rest of the beds on the property for planting.

Contact Blanchard to learn more about getting involved in this neighborhood ministry.

Debate in Columbus on the legislation (House Bill 525) has begun and GCC encourages Trinity members to write letters to our state representatives and senators encouraging them to support this legislation without any additional changes. Click here for a pdf of GCC’s summary of the CMSD transformation plan. These letters should be sent out by Wednesday, May 9 at the latest in order to have maximum impact.

As this Plain Dealer article explains, there is currently an effort to weaken the legislation by undermining CMSD’s ability to block bad charter schools from opening and draining resources from CMSD. The Mayor’s office has asked that the GCC message to legislators specifically promotes the legislation without such changes.

This Sunday, May 6 from 7:30 a.m.-1 p.m. stop by Trinity’s GCC education team’s table in the promenade to write a letter to your state representative and senator. If you would like to act sooner or encourage others to do so, GCC offers these sample letters for you to personalize:

Dear Representative X,
I am writing to urge your support of Mayor Jackson’s CMSD school reform legislation (HB 525) without additional changes. I am a member of Greater Cleveland Congregations, and collectively we have talked with hundreds of parents, students, teachers, administrators, social workers, and others connected to CMSD. We believe that this legislation will help ensure a better education for the children in our community. The success of our region depends on strong Cleveland schools.  Thank you for your support.

Dear Senator Y,
I am a (Parent/Student/Teacher/Administrator/) in Cleveland Schools. I am writing to urge your support of Mayor Jackson’s CMSD school reform legislation (HB 525) without additional changes. This legislation will give our district the tools it needs to improve education for every student. I am joining with thousands of others in my (church/synagogue/mosque) and Greater Cleveland Congregations to speak out for this urgently-needed reform. Thank you for your support.

You can identify your state representative and senator by plugging in your zip code at this website. Click through on the names of your rep/senator for their mailing addresses. For the most up-to-date information from GCC, visit the organization’s website and subscribe to its email newsletter.

In this hands-on series, we will explore the arts as a vehicle for building communities of reconciliation and hope. In the first two sessions, we will be joined by members of the Transformational Art Center (TAC). TAC is an organization committed to the building of relationship with the voices of the street through artistic expression by walking together with those who are experiencing homelessness or life transitions. TAC members strive to be open to the expression of the spirit of unconditional love, compassion, forgiveness and mercy through the arts. We welcome all of God’s children in the hope of more fully experiencing God’s transforming power in our lives and community. TAC members will share their experiences with this program, and we will work together on group projects designed to support the building of community through the arts.

On May 16, we will reflect together upon the experiences of weeks one and two. On May 23, Sr. Ellen Themes, Order of Saint Ursula, an art therapist, will lead us in an experience of healing through artistic expression. Plan to participate in one, or all, of these classes to experience together the healing and transformational power of the arts.

Please note that due to this class, Sacred Space will not meet on the third Monday of the month as the group usually does.

Individuals who are new to Trinity are welcome to a brunch on Sunday, May 6 at 12:45 p.m. Share a meal with clergy, staff and congregational leaders. Bring your family or a friend. RSVP to Ginger Bitikofer, 216-774-0407.

The Campus District Observer talked to some of the students in recent issues. “I thought I was going to hate it but it is cool,” says Adae’ya B. Read part one and part two.

For the June 21 meeting (5 p.m.), The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes is the club’s pick. This novel won the 2011 Man Booker Award. It is “a mystery of memory and missed opportunity. Tony Webster, a cautious, divorced man in his 60s who “had wanted life not to bother me too much, and had succeeded,” receives an unexpected bequest from a woman he’d met only once, 40 years earlier. The mother of his college girlfriend, Veronica, has bequeathed him £500 — a legacy that unsettles Tony, pushing him to get in touch with Veronica (their relationship had ended badly) and seek answers to certain unresolved questions.” –NY Times Book Review, Nov 10, 2011

All are welcome to attend book club meetings, even if you haven’t finished that month’s selection.

Jan Thrope of Inner Visions of Cleveland summarizes the Trinity "Good News" tour.

Learning aquaponics from Rid-All operations engineer Keymah Durden.

made by Vel Scott at the Rainey Institute; a presentation by entrepreneur Mansfield Frazier of “Chateau Hough”, a local winery in process; a visit to the unique Rid-All greenhouses and Tilapia aquaponic farm in the “Forgotten Triangle”; checking out the “Heaven Train” for kids at Outhwaite Homes; a visit to the nationally recognized Fatima Family Center (across from League Park); and checking out the Harmony Park mural at East 55th and Woodland.

Thrope has scheduled a west side tour of Old Brooklyn on Saturday, June 9. Space is limited. Contact her directly to register: (216) 965-4721 or jthrope@ivofc.org.

Whether you have children of your own or not, you could serve as a host. Two-parent families, single-parent families and empty nesters are all welcome to host students — all that is required is a loving and accepting home.

Host families will learn about a different culture’s values, traditions, language, food and more. Plus, they will have the opportunity to share their culture with the student, and they will have a new member of their family with a connection to another culture for life. Students are proficient in English and arrive with insurance and spending money — a family is all they need! Many students are available for placement, including the following three:

Julia is a 16-year-old girl from Brazil. “Julia is cheerful, sweet, caring, responsible and always in a good mood.” She enjoys going to the gym, dancing, and spending time with her family. During her exchange program she would like to become a cheerleader and participate in drama and dance  activities. She is Protestant and regularly attends services. She hopes to become a journalist. She has a pet dog but is uncomfortable with cats. Program length: five months.

Janko is a 16-year-old boy from Serbia. He says, “I have a positive way of thinking. I am open for meeting new people, getting to know other cultures. I think that I am a responsible person, ready for learning new things, ready to be there for anyone who needs me or my help.” Janko says sports are an important part of his life; His favorite sports are basketball and snowboarding. He also enjoys reading, watching movies, listening to music, and spending time with friends. He is passionate about nature and animals, is an only child, and has several pets. Janko is excited to travel to the U.S. and is looking forward to meeting his American family, learning about the country, and improving himself as a person. He hopes that there will be someone his own age with whom he can establish a strong and lasting friendship. Program length: 10 months.

Kristin is a 16-year-old girl from Germany. “I think I’m a girl who is sometimes a little bit crazy and funny but I’m reliable and open minded to learn something new.” She likes to listen to music, watch movies and play sports. Her favorite sports are tennis, floor ball and handball. Here, she would like to join the basketball and swim team, as well as participate in student government. She has one older brother and one younger sister. She has two cats and a dog and loves animals. Program length: 10 months.

Interested families can find additional information about hosting at ciee.org/highschool or contact John Church at 440-808-8507 to learn more.

Registration is at 8:30 a.m. and the walk/run begins an hour later. Start location is 151^st/Kinsman and it ends at Luke Easter Park. Suggested donation: $5. The event is hosted by Peace in the Hood, Inc., The Discovery Center, Inc. and University Hospitals of Cleveland. For more information, contact Khalid A. Samad, CEO of Peace in the Hood (216) 538-4043, Shirley and Lawrence Ellington, Founders of Discovery Center (216) 283-5960 or Ruth Standiford (216) 673-9551.

Note: The April 15 Forum was not recorded.

When we gathered on Maundy Thursday for foot washing with the youth of our parish, I hope that we remembered the many adults who have given whole lifetimes for the care and wellbeing of children and young people.

My story is only one of a multitude of those who have cared for youth. For 10 years in my young adulthood, I counseled inner-city youth offenders in a wilderness rehabilitation camp and later served developmentally disabled girls and young women as recreation therapist. Then for 35 years I worked with first- and second-year college and university students. All total, I gave 45 years of my adult life challenging and offering a boost and sometimes a hug to the young. During the 35 years of teaching, I estimate that I had contact with about 4,000 students – individuals between the ages of 16 and 21.

Many, many in our congregation have given of themselves in these ways. Perhaps we need to remember them and hear them.

I pray that our foot washing was a tribute to the servanthood demonstrated not simply in ritual but in real terms and whole lifetimes of these many adults in our congregation. May it have been as well a thanksgiving for the gifts of our parish youth to us all.

My Trinity articles are first-person essays from members, visitors and friends of Trinity Cathedral and Trinity Commons. It’s a space to tell your stories or share a Trinity memory. If you are interested in submitting an essay or discussing a possible My Trinity topic, please contact April Miller.

The Rev. Canon Will Mebane will participate in this forum along with Rep. Nickie Antonio. She will discuss the legislation she proposed and her strategy around this issue. Canon Mebane’s focus will be on the ethical and religious bases for opposing capital punishment. The forum will be held at Cleveland State University’s Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs and is presented by Baldwin-Wallace College’s Leadership & Public Policy Institute in partnership with CSU. Free and open to the public. Register at: www.urban.csuohio.edu/forum/.

When you and I open ourselves to the Scriptures, we open ourselves to be changed, not to accumulate information. When we open the Scriptures God plans to teach us something in a special way. When we study the epistle commonly called The Letter to the Ephesians during the 10 a.m. hour the first three Sundays of May, we will focus on the intent of the one who wrote this letter. We will seek to hear what he is saying, not what we would like him to say.

The study of Ephesians will include a summary of the historical setting in which this letter was written, a discussion of the question of authorship, the theme and structure of Ephesians, and an exploration of the content of the letter itself.

That you may have a rich study experience I encourage you to read the entire six chapters of Ephesians every day. Pray that God’s Spirit will enlighten the eyes of your heart (Eph. 1:18). Expect to hear new things in new ways. Please understand: this isn’t “homework.” It’s not a requirement. But reading Ephesians at one sitting will help to put the structure and flow of this amazing “gospel” in your mind.

I’m looking forward to this opportunity that together we may “know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge so that (we) may be filled with all the fullness of God.” (Eph. 3:19).

Skip Herrington

On Tuesday, April 17 at 7 p.m., the GCC education team will host a meeting as a follow-up to the forum. All are welcome to attend. Questions? Contact the Rev. Canon Will Mebane.

Volunteer tasks include cleaning up winter debris, getting the raised beds ready for planting, mulching, mowing and more. Volunteers are especially needed April 21 (from 9 a.m.-3 p.m.) to work with a group of young adults from CityYear.

If you can’t make it on Saturdays, contact farm leader Scott Blanchard to arrange other workdays. Volunteers are also welcome to support the farm in other ways: making phone calls, handling administrative tasks, take the mower blades to be sharpened and other duties not limited to the Saturday workdays. Conact Ginger Bitikofer or Scott Blanchard for details.