A Message from the Director of the Rector’s Office

Dear Trinity Church and friends,

I hope this message finds you and yours staying well on this first week of our Program Year!

My name is Alison Poor, and I have served as the Director of the Rector’s Office since March 8 … starting just four days before our offices went online. In a different time, I would have had the pleasure of meeting more of you in person by now. Even so, I have been glad for the many parishioners and members of the community with whom I have had the opportunity to engage as we have supported our ministries “From Home” for these last six months. I write today to introduce myself more formally as a resource to you, and to share specifically about two exciting programs – one just beginning, and one nearing completion.

If our organizational chart were a Venn diagram, “The Rector’s Office” would be defined as the shape with greatest overlap from all the other circles that comprise Trinity’s common life: Liturgy, Stewardship, Programing, Outreach & Justice, Administration, Trinity Boston Connects, and Facilities, among others. As the Director of the Office, I function in a role akin to a Chief of Staff, nudging others’ projects to keep them moving, overseeing some undertakings, creating effective systems for collaboration, and working with Morgan to relieve any bottlenecks as the staff and people of Trinity Church do the work they have been called to do. To offer another image, if you imagine the ministries of Trinity Church as gears, Morgan and I strive to be the grease that keeps everything turning smoothly, in sync, and toward the greatest collective impact. We are here to serve you, and I hope you will reach out if there is something we can do to support you. In the meantime, please see below for two important program items.

The Yellow House Small-Group Discussions through September 18

Trinity is honored to host Sarah M. Broom, author of The Yellow House, this Sunday, September 20 at 6:30 pm for a reading and follow-up Q&A via Zoom.

As part of readying for that event, all are encouraged to read the book and participate in small group discussions taking place this week on Zoom. Discussions will be led by various members of the Trinity staff and each group is dedicated to either an open discussion, or a particular lens, such as environment, faith, geography and place, etc. There is still space in many of these groups, so be sure to sign up soon! [https://www.trinitychurchboston.org/news-publication/the-yellow-house-sm...

Comfort Calling: Round Two

As you may recall from back in April, Trinity undertook the initiative of calling every household in the parish simply to say “hello” and check-in. The endeavor was so warmly received that we decided to do another round of these “Comfort Calls” in August. The hundreds of conversations had by our 70+ volunteers proved to be joyful opportunities to connect with old friends and make new acquaintances, especially as we continue to negotiate and navigate life together under Covid-19. Volunteers are still finishing up their calls over the next week or so, but if you have not yet received a call and would like to, please email me at apoor@trinitychurchboston.org.

I am so delighted to be a part of the Trinity team. I’m looking forward to a great (and my first!) Program Year with you all.

Best,

Alison Poor

Director of the Rector’s Office