May 3:  Prayer Book Appreciation 101.

2009 is the 30th anniversary of the "new" 1979 Book of Common Prayer.  How new is it, actually? Is another revision around the corner? (Eeek!)  How does the wider American Episcopal Church make the liturgical choices necessary for such revisions and how do they decide when to make them? These, and many other issues will be raised--some of them hopefully by the folks who come to the class--and discussed.

The overall goal of this two-part adult education offering is to raise understanding, awareness and appreciation of our uncommonly good book of Common Prayer. Most, if not virtually all, of us LOVE the BCP. Let's learn more about why that love is so well-placed and why the liturgy of the church and its expression in the Book of Common Prayer is arguably the most defining characteristic of Anglican Theology.

Our presenter is The Reverend Michael J. Roeske who describes himself as a grateful member of Trinity Church who is blessed to assist Fr. Murray Powell at Lord of the Streets.  Fr. Roeske graduated cum laude from Yale Divinity School in 2000 and upon graduation was awarded the academic prize in liturgics.  Michael says that "this really means I was the most "high church" graduate who also knew how to do more ceremonial stuff--most of it with a thurible--than anyone else!"  9:30 a.m. Room 218.

April 26: Houston's Discovery Green.

Parishioner Susanne Theis, Programming Director for Discovery Green, will be the presenter at the second Sunday Forum session focusing on our relationship with the Earth, in honor of Earth Day, which was April 22. Susanne will talk about the programs at downtown Houston’s green space, Discovery Green, 1500 McKinney. In her position as Discovery Green’s first programming director, Susanne plans events that bring Houstonians together and showcase Houston’s brilliant and diverse art community. Prior to her accepting this position, she was the first executive director of The Orange Show Center for Visionary Art from 1983 until 2007. 9:30 a.m., Room 218.

April 19: Sustainable Living: the Macro and Micro views of Global Climate Change.

In honor of Earth Day on April 22 Trinity's Sunday Forum presenters on April 19 and April 26 will speak in different ways about our relationship with the earth.

Parishioner Dan Barnum will lead the Sunday Forum Class on April 19 on the topic of Sustainable Living: the Macro and Micro views of Global Climate Change.

If we think of the Earth as a living being, we can see that it has many of the symptoms of being really sick - fever, dehydration, chills, mood swings, extreme stress, etc. "We have gotten to the point at which we are asking more of our Mother Earth than she can provide,” says Dan, but there are many things that we can do to stop mistreating our earthly home.

Dan was recently elected to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA) which recognizes those architects who have made a significant contribution to architecture and society. Dan's election to Fellowship was in the category of Service to Society and was based on his volunteer work with the redevelopment of Midtown, with Trinity Church, AIA Houston, and other non-profit organizations throughout the city. 9:30 a.m. in Room 218.

March 8, 15, 22, 29: Trinity Artists

Celebrating the richness and depth of artistic talent available at Trinity, 14 parishioners were asked to join in creating the Stations of the Cross for Holy Week in 2009. Depicting the final hours of Jesus, the Stations reflect places and events so that the faithful may follow him in this Good Friday journey. 

These Artists of Trinity will speak during the Sunday Forum about their journeys with their Station of the Cross; what they learned and how they began to interpret it.  This year’s artists are Jim Cowan, Ron Starbuck, Caroline Graham, Carol Barnwell, Brian Beard, Jason Sierra, Elmer Romero, Kim Renteria, Linnet Deily, Nancy Etheridge, Colin Kennedy, Howard Hilliard, Jean May, The Rev. Murray Powell.

March 1:  Introduction to 3 Icons and a Meditation.

The Reverend Mary Green first discovered "writing" or painting icons 5 years ago because of an interest in learning portrait painting.  Studying privately with master iconographer Vivian Karayiannis, Mary was quickly immersed in the theological and spiritual depths of praying with icons.  Introducing others to this amazing means of grace so foreign in the western Church has now become an unexpected vocation and passion.  A priest for 17 years, Mary was the Chaplain to the Aggies in College Station, and then vicar of Christ Episcopal Church, Cedar Park before coming to Houston.  Mary is a Board Certified Chaplain serving in the cardiovascular units of St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston.

February 22:  Trinity El Salvador Mission Trip.

A presentation by Trinity’s 2008 El Salvador mission trip team which was led by the Reverend Hannah Atkins in July 2008.  (This presentation was originally scheduled for September 2008 but was postponed due to Hurricane Ike.)