Easter Letter from the Rector

March 25, 2026

 Dear people of Trinity,

 Recently, I came across a box in my house I haven’t looked at in a long time. It’s a cardboard box filled with recipes torn out of magazines and newspaper food sections, over the course of 40 years or so. As I look at the types of foods and food preparation reflected in these recipes, I can tell what phase of life I was in when I put each one in the box. When I was single and childless, I was drawn to complex methodology and “fancy” foods; I wanted to master French sauces and laminated pastry and be able to impress my guests with my cooking acumen. After I became a mom who also worked full time and attended grad school, recipes got way simpler, i.e. can this dish be prepped before work and thrown in a crock pot, or made in the time that my toddler is napping? Now I’m interested in foods I can make for larger crowds, that don’t need last minute tending, and that adapt to a variety of tastes and dietary needs.

My food journey reflects my faith journey. In my “fancy” foods phase, my faith felt performative, wanting to do and be “good” in order to earn God’s favor. As a new mom, church was often respite and distraction, something that gave shape and structure to the weekend, and a chance to introduce my child to a larger, caring community. And for the past 20 years or more, faith has largely been about community, connection, grace, inclusion, abundance, and hospitality.

As we head toward Holy Week, I invite you to pay attention to how much food and meals show up in the stories that we hear, and what faith messages are carried in those scriptures. From the “lamb recipe” passage in Exodus 12 that we hear on Maundy Thursday which is about belonging, community identity, and God’s protection; to the last supper of Jesus with his disciples which institutes our Eucharistic practice; to the breaking of the bread in the Road to Emmaus story which reveals the newly-risen Jesus to his disciples; to the scene on the beach when the resurrected Christ prepares a meal of fish for his friends; to Jesus’ commissioning of Peter to “feed my sheep” as a demonstration of Peter’s professed love and commitment to Jesus.

Jesus’ food–God’s food–is never performative or perfunctory. It is always about drawing a community together, always about welcome and inclusion and abundance, always about serving others. The nourishment that God provides isn’t conditional and doesn’t have to be earned.

I hope you’ll be part of the feasting of this season. There is more than enough for all of us.

With faith and confidence,

Elizabeth+

The Rev. Elizabeth Molitors, Rector

Trinity Episcopal Church

Please click here to see the Holy Week and Easter schedule of services.