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At this
time, the committee members would like to expand and be open to changes
while preserving our rich Episcopal and Trinity traditions. Each year we
try new ideas or revive old ones - Blessing of the Pets on the Feast of
St. Francis, St. Andrew's Day Celebration, complete with the wailing of
the pipes and the wearing of the plaids, Shrove Tuesday pancake supper
and service, Trinity Sunday (our special day), Tenebrae, Ash Wednesday,
a real garden of Gethsemene, Stations of the Cross, and Christmas, Palm
Sunday and Easter pageantry.
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Regular Eucharist services are Sundays at 8:00 and 10:30 am and Wednesdays
at 9:30 am and 7:30 pm. Integrity/Bethlehem, a ministry of and with lesbian
and gay Episcopalians, their families and friends, has a monthly Eucharist
service on the 3rd Monday evenings celebrated by visiting clergy.
Music has been a widely known and traditional hallmark of Trinity services. Our organist and choir master of 38 years recently retired. We have been blessed with a new director of music who came with enthusiasm, encouragement to try new settings and respect for our many cherished traditions. He revived the use of a three-octave set of Malmark handbells to develop a handbell choir. Recently, he has encouraged the beginnings of a new youth choir in addition to our long established mixed adult choir. In the past few years, we have incorporated Sunday School programs into Sunday service. |
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Traditionally, Trinity has been involved in the activities of the Diocese and District 1, in part, because we are located in the see city and, in part, because we have vigorously sought to be so. Members of the parish serve on many Diocesan committees and as delegates to General Convention. We are a Jubilee Diocese and Trinity has had a well developed outreach ministry since its founding.
Last year members of the parish revived youth group ministry for children in the 7th through 12th grades. They decorated their own room in the building, volunteer for service projects, discuss age related topics, worship and have fun together. In April, they enjoyed a weekend retreat at the Maryland shore.
For the past two years there has been an energetic effort to develop stimulating and informative adult forums which meet during church school time between Sunday morning services. Fellowship is stressed as well. Forum meets in the parish hall, preceded by continental breakfast and hosted by a different volunteer each week. We have sought to expand our knowledge of other world religions, other Christian denominations, the history of the Christian church, our understanding of the Bible and our commitment to our own growth as a parish and in our individual spiritual journeys. We are fortunate in our valley to have many colleges and universities, retreat centers and social work organizations from which we can invite distinguished and knowledgeable persons to teach and guide us in thought. Attendance at Adult Forum has grown to an average of 30-35 each week and 15 people recently attended a planning meeting for next year's schedule, producing ideas and suggestions that could fill many hours and satisfy many interests.
Trinity Housing Ministry - The purpose of this group is to provide on-going support and encouragement to residents of our south side apartment house to improve their quality of life and ultimately to empower them to acquire independent housing.
Pastoral Care Committee - The purpose of this group is to offer pastoral care to those who are ill, shut-in, alone, elderly or away from home, at school or in the military. Its activities include visiting, distributing altar bouquets and plants, contacting newcomers and visitors, distributing materials, such as Forward Day By Day, large print editions, to the visually impaired and providing assistance to families at the time of death or other crisis. The committee has also used funds from a restricted account to purchase video materials for St. Luke's Hospital Pediatric Unit and to subsidize counseling service to those in need.
The Soup Kitchen - Largely funded by a private foundation and staffed on a daily basis by volunteers from center city churches, this ministry housed at Trinity feeds up to 150 economically disadvantaged people every weekday year-round. The paid coordinator oversees food orders, sanitation and inspection, a budget, food distribution, scheduling of volunteers, makes referrals to appropriate community agencies and works to promote an atmosphere of welcome, warmth and respect in what has become a second congregational community.
Send-a-Smile - The purpose of this ministry is to bridge the gap between generations by helping the children send their letters and craft items to others who are unable to attend church.
Children’s Chapel - Held twice a month for 4 years old through third grade, the purpose is to familiarize this age group with the worship service and prayer.
ABC Quilters - Providing love and comfort to babies born with AIDS and crack-cocaine addiction and promoting better understanding of the dilemmas of those living with HIV/AIDS, the Quilters meet weekly at Victory House and, together with the men at the shelter, craft quilts to ship to Philadelphia hospitals.
We have a strong core group of highly talented, educated, visionary, faithful, hard-working men and women who are passing middle age and realize that they have sustained a very vibrant parish and Christian ministry. There is a palpable need to see that role and responsibility passed on to a new group of singles, couples and families who can continue to sustain and honor the work already accomplished and build anew. There is an urgency to nurture the next generation, to model Christian life to them and to support them in a habit of service to each other in the parish and to the wider community and world. As one respondent put it: "This is a healthy parish...Rejoice in Trinity!"
We are not without differences of opinion within our parish family.
Some of us would like to see more attention
paid to including "minority" groups (singles, gays, racial minorities,
etc.) Others support openness but do not see the need for special efforts
to include particular groups. Some wish to see further changes in worship
form and style to include fully gender neutral language and freer liturgical
forms. Others stoutly oppose such change. Some desire more attention to
individual spiritual development, private meditation and prayer, small
group studies, and unstructured fellowship activities. Others are not enthused
about such directions. In these matters we mirror the church at large.
However, our differences have not degenerated
into hostile encounters. With remarkably few exceptions, we enjoy a culture
of affection and mutual support, with little or none of the bitterness,
alienation and conflict which seem to afflict some church communities.
We see ourselves as a moderately progressive parish, open to change but
not rushing headlong to embrace new ideas. We cherish our shared worship
experiences, our opportunities for out-reach ministry, the considerable
differences among us and our mutual caring for one another. We seek to
grow further in love and service.
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