Trinity News
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This Sunday, sitting on the alter at Trinity Episcopal Church, was a beautiful golden chalice. It had been nearly 100 years since that happened, but now it's home.
The chalice had been a gift to the church. "The chalice was given to Trinity Church sometime in 1887 in memory of Edward Coppee Mitchell, a lawyer from Philadelphia whose family had associations with Bethlehem," said Reverend Canon Clifford Carr.
The chalice even engraved with Mitchell's name and Trinity Church. But a few decades later, it was gone. Reverend Carr telling 69 News, "In 1927 there's a note in the parish records that the chalice was missing."
What happened in those decades? Lei Barry of Montgomery Township can shed some light on the last few. "I bought it from an antique dealer in about 1980," she said.
Barry tried to find out it's origin and contacted a handful of "Trinity churches" but the search would always come up empty.
In the meantime, her family used it for a very special tradition on Christmas Eve. "We would pour champagne in the chalice and we would pass the cup around and each one would take a sip." In honor of Christ's birth.
Barry said she recently was in the process of moving, and decided to give finding the church it belonged to one more shot.
"I tried Trinity Episcopal Church because it's an older church," she said.
The church historian quickly got back to her. Barry said, "She asked me if the name on the chalice was Mitchell."
Sure enough, it was. Barry knew what she had to do.
So, at Sunday's mass, what was lost was now found. Barry stood in front of the church, holding the chalice said, "It's such a pleasure to be here to be able to present this special gift to you."
Reverend Pamela Payne, the Rector of Trinity Church said, "I think it was really special to be able to finally return it to the purpose for which it was give well over 100 years ago."
Reverend Payne said they plan to use it at every service in their Eucharist.
Sara Madonna
Reporter for WFMZ 69 News
For video of the chalice's return click the link below.
The chalice had been a gift to the church. "The chalice was given to Trinity Church sometime in 1887 in memory of Edward Coppee Mitchell, a lawyer from Philadelphia whose family had associations with Bethlehem," said Reverend Canon Clifford Carr.
The chalice even engraved with Mitchell's name and Trinity Church. But a few decades later, it was gone. Reverend Carr telling 69 News, "In 1927 there's a note in the parish records that the chalice was missing."
What happened in those decades? Lei Barry of Montgomery Township can shed some light on the last few. "I bought it from an antique dealer in about 1980," she said.
Barry tried to find out it's origin and contacted a handful of "Trinity churches" but the search would always come up empty.
In the meantime, her family used it for a very special tradition on Christmas Eve. "We would pour champagne in the chalice and we would pass the cup around and each one would take a sip." In honor of Christ's birth.
Barry said she recently was in the process of moving, and decided to give finding the church it belonged to one more shot.
"I tried Trinity Episcopal Church because it's an older church," she said.
The church historian quickly got back to her. Barry said, "She asked me if the name on the chalice was Mitchell."
Sure enough, it was. Barry knew what she had to do.
So, at Sunday's mass, what was lost was now found. Barry stood in front of the church, holding the chalice said, "It's such a pleasure to be here to be able to present this special gift to you."
Reverend Pamela Payne, the Rector of Trinity Church said, "I think it was really special to be able to finally return it to the purpose for which it was give well over 100 years ago."
Reverend Payne said they plan to use it at every service in their Eucharist.
Sara Madonna
Reporter for WFMZ 69 News
For video of the chalice's return click the link below.
Church Helps Another in times of Struggle
“Lila Wopila tanka” is a Lakota phrase for a big thank you involving God, and Holy Innocents Episcopal Church on the Pine Ridge reservation in South Dakota (pictured, left) has used it in response to a gift from an Episcopal Church in Bethlehem.
Trinity Episcopal Church granted a $2,210 from their Centennial Fund to the Holy Innocents Congregation in Parmelee, South Dakota after their 170-year-old wooden church was burnt to the ground in October of last year (pictured, below). The Rev. Lauren Stanley, acting rector of Holy Innocents, said the “Your words and prayers and donations will make it possible to for us to build a new church building … that can be used by the entire community for worship, for family events, and for large community events as well.”
Trinity Episcopal Church congregation in Bethlehem made the decision to send this gift less than a month after a water main break in front of the historic church on East Market Street caused devastating damage to their building, leaving the structure unusable. The Centennial fund gift is granted to a local, national or international cause each year, and the commonality of each congregation losing the use of their building swayed the congregation to the choice of helping a poor church on the Pine Ridge reservation.
The Rev. Dr. Pamela Payne, rector of Trinity, Bethlehem, said, “We feel supported by the prayers and hopes of people throughout the Episcopal Community worldwide, and by the people in Bethlehem, for restoring our building. The grief that we feel has been transformed into generosity to those suffering a similar tragedy. Trinity Episcopal Church has always been a place of service and mercy to the community and the larger world.”
Studies of Trinity are underway to see what is needed to restore the building so that it can be used once again. Last week volunteers from the congregation emptied the contents of the building into a storage facility so that work can begin.
Trinity Episcopal Church granted a $2,210 from their Centennial Fund to the Holy Innocents Congregation in Parmelee, South Dakota after their 170-year-old wooden church was burnt to the ground in October of last year (pictured, below). The Rev. Lauren Stanley, acting rector of Holy Innocents, said the “Your words and prayers and donations will make it possible to for us to build a new church building … that can be used by the entire community for worship, for family events, and for large community events as well.”
Trinity Episcopal Church congregation in Bethlehem made the decision to send this gift less than a month after a water main break in front of the historic church on East Market Street caused devastating damage to their building, leaving the structure unusable. The Centennial fund gift is granted to a local, national or international cause each year, and the commonality of each congregation losing the use of their building swayed the congregation to the choice of helping a poor church on the Pine Ridge reservation.
The Rev. Dr. Pamela Payne, rector of Trinity, Bethlehem, said, “We feel supported by the prayers and hopes of people throughout the Episcopal Community worldwide, and by the people in Bethlehem, for restoring our building. The grief that we feel has been transformed into generosity to those suffering a similar tragedy. Trinity Episcopal Church has always been a place of service and mercy to the community and the larger world.”
Studies of Trinity are underway to see what is needed to restore the building so that it can be used once again. Last week volunteers from the congregation emptied the contents of the building into a storage facility so that work can begin.
Outings & Upcoming Events
Join us THIS Sunday
October 6!
The Blessing of the Animals
Trinity Memorial Garden
4:00 PM*
* We will re-schedule in the event of rain or
other unexpected weather event.
Join Us for Bethlehem Area Crop Walk, Sunday, October 13!
No one in this world should be hungry. That's why the Bethlehem Area CROP Hunger Walk is more than just a gathering of people in a place. We're part of a movement, taking steps and raising funds together to provide meals for those in our own community who need them - and supporting programs that create greater food security in communities all around the world.
Please join us in the fight against hunger. The steps we take and funds we raise will make a difference in the lives of others.
We need sponsors and walkers for Sunday, October 13 gathering at 1 PM in Sand Island Park, 56 River Street, Bethlehem. For more information contact Steve Filko at 267-736-1109.
October 2024
October 6 - The Blessing of the Animals, 4:00 PM in the Trinity Memorial Garden
* We will re-schedule in the event of rain or other unexpected weather event.
October 13 - Bethlehem Area Crop Walk, 1:00 PM, Sand Island Park, 56 River Street, Bethlehem, PA
October 18 &19 - 153rd Convention of the Diocese of Bethlehem, held jointly with the Diocese of Central
Pennsylvania, State College, Pennsylvania
November 2024
November 3 - All Saints' Sunday
December 2024
December 1 - First Sunday in Advent
December 24 - Christmas Eve Service at 8:30 PM, Christ UCC
