Trinity Episcopal Church: Parish Programs

In God's Name and led by the Holy Spirit, we support and equip one
another to implement Jesus' mission in Baptism for all people, in all places
and at all times.

Trinity Parish Programs

Acolytes

Young people from Grade 3 up, as well as adults, are invited to serve God by helping the priest at the altar as acolytes. This is a special ministry that helps make our worship better. Instruction is provided in groups or individually as needed.

Acolytes

Carry the Cross in procession
Carry the Gospel book
Distribute and receive the offering plates
Receive the Bread and Wine
Help the priest at the altar
Assist at Sunday worship, weddings and funerals

If you are interested in becoming an acolyte, please see Pam Hennessy, Julie Bailey or John Barnes, or call the Parish Office.

Altar Guild

The Altar Guild consists of a handful of individuals who want to serve the Lord in a quiet and unassuming way. We prepare the altar for services. We are not usually seen. It is a service where one can quietly contemplate and pray while being of service to God and our parish.

Our duties include preparing the altar for Holy Communion, preparing for Baptisms, keeping the brass clean, and cleaning the linens used in our various services. We work one at a time for a one week period, usually Saturday through Friday.

We are a small and dedicated guild. We would love to share information with anyone that might like to consider joining us in this special area of service to our Lord and to our parish. Please feel comfortable in speaking to Mary Torian or any member of the Altar Guild, or call the Parish Office for more information.

Building and Property

It is our responsibility as a parish to maintain our buildings and grounds. As a community we repair, paint and maintain our church, parish hall and rectory.

We plan several work days each year and encourage all parishioners to attend. Please watch for dates in the newsletter and bulletin.

For more information, or to volunteer to help, please see Paul Sweet or call the Parish Office.

Covenant Committee

The Covenant Committee is an open group of people from both St Mary's and Trinity who meet from time to time to review ways to express and strengthen our covenant relationship. When we have been engaged in joint activities such as the FISH chapter, the clothing center or the orientation and settling of the Bosnian families, it has met regularly as a steering committee for these activities. This group takes on responsibility with the Pastor and Rector for organizing and conducting joint services or programs as may be appropriate from time to time.

For more information, please contact Allan Hopkinson.

Family Choir

Family Choir is an opportunity for our young people and their parents (if they choose) to help lead worship on "Family Sundays". All children, teens and adults are invited to participate. Rehearsals will take place in the church each Sunday following the 10 AM service. Joel Warren, Liz Pekkala, Jane Hanrahan, and Alexi Martinez are coordinating and leading our Family Choir.

Lay Eucharistic Ministers

Lay Eucharistic Ministers assist with the conduct of regular worship services by reading the appropriate scripture passages, leading the congregation in reading appropriate psalms, leading prayers and assisting with the chalice at Communion. On occasion, in the absence of a priest, Eucharistic Ministers will conduct Morning or Evening Prayer services. We also assist with services such as funerals as deemed appropriate by the Rector.

For more information, or to volunteer, please see Allan Hopkinson or call the Parish Office.

Nursery Care

Trinity provides a nursery, staffed by volunteers, for infants and toddlers during the 10 AM service. The nursery is downstairs in the Parish Hall. If you would like to help, please see Sheri Keeler-Phillips.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets to pray. knit and crochet. Since October, we have distributed five prayer shawls; all were given with love and received with open arms in gratitude. We have expanded our ministry to include baby blankets, scarves, hats and mittens. We look forward to an exciting and productive future, full of thoughtful prayer.

For more information, please call June Jones or the Parish Office.

Senior Choir

The Senior Choir leads the congregation in the musical portion of our worship at the 10:00 AM service during all but the summer months. Young adults from high school age and up, and those who are young at heart, join together under the direction of our Liz Pekkala, our organist/choir director. The welcome mat is out for all who enjoy singing.

The choir also participates at some other services as needed due to holiday or occasion. Some individual members of the choir also participate in the Ecumenical Christmas Choir in Milford.

We meet in the Church on one evening a week, 7:30 to 9:00 PM, and Sunday mornings at 9:30 AM. (Choir rehearsal is usually Tuesday, but sometimes changes to accommodate the organist's schedule.) For more information, please see Liz Pekkala or Mary Frances Best.

Trinity Episcopal Church Women

The TECW Guild puts on many functions during the year. We have rummage sales in October and May, and we put on the annual Harvest Supper in September. We hold bake sales which include the annual Palm Sunday Food and Easter Sale. For many years, we have made a quilt to raffle off at the annual Christmas Fair.

We meet every Tuesday morning at 10:00 AM in the Parish Hall. We gather to plan activities, sew items for the parish fair, and to enjoy each others company.

For more information, please contact Sophie Martin.

Ushers

The ushers greet everyone as they arrive for worship, and assist in the service by presenting the Gifts to the priest. For more information about becoming an usher, please see Earl Deal at 8:00, Walter Piasecki at 10:00, or call the Parish Office.

Walking in the Way -- A Walking Program for Wholeperson Health

You shall walk in all the ways which the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live and that it may be well with you, and that you may prolong your days in the land which you shall possess. Deut 5:33

Walking in the Way is a walking program that encourages physical activity, but is also a reminder that God is forever with us in every aspect of our lives. It provides an opportunity to flex spiritual muscles as wekk as physical ones.

Trinity Church has started a Walking in the Way program. We have formed a team and have chosen a destination. The walking is converted into miles and is logged weekly. If you jog, swim or do aerobics or other exercise, it can be converted into miles, too. This is not a competition; every individual contributes to the team effort. All miles are added together to reach our destination. Every team member receives a Walking in the Way program book and log. Our first walk was from Mt. Sinai to Mt. Nemo -- 540 miles. We were so hooked on Walking in the Way that we now are walking from Milford to Jerusalem -- 5,548 miles as the crow flies.

All parishioners young and old are welcome to participate. Do it as an individual, a couple, or a family. You will benefit both physically and spiritually from the program. You can join the group at any time, whenever you are ready to Walk in the Way. Please contact Gayle Ruscitti or the Parish Office for more information.

Always consult your physician before starting any exercise program.

Welcoming Committee

Are you a people person? How about a good host or hostess? Do you have a gift for greeting new folks? Perhaps you can help us welcome newcomers to Trinity. The Welcoming Committee actively seeks to greet newcomers and make them feel comfortable. We are in our beginning stages and need ideas and willing folks to follow through. We have been welcoming newcomers by making sure they can find their way around the building and service, and later sending notes to acknowledge their visit. When someone decides to join us, we make a name tag for him or her. Once a year we have a Newcomers' Dinner to more formally welcome those new to our parish family.

This is an important ministry, and it's also lots of fun! For more information, or to volunteer to help out, please contact Katherine Côté.