Being an Acolyte
The Acolyte ministry is a great way to participate in our liturgy. Available to youth ages ten and over (as well as adults), young people have the opportunity fill important roles in the service while observing first-hand what and why we do the things we do during the services. Acolytes assist in a variety of ways—Thurifer, Crucifer, Torch Bearer & Server. There is a dedicated and enthusiastic group of acolytes at Trinity but we can always use more. Please contact Fr. Brown or Caroline Maloney for more information about being an acolyte.
The Altar Guild sets and clears the stage for Trinity s Sunday and Holy Day services. Members of the Guild prepare for the various church services, whatever that may require. This involves, among other things, making sure that there is enough consecrated bread and wine in the aumbry; making sure vestments are properly prepared and put away; making sure the priest and other ministries have what they need for the service; and keeping all things orderly.
In 2007, Steve Easter generously gave Trinity Church vestments belonging to his dad, Father George Easter, who had graciously served Trinity as a long-term supply priest. Fr. Easter s vestments were gratefully accepted and blest at the Eucharist on Sunday, December 30, 2007.
The Guild would like to thank all those who have so generously contributed to the flowers for the altar. We welcome anyone who would like to participate in this rewarding ministry.
Calories and caring continues our long tradition of providing meals for parishioners who for one reason or another need temporary help. If a parishioner identifies a family or individual as needing help, Calories and Caring people are ready to spring into action. If you would like to help, please call Suzie Carl.
For many years, an important community outreach ministry has been the CORC (Council of Religious Concern)Thrift Store. In addition to workers and Board members from Trinity, members of the following churches participate in this ecumenical ministry: Potsdam United Methodist, Potsdam Presbyterian, Emmanuel Baptist, American Baptist, Trinity Episcopal (board members Judy Pelkey and Ellen Galo), Norwood Methodist, Norwood Congregational, Unitarian Universalist (Canton), St. Mary's RC, Holy Trinity Lutheran (Canton), Knapps Station Community Church. For more info, please contact Judy Pelkey or Ellen Galo.
The CORC Thrift Store is open Tuesday-Saturday, 11 a.m. - 5 p.m., except for some holidays.(Contact Andrea James, Manager, 265-3940.)
Crown Financial Ministries is a program that seeks to apply Biblical principles to our management of money into to achieve financial freedom. New to Trinity church in 2008, the core of the Crown program is a ten-week small Group Bible Study that blends a daily examination of Bible passages with concrete practical applications that have to do with keeping track of your finances. The key concept is that God is the source of our finances and calls us to be good stewards, to get out of the bondage of debt, to save, to give to mission of the Church, and to spend in a way that is thoughtful and consistent with the will of God.
At the Diocesan Convention in June 2007, Bishop Love proposed that every parish in the diocese explore Crown Financial Ministries to help address what he discerned as the spirit of poverty within the diocese. Trinity started its first ten-week program in December 2007.When this first group has finished the ten-week study, we will be offering the course again.
Trinity has an active and faith-filled healing ministry. A group of dedicated lay people led by Fr. Christopher and Deacon Lara, the Healing Team offers intercessory/healing prayers during each Sunday s service. Trinity also has Anointing Sundays five Sundays a year, during which congregation members are given the opportunity to be prayed over and anointed with oil.
Every Wednesday, at noon, Trinity offers a Healing Eucharist service where anointing is offered by the clergy. This service has an attendance of 10-20 people each week.
We continue to thank God for answered prayers. We ask all to pray for us that God will continue to bless and protect us in this ministry.
We invite you to feel free to speak to Fr. Christopher or any member of the ministry if you feel curious about or called to this ministry.
Each week, Lay Eucharistic Visitors take the bread and wine of the Holy Eucharist to those persons who, because of illness or infirmity, are not able to attend Sunday worship. Through the years, this ministry has grown into a blessing not only for our more homebound parishioners, but for the ministry team as well.
With the addition of six new members in 2007 to our team, this ministry is able to reach more and more individuals. While the number varies over the course of the year, approximately fifteen members of our parish who can no longer attend church on a regular basis, receive communion thanks to our LEV team.
Please contact Deacon Lora for more information about participating.
Over the few years members of the Parish have met weekly with inmates at the Franklin Correctional Facility. If you are interested in prison ministry, please contact Ed McNamara or Father Christopher.
You came into prison and visited me.
Matthew 25:36
Stephen Ministers provide one-to-one Christian care to people in need on behalf of the congregation. Stephen Ministers typically are assigned one care receiver at a time and meet with that person for about an hour each week. Begun in 1975, the Stephen Ministry is now in more than 150 congregations nationwide, and over 450,000 persons have been trained in their congregations as Stephen Ministers. The name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first layperson commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need (Acts 6).
Each Stephen Minister has completed 50 hours of training. Included in the training are modules on how to be a good listener, confidentiality, grief, and prayer.
If you enjoy listening to people and are willing to give an hour a week to be a sounding board or prayer partner, this might be a ministry for you. Contact Fr. Christopher, Wilda Rowe, or Sally Elliott.
One of Trinity’s Core Values is to be a “Welcoming Church” – a place where people searching for the grace of God receive a warm and open welcome. Trinity’s Welcome Ministry comprises a group of excited and highly motivated people, who make an all-out effort to welcome the new person that walks through our doors, greeting everyonewith a genuine smile, handshake, and showing real love and concern for each other. That’s what all of us are called to do as being part of the body of Christ!
The Welcoming Ministry endeavors to greet people at the front door each Sunday, have greeters in the Parish Hall during Coffee Hour, and to contact newcomers by mail, calling, and personal visits. Trinity also has periodic dinners during the course of the year for newcomers or those considering joining the Parish. We have new nametags in current use, and look forward to adding more nametags to the names of Trinity's “regulars.” It is our endeavor to have our new friends incorporated into our Trinity family.
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