In this edition: Women’s Lunch Place is New Community Partner; BostonWarm Ministry is now Bread & Blessings; Parishioners Pack Undercroft for Pancake Toss; and more news.
Welcome to Signs & Wonders, a new feature telling stories about what’s been happening lately in Trinity’s Ministries. In a large, busy, and growing church like Trinity, there are always new-to-you corners of ministries and programs to explore — so catch up here and learn a bit about our recent work in the church and in the world beyond our walls.
Parishioners Pitch In For Back Bay Neighbor
Last week, several Trinitarians began their Lenten journey in a spirit of service, helping to prepare lunch at Women’s Lunch Place, a daytime shelter and advocacy center (and our Back Bay neighbor!) dedicated to helping women experiencing homelessness, hunger and poverty. This was our first visit to Women’s Lunch Place, our newest non-profit community partner. Stay tuned for more opportunities to support their incredible mission!
Name Change Spurred by Ministry Growth
Laughter and conversation. Peanut butter & banana and turkey sandwiches. Busy hands and faithful hearts. These are the markers of a Friday morning at Trinity Church, as parishioners gather in the Undercroft to prepare bag lunches for our unhoused neighbors.
This ministry was launched in 2014 after the closure of the Long Island Bridge, which had provided Boston’s only access to the city’s largest homeless shelter. The abrupt closure displaced more than 700 unhoused persons. To help meet their needs, common cathedral, a local non-profit, began operating a “BostonWarm” Day Center at our neighbor, Emmanuel Church. Trinity wasted no time in forming a ministry to deliver several dozen bag lunches each week, and in a nod to the program it was formed to serve, the ministry adopted the name “Boston Warm.”
As “Boston Warm” added more and more sandwich makers to its ranks over the years, eventually there were more hands than work to go around. With vision to see this problem as a blessing in disguise, the group expanded its community partnerships and now also delivers lunches each week to “On the Rise,” a Cambridge-based shelter serving women and transgender/non-binary individuals.
Having outgrown its “Boston Warm” roots, the group set out to brainstorm a new name to match its mission, and “Bread & Blessings” was born. You are invited to help “Bread & Blessings” grow into its new name and take part in this joyful ministry of service and fellowship! The ministry meets each Friday morning at 9 am in the Trinity kitchen.
Trinity Turns Out at the Strand Theatre
Described as an “embedded school support system,” Trinity@RuthBatson is a signature program of our partner organization Trinity Boston Connects.
On March 5, 6, and 7, members of our congregation took Trinity’s support of the Boston public school Ruth Batson Academy (formerly known as the McCormack School) to a new level, turning out in force for the school’s annual musical. Across three nights of shows, more than 25 parishioners, vestry, staff and clergy of Trinity Church cheered on the students and faculty as they put on a terrific rendition of the Tony-award-winning Once On This Island at Dorchester’s historic Strand Theatre. Bravo to our friends at Ruth Batson Academy! We are already looking forward to next year.
Annual Retreat Includes Workshops, Faith Exploration
On Sat., Feb. 22, fifteen young adults gathered for Trinity’s Annual 20s & 30s Retreat, a day of workshops, reflection, food, and crafts. This retreat offers a space to build deeper connections with one another and our clergy while exploring themes of faith that aren’t often talked about at length. It was a day of meaningful discussions, renewal, and community. To learn more about Trinity’s growing 20s & 30s Ministry, click here.
A.R.T. Gathers for Ubuntu Circles, Food, and Fellowship
On Sat., Feb. 22, members of the Anti-Racism Team gathered for a one-day retreat at Trinity which included scripture study, Ubuntu circles, quiet moments for prayer and reflection, as well as food and fellowship.
Br. Keith Nelson, SSJE, Leads Retreat
On Sat., Mar. 8, members of the Creation Care ministry met for a retreat at the Rectory facilitated by Br. Keith Nelson, Superior of the Society of St. John the Evangelist, the Episcopal monastery in Cambridge. This time of learning and reflection, structured around the sacrament of the Eucharist, sought to empower the ministry for its work in the Trinity community and beyond.
Commons Filled, Pancakes Tossed, Laughs Shared in Early March
More than 100 people came out for the 63rd Annual Pancake Toss and Community Breakfast on Sun., Mar. 2. Check out more photos on Trinity’s Instagram here and mark your calendar for Trinity’s next Community Breakfast on Sun., April 6, at 9 am. And, if you have photos from Sunday — or any event at Trinity — we would love to see them. Photos from our community help to tell the story of Trinity to Boston and the world. Send in your photos to communications@trinitychurchboston.org.
Choristers Eleanor and Fritz Level Up
Congratulations to Chorister Eleanor who passed her RSCM Silver exam and Chorister Fritz who passed his RSCM Bronze exam, both with highest commendation. The Royal School of Church Music administers these international standardized exams which are given by an outside examiner to evaluate choristers who have attained the highest levels of choral achievement. Candidates must demonstrate exceptional choir leadership, exemplary vocal ability, and extensive knowledge of music theory and liturgy. All Trinity Choristers follow this intensive British curriculum from their first days in the choir and their ribbon colors indicate their current level of achievement.