Trinity Ministry Council

Vestry Liaisons: Tim Martin (Building Committee Chair); Chuks Okoli (Audit Committee Chair);  

Staff Support: Rob Hess (CFO) and Lonsdale Koester (Director of Stewardship)  

Cohort Co-Conveners: Kathy Sheehan  and Sukaina Garcia

Vestry Liaisons: Christine Arcese, Christopher Atwood, Peter Renner  

Staff Support: Kit Lonergan (Priest for Welcome & Care) and Paige Fisher (Associate for Community Life)  

Cohort Co-Conveners: Christine Arcese and Laurie Buchta  

Tour Guides

As part of its welcome ministry and visitors services programs, Trinity Church offers regular public tours of our remarkable parish home. These tours give visitors who come from all over the United States and the world the opportunity to visually explore and learn about this masterwork of nineteenth-century American architecture and its groundbreaking decorative program. Tours are led by trained volunteer guides who tell the story of the building of the church, its architecture, and art. Periodically, training is offered to people interested in becoming tour guides. As part of the training, a new guide would learn about Trinity Church history, art and architecture, develop storytelling, public speaking skills and tour group management. Trinity tour guides are asked to lead 12 or more tours annually, Tuesday - Saturdays.

 

Breakfast Teams

We break bread together each week around the altar in our worship, and similarly, our monthly parish breakfasts offer us the opportunity to break bread with one another drawing us closer in community and relationship. Our Breakfast Team is a group of monthly volunteers that gather to prepare and serve the food for our parish breakfasts. This is a great way for newcomers or people with varied availability to jump in, help out and get to know one another better. The breakfast team is coordinated by the Associate for Community Life and opened to all using a monthly Sign-up genius link shared in all parish communication.

 

Welcomes You Series

The "Welcomes You" series is a seasonal a three-part program comprising ‘Christianity Welcomes You’, ‘The Episcopal Church Welcomes You’ and ‘Trinity Church Welcomes You’ for those new to the church. Programs are 1hr and 15 minutes in length, which includes light refreshments and time for connection. This program is currently being lead by a Trinity staff member, however, subsequent leaders should plan on a one-year commitment, beginning in September, and spanning at least two sessions of Welcomes You programming per program year.

Contact: Kit Lonergan

 

Stitching in the Spirit

"Stitching in the Spirit" is a collective of dedicated knitters who blend their passion for textiles with an unwavering spirit of compassion. With each deftly woven thread, they infuse their creations with love, hope, and solace, forming a tangible expression of care for those in need. This group's primary focus is the creation of prayer shawls—and now prayer squares, meticulously crafted with intention and purpose. These are more than just pieces of fabric; they are tokens of comfort, resilience, and faith. Every stitch represents a whispered prayer, a silent wish for healing, and a reminder that, even in the darkest of times, one is never alone. This dedicated group of volunteers meets on the third Saturday of each month to knit their shawls and prayer squares which are then given to those in need. In September 2024, we will set up a station in the Undercroft between the 8 and 10 am services to teach those in our parish who are interested to learn how to knit prayer squares.

 

Prayer Ministry

The Prayer Ministry consists of a group of voluteers who explore prayer in their daily lives. We hold regular meetings for prayer and discussion via Zoom, as well as fellowship activities in person, to share and encourage our members’ prayer life. We seek to explore together different types of prayer practice (e.g., centering prayer, poetry/art and prayer, 40-day prayer for the parish, Christian and non-Christian cultural forms of prayer, prayer retreats, etc.) in order to broaden and deepen the meaning and ritual of prayer in our lives. We also assign to the members of the Prayer Ministry the first names and brief circumstances of the individuals who request daily prayer by the Ministry or for whom daily prayer has been requested. We do this on an anonymous and confidential basis. We periodically update the situation of those being prayed for. We also host a weekly Friday morning prayer via Zoom at 6:30 am to pray together all the names on the Prayer List (individuals for whom our members pray daily).

 

Cancer Support Group

The Cancer Support Group came together more than twenty years ago to offer a place of support for those diagnosed with cancer. Through heartfelt conversations or gentle prayers, we strive to uplift spirits, foster hope, and empower each member to face their unique battles with courage and resilience. Whether one seeks understanding, encouragement, or simply a shoulder to lean on, members find it here, amidst kindred souls who walk this path together. This group gathers on the second Tuesday of each month on Zoom to share updates on their treatments and check-in on how they are feeling spiritually, emotionally, and physically.

 

Bereavement Group

The Bereavement and Beyond group is open to all who have suffered a loss or losses through death, regardless of when the loss occurred. We are a mutual support group in which participants are encouraged to share thoughts and feelings as freely as they wish. This group is lead by a Lay and Clergy person who work in tandem to talk with and welcome new people before their first meeting, should they decide to join. The Lay Leader is also the point of contact for meeting notices, keeping member information up to date, and generally keeping the group together and informed. The Lay Leader generally facilitates the discussions, with the Clergy Leader offering wisdom and support as the conversations unfold. They work together to create an environment that is supportive and open to meet people where they are that day. This group meets monthly for an hour and 15 minutes in-person.

 

Eucharistic Visitors

With humility and compassion, Eucharistic Visitors serve as conduits of grace, bringing the presence of the divine into the lives of those who may be isolated or in need, embodying the values of service, love, and hospitality central to our faith tradition. Eucharistic visitors play a vital role in ensuring that all members of the faith community have access to the spiritual nourishment and connection offered through the Eucharist. They often bring not only the sacrament itself but also companionship, support, and prayers, fostering a sense of inclusion and belonging within the community. Every week, the list of those who have asked to receive the eucharist at home are given to the Lay and Clergy leaders of this team who then assign two volunteers to travel together to do this important work. Volunteers must complete the CORI process, be trained as a Eucharistic Visitor and also attend SAFE church training.

 

Pastoral Visitors

Pastoral Visitors, engage in compassionate outreach, extending care and support to individuals facing various life challenges. These dedicated volunteers serve as a tangible embodiment of Trinity's values, offering emotional support, companionship, and spiritual guidance to those in need. Pastoral visitors travel in teams of two to parishioners homes and visits can vary in length, but usually are a monthly commitment lasting between one to four hours. Pastoral Visitors cultivate a community where love, compassion, and support are fundamental principles, enriching the lives of both givers and receivers alike. Monthly Zoom meetings are held among volunteers and include some basic pastoral care training, prayer, peer-to-peer support as a visitor, and check ins. Volunteers must complete the CORI process, be trained as a Pastoral Visitor and also attend SAFE church training.

Vestry Liaisons: Josh Fiala, Niven Narain, Katie Wrisley Shelby  

Staff Support: Abi Moon (Senior Associate) and Katrina Leslie (Minister for Youth & Young Adults)  

Cohort Co-Convener: Katie Wrisley Shelby and Peter Howe  

Women’s & Men’s Bible Studies 

In our Baptismal Covenant, the very first promise we affirm is to “continue in the  apostles’ teaching and fellowship.” Our Women’s & Men’s Bible Studies are one of the many ways parishioners at Trinity Church fulfill this promise, as we gather each  Wednesday morning, taught and led by our clergy, to engage with the upcoming  Sunday’s Gospel lesson and to learn from it and from each other in a fellowship. As  Episcopalians, we understand the Bible to be “the Word of God, because God  inspired [its] human authors and because God still speaks to us through the Bible.”  For our weekly Bible studies, women gather with our female clergy, men with our male clergy, and for all who do not identify with a single gender, we invite you to  attend the study most comfortable for you. Contact: Alison Poor

 

Adult Formation Committee 
The Adult Formation Committee serves the parishioners of Trinity Church by supporting the clergy in the implementation of Trinity’s adult education and spiritual formation programs throughout the program year (September—May). We aim to help Trinity’s parishioners, visitors, and our neighbors in the city of Boston to grow in love of God and one another through these programs. 

Members of the AFC serve these programs in several ways: i.e., we meet regularly to ascertain and serve the needs of the clergy and parish within those programs; we help plan and implement some of the Sunday forums in accordance with the program year theme; we attend and take attendance at Sunday forums; we participate in and give feedback regarding specific formation opportunities; and we assist with the planning and execution of the annual Anne Berry Bonnyman Symposium. These responsibilities will necessarily evolve according to the specific demands of each new program year. 

Contact: Katie Wrisley Shelby

 

ABBS 
The Anne Berry Bonnyman Symposium is an annual event honoring the Rev. Anne Berry Bonnyman, Trinity’s 19th Rector (2006-2011), for her commitment to social justice and the eradication of racism, and for her vision in making “the Church in the city a place of hope and possibility, a source of God’s healing and vision for all people” [quoted from the announcement of her call as Rector]. The Symposium’s Mission is to give Trinity Church a living platform for addressing systemic racism in our church and community. Past speakers and panelists at this event have included the Most Rev. Michael Curry, the Rt. Rev. Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows, the Very Rev. Dr. Michael Battle, and Alison Mariella Désir, among other distinguished guests. 

To that end, a planning team is assembled each year to help host this event. This team works closely with the Rector’s Office on various tasks related to the Symposium, duties which might include: researching and selecting themes and speakers, organizing logistics, and promoting the event to the parish and the city. 

Contact: Peter Howe or Katie Wrisley Shelby

 

Children’s Ministry 
Jesus said, “Let the children come to me, and do not stop them, for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matthew 19:14) 

Children are central to Trinity’s life and vitality as a parish family. Early Childhood Ministry partners with families, walking alongside and guiding children as they learn about God, strive to emulate Christ’s life of service, explore the Bible, and understand the Church. 

Children belong at the center of our collective worship. They thrive as we lovingly accept them as partners on our families’ shared journey of faith. Each member of Trinity’s community shares responsibility for nurturing children’s faith and honoring their spiritual gifts. We support parents as they nurture the spiritual growth of their children. 

Church School operates from September-May, offering classes from preschool to 3rd grade. The Nursery is open year-round to children four and under. 

Children’s homily offers age-appropriate activities and teaching centered on the lectionary during worship, and a variety of family-focused events outside of services build community while celebrating children’s contributions to our parish. 

Contact: Cathy Portlock Pacitto, Minister for Early Childhood. 

 

Acolytes  

The Acolyte Ministry at Trinity Church Boston provides an opportunity for our 6th through 12th graders to serve the congregation, grow their understanding of our sacred practices and increase their engagement with the church. This ministry is important to help the overall functionality of our worship services. The acolytes are responsible for leading the worship procession, setting the table for communion, and receiving the offerings from the church. Acolytes are trained every year regardless of how many years they have been serving. This purposeful role of youth serving the church up front provides a new space to deepen their faith and increase youth engagement.   

Contact: Katrina Leslie, Minister for Youth and Young Adults  

  

T-n-T  
The Twenties and Thirties Ministry (T-n-T) is a vibrant community of young adults at Trinity Church Boston. We are a diverse group of university students, international students, young professionals, young families and everything in between. T-n-T meets regularly for monthly meals and fellowship events, and weekly peer-led Sunday Bible Study. Some past favorites have been our Fall Kickoff Dinner, a Boston Duck Boat Tour, Book Club, Bagel Brunches and volunteering with Pine Street Inn. Our purpose is to create a Christian community for young adults to find friendships and closeness with God. We strive to make the T-n-T Ministry a place in a big city that knows you by name and helps you feel known and loved at Trinity Church.   

Contact: Katrina Leslie, Minister for Youth and Young Adults  

 

Youth  

The Youth Ministry at Trinity Church Boston includes three cohorts of ages: Club 45 (4th and 5th grades), Middle School (6th – 8th grades) and High School (9th – 12th grades). The Youth meet every Sunday during the Program Year for Youth Formation – a time to learn more about God’s love through fun games and inclusive conversations. Throughout the year, fellowship opportunities are offered for further community building. Some past favorites have been our Donut Sundays, Lock-Ins, Scavenger Hunts, and Ice-Skating afternoon. We value each youth as the unique individual God has created them to be. We strive to provide a space where youth can ask big questions, meaningfully contribute to our beloved church community and grow their faith in God.   

Contact: Katrina Leslie, Minister for Youth and Young Adults

Vestry Liaisons: Richard Henderson, Constance Perry, Pam Waterman  

Staff Support: Brandon Ashcraft (Priest for Outreach); Michael Battle (Theologian-in-Community); and Alison Poor (Director of the Rector’s Office)  

Cohort Co-Conveners: Pam Waterman and David McFerrin  

A.R.T. (Anti Racism Team) 

The primary goal of the ART is to continue to deepen and widen our engagement with stakeholders and parishioners through prayer, conversation and mutual learning which will aid in the incorporation of anti-racist, multicultural principles throughout all parts of Trinity Church. This is in service of supporting the work of so many ministries and the Task Force on Reparations that are working towards becoming a beloved community as well. What is unique about the ART is that our ministry was created to focus inward, to examine how Trinity functions as an institution. In current vernacular, we try to identify institutional racism and transform it at Trinity, but this cannot be accomplished in isolation; our work relies on partnerships as well as the ART focusing on internalized racism, interpersonal racism and systemic racism.  

 

Catie’s Closet 

Catie’s Closet is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides clothes, toiletries, and other basic essentials to students living in poverty within their schools. Free “stores” managed by volunteers, are set up in schools, giving children direct access to everything they need to attend class confidently. 

Volunteer responsibilities are to: manage a clean and organized space; visit the closet once a week to tidy up, put away reorders and check in with school staff directly accessing the closet (counselors, school nurse);
 maintain email communication with school staff and Catie’s Closet; manage special orders for items that are not usually stocked in the closet (sneakers, baby clothes, special sizes). Special orders are placed by school staff members for current students or entire families of current students experiencing displacement. 

 

Boston Warm 

Boston Warm is a collaborative initiative of churches across the City of Boston. The Boston Warm day shelter at Emmanuel Church on Newbury Street provides respite, rest, and recreation, as well as a place to store belongings for people in search of jobs and housing.  Weekly, on Friday mornings at 9 am, Trinity volunteers help by preparing lunches to be delivered to the day shelter.  

 

College Behind Bars 

Through a unique mentoring model, Partakers  supports the education and advancement of incarcerated women and men and Returning Citizens. Within this transformative experience Partakers also bridges the divide that separates people impacted by incarceration with those outside of the carceral system. Through its College Behind Bars Mentoring Program, Partakers provides vital mentoring support to incarcerated students. Partakers Mentors not only help to enhance skills critical to completing academic and degree programs, but also provide life-changing support networks while building long-term vital and trusting personal relationships.  

 

Creation Care 

The Committee’s mission is to advance the efforts of Trinity Church collectively and its members personally to face the global Climate Emergency as declared by the bishops in 2021. Our work focuses on the four areas they specified, namely, to pray, learn, act, and advocate in order to “build a bold and faith-filled response to the greatest moral challenge of our time.”    

 

Episcopal City Mission 

The delegate to Episcopal City Mission serves as a channel of communication between the ministry of the Episcopal City Mission (ECM) and Trinity Church,  ensures the clergy and the staff are informed of the work of ECM through printed and spoken announcements, encourages parish participation in ECM’s annual meeting, and encourages parish support of and engagement with ECM’s social/economic justice mission (hands-on as well as financial).  

 

Habitat for Humanity  

The Habitat for Humanity/Trinity Builders Ministry has been in existence at Trinity since at least 2002. It was named Trinity Builders because in addition to Habitat for Humanity workdays, an earlier iteration of the ministry also participated in non-Habitat work, e.g., helping to paint the inside of the repaired home of a parishioner after substantial fire damage, working with other church groups on community restoration projects, etc. The current incarnation of this ministry was resurrected in 2016 after a hiatus of several years and has worked only with Habitat for Humanity.  Trinity partners with Habitat for Humanity We seek to continue the Trinity tradition of aiding members of the broader Boston community who are striving to provide a home and safe shelter for their families. In addition to the blessing of helping our brothers and sisters siblings in the community build their homes, it is also the opportunity for Trinity parishioners to fellowship with one another and build friendships and community. 

 

Sunday Night Living Bread 

Sunday Night Living Bread is ministry of presence in our neighborhood. The ministry is a team of individuals who are trained to visit, listen to, and be a presence to our unhoused neighbors near and around Copley Square.  We walk and listen to the children of God where they are, not where anyone expects them to be. They may be dealing with many challenges (no housing, illness, etc.) and we are here to listen, offer communion, and/or church provided supplies and gifts (socks, water, etc.) from the Trinity Church community.   

 

Vestry Liaisons: Mary Roetzel  

Staff Support: Abi Moon (Senior Associate) and Colin Lynch (Director of Music)  

Cohort Co-Conveners: Mary Roetzel and Brad Johnson 

Compline At Home 
Join us on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 8:30 pm for Compline, the last of the four services in the Daily Office, through the fall. Compline is a simple office including a confession of sins, one or more psalms, a short reading from scripture, versicles and responses, the Lord's Prayer, collects which ask for God's protection during the night to come, and the canticle Nunc dimittis. A hymn for the evening may follow the short reading from scripture. The collects may be followed by a time of silence, along with free intercessions and thanksgivings. The service starts on page 127 of the Book of Common Prayer. 

Our service begins at 8:30 pm, but the room will open at 8:15 pm for friendly chat. Please join us! Join in on Zoom at this (video optional) link: https://zoom.us/j/206654379 or by calling 1-646-558-8656 and entering Meeting ID 206 654 379. 

 

Needlepoint Guild 

Since the 1980s, Trinity Church’s needlepoint kneelers have been personal, artistic, and practical contributions to our space. The ministry leader coordinates donors, stitchers, vendors, clergy, and staff by email, telephone, and in-person visits to ensure timely production and blessing of 4-6 kneelers in a typical year. At the worship service on the blessing date, the leader meets donors and their family and friends, helps them select a location for their blessed kneelers, and updates the kneeler records in Excel. The time commitment varies and occurs in small, sporadic chunks. The term runs from annual meeting to annual meeting with no set end date. A kneeler is rarely completed within a single year, so the leader moves along kneelers over multiple years. The leader must have excellent communication skills, pastoral sensitivity and, as with all parish leadership roles, is expected to be a faithful member in good standing. 

 

Flower Guild 

The Trinity Flower Guild is responsible for transforming the church space into one glorious array of flowers for key services and events, such as Christmas, Candlelight Carols, and Easter. Over several days, the team of volunteers help by sorting flowers, creating the arrangements using templates, and installing the arrangements in the church. Everyone is welcome to join! No experience is necessary. 

 

Lectors and Intercessors 

We come from an oral tradition, stories handed down from one generation to another. The Church continues this tradition with reading the lessons and prayers at each service. Lectors and Intercessors are the trained parishioners who invite the congregation to lean in and prayerfully listen to God’s promises in their midst and care for the larger community. If you are interested in joining this ministry, reach out to the Senior Associate. 

 

Eucharistic Ministers 

Eucharistic Ministers are essential to the Worship team and facilitating each person’s ability to receive in the manner to which they would like to receive the blood of Christ. Each Eucharistic Minister practices hospitality and welcome in meeting people right where they are at the altar rail. If you are interested in joining this ministry, reach out to the Senior Associate. 

 

Altar Guild 

Since Biblical times, people have assisted in preparing and clearing the altar as a prayerful practice. The Trinity Altar Guild is an essential ministry to each and every service offered at Trinity Church. Those who serve on this ministry offer their time and talent behind the scenes before and after the service, ensuring that all of the vessels needed for celebrating the Eucharist are in place. Each person who serves offers the gift of assisting the larger parish to be able to be nourished by the Eucharist. If you love to serve in a quieter way, this ministry is perfect for you! If you are interested in joining this ministry, reach out to the Senior Associate. 

 

Acolytes 

The Acolyte Ministry at Trinity is part of our youth ministry programs. A youth from 6th grade to 12th grade (or the summer after graduation from high school) is able to participate in service as an acolyte. All acolytes will be trained every year regardless of how many years they have been serving. Our acolytes play an important role in the smoothness of our service. A youth serving as an acolyte learns a deeper understanding of the sacred elements in our services. It is an opportunity not only to serve the parish, but also for the parish to serve our youth in a meaningful way to allow them the opportunity to have spiritual moments such as being an acolyte.