Often (but not always) the first activity in which people new to Trinity participate is formal Christian Worship.
It’s what most people think of as “going to church.”
Sunday mornings we have a quiet, contemplative Holy Eucharist without music at 8 AM.
Our main Sunday worship is at 10:30 AM, both in person and via livestream, usually with Holy Eucharist and choir.
If you cannot be with us in person, you can watch the livestream of our service HERE.
Of course you can also view our online services later on our YouTube channel. Many people do, and we invite you to as well.
Also, a word from the Young People (at present, we include our older young people as readers at the 10:30 service when they are available):
Within Trinity we have three congregations, each with their own distinctive style of worship. While most people eventually gravitate to one or another, there’s no reason why you cannot participate in two or even three of them. Here they are:
The 8 AM Congregation. This congregation assembles at 8 AM each Sunday in the Chancel. This congregation celebrates Holy Eucharist every Sunday. Except on Christmas and Easter there’s usually no music, and liturgical roles are assigned each day as worshipers arrive. The Eucharist is usually over by 8:40 AM. Young people attending this service worship with their parents.
The 10:30 AM Congregation. This congregation celebrates Holy Eucharist, according to Rite II, and at this service we have organ and choral music year-round. Usually the priest sings or chants a portion of the liturgy and responses are likewise sung. Some months we hold one Youth Sunday, when young people may do some of the readings, assist at the altar. The service lasts between 70 – 80 minutes on a typical Sunday. It is followed by coffee hour, to which all are invited (and most people attend). This service is also livestreamed to our channel on YouTube.
La Congregacion Latina de la Iglesia Trinidad. This congregation generally celebrates one Misa per month, normally on Sunday afternoons at 4 PM — but check the schedule, because times and dates can differ depending upon the liturgical calendar and the needs of the congregation. The entire service is in Spanish, and is suitable for native Spanish speakers, those with some facility in Spanish — or those who simply want to participate in a Eucharist in Spanish. Young people usually worship with their families at these services. There is music at all the Latino services.
On the principal Feast days and other days of obligation during the Church year we often have additional services. Some examples include Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Ascension Day, and others.
Our special services are usually advertised in the Lakeville Journal, generally announced on this website, and always announced in our weekly Trinity Update and in our recorded message on the parish phone. Call 860-435-2627 at any time for a recording of the times of services.
Style of worship
Some people (usually people pretty familiar with The Episcopal Church) ask us about the style of our worship at Trinity. We’re solidly in the category of “Broad Church” (the extremes are Low Church on one hand and High Church on the other).
We’re in the middle: we have elements of High Church practice (for example, our choir usually sings choral responses, our Rector usually chants a portion of the Eucharist, on many Sundays bells are rung during the Eucharist, and votive candles are always available for those who wish to use them) and also Low Church (we don’t use incense, we occasionally use alternative liturgies, and our general emphasis is on welcome and participation rather than formality). Our Latino services incorporate religious conventions most often seen in Central and South America.
Outside of worship
If you would like to know how we “walk the walk”, and offer companionship along the Way — not just on Sunday mornings, not just at Trinity, visit our page on Outreach. We know that we are called to serve in the community — and, perhaps, that is as important as our worship. It’s where we place much of our emphasis as a parish.
Young people
If you have young people with you — or if you’re in that category yourself — there’s more information for you on our Young People page. Regarding young people and our worship services, we often designate one Sunday per month as Young People’s Sunday for the 10:30 AM congregation . On those days you may see our acolytes in procession, you may see young people reading Scripture, leading the Psalm, leading the Prayers of the People, and assisting on the Altar.