New to Trinity Church - Trinity Episcopal Church

New to Trinity

Our Mission

Dear God, guide us at Trinity Episcopal Church to be an inclusive and caring Christ-centered community nurtured by our worship and tradition. We ask you to strengthen and guide us as we live out our mission to welcome and celebrate the diversity of all people through spiritual education, growth in faith and service in Christ’s Name. Amen.

Welcome

Rev. Henrietta “Rhetta” L. Wiley, Ph.D, Priest-in-Charge

Welcome

We welcome you to Trinity Episcopal Church in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ!

We are pleased that you have found us on-line. We believe that EVERYONE who comes through the doors of Trinity Church is God’s guest. If you are seeking an active community of faith, we invite you to explore this website then come and see.

You are a unique child of God, and I wish to respond to you however will suit you best. If you have questions, wants or needs, or if you would like information about participating more fully in the life the Trinity community, I invite you to contact us. We look forward to meeting you.

Please know that children are always welcome at all services. At different times, we involve children within the context of the service and at other times we have a special children’s program during the service.

We believe in being a place of “radical welcome.” We seek to serve Jesus Christ in one another and in the world around us, and we hope that you will feel the presence of the living Christ in this wonderful community. You will find us a loving and supportive community full of God’s children who will welcome you without pressure.

We hope that you will come and worship with us, explore and ask questions with us, and participate in mission and ministry with us as we journey together in the name of Our Lord Jesus Christ.

God’s Peace & Blessings to you!
Trinity Church

What to Expect at Trinity

You will not be embarrassed

When you visit Trinity, you will be our respected and welcomed guest. You will not be singled out as a visitor, nor asked to stand or to come forward. You are invited to worship God with us. If you wish to know more about the Episcopal Church or Trinity, use the links to explore this website. When you visit, we will be happy to answer any of your questions in person. Below are the answers to the basic questions of first-time visitors.

Where can I park?

Trinity has a small parking lot behind the church – between Allegheny Avenue and Joppa Road. In addition, the parking meters on streets around the church are free on Sunday morning; the parking garage directly across from the church on Allegheny Avenue is also free on weekends.

Do you Have Hearing Assistance and Handicapped Facilities?

Trinity Church is equipped to serve our handicapped parishioners and visitors. Our sound system allows readers and worship leaders to be heard throughout the church. If you need additional assistance, please feel free to talk with an usher who can give you a hearing assisted device.

What should I wear?

The clothes people wear at our church are as diverse as our community. At Trinity you will find men, women, and children in jeans or in business casual clothes as well as those who wear suits and dresses.

When do I need to arrive for Sunday Services?

Plan to arrive about 5-10 minutes prior to the time of worship you plan to attend. This will give you some time to park in one of our various convenient parking spaces and make your way to the church where you can get a newcomer bag. Our friendly Greeters are available to answer any questions you may have about Trinity and to help you find a comfortable seat.

How will I know where to sit?

Our greeters will welcome you as you enter and help you find a comfortable place to sit. There are no assigned pews or seats in our church.

What kind of worship will I experience?

Our two Sunday services each has a unique style:

8:00 a.m. Traditional quiet service (no music),
10:00 a.m. Family-friendly, with a blend of contemporary music and traditional hymns led by piano and guitar and other weeks with organ and choir

All of our Sunday services include Holy Communion. Clergy at Trinity traditionally wear vestments, and our services are based on the Book of Common Prayer.

About Us

Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we invite you to make a deeper connection with God at Trinity Episcopal Church. Experience the Spirit of love and acceptance as we share our gifts in this Christ-centered community.

There are many opportunities for worship, education, service and fellowship within a Christian community at Trinity. Here are a few tips to help you find your way around.

Parking: You may find parking in the small church lot, but it may be full when you arrive. Please, park in the parking garage directly across Allegheny Avenue. Parking is free in the garage on Sunday.

Hearing devices are available as you enter the church. Please, ask one of the hosts for a hearing device to use during the worship service.

Children are always welcome in worship. Some parents have found the Children’s Worship Bulletins, a coloring sheet based on the Gospel of the day, helpful in keeping children occupied during the worship service.

Weekdays — The Office is open Monday through Thursday from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. If you would like to speak with the parish administrator, please call or visit during these hours. All of the staff have voice mail at the office and you may leave a message for them if they are not available when you call.

Where We Started

A bit of background and history Trinity Episcopal Church is a congregation of the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. “Episcopal” means “governed by bishops.” Just as the early Church had “overseers,” (in New Testament Greek, transliterated “epi-skopoi”), we have bishops who provide for spiritual leadership, direction, and oversight. The Episcopal Church is part of the worldwide Anglican Communion.

We live our life together in an ancient tradition of Christians, and we are related to the Church of England. Our worship is liturgical, that is, it involves the whole congregation and uses common language. Consisting of Scripture, hymns, sermon, prayer, and celebration of the Holy Eucharist (also called Holy Communion, the Lord’s Supper, or the Mass), our worship involves everyone.

Trinity Episcopal Church worships in Towson’s oldest standing church building, consecrated on the Feast of Ascension in May, 1860. Designed by architect Nathan G. Starkweather, the Gothic revival style church was built from limestone donated by John and Eliza Ridgely of the Hampton Estate. The Parish House was built several years later in 1871. Memorial Hall was added in 1948, and the Education Wing was built in 1954. The Parish House was renovated in the mid 1990s. Since the 1860s, the worship space has been enlarged, and beautiful stained-glass windows, including Tiffany windows, were added. The rectory (which is now the Surprise Shop) was built in 1883. The church was renovated in 1989. In its 150+ year history, Trinity has been served by only seven rectors.

The central focus of Trinity Episcopal Church is and has always been the worship of Almighty God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Christian symbols and scenes from the Scriptures can be seen throughout the church to express this divine mystery. We hope that you will continue to come worship with us in the beauty of this sacred space that helps our hearts and minds focus on God. It is your presence and the presence of all who have worshiped here throughout the ages that make our church a holy place and help us recognize that the living Christ is present among us.

Serving the Church

Worship
All parish staff members may be reached by calling the office at 410.823.3588

Clergy

Rev. Henrietta (Rhetta) Wiley,Ph.D., Rector
Rev. Elizabeth Masterson – Associate

Staff

Open – Lay Associate for Parish Life
Jill Dumser – Parish Administrator
Jennifer Korczakowski – Business Manager
Hardwick Spencer – Organist and Choir Director
Luis Tejeda – Sexton

Trinity Episcopal Preschool
Tressa Andrews -Director
410.823.3589

The Surprise Shop
Erin Woodward – Director of Volunteers
410.828.9343

Vestry

Senior Warden: Rich Dougan
Junior Warden: Greg Gabell
Treasurer: Greg Ayotte
Registrar: Joel Moore (2023)
Heather Ayotte (2023)
Joanne Chapline (2024)
Jean Close (2022)
Cathy Evans (2023)
Aimee Grable(2022)
Allan Grimm (2024)
Peggy King (2024)
John Oporia (2023)
Lisa Pawluk (2022)
Mac Price (2022)
Joanie Smith-Miller (2024)

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New to Trinity

Our Mission

Welcome

What to Expect at Trinity

About Us

Where We Started

Serving the Church

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