Frequently Asked Questions

Trinity, I have so many questions! Where do I park? What do I wear?
I'm wondering if I'm welcome in your church? What accommodations can you make for my disability?
Can I take Communion at your services? What about my kids? Will I be asked for money? 
​Scroll down for answers.
Where do I park?

​There are parking lots located to the West of both the Church Building and the Parish Hall. For the Church Building, enter the parking lot from Algoma, opposite the Christine Ann Center. For the Parish Hall, enter the parking lot from High Street, or through the alley on Division that runs between the two buildings. There is also street parking available.
I'm ____________. Am I welcome in your church?

Yes.

We know that there are plenty of churches that turn people away. There are plenty of preachers that are sure they know who's going to hell, and there are plenty of congregations that make it clear who's in and who's out. We try not to  be like that.

So if you're divorced, gay, unmarried and living with a partner, in recovery, dealing with addiction, struggling with your self-confidence, facing health issues, uncertain about this whole "God" thing, angry at the church, hurt, sad, poor, young, old, or anything, you're welcome here.

Lord knows we aren't perfect. If anything, we're a little shy at first, because we know it takes time to feel out a place and see if this community is for you. But ultimately we want to know Jesus, and we want you to know Jesus too. We believe that Jesus loves each of us as we are, and we believe Jesus wants each of us to become more than we are now. It's a pilgrim journey, and we'd love to have you walk with us. 
Can I receive Communion at Trinity?

If you are a baptized Christian, you are welcome to receive the body and blood of Christ in the Holy Eucharist. If you are not a baptized Christian, we ask that you do not receive until you have been baptized.

There are several reasons for this, but first we want to say that it is not that we don't want you to join us, or that you are not welcome to worship with us, to come to classes or coffee hour. In fact, we do hope that you will come and meet Christ with us, and that God will guide you to join us through the waters of baptism! 

But for Christians, the ancient pattern for joining the church has been Baptism first, and then Communion. In fact, the earliest versions of church worship services that we have describe baptism followed by anointing with oil (called Chrismation or confirmation) followed immediately by taking communion. In our church, we give communion even to tiny babies on the day of their baptisms! (We check with the parents first to make sure it's safe)

In the early centuries of the church, those who were not baptized would actually be sent out of the church midway through the service (right after the sermon, and before the Creed). It was only baptized Christians -- those who had put away sin and been reconciled to God -- who were able to offer certain prayers to God, and give thanks for Christ's work of salvation, and receive the sacrament of Christ's body and blood. 

We take Baptism seriously, which means that we believe that it is the event that makes a person into a Christian. We take Eucharist seriously, too, and the ancient practice of the church has been that it is a sacred meal for those who have already made their commitment to Christ at the font. We believe that the practices of these two great sacraments have been given to us by Jesus, and it is our task to be stewards of these precious gifts. This joins several things that we do that are only available to Christians. Marriage in the church, for instance, requires that at least one of the couple getting married should be a Christian. Also, there are parts of our burial rites that are only open to Christians. And of course, ordination is only open to people who are baptized Christians.

This isn't meant to make you feel unwelcome. We do welcome you to Trinity. We do hope and pray that you will join us. We hope that you will come to seek Jesus and embrace the gift of grace that he offers. In time, we hope that God will lead you to the new life of the waters of baptism, and that one day you will join with us and all Christians at the fellowship of the Holy Eucharist.
What do I wear?

We want you to feel comfortable, and part of that is wearing clothes that don't stand out. We hear you. Truly, you can wear anything, and people come to church dressed in all sorts of ways. The safest bet, though, is to go with business casual. Men will want to wear khakis or slacks, a polo shirt or the like. Women might wear slacks, a skirt, or a dress, with a seasonally appropriate top. As it is a church, it's better to avoid revealing too much skin, and men will be asked to remove hats in worship. But really, don't worry too much about it.
Picture
What accommodations can Trinity make for disabilities?

Mobility concerns: The Church Building is accessible to those in wheelchairs and motorized scooters. An elevator that services both main floors of the Church Building is located at the West Door of the church. The Parish Hall is not accessible.

Hard of hearing: The Nave (the main worship space) is equipped with a Hearing Aid Loop. Set your hearing aid to T-Coil for services.

Gluten intolerances: We offer gluten-free rice wafers and a separate cup of wine for Communion. When you come to the Altar rail, either tell the Eucharistic minister that you require gluten-free, or hold out your hands palms down.
What about nursery, or Sunday school?

We encourage children to come to our liturgies along with the adults. Our congregation understands and expects a certain amount of kid noise. It's the sign of a living congregation! At this point, Trinity doesn't have a Sunday school program, but we do offer nursery care during the 10am service (9am in the summer). 

If your little one is having a melt-down, head to the lower level of the church (ushers can direct you to the elevator or the stairs). Downstairs you will find:
  • A restroom with changing table
  • A nursery room just past the restrooms, which is stocked with toys.
  • The Chapel, which carries the audio from the Church, if you need privacy for breastfeeding.
Will you ask me for money?

We do take a collection as part of the Sunday services. As a guest or first-time visitor, you aren't expected to contribute. Not everyone does, and we promise nobody is taking notes!

This is a spiritual virtue: we give thanks for God's blessings to us, and we freely return a portion of the gifts we have received to aid the work of the the church. Members of the church typically make an annual pledge to support the parish financially (and in other ways). If you become a member, you'll be invited to make a pledge too. You'll not be required to, but those who do often say that they feel a greater depth in their spiritual lives for having made the commitment.

We always welcome donations and contributions, of course!
How can I join the church?

We have a whole page for this!