Trinity Episcopal Church Chicago IL

Empowering ourselves to Serve others

Who are we?

A church community of faith focused on serving God manifested as three persons, namely, as Parent, as Child and as Holy Spirit.

We strive to be students and disciples of scripture, church tradition, reason and subjective experience. We humbly submit to truth that is the outcome of proven experience and excellent scholarship.

We seek to serve God and neighbor with our total selves, that is, with mind, heart and body.

We strive to be mature in our relationships, seeking to preserve the oneness and unity of the community by living out the command to love unconditionally, thereby manifesting the fruits of the Holy Spirit, which are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. These are our guiding attitudes towards others especially in these modern times when various issues threaten our unity, common bond and love for one another.

Our Common life

Individual prayer and study life is encouraged, but our true strength is the coming together for common worship. At worship we collectively strengthen one another by our presence and participation in the orderly balanced structure of the service; the reading and understanding of the scriptures, the affirmation of our collective belief in the church's Creed, the common prayers, the rejoicing of the presence of God in the commemoration of the last meal (the Eucharist), and the covenant of commitment to go into the world to serve God in our neighbor.

We meet regularly to learn in the weekly Bible reading and discussion group, the various interest discussion groups, and the adult and children's education programs.

We minister incidentally at the places God has strategically placed us- our homes, our neighborhoods, our recreation and work places. We also minister directly at the cottage meetings as the Holy Spirit directs. In these meetings, participants are raised and trained to minister the Spirit.

We intentionally strategize and plan to serve our neighborhood by providing programs. At present our facilities are used for ballet classes and community meetings. Future programs will include AA meetings, girl scouts and affordable housing.

Approach to Scriptures

We encourage private reading for guidance and inspiration. We strongly advise that our personal and private learning be subject to the community of faith as the scriptures direct. We understand that the community of faith includes the local church, Diocese and the world community. We believe that this strategy keeps us humble, loving and righteous especially in our attitudes towards those who are different from us. We emphasize study of the scriptures over the practice of merely reading the scriptures.

Worship

Worship at Trinity engages the heart and mind. We strive to do justice to both. We aim at honesty and integrity. In all that we do in worship, we aim to please God rather than self. We come together to worship God, to learn, to have fellowship with the brethren and to be empowered to serve others with the gift of love.

Our expectations from each other

Be regular and on time when the community meets for worship. Participate in the worship by being an usher, acolyte, layminister, chalicist, chorister, etc. Training classes are offered for these ministries. Be a leader- in the vestry board, children's education, adult education, committees, etc. A participator in at least one of the programs- bible class, interest group (supper club, movie club, discussion groups, men's group, women's group), cottage prayer groups. Serve through church's outreach programs. Support the church's work financially.

 

Download Trinity Episcopal Church vCard with Service Times

Click here to contact the church  

Download Rector The Rev. Errol Narain vCard

Click here to contact The Rev. Errol Narain  

 

https://episcopalchurch.org/parish/trinity-episcopal-church-chicago-il  

 

 

Know how to get there? Share the knowledge with others!  

Please share parking information and/or parking experience!  

 

 

 

History of Trinity Episcopal Church

Author: Holly Marshall

Trinity Episcopal Church was founded in 1842 to serve the needs of Episcopalians on Chicago's South Side. It is the second oldest Episcopal Parish is Chicago. Services were initially conducted in a public "saloon" until a building was erected on Madison and Clark streets. Later the church moved to Jackson Street between Michigan and Wabash. This building was destroyed in the Great Chicago Fire, at which point Trinity moved south to its present location at 26th and Michigan. An esteemed example of Gothic architecture, Trinity was the church of the wealthy, socially prominent families that lived in the historic Prairie Avenue neighborhood. The three-story parish house was erected in 1894. Around this time, Harriet Blair Borland, a life-long member, presented the church with the Angel Lectern, which was designed for the World's Fair of 1893.

The growth of the "Gold Coast" north of the city's business district siphoned away many wealthy families, and Trinity's membership declined. Today, Trinity is growing again, and is a racially, culturally and economically integrated parish.

The Trinity Community

Trinity Episcopal Church is located on the near South Side, on the northern border of the area commonly known as "Bronzeville," the center of African-American cultural and economic life from the 1920's through the 40's. During the 1950's and 60's, urban renewal projects, specifically the construction of large public housing complexes (Stateway Gardens, Robert Taylor and Madden-Wells) coincided with the desegregation of other neighborhoods to create a rapid change in the demographics of the neighborhood, with the result that Bronzeville became overwhelmingly African-American, and poor.

Today, Bronzeville is in the midst of revitalization, spurred by public investment, included the CHA's rehabilitation plans, and private market forces. The area has attracted a series of new housing developments and rehabs. While the new investment is welcome, it cannot overshadow the fact that a large contingent of Bronzeville's residents continue to be plagued by poverty, unemployment, troubled youth and crime.

The unique demographics of Bronzeville make the neighborhood make both a challenge and an opportunity for communities of Faith like Trinity. The Pastor and the congregation have recommitted to the mission of the Church, and are eager to reach out to our neighbors and create strong, healthy and productive relationships.