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Life Events
Sponsors of infants, commonly called godparents, present their candidates, make promises in their own names, and also take vows on behalf of their candidates.
In addition to becoming part of the Church universal, persons who are baptized at Trinity Episcopal Church also become members of Trinity.
At Trinity Church, we schedule baptisms during any Sunday service with the exception of Sundays during the season of Lent.
Special baptism Sundays include Easter Sunday, Day of Pentecost, All Saints' Day, Feast of the Baptism of Our Lord (the first Sunday after Epiphany) and the Sunday of Trinity’s Annual Bishop’s Visitation (customarily in February)
Candidates for baptism (and sponsors of children to be baptized) are expected to attend baptismal instruction classes prior to baptism.
The Order of Service for Holy Baptism is found in the 1979 Book of Common Prayer on pages 298-314.
Conditional Baptism
If there is reasonable doubt that a person has been baptized with water, "In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit" (which are the essential parts of Baptism), a person may undergo what is called a conditional baptism.
The person is baptized in the usual manner, with these words “If you are not already baptized, N., I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Emergency Baptism
In case of emergency, any baptized person may administer Baptism according to the following form.
Using the given name of the one to be baptized (if known), pour water on him or her, saying “I baptize you in the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.”
Scheduling a Baptism
To schedule a baptism, contact one of the clergy persons at Trinity Church. Be prepared to provide the basic information requested below.
· Baptism Candidate Name and Gender · Baptism Candidate Date & Place of Birth · Desired Date, Time & Place of Baptism · Full name of Father · Full name of Mother · Address of Parents · Home Phone Number · E-Mail Address · Full Names and Addresses of Sponsors/Godparents (2)
At Trinity Church, we perform and celebrate weddings. We plan and prepare for life long marriages.
Christian marriage is a solemn and public covenant between a man and a woman in the presence of God. In the Episcopal Church, we require that one, at least, of the parties be a baptized Christian; that the ceremony be attested by at least two witnesses; and that the marriage conform to the laws of the State and of the canons of the Episcopal Church USA.
In the Episcopal Church, we do remarry persons who have been married before. Remarriage requires written permission from the Bishop of the Episcopal diocese wherein the wedding is to be performed, and by the Bishop under whom the clergy performing the ceremony serves.
Why marriage?
We believe that the union of husband and wife in heart, body, and mind is intended by God for their mutual joy; for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity; and, when it is God's will, for the procreation of children and their nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. Most importantly, we believe marriage is not to be entered into unadvisedly or lightly, but reverently, deliberately, and in accordance with the purposes for which it was instituted by God.
Marriage Preparation
All persons considering marriage who desire to have their wedding ceremony conducted by a clergy person of Trinity Church must undertake and complete a course of marriage preparation.
That preparation may be performed by a clergy person outside of Trinity Church, although Trinity clergy reserve the right to require a couple to undergo marriage preparation at Trinity.
When preparation takes place with other clergy, the clergy person overseeing the preparation must present a letter attesting to the preparation and affirming the couple’s successful completion.
Marriage Preparation Process
Our clergy engage couples in answering questions you might not have considered. We encourage conversations best had before marriage. We explore personality type and factors that help you figure out how to make the love you already have last a life time. We help you determine if you are ready for marriage or if you need more time of preparation before proceeding.
The approach each clergy person uses may differ. Contact directly the clergy person with whom you want to undertake marriage preparation for further detail.
Declaration of Intention
As required by Canon Law (Title 1, Canon 18, Section 3 d,e,f,g) all persons who desire to be married must read and sign the following declaration of intention prior to the wedding ceremony:
Wedding Ceremony Basics
At Trinity, our Altar Guild serves to coordinate wedding preparations, the wedding rehearsal, and the wedding event. Outside wedding coordinators may not be utilized for the parts of your wedding event that take place in Trinity Church.
Marriage Preparation and Wedding Fees
Marriage Preparation $200.00
While this fee is not tax deductible, it represents a couples’ investment in the church community that promises to support the couple in their marriage. The couple may consult with clergy to determine which ministry area they wish to support.
Clergy Officiant of Wedding Ceremony $250.00
Organist
Trinity’s Minister of Music has first right of refusal for all wedding ceremonies.
Use of outside organist at couple’s request $75.00 Consultation and ceremony only $125.00 Consultation, ceremony and rehearsal $175.00
Sexton
Set up and clean up Church $100.00 Set up and clean up Church with aisle candles $150.00 Set up and clean up Parish Hall $150.00
Altar Guild
Wedding preparation/coordination services $100.00
Service Bulletins $50.00
If any of these fees are prohibitive, we encourage couples to speak with clergy so that appropriate adjustments can be made
A Parting Prayer for Newly Married Couples
Renewal of Marriage Vows
If you have been married for a while (whether one month, one year, one decade or many, many more), we invite you to consider renewing your marriage vows.
The Renewal of Marriage Vows can take place during a Sunday morning worship experience to be celebrated by all in attendance, or special arrangements may be made with the officiating clergy to conduct a separate renewal service.
Each Renewal Service is personalized to reflect the couple’s journey together and builds upon the basic marriage liturgy found in the Book of Common Prayer.
Contact directly the clergy person you desire to officiate to make arrangements for your service of marriage renewal.
Advance Preparation
This means having conversation with your family about end-of-life decisions and sharing your desires and wishes with those whom you trust and those whom you will empower to act on your behalf.
The clergy at Trinity Church consider it a privilege to assist you in any way we can, not only to make advance preparation, but also to walk with you and your family through the various stages leading to one’s death and afterwards.
At the Time of Death
To receive special prayers (referred to in some traditions as Last Rites) as the time of death approaches, please contact the clergy at Trinity Church.
The Litany at the Time of Death is an order of prayers and blessings that can be adapted to fit all situations and even repeated when a situation, for the sake of family peace or individual comfort, warrants it.
Praying this Litany does not require certainty regarding when death will occur. When these special prayers and blessings are requested, clergy persons in consultation with family will determine what approach is best.
A Pre-Burial Vigil
Following death, family members sometime request an opportunity (often held at the funeral home) for family and friends to gather and, if desired, grant a final visitation and viewing of the loved one who has passed on.
Trinity clergy welcome the opportunity to offer a Vigil of Remembrance at the conclusion of such visitations. This Vigil is a brief recitation of prayers and petitions to God for the one who has died as well as those who remain behind.
Burial
The Book of Common Prayer (page 507) describes our perspective on the burial rite:
The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all its meaning in the resurrection. Because Jesus was raised from the dead, we, too, shall be raised.
The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that "neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.''
This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn.
Basic Considerations
Burial Rite The Book of Common Prayer offers two orders of service for burial.
The Rite II service uses modern language and permits a personalization of the service that the Rite I liturgy does not allow. We strongly encourage use of the Rite II service, particularly if the service will be attended by persons unfamiliar with the Episcopal tradition.
The Rite I service uses a more traditional, formal language.
Coffins Individuals and/or their families typically choose between burial, cremation and/or body donation. When a family opts for burial, certain guidelines govern the handling of a coffin inside the church building.
Open coffins are not permitted in the church proper (i.e., principal worship space). Coffins carried into the church proper may not be adorned with floral sprays. All coffins are covered with a linen pall (or flag as appropriate) before being brought into the church proper. Coffins may bear flowers when carried from the funeral car into the church building. The use of a pall signifies the equality each individual has in the eyes of God.
Flowers Because the burial rite is an Easter liturgy focusing upon the resurrection as opposed to the death of an individual and because Episcopalians strive to uphold the truth of all persons being equal in the eyes of God, at Trinity Church, we only allow three floral arrangements inside the church proper during a burial service (two single vase altar arrangements and one small floral arrangement at the base of an urn when cremains are present.).
Additional flowers may be placed, if the family so desires, in the church’s narthex. The family may want to consider designating an organization or cause to which donations may be made in lieu of flowers.
Trinity Church incurs the cost of basic altar flower arrangements for its deceased members. The family bears the cost of any additional flowers or special floral requests.
Music Trinity’s Minister of Music works with the clergy and family to suggest and determine any music selections to be used during the service. The Minister of Music typically serves as organist and/or pianist for burial services. The Minister of Music receives a $100 honorarium for burial or memorial services which may be waived in consultation with the clergy.
Committal Trinity clergy will accompany the family to the place of interment and perform a brief committal service.
If necessary, or if desired, all or part of the service of Committal (Book of Common Prayer, page 484 or 501) may be said in the church.
If preferred, the Committal may take place before a memorial service in the church. The Committal service may also be used prior to cremation.
Reception Sometimes families want to offer light refreshments to those who travel and gather to celebrate the life of their loved one. Trinity is able to host post burial service gatherings at Trinity Church at the family’s request and expense.
Trinity’s Memorial Room comfortably can accommodate 25 persons. Our narthex (church rear foyer) can accommodate many more although seating in the immediate area is limited.
Upon request and at the family’s expense, Trinity’s Hospitality Ministry will make arrangements to have catered receptions that meet the needs of family and friends. |
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Member of the Worldwide Anglican Communion
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2217 Columbia Pike, Arlington, VA 22204 Phone: 703-920-7077 Fax: 703-920-5560 Office Email: info@tecarl.org |