Wide Open doors.
Wide Open hearts.
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
One of the things that people love most about Rittenhouse Square is that so many different people gather together in this place each day – a diversity of color, race, gender, economic status, ages, beliefs, and life experiences. The Square has been touted as a cosmopolitan space. Just this week we saw a large, diverse, vocal, and peaceful group gather together to cry out against systemic and institutional inequality, injustice, and racism.
We, the Church of the Holy Trinity, are blessed to sit on The Square and watch this diversity walk by and enter through our doors each day. We have strived to open wide our hearts and our doors to anyone who comes into our church. We have given our time, resources, and love to those who live on the margins, experiencing hunger, homelessness, poverty, hatred, racism and bigotry. We have tried to be good neighbors to the residents and businesses on the Square.
At the same time, we are painfully aware that there is much more work to do. Being together and sharing our love is the beginning. But now we must do the hard introspection that is needed in our country and in our own lives. We must do the Christian work of reconciliation: to recognize our own efforts that support the status quo and to break open and dismantle the injustice and inequality we have created either intentionally or because we stood silent for so long. We must take our baptismal covenant seriously: seeking and serving Christ in all people, loving our neighbors, striving for justice and peace, and respecting the dignity of every human being. We must remain grounded in Jesus Christ and our faith in his power to reconcile and transform each of us and the world.
As we move forward into our call as Christians, The Church of the Holy Trinity will work to create spaces for conversation: listening, praying, repenting, praising, lamenting, healing, and forgiving. Now is the time to listen, to hear the stories of the people around us, to raise up the voices that have been shouted over or silenced, and to connect to each other as fellow brothers and sisters in Christ Jesus. Let us hold each other in prayer, steep ourselves in our faith, and move courageously into our Christian call of reconciliation and love.
The Rectors and Wardens of The Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square
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Worship in the Digital World
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Connections
This Sunday
June 7th at 9:30 am
We were reminded of an article in the Washington Post by Eugene Robinson, who asked 9 photographers to share their experience of being black in America through word and photographs. We encourage you to look through this article and join us to talk through these stories, the photos and our own lives and experiences at Connections on Sunday at 9:30 am. The
Article is here.
Join us at 9:30 am on Sunday 6/7 to discuss!
Click Here
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Sunday Morning
Prayer Service
On Sunday, we will be streaming the 11 am morning prayer service. Below are instructions on how to find the service.
To participate in Worship:
- Click here to go to our Facebook page. It is a public page, and you do not need to register or have an account to watch our stream.
- At 11:00 am the service will be LIVE. The LIVE Video will be at the top of the page (under posts) when you click the link above.
- Click here for a digital bulletin.
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Join us Sunday morning!
Virtual Coffee Hour after
Live Stream Worship
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Children and Youth
Zoom Time!
Sunday June 7th
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For Toddlers, Babies and other Littles
Puppet Story Time
Episode 1 and 2 went live.
You can find these on-demand episodes on our church
Facebook. Check each Sunday at 5p for a new episode.
This will be an on-demand option and will be less than five minutes. We know it is not recommended to give your toddlers and babies screen time, so we are keeping these faith formation moments to less than five minutes as a way to make a connection with your church family.
Parents, if you have a story line or theme your little one would love, please send me an email: srankin@htrit.org. I appreciate suggestions!
2 pm “The Teen Compass” for
tweens and teens 6
th
grade and up.
Topic
: Being Kind to Self and Others
Activity:
Reflection
Bring: Paper and markers
4 pm “CHT Kids Connect”
for 5
th
grade and younger.
Topic:
The Church is not a building. The Church is not a steeple.
The church is not a resting place. The Church is the PEOPLE!
Activity: Freeze Frame
Bring: Paper and markers.
Recent photo of yourself, pet, favorite person or your family that is about 5 x 5 or smaller (optional).
Please contact Soozung Rankin, Program Director at
srankin@htrit.org
to get the Zoom link. On Saturday,
Soozung will also send the Zoom invite to parents and The Teen Compass group on our mailing list.
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Evening Prayer
7:00 pm every Wednesday
Join us live on
Facebook
immediatly after the
Get Your Hopes Group for a short Evening Prayer.
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Morning Prayer
9:00 am
Monday-Friday
Join us each morning online for live
and interactive morning prayer.
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The Church is continuing worship by moving our services online. We are also committed to paying our staff and keeping our feeding ministries open. It is vital to continue to give at this time— when our world is changing, but our faith, friendship, and resilience are still strong. Help CHT to continue its work in the world. Donate now.
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Virtual Concert on the Square
Friday June 5 at 3pm (EST)
Minas
Concert #1 - IN RIO
Live From Our Grand Piano Studio
Minas started a new concert series last night. We are rebroadcasting their concert for out Facebook watch party. Don’t miss it, 3:00 pm TODAY.
JOIN THE WATCH PARTY
HER
E
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Get Your Hopes Up
Every Wednesday, 6-7 pm
A time to gather together on zoom and talk about
HOPE. Where we see it in the bible, and how we can see it today. All are invited. We will break out in groups, depending on the size.
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This Past Week in Quarantine
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Letters from the Bishop: Facebook and Website Posts
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Friday, May 29, 2020
The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love. The Lord is good to all; he has compassion on all he has made. Psalm 145:8-9
“I can’t breathe.” Those words continue to ring in my ears. George Floyd, a child of God, was gasping for air, calling for his mother and pleading for his life.
You can read the full message from, Bishop Daniel Gutiérrez, the Bishop of Pennsylvania on our website.
Click Here
Sunday May 31, 2020
My siblings in Christ,
The filming for our Pentecost service was filmed prior to the events of the last few days. I was moved to add to the message. I offer the following addition in pain, grief, and love. I also want to offer my deep appreciation for this afternoon where at 1 p.m., I spent a fruitful and prayerful time with members of the Religious Leaders Council as we plan unified steps for action. My deep thanks for the Rev. Edward Livingston, Imam Anwar Muhaimin, Bishop Patricia Davenport, Archbishop Nelson Perez, the Rev. Donna Jones, Rabbi David Strauss and all members of the Religious Leaders Council of Philadelphia. --Bishop Daniel
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Monday June 1, 2020 Facebook and Website Posts
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What is Happening around the Church:
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We are blessed to say that the Church was untouched during the turmoil that took place in our neighborhood these last two days. Our hearts are with those whose homes, businesses and livelihood have been affected, just as our hearts are with those who are outraged over the murder of George Floyd (and the many tragic deaths before). We hear the call to prayer and action to address the deep wounds and painful history of race relations in our country. May the grace of God guide us all in the weeks ahead.
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Wednesday June 3, 2020 - Facebook Posts and Website Posts
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Curbside Care:
Generosity Begets more Generosity
Yesterday evening’s community meal served not only regular guests, but also hungry protesters and new passers by. For every new meal guest, there was also a spontaneous act of generosity from the community. One woman gave us 100 packets of hand sanitizer. A young man went to the trouble of driving through the demonstrations to get 3 large tubs of clothing to donate. At least a half-dozen others asked how they might volunteer.
When we are automatically generous, and we attach no conditions to our gifts, we are participating in God’s generosity. Thanks to the Sunday Love Project and the CHT Outreach team for bringing our meal service to the streets—where we are sorely needed—and where we, too, are fed.
To help us keep feeding our neighbors, please click on
Curbside Care, which will take you directly to the secure donation portal on our church’s website. Thank you for your generosity and your prayers!
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Thursday June 4, 2020 - eNews, Facebook and Website Posts
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Lament as a Spiritual Practice
There are many ways to pray, and many ways to deal with everything that is happening in our world these days. We first and foremost encourage you to pray as often as you can.
One kind of prayer that we often overlook is Lament. If you would like to read the full message from Rachel and John it can be found
HERE!
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Encouragement Moment:
Complicated emotions waft through me. It is challenging to find focus and I am simply grasping for peace. How does one exist or lead? Psalms 94:19 keeps it simple, so I too, will keep it simple. At a time when I am at a loss for words, I will borrow the words of a young adult artist, poet, activist and author Cleo Wade.
–Soozung, Staff at CHT
The world will say to you:
We need to end racism.
Start by
Healing it in your own family.
The world will say to you:
How do we speak to bias and bigotry?
Start by
Having the first conversation at
Your own kitchen table.
The world will say to you:
There is too much hate.
Devote yourself to love.
Love yourself
So much that you can love others
Without barriers
And without judgement.
--Cleo Wade
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The Annual Meeting of the Congregation:
June 7, 2020 at 12:00 pm on ZOOM
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1904 Walnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 567-1267
communications@htrit.org
www.htrit.org
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