Neighbors Helping Neighbors
Mission and Outreach is not just part of what we do here at Trinity Church, it is the very heart of who we are. As followers of Christ we have been called to constantly wrestle with two questions; who is my neighbor, and what does God require of me? Through discernment and prayer we have concluded that our neighbor is anyone in need, and, God requires of our neighbor as we would, Christ, Himself. Therefore, we participate in, and/or have created a host of ministries that serve our neighbors both here and abroad. These include; Covenant to Care, Callahan House Dinners, Chapel on the Green, Free Community Breakfasts, The Blessing Pantry, Free Frozen Meal Pick-Ups, The Neighborhood Garden, Laundry Love, Prayer Shawl Ministry, Sunshine Ministry and, your idea here; ____________________. Simply put, to join this community of faith, is to become a doer of faith. No one is too young or to old to participate in the body of Christ at work. Even our youngest members make cards for veterans or help make dinner for our local shelter. Here at Trinity, reaching out to others is a family affair.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
Matthew 22:39
The Blessing Pantry
Jesus fed five thousand people with 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish. During
these very trying times, we, the parishioners of Trinity Episcopal Church in
Seymour, CT wish to be like Jesus and help feed our neighbors in our community.
To this end, we have built a free-standing pantry on our property that will be open
24 hours a day, seven days a week for those in need to come and collect
nonperishable food items.
We are seeking donations of the following items:
• Non-perishable food items; such as pasta, tomato sauce, macaroni and
cheese, canned vegetables, beans, granola bars, canned soups, baby food (please no formula), etc.
• Paper and cleaning products; such as toilet paper, paper towel, dish soap,
sponges etc.
• Personal hygiene products, such as tooth brushes, tooth paste, soap, and
shampoo.
• And/or monetary donations of any amount. Donations may be mailed to Trinity, please put "Blessing Pantry" in the memo line.
Covenant to Care
As part of our commitment to children in need, we have partnered with a local social worker from the Department of Children Services to assist her with her case load. Each year members of Trinity sponsor a "Back to School" back pack drive, diaper drive (on-going), as well as a Christmas toy, and mitten drive. We also collect items such as car seats, and children’s clothes on an as-needed basis.
The highlight of the year is our annual Easter Egg Hunt and Party for foster families and their children. The event includes crafts, games, an egg hunt, and of course, pictures with the Easter Bunny.
Neighborhood Garden
In the spring of 2019 we teamed up with our friends at the United Way and planted a neighborhood garden on the field adjacent to our parking lot. The garden boasts ten raised beds of organic soil that are home to green leaf lettuce, tomatoes, broccoli, zucchini, peppers, strawberries, herbs and more. Everyone is welcome to harvest whenever they wish, and we take suggestions from our neighbors as to what they would like us to plant. Our huge garden party was the talk of the town last year, complete with a praise band, hotdogs and an ice cream truck.
This year we are growing again with the help of Massaro Farm and Trinity church parishioners. Come pick some veggies, or bring a chair and sit on the hill and soak in the sun. It's a beautiful little oasis on the top of the hill. See what's growing now!
Laundry Love
The Seymour/Oxford Clergy Association, of which Trinity Church is a member, sponsored an on-going program last year called Laundry Love. Every other month or so, members of our different congregations join forces to hand out quarters at two of our local laundromats. The free quarters spark curiosity, gratitude, skepticism, and very often, some great conversations. Those who have participated in these simple giveaways have remarked that it’s harder to do a kind deed then one might think, because sometimes people are looking for "the catch." No catch, unless you count Jesus’s words; "love your neighbor as yourself," as a catch.
Community Meals
Free Frozen Meals was established during the pandemic and was a way for Trinity to keep serving their neighbors. Our building may be empty but there is still much work to do for those who are in need, especially during this time. So far we have cooked more than 300 meals to hand out to anyone who comes to the church on our Pick-Up days.
Free Community Breakfasts. In keeping with the philosophy of the laundry program, one of our parishioners had the
idea to offer a hearty free breakfast to the town twice a year. The event became an
instant classic, but then again, how can you go wrong when you combine eggs, love and bacon, with the words "free" and "Everybody is welcome!"
Chapel on the Green
Chapel on the Green is a ministry of Trinity Church on the Green in New Haven. Whenever we can we like to partner with other churches to bring Jesus’ message of good news to the poor, and if we can do that with homemade sandwiches, even better! Volunteers make several hundred lunches and serve them after the informal out door church service on Sundays at two p.m. Music is provided by local musicians, many of whom are homeless themselves.
“He has told you, O human, what is good; and what does the LORD require of
you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”
–Micah 6:8
