Outreach Ministries

Following in the tradition of preparing meals for Episcopal Community Services (ECS), Trinity parishioners are now focusing their efforts to cook nutritious meals for the needy who reside in Chester. Parishioners meet at 7 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of each month in Trinity?s kitchen. Seventy- two dinners are prepared and frozen for distribution.

Interfaith Hospitality Network of the Main Line (IHN), our community's response to homelessness, provides many outreach opportunities for Trinity parishioners. The network works in the following fashion: after careful screening by thedirector and a social worker, "guests" are offered a three month stay, rotating among the network of Main Line congregations who provide shelter, food, and support via volunteer "hosts".

In addition, guests are guided through the available health care systems, job training and made aware of affordable housing by staff. Nine Main Line congregations are host congregations with another fifteen congregations, of which Trinity is one, provide support. St. Mary's Episcopal Church in Ardmore is the host parish supported by Trinity. There are many ways families and individuals from Trinity can make a contribution. One week of every nine weeks we:

Laurel House is a home for abused women and children in Norristown. The location is not for public knowledge so as to ensure the safety of the people housed there. Trinity donates household items, clothing, gift certificates, and money all at various times of the year. Usually four trips are made to Laurel House during the year depending on the season and donations from Trinity parishioners.

Main Line Nursing and Rehabilitation:

On the 3rd Sunday of each month, our Rector celebrates a service of Holy Eucharist at 2:00 p.m. for residents of Main Line Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (MLN) in Paoli. A Chalice Bearer is assigned each month to serve with the clergy during the service. Parishioners participate and assist the residents during this service.

Norristown Soup Kitchen:

For many years, Trinity parishioners have helped staff the Norristown Soup Kitchen at St. John?s Episcopal Church in Norristown on the 4th Thursday of the month from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Parishioners prepare and serve a lunch of homemade soup, sandwiches, and dessert to approximately 100 people. Volunteers are always welcome.

Pastoral Care Committee:

We are a group of concerned parishioners who step in and help those in need with a particular concern for visiting with and/or delivering flowers to the sick or homebound. Some pastoral care members are paired with an individual to maintain regular contact and give help when needed. We also help the Casserole Brigade by delivering meals. The jobs are as varied and interesting as the people of Trinity. The Pastoral Care Committee also writes monthly notes to people on the prayer list. The recipients have often written back indicating how meaningful this is to them.