SPECIAL SERVICES
In addition to baptisms, weddings, and funeral rites, Trinity Cathedral hosts additional special services throughout the year.
Lessons and Carols
Our Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols is a highlight of the Advent/Christmas season at Trinity. The service closely adheres to the format first designed for King’s College, Cambridge with our choir offering the classic traditional music interspersed with readings from the Scriptures.
Evensong
A few times each year our choir will offer a special observance in commemoration of a feast on the church calendar. These services are predominantly sung by the choir, with the congregation participating by singing the hymns, offering prayers and contemplating the beauty and glory of God.
Darkness and Light
Held each year on the winter solstice, our Service of Darkness and Light gives space for those emotions which can feel out of place during the joy of the Christmas season, such as loss, pain or grief. On the longest night of the year, we gather in contemplative and meditative worship to remember and share our hurting places with God.
Quinceañera
A coming of age service in much of Latin America, primarily Mexico, the quinceañera represents a coming-of-age celebration for 15-year-old girls and can include a religious component.
If you are interested in hosting a quinceañera at Trinity, please contact:
The Reverend Omar Rodriguez | omar@trinitycathedral.com
ADDITIONAL SACRAMENTS
Reconciliation of a Penitent
Confession is a communal act in the Episcopal Church, in that we all confess and are absolved together because it is not ours to rank sins. From time to time, however, one may feel a need to make a personal confession with a priest and receive special counsel. This is called Reconciliation of a Penitent. The service can be found in the Book of Common Prayer and can be scheduled with a priest at your mutual convenience.
Confirmation
If baptism is the initiation into the Christian life within the Church, then confirmation is the adult affirmation of baptism. It is not necessary for full inclusion in the church, but is a meaningful way to ‘select in’ to the Christian body, particularly if one was baptized as an infant. Confirmation is done by the Bishop at a service that usually happens once per year. Confirmation is also the entry point into formally being part of the Episcopal Church for persons who were baptized in another tradition, but now would like to be part of the Episcopal Church.
Reception
Is similar to confirmation and is the service for formal entry into the Episcopal Church for persons who were already confirmed in another tradition.
Those interested in being confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church must attend a series of classes about the Episcopal church, its worship practices, and doctrines which is led by the clergy at Trinity.
Reaffirmation
From time to time, we feel a sense of our faith and commitment renewed, and we want to celebrate it publicly. That’s what the service of reaffirmation is for. The bishop will bless your recommitment and your Trinity clergy will work with you to find ways for you to express your faith in the community.
FESTIVALS AND OTHER SPECIAL TIMES OF YEAR
Advent | The start of the church year, this season includes the 4 Sundays prior to Christmas.
Christmas | the celebration of Jesus Christ’s birth on the 25th of December (Christmas Eve is celebrated the night before)
Lent | the 40 days before Easter when we are asked to engage special spiritual practices to draw closer to God
Easter | the celebration of Christ’s triumph over death by his resurrection. Date varies according to the lunar calendar
Pentecost | the celebration of the arrival of the Holy Spirit as a gift from God. Occurs 50 days after Easter
Trinity Sunday | After the Holy Spirit has arrived, we have an annual celebration of the Trinity being made whole. This happens one week after Pentecost
All Saints and All Souls (Dia de los Muertos) | an annual remembrance of those who have died and who have gone on to eternal life. On the 1st and 2nd of November
Other Festivals | Celebrations of Apostles; Mary, Mother of God, Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe; and other major saint days.
Click | To view the three-year ecumenical lectionary (prescribed readings for all the calendar observances)