Frequently Asked Questions
Church Policies: Weddings, Community Groups
Presbyterian
Church USA Organization and Government
·
When are worship services held?
Worship
services are held at 8:30 and 10:45 a.m. from the Sunday after Labor Day to the
Sunday before Memorial Day. Sunday school is from 9:30-10:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m. (one service only, no Sunday school) Memorial Day through
Labor Day
·
Do you provide childcare during the service?
We
provide a nursery and separate toddler room every Sunday for children too young
to stay in church. In addition, at
the 10:45 service we offer "Journeys in Worship" for 4-5 year olds and
"Children's Church" for first and second graders. Children leave the
worship service to attend these programs immediately after the children's
message (about 15 minutes into the service).
On communion Sundays (usually the first Sunday of each month), children
stay in worship for the entire service to practice what they've been learning.
·
What is an acolyte?
An
acolyte is the adult or child who lights the worship candles just prior to the
service. Children are trained to be
acolytes in the Junior High Sunday school class.
These children are the best age since it is necessary to be tall enough
to see the candles to be lit, as well as responsible enough to handle an open
flame, and able to understand the symbolic meaning of the candle’s presence.
Lighting of the candles represents God's presence and our preparation to
worship Him.
·
Why do you use child liturgists?
We
want the worship service to be child friendly, and part of our purpose is
training our children to serve God. We
believe involving our children at the earliest age is good groundwork for later
years when they make decisions for themselves.
Any child wishing to be a liturgist should contact the minister.
·
Why do children take communion?
Communion
in our church is open to all who believe. If
children are old enough to understand the importance of communion, we allow them
to participate. We leave the final
decision up to the parents.
·
How do you accommodate special worship needs?
Trinity
Presbyterian Church is easily accessible to the handicapped. We provide assisted
hearing equipment in our sanctuary and large print hymnals upon request.
Sermons and special music are recorded and are available on Trinity’s
website.
·
How many members does Trinity have?
Trinity currently
has 150 members.
·
When is the church office open?
The church office
is open 8:30-3:00 Monday through Friday.
·
Tell me more about Rev. Nancy Lynch
Rev. Lynch was called as Trinity's third installed pastor on June 1, 2004. Ministry is a second career for Nancy; in her "former" life, she worked in advertising, marketing, and sales, and also taught university-level business courses in her free time.
Nancy earned her Masters of Divinity degree at McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, where she graduated with a 3.043 out a possible 3.0 and was awarded the Jesse Halsey Award for Imagination in Preaching on two separate occasions. Nancy also has an undergraduate degree in business from the University of Cincinnati, as well as an MBA from that same institution.
Nancy sees her role as pastor as helping people along on their spiritual journeys. Discerning who God is for each of us, and recognizing how God is calling us to serve, is central to her ministry. She believes that fully responding to God's living presence in our lives is how we grow in faith.
·
I am interested in becoming a member of Trinity Presbyterian
Church in Fairfield. What are the
requirements? What do I do?
“A
person becomes an active member of the church through faith in Jesus Christ as
Savior and acceptance of his lordship in all of life. Baptism and a public
profession of faith in Jesus Christ are the visible signs of entrance into
active church membership.” – Book of Order, Presbyterian Church (USA).
You may become a member of Trinity P.C. in the following ways:
(1) By profession of faith; (This way is used if you have never been a member of any Christian church before. If you have never been baptized, you will be instructed in the meaning of baptism and baptized when you join the church.)
(2) By reaffirmation of faith in Jesus Christ; (This is used when you have previously made a profession of faith in another Christian church, but you have no certificate of membership to transfer.)
(3)
By certificate of transfer
from another Christian church.
Most people become
members of Trinity after attending one of several Inquirers’ events that are
scheduled throughout the year. Materials describing and explaining the ministry
and mission of the church are distributed. Prospective members meet with the
pastor and sometimes other leaders of the church who are available to answer
questions that arise. Those seeking to join the church then meet with the
Session (governing board) of the church to be accepted into active membership.
New members are typically received into the congregation publicly in a brief
ceremony during a Sunday morning worship service.
·
At what point are children allowed to become members?
Baptized
children of members are considered “baptized members” of the church and may
partake of the sacrament of communion at the guidance and discretion of their
parents. Children normally enter into active membership after completing
confirmation class and making their profession of faith. They are also baptized
at that time if they have not been previously.
·
My child is ready for confirmation. What do I do?
Normally, parents
are advised to enroll their child in confirmation class no earlier than the
eighth grade. Parents are encouraged to discuss their child’s readiness for
confirmation and any exceptions to standard procedure with the pastor.
·
I'm divorced. Can I
join the church? Can I serve as an
officer?
Yes, the theology
and tradition of our church, as expressed in the church’s constitution, not
only permits but also guarantees “full participation and access to
representation in the decision making of the church” by married, single,
widowed, and divorced people.
·
Why should I join this church?
It
is our hope that after attending Trinity for a while, you will be able to tell
whether it is a place where you and/or your family will be nurtured in faith and
fellowship as disciples of Jesus Christ. If you feel you are also ready and
willing to support the ministry and mission of the church with your regular
presence, participation, and other resources, then it is time for you to
consider joining the church.
·
I'm not a Presbyterian. Can I take communion here?
At Trinity, we
observe what’s known as “open communion,” meaning that you do not have to
be a Presbyterian to partake of the sacrament here. “The invitation to the
Lord’s Supper is extended to all who have been baptized, remembering that
access to the Table is not a right conferred upon the worthy, but a privilege
given to the undeserving who come in faith, repentance, and love.” – Book of
Order, Presbyterian Church (USA).
·
Are my children allowed to take communion?
Yes. Baptized
children who are being nurtured and instructed in the significance and meaning
of communion are invited to receive the Lord’s Supper.
·
How often is communion served?
Communion is
generally served on the first Sunday of the month in both the 8:30 and 10:45
a.m. services and in the 10:00 a.m. service during the summer months. It is also
celebrated the Sunday preceding Christmas, on Maundy Thursday, and on Easter
Sunday.
·
I want to be baptized. What
are the requirements? What do I do?
If you have never
been baptized and are making a public profession of faith in Jesus Christ, you
may be baptized and incorporated into the church as an active member. Baptism is
administered as part of Sunday worship. If you are interested in being baptized,
you should contact the pastor to receive information and to arrange a meeting.
The church Session (governing board) approves all baptisms.
·
I want my child to be baptized.
What are the requirements? What
do I do?
In the case of
parents presenting children for baptism, one of the parents must be an active
member of a Christian church (not necessarily Trinity) and must promise to raise
the child in the Christian faith. Parents need to contact the pastor for
information and to schedule a meeting.
·
What kind of Christian Education programs do you offer?
·
I'd like to enroll my children in Sunday school.
What do I do?
Simply take them to the appropriate class on Sunday morning and the teacher will gladly welcome them. Any usher can direct you to the appropriate class, or you can follow the helpful directional signs that are posted.
·
How is the budget determined?
Session builds the
yearly budget after considering operating expenses, committee requests, and
amounts that have been pledged.
·
I'd like to be married in the church.
What is the policy?
Couples in which
at least one person is a professing Christian, who understand marriage to be a
lifelong faith commitment and who are being married by our pastor may be married
in the church. Non-Trinity member weddings will be considered only when the
couple is related to a member of the Trinity congregation or has demonstrated a
pattern of regular church attendance. All weddings are subject to approval by
the church Session (governing board). All couples being married will participate
in several sessions of premarital counseling with the pastor.
·
I am a member of an outside group that would like to meet in the
church. Is this allowed?
You may contact
the church office (860-4114) for a copy of Trinity’s building use policy to
see if your group qualifies. Normally, your group must include a Trinity member
who will act as a liaison with the church. All building use requests by outside
groups must be approved by the Session (church governing body).
The
Presbyterian Church USA Government and Organization
·
What is the Presbyterian Church (USA)?
Each particular church is a local expression of the church universal. It consists of those who profess faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, gathered for the service of God, and subject to a particular form of church government.
·
How does the local church fit into the Presbyterian (USA)
denomination?
Each church of the
Presbyterian Church (USA) is governed by a Constitution that has two parts, The
Book of Confessions and The Book of Order. It is the local unit for the service
to the people, the up-building of the whole church and the glory of God. Members
of each local church voluntarily put themselves under the leadership of the
officers whom they elect.
·
Are all Presbyterian churches the same?
Presbyterian (USA)
churches will differ according to the local mission governed and guided by the
local Session. Each local church seeks to increase its circle of faith and to
reach out to the larger community. Taken collectively, however, all local
churches constitute the Presbyterian Church, U.S.A.
·
How is the local church governed and who are the church officers?
Each Session is
made up of ministers of Word and Sacrament and Elders. Both are ordained. The
moderator of the Session is a minister of Word and Sacrament.
B. What’s an elder?
Elders are chosen
by the congregation to exercise leadership in the church. They assist in worship
and may be authorized to supply places that are without the regular ministry of
the Word and Sacrament.
A deacon is chosen by the congregation and ordained to care first of all for the needs of the congregation and to others in distress beyond the local church, in the community, the nation, and the world. Deacons are under the supervision and authority of the Session.
D. Who are the “Officers of the Corporation?”
The officers of the
corporation consist of a president and a secretary.
· How are church officers selected, and when is this done?
Elders and Deacons
are selected by a Nominating Committee consisting of seven members
representative of the congregation - two elders, one deacon, and four members at
large. The Nominating Committee meets annually in the fall.
· How does the nomination process work?
The Nomination Committee solicits suggestions from the congregation and also accepts self-nominations. It submits its report to the Session, which then schedules a Congregational Meeting. The congregation votes on the recommendations of the Nominating Committee as reported by the Session.