Lent & Easter 2025

We Believe

Every Sunday during worship we make this statement together: "We believe." This Lent, in the year of the 1700th anniversary of the Nicene Creed, we lift up the power of the Creed. This old text has new meaning at a time when people don't know what to believe anymore. "We believe" has now become a statement of support to each other that yes, we still believe in God's love. God's love may be intangible, but it is so real and so needed. So yes, we believe.

The Rev. Luk De Volder

 

Ash Wednesday (march 5)

12:10 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II with Imposition of Ashes

Spoken, with a closing hymn

1:00-3:00 p.m. Ashes on the Green

Passersby are invited to receive ashes on the apron. Volunteers are welcome to help serve coffee, chat, and offer prayers. Email llevy@trinitynewhaven.org if you wish to help.

7:30 p.m. Choral Eucharist, Rite I with Imposition of Ashes

Sung by the Choristers & Schola with music by Herbert Howells and Gregorio Allegri

Special Liturgies during Lent

Service of Lamentation & Healing (March 9)

On the First Sunday of Lent at 5 p.m., Trinity will offer a Service of Lamentation & Healing remembering the sale and emancipation of Lucy and Lois Tritton, the last enslaved persons sold on the New Haven Green. Music will be sung by the Salt & Pepper Gospel Singers. Dr. Leon Bailey will be the guest preacher. All are welcome.

Thursday Evensongs (March 13, 20, 27)

During Lent, we will be offering Choral Evensong on Thursday evenings (rather than Sunday) at 5:30 p.m. in an effort to reach new people in our community. Join us on the following days:

March 13 – sung by the Choristers

March 20 – sung by the Choristers & Schola

March 27 – sung by the Schola

John Stainer’s The Crucifixion (April 6)

On the Fifth Sunday of Lent, our 5 p.m. service will feature a performance of John Stainer’s The Crucifixion sung by the Parish Choir. Stainer wrote his Passion-Oratorio in 1887 as a new take on J.S. Bach’s great Passions. The narrative of Holy Week is interspersed with beautiful arias and some of the greatest hymn tunes which are sung by the congregation and choir together.


Go Deeper this Lent

Lent Devotionals

Our invitation for Lent Devotionals this year is to share a short reflection about something you believe in, to the core of your being. Take your cue from scripture, or from the ways you experience God in everyday life. Reflections will be shared on this page of our website, and on social media. Email llevy@trinitynewhaven.org to sign up.

We are looking for people to sign up to contribute a short piece of writing (150-250 words) for the following weeks. We are hoping for at least one reflection each week:

  • Lent 1 | Deadline: on or before March 5

  • Lent 2 | Deadline: on or before March 12

  • Lent 3 | Deadline: on or before March 19

  • Lent 4 | Deadline: on or before March 26

  • Lent 5 | Deadline: on or before April 2

  • Holy Week | Deadline: on or before April 9

Some prompts to set you going:

  • I believe in love / joy / peace / patience / kindness… (fruits of the spirit, pick one; see Galatians 5:22-23)

  • I believe in the power of prayer

  • I believe in community

  • I believe that this too shall pass

  • I believe that all manner of things shall be well (St. Julian of Norwich)

  • I believe in hope

  • I believe in the power of music

  • I believe in forgiveness

  • I believe in justice

“Read | Pray | Do” Lenten Stations

From March 9 until April 13, our Children, Youth, & Family Ministry will set up four interactive stations in the undercroft, which focus on what we believe as stated in the Nicene Creed. We invite all members of the community to move through these stations at your own pace: read the prayer, reflect, and participate in the activity. The stations will be available during Sunday Coffee Hour and public hours during the week.

Preach at Seven Last Words Service

Whether you are a seasoned preacher or have never spoken in front of a crowd before, we invite you to prayerfully consider being a part of our Seven Last Words service on Good Friday (see scripture texts below). This service of music, silence, and reflection takes place from noon until 3 p.m. on Good Friday (April 18), ending with a symbolic commemoration of the hour Jesus died.

  • 1st Word (Luke 23:33-38) – “Father Forgive them…”

  • 2nd Word (Luke 23:39-43) – “Today you will be with me in Paradise”

  • 3rd Word (John 19:25-27) – “Woman, behold your son”

  • 4th Word (Matthew 27:45-50) – “Why have you forsaken me?”

  • 5th Word (John 19:28-29) – “I thirst”

  • 6th Word (John 19:30-34) – “It is finished”

  • 7th Word (Luke 23:44-49) – “Into your hands I commit my spirit”

Please reach out to Rev. Heidi if you are interested. hthorsen@trinitynewhaven.org

Spiritual Formation: The Creed

Join us every Sunday in the undercroft library for our Spiritual Formation classes as we learn from one another through study and conversation.

  • March 16 – Intro to the Nicene Creed, Heidi Thorsen

  • March 23 – We Believe in God, Charles Lemert

  • March 30 – We Believe in Jesus, Lisa Levy

  • April 6 – We Believe in the Holy Spirit, Luk De Volder

  • April 13 – end of season

Diaper Drive

Donate diapers to support immigrant and refugee families on or before Sunday, March 30. Drop-off on Sundays in the nave. Questions? Email llevy@trinitynewhaven.org

Holy Week & Easter Sunday

Palm Sunday | April 13

7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Sung by the Choristers & Schola. Includes the Blessing of Palms and Procession into the Church.

2:00 p.m. Chapel on the Green

Maundy Thursday | April 17

2:00-4:00 p.m. Chapel on the Green

In this outdoor worship service of footwashing, we follow Jesus' example to "love one another as I loved you." The service is followed by a foot clinic and health fair organized by Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center. Email llevy@trinitynewhaven.org if you would like to volunteer.

7:30 p.m. Mass of the Lord's Supper

Sung by the Choristers & Schola. Includes Washing of Feet, Holy Communion, and the Stripping of the Altar.

Good Friday | April 18

11:00 a.m. Good Friday Prayer Walk

For children and their adults. This Prayer Walk through the nave is designed for our younger parishioners to learn about and understand Holy Week Good Friday.

12:00-3:00 p.m. The Seven Last Words

A meditative service of song and reflections on the words Jesus spoke on his way to the cross. At its heart will be Pergolesi's haunting Stabat Mater performed by Sarah Comfort Reed and Marsha Ackerman.

7:30 p.m. Solemn Liturgy of the Lord's Passion

Sung by the Choristers & Schola

Holy Saturday | April 19

7:30 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter

Sung by the Parish Choir

Easter Sunday | April 20

7:45 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Rite I

10:30 a.m. Festival Choral Eucharist, Rite I

Sung by the Choristers & Schola and accompanied by the Trinity Festival Brass

11:45 a.m. Easter Egg Scramble

Join us outside on the Green after the 10:30 service as the youngest members of our parish scramble for eggs! Volunteers are needed to stuff the eggs and to set up the Scramble on Easter morning. Email family@trinitynewhaven.org if you would like to help.

2:00 p.m. Chapel on the Green