Trinity Anglican is a Church that Responds to Poverty

Trinity Anglican Church on Charlotte Street wanted to increase their outreach.  It sees outreach as what makes the church part of a community.  They developed an open door policy to allow anyone to come in to see the rector or other church leaders.  As the church got to know their neighbours, they saw a need for youth and family services in their parish.  
 
Music has always been an important part of the worship that happens in Trinity Anglican Church. Music, then, naturally became part of the congregation’s outreach.  Kids with Voices gave children a chance to have music lessons, make their own instruments, and give a performance this summer.  Two teachers from Sistema New Brunswick – a social development program that uses music to help young people develop values that positively impact their lives and communities – approached Trinity.  Trinity jumped at the opportunity to provide children with such a creative opportunity.  The volunteers are “a gift” to the church.  Trinity will include children whose families are unable to afford this type of activity by providing an opportunity for sponsors to cover the tuition for students in need.

Gathering as a community for meals is also important to Trinity.  They serve Sloppy Joes – predominantly to teens – once a week at the church during the school year.  The program began after noticing students from the high schools smoking on church grounds at lunchtime.  Rather than chase the teens away, they invited them in for lunch.  The students initially didn’t know what to expect, but now 50-60 students come every week for lunch at Trinity.  The program is not only about food.  It is open to everyone, rather than being something for “the poor.”  The church strives to provide a Christian atmosphere for youth in the area.  Teens can hang out, have somewhere to relax, or – if they like – speak with the rector or volunteers.  Other meal programs at Trinity also want to bring everyone in the community together.  Once a month, on Saturdays, there is a community supper.  They normally serve about 150 people per month.  The number and need is growing, especially among young families.  Trinity also holds other lunchtime programs and monthly community breakfasts.

Such things are born when a door is opened.

Trinity Anglican Church has 60–90 people attend weekly worship services.  For more information about their program, please contact Marje Harrison, Chair of Outreach, at corgi@nb.sympatico.ca.

This post was originally part of a newsletter that I co-authored about Saint John area churches and Christian non-profits with poverty reduction services. Over the next several weeks I will post the articles that I wrote for this project. If you know of other churches and Christian NGOs in the Saint John area, let me know. I'd love to get to know them.