What to expect when visiting Holy Trinity

Where are you located?

Holy Trinity is located at 805 S. York Street in the York Chester Historical District. We are situated in a triangle formed by Garrison Boulevard and two one-way streets, South Chester Street (US 321 South) and South York Street (US 321 North). Need Directions?

What’s the best entrance to use? Where should I park?

Our Traditional Worship services are held in the sanctuary. The main entrance to the sanctuary faces South York Street. Our Contemporary Worship Service is held in our Parish Life Center. The main entrance to the Parish Life Center is through the glass double doors next to the parking lot on the south side of the church. Directional signs are provided inside the buildings. Handicapped parking is provided in the lot below the Parish Life Center. Additional parking for senior citizens is provided in front of the church on South York Street. For all others, additional parking is provided in the lot below the Parish Life Center and in three additional lots across from the church accessed via Garrison Boulevard.

What is your worship schedule, style of worship?

We praise God for every faithful worshipper and pray that God’s spirit will rest on each disciple and guest alike as we worship together. Holy Trinity offers 3 unique worship experiences on Sunday mornings, each lasting about an hour. Freedom and flexibility in worship is a Lutheran inheritance. There is room for ample variety in ceremony, music and liturgical form. Every service whether traditional or contemporary, is within the framework of the common rite of the church. Common elements to all three services include Holy Communion, the Lord’s Prayer, confession, scripture readings, and the sermon. 8:30AM Traditional This traditional service follows the basic elements of worship with the liturgy taken from the Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW). . It is held in the sanctuary. 8:30AM Contemporary This service includes the generous use of praise songs written by contemporary Christian artists. This service is led by our Praise Team with the words to the songs, prayers, etc. projected on a large screen. It is held in the Parish Life Center. 11:00AM Traditional This is a liturgical, traditional service and uses the settings from the Lutheran Book of Worship (LBW). It includes a processional and recessional with choirs leading the music. It is held in the sanctuary.

How do you welcome visitors?

We won’t embarrass you or ask you to stand up or wear a nametag. Only our ushers and greeters wear nametags. We will greet you with smiles and handshakes, and welcome you to worship with us. We will respect that your relationship with the Lord is a personal matter and that your attendance is not for our benefit but for the uplifting of God. We use Welcome Pads at each service and ask all of our disciples and guests to provide their names. We also invite guests to share their addresses so that we can send them information about Holy Trinity. A Connecting Time for fellowship, greeting visitors and light refreshments follows each of our worship services. We use the building connector between our sanctuary and our Parish Life Center for this period of fellowship.

What should I wear?

God accepts us as we are—no matter who we are, what we do, or how we dress. We do not have a dress code. Worshippers at Holy Trinity wear anything from slacks and golf shirts to suits and ties. Please wear whatever you feel is most comfortable for you in this setting.

Can children participate in your services?

Children of all ages are welcome in all of our services. Each service includes a “Childrens’ Message” to help children understand the gospel for the day. A staffed nursery is provided during each service for infants and children up to age 3. The nursery is located on the first floor of the main building. Directional signs are provided throughout the building.

Will I be able to follow the service?

Everything you need in order to follow the service is in the bulletin. There’s no need to juggle multiple books and papers-even the hymns and lessons for the day are included! The pastor or worship assistants will provide special directions (if any) as needed. During our Contemporary worship, we also project the words of hymns, prayers, etc. on a large screen for all to see.

What about offering?

Disciples of Holy Trinity are encouraged to give sacrificially of their first fruits to support the work of God in the world. Your offerings here allow the life-changing ministries of Holy Trinity to continue and grow. If you are a visitor or guest, you are not expected to contribute but may do so if you desire.

Do you offer communion at every service? Can I take it? How does it work?

Holy Communion is offered every Sunday at all services to all Christians who believe in Christ’s presence and desire his forgiveness in this sacrament. Instructions outlining the specific process to be used for communion are included in the bulletin for each service. During communion, ushers will direct the participants toward the altar at the appropriate time. Communion is usually provided through intinction with the bread or wafer distributed first and then dipped into the wine and eaten by the participant. At other times communion is received with individual wafers and individual plastic cups. When this method is used, the cups in the center ring of the serving tray are filled with grape juice and the rest are filled with wine. Children who have not been instructed about the meaning of Holy Communion are invited to come forward, fold their hands and receive a blessing. If you are unable to approach the altar, please inform an usher, and the sacrament will be brought to you near the end of the distribution.

What about Sunday School?

Sunday School Classes dor all ages are held at 9:45 am. A staffed nursery for infants and children up to age three is provided all morning. Classroom locations and discussion topics are posted in the Parish Life Center.

How do you join Holy Trinity?

At Holy Trinity, we do not seek to receive members; instead we strive to create disciples who follow Jesus. If you are interested in becoming a part of our congregation, your first step is to worship God with us. Worship on Sunday mornings is the most important thing that we do together. We have several opportunities throughout the year for people to join us. We have a New Disciples course sharing some of the specifics about Holy Trinity Lutheran Church. We also encourage anyone interested in joining to attend an Alpha Course, which covers the basics of Christianity. You are invited to attend both. Please speak with either of the pastors for more information about these opportunities.