Come See Why We're So Excited

Episcopal of the Holy Vicksburg, MS 2 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Come See Why We're So Excited For almost 150 years Holy Trinity has been an integral part of the fabric of Vicks- burg. We share an interesting and important history, old buildings, and interesting stories. We also share a focus on the future. During the past few years we have experienced a resurgence of energy and optimism as we come together each Sun- day for the giving of thanks, the celebration of the , and the offering of ourselves for the service of Our Lord. Given the size of our congregation, however, one might ask about that energy and that optimism, especially considering the size of our nave and how spread out we appear during some services. The answer is, simply, look at what we do in our corporate witness with the use of our facilities, the diversity of our congregation, the music we make, and the ministries in which we participate.

ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY 4

ABOUT OUR PEOPLE 5

ABOUT OUR 6

ABOUT OUR OUTREACH 8

ABOUT OUR FACILITIES 9

ABOUT GIFTS FOR MINISTRY 11

ABOUT OUR DIOCESE 12

3 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY About Our Community The Mississippi Delta is said to begin in the lobby of the Vicksburg has modern healthcare fa- Peabody Hotel in Memphis and end at “Catfish Row in cilities that continue to expand and Vicksburg.” Vicksburg has one foot in the Delta and the improve. Residents have recently other on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River. voted overwhelmingly (68.6%) in This geography led to Vicksburg’s prominence during favor of an $83 million-dollar bond the Civil War. Even today, over 500,000 people a year issue to enhance the Vicksburg War- visit the Civil War Battlefield at the National Military ren School District’s educational Park. Antebellum homes, brick streets, and other re- environment. The District has just minders of the past are found throughout the city; but been designated Mississippi’s first the focus of Vicksburg is now on the future – as is Holy Ford Next Generation Learning Com- Trinity’s. munity. This will enable the creation of career academies within the high With a population of approximately 24,000 in a coun- schools. Other educational oppor- ty of 43,000, Vicksburg is the center of business and tunities include a Roman commerce for the area. Our Downtown Main Street School that offers grades K-12, and a private school. has recently been recognized as the most attractive Hinds Community College has a campus in Vicksburg, downtown among all the small cities in Mississippi. and Alcorn State University has offices in Vicksburg and Museums, shops, a book store, excellent restaurants, offers classes at the Hinds Community College campus. and apartments above shops add to its charm. Vicks- burg’s commercial life is diverse. National retail out- Affordable housing is available both within the city lets, a shopping mall, the Port of Vicksburg (which is in limits and in Warren County. The Y, two communi- the process of expansion), agriculture, small industries, ty theater groups, the Vicksburg Art Association with the U.S. Army Engineer Research & Development Cen- its juried shows, fireworks over the River, hunting and ter (ERDC) and the Headquarters for the Corps of Engi- fishing, and many other recreational and educational neers’ Civil Works efforts on the River provide a wide opportunities make Vicksburg a wonderful place to live variety of employment opportunities. With a view to and raise a family. the future, there is a public-private partnership devel- oping a technology transfer incubator as part of efforts to create a tech center or tech corridor.

4 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY About Our People We are blessed with a healthy, diverse membership of Each of us takes a different path for our Christian For- wonderful ranging from infants to active 80-year- mation, so we support a variety of paths. EFM isa olds. While we don’t all make it to Sunday worship on wonderful program, and with two facilitators in the the same Sunday, we all worship on “most” Sundays; congregation, it is a ready option for many. Many are but when the call goes out for participation in Holy Trin- active in the Cursillo movement. The Daughters of the ity’s ministries, we all show up and work together. King provide opportunities and leadership, and during Lent lead us in the Stations of the Cross. Our very ac- Our Eucharistic Visitors’ Guild takes the Eucharist to our tive Episcopal Church Women (ECW) provides oppor- shut-ins. They go to homes, hospitals, nursing homes tunities for individual leadership, nurtures many proj- in Vicksburg and even in Jackson. Following Requiem ects, and seems always able to supply exactly what we , the Gourmet Girls provide meals either in need as we move from ministry to ministry along the the McInnis Parish Hall or at a home of a family mem- path of Christian Formation. ber. They also help supply meals to celebrate the birth of a baby, to communicants who are ill, and on other Our Parish work days are surprisingly festive and keep occasions. our buildings and grounds looking their best and our relationships with each other enriched. The men’s Bi- ble and Biscuits group meets monthly for breakfast, Bible study, and conversation at “The Mad Baker” downtown. The men also carve hundreds of pounds of turkey for the ECW Turkey Dinner, and cook and serve gumbo for the Lenten Arts Series and red beans and rice for the Holy Week ecumenical lunches.

“Each of us takes a different path for our Christian Formation, so we support a variety of paths.”

5 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Some of our youth programs occur in the McInnis Par- and with young people from ish Hall or at a parishioner’s home, but last year Holy Hawkins United Methodist Trinity became part of a combined youth group with Church. As fun and rewarding our neighbors, First Presbyterian Church, and Crawford as these opportunities are, Street United Methodist Church. Known as Fusion, they do not supplant the Di- this group meets at the Y on Sunday evenings. Oth- vision Of Youth offerings and er ecumenical activities include a quarterly Crossroads Camp Bratton-Green. Youth Event in partnership with our First Presbyterian Church and Crawford Street Methodist Church friends

About Our Worship We “do” liturgy well. It is at the heart of all that we do, and it involves all of us to “do” it correctly and joyfully. Of course, our priest is essential; but other important participants include: the Altar guild, the Flower guild, the verger, ushers, thurifer, crucifer, taper bearers, Gospel Book Bearer, choir, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, oblation bearers, lectors, and intercessors. We are ex- perimenting with “children’s church” for children 3 – 6 years old conducted by a cadre of adults who lead them from the nave following opening prayers to re- ceive their education in the McInnis Parish Hall and re- turn following the Passing of the Peace.

Our Altar Guild has 17 members divided into five teams. The Flower Guild has four teams, and we have 12 acolytes. We start acolytes young as Gospel Book Bearers and, as they grow older, they can, with train- ing, also serve as Lectors and Lay Eucharistic Ministers when not serving as an acolyte.

The “bell ringers” are from 3 to early teens (and fre- quently assisted by “children” in their 50s or 60s). At the end of the service they race to the heavy rope at- tached to the bell in our 211-foot-high steeple to ring it loudly to proclaim our exit into the world to Love and Serve . “...they race to the heavy rope at- tached to the bell in our 211-foot- high steeple to ring it loudly to proclaim our exit into the world to Love and Serve the Lord. ”

6 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY Our regular services are Rite I at 8:00 a.m. and Rite II at 10:30 a.m., but we also are nurtured by special Eu- charists, such as our traditional “Low Sunday” service conducted outside with music provided by one of our members and his combo. While both 8 o’clock and the 10:30 service each has its “regulars”, there are those who alternate between the two services. This is some- times assisted by the Breakfast Guild that prepares great food for those enjoying fellowship between the two services. The time between the two services is ideal for Christian Formation activities, our recently re-started adult bible study program, acolyte training, and other programs.

Our music program is an important part of our liturgi- cal life. We have a dedicated group of singers led by our long-time organist and musical director. They are frequently accompanied by other musicians who play the church’s piano, timpani or hand bells and by others who play string and brass instruments.

7 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY About Our Outreach Enjoying a visible presence in the heart of Vicksburg, Holy Week ecumenical lunches are hosted by First coupled with one of the largest naves in the Diocese, Presbyterian Church, Crawford Street Methodist a wonderful parish hall, and separate choir facilities, Church, First Baptist Church, and Holy Trinity on Mon- we have many unique opportunities for ministry that day through Thursday during Holy Week. Beginning reach beyond our walls. at Holy Trinity on Monday our friends from the oth- er churches join with us for lunch, music (anthem and Our “Christmas on the River” team knits scarves, hats hymn), and a reflection. The reflection is presented at and cowls, and collects small, but important, items to each church by a priest or other than the one fill Christmas boxes for the 350 crewmembers on the for the host congregation. Holy Trinity’s “famous red 65 towboats operating out of Vicksburg. The boxes are beans and rice” is always a hit and requires about 20 blessed during a 10:30 Eucharist before they are dis- workers to put on the event. tributed, some via supply boats serving the towboats as they move upstream or downstream even on - mas Day.

Our annual Golf Tour- nament has raised, on average, $10,000.00 each of the past three years for the Salvation Army, Habitat for Hu- manity, and Vicksburg Family Development Services. We provide support for Grace Christian Counseling The Texas 4000 is a group of bicyclists who ride from Center and serve on its board of directors. Then, there Austin, Texas, to Anchorage, Alaska every summer to is THE TURKEY DINNER!!!! A Holy Trinity – ECW tra- raise funds for cancer research. We have always won- dition for 70+ years, finds us busily carving hundreds dered about the compass used by these Texans, as of pounds of turkey, cooking dressing, making salads, some of them come through Vicksburg enroute to An- selling tickets, decorating the McInnis Parish Hall, bak- chorage! We provide supper and breakfast for about ing sweets, and serving 900+ people in 2 ½ hours (seat- 30 young people, and help with their laundry, showers, ed servings plus carryout’s)! and shopping.

8 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY About Our Facilities

With its soaring space, large seating capacity, stained- Our “Cashman Building” is a separate two-story build- glass windows, and Stations of the Cross, our nave is an ing behind the Church. The second floor houses the inspiring space in which to worship. It also accommo- offices of the United Way of West Central Mississippi, dates the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra for its annu- a kitchen, and conference rooms. The first floor hous- al candlelight concert, a performance by the Vicksburg es The Holy Trinity Conservatory of the Fine Arts, plus Orchestral Society, and various musical ensembles that the choir’s rehearsal space, music storage, and offic- perform on five of the Fridays in Lent as part of the es. The Conservatory offers training in music, voice, Lenten Fine Arts Series. and visual arts to children and adults in Vicksburg and Warren County. It provides instruction in piano, flute, It is also the destination for people during the Vicks- voice, violin, other strings, woodwinds, and brass. The burg Pilgrimage, people who stop while driving through facility also hosts The Mississippi Boychoir for their town, and people who come to Vicksburg on passenger weekly rehearsals and the Vicksburg Orchestral Society riverboats. They come to our nave to see the 34 glo- for its rehearsals. rious stained-glass windows, six of which are famous Tiffany Windows. They also find our inspiring Reconcil- The Chapel of Mary and Martha of Bethany is a small, iation Windows which are dedicated to the memory of separate building that offers an intimate setting for both the Union and the Confederate soldiers who lost quieter worship, saints’ day Eucharists, small wed- their lives in the Battle of Vicksburg. It is one of the dings, and space for individual reflection. It also sup- first memorials to both sides placed in any public build- ports Christian Education groups and even serves as ing in the South following the Civil War. Our Docent the center of the “take-out” orders for Turkey Dinner. Team welcomes approximately 7,000 people from all over the world who visit by passenger riverboat. Visi- tors from the other functions bring the total to about 8,500 people annually.

“Our Docent Team welcomes approximately 7,000 people from all over the world who visit by passenger riverboat. ”

9 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY The McInnis Parish Hall has been re-modeled and ex- panded into lovely space for Christian Education, our Rector Compensation Package Parish Library, offices for our Rector and staff, including We are able to offer a package for our secretary, bookkeeper, and sexton, a “bride’s room”, a large kitchen, space for funeral visitations, and other new Rector that, while negotiable and gatherings of every kind. It accommodates the Vicks- can vary based on experience, may be burg Family Development Services’ annual Christmas as high as $75,000 for stipend, housing party, Blood Drives, a weekly Pilates class, and annu- al Lifeline Screening that serves over 100 individuals and SECA plus pension and full health a day. Even our parking lots are part of our outreach insurance as required by the Diocese. as we offer their use to the nearby Vicksburg Police Department and Municipal Court, the First Presbyte- rian Church, and the adjacent Narrow Way Missionary Baptist Church.

Holy Trinity is on solid financial footing. We are able to support our many activities, our Rector and staff, and maintain our fa- cilities, but last year we took significant action to ensure that the Church of the Holy Trinity facilities will survive another 150 years. We collected hun- dreds of recipes, tested them and used the best. We collected stories of our histo- ry, anecdotes, and other material, and produced our beautiful new book, The Trinity Cookbook. It was pub- lished amid a great celebration led by The Rt. Rev. John McKee Sloan, of Alabama, who grew up in Holy Trinity. Sales have been steady, and the proceeds are placed in our renovation fund. We have also donated $2500.00 from the program to United Way.

10 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY About Gifts For Ministry

We have been blessed with a unique group of saints who are committed to the continuation of those ministries that we have been told exceed our capabilities. While the Holy Spirit will ultimately decide the gifts for ministry our Rector should bring to Holy Trinity, we believe that those gifts should include:

Pastoral Care – Ability to care for people so that they feel nurtured, including hospital, nursing home, hospice and home visitation.

Church Growth and Development – Ability to reshape existing programs and introduce new ones.

Preaching – Ability to make scripture relevant to people’s lives through clarity in preaching.

Spiritual Growth – Ability to lead others in the formation and development of a deeper spiritual life.

Administration – Ability to manage the affairs of the parish.

In attempting to identify the gifts we hope to find in our new Rector, we realized that our own gifts must be taken into account. We are creating a team with our new Rector, and he/she cannot do it alone. In describing the objects of our excitement, we have tried to identify our gifts as we recognize them. We also must admit that there are areas requiring our special attention in the days ahead. We commit to make special efforts in the areas of attendance, stewardship and growth.

“We are creating a team with our new Rector, and he/she cannot do it alone.”

11 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY About Our Diocese The Diocese of Mississippi covers the entire state. All Diocesan clergy are known for their collegiality and Episcopalians find their spiritual home in the Episco- willingness to work together. Rt. Rev. Brian R. Seage, pal churches sprinkled throughout the diocese. The Tenth Bishop of Mississippi, leads this marvelous and churches are large and small and in between. They varied assembly of clergy and laity from the Diocesan are urban, suburban, and rural. They are “high church” offices in Jackson, Mississippi, the state’s capital. The and “” and in between. Together they make entire Diocese works together as a part of this Episco- up a remarkable Diocese that is more like a family than pal branch of the Jesus Movement. an ecclesiastical organization. Annual Council is known as a Diocesan House Party, and Camp Bratton-Green is Holy Trinity has enjoyed a long and close relationship referred to as the heart of the diocese. with our Diocese. We elected the first woman Vestry member in the Diocese and, later, the Diocese’s first woman Deputy to General Convention. Since then, our members have served as members of the Standing Committee, the Executive Committee, and other com- mittees. We have provided Presidents of the ECW, UTO Chair, members of the Cursillo Secretariat, and even the Chair of the most recent Search Committee for our current Bishop. Since the 1970s we have enjoyed an almost unbroken line of Deputies or Alternates to Gen- eral Convention. In 2015 three of us served either as Deputy or Alternate. We are One Church in Mission, Inviting, Transforming, Reconciling.

Camp Bratton-Green is part of the Duncan M. Gray Camp and Conference Center, located near Canton, MS, where generations of Episcopalians have been spiritually formed during a variety of camp sessions, special sessions for special needs adults, and Division of Youth Functions. Adults continue their spiritual formation through the work of the Conference Cen- ter, and clergy find enrichment from the A.C. Marble School of Theological Formation, an academic program to train clergy that is located there.

“Holy Trinity has enjoyed a long and close relationship with our Diocese.”

12 EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY TRINITY The Church of the Holy Trinity 900 South Street Vicksburg, MS 39180 (601) 636-0542 churchoftheholytrinity.org