Faith and Family: Trinity, Christ Church host progressive service Sunday

Published 12:15 am Friday, July 19, 2019

NATCHEZ — An annual progressive service that unites the two oldest Episcopal churches in the Diocese of Mississippi was postponed from July 14 due to severe weather conditions but will take place Sunday, organizers said.

The event begins at 9 a.m. Sunday at Christ Church in Church Hill with the first half of a regular Eucharist service.

Participants will depart from Church Hill at approximately 9:45 a.m. and progress to Trinity Episcopal Church in Natchez for Holy Eucharist.

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Anyone who would like to attend is welcome, organizers said.

“Just like a progressive dinner with different courses of a meal at different places, our progressive service will celebrate the first half of the service at Christ Church, starting at 9 a.m.,” said Hyde Carby, senior warden of Trinity Church. “Here, we will have the Liturgy of the word with music, scripture readings, prayers and a homily by the Rev. Ken (Ritter). After the homily, the congregation will depart from Christ Church and continue the service at Trinity with communion, closing prayers and the closing hymn.”

Ritter, vicar of Christ Church and priest at Trinity Church, will conduct both services, and an informal, complimentary luncheon will be served in Kuehnle Hall at Trinity following the service at Trinity.

“The joint service celebrates the partnership in mission of the two churches,” Ritter said.

A bus will be leave Trinity Church, 305 South Commerce St., Natchez, at 8:15 a.m. and return to Trinity following the Christ Church service.

A service at Trinity Church at 10:30 a.m. will be held for those who wish to remain in Natchez for the first part of the service.

The two congregations officially reaffirmed their longtime partnership in the spring of 2018.

Christ Church dates to in 1820, while Trinity Church dates to 1822. Both are approaching their bicentennial anniversaries.

Since Church Hill is about 20 miles north of Natchez, please keep the travel time in mind. A bus will be provided on a first-come, first-served basis, Carby said. The bus will leave at 8:15 a.m. from Trinity Church at 305 South Commerce Street and return for the second half of the service.

In the Episcopal church, all baptized Christians are welcome to participate in communion, Carby said.