This year Upper School students and faculty are worshipping in the Williams Gallery. We miss the beautiful stained glass and kneeling racks, but this very space is where I fell in love with Trinity School, the routine of daily Chapel, and the special traditions of Birthday Blessings and Senior Chapel Talks. I am confident that God works in our lives the same through our daily worship no matter what space we inhabit. I saw it with my own eyes when I started here nine years ago. 

Daily Chapel is in our School’s founding documents and is part of what makes Trinity such a special place. Students are expected to attend with reverence and respect and to participate in ways that align with their own faith traditions. On Wednesdays, we celebrate the Eucharist together with Father Bob Hennagin from the Episcopal Church of the Holy Trinity. We are eagerly anticipating our first Senior Chapel Talk, a graduation requirement for all Seniors, later this month. Students love learning from their peers, and our Seniors always offer great life lessons and nuggets of wisdom, alongside great memories and gratitude for those who’ve helped on their journey thus far. 

Students lead the liturgy each day. On Fridays, a student praise team provides the music. We love special musical offerings during communion from student instrumentalists and vocalists. It is a joy to receive their gifts. 

This fall, we have been studying the Gospel metaphors in familiar fairy tales such as The Frog Prince, Snow White and Hansel and Gretel. These stories have wonderful themes of redemption, following the way of wisdom, and being chosen and loved even when we are undeserving. They also have some very quirky details that teens find entertaining. For Patriot Week, we have taken a break to think about some of the different faith movements in our nation’s history (Puritan colonial settlers, The Great Awakenings…) with an eye toward how our faith influences our citizenship today. 

Chapel is full of joy, and I invite you to join us for worship any day. Check in at the front office and don’t forget your parent badge. Please reach out to me anytime if you have questions or would like to learn more about Chapel at Trinity School.

“But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.”  Matthew 6:33 

Shannon Weisenfels, Director of Spiritual Life and Community and Belonging