Ecumenical Activity at Holy Trinity
Ministerium
Holy Trinity Church has been involved in ecumenical activity in the
Willow Grove and Abington communities for many years. The Willow
Grove Ministerium, which includes several churches in Upper Moreland
and Abington Townships, meets monthly from September through June
for fellowship and planning. Among the activities of the group are
joint services on Good Friday and during the Week of Prayer for
Christian unity; a relief fund for those in need; participation in
the Loyalty Day parade and the Cancer Walk (Relay for Life) at Upper
Moreland High School; and sponsorship of Upper Moreland
Baccalaureate.
Holy Trinity Church is involved in two other ministerial
associations. Pastors United in Prayer, which meets every Wednesday
morning and once a month on Tuesday for lunch, focuses on prayer.
Several times a year, clergy and laity meet for prayer. Each week in
the Sunday bulletin, we are asked to keep in our prayers a church
and the pastor or pastors. This also is a project of “Pastors United
in Prayer”
The Old York Road Ministerium includes a Jewish synagogue, Old York
Road Temple Beth Am, whose rabbis are Robert Leib and Phil Cohen and
whose cantor is Elena Zarkin. Harold Waintrup, Rabbi Emeritus, also
participates. As you can see, ecumenical cooperation is alive and
well in our area. Please pray for the churches and Beth Am
synagogue. Pray that the Christian churches will continue to
manifest a unity that will aid in the spread of the Gospel of Jesus
Christ. Pray that Jews and Christians may come too greater
understanding of and respect for one another.
Full Communion
The Evangelical Lutheran Church is in full intercommunion with the
Episcopal Church USA, which means that the two churches are in
accord on the central doctrines of the Christian faith. Exchange of
ministers is permissible. This arrangement is made possible by full
intercommunion. The intercommunion agreement is “Called to Common
Mission”.
The ELCA is also in full intercommunion with the Moravian Church,
the Reformed Church in America, the United Church of Christ, and the
Presbyterian Church USA. Pastors of the Reformed Church and
Presbyterian Church have substituted for us at the Saturday service
in our pastors absence.
Internet Links:
Protestant * Roman Catholic Dialogue
Since the 1960’s after Vatican II, Lutherans and Catholics in this
country have been in dialogue. Topics have included Baptism, the
real presence of Christ in Holy Communion, justification by faith,
Mary, intercession to the saints, papal authority, etc. Several
years ago, Catholics and Lutherans came to agreement on the doctrine
of justification, which was the primary doctrinal issue of the
Reformation. Justification affirms that we are saved by God’s grace
through faith in Jesus Christ. Though Lutherans and Catholics speak
in somewhat different language concerning this doctrine, we have
affirmed that we are in essential agreement. This is the first
formal agreement between Lutherans Catholics.
Father Richard Bolger, pastor of Saint David’s Roman Catholic
Church, is the President of the Willow Grove Ministerium
Christian * Jewish Dialogue
Since the beginning of the year the Willow Grove Ministerium has met
to study the document, Dabru Emet, issued by members of the Jewish
community in America. The document sets forth several positive
principles regarding the Jewish community’s relationship to the
Christian community.
In the process of this study, the pastors and rabbis have struggled
with how to hold joint services were both Christian and Jewish
beliefs may be expressed. On Wednesday, September 11, a joint
“Service of Remembrance and Hope” will be held at Holy Trinity in
which both Jewish and Christian communities will worship together.
In that service, the expression of the faith of both communities
will be realized.
For over fifty years, Beth Am and the Christian churches of Abington
have sponsored a Thanksgiving service. This year the service will be
held on Tuesday before Thanksgiving at Abington Baptist Church.
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