Baptisms, Marriages and Burials within the Episcopal Church are liturgical events in which individuals and families experience God’s love and the congregation’s support as they make critical life transitions. Each ritual, then, emphasizes the importance of the congregation’s role in upholding those being initiated or beginning a new stage in their lives. Each also affirms God's active and renewing presence in all stages of human development.

At Trinity, we use the specific forms found in The Book of Common Prayer for Holy Baptism, the Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage and the Burial of the Dead. Click here for the specific rites.

Holy Baptism is full initiation into the Body of Christ. Baptisms require serious preparation and planning on the part of the individual being baptized (if an adult), family members and sponsors (commonly called godparents.) The following are Trinity’s guidelines relative to baptism:

1. In that baptism is about initiating a person into the Body of Christ in both a universal and specific sense, Trinity encourages those
   wishing to be baptized to do so in a congregation they are likely to be connected to in an ongoing way.
2. Baptisms are always celebrated within the context of the Holy Eucharist and are most appropriately done on the days set forth in The Book of Common Prayer. These days are: the Easter Vigil, the Day of Pentecost, All Saints’ Day, and the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after the Epiphany). The parish does not do "private baptisms" outside the context of a parish Eucharist.
3. Parents and sponsors meet with the Rector for instruction prior to a child’s baptism. Adults to be baptized engage in a significant period of instruction and spiritual preparation before being baptized.
4. In order to maintain a focus on the baptismal liturgy, and allow the congregation's full attention during the liturgy, no flash photographs are permitted during a baptism.
5. Please make arrangements for baptisms well in advance with the Rector. That allows us to have the time needed for the required preparation of the candidates and their families.

In Holy Matrimony, a man and a woman enter into a life-long union of fidelity, respect and mutual support. In the celebration and blessing of a marriage, two people make their vows before God and the Church and receive the grace and blessing of God to help them fulfill their vows. Marriages are done at Trinity when at least one of the persons to be married is a member of the parish or is an immediate family member of a Trinity parishioner. Additionally, the following guidelines apply, some of which are mandated by
canon law within the Episcopal Church:

1. For the marriage to be performed in the Episcopal Church, one of the two persons to be married must be a baptized Christian.

2. Marriages take place at any time during the year with the exception of the last three weeks of December, the weeks of Lent, Palm Sunday, Holy Week, and Easter Sunday.The couple wishing to be married notifies the Rector at least 6-12 months prior to the time they want the wedding to occur. This is so that counseling sessions can be scheduled and so that appropriate planning can occur.

Even with the length of notice, the specific day that the couple has in mind may need to be negotiated due to clergy vacations and other events scheduled at the church.

3. All details of the marriage liturgy including the choice of music are worked out between the couple to be married and the Rector. The liturgy is according to The Book of Common Prayer. The marriage liturgy usually includes a celebration of the Holy Eucharist. No flash photos are permitted during the marriage service.

4. As a rule, the Rector officiates (presides) at marriages performed at Trinity and the parish musician serves as the organist. Visiting clergy can be invited to assist at the invitation of the bride and groom and in consultation with the officiating priest.

5. Common law requires that a) both persons must sign a “Declaration of Intent” stating that it is their intention for their union to be lifelong and b) the couple must complete at least 3 1-hour sessions of pre-marital counseling prior to marriage (additional sessions may be required by the rector or requested by the couple) and c) if either of the couple is divorced, the bishop must give permission for him or her to remarry.

6. The wedding needs to have 2 witnesses present and must conform to the laws of the State of Maine.

7. The fees associated with a wedding at Trinity are: a) a fee of $200 to the parish musician for consultation beforehand and performance at both rehearsal and wedding ceremony. b) some monetary gift to the church (amount to be determined by the couple), and c) a fee to provide for any special cleaning of the church before and after the marriage liturgy.

The liturgy for the Burial of the Dead is a resurrection liturgy characterized by a sense of the celebration of the life of the person who has died. Along with this, in the liturgy we also grieve with those who have been separated from the one whom they love. Baptized Christians are properly buried from the church, with the service being held at a time when the congregation has an opportunity to be present.
The death of a member of the Church is communicated to the Rector as soon as possible (before calling the funeral director). Arrangements for the funeral are made in consultation with the Rector. It’s best if the family meets with the clergy before making any decisions about the funeral, the burial liturgy or receptions related to the funeral.Two types of liturgies are normally conducted for the Burial of the Dead. The formats of both liturgies are taken from The Book of Common Prayer:

1. The liturgy for the Burial of the Dead, with either the body or ashes present. This is usually held within a few days of the person’s death. It usually includes a celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
2. A committal which is a brief, graveside liturgy that follows directly after a funeral or can be done later if necessary.It is also possible to have a burial liturgy as a memorial service. This may be done a few days to a few weeks after death. The liturgy may be without either
   body or ashes.

At liturgies in the church, a homily is preached by the clergy. Earlier in the liturgy one other person may be invited to make brief remarks. Should organ music be desired the parish musician is available. The family is expected to pay a fee ($150) to the parish musician for this work.