Trinitarian Congregational Church, known locally as TriCon, has stood at 54 Walden Street in the heart of downtown Concord, Massachusetts for two centuries. Founded in 1826, the congregation gathered on a Sunday in October to mark the 200th anniversary of its first worship service with a brass-joined choir and a congregation-wide luncheon. Across that long arc, TriCon has shaped its identity as an open and affirming congregation in the tradition of the United Church of Christ - a place that invites families, musicians, and neighbors into a single downtown sanctuary, parish hall, and stretch of lawn.
Sunday Worship at 10 AM
Gathering happens once a week at TriCon. On Sunday mornings at 10 a.m., the congregation meets for a service that runs about an hour and includes hymns, choir music, quiet reflection, and a thoughtful sermon. Holy communion is celebrated on the first Sunday of every month. During the cooler months, worship takes place in the church's traditional sanctuary; in the warmer summer months, the air-conditioned parish hall hosts an in-the-round arrangement that is less formal but still centered on the same hymns, prayer, and preaching.
After the service, a fellowship hour with coffee and refreshments draws people into the parish hall, and munchkins are provided for children. The service is also livestreamed on YouTube, where recordings of recent sermons and a Moments of Gratitude series remain available for viewing.
An Open and Affirming Home
TriCon's welcome statement is explicit: "No matter what you look like, who you love, or where you're from, you are welcome here." The congregation identifies as open and affirming and is grounded in the Congregational tradition of the United Church of Christ. Same-sex couples are married in the sanctuary, the church joins neighboring First Parish for a joint PRIDE Sunday each year, and the welcome page promises that wherever someone is on life's journey - new to church or a lifetime worshipper - they will be met at the door.
Children, Youth, and Families
TriCon's ministry to young people runs from infancy through high school and is one of the congregation's calling cards. On Sunday mornings, infants through age 4 are cared for in the nursery by adult staff and youth volunteers. Children ages 5 through fifth grade are invited to leave worship after a "Word for All Ages" for Children's Church, led by Director of Children and Families Addison Saviers. The back-left corner of the sanctuary, called the prayground, is reserved for kids who prefer to stay in the pews with coloring sheets, fidget toys, and books.
Middle schoolers (grades 6 through 8) gather on the first Sunday of each month at 4 p.m. with Associate Minister Rev. Martha Schick and Youth Leader Dr. Marcus Hill. High schoolers meet twice a week - Sunday evenings at 7 p.m. and Wednesday evenings at 7 p.m. for discussion. Confirmation, offered every other year to ninth and tenth graders, includes faith experiences such as serving alongside unhoused neighbors on the Boston Common and a religious art scavenger hunt at the Museum of Fine Arts.
Each year, high schoolers and adult leaders travel together on a mission trip. Recent journeys have carried the group to Savannah, Georgia; the Texas border working with migrant families; Navajo Nation in Arizona; hurricane relief in Texas and Puerto Rico; and rural home repair in Appalachia. The next trip, in February 2027, returns to Navajo Nation with Experience Mission.
Life Together: Small Groups and Adult Formation
Adults at TriCon find a number of entry points for community. The Adult Christian Education Committee (ACE) offers small-group discussions during Advent and Lent, gathering in homes and at the church to dig into the season's themes. KnitWits meets monthly in the parlor to knit prayer shawls for those in nursing care or recovering in the hospital; around the holidays their work goes to the Boston Seamen's Friends, Chaplains on the Way, and transitional housing in Lowell. Men's Anchor gathers in the parlor on the first and third Tuesdays at 7 a.m.; Women of Spirit meets regularly on Zoom for meditation and faith practices.
A lay-led Caregivers Support Group meets twice a month at the church for spouses and others caring for those living with memory loss or other challenges. Moments of Gratitude, a recorded series on YouTube, captures members' personal stories of faith, family, and stewardship.
Serving Neighbors Across Concord and Beyond
TriCon's commitment to mission runs through several standing ministries. The Social Action Committee organizes a recurring Shelter Meal at the Lowell Transitional Living Center, recruiting shoppers, prep cooks, deliverers, and servers for a meal served to neighbors without stable housing. The Concord Carlisle Community Chest operates a Community Closet on the second floor of the church building, accepting donations of clothing and shoes for infants through adults and serving people housed at the hotel in Concord and at area shelters; donations are accepted on the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a pause in July, and volunteers help sort what comes in.
The Antiques Show, now in its 55th year, fills three floors of TriCon with high-quality dealers on the first Friday and Saturday of November. An on-site volunteer-run cafe serves lunch and sweet treats. Every dollar raised - door entry fees, dealer rents, and cafe proceeds - goes directly into the church's mission budget to support neighbors in need.
Music, Weddings, and a Building that Hosts Many Things
Music Director Dr. Jonathan Giblin leads the choir that anchors Sunday worship, and a brass ensemble joins for special services. TriCon hosts weddings for both parishioners and visitors; a wedding booklet outlines the process, and the church is glad to officiate for any couple. Memorial and funeral services are also regularly held in the sanctuary, and the church's Memorial Receptions committee helps families host a time of remembrance with punch, coffee, and food in the parish hall afterward. Baptisms are offered throughout the year, celebrated during a regular worship service as the congregation enters into covenant with the person being baptized. Two sacraments are recognized at TriCon: baptism and communion.
The TriCon building opens to the wider community through facilities rentals, accommodating groups whose work serves human and community needs. Renters can reserve the sanctuary, the large parish hall, the parlor, classrooms, and a large, user-friendly kitchen. The church declines rentals for partisan political activities, gambling, or other gaming events. The sound system - PA or livestreaming equipment - is available for an additional cost.
The front lawn of the church becomes a small zoo once a year for the Blessing of the Animals, with music, activities, and animal-themed snacks for furry, feathered, finned, or stuffed companions.
Two Ministers and a Seasoned Staff
Senior Minister Rev. Rebecca Floyd Marshall leads the congregation and is a regular voice in the pulpit. Associate Minister Rev. Martha Schick focuses much of her work on youth, confirmation, and family ministries. Judy Walpole serves as church administrator and Amy Bruning as communications director; both are listed as first points of contact for newcomers with questions about the congregation. Ed Feather supports media, and Jamie Aromaa serves as sexton.
Membership and Beliefs
TriCon's understanding of membership draws on the Biblical image of the church as the Body of Christ. Members are seen as parts of a single body, each bringing God-given spiritual gifts. The congregation distinguishes between membership in the church universal - entered through baptism and confirmation - and membership in the local church, which makes one an active participant with a voice in committees and the church's direction. Anyone is welcome to attend worship, participate in communion, join a small group, or attend events; becoming a member makes that participation official.
The congregation describes its work in the world through the language of being "Christ's hands and feet," seeking to be instruments of love, healing, compassion, peace, and justice.
Getting Connected
The church office at 54 Walden Street is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Worship is held Sunday mornings at 10 a.m. in person and via livestream. Online giving is available through Vanco, and gifts of stock, recurring electronic payments, and planned giving through estate plans or retirement distributions are also welcomed.
Two centuries after its first worship service, TriCon continues to gather on Walden Street each Sunday around a font and a communion table, on a lawn that welcomes animals each fall, and in spaces that serve both the congregation and the wider town of Concord.