Holy Trinity Men's Group

A group of parish men has been meeting for fellowship and discussion twice monthly for almost twenty five years. The group gets together every second and fourth Saturday from 7:30 to 9 am in the home of a volunteer host.  Its membership is made up mostly but not entirely of men from Holy Trinity parish.  Attendance usually ranges from about eight to two dozen at each meeting.

Although not an official parish organization, the group got its start in September 1986 in Orkney Springs, Virginia, at the second running of Camp Trinity, the parish's family retreat.  Jack Bradt, in facilitating a men's discussion there, led off by asking the married men present if their wives had close friends who played a major role in their lives.  Many hands went up.  Then he asked how many of us had friends to the same degree of closeness.  No hands went up.  After expounding on the connection between deep friendships, health, and quality of life, Jack ended with words to this effect:  "Gentlemen, it looks like we have work to do."  We've been meeting twice a month since then, with many new members joining in over the years.

The group's purpose is to build friendship and community within a context of shared spiritual values.  It is non-hierarchical, has no officers, no dues, and no fixed agenda.  The discussions usually involve personal sharing about life's milestones and challenges as we are experiencing them, as well as sharing about our prayer lives.  The quality of listening is extraordinarily high.  We support each other in trying to live our values in our families, personal relationships, and communities.  In addition to the regular meetings, we have had weekend retreats, Christmas parties, hikes, social justice projects, and other offshoots from time to time.  In the process, friendships have formed and deepened over the years.

The group welcomes new members and is always willing to help foster new groups along similar lines.  That a group of men continues to meet for almost twenty five years at such unreasonable hours suggests something meaningful and potentially life changing is going on. 

If you'd like to check it out, contact one of these men for more information:
Dave Christian (703 525 1321)
John Hisle (301 229 8071)
Ted Tschudy (202 965 2746)
Jay Vinton (202 966 0988)