From the Vicar...

Don't make your pledge decision...yet!

I know that, as our Let Your Light Shine campaign kicks off this seems counter-intuitive, but think about it: If you make your pledge decision for 2013 now, you'll not have the benefit of all the information and inspiration our Stewardship team would like to share with you over the next five weeks.

It is for this reason that we are not sending out stewardship pledge forms until the final mailing on Feb. 7 - and that we will be sending forms even to people who have already indicated their plans prior to the campaign. We really want you to listen and hear what we have to say before you pray about, and then make your decision.

Trinity and Christ churches are at a significant crossroads in our common life. As we prepare to redefine and deepen our relationship, we need to prayerfully reflect upon how important - indeed, how fundamentally necessary - our generous and faithful stewardship is to making this new chapter in our life a positive one for our future. The direction we take as this crossroads moment in our ministry unfolds will be the result of the efforts we make - or fail to make - both collectively and as individuals.

In these opening days of my ministry among you as Vicar, I'd like to take some time to reflect upon our Christian stewardship. Over the four issues of the E-News that follow this one, I will be writing about four important topics:

• Jan. 17:      Stewardship starts with God's abundance
• Jan. 24:      Give and it shall be given to you
• Jan. 31:      Adopting a practice of sacrificial giving
• Feb. 7:       Only now is it time for you to decide

Now, I know as I do that what you're thinking: "Oh no, a harangue about stewardship." And, I'll grant you, the word is bandied about in parishes and pulpits a lot - and I know our congregations are no exception. But it's still important for us to consider: what does stewardship mean? Is it just a gimmick to get you to drop more money in the collection plate? What does stewardship really entail? Over these next four weeks, I hope you'll open yourself to hear as I share with you a few of my thoughts on this topic.

Fr. Chip

Overview of the Program

This year's program has three major elements:

• Five "ministry minute talks" by parish members, to be given each Sunday between Jan. 13 and Feb. 10; excerpts will be published in the mailings described below and the E-News.
• Three hard-copy mailings on Jan. 10 & 24 and Feb. 7; some E-News materials will be coordinating with these.
• A fun "event" at the conclusion of the campaign. It was agreed that this would be in the form of a Shrove Tuesday pancake supper on Tuesday, Feb. 12 at Trinity Church.

There will be some liturgical elements coordinating with these in both churches, including bulletin covers and a stewardship prayer in place of the shared ministry prayer. Be watching your mail and e-mail in-box for more information in the coming weeks.

   -    The Rev. David "Chip" Robinson   

Shared Ministry Epiphany Service 

On the evening of Sunday, January 6th, members of Trinity and Christ Church gathered together to celebrate The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  The Feast of Lights is one of the oldest observances of the Christian Church dating back to the Fourth Century after Christ. As Rev. Chip promised, it was a moving candlelight service.  Afterwards we gathered again, this time to break bread and welcome Rev. Chip and Cindy Robinson to our parishes.  More photos from both portions of the evening can be found here on Flicker, our new method of sharing photos.   

• Trinity Church 
• Christ Church 

Investiture of the Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld as the tenth Bishop of New Hampshire - See above  

Events in the area

"Leadership for a Rummage Sale"

2013 Woodbury Leadership  Workshop with Phyllis Tickle

Something new is emerging! We're not quite certain what it is yet, but it is definitely not the church of the 20th century. We see indicators of it in a variety of places, from the emergent church movement to the restructuring of traditional congregations, to the changing role of clergy. Much is happening and there's not much clarity, but somehow we have to deal with it, respond to it, interact with it. The 2013 Woodbury Leadership Workshop will provide resources to help you do this.   

Where: Andover Newton Theological School, Newton, MA
When: Friday, February 1, 2013 from 8:30 am - 4:30 am

Cost: The registration fee is $155. The discounted fee for registrations received prior to Dec. 14 is $140. The registration fee includes a continental breakfast and lunch.

 

We are hoping that January is not only the beginning of a great year for every parishioner individually, but as for the many youth endeavors that we are about to embark upon as part of the greater seacoast Episcopal community. The month of January we will be looking at the gifts that have been given to us as children of God through the birth of Jesus.

During Gospel for Kids, we will look at the baptismal promises and what it means to be a baptized Episcopalian. We know that St. John the Baptist said that he baptized with water, but another coming after him would be baptizing with the fire of the Holy Spirit. In the Gospel for Kids program, we will be introducing the ever presence of the Holy Spirit within us.

Sunday Schedule

1st & 3rd Sundays

• At Christ Church: Godly Play (10:30 am) 
• At Trinity: Gospel Lessons for Kids (8:45 am) 

 2nd & 4th Sundays

• At Christ Church: Gospel Lessions for Kids (10:30 am) 
• At Trinity: Child Supervision (8:45 am)

Volunteers Needed: J. R. needs a volunteer to help out at each church to run the Gospel for Kids programs. This commitment is for two Sundays. If I could get six volunteers that would mean every volunteer would miss TWO Sundays the whole year to offer our expanded Sunday school offerings.    

We ask that you continue to pray for all those who are impacted by the storms, and please consider making a donation to the Hurricane Sandy Response Fund to support our partners in the US and the Caribbean.

Resources:

Episcopal Relief & Development Hurricane Sandy Response Fund 

EPISCOPAL RELIEF & DEVELOPMENT HURRICANE SANDY UPDATE SITE

EPISCOPAL NEWS SERVICE   

Alexis Zaricki, Music Director

• Trinity: 8:00 am - 8:30 am
• Christ Church: After the 10:30 am service

• Saturdays: Food Pantry at Hobbs House Trinity. 10:00 am - noon (Sandi Nickerson & Gordon Lane)
• Sundays: The Christ Church "Holy Roller" Bus (Chuck Ott)
• 1st Saturday of the month: Portsmouth Salvation Army Suppers, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Jean Wadman)
• 2nd & 4th Mondays of the month: St. Vincent Soup Kitchen, Hampton (Ginny Bridle-Russell & Phoebe Bischoff)
• 1st Sundays of the month: Pastoral Visit to the Oceanside Rehabilitation Center, Hampton (Bob Main & Belinda Wilkes)
• The Canister Ministry at Trinity. Have you ever walked out of Trinity Church, and noticed those random boxes by the exit? Were you curious to what that ministry was all about? Well there are actually several ministries being offered in a one drop stop. Learn more   

Contact Amanda or Aidan for clothing donation drop off or clothing needs 603.918.6816 or email dress4schoolsuccess@comcast.net.

 Content Submission Guidelines 

The Shared Ministry E-News is an electronic newsletter for members of Trinity Episcopal Church, Hampton and Christ Episcopal Church, Portsmouth. It is published weekly on Thursdays. We welcome submissions that have a connection to the ministry of these churches. Inclusion of submissions is at the discretion of Reverend Robinson.

Please email submissions to porthamp@gmail.com or mail to the office at Trinity Church, 200 High St, Hampton, NH 03842 or Christ Church, 1035 Lafayette Rd, Portsmouth, NH 03801. Entries should follow the Submission Guidelines.

NOTE: The deadline to send a submission is Wednesday at noon.