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From the Vicar
It's all about relationships
Cindy and I recently traveled to Rhode Island to witness the college graduation of her nephew. It had been a while since we'd seen him, and it was great catching up on this young man who had grown so much, and in so many ways, since we last saw him in person.
When I was growing up, one of the great landmark events was that moment you get your first drivers' license. Oh how I yearned, as a sixteen-year-old, to have in my possession that small piece of laminated paper! To me, it was a sign of freedom.
Cindy's nephew, however, didn't get his license when first it was available to him. In fact, he didn't get it until he was well into his college years. And, apparently, he's not alone. Getting a driver's license isn't the "rite of passage" today that it was in my day.
It led me to the question: What is? And why?
I think this coming Sunday's reading from the letter to the Galatians may hold something of a clue. Paul was writing to some Christians who were interested in a return to Jewish law. And he says, no, don't do that, Christians live in a different way. Our God does not insist upon legalism.
What counts for Christians is not law (which might be construed in this case to be that "legal contract" we call a driver's license), but relationship. And that's what seems to be the case with younger folk today - it's all about not the license to move about physically by car, but the tools they use to stay in touch with one another. How cool a smartphone they have...how many friends on Facebook...etc.
In essence, what becomes the key to freedom for young people is being "taken in" to a larger group of people with whom you can have a web of relationships. For us as Christians, we have been taken into Christ and that web of relationships we call the Church. We have been given a relationship with God and with one another as the Body of Christ.
Why is this a good thing?
There are several reasons, to be sure, but I will concentrate on only one: a legalistic approach to God does not easily allow for accommodation to new kinds of social and cultural reality. As one hymn writer put it, "New occasions teach new duties."
Paul's conviction that in Christ there is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female, could be the banner proclamation for our evolving understanding of the web of relationships the community of faith is now called to include. It's no longer about what are we are "licensed" to do or be or believe. It's all about what human lives we wish to touch with the love of Christ. What are the tools we use to reach out and share that love?
Ah, the lessons a young guy like our nephew can teach us!
Faithfully,
Fr. Chip
Father's Day cards to God
Last Sunday, the kids in J.R. Bridle's Sunday School class made "Father's Day cards" for God. On the cover of each was the phrase, "God the Father is..." and here are some samples of what they wrote inside:
- Friendly, awesome, terrific, happy excellent, really nice!
- Dear God, please don't let ants in church. Love, [name]
- Fun and thoughtful, happy, extra special, responsible
Sometimes kids "get" God even better than we adults!
Are you going on vacation?
Are you going on vacation this summer? Your church family hopes you have a great time - but, before you go, just a reminder: the Church doesn't go on vacation! Our services continue throughout the summer months - and our bills still need to be paid. So please, take the time to keep your pledge up-to-date while you are away. Perhaps it is easiest to write a check before you leave, so you don't have to worry about it when you return.
Pick up your ball game tickets this Sunday!
Tickets are now in for the Fisher Cats/Sea Dogs game on Saturday, June 29 - and the game time is 7:05 p.m., not 7:30 as previously announced. If you have not ordered tickets and still want some, seats are available. See Patrice Wood at Trinity or Lynda Swartz at Christ Church to pick your tickets up.
The Holy Roller bus is currently set to leave Portsmouth at 5:45 - but given the earlier start we may need to adjust that. We'll settle the departure time Sunday and spread the word. If you don't want to take the bus, that's no problem, we can car-pool, too! As our first 20 tickets have been donated, those will be at no cost. After the first 20, tickets are $7.00 each.
Photography dates set for pictorial directory
As announced in this space two weeks ago, the Bishop's Committee endorsed our going forward with a locally-produced, non-commercial pictorial directory this fall.
Our new directory will only be valuable if it is complete. Accordingly, our goal is 100% participation. By taking part in our upcoming photography Sundays, you can help us all place names with faces, and create an excellent reference and information source for our church communities. We'll be publishing further detail in weeks to come, but for now, mark your calendar with our photography dates:
Christ Church: Sundays, July 28 and Aug. 11 after church; make-up date,
Sept. 15
Trinity Church: Sundays, July 21 and Aug. 4 after church; make-up date,
Sept. 22
Members of either church may be photographed in either location. | 
