I'm going on vacation...but not from God

Every summer all across the Episcopal Church, it seems as if people take a vacation from God. Worship goes on the backburner; summertime fun is moved up to the front. Inevitably, the summer attendance numbers go down. It is as if God's people have decided to take a vacation from God. "We'll see you in the fall, God! Take care!"

God does not take a vacation from us, so why do we often take a vacation from God? Our duty and responsibility as baptized persons is to engage in corporate worship, uniting "ourselves with others to acknowledge the holiness of God, to hear God's Word, to offer prayer, and to celebrate the sacraments." Book of Common Prayer, p. 857. We offer praise to Almighty God not because we want to get something from God, but "because God's being draws praise from us." I don't often celebrate the Rite One version of our Liturgy, but somehow its moving cadences come to mind: "It is meet, right, and our bounden duty, that we should at all times, and in all places, give thanks unto thee, O Lord, holy Father, almighty, everlasting God." BCP, p. 333. It does not say that we should give thanks and praise from September through May, but "at all times, and in all places."

This week, Cindy and I head off to two weeks of vacation. It is our first in three years, as I went straight from Our Saviour, Milford, to Holy Spirit, Plymouth two summers ago without a break - and was working in a secular job that offered no vacation benefits this time last year. It will be good to be away from the day-to-day work of being a priest - but never does that mean our prayers or our worship take a vacation. I urge you - if you are at home this summer, do not neglect coming to Church on Sundays. If you are traveling, then on Sundays, join with others wherever you are to offer praise and thanksgiving to God. Who knows, you might even bring back some new ideas and things for us to try at Christ and Trinity churches. Above all, do not take a vacation from God. God never takes a vacation from us.

In peace,
Fr. Chip

We welcome the Rev. Richard Belshaw while Fr. Chip is on vacation

This Sunday, and again on Aug. 4 & 11, the Rev. Richard W. Belshaw of Durham will be our guest celebrant at both Trinity and Christ churches. Until recently, he was Vicar of St. John the Evangelist Church, Dunbarton. A long-time resident of the Seacoast, he is now serving as a local supply priest. He is also the Facilitator of the We the People ecumenical group in Exeter that plans lectures, panel discussions, and events on contemporary and ethical issues that touch on the spiritual.

Pictorial directory photography continues this Sunday 

This week, our directory photography moves from Trinity Church, where it occurred last Sunday, to Christ Church. Gary Dozier will be set up in the classroom at the south end of the hall immediately following the 10:30 service.

Our remaining photography dates are as follows:                

Christ Church:    Sundays, July 28 and Aug. 11 after church in the Classroom; 
                             make-up date, Sept. 15                  

Trinity Church:   Sunday, Aug. 4 after church in Hobbs Hall;
                             make-up date, Sept. 22

Members of either church may be photographed in either location. If you did not receive information and release forms either by e-mail or by "snail mail," there will be extra copies on hand.

Rolling out our proposed Covenant

On Tuesday, July 16, the combined Bishop's Committees unanimously endorsed the draft Shared Ministry Covenant presented by the Covenant Working Group. Here is the process the Bishop's Committees established for adoption by the congregations at large:

• The final text with an explanatory cover letter will be distributed to all households in both congregations in early September.
• Open non-legislative forums will be held to introduce and discuss the Covenant in both congregations. Christ Church's forum will be after the 10:30 service on Sept. 22; Trinity Church's gathering will follow on Sept. 29 after its 8:45 service.
• Each congregation will hold a special parish meeting in the context of its regular Sunday liturgy on Sunday, Oct. 6. The meeting will take the place of the sermon that day. As a full opportunity for discussion will have occurred at the open forums, this is anticipated to be a straight presentation, motion, and "up or down" vote. An affirmative vote of two-thirds of those present in both congregations will be required for adoption.
• The Covenant, if so adopted, will be sent to the bishop for final approval. If he approves, a signing ceremony will be scheduled allowing him to celebrate with us the signing and inauguration of our Shared Ministry Covenant.

Be watching for the final text in early September.