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December 5, 2013
News from the Shared Ministry
of Christ Church Portsmouth & Trinity Church Hampton
In the Episcopal Diocese of NH
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E-News Archives |
Worship Services
The Rev. David "Chip" Robinson
Vicar
All people of faith are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Lord's Table
Christ Episcopal Church
1035 Lafayette Road
Portsmouth, NH 03801
Rite II at 10:30 am
Coffee Hour follows
Clergy office hours
Tues & Thurs 9am-12noon
200 High St.
Hampton, NH 03842
Saturday Rite l at 5pm
Rite II at 8:45 am
Coffee Hour after the service
Clergy office hours
Mon & Wed 9am-12 noon
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Jean Shula
Linda McVay
603-430-9888 (home) 603-988-9755 (cell) |
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Episcopal Churches on the Seacoast
Seacoast Convocation
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Ministry Schedule
Christ Church
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"When the hour is late and the world is quiet, when prayers are being said and dreams are being sought, then the space between this life and the life to come draws thin, and if you look with eyes of the Spirit you will see your ancestors watching over you, watching just beyond the candle light, keeping their gentle vigil through the night, offering their wisdom in words too still to speak. You are being blessed by those who loved you most. You are safe in their care. The air around you is filled with a ceaseless benediction, your life held secure in hearts as pure as holy."
The Rt. Rev. Steven Charleston
Shared from Steven Charleston's facebook page
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Going into the hospital?
Due to privacy laws, churches are no longer routinely informed if you or a loved one is admitted to the hospital. Please be sure you let us know when and where you will be a patient so we can be in touch with you and include you in our prayers and healing ministry. Don't assume the Vicar knows - he would much rather hear from several people than from no one!
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From the Vicar...
Advent and Christmas: Seasons of "Amazing Grace"
In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul greets his readers: "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." At first reading, this address may appear to be parallel to the opening in a letter that might be sent today, "Dear friend, I hope this letter finds you well." Grace, however, is no casual wish. Grace is not to be taken for granted.
C.S. Lewis remarked that grace is what separates Christianity from all of the other religions. Grace is simply, and profoundly, God's unconditional love poured out on the world. Grace is unconditional! It is not dependent on anything that we do, or don't do. Grace can't be earned. It can't be bought or bartered or traded. Grace is God's gift of love, given lavishly wherever, whenever God chooses. Grace brings us joy and healing, forgiveness of our sins, the capacity to forgive one another, reconciliation. One could say it wraps up and summarizes every truth conveyed through the Holy Eucharist, and the great events of Christmas and Easter.
We human beings can, however, restrict the flow of grace by our actions, our busy lifestyles, long-established, dysfunctional family patterns of interacting with each other. Philip Yancey refers to this blockage as "ungrace." "Ungrace plays like the background static of life for families, nations, and institutions. It is, sadly, our natural human state." ("What's So Amazing About Grace?" pg. 83) This concept of ungrace is traditionally known as human sin. Too often in modern language we speak of sin as an immoral action, while "ungrace" reaches out to capture blockages to grace that are not the result of direct human choice or action.
Our Eucharistic prayer addresses God saying: "In your infinite love you made us for yourself; and, when we had fallen into sin and become subject to evil and death, you, in your mercy, sent Jesus Christ, your only and eternal Son, to share our human nature, to live and die as one of us, to reconcile us to you, the God and Father of all." That's grace! The Incarnation is the ultimate gift of unconditional love, that when we least deserved it, God chose to be born a human infant, that we might better come to understand God's love for us.
As we move through Advent and into Christmas, I pray that all impediments that restrict the flow of grace in your life - and our common life as a Christian community - will be wiped away. May each of us enjoy the fullness of God's grace, manifest in the birth of God's only son, Jesus.
In God's wondrous grace,
Fr. Chip
Advent Quiet Day, Saturday, Dec. 14
9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon in the Christ Church chapel
Advent is often billed as a season of preparation for Christmas. It is that, but it is so much more. Advent waiting is filled with hope and expectation that carries us far beyond Christmas. Our Advent Quiet Day will explore the Promise that makes such hope and expectation possible.
We will meet in the context of the Eucharist as follows:
9:00 a.m. Opening Thoughts and Liturgy of the Word
9:30 a.m. First Meditation followed by Silence for Reflection
10:10 a.m. Second Meditation followed by Silence for Reflection
10:50 a.m. Third Meditation followed by Silence for Reflection
11:30 a.m. Liturgy of the Table
All in both congregations are welcome. The Meditations are designed so you can come and go as your availability allows. Though they build on one another in certain ways, each is self-contained so you can attend the Quiet Day either in whole or in part.
Christmas Flowers
Our altars at Christ Church and Trinity Church always look astonishingly beautiful on Christmas thanks to your sponsorship of flowers. If you would like to sponsor Christmas poinsettias, please provide the names of the donor(s) and those being memorialized, or in thanksgiving for whom the flowers are being given.
At Christ Church, flower envelopes are available on the table outside the Marshall Room. A donation of $13 per plant is suggested. Please make checks payable to the Christ Church Altar Flower Fund. The deadline is Sunday, Dec. 15.
At Trinity Church, please place your orders with Altar Guild coordinator Alberta True (926-8252) by Sunday, Dec. 8 and let her know how many you would like to order and your color choices from the list below. Then be sure to place your payment, marked "flowers," in the offering plate or mail to the Parish Office. One potted plant 6 ½" = $13 ($1 less than last year!). Color choices are: red, white, pink, and burgundy.
More about our Christ Church Capital Campaign
Last week in this space, we introduced our upcoming Capital Campaign for Christ Church. In that article, we noted that the approach the Bishop's Committee has endorsed is a well-executed three-year capital campaign that allows people to spread their giving in an affordable, more painless manner. This week, we'll outline the basic steps that lie ahead.
This week: What are the basic steps ahead?
Here are the basic steps that will be unfolding over the next several weeks and months:
- Identify and Agree on Scope of the Campaign. In this step, we will identify what the church needs and why. Is loan repayment for the boiler our only goal - or do we use this as an opportunity to make other repairs and/or upgrades? Do we repay monies we've borrowed internally from our endowment? Whatever is decided, the church's leaders must agree on it and commit to it. (This step is currently underway.)
- Recruit Campaign Team. The Campaign Team consists of people in the parish community who are well known and respected and who can lend various kinds of expertise to the campaign. They will be the ones who carry out many of the tasks outlined below, calling on a broad base of help from the congregation at large so that no one person is burdened with too large a share of the workload. (Also currently underway.)
- Determine "Working Goal" Amount. How much needs to be raised? More realistically, how much can be raised? Setting a "working goal" includes budgeting for the costs of administering the campaign and contingencies. This will be among the first tasks of the Campaign Team.
- Develop the Campaign Plan & Timeline. This is a Working Plan for the campaign and is used to manage the campaign. It needs to include the "who, what, and when" of all the tasks of the campaign. Another early task of the Campaign Team.
- Develop Case Statement. The Case Statement is a document that is used in soliciting donors. It describes the need and provides all the pertinent details about the campaign. In most cases, this takes the form of a campaign brochure.
- Develop a Campaign Gift Table. A Gift Table helps determine how many gifts are needed and of what size. It gives you a place to start when you begin evaluating donor prospects. A future installment in this series will outline a "sample table" for a campaign of the size and scope we are anticipating.
- Identify Donor Prospects. Gather the Campaign Team and any additional people who might have pertinent knowledge and brainstorm about potential donors for the campaign. Think through who might give and at what amount. Take into consideration "friends of the congregation" as well as members.
- Ask Donors for Gifts. During this phase, we will have teams of two make calls (some in person, some by phone) to explain the campaign, and ask potential donors for a gift, given weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually over a three-year period.
- Thank Donors. This is the time to make sure donors know how much we appreciate their support. A thank you letter confirming the donor's pledge will be sent to each contributor.
- Celebrate - and Launch the Giving Period. Thank all the volunteers who joined the Campaign Team in working on the campaign and gave of themselves to raise the money. This often takes the form of a celebratory dinner. Then...the three-year period for fulfilling campaign donations begins.
Next week in this space, we will begin to outline some of the specifics of the campaign we are planning for 2014-17.
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Sunday, Dec. 8, 4 p.m.
Treat yourself and your family/friends to a repertoire of lovely holiday songs, as the New Hampshire Gay Men's Chorus performs its Winter 2013 concert series, A Rose in Winter.
The concert will feature sweet sounds of the season, celebratiing Christmas, Hanukkah, and other holiday traditions. The program also showcases a talented young lady, guest soloist Soprano Sarah Chadwick, who will sing Lo How a Rose and other delightful selections, backed by the chorus. Ms. Chadwick also happens to be the daughter of bass Wes Chadwick and sister of baritone Sean Chadwick - also singing on stage. It's the NhGMC's "Sweet 16th" year, so don't miss this very sweet holiday performance!
National Episcopal Church Women - 16 Days of Activism
The National Episcopal Church Women organization is commemorating the 2013 16 Days Campaign to advocate for awareness and action on the multi-faceted intersections of gender-based violence and militarism, while highlighting the connection between the struggle for economic and social rights and ending gender-based violence. For more information about this, including a poem by former Christ Church parishioner, Margaret Faulk click here.
Christ Church Christmas Fair
The Christ Church Christmas Fair is Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. We still need items for the White Elephant and Craft Tables.
The Cookie Walk - bakers, start your ovens! The 'best cookie walk' on the seacoast needs you! Bring your goodies either Friday evening or Saturday morning
Donate used books, CD's and DVD's, seasonal and costume jewelry and knitted pieces, too!
Planning on donating a gift basket for the silent auction? Please let Cindy know so that labels can be made out ahead of time.
If you have any questions, contact one of our three co-chairs; Tena Wolf, Paula Kidder or Katie Towler.
Advent quiet Morning
My Parker River chapter of the Companions is holding an Advent quiet morning At St Peter's church Beverly, MA Saturday, December 14 starting at 9:15. Free and lunch is provided. I will be going and can pick people up at church to leave about 8 am that day. Or I can give them more information if the email me- Betty Lane - at bquality@comcast.net or call me at 603-742-4063.
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Music Ministry
Please join us as our choirs prepare for the upcoming holiday season.
Trinity Church's choir meets in rehearsal on Sundays at 8 a.m. At Christ Church, the rehearsal follows the 10:30 a.m. service. Joint rehearsals are held Thursday evening at 7 p.m.
Every voice is welcome; every voice is special; every voice is needed.
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SAFE CHURCH TRAINING
The Episcopal Diocese of New Hampshire has revised the Safe Church Policy during the summer of 2013. The curriculum for Safe Church Training now consists of three hours of online training and three hours of class training. On-line Modules must be completed prior to attending any Safe Church Class.
Anyone in need of refresher training is asked to take the new Initial Safe Church Training. Refresher training is required every three years vs. five years.
Please register with your Safe Church Minister. At Christ Church, contact Patsy Tremblay at pehjat@comcast.net or call 603-205-2195. At Trinity Church, contact Patrice Wood at phwood2013@gmail.com
Training classes will resume in the spring.
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Church Ministries
- Saturdays: Food Pantry at Hobbs House Trinity. 10:00 am - noon year round (Sandi Nickerson, Gordon Lane & Thelma Hutton)
- 1st Saturday of the month: Portsmouth Salvation Army Suppers, 4:00 pm - 6:00 pm (Susan Ott)
- 1st Sundays of the month: Pastoral Visit to the Oceanside Rehabilitation Center, Hampton (Bob Main & Belinda Wilkes)
Hobbs House at Trinity Church
Providing transportation assistance to eligible seniors and others with medical mobility issues. Currently serving the NH seacoast communities of Exeter, Greenland, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Kensington, North Hampton, Rye, Stratham and Seabrook. Contact: 603-926-9026
Dress4 School Success If your ministry is missing from this list please send an email to porthamp@gmail.com |
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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.
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Contacts
The Rev. David "Chip" Robinson, Vicar
Christ Episcopal Church, 1035 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801
phone: 603-436-8842
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-Noon
Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 High Street, Hampton, NH 03842
Shared Ministry Administrator: Nita Niemczyk phone: 603-926-5688
Office hours: Monday-Friday from 9:00-1:00 |
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