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December 19, 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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I pray this message for all those who come to Christmas thinking they do not have enough to give. Caught in a consumer culture that shames them if they cannot afford to buy all they feel they should. Hear the healing word of God: what you have to give cannot be bought. Your most precious gifts are the same ones Jesus gave to you. Give your time to those who need you. Give your forgiveness to those who hurt you. Give your love to all around you. You are the gift of God. You are the reason God came, and was born a poor child, and gave not as the world gives, but as only a generous spirit can give, the true spirit of Christmas.
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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Featured Event Headline
Describe the event. Let members know the volunteer opportunities available for the event, and who to contact if they want to help. Add a "Find out more..." link to additional information on your website.
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Featured Event Headline
Describe the event. Let members know the volunteer opportunities available for the event, and who to contact if they want to help. Add a "Find out more..." link to additional information on your website.
Event Details Heading
Date
Time
Location
More Information
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From the Vicar...
The Challenge of Christmas
The brilliant yet eccentric actor, Oscar Levant, once said that if you look behind the phony tinsel of Hollywood, you will find ... the real tinsel. I rather like tinsel on my Christmas tree, and will keep it, thank you very much. When I hold it aside, however, I see not more tinsel, but the challenge of Christmas.
It's a challenge of belief. Jesus did not ever, even once, identify with the poor. He was poor, all the time. There's quite a difference, the difference between interest and commitment. Similarly, Christians do not look at the manger at Christmastime and think of God's identifying with the human condition: they believe that God enters the world and shares our lot. Believing that is the challenge of Christmas.
I say "challenge" because the horrors of human evil are as real now as they were when Jesus was born. The mystery of disease, pain, and suffering, of evil-minded people doing horrific things to their fellow human beings, also remains the greatest unsolved philosophical problem. In a world populated then as now with liars, cheats, bullies, and bureaucrats - in a world where then as now the death rate is one each and there is plenty of suffering - in that world, Christians saw God appearing not as the vengeful warrior for whom some ancient sages had looked, but appearing vulnerable as one can be: as a baby, gently subverting the strong, the loud-mouthed, the manipulators, the arrogant, appearing in simplicity, totally dependent on those around him.
The good news at Christmas is that in vulnerability there can be community. In trust can be found the power of God. In simple honesty with ourselves about ourselves, grace can flourish. In swallowing pride and accepting forgiveness from God or one another, a new creation can take place.
Cindy and I send you our heartfelt love as we anticipate sharing the Christmas challenge with all of you. May God enter your world in a special way this Christmas season.
Blessings of the season,
Fr. Chip
Presiding Bishop's Christmas Message 2013
"May that royal inheritance and authority of the stable be born in you, enliven your heart, and rest on your shoulders."
Christmas message 2013
For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
Isaiah pronounces these words to a people who remember the yoke of slavery laid on their shoulders. They've been waiting for this child, whose birth transforms that yoke into a mantle of authority. They are promised that this authority will continue to grow as the peaceable commonwealth is established - with justice and righteousness for all, and for ever.
This promise is spoken anew to people in every age, to those who have lived under oppression or in dark depression, to the hungry and ill and imprisoned. The birth we celebrate offers hope, in Word made flesh, who comes among us to heal and walk this way with us. The mantle of authority on his shoulders begins in the swaddling clothes of a child born in the humblest of circumstances. Yet that authority is recognized even by foreigners from far away. That mantle of authority does continue to grow, through a life offered for others, raised into new life, and passed on to new generations of fleshly God-bearers. Wherever justice and righteousness is done, that authority is growing, borne on the shoulders of the Prince of Peace.
He comes again, bearing the grace of the One whose image he wears in flesh. Seek him, sing his new song, declare his glory, and tell out the good news to all the nations: God reigns, and he is coming bearing righteousness and truth on his shoulders.
May you discover that humble authority born again on the edges of the world's notice. May that royal inheritance and authority of the stable be born in you, enliven your heart, and rest on your shoulders. Bear it abroad in peace, this year and throughout the ages.
The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
Christmastide at Christ Church and Trinity Church |
Christmas Eve
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December 24
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| 4:30 p.m. | Carol Sing at Christ Church followed by... |
| 5:00 p.m.
| Festival Holy Eucharist of the Nativity at Christ Church with children's sermon and involving children of the congregation and Little Blessings |
| 7:30 p.m. | Carol Sing at Trinity Church followed by... |
| 8:00 p.m. | Festival Holy Eucharist of the Nativity at Trinity Church with music and choir |
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Christmas Day
| December 25 |
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| 10:00 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite One, with Hymns at Trinity Church |
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Eve of I Christmas
| December 28 |
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| 5:00 p.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite One at Trinity Church |
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I Christmas
| December 29 |
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| 8:45 a.m. | A Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols at Trinity Church |
| 10:30 a.m. | A Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols at Christ Church |
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Feast of the Holy Name
| January 1 |
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| 10:00 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite Two, in the Christ Church Chapel |
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Eve of the Epiphany
| January 4 |
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| 5:00 p.m. | An Epiphany Feast of Lights at Trinity Church - a quiet candlelight celebration |
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Feast of the Epiphany
| January 5 |
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| 8:45 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite Two, at Trinity Church |
| 10:30 a.m. | Holy Eucharist, Rite Two, at Christ Church |
| 3:00 p.m. | Seacoast-wide Choral Epiphany Celebration - with massed choirs from several area churches -
First Congregational Church
127 Winnacunnet Rd., Hampton |
Christmas Home Communion The Sacrament of Holy Eucharist is available to any church member at home or in the hospital who desires to receive it. Fr. Chip will be setting aside time during Christmas week to make visits. If you find yourself temporarily sick or confined at home or in the hospital and would like communion brought to you, please call the shared ministry office, 603-926-5688, to set up a convenient time. Another 'Blue Christmas' service to suggest Saturday, December 22nd at 5 p.m. at St. John's Church, Portsmouth Several people responded positively to last week's listing of a 'Blue Christmas' service at St. Georges's in York, Me. - but found its Tuesday evening time difficult (and that was before snow made it impossible). This service is a bit closer to home - at St John's Church , 101 Chapel St., Portsmouth. For thos who haven't heard of a 'Blue Christmas' service, it is a time when we can, with others, acknowledge the "blue" feelings we have at Christmas time, the reasons for them, and offer them to God. some of us may be experiencing a sense of loss: loss of a job, loss of health, loss of a relationship. It is not accidental that this service follows the winter solstice, the shortest day and the longest night of the year. In this service of prayer, candlelight, and quiet music, we seek comfort that we are not alone, and we invite our great sign of hope, Emmanuel, God-with-us, to break through the darkness of our lives Bishop's Committee meeting postponed due to snowstorm Our Tuesday evening snowstorm this week caused the postponement of our scheduled Bishop's Committee meeting. It has been rescheduled for Monday, Dec. 30 at 6 p.m. at Christ Church. |
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Seacoast Choral Epiphany Celebration
Sunday, Jan. 5 at 3 p.m. at First Congregational Church, Hampton
What a joy it is to share with you that there will be six participating churches in the 2014 Choral Epiphany Celebration on Sunday, January 5, at 3 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, UCC, in Hampton! Our own choir, under the direction of Alexis Zaricki, is among those participating, and our two churches will be responsible for one of the portions of the service.
Choirs from several of the participating churches will sing anthems of the season, and at the end of the service, a massed choir from all six churches will sing "A Carol of Hope" by Besig and Price. The text of this piece is just perfect for concluding the Christmas Season and carrying the message through the year.
Be watching for more details as they become available.
It's that time of year already...
Annual Meetings are coming up in both of our churches this January, the dates for which will be announced subsequent to next week's Bishop's Committee meeting. But...whatever the dates are, this much we know: Annual Reports are due from all ministry chairs and coordinators no later than Friday, Jan. 3. Please e-mail your report (if at all possible) to Nita in the Shared Ministry Office: admin@trinityhampton.org. Written reports can be mailed to the office at 200 High St., Hampton, NH 03842 for either church.
Bereavement support groups
Rockingham VNA & Hospice will be offering three separate Bereavement Support Groups this January. A General Group will be held on Monday afternoons from 1:00-2:30 p.m. Jan. 13-Feb. 17. A Motherless Daughter Group as well as a General Group will be held on Tuesday evenings from 5:30-7:00 Jan. 14-Feb. 18. To register, call Lee Maher or Dick Munsey at 772-2981. These groups are free to the public, but must have four registered participants each.
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You're invited!
To all Trinity & Christ Church parishioners:
Liz & Lynda invite you to stop by their home at 14 Kensington Road
(Route 84) in Hampton Falls on Sunday, December 22nd for a Christmas Festivity beginning at 2 pm.
Nothing to buy or sell. No committees and no pledges to be made. We would like you to bring a canned good or a non-perishable (toothbrush, shampoo, tampax etc) that we will share with Crossroads shelter and the Trinity Food Pantry.
Please stop by and join us in some seasonal beverages and appetizers. Thanks to those who have already RSVP'ed and hope to see many of you Sunday.
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Music Ministry
Please consider joining one of our choirs. 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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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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