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From the Vicar...
A more meaningful way to pray for each other in the New Year
Over the past several weeks, I have heard from parishioners that, perhaps, the time has come to "retire" our Shared Ministry Prayer as recited at the conclusion of the Prayers of the People each week. The thought expressed is that it has become so "rote" that it no longer carries much by way of meaning - and, now that our Covenant is signed, it seems time to take our prayer for one another and the ministries we share to the "next step."
After some thought and prayer, I have come to the conclusion that our "next step" will be to offer a "Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer" within each week's Prayers of the People that highlights some aspect of the ministry we share and offers our prayers for one or more households from each congregation. About once every five or six weeks, we will use the Shared Ministry Prayer in place of the Cycle of Prayer, just to keep the thoughts expressed in that Collect before us.
This new Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer is offered as a way to pray for one another in a deliberate way throughout the year. By naming ministries that, perhaps, some at one church or the other might not know about, we come to know of the various ways we offer ourselves to the larger community. By naming our members and their households, we bring before God the needs of those families and help folks in each church come to know the names of their brothers and sisters in Christ in the other.
Both of our churches are communities that pray for and support one another. Please feel free to speak with me if you have specific intentions to offer as your household's name comes up in the Cycle; we will name those concerns as we offer our prayers.
Fr. Chip
Our Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer for January
| Jan | 5 | Christ Church Altar Guild; Barbara Allen; Jim Ashworth; Dawn Ayer | | 12 | Trinity Church Altar Guild; Sarah Wolf Boyd & Graeme Boyd; Mary Lou Barrett | | 19 | Trinity Church Annual Meeting; David Burke & Mike Shepherd; Phoebe & Robert | | | Bischoff and family | | 26 | Christ Church Annual Meeting; Bruce Chambers; Bill & Monika Bottlinger |
Notes on the Dec. Bishop's Committee meeting
After a snow delay from the original date of Dec. 17, the Bishop's Committee at last met on Dec. 30 and completed a number of important tasks as the calendar turns over to a new year.
Fr. Chip provided an update on our upcoming "Come and See" campaign. A $9,000 grant is being sought from the diocesan Evangelism Commission to underwrite mailing and publicity costs for the campaign. Our three "Come and See" Sundays are Feb. 16 & 23 and Mar. 2. Training will begin in Jan., with sermons in both churches and a 20-minute training session at each church's Annual Meeting: Jan. 19 at Trinity Church; Jan. 26 at Christ Church.
A proposal was presented for a "Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer" for 2014, replacing our weekly use of the Shared Ministry Collect at the Prayers of the People. See the article above for details.
It was unanimously voted (with one abstention) to provide Fr. Chip the authorization to fund a single Vicar's Discretionary Fund with the contributions of members in both churches. This will save bank charges over our current arrangement, and give him the flexibility to meet needs wherever they arise without regard to originating church. No other funds, including operating funds, would be shared by the two churches.
Budgets for both churches were approved unanimously. At Christ Church, at $77,500 budget was passed, with a less-than-$500 deficit (compared with a $5,000+ deficit this year). At Trinity, a $114,000 budget with a $1,200 deficit was approved. Our year-end estimate for 2013 showed a $3,000 deficit - but that represents a considerable reduction from the $26,000 anticipated as the year began.
The individual Bishop's Committees then met to consider matters pertinent to the individual congregations:
Christ Church:
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The Little Blessings budget for 2014 was approved. It contains a surplus - a considerable achievement!
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A Capital Campaign update was provided. More about this will be said at Annual Meeting.
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It was sadly decided that the time has come to "retire" the Holy Roller bus. It is costing too much to inspect, register, insure and repair for the little use it is getting. Efforts will be made to sell or donate it locally.
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The slate for elections at Annual Meeting was reviewed; a few additional people still need to be found to complete the ballot.
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Craig Davis reported on difficulties we are having with our new electric water heater. A replacement on warranty will be sought, as three attempts have been made to repair it without success.
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The time has come to retire the current copier. A proposal was reviewed, but there were concerns about overage charges, etc. We will wait to act until we see an actual contract outlining all the "fine print."
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The roof repairs over the Hobbs House stage are complete - but now the interior work must be done. Robert Bischoff is taking charge of this with volunteer labor.
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The election slate was reviewed here as well, and it appears the ballot will be fully populated by Annual Meeting time.
Finally, it was noted that Bishop Hirschfeld will be with us for a special Bishop's Committee meeting in January. He is making the rounds of all Vestries and Bishop's Committees in the diocese, and we will welcome him at Christ Church on Thursday, Jan. 23.
Full minutes will be posted when they become available. The regular Jan. meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at Trinity Church.
Offering envelopes
This year, as a cost-saving measure, we are only preparing packets of offering envelopes for those who requested them on their stewardship pledge form in November. If you did not request envelopes, but would like a set, please speak with Nita in the Shared Ministry office at 926-5688 and specify whether you want weekly, monthly, or quarterly envelopes. Those who requested envelopes at Christ Church will find them in their mailboxes this Sunday. Those at Trinity who requested them will find them on the table in the Narthex.
Christmastide continues at Christ Church and Trinity Church
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Eve of the Epiphany
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January 4
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5:00 p.m.
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An Epiphany Feast of Lights at Trinity Church
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a quiet candlelight celebration
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II Christmas
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January 5
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8:45 a.m.
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Holy Eucharist, Rite Two, at Trinity Church
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10:30 a.m.
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Holy Eucharist, Rite Two, at Christ Church
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3:00 p.m.
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Seacoast-wide Choral Epiphany Celebration
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with massed choirs from several area churches
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First Congregational Church
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127 Winncunnet Rd., Hampton
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Two Epiphany celebrations for your consideration...
Epiphany Feast of Lights
Trinity Church - Saturday, Jan. 4 at 5 p.m.
The Feast of Lights is one of the oldest observances of the Christian Church dating back to the Fourth Century after Christ. A moving, candlelight service, it celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the world.
The service begins with the Order of Worship for the Evening from the Book of Common Prayer. As the Order concludes, the lights and candles in the church are dimmed or extinguished. Then, in the darkness, the Paschal candle, which stands just behind the altar, is lighted, signifying the Light of Christ. From its light are then lighted twelve candles, which stand on the altar, symbolizing the twelve apostles to whom that light was first given.
From there, a candle on the Pavement before the altar is lit, recognizing the singular achievements of St. Paul in spreading that Good News to the larger world. Next, four candles in a wreath are lit, each symbolizing one of the great traditions of Christianity. The first is for Orthodox Christianity, the second, Roman Catholicism, the third, Anglican Christianity, and the last, Protestantism.
Finally, the light is spread to all the gathered worshipers, as each person in the congregation lights a candle, first directly from the Paschal candle, as the ultimate source, but then, as the light spreads, from one another. At the end, the whole church is ablaze with the Light of Christ, and by that light the Officiant offers the Epiphany Blessing.
Seacoast Choral Epiphany Celebration
First Congregational Church, Hampton - Sunday, Jan. 5 at 3 p.m.
On Sunday afternoon, Jan. 5 at 3 p.m., there will be six participating churches in the 2014 Choral Epiphany Celebration 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.
Annual Meetings ... and Annual Reports
Annual Meetings are coming up in both of our churches this January. At Trinity Church, the meeting will follow the 8:45 a.m. service on Sunday, Jan. 19. At Christ Church, the meeting will be at Noon on Sunday, Jan. 26.
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.
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