From the Vicar...

Now this is Easter weather!

"Now this is Easter weather," I thought as I walked up to the front doors of Trinity church last week. Yes, I know the Easter season lasts 50 days - until Pentecost - but I meant Easter Day. And here it was the fifth Sunday of Easter before I could finally say, "At last! Easter weather!"

Growing up in the Mid-Atlantic region, I still always expect Easter Day to be 70 degrees and sunny with birds chirping and azaleas popping. And here in New Hampshire it never is. There's a seasonal tradeoff to living in New England of course - a white Christmas was rare indeed in my native Delaware.

Our hopes and expectations don't always match up with the reality. That's not a great news flash but to me that's just part of the human condition. Casting our hopes and expectations on Jesus won't make the tulips bloom on Easter Day or cause snow to start falling just as the Christmas Eve Eucharist is ending.

But it does help us transcend the small things we hope for that, in the grand scheme of life, are small concerns. It helps us enjoy beautiful days when they come and maintain perspective when they don't. Of course it isn't just about the weather - which we can't control - but about the choices we make - which we can.

In a matter of weeks the September to June "Program Year" will be winding down. Some go away for much of the summer; others like to take a "church vacation" even though they're right here in town. But I encourage you to commit to remaining faithful - to make that choice - to maintain your worship and prayer life whether you're in town or not. With God there are no "seasons" of the year and every day, regardless of the weather, is a beautiful gift.

In Christ,

Fr. Chip

Our Celebrant on May 31 and June 1

On Saturday and Sunday, May 31 and June 1, our Celebrant at both churches will be the Rev. David Plank. David and his wife Fran are regular communicants at Trinity Church, and spent much of their ministry in shared ministries such as ours in the Diocese of Long Island. We warmly welcome him to our altars that weekend.

We will be reading the lesson from Acts on Pentecost (June 8th) in a variety of languages in both churches. We have several translations, and are looking for people to read them. So if you speak something other than English, see Betty Lane (at Christ Church) or Fr. Chip (at Trinity) this Sunday to volunteer to help enrich our Pentecost celebration.

Join us as Christ Church, Portsmouth, hosts a Seacoast Convocation Pentecost Taizé service. This 7:00 p.m. service of prayer, song and contemplation is sponsored by all six of our Seacoast Episcopal congregations, and will be offered to the general public. If you have not experienced a worship service in the style of the Taizé community in France, you have missed an extraordinary worship opportunity. Be watching next week's E-News for further details on this beautiful and meditative service.

"Grubby Sunday" clean-up June 1 at Christ Church

This spring's "Grubby Sunday" clean-up at Christ Church will occur on Sunday, June 1, with a general clean-up of the church grounds and such season projects as placing screens in the windows and air conditioners in the offices. As always, "many hands make light work," so come in your jeans and "grubbies" and join us!   - Craig Davis and Paul Seward-

Shared Ministry Office Memorial Day Office Hours:

A job for Ayyad?

This week, we learned that Trinity parishioner Ayyad Erian is losing his job, as his son's business, Tate's in the Fox Run Mall, is closing. If you know of any possibilities for Ayyad, who has limited English but unlimited enthusiasm and faith, please be in touch with me.- Fr. Chip 

Our Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer this week and next

Each week, in both of our churches, we pray for one ministry we share and one or two households in each church. About once every six weeks, we will instead use the Shared Ministry Collect we prayed throughout the opening months of our Shared Ministry.

In our prayers the next two weeks, we give God thanks for... 

Women Singing Out

 

Women's Singing Out's second concert of their 2014 season will be presented on Saturday, June 7th at 7 pm and Sunday, June 8th at 3 pm at Christ Church. This Spring Concert celebrates the beauty and fierceness of the natural world. Join us for a musical journey that will restore your soul, motivate you, and make you smile! See Betty Lane or Suzanne George for tickets.

 

Women Singing OUT! will also be performing at NH Audubon's 100 Year Anniversary Celebration at the Massabesic Audubon Center in Auburn, New Hampshire, on Sunday, June 1st at 3:00pm. Tickets can be purchased by calling 603-668-2045

  

  

Call to Personal and Global Transformation

 

God, as Lover and Healer, ever invites us to new possibilities and to believe in our potential to make a difference in the midst of our violent and hurting world. Through Scripture, contemporary stories, and poetry, we will be stretched and challenged to believe in our call to become mystics, saints and prophets. We will laugh, cry and celebrate as we recognize more deeply the presence and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. This program will be presented at Adelynrood in Newbury, MA, May 30 - June 1 (Friday dinner - Sunday lunch) by award-winning author, poet, missioner and retreat leader, Edwina Gateley.  (See www.edwinagateley.com)

 

Contact Betty Lane or go to www.adelynrood.org for additional information.