From the Vicar...
Thirteen years ago today
Just to look at this date on the calendar brings feelings of sadness, anger, fear, confusion. Today we mark the 13th anniversary of the tragic bombing of the World Trade Center, an unadulterated act of hatred and violence and evil. Since then we have been at war on two fronts, Afghanistan and Iraq, have brought our troops home from the latter, and today see a new force of evil, the so-called "Islamic State," killing and terrorizing thousands more. Recent events in that volatile part of the world have created deep division among the people of this nation. Today, as we reflect on that, we struggle as a community of faith with the aftermath. Our eyes are blurred and our minds are numb from the relentless images of the victims.
How do we live in hope in times like these? How do we not throw our hands up in despair for the cruelty of humanity?
Some the most enduring images of 9/11 were the aerial shots...the twisted metal and the smoke rising and the stark vacancy where two grand buildings fell and became the grave of three thousand.
I would invite us to consider another image from above and see the world as best as we are able through the eyes of God, whose love and mercy broods over the world permeating tragedy, standing against fear, mitigating anger, offering forgiveness and hope. If we adopt that view, we can live in God's hope and act in God's hope in times like these.
So, on this dark day, as we pray for peace, extend our hands and hearts in compassion, seek God's strength to do what's right, we do so knowing that we bear God's hope into the world. To live in the consciousness of God's kingdom is the source of our hope and our purpose. Might not God's way today be your way and mine? May God bless us all as we live together in hope in these challenging times.
Fr. Chip
Can't we talk about something more pleasant?
End of Life Issues Workshop - Saturday, Sept. 27 at Christ Church
New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast wrote the above-named book about her efforts to get her elderly parents to at least discuss final plans. Planning for the end of life can be difficult. But by deciding what end-of-life decisions best suit your needs when you are healthy, you can help those close to you make the right choices when the time comes.
Advance directives can help make your wishes clear to your family, your clergy, and health care providers. Many of us try to avoid the issue - but death is inevitable and all of us need to deal with it openly and faithfully. Join us Saturday, Sept. 27 from 10 am to noon at Christ Church, Portsmouth. We will discuss the medical, legal and spiritual issues. The workshop is free and open to the public. To save a place call (603) 436-8842.
Seacoast Convocation update
The September meeting of the Seacoast Convocation was held at Trinity Church on Sept. 9. While there were some updates from area congregations about upcoming events, the focus of the meeting was the proposed budget being presented at Diocesan Convention in November. Highlights of that budget include;
- A reduction in the Fair Share asking from each congregation from 16.86% of revenue to 16.5%.
- A folding of the Evangelism Institute into the Lay Leadership Institute to be held in May, 2015. This will save the diocese $13,000.
- Potential changes to the Episcopal News, saving $18,000.
- A reconfiguration of the North Country Ministry with revised funding sources.
- Modest increases in salaries and benefits for Diocesan staff, combined with some realignment of responsibilities for some staff members and the addition of a new part-time Missioner for Communications.
- Bottom line: A balanced budget with a modest 1% overall increase from 2014.
The next Seacoast Convocation meeting will be at St. Thomas' Church, Dover, on Oct. 14. A Convention resolutions preview will be the major focus of the agenda.
Inquirers' classes begin this evening
Weekly at 7 p.m. at Christ Church
This course presents an overview of our Christian Faith, as well as how this faith has been preserved and practiced within the Anglican tradition, of which the Episcopal Church is a part. While offered to prepare candidates for Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal Church, it can also serve as a refresher for long-time members or as an introduction to Christianity for those who have not belonged to a church and wish a deeper understanding of what Anglican/Episcopal Christians believe. All sessions, unless scheduled otherwise to meet the needs of participants, will be held on Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. at Christ Church, Portsmouth.
This evening: Introduction - An overview of the series and its purpose, with some thought given to what is distinctive about Anglican/Episcopal Christianity.
Next Thursday: The Bible - Tracing the roots of our salvation history as recorded in the Holy Scriptures. How do we apply the Bible to our lives today? Exploring ways to study the Bible and some tools to aid our exploration.
Homecoming Sunday
Our next Christ Church cookout is this Sunday, Homecoming Sunday, September 14. The service will at 10:30 on the side lawn; a cookout follows. We welcome home all who we might not have seen in a while - and say a warm hello to our newcomers. We'll also complete photography for our upcoming directory after the service.
Photo Directory update
Our Directory is in the last stages of completion. We have so many new parishioners who need to be included, we've decided to have one more picture day at each church: Sept. 14 at Christ Church; Sept. 28 at Trinity.
Anyone who has not had their picture taken may do so. Even if you are not having your picture taken for the Directory, we still need you to fill a form out, as it covers permission for publishing your photo in the Newsletter, Web Pages and other media.
Upcoming dates
Sept. 11
|
7:00 p.m.
|
Inquirers' Classes begin - Christ Church
|
Sept. 14
|
8:45 a.m.
|
Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church (as usual)
|
|
10:30 a.m.
|
Homecoming Sunday: Outdoor Eucharist and cookout - Christ Church
Directory photography following the service
|
|
|
|
Sept. 20
|
9 a.m. - noon
|
Safe Church training - Christ Church, Exeter
|
Sept. 27
|
9 a.m. - noon
|
Seacoast Convocation program on End-of-Life Issues at Christ Church, Portsmouth - see details in coming weeks
|
|
|
|
Sept . 28
|
8:45 a.m.
|
Homecoming Sunday at Trinity Church - directory photography following the service
|
|
10:30 a.m.
|
Holy Eucharist at Christ Church
|
|
|
|
Oct. 5
|
12:00 noon
|
Blessing of the Animals at Christ Church - outdoors if weather permits
|
Our Shared Ministry Cycle of Prayer
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 using 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...
Sept. 14
|
Little Blessings directors, Diane Lewis & Kelly Coleman, and their staff; Joyce Phoenix of Christ Church; Sally Bowden of Trinity Church
|
Sept. 21
|
Village Pre-School director Ginny Bridle and her staff; Ruth Power of Christ Church; John Kristiansen & LuAnn Gaudet of Trinity Church
|
What is the Discretionary Fund - and how can you help?
The Vicar's Discretionary Fund exists to quietly and confidentially assist people in need either through direct personal aid (helping people with utility bills, rental and heating assistance, etc.) or through participation in community-wide charitable efforts (for example, a community "Fire Fund" for a family burned out of its home).
While honoraria from weddings and funerals form much of the Fund's regular income, individual contributions are also very much needed - particularly at Christ Church, whose Fund carries a very low balance right now. Your gifts go a long way toward our help to people in need.
- Fr. Chip
A new E-News editor for Christ Church
This week, Christ Church is "breaking in" a new editor for its submissions to the E-News. Liza McGuckin is joining our E-News team and will be undergoing training in the online editing program we use ("Constant Contact") for producing the newsletter. We welcome her aboard!
|