From the Vicar...

Hearing your stories helps me shape my giving

 

Over the past two years, we have asked members of our churches to share with all of us some of the reasons that they support the work we do here as the Body of Christ. It is one thing for me as Vicar to suggest reasons why you might wish to make and sustain a pledge of commitment to your Church, be it Trinity or Christ Church. It is another for you to hear why your brothers and sisters in the pews do this, sometimes giving sacrificially of their time, talent, and treasure.

 

I have discovered through hearing your stories that you make your pledge for many reasons. One parishioner shared that she gives out of a sense of thanksgiving, describing how the liturgy, music, and fellowship have helped her through sickness, sadness, and loneliness since the passing of her husband. Another affirmed that "giving is an ongoing practice of offering thanks to God by sharing your gifts and showing gratitude." Still another spoke of how "it seemed common sense to contribute to the community if I was going to participate in it."

 

Whatever your motivation, I am grateful for the generous support our parishioners have offered to underwrite the work and ministry of our two churches. You have said that what we do here is important not just for each of us as individuals, but for the broader community, for the mission and witness of the Church on the Seacoast, for the ways in which we assist God in the divine work of reconciliation and love.

 

Through these years of the "birth" of our Shared Ministry we have grown. We have seen a 10% percent increase in pledge income and a 25% percent increase in weekend attendance at Trinity; and, this fall, we have seen a surge in attendance at Christ Church, with as many as 47 in church on Homecoming Sunday and 40 this past Sunday. Pledge income is up at Christ Church as well: about an 8% increase. Furthermore, we have more people who have increased their pledges than decreased or held the line on their pledges - in both churches. This is, indeed, a testament to your faithfulness and to your gratitude. It is a sign of your faith in our work and in the ability of Christian community to make a difference in peoples' lives, make a difference in the world.

 

In this spirit, I would ask each and every one of you to pray carefully about what you will pledge for the coming year and complete and return the pledge form you will receive in your mailbox later this month. I especially encourage those of you who can to consider increasing your pledge, making it an intentional offering proportional to your economic ability to give.

 

Our Stewardship Team also hopes that those who did not make a formal pledge in past years will consider making one now, especially those of you who already give, and give generously, on a regular basis. Each person making a financial pledge for the coming year helps us determine our budgets so that we can continue our important work together.

 

Regardless of the amount of money you pledge, I hope that you will continue the pledge you make with your bodies to come and worship, receive the Sacrament, and participate in our ministries. We have made great strides in these past two years, and I look forward to our next steps in ministry together.

 

Faithfully,

Fr. Chip

 

 

Daytime Bible Study moves to Mondays at 1:00 p.m. at Trinity Church

 

Interested in exploring the Bible, but can't attend Wednesday night's fascinating session? Then this may be for you. Our daytime Bible Study in the Guild Room in Hobbs House has now moved to a 1:00 to 2:15 p.m. time slot. We will explore the Minor Prophets. No need to attend every session. No previous Bible Study experience necessary. "Come and See."  

David Plank+

 

 

Healing Service

 

Our next Saturday evening Healing service at Trinity will be on October 18, at 5:00 p.m. Everyone is welcome to attend the service, which includes healing of mind, body, and spirit through laying on of hands, prayers, and anointing with holy oil. Holy Eucharist will also be celebrated at this peaceful service. In November, the healing service at Christ Church will be on the 2nd at 10:30 a.m. Please feel welcome to attend.

 

 

Coming up in our Inquirers' class

 

Due to the travel plans of some of those who have been coming to our weekday evening series, we have changed our schedule for the next session of our Inquirers' Class:

 

Thursday, Oct. 23: The Sacraments: Holy Eucharist and the Other Sacramental Rites beginning with an "Instructed Eucharist" in the Christ Church Chapel at 6:30 p.m.

 

Remaining sessions will be Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Christ Church as previously scheduled.

 

 

2014 Stewardship Campaign begins this week 

 

Our 2014 joint Pledge Campaign, under the theme, "Anchored Together in Christ," will be underway starting this Sunday. The generosity of the members of our two churches supports our journey to do God's work, support our churches financially, and spread the word of Jesus Christ in the Seacoast area.

 

Watch your mailbox for our first mailing from the Stewardship Committee - it goes out Oct. 20. Meanwhile, this Sunday, we will hear "Ministry Minutes" (personal thankfulness stories to learn first-hand how your fellow parishioners have flourished in their faith through intentional giving) from Peter Monte of Christ Church and Fran Plank of Trinity.

 

Oct. 18/19, 25/26	All Services	United Thank Offering Ingathering; 2014 Pledge Campaign  begins; ChIPs drive
Sat., Oct. 25	7:00 p.m.	"Celia Thaxter" Presentation with Stephanie Voss Nugent - Trinity Church
Sat./Sun., Nov. 1/2	All Services	All Saints' Celebrations - see article below
Sun., Nov. 16	10:30 a.m.	Bishop's Visit to Shared Ministry - hosted by Christ Church; reception to follow There will be a brief 8:45 a.m. service at Trinity that morning for those who cannot attend this service.

 

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...

 

Oct. 19	Christ Church's choir; Betty Raitt of Christ Church; Clayton & Beverly Dearth of Trinity Church
Oct. 26	Diocesan Delegates & Alternates from both churches as they prepare to attend Diocesan Convention; Chip & Cindy Robinson, who attend both churches; Thelma Hutton of Trinity Church

  

Gifts for ChIPs

 

Children of Incarcerated Parents (ChIPs) is a diocesan program that provides Christmas presents (toys and books) for children ages birth to 18 whose parents are in prison. Every age is important when it comes to this program, but we hold a special place for the teenagers, who often get overlooked when folks go toy shopping for this program.

 

If you would like to make a donation for the ChIPs Christmas giving there will be a special collection box at each church on Oct. 19 & 26 and Nov. 2. Here are some guidelines for the gifts:

• If you choose a gift that requires batteries, include them, attached to the gift.
• Consider buying a gift that would be equally appropriate for either sex.
• We cannot accept used items, homemade gifts, gift cards, jewelry, balloons, crayons, play-doh, clothing, sharp tools or weapons of any kind.
• If you wish to provide a cash gift to enable the diocesan Prison Concerns Committee to purchase a gift, please make your check payable to the Diocese of New Hampshire with "ChIPs" in the memo line.

 

United Thank Offering Ingathering 

Oct. 19 and 26

 

Gracious God, source of all creation, all love, all true joy: Accept we pray, these outward signs of our profound and continuing thankfulness for all of life. Keep each of us ever thankful for all the blessings of joy and challenge that come our way. Bless those who will benefit from these gifts through the Outreach of the United Thank Offering. This we ask through Him who is the greatest gift and blessing of all, Jesus Christ. Amen.

 

The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of the Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, men, women, and children nurture the habit of giving daily thanks to God. These prayers of thanksgiving start when we recognize and name our many daily blessings. Those who participate in UTO discover that thankfulness leads to generosity. UTO monies support mission and ministry throughout the Episcopal Church and in invited Provinces of the Anglican Communion in the developing world.

 

There are UTO "blue boxes" in the Narthex at Trinity and in the hallway at Christ Church. Take one home; make using it a daily habit. We will have a UTO collection on Sunday, Oct. 19 and 26. Count out the change you've collected and write a check for that amount to your church (with UTO on the memo line) to put in the collection plate, and we will add it to other congregations' offerings during the annual Diocesan Convention, this year on Nov. 7. "Don't just count your blessings; make your blessings count."

 

 

All Saints' Sunday: A day to remember those who have gone before us in faith

 

All Saints' Day is not among the most ancient of Christian festivals (it is only about 1,200 years old), nor among the most universal (the Orthodox churches commemorate the saints in conjunction with the Feast of Pentecost). The feast is believed to have been originated in the British Isles, and emphasis on it remains characteristically Anglican.

 

This Sunday is an absolutely splendid occasion to sing some very stirring hymns, to renew our baptismal vows, and to dramatize the meaning of being "the communion of saints" as living members of the Body of Christ. At Christ Church, it will be one of the half dozen occasions on which we pull out the incense and, as the late Jean Wadman would lovingly put it, "go whole hog."

 

At both churches, we will pray on Nov. 2 for the souls of those who have been buried from our congregations since All Saints' a year ago. If you would like the name of a loved one (whether or not from the last year) added to that list, e-mail it to Nita in the shared ministry office or call her at 926-5688 no later than noon, Wednesday, Oct. 29. Some have found this an occasion to make a thank offering to the congregation in memory of those so listed. You are invited and encouraged to do so.

 

 

A "Little Blessings" Fundraiser

 

Little Blessings Child Care Center at Christ Church is holding a "calendar" fundraiser quite similar to the one we have had the past two springs. November calendars are available from Fr. Chip at $10 each, and a drawing is held each weekday throughout that month.

 

 

Jungian Dream Group Meetings

Tuesday nights, 7 to 9 p.m. every other week at Trinity Church

 

Our last meeting until spring will be held on Oct. 28th.Come and introduce yourself. You are welcome to come and just listen and learn. Each dream is a letter from your soul you can choose to open it or not. No particular skills needed just a curiosity and interest in your dreams. All are welcome. For Information call Barbara Nicholson at (603) 926-3590.