Notes from the October Bishop's Committee meeting
Hope Murray of Trinity Church opened the meeting with a reflection on the peace we find in nature based on Wendell Berry's "The Peace of Wild Things." After spending some time sharing celebrations and concerns, the Vicar provided an update on our Stewardship program, and a request for help from the Bishop's Committee in assisting the Stewardship Team in completing the follow-up phase after the Bishop's Visit of Nov. 16.
We next spent some time planning out Bishop Hirschfeld's visitation. He will celebrate Confirmation at Christ Church Nov. 16 at 10:30 a.m. There will also be several memorials (all for Trinity Church) dedicated at the service. Afterwards, there will be a pot-luck luncheon with a digital slide presentation themed around "Anchored Together in Christ." He will be back with us Monday evening at 7 p.m. to meet with the Bishop's Committee at Trinity Church.
The Bishop's Committees then moved into individual meetings for each congregation:
- Trinity Church's committee heard a preliminary presentation on a planned accessibility update to Hobbs Hall. An indoor lift and an outdoor ramp, along with the widening of some doors, are planned - possibly in stages. A fixed-price snow plowing contract for the coming winter was approved, which will help us in our budgeting for the new year, and help prevent the cost overruns we experienced last winter. The purchase of new outdoor event changeable-letter event signs was also approved.
- Christ Church's group brainstormed some potential nominees for election at January's Annual meeting. Craig Davis, Warden, reported on our recent furnace inspection and the required upgrades that inspection uncovered. Given the newness of the furnace, there were concerns that the required overflow tank hadn't been included in the original installation. The contractor will be making the corrections within the week. There was also discussion of an invitation to seek a federal accessibility grant to construct an accessible restroom on the main floor. The City of Portsmouth indicated there were funds available for non-profits, with a submission deadline of Dec. 10. Paul Seward will join Craig in preparing a grant submission.
In their Wardens' reports, the two Wardens reviewed upcoming events, including the AppleFest at Trinity, both churches' Christmas fairs, and the "Celia Thaxter" presentation being presented jointly on Oct. 25. Craig Davis also commented on continuing efforts to seek partners in ministry that could make use of Christ Church's main floor facilities during the largely "fallow" weekdays.
In other business:
- Lay ministry licenses for the coming year were approved.
- Gary Dozier provided an update on the shared ministry directory; we are still hoping for November publication.
- Lynda Swartz and Patrice Wood reported on upcoming "FUNdraisers" and expressed pleasure at the fact that, in both churches, our fundraising is running ahead of expectations.
- September Treasurers' reports showed positive balances in both churches; all inter-church transfers are now up-to-date.
- Fr. Chip gave the group his remaining vacation dates: the week of Dec. 8 (not including Sunday) and the last three days of the year.
Full minutes will be posted in both churches as they become available. In addition to the special meeting with the Bishop of Nov. 17 at Trinity Church, there will be a regular meeting on Nov. 18 at Christ Church.
2014 Stewardship Campaign continues
Our 2014 joint Pledge Campaign, under the theme, "Anchored Together in Christ," continues this week. This Sunday, we will hear "Ministry Minutes" (personal thankfulness stories) from Sarah Wolf-Boyd of Christ Church and Sherry Kellett of Trinity.
At our Celebration Luncheon with the Bishop on Sunday, Nov. 16, we plan to present a digital slide show of the year's events in our Shared Ministry. You are encouraged to submit digital photographs. Activities may include: worship services, church fairs or suppers, Blessing of the Animals, and other events. Please e-mail your photos to vicarchip@gmail.com.
 Don't forget to set your clocks back one hour!
This Saturday night before retiring, be sure to set your clocks back one hour. Standard Time resumes at 2 a.m. on Sunday, Nov. 2.
Upcoming Dates
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Sat./Sun., Nov. 1/2
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All Services
1:30 p.m.
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All Saints' Celebrations - see article below
Nursing Home service at Oceanside in Hampton
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Sat., Nov. 15
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10:30 a.m.
5:00 p.m.
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Confirmation Service rehearsal at Christ Church followed by set-up of hall for luncheon
Holy Eucharist at Trinity
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Sun., Nov. 16
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8:45 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
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Said Holy Eucharist at Trinity
Bishop's Visit to Shared Ministry - hosted by Christ Church; pot-luck luncheon to follow
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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...
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Nov. 2
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We will continue to pray for our Diocesan Delegates & Alternates from both churches as they prepare to attend Diocesan Convention on Nov. 7 & 8. We will also remember the souls of all who have died since All Saints' last year; and, among the living, pray for Lou Prince of Christ Church and Gretchen Gobar of Trinity Church
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Nov. 9
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Hobbs House at Trinity Church and all the ministries housed therein; Cindy, Elizabeth & Erica Taylor of Christ Church; Sandi Nickerson of Trinity Church
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All Saints' Sunday: A day to remember those who have gone before us in faith
On All Saints' Day (Nov. 1 & 2) we will sing some stirring hymns, renew our baptismal vows, and pray for the souls of those who have been buried from our congregations since All Saints' a year ago. Many thanks to all who submitted names for inclusion in our bulletins and prayers this Sunday.
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.
Gifts for ChIPs
This Sunday is our last opportunity to donated to Children of Incarcerated Parents (ChIPs). Gifts should not exceed $20 in original retail value. A $20 gift is preferable to several small gifts as it is difficult to group them together to equal a $20 item. Monetary donations in any amount are welcome. Hardcover and paperback books are welcome, but no used items, homemade items or gift cards can be accepted.
Here are some additional 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.
Community Thanksgiving at Christ Church, Exeter
Christ Church, Exeter invites all to attend, or assist with, their 2nd Annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Day. It will be held in Harris Hall from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m.
If anyone needs a ride to attend, please let Sarah Watts know at swatts@christchurchexeter.org, or call 772-3332, before November 20th .
If you cannot attend but would like a meal, please call the above number or email Sarah and they will arrange for meal delivery between 11:15 and 2:30p.m. on Thanksgiving. You may RSVP Eric & Pat LaMontagne at elbarber@comcast.net
or call 895-1455.
A painless way to raise money for our churches! For the past year and a half, I have used Goodsearch as my default search engine, both at home and on the church computer. The result? Christ Church (my chosen charity - I could have just as easily chosen Trinity, but you can only support one cause at a time) has reaped over $75 in donations from me alone (and over $350 overall from Christ Church members). Goodsearch is a simple way to make a difference - each time you search the web (though Yahoo-powered goodsearch.com), shop online (at the 2,800+ stores on Goodshop) or dine out (at 10,000 Gooddining restaurants - including many here on the Seacoast), Goodsearch makes a donation to your favorite cause. How do I start raising money for Christ Church or Trinity Church with Goodsearch? - Visit www.goodsearch.com and select a cause from the 100,000+ participating organizations - both of our churches are among these.
- Create a user profile that will allow you to keep track of your individual amount raised.
- Use the search box on the www.goodsearch.com homepage or download a "Good To-Go" browser add-on that can make Goodsearch your default search engine - this makes using it ridiculously easy, and costs you nothing.
How good are the search results? My experience is that they are virtually the same as Google's - but by using Goodsearch instead of Google, I earn 1 cent for nearly every search I make. And it adds up! As I mentioned above, Cindy and I alone have earned $75 - a penny at a time. Want to learn more? Speak with me - or with Kris Ebbeson, who knows all about it. Or, better yet, go to www.goodsearch.com and read for yourself how this program works. There's no cost to you - and your congregation can benefit! Fr. Chip
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