November 20, 2014
News from the Shared Ministry 
of
Christ Church, Portsmouth  & 
Trinity Church, Hampton 
In the Episcopal Diocese of NH
 
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Worship Services
The Rev. David "Chip" Robinson

Vicar 

 

All people of faith are welcome to receive Holy Communion at the Lord's Table 


 

Christ Episcopal Church 

1035 Lafayette Road

Portsmouth, NH 03801

Rite II at 10:30 am
Coffee Hour follows
 
Clergy office hours 
Tues & Thurs 9am-12noon

200 High St.
Hampton, NH 03842
Saturday Rite l at 5pm
Rite II at 8:45 am
Coffee Hour after the service
  
Clergy office hours
Mon & Wed 9am-12 noon
 
 
The Vicar's sermons can be found by clicking on the link for either church and going to the Worship page.
Pastoral Care
Leaders
 
Jean Shula
Linda McVay

603-430-9888 (home)
603-988-9755 (cell)
Links

Little Blessings Child Care Center at Christ Church Portsmouth  

Little Blessings Child Care Center 

(603) 431-1809 

at Trinity Church, Hampton

Village Preschool
(603) 929-7349

Episcopal Churches on the Seacoast
 
Seacoast Convocation
 
Christ Church,Portsmouth
St. John's, Portsmouth
St. Thomas, Dover
St. George's, Durham
Ministry Schedule

 

Christ Church
 

Going into the hospital?

 

Due to privacy laws, churches are no longer routinely informed if you or a loved one is admitted to the hospital.  Please be sure you let us know when and where you will be a patient so we can be in touch with you and include you in our prayers and healing ministry. Don't assume the Vicar knows - he would much rather hear from several people than from no one!

 


 

From the Vicar...

Now thank we all our God

 

As we come to this time of the year, I find myself reflecting on how much has changed in the past couple of decades when it comes to the celebration of Thanksgiving. We used to see religiously-themed Thanksgiving events in the public marketplace - depictions of pious Pilgrims peacefully gathering with their Native American neighbors to give thanks to the Almighty for a bountiful harvest. But not so much anymore.

 

Part of it is probably because Halloween has become a billion dollar retail event, and we, as a culture, don't seem to have much room in our lives for essentially non-commercial holidays like this one. With the advent of Thanksgiving evening "beat the Black Friday rush" shopping (ugh!), the trend away from the celebration of Thanksgiving as an event of its own is accelerating. I just wish we could do something to reset the clock and restore the connection between the abundance of the harvest and the blessings of God in our lives.

 

Our Scriptural heritage is deeply rooted in imagery of harvest and abundance. We read of threshing floors full of grain, vats overflowing with wine and oil. The year is crowned with goodness. Those images are nearly as soul-satisfying as the memories we cherish of family holidays or as an actual feast in the presence of those we love.

 

That is why I hope and pray that we never become dulled to the abundance that surrounds us or to the work that produces it. I pray that you will give yourself the time, along with your family, to reflect on God's goodness in your life. Let's not reduce Thanksgiving to what the retailers are trying to make of it: nothing more than the "starting point" for the countdown to Christmas.

 

As we turn the corner, not to Christmas in its commercial gaudiness, but to Advent and its quiet, prayerful contemplation, let us continually remind ourselves that the joy we seek to have, and the happiness that we seek to give, finds its foundation in being thankful for the labors and the Creation that make those joys possible.

 

Fr. Chip

 

 

"Grubby Sunday" at Christ Church
 Sunday, Nov. 23 after the 10:30 service

 

The leaves are falling and that can only mean one thing: It's time for our fall "Grubby Sunday" at Christ Church! On Sunday, Nov. 23, we'll do a general clean-up of the rectory grounds (the church grounds were taken care of by Little Blessings last week), wash some windows, and winterize the church. As always, "many hands make light work," so come in your jeans and "grubbies" and join us! 

 

Craig Davis and Paul Seward

 


 
Upcoming Dates

 

Sat., Nov. 22

9 a.m.-2 p.m.

Holly Berry Fair - Trinity Church

 

5:00 p.m.

Holy Eucharist at Trinity

 

 

 

Sun., Nov. 23

8:45 a.m.

Holy Eucharist at Trinity

 

10:30 a.m.

Holy Eucharist at Christ Church - "Grubby Sunday" follows the service

 

 

 

 Sat., Nov. 29

 5:00 p.m.

First Sunday in Advent

Holy Eucharist at Trinity

 

Sun., Nov. 30

 


 
8:45 a.m.

10:30 a.m.


H
oly Eucharist at Trinity

Holy Eucharist at Christ Church

 

Sat., Dec. 6

8 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Christ Church Christmas Fair


 

What a celebration!

 

Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making Sunday's Confirmation service a true joy. The service was beautifully executed and well attended, the luncheon afterwards was scrumptious, the church and hall were bright and inviting - that the Bishop's words in his homily were "right on" was but icing on the cake. You did it! Thank you to Peter Monte and the whole luncheon crew, Liz Malone and the Altar Guild, Alexis and the choir, everyone who read or served on the altar, and the unseen many who cleaned and cooked and had everything shining and delicious.

Blessings to you all!

 

Fr. Chip

 

 

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...

 

Nov. 23

Thanksgiving for all blessings in our two congregations; Jim Sparrell & Katie Towler of Christ Church; Mark & Ginnie-Lee McCaddin of Trinity Church

Nov. 30

(We will use the concluding collect for our Shared Ministry)



Your help is needed for the Holly Berry Fair

 

We still have a few jobs that need to be done before, during and after the Fair.  Fair Day at Trinity Church is this Saturday!!

 

Holly Berry Fair Schedule:

  • Thursday November 20th - 4 - 7ish

We need folks to set up and wrap all the tables for Saturday.

  • Friday November 21st - 4 - 8

We need folks to set up merchandise on the tables and help the Vendors, if they need anything. The Vendors have been told that we would be there until 8.

  • SATURDAY NOVEMBER 22ND  -  FAIR DAY

We need a few folks to be at Church about 7-7:30 to finish setting up the Fair Items.  Everyone should plan to be there by 8, the Fair opens at 9. 

 

Carol Gobar and Priscilla Peretti

 

 

Annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration

Bringing together Portsmouth's Faith Communities

 

Join us for a special one-hour Thanksgiving celebration Monday, Nov. 24 at 7:00pm at Temple Israel, 200 State Street, Portsmouth. There is ample parking nearby, and parking is also available at St. John's Episcopal Church, 101 Chapel Street.

 

Please bring non-perishables and/or a monetary gift for Seacoast Family Promise.

 

 

Christmas Flowers

 

We'd love your help in adorning our altars for Christmas by purchasing a poinsettia. And at the same time, you may honor your loved ones, acknowledge a special occasion, or give thanks and praise which will be included in the bulletin. 

 

This year there are two size choices: 6 ½"  at $ 6.50  or  7 ½" at $12.00 and the color choices are: white, red, burgundy, "Jingle Bell"(speckled) and pink.

 

Please contact Alberta True, at  926-8252 at Trinity Church to place your order. At Christ Church, you will find poinsettia offering envelopes on the guest book table in the hallway. You may also email Nita at trinity55ad@gmail.com. However you place your order, be sure to let us know how many flowers you would like to order, what sizes and colors, and provide wording for your listing in the bulletin. Then be sure to place your payment, marked "flowers," in the offering plate or snail-mail it to the Shared Ministry Office. 

 

The deadline for all orders is Sunday Dec 7 at coffee hour- no exceptions.


Convention Summary:

Decisions made on budget, governance; resolutions passed to close Trinity, Tilton and support death penalty repeal

 

The 212th Annual Convention for the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire was held on Saturday, Nov. 8. Nearly 300 delegate representatives from 46 parishes in the state gathered for prayer, reflection and governance activities. Notable outcomes from the meeting included the following:

  • A resolution to support the Episcopal Church's stance against the death penalty, encouraging the repeal of NH's death penalty and encouraging bishops and dioceses in 32 other states to do the same.
  • A 2015 budget was approved, and several new leaders were elected, including Chris Porter as Treasurer of Convention, the Rev. Guy Collins and Margaret Porter for Standing Committee, and Jack Lewis for Council Finance.
  • An amended Clergy Compensation report was accepted.
  • A vote was taken on the re-designation of congregation status in Tilton, NH, which is the first step towards the closure of Trinity Church.
  • Revisions made to Article VI of the Constitution and Canons regarding transaction of Convention Business.
  • Changes were made to the duties of the Commission on Ministry.

 

Tending the Vine, Together:

Bishop Hirschfeld's 2014 Convention Address

 

The Bishop's Convention Address, delivered on Nov. 7, can be read here. Learn how we can "tend the vine" in our own lives, congregations and communities using The Five Practices.

 

 

New Hampshire Gay Men's Chorus to sing at Christ Church Dec. 7

 

Tickets are now available online for the New Hampshire Gay Men's Chorus' holiday concert series, A Blizzard of Seasonal Songs. The group will perform Christmas, Hanukkah, and holiday favorites. The concert will be held Sunday, Dec. 7 at 4 p.m. at Christ Church, Portsmouth, with additional concerts in other venues throughout the month.

 

 

Contacts
The Rev. David "Chip" Robinson, Vicar
Christ Episcopal Church, 1035 Lafayette Road, Portsmouth, NH 03801
phone: 603-436-8842
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9:00-Noon

Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 High Street, Hampton, NH 03842
Shared Ministry Administrator: Nita Niemczyk
phone: 603-926-5688
Office hours: Monday-Friday from 9:00-1:00