The altar hanging at an English Advent service was made of midnight blue, with

these words across its top:  "We thank you that darkness reminds us of light."  Facing all who gathered there to give thanks were images of night creatures - a large moth, an owl, a badger, and a bat - cryptic and somewhat mysterious creatures that can only be encountered in the darkness.

As light ebbs from the days and the skies of fall, many in the Northern Hemisphere associate dark with the spooks and skeletons of secular Hallowe'en celebrations.  That English church has reclaimed the connection between creator, creation, and the potential holiness of all that is.  It is a fitting reorientation toward the coming of One who has altered those relationships toward new possibilities for healing and redemption.

Advent leads us into darkness and decreasing light.  Our bodies slow imperceptibly with shorter days and longer nights, and the merriness and frantic activity around us are often merely signs of eager hunger for light and healing and wholeness.

The Incarnation, the coming of God among us in human flesh, happened in such a quiet and out of the way place that few noticed at first.  Yet the impact on human existence has been like a bolt of lightning that continues to grow and generate new life and fire in all who share that hunger.

Jesus is among us like a flitting moth - will we notice his presence in the street-sleeper?  He pierces the dark like a silent, streaking owl seeking food for hungry and defenseless nestlings.  He will overturn this world's unjust foundations like badgers undermining a crooked wall.  Like the bat's sonar, his call comes to each one uniquely - have we heard his urgent "come and follow"?

God is among us, and within us, and around us, encountering, nudging, loving, transforming the world and its creatures toward the glorious dream the shepherds announced so many years ago, toward the beloved community of prophetic dreams, and the nightwatch that proclaims "all is well, fear not, the Lord is here."

May Christ be born anew in you this Christmastide.  May his light burn in you, and may you labor to spread it in the darkness.  The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, and it is the harbinger of peace for all creation.

The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori

Presiding Bishop and Primate

Notes from the December Bishop's Committee meeting

The December meeting, held at Trinity Church, focused largely on budgets for 2015. Each church maintains a separate budget - and we remain committed to that as 2015 begins. At the same time, there are some common policy decisions that apply in both congregations regarding the 2015 budgets:

• All personnel with the exception of our newly hired Christ Church bookkeeper will receive a 1.9% cost-of-living adjustment, whether or not there are additional adjustments for merit or other considerations.
• The Vicar's health insurance contribution will rise to 10% of the premium.
• To help offset the effect of this on his take-home pay, Christ Church will now pick up the cost of his internet and phone service in the Rectory.
• The Vicar's mileage reimbursement will continue to be at the standard IRS rate (57.5¢ per mile in 2015), but the budgeted amount will be increased to reflect the fact that he is driving more miles than previous estimated.

After agreeing to the above and reviewing year-end projections, each individual Bishop's Committee moved into its regular break-out session:

• The Christ Church group agreed to fund a 40% share of Trinity's office and copier costs (Trinity will fund 60%). There will be a meeting with the Little Blessings co-directors to work out details of cost-sharing between the church and the child care center. Warden Craig Davis also reported on efforts to secure funding for an accessible rest room on the main floor of the church. A hoped-for grant from the City of Portsmouth is not in the offing - but we now have solid cost estimates to include in our upcoming Capital Campaign, which had been on hold awaiting resolution of this and other issues. Finally, Fr. Chip reported on a recent conversation he had had with Canon for Mission Resources Kevin Nichols regarding the rapid turnover in bookkeepers at Christ Church. He is recommending a full audit of 2013/14 in early 2015.
  
  
• The Trinity Church committee made an adjustment to its 2015 budget proposal to reflect a realistic level of support from outside groups using the church facilities. It also approved a major accessibility upgrade to Hobbs House (see separate article in last week's E-News) and agreed to host a fund-raising concert this spring. There was some discussion of the Bishop's recent suggestion regarding joint budgeting, and it was agreed we are far from ready to entertain such a notion. Fr. Chip has been scrupulous in helping each church maintain its unique culture and identity, and our sharing of resources does not have to mean any change to the things that shape the heritage and worship life of each of our churches.

Returning to joint session, the Committee was pleased to hear that the shared Pictorial Directory is very near completion and will be released in time for Annual Meeting. We were also pleased to hear that both churches had very successful Christmas fairs, and that, in both, our fundraising goals were exceeded.

We are anticipating a special meeting in early 2015 to finalize budgets. Our regular January meeting will be on Tuesday, Jan. 20 at Christ Church. Annual meetings will be on Jan. 18 at Christ Church and Jan. 25 at Trinity. Reports for those are due in the shared ministry office by Friday, Jan. 2.

Christmas Festival Lessons and Carols

Sunday, Dec. 28 in both churches

The Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols will be celebrated on Sunday, Dec. 28 in both of our churches. As we hear again the readings from Holy Scripture that tell the story of God's enduring promise of redemption through the birth, life, death, and resurrection of his Son, Jesus, we sing carols chosen to reflect on these passages. It is a fitting way to remind ourselves that Christmas is a twelve-day feast, full of rich opportunities for enjoying the narrative and music that open to us the mystery of the Incarnation.

If you would be interested in reading one of the Lessons that day, sign up on the bulletin board in the Narthex at Trinity or in the Marshall Room at Christ Church. We will need several readers in each church, so there is plenty of room for volunteers!

Fr. Chip

Seacoast Choral Epiphany Celebration

Sunday, Jan. 4 at 3 p.m. at North Hampton United Church of Christ, Atlantic Ave., North Hampton

What a joy it is to share with you that there will be six participating churches in the 2015 Choral Epiphany Celebration on Sunday, January 4, at 3 p.m. at the North Hampton United Church of Christ, Atlantic Ave., North Hampton! Our own vicar will be part of a four-part clergy quartet - and choir members from our two churches will be joining a massed choir to sing the final anthem of the afternoon.

Epiphany Feast of Lights  

The Feast of Lights is one of the oldest observances of the Christian Church dating back to the Fourth Century after Christ. Introduced here two years ago, it is a moving, candlelight service that celebrates the manifestation of Christ to the world.

As Trinity Church hosted it our first two times, it seemed fitting to give Christ Church the opportunity to experience it (though, of course, we hope folks from both churches will come!). As Epiphany falls on a Tuesday this year, we will celebrate it at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6 - with a festive "Twelfth Day" gathering to follow. Bring any "leftover" Christmas goodies to share.

If you have not yet experienced this service, you are in for a remarkable worship opportunity. Do plan to join us!

 Open House

Join Lynda and Liz for a post-Christmas 'open house' at their home (14 Kensington Road, Route 84, Hampton Falls, NH) on Saturday, Dec. 27 beginning at 6 p.m. There will be food and drink provided along with some pretty good company.

Of course, you know that we always have an ulterior motive when we entertain so...

Please bring toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouthwash, powders, dental floss, deodorant, any toiletry items, combs, shampoo, hair products, skin lotions, shavers, shave cream, chap-stick, and anything else you feel would help someone who is homeless get a fresh start. We will donate all of it to Crossroads Shelter in Portsmouth.

If you're unable to join us, please consider donating to a shelter near you.