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From the Vicar...
To what are we being invited - and where is Christ taking us as followers?
Part one of a four part series
This Sunday, we will explore one of the most familiar passages in scripture - the invitation of Jesus to his potential followers to become "fishers for people." How many of us are here because someone "fished" for us? In other words: how many were invited to come worship by a friend? Many of us, I would imagine.
But here's an even more important question: How many stayed because of what we found once we arrived? How many of us stayed in the Episcopal Church because of the things this Church focuses on, believes in, and values?
A big part of how we grow follows the same pattern as building a circle of friends: we invite people into our lives and do all that we can to make them feel truly welcome. But that's really the easy part. The harder part is what happens next. Like friendships, congregations are sustained and thrive through building and developing a shared sense of purpose or meaning. We can invite folks all we want - and welcome them as warmly as we can - but if we invite them to something that is empty of purpose or meaning for them, they won't stay.
So we need to ask ourselves more than just "how do we go about fishing for people?" We also need to concentrate on what they'll find once they're "in the boat."
I've spent a lot of time thinking about this, and over the coming weeks, I'd like to share with you those thoughts. But rather than leave you in suspense until the end of this series of columns, I'll share with you my "bottom line" right up front: The call before us is this: discernment. We are always being asked to discern who God is asking us to become - and where Christ is taking those who might follow us.
I strongly believe that many in the Episcopal Church have concentrated on the wrong things as we've responded to this call to discernment. We think the answers lie in such things are our "marketing" or where we stand politically in response to the social challenges of our age. I think, however, that a revitalized Church of the future will share in at least three important characteristics - none of which are necessarily "in vogue" in today's Episcopal Church. Such a Church will be
- focused on Christ;
- centered in what we value; and
- pastorally responsive to the needs of our communities.
Over the next three weeks, my column will tackle each of these in turn. Next week, we will start with what it means to be focused on Christ. Two weeks from now, what it means to build our life around what we value. My final column in this Epiphany-season series will relate to how we better respond to the pastoral needs of our communities.
Christ is indeed calling us to be "fishers of people." But to what end? That is what we will spend the next three weeks exploring.
Fr. Chip
Notes on the January Bishop's Committee meeting
The Bishop's Committee's January meeting was something of a transitional gathering, as Christ Church had already held its Annual Meeting, but Trinity Church had not yet. Nevertheless, there was much to accomplish, including the finalization of budgets for the two churches - so it was a very full evening.
In its individual session, the Trinity Church Bishop's Committee finalized a budget with $117,000 in revenue and $125,000 in expenses. The resulting deficit will likely be significantly reduced once the Fair Share adjustment process is completed in March - but until then, the budget shows a full Fair Share apportionment to the diocese. There was also discussion of upcoming fund-raising and fellowship events, and an update on the Hobbs House accessibility project, which should get underway shortly. A Lay Eucharistic Minister's license for Jim Ashworth was also approved.
Meanwhile, the Christ Church group was gathering to discuss the renewal of their Capital Campaign, which had been suspended last winter when concerns were expressed about our long-term sustainability. It was agreed that these concerns have largely been allayed by the vitality we have shown this year, and that the time has come to start pre-planning now, with a Capital Campaign team beginning its work in earnest right after Easter.
Meanwhile, the budget for Christ Church was finalized and approved, projecting nearly $84,000 in revenue (vs. $78,000 last year) and $87,000 in expenses. Christ Church will be asking for forgiveness for past Fair Share arrearages in exchange for fulfilling its full diocesan Fair Share effective April 1, 2015. Christ Church also processed an application for a Lay Eucharistic Minister's license - in this case from Cindy Taylor.
In other business:
- Plans for the Mutual Ministry Review retreat on Feb. 21 were discussed. The Bishop's Committees will gather at St. George's, York Harbor, Maine, for an all-day retreat led by Canon Hannah Anderson that will carry our Shared Ministry into its next phase.
- Fr. Chip reviewed the upcoming Lenten series to be held in both churches (see separate article below for details).
- The Feb. meeting was moved one week later than usual due to Shrove Tuesday falling on our regular meeting date. This will also give us more time to finalize our Annual Parochial Report to the diocese before approving and sending it in.
- There will also be a special meeting to approve our Fair Share adjustment requests at noon on Sunday, Feb. 1.
Full minutes will be posted as they become available.
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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Jan. 25
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Trinity Church Annual Meeting; Bill & Monika Bottlinger of Trinity Church; Bruce Chambers of Christ Church
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Feb. 1
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Our newly elected Bishop's Committee members: Suzanne George and Peter Monte at Christ Church and Fran Plank at Trinity Church; we will also pray for Ginny & Ted Bridle-Russell of Trinity Church and Shad Christopoulos of Christ Church
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Elected at Christ Church's Annual Meeting 
On Sunday, Jan. 18, Christ Church held its Annual Meeting, and several new members were added to our Bishop's Committee:
- Suzanne George and Peter Monte were elected to two year terms, succeeding Katie Towler and Gary Dozier, respectively.
- Melanie Harden and Sarah Wolf Boyd were elected to two-year terms of their own after fulfilling unexpired terms in last year's election.
- Peter Monte was re-elected as delegate to Diocesan Convention and Seacoast Convocation.
Our congratulations to all who were elected.
 New Orleans Style Mardi Gras Feast When: February 17, 2015 Time: 6:00 to 8:00 PM Where: Trinity Episcopal Church - Hobbs House 200 High Street, Hampton, NH $5.00 Donation - Hobbs House Entertainment: The EPISCO-CATS Jazz Band Eats: Traditional New Orleans Food and Fixin's, including King's Cake!!
Looking ahead to Lent...
Plans are already underway for our Lenten series for 2015. This year's program will be titled, "The Parables of Lent" and will focus on a series of biblical parables that connect to Lenten themes. Meditations by renowned theologian Dean Nadasdy will show us that within each parable's plot is woven a unique message about what we receive through the crucified Christ. Parishioners can take the message with them to enrich their own stories of faith in Christ as they journey through Lent.
 Our schedule will be as follows: - Christ Church: Soup and bread luncheon and session at noon on five Sundays, beginning Feb. 22.
- Trinity Church: Soup and bread supper and session on five Wednesday evenings at 6:00, beginning Feb. 25.
As there are study materials to order for this year's program, we are asking that people sign up ahead of time if at all possible. No one will be turned away from attending, but if you wish to have your own set of materials, you will need to sign up by Sunday, Feb. 8. The sign-up sheet will be in the Narthex at Trinity and in the Marshall Room at Christ Church. There is no set charge, but a voluntary donation of $6.50 to cover materials costs is welcomed.
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