May 28, 2015
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!

 




 

 

Notes from the May Bishop's Committee meeting

 

The May meeting, held at Christ Church, opened with a reflection on the Spirit by Suzanne George. At the conclusion of her meditation, she had the group join her in singing a simple song, "Spirit, draw near."

 

Fr. Chip provided an update on our Mutual Ministry Review follow-up process. We are preparing to renew our Covenant on its November expiration date, and will engage members of the original drafting team to help us review the language of the document for any modifications - though our perception right now is that "if it isn't broke, we won't need to fix it." We also spoke of upcoming initiatives in developing a children's ministry, particularly at Trinity.

 

The Time and Talent drive is ready to distribute later this week. We are extending the deadline to June 7 due to the late distribution.

 

We are hoping to have an initial meeting for Come and See planning in early to mid-June. Gordon Lane has agreed to serve on this, but we need at least one or two more from each church.

 

Fr. Chip is ordering a software upgrade that will allow us to make our websites "mobile friendly." Our current software predates the predominance of smartphones and tablets, so this will make our sites more accessible to all. The cost is quite modest.

 

The individual committees met in separate session:

  • The Christ Church committee reviewed progress in our Capital Campaign planning. Several teams have already met. Among the tasks will be to develop a Case Statement outlining not just our physical needs but the ministry possibilities opened to us by completing the items to be funded. Little Blessings director Diane Lewis, meanwhile, provided an update on a significant restructuring of that ministry effective mid-summer. The five present age groupings will be consolidated to four, and a new curriculum is being introduced.
  • The Trinity Church committee reviewed plans for the upcoming Sixtieth Anniversary. We are also updating our agreements with Village Preschool and the various ministries that use Hobbs House. Funding was approved to undertake some tree trimming and removal. The Pantry team has decided not to replace the current upright freezer, but simply to get rid of it as it really doesn't meet our needs and can present problems with our meeting USDA food safety standards. The question was raised as to whether Trinity can take on Applefest this October now that Nita is retiring from coordinating it. The question will be raised in church this Sunday.

Treasurer's reports for both churches were approved as read. It was agreed that both churches should send out statements before the summer so those who may be behind in their pledges can be aware of where they stand. Cash flow did not meet expectations in April, despite the fact that Easter fell that month.

 

A coordinator for each church will be needed to handle ticket sales and logistics for our participation in the Seacoast Convocation's bus trip to see the New Hampshire Fisher Cats play the Portland Sea Dogs in Manchester on July 19. This, too, will be broached in the announcements this Sunday.

 

Full minutes will be posted as they become available. The June meeting will be at Trinity Church on the 16th.

 

Notes by Fr. Chip



May 31 liturgy and June 7 brunch to kick off celebration of Trinity's 60th anniversary

 

Trinity's 60th anniversary is rapidly approaching! The celebration kicks off on Trinity's actual 60th anniversary: Trinity Sunday, May 31. We will have a special Eucharist in honor of the occasion that day - but the "festive event" referenced in last week's article will come one week later, on Sunday, 

June 7, when we will invite all Trinity "alumni" to return and join us for brunch following the 8:45 a.m. service. (Note: We had previously announced this as a picnic, but decided that, with the variable weather we've been having, that might not be wise in early June.) At the brunch, we'll have some historical displays up to help us enjoy our Trinity memories. Between then and the end of 2015, we plan to theme a number of events around this milestone, so stay tuned. 



Let your talents shine!

 

This week, Time and Talent Pledge Forms were sent to all households, either electronically or by mail. After you have reviewed the list of possibilities, please fill out one form for each member of your household who plans to serve in some capacity in the program year to come (June 2015-May 2016). After results are collated, you'll be contacted by a Bishop's Committee member or ministry chair. You are asked to return your form(s), in person, by mail, or electronically, no later than Sunday, June 7.       

             

 Your Bishop's Committee

 

 

A big change coming to our bulletins this summer

 

Beginning in June, we will be making some changes to cut down on the amount of paper we use each week. Instead of a full bulletin for each Sunday, we will be producing seasonal booklets that stay in the pew for a liturgical season at a time, with a one-sheet insert containing the particular Sunday's hymns, readings, and announcements. By eliminating between eight and twelve pages of material on a weekly basis, we not only "go green" in a big way, we save money as well. This fall, we'll ask for your feedback to see whether or not to continue come Advent. Several other churches around New Hampshire have changed to this approach and they report it has worked well for them.

 

 

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...

 

May 31

Thanksgiving for the 60th anniversary of Trinity Church; the Wardens of both churches, Craig Davis and Patrice Wood; John Normand and Anita Pauley of Trinity Church; Betty Lane of Christ Church

June 7

The Treasurers of both churches, Robert Bischoff and Jim Sparrell; Laurence Pappademus and David & Fran Plank of Trinity Church; Liz Malone & Lynda Swartz of Christ Church

 

 
Christ Church to be venue for bone marrow drive

 

Christ Church will be the venue for a bone marrow drive Saturday, May 30 from 1-4 p.m. A cheek swab is all that is needed to determine if you are a match. Those between the ages of 18 and 44 who are generally healthy and willing to donate are encouraged to register. Portsmouth resident Nicole Indelicato is sponsoring the drive in memory of her mother, who died of leukemia on May 30, 2013. For further information, contact her at [email protected] or 603-957-0613.

 

 

Women Singing Out! to offer concert June 13 & 14

 

Bring your dancing shoes because Women Singing Out! will be Rocking OUT! Saturday, June 13th, 7 p.m. and Sunday, June 14th at 3 p.m. at Christ Episcopal Church, 1035 Lafayette Rd. Portsmouth. Tickets are $15 each and can be purchased here or at the door.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some possible web glitches in the coming weeks

 

We are in the process of transitioning our web sites to a new platform that will make them more "mobile friendly." We hope to have these completed soon, but there may be times when all is not exactly "right" when pulling up our sites. Have patience - the change should be worth it.

 

 

Discretionary Fund has busy month - can you help?

 

The month of May has turned out to be a very busy one for our Vicar's Discretionary Fund - with significant expenditures to help people in need in both our communities. If you can make an "extra" gift to the Fund to get us back to our normal operating balance, it would be deeply appreciated. Please make your check payable to your own church with a memo, "Vicar's Discretionary Fund." We have distributed over $200 in vouchers and nearly $400 in direct aid this month - so the need is great. Thank you for your compassion and generosity.

Fr. Chip

 

 

Are you going on vacation?

 

Are you going on vacation this summer? Your church family hopes you have a great time - but, before you go, just a reminder: the Church doesn't go on vacation! Our services continue throughout the summer months - and our bills still need to be paid. So please, take the time to keep your pledge up-to-date while you are away. Perhaps it is easiest to write a check before you leave, so you don't have to worry about it when you return.

 

 

Coming Sunday, June 28 at Christ Church...

Outdoor Eucharist and cookout

 

It's time to kick off the summer season! On Sunday, June 28, Christ Church will host an outdoor Eucharist and cookout (members of both churches welcome - though our joint cookout will be later this summer). The service will be at 11:00 a.m. in the shaded rear courtyard of the church. The cookout will follow on the side lawn. Bring your lawn chair and a side dish or dessert to share. Hamburgers, hot dogs and beverages will be provided. Please RSVP indicating how many from your household are coming to [email protected]. This will help our food and set-up crews in their planning. Oh, and as for a rain date...we won't need one. It never rains on our cookouts! (If, ahem, it does, we'll come inside.)

 

For those of you who cannot (or prefer not) to come to the outdoor service, there will be a celebration of the Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church that morning at the usual 8:45 a.m.

 

 

How about making it official?

 

With the arrival of summer comes that moment when we can "catch our breath" in the church office and attend to matters that tend to get put off through the winter. One of these is parish record keeping.If you are worshiping with us, and consider yourself part of our church family, but have not yet "made it official" by asking for a letter of transfer from your previous congregation, please take a moment to be in touch with us and ask that we issue a Request for Transfer. (You can contact your previous congregation directly if you would prefer.)

 

 

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