From the Vicar...
Who is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?
This past Lent, we used a method of Bible study in our series on the parables that asks us to read a passage and pay attention to what word or phrase grabs your attention. If you were to look at the Gospel for this coming Sunday, the story of Jesus stilling the storm, and I asked what word or phrase from that Gospel catches your attention, I think a lot of us would hone in on the line, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?"
Why are you afraid? It doesn't take long to come up with a list does it?
- A loved one is ill and life has been turned upside down.
- We worry about our children or grandchildren.
- We're afraid we'll be the next to lose our job, and maybe our savings and our homes with it.
- Important relationships break down and lives break down right along with them.
- We're afraid of being alone.
- We're afraid of getting old, of getting sick, and we're afraid of death.
It seems like the things that frighten me most are things I don't have much control over. I can watch my diet and do my exercises, but I have no control over whether or not I'll get cancer or develop Alzheimer's. I can work hard and manage my money as responsibly as possible, but I can't control the economy or the behavior of those who do. I think there are times when being anxious and afraid is just part and parcel of being human.
So somehow when Jesus asks, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" it feels a little accusatory. Frankly, if our surviving the storms of life ultimately depends on us; on how much faith and hope we have, on how hard we prayed, on whether or not we had a positive attitude, we're in even more trouble than we think we're in. So I don't really think Jesus is surprised that the disciples are afraid and I don't think he's scolding them for it.
The author of Mark's Gospel knew that the early followers of Jesus who heard this story understood that the sea is the ultimate symbol of chaos. The sea out of control is a world spinning out of control. In the ancient world, the sea was the place where monsters and demons resided. For that matter, it still is. Ask the Japanese who survived the tsunami of a few years ago.
And while this storm is raging, Jesus is asleep! Now, I have been on a boat in a storm and I'd say just that part of this story alone is a miracle. I don't know how anyone could sleep under those circumstances. I don't think Jesus is surprised or angry that the disciples are afraid. I think he's frustrated and disappointed that they still don't get it. I think Jesus sounds a little cranky because after all they've seen of him, including the way he spoke with authority in the temple and the miracles of healing he's performed, the disciples accuse him of not caring that they're dying.
So maybe this story isn't about whether or not we're afraid, or whether or not we have enough faith, but about what kind of faith we have and who or what we have faith in. Maybe the words that should catch our attention are, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?" What if the answer to that question opens the way to faith that can help us find some comfort and peace even in the midst of the worst storms life can bring?
It can't be said enough: God never, ever, promises that nothing bad will ever happen to people of faith. God never promises smooth sailing and blue skies every day. If you think that God promises this, you haven't read your Bible carefully enough. What God does promise is that when the world comes crashing down, God is right there with us. Jesus is there with us, in the sinking boat. This is an important part of the story: Jesus isn't elsewhere. He isn't in some cushy palace somewhere. He is in the boat with the disciples. Sinking. And then he calms the storm.
So, maybe the world is crashing in on you today. Maybe it was yesterday. And then again, maybe it will be tomorrow. But, whenever it does - and it's not a matter of "if" but "when" - whatever you think, and whatever your prayer, know that you haven't been abandoned. God isn't off on a lunch break. God isn't out for you. God is with you. And all you need is enough faith to get you through to the moment when Jesus speaks, "Peace. Be still."
Fr. Chip
Progress continues on Christ Church capital campaign
We are now in the first of two major phases in our Christ Church Capital Campaign.
This first phase is sometimes called the "Quiet Phase" and runs from now through mid-August. During this phase, we will be...
- Developing our contact list (now just about complete - great work, Advance Team!)
- Developing our Gifts Chart (about ready for finalization as this is written)
- Soliciting donors close to the Congregation (this will start in early July)
- Developing a Case Statement and accompanying literature describing the needs and ministry goals
- Testing the Case Statement by using it in our early contacts, then refining it for more general use
It is the experience of many churches that the size of gifts pledged during this "quiet phase" helps "set the pace" for the later success of the campaign, and many campaigns reach 50-70% of their goal in this phase.
The second phase of our campaign will be the "Public Phase," which will start in late August and run through mid- October. During this phase...
- We expand our outreach to a wider audience through Cottage Meetings in various parishioners' homes and informational materials available in church and on our website.
- We will make contact with donors beyond the congregation (memorial gift opportunities, gifts from "alumni" and friends of the congregation, etc.)
- Our donation focus in this phase will be to receive pledges from the general congregation and beyond - more often in this phase, moderate to small gifts - though we will still will happy accept a big check ☺ !
Our focus right now: The Case Statement
This is a set of documents designed to motivate donors to give. A key concept: People give to people, not buildings or projects. In our Case Statement, we mainly seek to answer two questions:
- How does the campaign's outcome help us reach our mission goals? (We're encouraged to think through to the desired outcome, not just what punch-list items will be accomplished.)
- How can we accomplish this memorably, without crossing the line to being "slick"? Our campaign materials need to drive home a theme: a memorable concept that sticks with the donors.
Our thanks to the following, whose work has brought us a tremendous way "behind the scenes" already:
- Our Advance Gifts Team, Suzanne George, Paula Kidder, and Cindy Robinson
- Our Major Gifts Contact Team, Peter Monte and Liz Malone, who will be recruiting additional team members to work with them
- Our Information Team, Craig Davis, Kris Ebbeson, Gary Dozier and (especially) Katie Towler (who is the chief "architect" of our Case Statement)
We will keep you informed of progress as our Campaign continues to unfold.
Your Capital Campaign Coordinating Team:
Fr. Chip Robinson, Craig Davis, Suzanne George,
Melanie Harden, and Peter Monte
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...
Our web page updates are halfway through...
Our "mobile-friendly" Christ Church web pages are now up and published...and work begins this week on the Trinity pages. As it turns out, it was much easier than anticipated, and uploaded without any of the "glitches" we were concerned about. If you look at Christ Church's pages on a mobile device, you'll see the menu has changed from one that runs across the top of the page to easy-to-push "finger-sized" buttons down the right hand side. The font has also been enlarged for easier reading on mobile devices. The full-size pages also benefit from this more legible size of font, though they remain organized the same as before.
Once Trinity's pages are up and running, we'll spread the word. (If you're curious to see the difference between the two, bring both up. You'll see how much smaller the text is on Trinity's site - and Trinity's is not yet adaptable to mobile devices.)
Some adjustments to the use of our new seasonal booklets
Our first Sunday with our new seasonal booklets showed some issues still to be worked out. In both churches there were too few booklets in some places - and too many in others - so now we will have the greeters distribute them along with the inserts containing the week's readings, hymns and announcements. Be sure to return them to the basket at the entrance as you leave. These booklets are meant to last three months, so please don't take them home.
Holly Berry Fair Planning Meeting June 28th
We''ll be having a short meeting immediately after the
8:45 service at Trinity Church on
June 28th to talk about the Holly Berry Fair. T
he Fair is only 5 months away! We would like to get some input from as many folks as possible, so please try to be there. I will also have a couple of crafty things that I hope we can work on to sell.
I'll make the meeting as short as I'm able to. See you there!
Carol
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 trinity55ad@gmail.com. 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 Hobbs Hall.)
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.
Looking way ahead to July...it's time for a ballgame!
As the "official ballgame organizer" at Christ Church, Exeter, I would like to invite parishioners at Trinity and Christ Churches to join us for our annual trip to the Fisher Cats game in Manchester on Sunday, July 19. This is the entire schedule for the day and you can join in as your Sunday schedules permit:
- 10:30 - tailgate party (burgers, dogs, etc.) at Christ Church, Exeter, 43 Pine St.
- 11:45 - bus leaves for Manchester with choir members (see choir invite below) and all who wish to leave the driving to someone else. Those who wish to drive on their own may do so.
- 1:30 - game begins between New Hampshire Fisher Cats and Portland Seadogs (Red Sox affiliate)! Choir members will sing the National Anthem and David Holroyd will throw out a ceremonial first pitch before the game! Immediately after the final out, kids can run the bases, after which the bus will immediately head back to Exeter.
The tailgate party is basically free. The cost of a ticket (great box seat behind third base) and the bus ride is $20.00 per person ($11.00 if folks drive on their own). A few pertinent details:
- The final cutoff date for tickets is July 5 but it would be good to start gathering names and numbers of tickets right away. Checks should be made out to Christ Church, Exeter, with "ballgame" on the memo. Drop your reservation and check in the offering plate - or stop it by the Shared Ministry office.
- Choir members from both congregations are invited to join Exeter's choir to sing the National Anthem. Bruce Adami and Suzanne Jalbert Jones, our music directors, will rehearse the group at the tailgate party. I will need those names as soon as they are available. Choir dress code is khaki pants or shorts and blue shirt. The more the merrier!
Tickets will be distributed at the tailgate party before boarding the bus or cars. If people are not coming to the tailgate party, other arrangements can be made as long as I know in advance.
Questions may be directed to me at dholroyd0219@comcast.net.
Hope you can join us with a big contingent. This is our fifth year and it is a truly fun event.
Cheers and blessings!
David Holroyd
Christ Church, Exeter
Time and Talent Drive
Our thanks to all who responded to our recent Time and Talent Drive. We heard from several new volunteers in both churches. At the same time, there are a number of active members from whom we have not heard. Your input is important. If you have not filled in a Time and Talent survey, there are extra copies at the entrances to both churches. Unless we hear from you otherwise, the Bishop's Committee and Vicar will assume you wish to continue your ministry in the capacities you are presently serving.
