State Senate issues resolution for Trinity's 60th anniversary

On June 8th, the New Hampshire State Senate issued a resolution congratulating Trinity Church on its 60th anniversary. Shown above is District 24 Senator Nancy Stiles presenting the proclamation to Fr. Chip and Trinity Senior Warden Patrice Wood.

 

 

Notes from the June Bishop's Committee meeting

 

The June meeting, held at Trinity, opened with a reflection by Gordon Lane on the value of older people and the importance of our ministry to them.

 

The Mutual Ministry Review team presented its report, which recommends that we renew our Covenant between the two congregations when it expires this November. Craig Davis presented a draft document outlining the terms of this extension. The group also outlined plans for extensions of our children's ministries, about which we will publish a more extensive column within the next week or so.

 

Our Come and See team presented its plans for the fall. At Christ Church, the focus will be on inviting people to two events: the Homecoming cookout on Sept. 20 and the Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 4. At Trinity Church, a parish supper will follow the 5:00 Eucharist on Sept. 19 and an Open House will follow the Sunday Eucharist on Sept. 27. Fr. Chip will stay to be present at that event. Invitational postcards will be addressed at an "addressing party" at each church in late August or early September.

 

The results of the Time and Talent drive show several new volunteers - but also less response overall than we had hoped. It was agreed we would make one last push, noting that those now serving will be considered as continuing unless we hear from them otherwise.

 

It was decided that our joint summer picnic will be at a "neutral" location on a Saturday in August. Stratham Hill Park and the Great Island Common in New Castle were among the venues we will approach for availability. We will keep the date flexible based on when and whether these sites can accommodate us.

 

In their individual meetings, the two Bishop's Committees acted as follows:

• The Christ Church committee heard an update on that church's Capital Campaign (which was summarized in last week's E-News). It was decided that we would wait until Annual Meeting to fill the unexpired term of Linda Seward on the Bishop's Committee. We have received an insurance settlement for our recent break-in to the tool shed. (Two mowers and a wheelbarrow were stolen.) Peter Monte presented a proposal to establish a pet memorial garden. He has verbal assurance of its acceptability to the City of Portsmouth, but we asked for a letter outlining that acceptance before formally moving to accept the proposal. Peter will write a piece for the E-News outlining our plans and providing links to other Episcopal churches that offer similar memorial gardens.
  
  
• Trinity Church's committee is continuing its follow-up with the Village Pre-School (VPS) and other users of our facilities to update their usage contracts. Trinity's liaison to VPS, Sandi Nickerson, has now had her first meeting with the VPS board. Efforts are underway to have some form of Children's Fun Fair to jointly promote VPS and the new children's programming we are developing. A key component of that is a proposed Monday evening program, to be tentatively offered twice a month, that will pull together all generations for a free dinner, some form of Christian education, and an informal closing table Eucharist.

The treasurers presented the May financials for both churches. May was a positive month in both congregations financially, though both are slightly behind schedule in year-to-date revenue. It was agreed that mid-year pledge statements be distributed to all households at the end of June.

 

Full minutes will be posted as they become available. There will be no July meeting. The August meeting will be on the 18th at 7 p.m. at Christ Church.

Notes by Fr. Chip

 

 

This Sunday, June 28 at Christ Church...

Outdoor Eucharist and cookout

 

It's time to kick off the summer season! This 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.)

 

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.

 

 

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...

 

June 28	Christ Church Bishop's Committee; Kay Scott of Trinity Church; Iris McLoughlin & family of Christ Church
July 5	Our E-News editor, Liza McGuckin; Mike Spinelli, George & Judy Koch, and Ned & Bobbie Stead of Trinity Church; Peter Monte of Christ Church

 

 

Host homes being sought for Spanish exchange students

 

There is a group of Spanish exchange students coming to the Seacoast for three weeks in July. Families are needed to host them. The group arrives July 8-July 28th. Transportation to and from the airport is provided. The students are busy Mon- Thurs 9-5 with activities. There are a few more students in need of homes, both girls and boys ages 15-17. Students come in with good English skills, their own spending money and medical insurance. If you know of a family interested and would like more information on the students/program contact linda_coffey@hotmail.com as soon as possible. This is a wonderful opportunity for the whole family.

 

 

"Garden Party" this Saturday

 

If you can spare an hour (or more) join me at Trinity, this Saturday, June 27, for our Annual "Garden Party" (weeding & mulching project).  We have gardening tools to share, an old wheelbarrow,  rakes, shovels and a noisy weed whacker.  I'll have my electric clippers to attack the overgrown bushes at the front of Hobbs House and the church building.  Feel free to bring the tools you like to work with and gloves.

 I hope to see some of you Saturday morning - 10:00 - noon or when you can! 

 

See You Saturday!

Patrice

 

 

Last two weeks to reserve Fisher Cats tickets

 

Our annual trip to the Fisher Cats game in Manchester on Sunday, July 19 is quickly approaching. We begin with a  "tailgate party" at Christ Church, Exeter (43 Pine St.) at 10:30; the bus for Manchester leaves at 11:45, and at 1:00 the game begins.

 

Choir members from the Seacoast Convocation churches will sing the National Anthem and David Holroyd of Exeter 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. 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. There will be a brief rehearsal at the tailgate party. 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 we know in advance.

 

Questions may be directed to David Holroyd: dholroyd0219@comcast.net. 

 

 

Trinity Church "mobile-friendly" web site now posted

 

As promised, our Trinity Church web site has now been updated so, like the Christ Church site, it can easily be accessed on mobile devices. The print is larger and, on its mobile variant, the menu is now on finger-sized push buttons. Check it out and take note of the changes.