From the Vicar...

Who are we? We invite our friends and neighbors to come and see!

This September, our two churches will welcome guests and newcomers (as we do, for that matter, every week) with a special program called Come and See. When last we tried this, in the winter of 2013, we had snow on at least two of the targeted Sundays - and bitter cold on all three.

So, this time, we're doing it a bit differently.

First of all, we're going to do it in September, when we hope the weather will be conducive to a better response. Secondly, we are going the personal invitation route rather than sending a very costly general mailing of postcards to the whole area. Finally, we're going to invite folks to some specific events rather than just generally to show up on a Sunday.

On the weekend of Aug. 29/30, we're asking our members to take a few moments after the liturgy to personally hand-address some attractive postcards we've had printed up by which to make our invitations.

In the case of Trinity Church, we're inviting them to a light "finger-foods" reception following the 5:00 Eucharist on Sept. 19 or an Open House to follow the Sunday Eucharist on Sept. 27. Fr. Chip will stay to be present at that event.

At Christ Church, the focus will be on inviting people to one of two events: the Homecoming cookout and Little Blessings Open House on Sept. 20 or the Blessing of the Animals on Oct. 4.

Here's the key to the success of this fall's program: Between now and the end of August, we need you to think about whom you'd like to invite, and to bring with you a list of at least ten people to whom you'd like us to send a postcard. You might get ideas from your Christmas card list...or think about people you've invited to dinner at your own home...or former members you haven't seen in a while...or folks you work with or who live in your neighborhood. And, of course, in the case of the Blessing of the Animals, you might think about pet owners you know.

By making the invitations more personal, and then, on the days of the events themselves, making our churches as inviting as possible, we can extend the hospitality for which we are already known - and introduce some new folks to these two special communities of faith. We simply will ask them to...Come and See.

Fr. Chip

Come hear our Presiding Bishop-elect!

No, he won't be here in person...but he we'll hear him preach anyway. This weekend, at all services, we'll be showing a video of the Rt. Rev. Michael Curry's electrifying sermon at the closing Eucharist of last month's General Convention in Salt Lake City. In it, he said, "Now I've got one word for you. If you don't remember anything else I say this morning, it's the first word in the Great Commission: GO!" That's a theme he's been sounding ever since he was elected Bishop of North Carolina 15 years ago - and he's preparing to share it with the whole church starting Nov. 1, when he takes his seat at the 27th Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. Come hear him this Sunday and "catch the spirit" embodied by this deeply Christian man of God.

Joint picnic set for Saturday, August 8

Liz Malone and Lynda Swartz have graciously offered their spacious backyard in Hampton Falls for a joint picnic for both our congregations on Saturday, Aug. 8 from 1:00-4:00 p.m.

We'll need some help getting six tables and at least a few chairs from Trinity and everyone should bring a lawn chair. As for food, we'll need rolls, and the usual pot luck food - side dishes, salads, beverages or desserts. The Bishop's Committee will take care of hot dogs and hamburgers. We'll also need some help getting things set up - so any who can come early to help out with that are welcome to do so. 

The address is 14 Kensington Road (Route 84), Hampton Falls, and their telephone number is 603-929-1719. If folks are unsure what to bring, they can call Lynda and Liz for suggestions.

Another thing is if people have lawn games like badminton, volleyball or other, they can bring them. Come join us for a fun day!