January 21, 2016
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
Rev David Robinson
 
The Vicar's sermons can be found by clicking on the link for either church and going to the Worship page.
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!

 



From a Bishop's Committee member...
Finally, I'm off!
 
Lynda Swartz
Christ Church
 
Over four and a half years ago, Susan Sinnott decided to become Susan Ott and nothing at Christ Church has been the same for me since. Because Dr. Ott and Susan were both serving on the Bishop's Committee, and the by-laws strictly forbid this type of co-habitation, I was asked if I would finish out the six months remaining on her term. I said yes and they voted to accept.
 
Liz and I have been coming to Christ Church for 20 years. Our interest in what happens to Christ Church is as much about family as it is the Church itself. So there I was, on a committee that didn't have a priest to lead us and worrying whether we could even keep the doors to Christ Church open. We couldn't afford a full-time priest. We couldn't pass a balanced budget. Our congregation was aging and there weren't any new faces coming through the doors. Our meetings began with gentle prayer and ended with pleading prayers to God for guidance. Finally, the opportunity to share a priest with another local church was in front of us and after much conversation and more prayer, Christ Church and Trinity of Hampton became one; only separate.
 
Our first joint venture was to call a Priest. All of the Christ Church BC was on the search committee. We met often, combined with Trinity and Diocesan representatives. Bishop Gene Robinson was in favor of our shared ministry and believed it was the way of the future for many small churches in New Hampshire. He sent us Tim Rich who provided the search criteria. We read resumes and each of us graded them on a 1-5 scale. I think back now of that search and how difficult it was and how spiritually exhausted we were. I had already bonded with the Trinity BC and felt that if we couldn't make it work with them, we couldn't make it work at all. Using technology, we skyped and e-mailed and interviewed people from other parts of the country. It seemed that we would never find anyone that would be willing to take on two very different congregations. But, after an excruciating search, we called the Rev. Kathleen Cullen. It was her first real parish and boy, did she get a workout. She was our learning curve - and we were hers.
 
In January of the next year, I was elected to the BC for my own two year term. I admit I wanted to follow through on the changes that were happening. At first, the combined Bishop Committees were doing everything on a 'need to act' basis. Questions arose constantly. Who pays what, what will the hours be, who will have early mass? What about holidays? What about snow storms? Who pays this? Who pays that? And during our bookkeeper of the month year, actual budget figures were a guessing game. There wasn't a meeting that didn't end with a deep sigh; wondering if we were doing the best for our congregations. We had no guidelines to follow.
 
Parishioners were concerned that we were too joined, and some wanted more togetherness.  It was obvious to me after a few months that our new Priest was in a no-win situation. Trying to appease two congregations and also administer to the needs of our missions was difficult for her and there was an obvious crack in the structure. Once again, the committee meetings had a feeling of defeat and sadness. We all wanted it to work so badly. The thoughts of closing Christ Church for good didn't leave us. Bishop Robinson was retiring and Tim Rich was going to his own parish. I felt abandoned. At the last meeting with Kathleen, I remember thinking that she had taken a bullet for us, and she would probably never know that. We had long time parishioners not speaking to each other for all kinds of reasons. Christ Church and Trinity needed a miracle. Enter Bishop Rob Hirschfeld.
 
I met our new Bishop at Trinity. That evening, Hobbs Hall was a real whine fest. He listened as both BCs aired their anger and frustration. He asked questions and was genuinely interested in what we were saying and also what we weren't saying. All of us assured him that we could not go through another search. Nobody had the stomach for that again. I left that meeting with a bit of hope but a sinking heart. I needn't have worried because Bishop Rob acted decisively and quickly. He appointed Chip Robinson as our shared Vicar. Chip and Cindy Robinson were sent from heaven.
 
My last term ends in January 2016 and I'm ready to go. It's time for others to step up and take a term. Being a part of the Bishop's Committee has taught me so much more about Christ Church and what we need to do to keep it going. I've made so many friends from Trinity and gotten closer to my Christ Church brothers and sisters. I honestly believe Christ Church and Trinity are the major success that other NH parishes are going to emulate. Chip is one of the hardest working priests I've known and his energy, compassion and business sense is invaluable to all of us. He's a 24/7 priest.
 
Christ Church is on the right track right along with Trinity. Sure, there's always a need for more money and new people, but most of all, there is a need for more participation from you, our congregation. I know you feel put upon because there's always something you're being asked to do or buy or be a part of; but isn't that what church is? Being a part of something that's grand and makes you feel closer to God is a good thing. So if someone asks you to serve on the Bishop's Committee, think about it. If you say yes, I promise you won't regret it. You will be part of the solutions and that's a good thing too.
 
 
Watching the weather at Trinity this Sunday
 
As many of you are aware, the possibility exists for a significant snowstorm this weekend. At the same time, some forecast models place it far enough south of us not to present major concern. 
 
At Tuesday's Bishop's Committee meeting, we discussed its possible impact on Sunday's Annual Meeting. Our decision was to hold off until the close of business Friday to make a decision whether or not to postpone. By then we'll have much more certainty as to the storm's track.
 
Trinity members, please watch your email late Friday or on Saturday morning for an announcement of our decision. If we do decide to postpone, we will hold the meeting on Sunday, Feb. 7. Those without access to email will be called if we decide to postpone.
 

What do you know about the Palestinian people and the West Bank today?
Come to Christ Church at noon Jan. 24 to explore this complex situation
 
What do you know about the Palestinian people and the West Bank today? I was fortunate enough to travel there in 2012 and have a chance to meet with Palestinians and others concerned about the situation in the West Bank. Using my experience and resources provided though the Episcopal Church, we will have a chance to learn, question and explore this complex situation. This is a two-week Epiphany series after the service and coffee hour at Christ Church, and all from both parishes and anyone else is invited to attend. A light soup and bread lunch will be provided. Please contact Betty Lane or Vicar Chip so we may have an idea of how much lunch to provide. You may attend even if you have not signed up in advance, or cannot attend both sessions.                                               
 Betty Lane

 
Official Notice of Annual Meetings 
 
The Annual Meeting of Trinity Episcopal Church is currently scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 24, 2016 at 10:15 a.m. in Hobbs Hall. Late Friday, we will make a decision as to whether or not to postpone this meeting in light of the predictions of snow for this weekend. Be watching for an email early Saturday.
 
The Annual Meeting of Christ Episcopal Church will be held on Sunday, Jan. 31 at 12:00 noon in the Christ Church Undercroft.
 
The purpose of these meetings shall be to receive the Reports of the Officers and Organizations of the Congregations; to elect Officers and Delegates for the terms specified for their offices as stated in the By-Laws of the Congregations; and to conduct such other business as may lawfully come before these meetings.
 
Any baptized person, sixteen (16) years of age or older, who acknowledges in writing the authority of the By-Laws of the Congregation her or she attends and who declares his or her intention to aid in maintaining public worship therein by regular attendance at such worship and who is a contributor of record, is entitled to voice and vote.

Craig Davis, Warden, Christ Church                     Patrice Wood, Senior                                                                                         Warden, Trinity Church
Suzanne George, Clerk, Christ Church                Diana Jodoin, Clerk, Trinity                                                                                 Church
 

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...
 
Jan. 24
Trinity Church Annual Meeting; Bruce Chambers; Bill & Monika Bottlinger
 
Jan. 31
Christ Church Annual Meeting; Steve Adair; Phoebe & Robert Bischoff and family


Dover woman seeks temporary housing

A Dover woman is looking for a few months of no or low cost temporary housing for herself and her grown son since her Dover house is currently unlivable and she is in the process of working out a permanent housing solution. If you would like more information please contact Suzanne George at [email protected] or 603-692-7109.


Trinity Institute: "Listen for a Change"
Jan. 21-23 at St. John's, Portsmouth
 
Trinity Institute is an annual conference in its 45th year that equips clergy and laypersons for imaginative and catalytic leadership, sponsored by Trinity Wall Street, an Episcopal parish in New York City. This year's conference - TI.2016: Listen for a Change - focuses on racial justice. Trinity Institute takes place at Trinity Church in New York City and is streamed at Partner Sites throughout the world and St John's Church is a partner site for TI.2016.
 
A complete schedule can be found at TI.2016's website: https://www.trinitywallstreet.org/trinity-institute/2016/home Participants may attend any or all parts of the conference at St. John's. Please contact Charlie Nichols at [email protected] or 603-531-0715 to indicate your attendance and sessions.
 
 
Looking ahead to Lent...

Plans are underway for our Lenten series for 2016. This year's program will be titled, "What Wondrous Love" and will focus on the story of Jesus' walk from the threshold of Jerusalem to the Cross at Calvary. Meditations by renowned theologians (on video) will show us that within each of the stories of the road to Calvary 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. 14. 
  • Trinity Church: Soup and bread supper and session on five Wednesday evenings at 6:00, beginning Feb. 17.
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, Jan. 31. 
 
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 to cover materials costs is welcomed.

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