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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.
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(603) 431-1809
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at Trinity Church, Hampton
(603) 929-7349
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Episcopal Churches on the Seacoast
Seacoast Convocation
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Ministry Schedule
Christ Church
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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!
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From the Vicar...
As Lent approaches, we rejoice in Christ's transformative grace
A couple of weeks ago, as the Gospel lesson in church, we heard the story about Jesus turning the water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee. That reminded me of a quote from a sermon delivered by a bishop years ago at an ordination. In it he charged the young man being ordained to, "Pour out the Word like water, and let the Holy Spirit turn it into wine!"
This is not only an apt way of understanding the "water into wine" story, but it is a great reminder of what Jesus had done and continues to do in this world: He transforms things. The truly amazing thing is that he has chosen to do this through ordinary Christians like you and me.
When we sincerely offer ourselves in service to Christ, we can be assured that the results will multiply wonderfully just like those loaves and fishes with which he fed the five thousand. We may not immediately see the results, and sometimes we may not see them at all, but none of that changes the fact that when we offer ourselves in the service of Christ, he always does something transformative with what we offer.
Several times over the course of my ministry people have come up and reminded me of something I said to them years before; something that made a positive difference to them in their spiritual lives. Almost without exception I will not recall having said it, nor even remember the conversation! It is just another example of Christ using something that didn't seem particularly consequential and making it into something of great significance. By the way, I give all the credit to him!
As we are fast approaching the season of Lent, it is a good time to remember the importance of what we offer to Christ in our two congregations. He takes those humble offerings and transforms them into wonderful things we sometimes fail to appreciate. What a privilege it is just to be a part of that process.
Fr. Chip
Elected at our Annual Meetings
The Annual Meetings of our two churches have now taken place. The reports have been received; the thanks offered; and...elections brought us new lay leaders in both congregations.
At Trinity Church we reelected Robert Bischoff as Treasurer and welcomed Sherry Kellett to succeed Gordon Lane on the Bishop's Committee.
At Christ Church, a new candidate for Treasurer stepped forward: Tena Wolf. Her husband, John Wolf, was elected to succeed Lynda Swartz on the Bishop's Committee. Suzanne George was reelected Clerk.
Our congratulations to all who were elected. Their first meeting will be on Feb. 16 at 7 p.m. at Christ Church.
Mardi Gras Celebration canceled
Rescheduled as April 2 Jazz Night
The Mardi Gras dinner and jazz night originally scheduled for this Saturday, Feb. 6 is being rescheduled to April 2. Bob Main, chairman of the event, thanks all who agreed to help out, and has asked that they remain signed up for the April "Jazz Night" to be announced. If you can help out at that time, contact Bob at billybobmain@comcast.net or call him at 781-301-1367.
Healing liturgy at Christ Church returns to first Sunday
After several months during which it was difficult to include the Laying on of Hands for healing on our usual first Sunday of the month, we now have clear sailing to return to that schedule, and so will hold our February healing liturgy at Christ Church this Sunday, Feb. 7.
The Laying on of Hands continues to be held the third Saturday of each month at Trinity, which means the next such liturgy will be on Feb. 19.
Ash Wednesday schedule set
On Ash Wednesday, Feb. 10, Holy Eucharist, with the Imposition of Ashes, will be offered at 12:15 p.m. at Trinity Church and at 7:00 p.m. at Christ Church.
Our Ash Wednesday services invite us to reflect on our lives and relationship with God, to bring renewal in our lives. The Imposition of Ashes reminds us of our mortality. The Eucharist reminds us of Christ's sacrifice for us and our new life in Christ. All baptized Christians (including children) are expected to attend one of these services. This is why we offer it in both churches, and invite "cross-attendance" based not on location but on convenience to the worshiper's schedule.
Fr. Chip
Our Lenten program for 2016...
What Wondrous Love
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 from Emory University's Candler School of Theology (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:
Week One The Entry Into Jerusalem
Christ Church: Sunday, Feb. 14 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Feb. 17 at 6 p.m.
Week Two Jesus Washes the Disciples' Feet Christ Church: Sunday, Feb. 21 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Feb. 24 at 6 p.m.
Week Three The Last Supper Christ Church: Sunday, Feb. 28 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Mar. 2 at 6 p.m.
Week Four The Betrayal and Arrest
Christ Church: Sunday, Mar. 6 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Mar. 9 at 6 p.m.
Week Five The Crucifixion and Burial Christ Church: Sunday, Mar. 13 at 12 noon
Trinity Church: Wednesday, Mar. 16 at 6 p.m.
Each session begins with a soup and bread meal, followed by discussion and worship. The Christ Church sessions will end by 1:30 p.m.; at Trinity, we will conclude by 8:00 p.m.
The sign-up sheet for offerings of soup and bread 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.
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...
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Feb. 7
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Our newly elected Bishop's Committee members (see article above); also: Shad Christopoulos; Ginny & Ted Bridle-Russell
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Feb. 14
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Concluding collect for our shared ministry
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Christ Church Fundraising Team to meet this Sunday
This Sunday, February 7 will be the first meeting of the Christ Church fundraising team this year. Please plan on being there with us directly after the service. Ideas to be discussed include Calendar Raffle logistics, our annual plant sale (May 7, the day before Mother's Day), summer fundraising, our annual Christmas Fair, and joint events with Trinity Church. Any and all ideas are encouraged. Please plan on attending this Sunday.
Tena Wolf
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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
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