|
From the Bishop's Committee...
Past, present and future
Last year, we began inviting members of the Bishop's Committee to submit articles to the E-News. This fall, we are making it a more frequent practice. This first article in the new series allows Christ Church's new interim co-warden, Suzanne George, to introduce herself...
I guess it's time to introduce myself: Hi, I'm Suzanne George, long-time parishioner and one of your two Interim Co-Wardens. I thought you might want to know a little bit about me.
Some of you may already know, but I'm not from 'around here': I'm a Western Girl! I was born in California, raised in California and New Mexico, and spent my High School and College years in Utah. A 'cradle Episcopalian', I became active in several Christian Fellowship groups on campus (including the Catholic Folk Group, where I began playing my guitar), graduated, and landed on New England's doorstep in January of 1986. After attending St. John's in Portsmouth for a short while with my Dad and Aunt (Moxie and Jackie George: anybody remember them?), I leapt feet-first into Christ Church by volunteering to play my guitar at a parish-wide retreat, and have been here ever since. I've been in the choir, withdrew somewhat when my daughter was very small, spent time as the Clerk of the Vestry (when it was a Vestry) and finally, more recently, returned as a full-time participant, Choir Member and Bishop's Committee member, in time to help shepherd in our new adventure: Shared Ministry.
The thing is - while I may have been born in California, I Grew Up here - at Christ Church. Christ Church history from 1986 on is my history, from helping out a new choir director when Alexis arrived, being married during the regular Sunday morning service in 1999, to the Baptism of my 2-week-old daughter by newly-minted Bishop Gene Robinson in November of 2003. Jobs, singing, 'real life', retreats, nearly being homeless, palancas, conflict, resolution, priest searches, editing newsletters, midnight minutes in the office, sleeping in the choir loft, Easter vigils . . . I've done a lot, changed, grown - and finally: I've come full circle.
I'm a Co-Warden, a position I take very seriously and will give my very best to.
So. That takes care of Past and Present.
Now what about Future? Where do we go from here, both as a congregation and in our Shared Ministry? Times have changed, and the role of the Episcopal Church - in fact, of most churches - in society has changed. Nearly every church has to evaluate what meaning it holds, what place it shares, in its congregations' lives.
What are today's needs? How are they different from what people and society needed from us 5-10-25- 65 years ago? Why would anybody want to walk through our doors? What would make them want to stay?
That's a lot to think about! Maybe the best way to get started on that is to get back to basics. For me, that means thinking about the question: just what is the Good News about Jesus Christ? Fire and brimstone aren't Good News to me. Neither is hatred based on race, sexual orientation, or a host of other supposedly Bible-based exclusions.
I don't know about everybody else, but to me, the Good News is that God Loves Me: purely, deeply and eternally. I am a child of God, and there is nothing " . . . in heaven, on earth or in the waters," (Romans 8) that can separate me from that love. The Good News is that Jesus, our advocate with God, will be with us even to the ends of the earth (Matthew 28). It's Good News that my God is a God of Grace, Forgiveness and Compassion. In reading the New Testament, and observing Jesus' interactions with his disciples and others, it's pretty apparent that he Welcomes questions and encourages seeking - which is extremely Good News to me, as I always seem to have questions in abundance!
I believe we do have an important place, one that is desperately needed, in today's society. I believe that we must find a way to raise our Progressive Christian voices to counter the din of hatred, prejudice, racism, and religious fear-mongering and coercion flooding our society.
As our Visioning Committee, created to begin thinking about the joint and individual futures of Christ Church and Trinity Church, begins its work, maybe we all need to do a little work of our own. What are people - especially our young people - seeking today? What do people in today's society need from us to balance their perspective and enlighten their hearts? What is the Good News you want to share within our church and with the world? I have an enquiring mind: I want to know! J
Suzanne E. George
Interim Co-Warden, Christ Church
Bible Study to reconvene Sept. 14
Since we all do not know when we will be "called upstairs," my thinking on Bible Study is to take in the most important items of the Bible each session.
My motivation is: 'THE WORDS OF JESUS CHRIST' ... even if it means repeating the Synoptic Gospels.
However, there is one book that seems to take a back seat, yet, has much detail not contained in the other books, even though it is the shortest of the Synoptic Gospels, and that is the Gospel of MARK.
We can discuss this and any other books of the New Testament at our first session, Wednesday, Sept. 14, as Jesus made it a point to have the New Testament serve as the Old Testament Revealed (this was pointed out by St. Augustine). Jesus was a master at staying with our behavior as Christians rather than much of what is contained in the Old Testament.
I am open to any discussion on Wednesday, Sept. 14 at 7 p.m.
Mike Spinelli
 Ringing bells for peace
Each year on Sept. 5, churches throughout Portsmouth ring their bells for three minutes at 3:47 p.m. to mark the anniversary of the signing of the Portsmouth Peace Treaty, which was ratified on that date in 1905 at Christ Church (the original building on Madison St.). Christ Church has faithfully participated over the years - and this year will be no exception.
If you happen to be at Christ Church or in the vicinity that day, listen for the tolling of the bell at 3:47. Christ Church will also be represented at the Governor's Proclamation and reception at Strawbery Banke later that day.
Cross Roads House volunteer training
Seven nights a week, volunteers prepare and serve dinner to the residents of Cross Roads House, Portsmouth's homeless shelter.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, you are encouraged to attend Volunteer Orientation on Thursday, September 8th, from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at the shelter. Orientation includes a shelter tour, an overview of kitchen operations, and volunteer expectations.
If you have any questions about volunteering or about the shelter's orientation program, email Marsha Filion at m.filion@crossroadshouse.org or call 603-436-2218 ext. 107. Pre-registration for orientation is not required.
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...
|
Sept. 4
|
Pastoral Care Ministries of both congregations; Betty Raitt; Barbara Hall
| |
|
| |
Sept. 11
|
Little Blessings directors, Diane Lewis & Kelly Coleman, and their staff; Robert & Jennifer Stiefel; Sally Bowden
|
Grubby Sunday - Next Sunday at Christ Church
Next Sunday, Sept. 11, we plan to complete the preparation of the Pet Memorial Garden and take care of other fall ground work. Please plan to spend a few moments after the service to help with these tasks.
A joint event for both congregations...
Homecoming Sunday cookout at Christ Church
Date: Sunday, Sept. 18 
Time: 10:30 a.m. (or whenever we're ready to start!)
Location: Weather permitting, the service will be held outdoors at Christ Church.
Who's Invited: Everyone from both churches! (There will be a said 8:45 a.m. service at Trinity for any who absolutely cannot come - but please, Trinity folks, consider this your "main service" for the day.)
More Info: There will be a pot-luck cookout following the service. Please bring a salad, side dish or dessert. Hamburgers, hot dogs and condiments, as well as beverages, will be provided. We especially need people to help set up before the service, and clean up at the end - but the most important part is this: invite someone you know, who you haven't seen in church in a while, to come!
Hobbs House gains visibility-literally!
Trinity Church has been a part of Hampton for more than 60 years, and the changes have been inevitable-from the church's first celebrations in the Grange Hall to its holding events in Hobbs House. The "basement Sunday School" for a few years, then the "upstairs" was added to complete what is now our existing worship space. Physical changes continued. Even the placement of the door to our church has been changed a time or two!
Vicars, priests, vestries, Bishop's Committees...people have come and stayed, while others came for a while and are now gone. The grounds have looked fantastic, and at times not so good. Plants and trees added, grew, overgrew, thinned, trimmed and then some removed.
This past week, another change took place. In preparation for sidewalk improvements, the town removed the large Linden tree from in front of Hobbs House. The roots of this 100 year-old tree would have had to be severely cut in order to level the area for the new sidewalk. The arborist, unfortunately, knew that this severe damage to the root system would kill the tree. Hobbs House is now highly visible to all who travel along High St. Once the new sidewalk is in, we will begin to consider if, what, or how can replace the Linden tree.
Patrice Wood
Warden, Trinity Church
|
