September 22, 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 the Vicar...
Let us draw on the inspiration that animates our ministry
 
The Hebrew (Old Testament) word for Spirit is ruach; the Greek (New Testament) word for Spirit is pneuma. Both words draw their imagery from "wind" or "breath," and have come to be the Church's shorthand for the Holy Spirit of God, the animating breath of God.
 
The Holy Spirit was and still is the divine active agent in creation, the giver of spiritual gifts, our guide as the People of God, the source of all truth and wisdom, and the indwelling One (the word "inspiration" literally means "in spirited").
 
Invited and sometimes uninvited, the Holy Spirit inhabits human beings and blows about doing the will of God. Invited or uninvited, the Holy Spirit is making God's mark on us in our Shared Ministry, animating us toward a more comprehensive, inspired, ministry that reaches people here on the Seacoast with the truth and wisdom of God.
 
Some theologians propose that the period from the beginning of human history to the birth of Jesus may be thought of as the Era of God the Transcendent One; that the period from the birth of Jesus to his Ascension was the Era of the Incarnate God; and that, ever since Pentecost (the bestowal of the Holy Spirit) we have been living in the Era of the Holy Spirit.
 
That tells us something significant about who we are as People of God. We live in the Era of the Holy Spirit and experience God primarily as communicated to us by the Spirit. That being the case, there are a number of things about which we need to be continually reminded:
 
  • God's Holy Spirit is present always and everywhere, in us and around us, whether invited or not.
  • This Spirit is the source of life, strength, knowledge, our abilities - in short, everything we have and are.
  • We cannot truly be the Church unless we allow the Holy Spirit to refresh and inspire us.
 
I mention this latter because we are already entering the more active period of the Church year. We are going full tilt between now and May: the choir is singing; educational programs are getting underway; our Bishop's visit, seemingly far away (in March, 2017), is really "right around the corner;" we're about to move adoption of new Bylaws in both congregations our annual meetings; and, of course, all of our holiest observations will occur in these months.
 
It would be easy to just go about these busy months on "autopilot" - to allow ourselves to plunge headlong into them without so much as a thought to the Spirit who animates and inspires us, invited or uninvited. So I want to issue, as fall unfolds, an invitation: I invite you (and us, corporately) to remember to pause frequently to take a few deep breaths, draw in the renewing Spirit of God. Let that Spirit refresh you, renew you. Don't let your own spirit wither; don't exhaust yourself.
 
Breathe the Holy Spirit in, slow and deep. And, so refreshed and renewed, then go about the ministry to which that Spirit calls you.
Fr. Chip
 
 
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. 25
The Building & Grounds ministry at Christ Church; Sarah Wolf; Cassie & Ben Leavitt
Oct. 2
Trinity Church's Choir; Cindy, Elizabeth & Erica Taylor; Noreen Burke-Hill

A note from Jess Byron
 
Last month, Jess Byron, an active member of Trinity Church, moved to the Chicago area to pursue her studies toward a career in medicine. This week we received a lovely note from Jess, thanking Trinity for the warmth of its sendoff.
 
Dear Trinity family,
 
I'm sorry I haven't written before now, but I wanted to make sure to thank you for your encouragement while I attended Trinity and the gift card, with which I purchased a desk and chair. I am settling into a routine with class and work, and I have found a lovely church where the interim priest is a hospital chaplain and medical ethicist. I miss you all.
 
Always,
Jess
 
 
Blessing of the Animals at Christ Church
Sunday, Oct. 2 at noon; Pet Memorial Garden to be opened
 
On Sunday, Oct. 2, children and adults are invited to celebrate God's creation through a special "Blessing of the Animals" service at Christ Church. The service is held on that day to honor the memory of St. Francis of Assisi, whose feast day is Oct. 4.
 
At 12:00 noon, we invite those who have cats or dogs, hamsters, gerbils, fish, rabbits or birds to bring their animals to the church to receive God's blessing. More exotic species, such as snakes, turtles, or lizards, are also welcome, as long as they are caged for their own as well as the congregation's safety. Those whose pets are not easily adapted to crowds may represent their pets with a picture or a stuffed animal.
 
At the conclusion of the service, our new St. Francis Pet Memorial Garden is being opened for the first interments of the ashes of pets. To mark the spot, a St. Francis statue has been placed along the wall near the rear church entrance. This garden offers a pastoral approach to a time that can be intensely sad for many people.  It may be another way for families served by the parish's Little Blessings Child Care Center to connect with the congregation.


Save the Dates

At both churches: Yankee Candle fundraiser
 
We are once again holding our Yankee Candle Fundraiser this fall. Orders are being taken through Oct. 23.   Now's the time to plan what wonderful aromas you want in your homes for the holidays and beyond!  Catalogs and order forms will be available after church this Sunday. Please see Tena Wolf at Christ Church or Patrice Wood at Trinity.
 
At Trinity: Ham & Bean Supper
Saturday, Sept. 24, from 5:00-6:30 p.m. 
 
It's the season - time for church suppers! Join us Saturday, Sept. 24th from 5:00-6:30 p.m. for Ham and Beans and all that goes with it. Quality ham will be served with homemade beans, hot dogs, coleslaw, corn bread, brown bread, and dinner rolls. Your choice from a variety of desserts and beverages are included all for $6.00. Dinners can be prepared 'to go' if desired. If you can help with set-up, serving, or clean-up, contact Patrice Wood.
 
At Christ Church: Fundraising Meeting 
Sept. 25 after the 10:30 Service
 
We will hold a brief fundraising meeting immediately after the 10:30 Service on Sunday, Sept. 25.  All interested are welcome and needed.
 
At Trinity: Cooks Wanted for Soup and Chowder Challenge
Saturday, Oct. 15
 
The sixth annual Soup and Chowder Challenge, for benefit of Hobbs House and the Food Pantry at Hobbs House, will take place at Hobbs House/Trinity Episcopal Church on Saturday, Oct.15th from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. 
 
Entrants are needed to make this event successful!  We encourage any organization, restaurant, school or individual with a favorite soup/chowder recipe to enter this 'judged' event. While there is no entry fee, we ask that you complete an application to join in this event.  For further information, call 926-5688 or 396-9295. If you'd like to help in planning and putting on the Challenge, please let Rusty Bridle know at [email protected]Be watching for further details as this event comes closer.
 
Trinity Church Holly Berry Fair
Saturday, Nov. 12
 
We'll have the following tables:  Bake sale, Cookie Walk, Silent Auction, Holiday Treasures, Gift Card Raffle and a Raffle Table. We're also having a Soup & Bread Luncheon.
 
We need your help with donations for the tables, especially the raffles and Silent Auction, Publicity - Help get the word out, Baked goods & Cookies (for the cookie walk), Kitchen help and Wait staff, and as always - Fair Set-up & Clean-up.         
 
Please call Carol Gobar, 926-2768, and let her know how you can help.
 
Christ Church Christmas Fair
Saturday, Dec. 3 
 
This year's Christmas Fair will be held on the main floor of the church, providing easier access for the community.  If you have friends that craft please invite them to come and sell at our fair - tables are reasonable!  We need a lot of help from the parish to make this fair success.  Please contact Tena Wolf if you have donations or ideas at [email protected].  

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