September 29, 2016
News from the Shared Ministry 
of
Christ Church, Portsmouth  & 
Trinity Church, Hampton 
In the Episcopal Diocese of NH
 
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 Trinity Church
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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 

 
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!

 


BACK TO SUNDAY SCHOOL...


Sunday School will resume at Christ Church on Sunday, October 2, 2016. 

Children of all ages are welcome.


hands_together_sand.jpg
Notes from the September Bishop's Committee meeting
 
The September meeting, held at Christ Church, opened with a meditation by Melanie Harden on the passage from Ephesians, "Put on the whole armor of God." She related it to our efforts to extend and grow our Shared Ministry.
 
The Christ Church group finalized plans for the first use of the Pet Memorial Garden and approved a brochure for spreading the word about the Garden. While thinking of gardens, the group discussed exploring further establishing Community Garden plots on the south end of the church grounds as an outreach to the local community. Updates were provided on the accessible restroom project and the final phase of the LED lighting conversion. The installation of a security system for the Rectory was approved. Financial statements for August showed a continued trend toward lower deficits, with pledge income 2% ahead of last year and expenses holding lower than a year ago.
 
The Trinity Church committee discussed the recently completed ventilation project, which is now completed and paid for. There is still a ventilation need in the Village Preschool restrooms, but that is being addressed and will be completed shortly. The entire main level of the church has had a "deep cleaning" following all the ventilation and repair work. The only task remaining is the exterior windows. The August financial statement showed a positive cash flow, which contrasts with a $2,500 deficit this time a year ago. Pledge income is particularly strong, running nearly $5,000 ahead of a year ago.
 
The two groups reunited to conduct shared ministry business. In that portion of the evening:
  • Members commended the Bylaw Revision Team on its work and expressed confidence that we could pass a final version for consideration by the people of both congregations at our Oct. meeting.
  • We heard an update from the Vision Task Group. Several draft Mission Statements were presented, and the two final "candidates" for each church's statement will be put forward to the congregations for input.
  • The inauguration of a new "scrip" fund raising program was approved unanimously. Be looking for details on how this works: church members and friends can purchase gift certificates to local businesses and the churches receive a portion of each certificate purchased; a similar affinity program is available with TD Bank, and we are looking into that.
  • A pie sale will be held in Nov. At Trinity, orders will be taken at the Holly Berry Fair (Nov. 12); at Christ Church they will be taken the first two Sundays in Nov. Pies then will be available for pick-up the Tuesday before Thanksgiving. The pies are produced by Mann's Orchards, Methuen, Mass., and the only parish labor required is picking up the pies for delivery.
  • The fall Stewardship Campaign will have a "Hearts and Hands" theme and will be focused around a series of Cottage Meetings in parishioners' homes. Stewardship forms will be distributed at the meetings, with follow-up for those who cannot make a meeting. Six meetings will be held around Trinity; four among Christ Church members.
  • It was announced that Music Director Alexis Zaricki is retiring at the end of the current academic year (May, 2017). A search team is being formed to discern a successor.
 
Full minutes will be posted as they become available. The Oct. meeting will be at Trinity Church on Tuesday, Oct. 18 at 7 p.m.
 
Notes by 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...
 
Oct. 2
Trinity Church's Choir; Cindy, Elizabeth & Erica Taylor; Noreen Burke-Hill
Oct. 9
Concluding collect for our shared ministry
 
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.


"Cottage Conversations" to be at the "heart" of this year's stewardship program
 
After four years of stewardship drives involving multiple mailings, talks in church and other avenues for motivating people to give, we're trying a new approach this year.

At the heart of our stewardship program this year is a series of "heart to heart"
Cottage Conversations in parishioners' homes and other convenient locations. At these gatherings of 8-10 people each, we'll not only learn some of the specifics of our financial health, but also brainstorm together about what we value about our two congregations, what we hope to continue, and what new ideas you may have. Groups also will have the chance to talk about what we are looking for, even longing for, and praying for as our Shared Ministry moves beyond its initial phase into a new maturity.
 
Our Stewardship Committee is currently seeking out folks who would be willing to host these conversations, at home or at a convenient location. The Committee will provide the outline for the evening - all the host needs to do is provide the space and perhaps a pot of coffee and a few refreshments.
 
We are encouraging Bishop's Committee members to attend these meetings and take notes, which will be useful in many ways as our visioning process for the Shared Ministry continues to unfold.
 
Our "Loving Hearts, Living Hands" stewardship drive will begin in mid-October and will conclude by Sunday, November 13. Pledge forms will be distributed at the Cottage Meetings and will only be mailed to members who did not receive one at a "Cottage Conversation." They will also be available in the narthex at Trinity and on the literature table at Christ Church.
 
These small group meetings in members' homes provide a wonderful opportunity for us to build excitement about the work God is calling our two congregations to do. Be watching for sign-up sheets and invitation calls over the next two weeks.


Soup and Chowder Challenge at Trinity
Saturday, Oct. 15 from 5-7 p.m.
 
The sixth annual "Soup and Chowder Challenge," for the benefit of Hobbs House and the Food Pantry at Hobbs House, will take place at Hobbs House / Trinity Episcopal Church, 200 High St in Hampton on Saturday, Oct.15th. 2016 from 5-7 pm.
 
Two opportunities await you at this event!
  1. Taste and judge some of the best soups and chowder on the seacoast all for only $7.00 per person!  After you have sampled all you want, you will cast a vote for your favorites in two categories - professional and individuals! 

  2. Do you have an award winning soup or chowder you want to share? Call 926-5688 or 396-9295 for entry information! 
Come join us for a fun evening that helps us reach out to our community!
 
 
End 68 Hours of Hunger - an outreach effort in our local schools
 
The Seacoast Convocation of Episcopal Churches is urging congregations to support the work of End 68 Hours of Hunger. This strictly volunteer organization purchases and provides food-filled backpacks for children to take home each Friday.  The goal is to help feed children and families over the weekend (the 68 hours until school reopens on Monday.) It costs roughly $10 per child per weekend, and all money raised goes to purchase food - there is virtually no administrative overhead.
 
St. Thomas's, Dover is sponsoring a Cookout for Kids BBQ fundraiser as part of the Apple Harvest Festival on Oct. 1st. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased by contacting Judi Turner at [email protected] or by calling her at 603-767-0707. For more information:  www.end68hoursofhunger.org.

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