|
|
|
|
Spread the word! Forward this email to your friends and invite them to sign up.
E-News Archives |
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
The Vicar's sermons can be found by clicking on the link for either church and going to the Worship page.
|
|
(603) 431-1809
|
|
at Trinity Church, Hampton
(603) 929-7349
|
|
Episcopal Churches on the Seacoast
Seacoast Convocation
|
|
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!
|
|
A post-election word to the church
On the morning following the election, several bishops around the Episcopal Church wrote words to share with their communities. One of the best is this statement from the Bishop of Pennsylvania, the Rt. Rev. Daniel Gutierrez:
My brothers and sisters,
After a long campaign and election night, there is a mix of emotions. Undeniably, there are those experiencing a sense of hopelessness and despair. Others are feeling a sense of elation in the glow of political victory. Whatever your politics or candidate, we as followers of Jesus Christ must now engage in significant and transformative actions. The first must be to heal the breach in our nation and political discourse. Many in our country are angry; some are in tears while others are seeking retaliation. However, as Jesus was led from the Garden, he said these words - "put away your sword" (Mt. 26:52). The depth of meaning speaks to the heart of Jesus Christ. As Christians, we must follow him.
This is a moment where we are called to do something more. We must reclaim his voice and build the Kingdom of God. Right here and now. The only path for real change is Kingdom-building through Jesus Christ. We have repeatedly learned that humanity cannot rely on governments, politics, or candidates. We must place our faith in Jesus Christ. Jesus is breaking into the world at this moment. His light will shine in the darkness. His love will overcome hate. His kindness will overwhelm marginalization.
This is also the moment where followers of Jesus Christ must be stronger and more faithful than before. There are children of God who are scared; let's embrace them. We have brothers and sisters who now feel excluded; let's open our doors to our churches. We have fellow sojourners who are despairing; let's walk with them and show them life. Christian community and unity are now the most important places of centering and strength. This is the opportunity to be the hope that has been missing in this world. The courage that is necessary for this time of uncertainty....
Jesus is breaking into the world. As Christians, as those who take the name of Jesus Christ, let's step boldly into the world right here and right now. I leave you with these words: We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be made visible in our bodies. 2 Cor. 4:8-10
From the Vicar...
A giant family reunion disguised as a Diocesan Convention
This past Saturday, Nov. 5, our Shared Ministry delegation joined with clergy and lay delegates from every congregation of the Diocese in Concord for the 214th annual Diocesan Convention.
While, to be sure, there was legislation to consider and elections to be held, the focus of our day was much more community-focused than that. Meeting in the context of Eucharist, with beautiful, spiritual music to help set the tone, we listened to one another's stories, as well as to our Bishop, Rob Hirschfeld, as he shared with us his vision that we are called by Jesus to flourish. He spoke with eloquence of our need to be open to sacrifice - to have arms extended, open to God's infinite possibility.
 What I heard as I listened to the people around my table was the real heart we have in this diocese. We are about something that's real, something that transcends the day-to-day business of operating congregations. We have learned to lean on the power of God to heal, to forgive, and to bring redemption beyond our walls to the community that surrounds us. After our morning session, which had more the feel of a giant family reunion than of an organizational gathering, we spent the afternoon hearing about and deliberating on key elements of the mission we share.
After some discussion, we approved a diocesan budget for 2017, funded largely by each congregation's Fair Share, a percentage of each church's operating budget, of just over $2 million. Among the initiatives funded are a new Episcopal Service Corps Program; ministries to children and youth being carried out by the "Our Kids" Commission; and leadership expansion, including the funding of a new quarter-time position: a Canon for Community and Congregational Initiatives. Benge Ambrogi, a lay member of St. Matthew's Church, Goffstown, is that canon, and has already become a familiar face to us, as he helped lead our Bishop's Committee retreat this past June.
Convention also voted on three resolutions beyond the one embodying the budget:
- The first was a resolution commending 2017 clergy compensation guidelines. In a change from previous years' very detailed and specific grids that spelled out what a congregation of a particular size should pay its clergy based on the years of service, this year's guidelines offered more flexibility and room for discussion between clergy and vestries/bishop's committees. A 1% cost of living increase was mandated; a 3% increase overall was recommended.
- The second resolution was put forward by the Church of the Epiphany, Newport, seeking a change in congregational status from parish to mission, "in order to avail the congregation of the resources and leadership of the Bishop and Standing Committee in addressing urgent matters affecting the life and ministry of that congregation. ... and explore the creation of a new mission relationship with one or more other congregations." After hearing a bit of their story - and of their partnership with St. Andrew's Church, Hopkinton, in establishing a Sunapee Area Mission, the resolution passed unanimously.
- Finally, in a resolution out of General Convention 2015, the convention approved a measure to encourage congregations to commit to a study of "mass incarceration," using the New York Times bestseller The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Color Blindness by Michelle Alexander. The diocesan Prison Concerns Committee promised to provide congregations a toolkit of relevant study guides, and other resource material.
Throughout the day, as we made decisions that involve our human, spiritual and financial resources, we were reminded of the Mission Priorities for the Church of New Hampshire that serve as a "trellis" for what Bishop Rob calls the "Vine" that binds us together:
- Developing the ability of congregations to meet challenges, grow, prosper and extend their ministries
- Investing in the development of lay and ordained leadership
- Supporting the children of our parishes, communities and state, and
- Acting as advocates to uphold the dignity of every human being and care for the Creation.
Representing us this year were Robert Bischoff, Craig Davis, Gary Dozier, Anne Newell, and Patrice Wood. I am grateful for their participation, as well as that of Peter Monte who has faithfully attended Seacoast Convocation but could not be present that day. Retired priest Audrey Murdock, who attends Trinity, was also in attendance.
If you have questions about any aspect of our time at Convention, I invite you to speak with any of the above. As is so often the case in this wonderful diocese, it was a joy to be present - not just at a Convention, but truly at a family reunion where the "Episcopal branch of the Jesus Movement" (to use Presiding Bishop Curry's words) gathers to be the Body of Christ.
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...
|
Nov. 13
|
Hobbs House and all the ministries housed therein; Sandi Nickerson; Rusty & Louise Bridle
| |
Nov. 20
|
The aid offered through our Discretionary Fund; Mark & Ginnie-Lee McCaddin
|
This Saturday, Nov. 12 at Trinity Church
We're just a day or two away from the Holly Berry Fair! We need your help in order to make this a successful event, especially with the raffles and Silent Auction. 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.
If you can spare time on the day of the fair, we really could use your help with:
- Kitchen help and wait staff
- Fair set-up & clean-up
Please let Carol Gobar know how you can help. You may call her at 926-2768, or email her at goeast1@comcast.net.
Fundraising updates...
Here's your last chance!
We are raffling a $100 gift card to Market Basket at the conclusion of Saturday's Holly Berry Fair - Nov.12th. Such a deal we have for you! Tickets are $2.00 each or 3/$5.00. See Patrice Wood if you'd like to buy some.
Pie orders now being taken
We have the list and we're ready to take your order! Tena Wolf and Patrice Wood will oversee this new fundraiser / adventure. You will no longer need to stand in that long line at the Greenland Garden Club craft fair for pies, because we have their secret and it's Mann Orchards! 7 varieties of pies are available for pre-order. Pies will be baked and available for pickup on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving.
BUT... we need to sell 45 pies between the two congregations to make this a profitable fundraiser. Consider asking your friends to place an order with us, too. Varieties available include 10" Apple, Apple Crumb, Blueberry, Burgundy, 5-Fruit Crumb, Squash and Pumpkin - $11.75 each - payable when placing order. Deadline to order...this Sunday, Nov.13th.
Christ Church Christmas Fair 
Saturday, Dec. 3rd
There will be a team meeting directly after services this coming Sunday to review items for the fair. Thank you to the brave souls who have signed up to help make our fair successful! Please let Tena Wolf know if you have friends who would like to host a table of their own since we are providing a small number of tables free of charge to the community.
Time to order Christmas flowers is coming
We'd love your help in adorning our altars for Christmas by purchasing a Poinsettia. At the same time, you may honor your loved ones, acknowledge a special occasion, or give thanks and praise, which will be included in the bulletin.
This year there are two size choices: 6 ½" at $ 6.50 or 7 ½" at $12.00 and the color choices are: white, red, burgundy, and pink.
Be sure to fill out the information on the flower envelope found in this week's bulletin, then place it with your payment, marked "flowers," in the offering plate or mail it to the Shared Ministry Office. The deadline for orders is Sunday Dec 4 at coffee hour. Thank you!
Proposed bylaw revisions now posted online
Bylaws serve as the rules of operation for a congregation. In effect, they are a road map of the congregation's structure and its decision-making processes.
While both of our congregations have well-drawn existing bylaws, neither set of bylaws conform to the model bylaws produced by the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire - and there are inconsistencies between the two sets of bylaws that make for some difficulties when, for instance, there are vacancies on the Bishop's Committee.
Accordingly, the Bishop's Committee last winter authorized the formation of a working group to review our bylaws in both congregations. Without sacrificing either of the two congregations' unique traits, they have produced a set of documents that can help us dovetail the work of the two congregations more effectively. These documents were approved unanimously at the October Bishop's Committee meeting, and you will find the proposed bylaws online at www.trinityhampton.org/contact.htm and www.christepiscopalchurch.us/contact.htm.
Between now and the 2017 Annual Meetings (Jan. 22 at Trinity; Jan. 29 at Christ Church), there will be a public forum at each church to introduce the proposed bylaws and respond to any questions you may have. Be watching for the date, which will be announced soon. If approved at our two annual meetings, the proposed new Bylaws will then be submitted to the Standing Committee of the Diocese for final approval.
My thanks to the outstanding team that produced these draft bylaws:
From Christ Church: Sarah Wolf, chair; Craig Davis, (then) Warden; Suzanne George, Clerk; with editing assistance from Katie Towler
From Trinity Church: Bob Main, chair; Patrice Wood, Sr. Warden; Diana Jodoin, Clerk; Gordon Lane, Hope Murray; with editing assistance from Fran Plank
Fr. Chip
Seacoast Convocation to again fill Ditty Bags for Seafarers
 All this month, you are invited to provide items for seafarers' "ditty bags" being assembled by the churches of the Seacoast Convocation. Christ Church members are asked to bring toothbrushes and toothpaste (full-size tubes, please - not travel size). Trinity Church will be collecting bottles of shampoo, shaving cream (again, full-size, not travel size) and disposable razors.
We are also looking for a few more expensive items: tee shirts (smaller sizes preferred - many seafarers are small in stature) and wool knit caps. They may be new or used, but in clearly like-new condition. Shirts need not be plain white, so if you have a lightly-worn promotional tee shirt around (with a slogan on it, for instance) that is acceptable.
The ditty bags will be assembled on Dec. 6, so please bring your donations in by Sunday, Dec. 4.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
