The Anchor July/August 2017
A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION OF CHRIST CHURCH, EXETER NH
A CHANGE IN SUNDAY ROUTINE IS COMING
I am a person of routine. My body wakes me up at almost the same time each morning – with or without an alarm. Coffee next. Quiet time for reflection. Work begins with email check-ins by 7 a.m. We all are people of some kind of routine.
Sundays are the Christian Sabbath, our day to celebrate the “third day” resurrection. Some of those who call Christ Church home rarely miss a Sunday when they are in town. Many touch base with God in community monthly and/or through the year. We have our 8:00’ers – our early risers. And we have those who come for what we call the main service of the day with choir and usually children and joyful noise.
The Sunday after Labor Day we will begin our fall schedule with a change in the time of our main service. We will be moving the 10:30 a.m. service up a half–hour to 10:00 a.m. With busy families in so much in flux juggling competing priorities Sunday mornings – and with our hard look at doing Sunday School differently moving forward based on mixed results of our current program – the move up by 30 minutes is intended to encourage more of our parish family keep the Sabbath as a time to gather, pray, sing and learn. More news will follow for how we hope to invite children into worship and learning. (I don’t want to steal Sally’s thunder!)
This mid-summer preview is meant to prepare us for the move on Sunday September 10. Because this time change will alter many of our routines, I ask for your understanding and trust that our common life will be enhanced.
Enjoy the summer.
Mark
PASTORAL MINISTRY AT CHRIST CHURCH
In October of 2009 I joined the staff at Christ Church as your Associate Priest with special responsibility for pastoral care. This is a very special ministry for me, and I would like to update you as well as to invite you to participate as a member of our Pastoral Care Team.
Members of the Pastoral Care Team serve in a variety of ways. I presently have five faithful members who serve as Lay Eucharistic Visitors. Known as LEVs, these are people who are licensed by the diocese, to take the sacrament of Holy Communion to church members who are homebound or temporarily unable to attend church. Anyone who would like to know more about becoming a LEV needs only to contact me by phone or email so that we can meet and discuss what is involved. New members can be trained by me and by those who are already involved in this ministry. Safe Church Training is required, provided by various local churches. Presently serving as LEVs are Carol Allard, Ann Malconian, Patti Buck, Judy Hinds, and Pat Izzo.
I am presently offering monthly Eucharists at Riverwoods on the third Thursday of each month and at Langdon Place on the fourth Wednesday. I always welcome those who would like to assist me and also interact with the residents who attend these services. Kay Gauffreau and Carol Allard regularly join me at Riverwoods and Betty Ann Johnson is always with me at Langdon Place.
We also sponsor special gatherings with our many independent living members at Riverwoods and I am grateful for the members of our team who provide refreshments and hospitality for these wonderful events that have been so well received.
These are our major ministries at this point in time, but new possibilities can always bubble up when new blood comes on board. Are you interested in knowing more or would you simply like to sit down and talk? All you need to do is email me at dholroyd@christchurchexeter.org or call me any time at 207-939-0219.
David Holroyd welcomes you!
A NEW LOOK AT CHRISTIAN FORMATION
First, I am deeply grateful for all you who have supported and participated in Christian formation programs throughout the year. I especially appreciate the enthusiastic group of confirmands we had this year! I thank all parents and teachers for your guidance and assistance each Sunday. Kevin Sorber took the “Building with Faith” curriculum and worked wonders with it, including constructing a Lego table for the children to use. I am so grateful for our childcare workers, Nancy Taylor and Irene Chick. They take such good care of the children and have an undying dedication to Christ Church.
As the 2016-2017 program year has come to a close, we look ahead to next year. I strongly believe in an ongoing evaluation of programs. We have plans for some changes in Christian formation that we will be rolling out over the summer. Much of this information will be in the September/October Anchor, so be on the lookout for the news and other fellowship opportunities for our renovated space!
Over the somewhat quiet months of the summer, I encourage you to think about your own experiences with Christian formationand fellowship at Christ Church. How have you been involved in the past? What has your involvement meant to you? How would you like to be involved in the future? Jack Seymour, one of the foremost scholars in religious education, writes in Teaching the Way of Jesus that “the task of Christian formation is to teach the inheritance of the faith, to interpret it for new times, and to guide believers into faithfulness.” This goal is certainly not easily reached, but one thing that is clear is that if we are to be successful in reaching that goal, we need to move beyond seeing Christian formation as something merely to participate in. That is, we need to view it as a matter of partnership, as an embodiment of the baptismal promise to “continue in the apostles’ teaching and fellowship”—a promise to which we have committed ourselves, with God’s help.
Ultimately, Christian formation is about our mutual relationship and a shared commitment to one another and to Christ, whom we follow and serve. In other words, Christian formation no longer means sitting in a Sunday school class each week. It’s more about being a part of the life of the church, together with your family.
Here are some ways you and your children can become involved at Christ Church:
Helping with the weekly Chapel services
Participating in Junior Choir
Becoming involved with our wonderful youth theater program- The Pine Street Players at Christ Church. You need not have any acting experience or a call to act! There are many behind the scenes ways to be a part of our biggest youth ministry.
- Join the Welcoming Team- always so nice to see families greeting at the door on Sundays!
By being involved in our church, you and your family are growing together in your faith and allowing the whole community to be a part of that growth as well.
I am looking forward to planning and coordinating the many new ideas I have in my head and taking Christ Church’s Christian formation ministry into a new beginning to go with our new surroundings.
Blessings,
Sally
A NOTE FROM OUR MUSIC DIRECTOR
Summer Soloists at Christ Church
As the Christ Church choir members enjoy their summers hiking, kayaking and vacationing (all whilst singing, of course), we have many talented soloists who will grace our Sunday services with their musical gifts. The following soloists will be featured during our offertories and communion this summer:
Steve Watts- July 9, Gretchen McBride- July 23, Sophie Kossakowski- Cello- July 30, Caitlin McGonigle- August 6, Christina DeMaio- August 20, Walter Huesten- August 27, Emily Languedoc- Trumpet, September 3
Thank you for all of your musical offerings!
Impromptu Choir and Fisher Cats Game
Our annual impromptu choir and Fisher Cats game will be on July 16th! All people, not just regular choir members, are invited to sing in the 9:30 service. If you would like to sing at the service that Sunday, please arrive at 9:00 in the church to rehearse the anthem for the service. Immediately following the service, we will rehearse the national anthem. At 10:30, we will gather outside to enjoy a tailgate lunch! Then, we will head to Manchester on a bus. (Feel free to drive separately in your own car!) After Father David throws out the first ceremonial pitch, the choir will sing the national anthem. Please join us for all or some of the festivities of the day! Tickets are $20 and include the tailgate lunch and admission to the game. Please email Father David to reserve your tickets: dholroyd0219@comcast.net Play ball!
Impromptu Choir - SSAA
Last year we had a wonderful SSAA—sopranos I and II and altos I and II—choir sing during offertory. Singers from our Parish Choir and singers not from our Parish Choir joined together to sing an anthem. On August 13th, we will reprise this lovely offering! Rehearsal will be Saturday, August 12 from 12-1:30 at the church. If you consider yourself a soprano or alto and you would like to be part of this group please email Suzanne Jones at suzanne.m.j.jones@gmail.com.
Parish Choir
The Parish Choir returns to Christ Church on September 10th! Our group of singers not only makes beautiful music for our Parish, but we grow friendships and throw the occasional choir party. We are always looking for new singers! You do not need sight–reading skills, and you do not need to be a trained singer. All you need is a desire to sing and help lead our parish in worship. We rehearse Thursday evenings from 7-8:30. Our first rehearsal will be September 7. If you like to sing and are interested in joining the choir, please email suzanne.m.j.jones@gmail.com
"IN THE BEGINNING"- KEVIN SORBER
In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1). Just as every good book needs that great opening line, every project needs a grand launch. The Harris House renovation project is no exception. After informal tours of the building as it has been, we moved directly to crowbars, sledgehammers, and Haz-Mat suits. However, by viewing the current state of the building the kickoff was no less dramatic. With the upper floor of the building currently sealed off and the asbestos abatement moving forward at full-speed, the renovation is in full swing. The majority of the flooring has been removed and the walls stripped down to bare studs. At the same time the contractors have begun to strip down the outside of the building in preparation for its new exterior.
Although I started with a Genesis reference, after seeing the current state of Harris House one can’t help to hope for more of an Easter narrative. Once the asbestos has been cleared from both floors the building will be opened up for the teams of subcontractors to put in their pieces of the puzzle. We will be monitoring the progress on the project plan very closely, but as of yet nothing has been encountered to derail our late fall hopes.
We would like to thank everyone who pledged and is contributing to the capital campaign to make this project possible. If you haven’t pledged to the campaign it is never too late, just contact the office and let them know you would like to be part of this very exciting time. If you have any questions do not hesitate to reach out to a member of the clergy or me for an update.
The Pine Street Players
Summer Session
The Pine Street Players at Christ Church are gearing up for their summer theatre workshops, which are ideal for young performers interested in a fast-paced, supportive, and creative environment created by experienced theatre professionals and educators. Providing an opportunity to build upon the skills and confidence necessary for success in mainstage productions, the leveled curriculum offers performers training appropriate to their age and ability. In addition to rehearsing a musical to be presented at the culmination of their session, performers will take classes intended to expand their skills. Participants will leave Summer Session with improved skills in acting, singing, and dancing, a better understanding of the audition and rehearsal process, and the kind of confidence that comes from socializing with like-minded friends while working together to create something to be proud of!
Workshops are held Monday through Friday from 9:00-3:00.
Performances will take place at 3:00 on the final Friday of each session.
SESSION 1: Winnie the Pooh ($500), July 10th-21st
SESSION 2: Snow White ($500), July 24th-August 4th-SOLD OUT!
SESSION 3: Pippin ($500), August 7th-18th-SOLD OUT!
Pippin will offer an additional performance open to the public on Saturday, August 19th at 7:00 pm!
For more information, including how to register, visit www.PineStreetPlayersCC.com/Summer
Linklater Voice Workshop
Discover the power and presence of your voice!
As people of the world, what is it to use your voice to affect change? To connect with your communities? To have your thought, feeling, and voice all expressing the same thing in the moment? Come play and find out! Rebecca Schneebaum, a Boston-based actor and teaching artist, will hold a two-day workshop on the Linklater Voice Method, teaching how our speaking voices work as well as what physically and psychologically blocks them. Through the progression, you will find the connection to your voice, breath, body, and imagination, and find the freedom to express all of you.
Saturday, July 15 & Sunday, July 16
$50 per day | $75 both days
For more information, visit www.PineStreetPlayersCC.com/Upcoming
Guys & Dolls Auditions
The Pine Street Players at Christ Church will be presenting Guys & Dolls as this season’s fall musical! The fall musical is a perfect opportunity for performers ages 6-18 to explore the theatre arts and gain onstage experience. The audition process is very low-pressure as everyone who auditions is guaranteed a role; further, the fall musical is double-cast based on age, featuring a Junior and Senior cast. This means that even our youngest performers are given a chance to play leading roles and carry an entire show of their very own, and our older performers can be challenged to push themselves! The rehearsal process strikes the perfect balance of recreation and skill-building, offering a safe and supportive environment that welcomes performers of all experience levels while maintaining high standards and producing an impressive youth musical.
Considered by many to be a perfect musical, Guys & Dolls is a romantic comedy set in New York City. It follows the gambler Nathan Detroit as he tries to find the cash to set up the biggest game in town while the authorities breathe down his neck. Meanwhile, his fiancé Adelaide laments over having been engaged for fourteen years! In an attempt to earn some quick money, Nathan bets fellow gambler Sky Masterson that he can’t romance the straight-laced missionary Sarah Brown. With a brassy, immortal score by Frank Loesser (How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying), this crowd-pleasing show travels from the heart of Times Square to the cafes of Havana, and even to the sewers under New York City, but eventually, everyone ends up right where they belong.
AUDITIONS: Friday, August 25th& Saturday, August 26th
For more information, including audition details, rehearsal schedules, performance dates, and registration instructions, visit www.PineStreetPlayers.org/Fall-2017
DO YOU KNOW ABOUT SEACOAST FAMILY PROMISE?
One of the main reasons we are renovating Harris House is to help benefit our biggest local outreach—Seacoast Family Promise (SFP). SFP is part of the national Family Promise organization (formerly Interfaith Hospitality Network), which unites congregations of various faiths to assist families who are experiencing homelessness due to a crisis.
On a rotating schedule with other local churches, we turn the lower level of Harris House into a temporary home for 3 to 5 families for one week. On average, we are the host church for a total of nine weeks out of the year.
As the rooms downstairs get a new look, I write to the Christ Church families to ask for help.
We are in need of more volunteers to make this program run smoothly. Please consider being a part of this ministry.
How can you be involved?
Co-Coordinator: Work with Sally on getting volunteers signed up and being the contact person for the church.
Providing Food: Volunteers provide food by 6:00pm on one evening during a hosting
week.
Evening Host: Volunteers spend the evening (5:30pm-8:00pm) with the guests—
eating dinner with them and being the Christ Church presence to answer questions,
open doors, and handle any urgent situations that may arise.
Overnight Host: Volunteers spend the night with guests, arriving for duty by 8:00pm
and leaving by 7:30am. Volunteers are responsible for locking and unlocking doors,
and being a presence in case of an overnight emergency.
Laundry Volunteers: Volunteers collect and wash dirty laundry at the end of each
host week and return it clean before next host week.
See our church website for more detail: http://christchurchexeter.org/seacoast-family-promise-resource-page/
Email me with any questions and if you feel called to help us in this ministry in any way.
Thank you for your support.
Sally
CHRIST CHURCH'S LATEST GRADUATES!
Sydney Devogt graduated from Exeter High and will be attending Simmons College in the fall .
Emily Porter, graduated last Sunday from Stanford University with a Masters Degree in Human Centered Design.
Emily Tosatti, daughter of David and Shannon, Graduate of Saint Thomas Aquinas high school in Dover NH. She will be attending James Madison University in the fall studying Political Science.
Lydia Pendleton, Daughter of Leslie and Mark Pendleton, Graduate of St. Lawrence University, with a B.A. in Estudios Hispanicos.
Sharon Courtemanche, graduate of Rivier University, with Associates Degree in Nursing.
Jasmine Mikami, MD, Daughter of Judy and Randy Mikami, Graduate of Tufts Medical School, Doctor of Medicine degree.
Grogan J. Ardizzoni, Son of Patte and John Ardizzoni, Graduate of Central Catholic High School.
Kaitlin Groglio, Grandchild of Ed and Sally Carmichael, with a Masters in Marine Biology from Harvard University.
Hunter Smith, Grandchild of Ed and Sally Carmichael, Graduate of Exeter High School.
Noel V. A. Siegert, Grandson of Tom (Thomas V.A.) and Liz Kelsey, Graduate of Ipswich High School, Ipswich, MA, Plans to attend Dartmouth College.
Caldwell Lowell, Graduate of Cocheco Academy of the Arts, High School Diploma.
ANNUAL FISHERCATS BALLGAME OUTING
Please plan to join us for another summer day of fun for the Christ Church community. It is the seventh annual trip to Manchester to watch the New Hampshire Fishercats take on the Portland Seadogs.
Email David Holroyd at david@christchurchexeter.org for more information.
Sunday, Jul 16, 2017, 10:30 AM
Christ Church, Pine Street, Exeter, NH, United States
Christ Church Exeter- Living, Connecting, Serving
Email: office@christchurchexeter.org
Website: www.christchurchexeter.org
Location: 43 Pine Street, Exeter, NH, United States
Phone: 603-772-3332
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Christ.Church.Exeter/