The Anchor- March/April 2020
A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF CHRIST CHURCH, EXETER NH
A Lenten Letter
Dear Friends in Christ,
A few years ago, I was a member of a Christian education team preparing an adult learning series for Lent. We wanted to have a ‘theme’ for our Sunday Forums and Wednesday night gatherings woven into all different aspects of our common life: the prayers selected for worship, the weekly sermon, and the children’s Sunday School program.
We racked our brains and discussed different themes that would tie everything together. While we went round and round, our deacon at the time, a young seminarian, became exacerbated and blurted out, “Isn’t ‘Lent’ the theme for Lent?!” In other words, don’t overcomplicate this already profound idea!
As we prepare ourselves for Holy Week and Easter Sunday, let us be mindful that our preparation doesn’t have to be overly complicated. Beginning with Ash Wednesday on February 26, we invite you to engage the six weeks of Lent in a sincere, simple, loving way.
Choose one or two spiritual practices that speak to how God is moving in your life at this very moment. It may be that you have a tradition of praying Morning Prayer or ‘giving something up’ for Lent. If these practices and traditions continue to bring you a wakefulness of God’s presence in your life, that is wonderful. If they don’t, if the old practices are worn out, seem irrelevant or burdensome, throw open the windows of possibility to see how God is inviting you to prepare this Lenten Season.
And—not to worry—Christ Church will offer a variety of ways to support your journey including Sunday Forums, an invitation to “Vitality Sunday” from Bishop Rob Hirschfeld, and weekly on-line prayer devotionals through the Society of St. John the Evangelist that will be shepherded by our lay leadership.
Your community is here to support you, and ready for you to uphold others in their journeys, as we prepare for the most profound experience of all, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ on Easter Day!
Peace and prayers,
Pastor Alanna
A LENTEN JOURNEY AT CHRIST CHURCH
SUNDAY FAITH FORMATION CONVERSATIONS
As a parish community starting March 1st each Sunday in Lent you will have an opportunity to explore a faith formation topic. Each week has been curated to fit into the larger picture of Christ Church’s sabbatical time as well as built on a foundation of spiritual practice as an outgrowth of the parish’s larger spiritual journey. Weaving together our community story, spiritual practices and exploring a “Rule of Life,” we will draw closer to the Holy in our midst. Offerings will be each Sunday in Lent from 9:10-9:50 am and 11:30-12:30pm.
First Sunday in Lent- March 1st
Vitality Sunday- An opportunity to listen to Bishop Rob Hirschfeld’s “Pastoral Letter” as well as engage conversation about our spiritual growth as a community. Vitality Sunday is a simple way to learn and share our experience in our congregations around eight facets of church vitality: Formation, Hospitality, Worship, Engagement within the church, Engagement in the community, Leadership, Mission, and Engagement with the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire. As part of Christ Church’s Sabbatical journey, this will be a wonderful time to reflect on where we are as a community and where God is calling us to be when our Rector Mark returns on Palm Sunday. Join us in the Parish Hall following worship at 9:10 am and 11:30 am!
Second Sunday in Lent- March 8th
“Introduction to Centering Prayer” Facilitated by Cynthia Mariano, Associate in the order of St. Julian of Norwich. This session will offer an exploration of the history and practice of “centering prayer” as a grounding for spiritual life. Exploring the contemplative tradition of the Desert Mothers and Fathers, we will have conversation and prayer using this old and meaningful practice in church tradition. Cynthia Mariano is a member of Christ Church with a Theological Degree from Gordon Conwell Seminary. She has a varied ministry and life experience spanning several decades with a passion for sharing her love of God as well as tools that help us draw closer to the Holy.
Third Sunday in Lent- March 15th
“Exploring a Rule of Life: What is it and where does it come from?” Facilitated by Pastor Alanna. One of the most inspiring ways of discovering a deeper faith is to explore the intersection of ancient tradition with our everyday life. In this session, we will learn about how a Rule of Life is essential to any monastic life as we begin imagining how such a practice can shape living our discipleship in the world today. At its heart, a Rule of Life in following Jesus says ‘this is who we are, this is our story’; and it reminds us of those things God has put on our hearts, calling us back to our foundations. It is rooted in Scripture, pointing always to Christ; and, in the words of St Benedict, it is “simply a handbook to make the very radical demands of the gospel a practical reality in daily life.”
Fourth Sunday in Lent- March 22nd
“Introduction to Centering Prayer” (Session Two) Facilitated by Cynthia Mariano, Associate in the order of St. Julian of Norwich. This second session will focus on the teachings of Thomas Keating and other founders of the practice of Centering Prayer. As you explore this topic, you will learn the history of the development of more recent times as well as consider how this practice might inform your daily prayer life.
Fifth Sunday in Lent- March 29th
“Exploring a Rule of Life: Discovering key elements of creating a personal rule of life” Facilitated by Pastor Alanna. Moving from the ancient to the contemporary, this session will offer a beginning framework of what would make a meaningful Rule of Life on your spiritual journey. Having a sense of freedom at the heart of it, our time together will focus on those practices that will be work in your life to move you more deeply into living your vocation both individually and collectively.
LENTEN WEEKLY DEVOTION-SIGNS OF LIFE: WHY CHURCH MATTERS
During the season of Lent, we invite you to participate in the Society of St. John’s the Evangelist’s – Signs of Life: Why Church Matters. This series takes up the signs and symbols of our shared Christian worship, illustrated by rich footage of life at the SSJE monastery. Each Sunday a video link will be sent to your email and each week-day you will receive a short written mediation. If you wish to deepen your Lenten practice and participate in Signs of Life, log on to Society of St. John’s the Evangelist at https://www.signsoflife.org/ and sign up with your email. Then send an email to us at sfarrell@christchurchexeter.org to let us know you’ve signed up.
We look forward to exploring the Signs of Life with you all.
JOIN US FOR MUSIC ON GOOD FRIDAY
This year on Good Friday, the choir at Christ Church, along with guest singers from throughout the community, will present Michael John Trotta’s “Seven Last Words”, a multi-movement telling of Christ’s journey on the cross. The work, featuring soprano and baritone soloists, SATB chorus, and chamber ensemble, was commissioned in 2016 as a project of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians and had its Carnegie Hall premiere in 2017.
The Seven Last Words from the Cross, also called the Sayings of Jesus on the Cross, are a collection of Christ’s sayings from various sources in the Bible that explore the wide range of emotions throughout the story of the Passion. Trotta includes other liturgical and biblical English texts in addition to the traditional sayings to create a sweeping, expressive, modern and distinct work.
Please join us for this special service.
ENDING YOUTH HOMELESSNESS IN NEW HAMPSHIRE
Did you know that there are many young people in New Hampshire who are not living with their families and who lack stable housing? And did you know that hundreds of them are here on the Seacoast? Likely, you have never seen any young people in that situation because typically they don’t want to be “found.” But they are there. To help them, programs in the region work to assist them either with returning home to family or, if that’s not possible, with getting the employment, education, and life skills necessary to successfully transition to adult life.
Waypoint, the oldest public service agency in the state, has programs to prevent young people from leaving or being forced to leave their families for the difficult life of the homeless. This year there was a public forum in Exeter on February 27 to discuss the issue and the a “SleepOut” event on March 20 to raise awareness about and funding for programs to end youth homelessness.
At the SleepOut volunteers will sleep outside overnight and ask people to consider what it means to be a young person without a home. The March 20 SleepOut will take place on the front lawn of Christ Church while a simultaneous event takes place on the main street of Manchester. Last year over 125 people participated including the Governor and the Mayor of Manchester.
You will be hearing more about the forum and the event at Christ Church. For more information right away, visit the Waypoint website or speak with Wendy Gladstone, who is a Board member.
LENT AND HOLY WEEK SERVICES
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday- Sunday, April 5
- 8:00 and 10:00 am- The Liturgy of the Palms, the Reading of the Passion and Holy Eucharist
Maundy Thursday – Thursday, April 9th
- 6:00 pm- Agapé Meal- Liturgy in the Parish Hall
- 7:30 pm- Stripping of the altar.
Good Friday - Friday, April 10th
- 12 noon- Liturgy - with Communion from reserved Sacrament
- 7:00 pm- Seven Last Words of Christ - with Communion from reserved Sacrament
EASTER SUNDAY SERVICES
Easter Day- Sunday, April 12th
- 5:30 am- The Vigil, followed by a simple breakfast
- 8:00 am- Holy Baptism and Eucharist
- 9:00 am- Parish Breakfast
- 10:00 am- Festival Eucharist with music by the Christ Church Choir
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/