The Anchor March/April 2019
A BI-MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF CHRIST CHURCH, EXETER NH
from the rector
Our Renew, Gather, Serve Capital Campaign that funded a good portion of the costs to renovate Harris House in 2017 is coming to a close at the end of this year. To date, we have received pledges totally $726,150. As of last month, $617,127 has already been paid on those pledges. That is a fantastic effort and demonstrates the commitment of those who have supported this project.
Our goal for the end of 2019 is to gather the remaining balance of $109,000. Many of us have spread payments on our pledge over the last three years. This is what Leslie and I have done, and we will make our last payment on our pledge by December 1st.
Few would deny that the renovation has significantly enhanced our meeting and gathering spaces. Last November, the renovated spaces gave us the opportunity to connect with the wider diocese by hosting the Diocesan Convention. The renovation has equipped our outreach and ministry for the next generation.
Any campaign that runs over the course of multiple years faces certain challenges: People move out of the area, some pass away, and we realize that some pledges may not be paid off fully. But this reality offers an opportunity for those who have not yet made a contribution and for those who might like to make an additional contribution.
As always, we value the ongoing devotion and support of our common mission.
Preparing for the Bishop’s Visitation, Sunday May 5
In August 2012, A. Robert Hirschfeld became the Tenth Bishop in the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire. On May 5, Bishop Hirschfeld will visit Christ Church to preside at a service of confirmation, reception, and the renewal of baptismal vows. Our rector, Mark, and associate, Sally, have been preparing 14 young people to make a decision about whether or not to be confirmed by the bishop.
The Book of Common Prayer describes confirmation this way: “In the course of their Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are ready and have been duly prepared, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their baptism and to receive the laying on of hands by the bishop. Those baptized as adults are also expected to make a public affirmation of their faith” (BCP 412).
Confirmation then is not a completion, but an affirmation of the vows made either on behalf of an infant or by an adult. While confirmation doesn’t make a person any more of a Christian, it can be an important part of living out one’s life in Christ.
Please contact the Rector if you would like to be confirmed, received or to renew your baptismal vows on May 5.
MESSAGE FROM PASTORAL ASSOCIATE
As I write this message, the sun has returned after another clipper has dropped a few more inches of snow, rain, and sleet. What a strange winter with very few nor’easters, but lots of precipitation and plenty of cold days and nights. However baseball is just around the corner! So please circle June 23 of your calendar right now. That is the date for my Christmas in the summer of 2019, better known as the Christ Church Fisher Cat outing. More to come, but save the date now!
Meanwhile I continue to be gratified by the many dimensions of pastoral care ministry here at Christ Church. I just returned from my monthly Eucharist at Riverwoods attended by thirteen hearty souls including several first timers. As Ash Wednesday approaches, I look forward to being at Riverwoods and Langdon Place to be with those who are unable to with us at the Church. We have several Episcopalians who continue to join us at both places after long and wonderful church lives in parishes throughout the land.
Over the last few years our flower deliverer list has diminished, and so I found myself looking for new recruits to take altar flowers from Sunday services to grateful people who are shut in, ill, or maybe celebrating a birthday or anniversary. I was looking for five volunteers who would join the three folks who were already engaged in this wonderful ministry. After just a few weeks of invitation in the Sunday service booklet and the weekly email, I had my five people -- thank you, Priscilla Santiago, Ann Malconian, Jeanette McDonald, Susan Wakefield, and Juliette Gavin for joining Patti Buck, Elaine, Wiltamuth, and Carol Allard. My pastoral care ministry is truly shared by you and everyone else who helps me with home Communions, pastoral care events, and monthly Eucharist at Riverwoods and Langdon Place.
Mark and I have shared with you a change in how my weekly hours are spent. After two months of this experiment, I believe it has been working out well. I get to attend church a bit more with Snookie up in southern Maine, and I also have more time to visit those who are unable to attend Sunday services. That list is growing, and I am glad to be a bit more available in this fulfilling retirement ministry.
I look forward to sharing the Lenten season with all of you.
The Rev. Dr. David D. Holroyd
From the Director of Music
On April 19th, at 7 pm, Christ Church Choir, under the direction of Maggie O’Neill, and accompanied by Bruce Adami at the organ, will present excerpts of Brahms’ Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem). Movements of the Brahms, featuring a chorus and soprano soloist, will be interspersed with ecumenical readings to compose the Good Friday service, with Communion offered in the chapel at the conclusion.
The German Requiem, one of Brahms’ most well-known choral works, breaks the mold of the traditional Latin Requiem Mass, with hand-picked texts by the composer. Please join us for this evening service!
Maggie O’Neill
Christ Church Preschool update
A lot has happened in the forming of our preschool, but there is still more work to do! We have filed an application for our license from the state of NH. As soon as it comes through, that will allow us up to 60, 3-5 year olds, 9:00-2:00pm five days a week. Hoping it will arrive any day now.
When the state officials came in and looked over our space, they informed us that due to the small size of our downstairs classrooms, we are allowed only 5 children to 1 teacher in those rooms. In the much larger Community Room, we are allowed 25 children with one lead teacher and associates. With this information in mind, we need to take a good look at our financial plan and think about how class sizes would affect our program.
That being said, our plan is to have “a soft opening” of Christ Church Preschool. We will offer music classes this spring through next year, and this summer we will offer a four-week camp for preschool age children, all under the Christ Church Preschool logo. This will give us a chance to get our name out there, and then throughout the next year, we will prepare for an official opening of our doors for the fall school term of 2020.
In the meantime, thank you to those that have donated toys, furniture, and books! We are getting a good supply of things that will be so helpful in our classrooms. Our committee is going to be applying for grants and will look to be raising the necessary funds for all of our expenses in the coming months.
Thank you for your support and we will keep you updated as things progress.
Sally Farrell
Lent offerings
LIFE TRANSFORMED: THE WAY OF LOVE in LENT.
The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, sacrifice and death; then we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent we are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. The Way of Love follows seven Jesus-inspired practices - Turn, Learn, Pray, Worship, Bless, Go, and Rest - to train our spirit “to follow in the way of Jesus and to look something like Jesus.”
Our resource for this is a book of 40 devotionals - one for each day of Lent - titled Living the Way of Love. You are invited to pick up a copy from the table in the Narthex ($10), and read the brief, daily reflections at home.
We will gather weekly to share our experiences on Saturday or Sunday Mornings, beginning on Saturday, March 16, or Sunday, March 17.
Choose whichever day is more convenient and join us in the Dodd Room to grow together as our community follows the loving, liberating, and life-giving way of Jesus.
- Saturday mornings from 10:30-11:45, concludes with Noon Prayer
- Sunday mornings from 9:00-9:45
Holy Week at Christ Church
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday - Sunday, April 14
- 8:00 and 10:00 am - The Liturgy of the Palms, the Reading of the Passion and the Holy Eucharist
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday in Holy Week - April 15, 16, 17
- 6:00 pm - Evening Prayer in the chapel
Maundy Thursday - Thursday, April 18
- 7:00 pm -The liturgy includes the foot washing and stripping of the altar.
- 8:00 pm until Midnight - The Watch before the Altar of Repose
Good Friday - Friday, April 19
- 12 noon - Prayer Book Liturgy
- 7:00 pm - Requiem by Brahms, with Communion from reserved Sacrament
Easter Day - Sunday, April 21
- 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 members to travel to Cuba
As 22 members of Christ Church travel to Cuba Easter Week, we are receiving donations to take to our Cuban companions. Donations can be brought into church on a Sunday or left in the office.
Suggested items to donate include:
- Over the counter medicines such as pain-relievers (ibuprofen/Tylenol)
- Child & Adult vitamins
- Anti-diarrheal meds (pill form)
- Ben Gay type muscle rub cream
- Vick’s vapor rub
- Tooth brushes and tooth paste
- Omron Blood Pressure Monitors (arm cuff with AC adapter preferable)
- Vacuumed packed bricks of espresso type coffee
A SUCCESSFUL organ CONCERT
Christ Church organist Bruce Adami gave a recital on Friday, February 22 to benefit New Hampshire’s Young Organist Collaborative (YOC). The program featured works by Bach, Franck, Mathias, Pachelbel, Thalben-Ball, Vierne, and Widor. Around 150 pipe organ enthusiasts attended, raising nearly $1,800 to support the work of YOC.
Formed in 2001, the YOC has provided organ lessons for over 110 middle and high school students throughout New Hampshire, southern Maine, and Massachusetts. Run by an all-volunteer board, the YOC conducts auditions in May of each year. Qualifying first-year students are given full scholarships, which pay for 16 introductory organ lessons scheduled every other week over an academic year. Students are paired with a teacher and given support in finding a suitable practice instrument. Scholarships are provided for second year students as well. Along with regular practice, students receiving scholarships are also required to play in the annual recital each May.
Assisting Bruce as page-turner was 3rd year YOC student Thomas Latham.
BISHOP ROB WILL LEAD A LAY LENT QUIET DAY, SATURDAY, MARCH 23
The journey through Lent into Easter is a journey with Jesus. We are baptized into his life, self-giving, and death; then, we rise in hope to life transformed. This Lent you are invited to walk with Jesus in his Way of Love and into the experience of transformed life. Together, we will reflect anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings. Together, we will walk through the depths of salvation history into the fullness of redemption. This Quiet Day for Lent ties the Easter Vigil readings to the seven practices of the Way of Love.
Please join us for "Living the Way of Love in Lent," on March 23, 2019 at St. Thomas' Church in Dover, NH. Registration for this day can be found HERE.
Saturday, Mar 23, 2019, 08:30 AM
St Thomas Episcopal Church, Hale Street, Dover, NH, USA
Diocese of NH Spring Renewal
Saturday, May 11, 2019, 08:00 AM
Manchester Community College, Manchester, NH, USA
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/