the anchor { february march 2014} 5-6 Lenten Offerings and Opportunities 7 Cuban Pilgrimage Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper More Hope, Less Guilt

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1 the anchor A MONTHLY PUBLICATION OF CHRIST CHURCH, EXETER NH from the Rector... 2 More Hope, Less Guilt Inviting generosity, sharing stories of passion, & carrying out our ministries year round is true stewardship. 3 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper Mark the date: Tuesday, March 4 at 6 pm 5-6 Lenten Offerings and Opportunities Quiet Day, Sunday Morning Atrium, Spiritual Reflection, and Services Photos taken on the Christ Church Mission Trip, January Cuban Pilgrimage Reflections on and stories about the gracious people of Cuba during a Christ Church Mission Trip { february march 2014} Submit your articles, stories, observations, or creative work by the 10th of the month to newsletter@christchurchexeter.org

2 The Rev. Mark B. Pendleton More Hope, Less Guilt On Annual Meeting day back in January I declared, Our system of funding the church is simply not working anymore. Sending out a few letters each year and inviting a handful of committed folks to give testimonies of their relationship with the church has been standard fare for years now and most years, like 2014, we fall short of what we feel is necessary to both maintain and grow our ministries. Is there another way? First of all I believe we need to make this a year-round activity. Inviting generosity, linking people to their passions, and thanking them for what they do and give must be something that is as vital in April and August as it is in October and November. We want to share more data and stories about what it takes to thrive and grow as a community of faith in Exeter, New Hampshire today. And lastly, we need to inspire some hope and not continue the guilt-cycle that permeates so much of giving one s so-call fair share to the life of the church. It is a great blessing to be able to offer up to God at the altar the abundance of our lives; we should find the joy in this experience and pass it on. Episcopal churches around the country are finding new ways to get out a different message. Some have banned the word stewardship when it comes to anything related to funding the budget. They call it what public radio calls it: a pledge drive. Works for me! Others have rebranded the main committee as the Grace and Gratitude Ministry and feature a time of giving thanks each month in the worship service, for the things that take place to further God s work. This Lent perhaps we can all give something up that doesn t involve chocolate and sweets. Let s give up a way of funding our ministry and talking about how we do it which leaves so much to be desired. The Rev. Dr. David D. Holroyd Pet Therapy and Pastoral Care Snookie and I are proud guardians of two wonderful welsh corgis, Tori and Brady. At times they are high maintainance but on the whole they bring great joy to our lives, even when they beg. They follow us everywhere we go, living up to their reputation as herders. The Pendletons have a 15 year old bichon by the name of Max. Max often comes to the church office when Leslie is out of town. The office is a different place when Max is here. Pets just have a way of bringing life and joy into mundane environments (not that the office is ever mundane)! Since residents seem to love having pets around, many assisted living communities have dogs or cats. Research indicates that pets can have a soothing and therapeutic effect on people, especially those who live alone. Our Pastoral Care team s newest member is a beautiful golden retriever named Keeper, whose proud pet guardians are Paul and Judy Wainwright. He was trained as a therapy dog and now makes pastoral visits to Riverwoods and other places. He even has a Christ Church name tag! We are proud to welcome him to our team. I was thrilled when Fr. Mark brought back The Blessing of the Animals to Christ Church. This wonderful liturgy is usually celebrated on the Sunday in early October, closest to the feast day of St. Francis of Assisi. Francis (whose name was chosen by the present Pope) embodied all that was warm and pastoral throughout his life. The love of animals was thus attributed to him. Our two corgis are demanding at times and in many ways are totally dependent upon us for their care and well-being. And yet they both love us unconditionally and have so much to teach us. We are blessed by their perpetual presence. They are obviously a huge part of God s creation. They make us grateful for the joy and therapy of pets! [ 2 ]

3 Sarah Watts Spring 2014 EYC Calendar After a very enlightening and helpful meeting with the youth, parents, and volunteers regarding the EYC programs on January 26th, the following schedule of events for the next few months was developed. Please note, this is a working calendar and some events may change. The most up-to-date record of all events will always be the calendar found on the Christ Church website. I am very much looking forward to weekly EYC meetings and all our various activities thrown in! I think it is going to be a great few months! We are still putting together a team of volunteers, chaperones, drivers and people who will provide food on Sundays. Adult volunteers are essential to making this youth program thrive. Not only do volunteers help with practical aspects of the program, they also provide spiritual and emotional support and are integral in the formation of each youth. If you are interested in supporting this program, please me at swatts@christchurchexeter.org. March Sunday, 2 Jr EYC 4:00-5:30 Compline & Dinner 5:30-6:30 Sr EYC 6:30-8:00 Tuesday, 4 Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner Saturday, 8 Game and Movie Night 2:00-11:00pm, All Saints, Peterborough, NH Sunday, 9 Jr EYC 4:00-5:30 Compline & Dinner 5:30-6:30 Sr EYC 6:30-8:00 Friday, 14 Son of God Movie Night Fundraiser at O neil Cinemas Sunday, 16 Jr EYC 4:00-5:30 Compline & Dinner 5:30-6:30 Sr EYC 6:30-8:00 Sunday, 23 Service Activity Sunday, 30 Jr EYC 4:00-5:30 Compline & Dinner 5:30-6:30 Sr EYC 6:30-8:00 { parish news - february march 2014} Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper In France, you d get a crepe, in India, a dosa, in Ethiopia, you d have injera, but in the Anglican tradition, any starchy batter cooked in a small amount of fat on a flat surface becomes a pancake! And how we *love* them! Originally served in order to use the extra fat in the kitchen before Lent, pancake suppers are now linked with Shrove Tuesday, the evening before Lent begins. Using up the fat is where the term Mardi Gras comes from Fat Tuesday. So come join us on Tuesday, March 4 at 6 p.m. as the Youth of Christ Church prepare and serve pancakes for supper! There is a suggested donation of $5 per person. Let s enjoy some rich butter, warm syrup, delicious bacon, and a big ole stack of pancakes together and share this wonderful tradition together! S u n d a y M o r n i n g R i d e s To ensure that all who want to attend church on Sunday mornings can get here, we are starting a new Sunday morning ride program. If you need a ride to and from church services and activities on Sunday morning, contact Sarah Watts ( , ext 13 or swatts@christchurchexeter.org) letting her know which of the following service/forum options you would prefer to attend. She will then match you with a volunteer. The first step to making this ministry a possibility is to have volunteers! If you are willing and able to contribute to this ministry, please contact Sarah Watts and let her know which of the following services/forums you usually attend and the area in which you live: 8:00 service only 8:00 service & 9:15 forum 9:15 forum & 10:30 service 10:30 service only [ 3 ]

4 Mid-Winter Inquirers Class: What it means to be an Episcopalian Over the course of five weeks during Lent, the Rector will be offering a Sunday morning class to learn more about the Episcopal Church. We will gather on March 9, 16, 23, 30 and April 6 from 9:15-10:15 a.m in Room 1, on the bottom level of Harris Hall. This class will help you journey more deeply into God, Jesus, the Bible, the Church, and things that matter. The class invites your questions about faith and is created for all seekers; those who know very little, the spiritual if not overly religious, those who have wandered far away from church or have been turned off by religion, or those who haven t examined their faith in a long time. The Inquirers Class include questions like: What do I have to believe to be a Christian? What is the importance of the Book of Common Prayer? What does it mean to be saved? What do Episcopalians believe about the Bible? What is Baptism all about? Do I have to believe everything in the creeds? Was Jesus really God, or was he just a great and inspired teacher? Do Episcopalians believe that Christ is really present in Communion, or is Communion just a symbol? Why do some people cross themselves, and when do they do it? Why do the clergy wear the robes they do during services? What is the world-wide Anglican Communion? Whether you re new to Christ Church and Christian faith, or have been a lifelong Episcopalian, this class may be just right for you. To register, please the Rector at mpendleton@christchurchexeter.org or call the office at Episcopal Youth Event 2014 { children & youth } Registration is now open for the popular Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) scheduled for July 9-13, 2014 at Villanova University in suburban Philadelphia, PA. Drawing hundreds of youth from the Episcopal Church, EYE14 is being planned in partnership with the Diocese of Pennsylvania. EYE 2014 is geared for youth grades 9-12 this academic year and their adult leaders. Bronwyn Clark Skov, Episcopal Church Youth Ministries Officer, explained: EYE is an opportunity for the youth of the church to meet their peers and church leaders in a richly diverse environment, actively engaging the Five Marks of Mission while in Philadelphia. Each diocese is allowed up to 24 youth participants and 6 adult participants. Registration is $325 per participant which includes meals and lodging. Diocesan delegations may also opt to participate in 3 Days of Urban Mission in Philadelphia immediately following the event for an additional $275 per participant. Skov pointed out, Diocesan delegations should represent all aspects of the diocese: ethnic, socio-economic, and cultural diversity, and a range of liturgical and theological expressions. They should be able to handle traveling away from home, honoring the community covenant, participating in all aspects of the event, and taking their learning home to their diocese, congregation, and community. If you are interested in applying, please contact Sarah Watts ( , ext 13 or swatts@christchurchexeter.org). Deadline for registration is March 5th. For more information, contact the national event leader Skov at bskov@episcopalchurch.org. [ 4 ]

5 Lenten Worship Opportunities Ash Wednesday March 5 The Holy Eucharist and Imposition of Ashes 12 Noon & 7:00 PM The evening liturgy will include music. An additional service will be held at RiverWoods at 11:00 AM in the 2nd Floor West Parlor in Monadnock Lodge. Sundays The Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10:30 AM Following our recent tradition, we will begin our liturgies in silence as we journey toward Holy Week and Easter. Rite One, the traditional service in the Book of Prayer, will be used at 8:00 a.m. throughout Lent. Wednesday Evenings in Lent MARCH 12, 19, 26 APRIL 2 & 9 6:30 PM Holy Eucharist in the Chapel 7:00 PM *Snookie Holroyd on Out of the Wilderness into the Divine Light Programs conclude at 8 PM. Out of the Wilderness into the Divine Light with Snookie Holroyd Through the years Snookie Holroyd has offered many spiritual programs and reflection groups at St. George s Church, where she and David spent over twenty-five years. She designed a community art program called Drawing from the Light Within. While in York she served on the executive board of the International Women s Club of New England where she served as their Ambassador of Good Will in Amman, Jordan, for 3 months, working with children at the Al-Hussein Center for the physically handicapped. She now lives in South Berwick, Maine, with her husband, David and attends Christ Church, where David currently serves as Priest Associate. [ 5 ]

6 A Lenten Quiet Day March 8 Start out this holy season of prayer, study and reflection with a Quiet Day in the peace and quiet of our beautiful worship space. On Saturday, March 8 we will gather for a simple lunch of soup and bread at 12 noon. From 1:00 to 4:00 our leaders will be the Rector, Mark Pendleton and Dr. Patricia Gianotti, a member of Christ Church who works as a licensed psychologist and lecturer. Specifically, her work has focused on discovering the process and journey towards forgiveness, finding personal and spiritual balance, and exploring life s deepest questions in order to find purpose and meaning. Join us for a time of silence, contemplative reading, and music. For a head count for lunch, please let Mark know if you are coming: mpendleton@christchurchexeter.org or call the office. A Lenten Atrium The atrium is a place of prayer in which work and study spontaneously become meditation, contemplation, and prayer. It is a place both to encounter scripture and God and form your own personal response. Adults and teens are invited to join us in the Chapel on most Sundays, March 9 through Palm Sunday, April 13, for a contemplative journey at a selection of stations for Meditations on Who We Are in Christ. Bring a pen and journal (or make use of the materials provided) to pray through meditation questions, art projects, music, and personalized scripture. The Atrium will be set up from 9am until the 10:30 service for about 12 people. You may come in at any time we have room. Ministry Opportunity: We need some helpers to set up before 9am, put the atrium away before the 10:30 service, be in the atrium, and possibly to help longer term. Please contact Patti Andrews at or worship@light-side.net or Sarah Watts at or swatts@christchurchexeter.org. Son of God Film Screening Friday, March 14th 7:00pm Christ Church is partnering with O neil Cinemas in Epping for a film screening of Son of God. O neil Cinemas is offering a group ticket price of $7 per ticket with $1 from every ticket coming back to the Church. Please invite your family, friends, and anyone else who might be interested to participate in this event. All the money raised from this fundraiser will be collected and given to 30 Hour Famine. You can sign up and reserve your tickets for this event by calling or ing Sarah Watts ( ext 13, swatts@christchurchexeter.org) Please note this must be done in advance. The film is rated PG-13, so it is appropriate for a wide range of audiences. The film is directed by JJ Abrams and is the first film about the New Testament that chronicles Jesus since The Passion of the Christ (10 years ago). It is a major motion picture and is distributed by 20th Century Fox, with a national public release date of Feb. 28th. The film s website is: [ 6 ]

7 Reflections on Christ Church s Cuba Pilgrimage, January 2014 by Cary Einhaus Our Cuba photographs look like those of any other global tourist: the faded architectural glory of Old Havana; Ché Guevara posters with exhortations contrasting radically with the failings of la revolución; 1950s Chevys the envy of any car enthusiast; and Caribbean greenery that still makes this winter-weary New Hampshire gardener itch for springtime. Yet this trip to Cuba was not a typical tourist trip it was a pilgrimage to see the work and to meet the people of the Diocese of Cuba, with our fellow Christ Church pilgrims Mark, Leslie and Lydia Pendleton, and Tony Codding. Through the generosity of Christ Church, we pilgrims were able to bring much-needed medicine, technology, and hard currency to the church in Cuba. And as in any pilgrimage, we certainly visited numerous holy places: the Episcopal cathedral in Havana; the thriving parish church and its organic garden in Itabo; the vibrant community in Cárdenas with its salsa-flavored worship. But I will long remember this pilgrimage for the people we met: Bishop Griselda, with more car mileage from rural parish visits than most long-distance truckers; Raphael, our government-appointed guide, who over a week of meals and mojitos, revealed an openness to God s Spirit in his own life; Yuli, the twenty-something senior warden in Cárdenas who proved that both the present and the future of the Episcopal Church are with our youth; the joyful parishioners of Iglesia de San Felipe in Coleseo who met for worship in a rustic shelter that almost trivialized vestry anxieties about buildings and endowments; the numerous unnamed women and men who fed us, guided us, and welcomed us with open armed hugs and traditional Cuban kisses to greet long-parted family members of the Body of Christ. My spouse Jim Mills and I went to Cuba with the perspective of many global tourists Cuba was a unique destination, which we d check off on our list. Been there, done that. We returned from our Cuban pilgrimage with an intent to return very soon, and the hope that more members of the Christ Church community will join us next time, and for our parish and the Diocese of New Hampshire to be prayerfully open to building a relationship with the Diocese of Cuba. There is support we can offer them; there is equally rich support and inspiration they can offer us, as we both journey together on the pilgrim path to which God calls us. If you would like to learn more about our pilgrimage to Cuba or to discuss taking your own Cuban photographs on another Christ Church pilgrimage in the near future, please speak with Mark and Leslie, Tony, or Jim and me. Gracias, y gracias a Dios. Left: A picture outside a church property (that is being renovated) in Limonar, Cuba. Above: Cuban faithful bidding us farewell. [ 7 ]

8 CHRIST CHURCh 43 Pine Street Exeter NH Change Service Requested NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID RAM COMPANIES CHRIST CHURCh A joyful and diverse community anchored in Christ Rector The Rev. Mark B. Pendleton x12 mpendleton@christchurchexeter.org Priest Associate The Rev. Dr. David D. Holroyd x11 dholroyd@christchurchexeter.org Church Office Upper Level, Harris House (603) x11 Linda Carey, Executive Assistant office@christchurchexeter.org Office Hours The Anchor Christine Hodsdon, Design Editor Mark Pendleton, Executive Editor All parishioners are invited to submit articles to The Anchor, due on the 10th of each month preceding publication. articles or questions to newsletter@christchurchexeter.org Priest Associate (non-stipendiary) The Rev. Jamie L. Hamilton Asst for Ministry Develpmt. & Coord. Sarah Watts x13 swatts@christchurchexeter.org Executive Assistant Linda Carey x11 office@christchurchexeter.org Director of Music & Organist Bruce Adami x15 bruce@christchurchexeter.org Choir Director Suzanne Jalbert sjalbert@christchurchexeter.org M o n day - Friday 8:30 am - Noon, 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm 43 Pine Street Exeter, New Hampshire (603)