the anchor

{september • october 2016}

2-3

Programs for Fall3-4

Meet Sally Farrell

2Welcome Fall

Formation, Ministries, and Classes to join this fall.

5-6Theatre Plans

Check out the schedule of events for interested theatre participants.

Living joyfully in faith

•Connecting

with God and one another•

Serving the local and global community

Sally speaks of Christian Formation and Youth programs for the fall.

Special meeting of the Parish on September 11.

A B I M O N T H L Y P U B L I C A T I O N O F C H R I S T C H U R C H , E X E T E R

Memorial Garden7

A rededication of the Christ Church garden on 9/18.

Program Year Begins Sunday, September 11thWorship Hours: 8am & 10:30am • Sunday School & Bible Study: 9:30am-10:15am

Very soon the air will grow crisp and hints of cooler nights will make many of us appreciate the long summer days that are nearly past. There is always a renewed sense of energy and return that fall provides as school returns and vacations come to a close.

Summer at Christ Church is a wonderful time of outdoor fellowship between the services and an easier feel to the liturgy as guest musicians and soloists from our ranks grace the worship experience.

The Vestry has been busy over the summer laying the groundwork to respond to the feasibility study the Episcopal Church Foundation conducted in early June to test a possible new Parish House. We are heartened in that we received response from 49% of those reached by email and direct mail – a very good response rate for surveys of this nature. Thank you all!

On Sunday, September 11 our consultant, Diana Church, will visit and offer her report after both the 8:00 a.m. and the 10:30 a.m. services. Do plan to attend. In addition, we are calling for a Special Meeting of the Parish (as required by our bylaws) for that same Sunday (the 11th) at 11:30 a.m. to nominate vestry member Kevin Clark to fill the Junior Warden position, serving until our Annual Meeting in January, 2017.

Lastly, in my last two parishes I have introduced the offering of birthday prayers on the first Sunday of the month. I think it’s time for us to start this tradition in Exeter. Those celebrating birthdays that month will be invited during the Peace at both services to come forward, so that we can give thanks for another year that God has given them and to pray the following:

Watch over your children, O Lord, as their days increase; bless and guide them wherever they may be. Strengthen them when they stand; comfort them when discouraged or sorrowful; raise them up if they fall; and in their hearts may your peace, which passes understanding, abide all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

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Welcome to the FallThe Rev. Mark B. Pendleton

Christian FormationSally Farrell

Young children are naturally full of wonder. And wonder feeds an intrinsic desire to learn. Christian Formation is an opportunity to nurture that gift.

In a recent chapel service I told a story. It was “just a story,” but so much more. I had designed the program around the virtue courage. As I told the story, the children eagerly predicted what they thought was going to happen, shouting out their answers and smiling if they were right! At each turn in the narrative they wondered what would happen next. The “lesson” was about being courageous and the fact that we are never alone when we are scared, but its primary value was in its capacity to excite wonder and curiosity. They wanted more and for the story to never end.

I try to foster that same sense of curiosity in teachers and parents as well, giving them just enough information to pique their interest to explore further. An open attitude keeps us attentive to each other’s questions and the quality of education we are providing. “Am I doing the best that I can?” “Could the children learn better if I taught this lesson from a different perspective?” “Do my teachers need…?” I truly believe that while the children

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are the ones being “taught” in school, it is often the teachers who are learning even more from their classroom experiences.

When we nurture the gift of wonder within the boundary of wise freedom we give children the ability to grow into strong and decisive individuals. We empower them for the challenges they will face throughout their lives.

I am so looking forward to the upcoming church school year and getting to know you and your children throughout the coming months and watching that wonder & curiosity grow in all of us together.

Program Notes for Youth FormationToddlers - Nursery RoomOnce again, our two person staff is available on Sundays in the Infant/Toddler room, from Labor Day to Memo-rial Day, between 9:15 AM – 11:45 AM for children ages 18 months to 3 years old.

General Outline for Sundays:9:30 – Opening Prayers & Sentences9:35- Story Telling & Lesson Review9:50 – Activity/Workshop10:15 – Prayers, Peace & Snack10:20– Closing Prayers & Dismissal

Parent & Volunteer ParticipationChildren and youth ministry is an integral part of our parish community, one that the whole parish is invited to cherish, uphold and energize. Christ Church is full of gifted members whose experiences, thoughts and talents can help these children and youth in their journey of faith. As already noted parents who are not already vol-unteering as a Sunday school leader are encouraged to stick around during Sunday school and listen, help and support the children as they grow in faith as often as possible.

LIVING joyfully in faith

Back to School Blessing • Sunday, August 28 at the 9:30 am ServiceAs our students, teachers, school personnel, bus drivers, and volunteers prepare for another year of school, we will invite them to come forward during the 9:30 am service for a special blessing. Programs, Groups and Classes to Deepen Faith • Wednesdays • 11 am - 12 pm • September 7Living in Faith returns on Wednesdays from 11:00 am to noon in the Chapel starting September 7. Join the Rec-tor for a time of study, quiet, prayer, and conversation.

Commmissioning Ministries Through the YearA constant challenge in churches today is communicating all of the opportunities to participate and serve. Over the next year we want to lift up those many areas of our common life by shining light in different ministries and teams. We will begin the year off on September 18 and October 23 by inviting volunteers and leaders forward during the church service and offer prayers of support and thanksgiving and allow a brief word about their ongoing work.

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Pilgrim: A Course for the Christian Journey • Wednesdays • 7-8:15 pm September 28This year Christ Church will offer a group for inquirers and new Christians who want to learn more about the Christian faith. Starting on September 28, the group will meet on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:15 pm downstairs in Harris Hall in Room 3. The initial commitment is for six weeks, but we hope to offer the next series of Pilgrim materials through the winter and spring.

The group is for:• Those who have recently started coming to church• Those who want the chance to think about Christian faith• Those preparing for baptism or confirmation• Those who have been Christians for many years and want to visit the roots of their faith again.

Classes begin Wednesday, September 28 and will meet on October 5, 12, 26 and November 2 and 9. (One week break with group not meeting October 19). Contact Rector Mark Pendleton to sign-up.

Blessing of Pets • October 2 • 12:00 pmIn the spirit of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (Oct. 4 each year) we will again be blessing our special pets on the front lawn of the church at noon on Sunday, October 2. Return after the 10:30 am service with your dogs, cats, snakes, ferrets, fish, rabbits, and hamsters.

Our Rector holds up his beloved Max during last year’s pet blessing. (Max passed this summer after 17 years and 2 months of being a blessing to his family.)

{ formation activities for children & youth }Confirmation for Youth • Ages 13 and UpForming in SeptemberThe Bishop’s visitation next year will take place on May 7, 2017. We will be offering a confirmation class for young people who will be at least 13 years old by May/June, 2017. There will be classes through-out the year along with a weekend retreat March 31 – April 2. We will again be using the Confirm not Conform, or “CnC,” program. CnC is a youth confirmation program that exposes youth to a wide range of topics, including Scripture, sacraments, creeds, heresy, prayer, other religions, and serving others, and asks them to think

through what they believe and why. It emphasizes finding one’s own voice rather than simply conforming to an external standard. It is a program that respects the work youth and adults do as they explore their faith.

If you are interested in having your son or daughter participate, please contact the rector, Mark Pendleton at mpendleton@christchurchexeter.org or phone the office.

CONNECTING with God and one another

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{ music }Junior Choir • September 8 • 3:45 - 5:00pm Junior Choir will resume rehearsals September 8th, 3:45-5pm. Junior Choir will meet every other week during the months of September, October and November, and then will resume every week in December. If you are interested in having your child participate, please email Suzanne Jalbert Jones at choirccexeter@gmail.com.

Parish Choir • September 8 • 6:00pmParish Choir will kick off it’s season on September 8th, beginning with a lasagna dinner in Harris Hall at 6pm. Please bring a side dish or dessert to share. Rehearsal will follow at 7-8:30pm. If you are interested in joining Parish choir for the first time, please email Suzanne Jalbert Jones at choirccexeter@gmail.com.

Christ Church Players Update

Following the huge success of their first show, CCP held a Season Announcement Gala; nearly fifty theatre-lov-ing families dressed up, indulged in a dessert buffet, crafted theatre masks, and viewed a Cinderella photo gal-lery, all while anxiously awaiting the announcement of the shows that would make up their 2016-2017 Season: Beauty and the Beast and Into the Woods!

This season also saw the premiere of Theatre 1-2-3, CCP’s educational summer component which provided an opportunity for young performers to build upon the skills and confidence necessary for success in the mainstage productions. Using a leveled curriculum to provide its participants with training appropriate to their age and ability, workshops were held from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday, during which participants rehearsed a musical to be performed at the culmination of their session. When not rehearsing, performers took classes to expand their skills. Sessions 1 and 2 were hugely successful, with parents and performers rav-ing about the fast-paced and instructive structure of the program, and everything was capped off with a truly phenomenal Session 3 production of Footloose. Directed by Lexi Meunier with music direction by Suzanne Jalbert Jones and choreography by Jacqui Young, Footloose and its cast of teen triple-threats left its audiences stunned not only by the sheer talent on stage, but the unbelievable fact that the show was mounted in a mere three weeks.

Currently, CCP is in rehearsals for Beauty and the Beast, which boasts two impressive groups of performers: Junior Cast, ages 6-11 and Senior Cast, ages 12-18. Dividing the performers in this way allows for a fun and fulfilling experience for both age groups and skill levels, both of whom have had a blast exploring this “tale as old as time.” Nominated for nine Tony Awards, this

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SERVING the local and global community

Safe Church Training • Saturday, September 10The next Safe Church training is offered at St. James Church in Keene on Saturday September 10, from 9-noon. Please contact Lynn Eaton at: leaton@nhepiscopal.org or 603-224-1914 to register.

Community Night at Community Oven in Hampton to supportSeacoast Family Promise • September, 12 • 6 - 9 pmHope that you will consider eating out that evening!

Thanksgiving BasketsAs we have every year through Feed My Lambs, the Exeter Welfare Department, and the SAU16 schools, we will participate in the Thanksgiving Basket program for local families. Watch for plates on October 23 and 30. This year we are also look-ing for volunteers to help with drop off & distribution on November 19 from 8:00am-11:00am. Please email Sally Farrell at sfarrell@christchurchexeter.org if you are interested in helping out.

fantastic adaptation of the Academy Award-winning Disney film tells the classic story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, a young prince trapped under a spell. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse placed upon him and the inhabitants of his castle will be lifted, but the time is running out. With fabulously whimsical roles and beloved music, Beauty and the Beast weaves a beautiful tale of tolerance, acceptance, and love.

Beauty and the Beast will perform at Christ Church for two weekends, during which casts alternate perfor-mances. The Junior Cast will perform November 5th at 2:00 PM and November 6th , 11th and 12th at 7:00 PM, and the Senior Cast will perform November 12th at 2:00 PM, and November 4th , 5th , and 13th at 7:00 PM. For information on how to purchase tickets, please email Theatre@ChristChurchExeter.org.

Christ Church Memorial Garden Rededication September 18

Please join us September 18 after the 10:30 am service to celebrate the rededication of our Memorial Garden. Over the past several months, the garden has been renovated with new plantings, memorial stone, and patio. A wheelchair-accessible ramp and walkway have been added from the narthex to the garden. And, in anticipation of Harris Hall construction, the Jonathan Treadway Sloan memorial has been relocated and made an integral part of the new ramp and walkway.

Below is a list of the individuals currently interred in the garden. If you know family or friends of any of these people, please let them know that the gar-den is being rededicated on September 18.

Stanley Hall Day, 1908 - 1988 Malcolm J. Odell, 1912 - 2005Lida T. Barber, 1901 - 1980 Nancy M. Alward, 1927 - 2007Elmer E. Barber, 1904 - 1989 Marguerite C. Pearson, 1913 - 2007Frederick Howard Wheeler, 1908 - 1990 Junia T. Bradley, 1912 - 2002Maurice E. Pearson, 1908 - 1990 Dorothy B. Fifield, 1908 - 2007John Freeman Bradley, 1904 - 1990 James M. E. Mixter, 1917 - 2008Alma Pauline Graves, 1905 - 1991 Ernest L. Rutherford, 1948 - 2009Richard F. Niebling, 1916 - 1992 Phebe P. Mixter, 1919 - 2010Marguerite D. Hartwell, 1928 - 1992 Joseph J. “Pat” Petroski, 1920 - 2010Barbara J. Patton, 1933 - 1993 Margery M. Heffron, 1938 - 2011Kathryn L. Ashman, 1912 - 1994 John V. Jette, 1924 - 2012Robert F. Jenkins, 1916 - 1994 Jaccob W. Nason, 1981 -2013Hester L. Hayden, 1900 - 1995 Edwin C MacNeil, 1938 - 2013Mary A. Bell, 1913 - 1996 Ruth E. Manghue, 1918 - 2013Kathryn G. Day, 1910 - 1996 Peter D. Corson, 1930 - 2014Ruth L. Velte, 1909 - 1997 Floyd H. Parkman, 1925 - 2014Edwin T. Ashman, 1908 - 1997 Audrey McMahon, 1920 - 2014Theodore B. Parkman, 1927 - 1997 Susan Morse Pepper, 1945 - 2015Vivian D. Baird, 1920 - 1997Philip J. Baird, 1915 - 1997Richard R. Gagnon, 1940 - 1998Benjamin F. McMahon, 1919 - 1998Laura Wheeler, 1909 - 2000Brian Jon Robshaw, 1981 - 2001Lyle B. Morron, 1925 - 2000Laurene M. Morron, 1923 - 2001Thaddeus F. Bell, 1912 - 2001Elizabeth C. Niebling, 1916 - 2012Richard B. Day, 1939 - 2001Marjorie R. Odell, 1913 - 2003

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The recent improvements to the Memorial Garden have been made possible by gener-ous contributions to the Christ Church Memorial Garden Enhancement Fund.

If you would like to contribute to that fund, please make your check out to Christ Church Exeter, with “Memorial GardenEnhancement Fund” in the memo line. If you are interested in more information about the Memorial Garden as your final resting place, please contact the church office.

Church Office

Upper Level, Harris House (603) 772-3332 x11

Office Hours:Monday - Thursday

9:00 am - 1:00 pm

Friday9:00 am - 12:00 pm

A joyful anddiverse communityanchored in Christ

The AnchorChristine Hodsdon, Design EditorMark Pendleton, Executive Editor

All parishioners are invited to submit articles to The Anchor,

due on the 10th of each month preceding publication.

E-mail articles or questions to newsletter@christchurchexeter.org

CHRIST CHURCh43 Pine StreetExeter NH 03833

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Rector The Rev. Mark B. Pendleton 772-3332 x12 mpendleton@christchurchexeter.org

Priest Associate The Rev. Dr. David D. Holroyd 772-3332 x11 dholroyd@christchurchexeter.org

Associate for Christian Formation & Parish Life Sally E. Farrell 772-3332 x13 sfarrell@christchurchexeter.org

Administrative Assistant Darla Watt 772-3332 x11 office@christchurchexeter.org

Music Director Suzanne Jalbert Jones 772-3332 x15 sjalbert@christchurchexeter.org

Organist Bruce Adami 772-3332 x15 bruce@christchurchexeter.org

Building Manager Mark Antlitz manager@christchurchexeter.org