Tuesday, February 11, 2025
The Chapel St. Chronicle
Welcome to the Chapel Street Chronicle, your weekly St. John’s digest.
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Sermon Series
"Here I Am: The Courage to Answer God’s Call"
The Rev. Aaron Jenkyn
When God calls, it is rarely at a convenient time. Like Isaiah and Peter, we may feel unworthy or unprepared, but God's call is not about readiness—it is about willingness. In a world where power too often comes at the cost of justice, we are called to see clearly, stand with the oppressed, and take part in building the kingdom of God here and now. And when we step forward in faith, even with trembling hands, we become part of God's great work of love, justice, and renewal.
Go and Do!
BLACK HERITAGE TRAIL OF NH PRESENTS: 2025 Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talks
The Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire presents the 2025 Elinor Williams Hooker Tea Talk Series. This year's series explores how African philosophies of war, resilience, and collective action have shaped African American history and survival. As an Episcopal community committed to truth-telling, reconciliation, and justice, we share this opportunity to engage in meaningful conversations about our nation’s history ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Sunday, February 16 at 2:00pm: The Great Migration: Military Service and the Shaping of a Diversified New Hampshire
This panel will examine the integration of military bases in New Hampshire such as Pease, the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and Grenier in Manchester and how these bases contributed to the state's diversification. Panelists will also discuss how military service became a tool for asserting rights and claiming full citizenship.
Participation is both in-person and online, and more information and registration links for both can be found here,
RAINBOW FISH: THE MUSICAL!
Come and support the children of St. John's Youth Music and Cherub Choir programs as they present RAINBOW FISH, The Musical!
This Saturday at 5pm, and Sunday after the 10am service, complete with a festive reception celebrating the 12+ years of youth music and ministry of director Ashley Wade.
MUSIC
From this Sunday's beautiful snowy morning, a special feature from our own James Mulhern, Frédéric Chopin's Prelude in D-flat Major.
NEWS From AROUND OUR TOWN, STATE, AND REGION
Pictured above are Emily Flinkstrom, Executive Director of Fair Tide (left) and Megan Shapiro-Ross, Executive Director of Footprints (right) in front of the existing building at 22 Shapleigh Road Kittery, Maine.
MAINSPRING: The Seacoast Social Services Collective
As Christians, we are called to love our neighbors and seek justice, which means supporting community organizations like Mainspring that provide food, housing support, and essential services with dignity and compassion. Mainspring’s work aligns with our faith’s call to care for the most vulnerable, reminding us that hope and practical support go hand in hand in building a more just and loving community.
Click the photo to visit their website and learn more about Mainspring and the vital services they will offer to Seacoast residents.
Click here to read the recent article from Seacoast Online.
Brief prepared by The Rev. Aaron Jenkyn
FROM THE DESK OF OLIN JOHANNESSEN
REGARDING THE PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION OF NEW HAMPSHIRE'S CHILDREN
Today in the New Hampshire State Legislature's House Education Policy and Administration subcommittee session, NH House Bill 283, proposed by Representative Dan McGuire of Merrimack County - District 14, was brought before committee for public comment and discussion.
Thank you to our Bishop Rob Hirschfeld who took time to attend the session and participate in the public comment section. You can read his full statement here.
This bill reduces the list of subjects which comprise an adequate education, including Civics, Government, Economics, Geography, History, and Holocaust and genocide education; Arts education including Music and Visual arts, World languages, Engineering and technologies including technology applications, Personal finance literacy, and Computer science.
New Hampshire has long faced questions around funding an "adequate" public school education for its children. Many of you may bristle at the word "adequate," and I do too. The reasons I shudder are myriad, but here are a few:
I am a former public school educator who has been on the inside when questions of funding and wondering whether I, or my colleagues would be terminated. It seems that every district deals with questions of significant and negatively impactful cuts each and every year which disrupt the important good work of actually administrating and running their districts successfully. It is a distraction.
I am the parent of two children who attend the public schools in my town, and I have hopes and dreams for my children — as I believe all well-meaning parents and caregivers have for their children — and never, ever, do my hopes and dreams for their upbringing, health, education, and abilities ever center the word "adequate." I want them to have exceptional opportunities, bright futures, inspired instruction, and caring oversight from their teachers and administrators. Adequate? Do I try to fulfill my duties as a parent or professional "adequately?" No, and I doubt that many of you would identify yourselves as merely working for "adequate" in your own careers, families, or personal relationships.
I am hammering on this one word, and certainly a lot has been made of it. It is my wish that your mind will be engaged differently when you consider that word. You may be a budget hawk, or a "it was good enough for me back in my day" type person, or perhaps you see things similarly as I do. Regardless, I hope you will be thoughtful when you consider that a bill against providing a whole, well-rounded, and exemplary education for the children of New Hampshire is a bill that jeopardizes the future of our state. A narrower scope of education is never the answer. Let us remember that we are here only temporarily, and that our job is to try and make the world a better place than we found it so tomorrow's adults and leaders will remember that example, know they were supported, and keep working to support the children of their future.
Resources to learn about NH Educational funding and policy:
NHPR's "Adequate: How a State Decides the Value of Public Education"
Brief prepared by Olin Johannessen
What are you reading? Listening to? Thinking about? Do you have any great recommendations that you're eager to share? Let Aaron know!