Christ Church
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seminarian interns from Berkeley Divinity<br />
School (Yale Divinity School) each year as well<br />
as an Organ Scholar. The result of these programs<br />
is that <strong>Christ</strong> <strong>Church</strong> alumnae/i are serving<br />
parishes throughout the nation.<br />
Our most notable ministry to Yale’s student<br />
communities is the ancient monastic night office<br />
of Compline, sung by the choir in candlelight<br />
and incense each Sunday evening during<br />
the academic year. Begun fifteen years ago as a<br />
joint ministry with the Episcopal <strong>Church</strong> at<br />
Yale (ECY), it has been drawing a crowd averaging<br />
100 since it was first offered, ministering<br />
to new generations of churchgoers from local<br />
colleges, high schools, and neighborhoods.<br />
(http://www.christchurchnh.org/music#compl<br />
ine).<br />
Members of Saint Hilda’s House at Loaves and Fishes food pantry.<br />
12<br />
Parish Profile<br />
Alongside our faithful corps of lectors and acolytes,<br />
parishioners also serve as ushers/greeters<br />
and are active on the Altar, Flower, and Altar<br />
Linen Guilds as well as participating in the Lay<br />
Pastoral Care and Lay Communion Ministry,<br />
the Society of Mary, and the Guild of Intercession.<br />
A Children’s Chapel has recently begun in<br />
the Undercroft during the 11 AM Mass, inspiring<br />
hope that our ministry to children and families,<br />
never large in the recent past, will be reinvigorated.<br />
At the Bishop’s request our parish developed a<br />
Solemn Blessing for Same-Gender Unions, and<br />
ministry to the LGBTQ community actively<br />
continues here.<br />
Saint Hilda’s House<br />
Saint Hilda’s House is a residential intentional<br />
service community for young adults, and a<br />
member of the Episcopal Service Corps. Hildans<br />
live on the <strong>Christ</strong> <strong>Church</strong> campus. Saint<br />
Hilda’s is first and foremost a community of<br />
prayer, regularly praying the Office and sharing<br />
the Eucharist. Each Saint Hilda’s House resident<br />
is paired with a local nonprofit organization.<br />
In our five years we have worked with<br />
eighteen local nonprofits, serving people experiencing<br />
homelessness and poverty; working for<br />
food justice and feeding the hungry; educating<br />
and being with the children and youth of the<br />
city; and helping immigrants and<br />
refugees make a new home. The<br />
rhythms of prayer and service form<br />
Saint Hilda’s residents into leaders<br />
in the <strong>Church</strong>. Of the forty-two<br />
people who have come through<br />
Saint Hilda’s, eighteen are currently<br />
serving in or preparing for ordained<br />
ministry and seven serving<br />
in nonprofits.<br />
Since the founding of the program<br />
the parish has provided financial<br />
assistance in the form of short- and<br />
longer-term loans. When there is a<br />
full contingent of 8 interns, Saint