Recent Coverage
Church service re-created with modern message
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Sep 5, 2005, 20:43

The yearlong commemoration of the 1905 Treaty of Portsmouth, negotiated here and ending the Russo-Japanese War, neared its conclusion Sunday night with a peace service at Christ Episcopal Church. The service, presided over by the Right Rev. V. Gene Robinson, Episcopal bishop of New Hampshire, used the same text and music as the original peace service in 1905, also held at Christ Church.

The Rev. Daniel L. Bernier, vicar of Christ Church, conducted the service, assisted by the Rev. Deborah Shipp of the First United Methodist Church and the Rev. Dawn Shippee of North Church, UCC. Alexis Zaricki directed the music, and Nicholas Zaricki was trumpeter. The choir consisted of members of area churches.

The same bell that rang at the signing in 1905 called the faithful to worship in 2005. The bell was rescued from a fire, which leveled the original Christ Church on Madison Street in 1963.

A triptych "peace tablet" installed in Christ Church in 1907 to commemorate the event did not survive the fire. Robinson dedicated a reproduction peace tablet as part of the service.

Robinson told the worshipers, "We always celebrate great moments in history, especially those that bring peace on the earth. This is a wonderful event."

Robinson praised the people of Portsmouth, in both eras, for their attention to this cause. "We have a byword in the diocese," he said. "We want to have ‘infinite respect for one another and radical hospitality to the world.’ What better example than hosting the Treaty of Portsmouth? It’s a wonderful thing that you can claim as your own."

But Robinson warned that manmade security is an illusion. He played off the New Testament Beatitudes, the "blessed are" series of Jesus’ words read by Bernier as part of the service. He said that while the Beatitudes say, "blessed are the peacemakers," they also point to others such as the poor, the reviled and the persecuted as being blessed. "When we are in these dire straits, it’s then we know our need of God," he said.

"Who today would be ‘blessed’?" he asked rhetorically. "The people in New Orleans; in Biloxi; the soldiers in Iraq; the insurgents; the refugees. They have no illusion they’re in charge of their lives."

The need for security is "what we wage wars over, what we elect presidents over," Robinson said. "But neither Bush nor Kerry can bring us security. Real security comes from our life in God."