 Diane Kyle's Farewell
Sunday July 31st is the day for us to send Diane Kyle off to Virginia Theological Seminary with our prayers and support. We are collecting both cards and a purse for Diane; checks may be made out to Christ Church with Diane's name in the memo line. Beating Guns: Hope for People who are Weary of Violence will begin Wednesday, Aug. 10th and meet every other week for four weeks at 6:30p.m.: Aug 10, 24, Sept. 7 and 21. Haven’t signed up yet; you’re not too late! We’ll meet in the rectory living room where there is AC. Only two books remain available in the rectory entry hall for $15 each. Tag Sale News: Be sure to have Saturday, September 24, 8:30AM to 3PM on your calendar; to that add the opening reception on Friday, September 23 hosted by the Vestry. At the reception, you'll have a first chance to review and purchase sale items for a $10 entry. Donations of like-new housewares are now being received on Sundays during service times and Tuesdays-Thursday, 10AM-2PM in the former Nursery. Co-chairs Rose Robinson and Patti Kron welcome your participation. Official News from the Lambeth Conference can be found here and here. For those on Facebook, YFNR recommends the posts from Bishop Laura Ahrens, Bishop Audrey Scanlan (Central PA, formerly priest and Bishops' Staff in CT) and our Bishop-elect Jeffrey Mello, who was invited to Lambeth once he received the consents needed for his consecration from dioceses across the Episcopal Church. They are sharing great photos and personal reflections. The Lambeth Conference draws the Bishops of the Anglican Communion together for prayer, fellowship, deep conversation, and reflection on "God's Church for God's World." The Archbishop of Canterbury's London home, Lambeth Palace, can no longer accommodate the Conference; so it now meets at the University of Kent and the Cathedral in Canterbury. Parish Transitions Although the process won't begin until after Fr. Harrison's retirement in September, preparations for clergy supply and oversight of the parish's life are underway. Please contact Wardens Susan Leonard and Michael Haggans or Vestry Members Bet Cummiskey, Beth Brause, Lisa Ste. Marie, Sandy Beatty, Virginia Syombathy, Sheward Hagerty, Caroline Herrick, Rob Hutchison, Cindy McNamara, Janice Novak, or Tony Leonard with your questions or concerns. Look for a communication Tuesday morning, and more news in the August newletter. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Black tea, Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Hot chocolate(mix), Sugar, Canned tomatoes, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels Communion in "Both Kinds" continues We currently provide two options for receiving the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Mask Protocols in Worship Mask-wearing is optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church. Intercessory Prayer Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.
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 Sunday Worship:
The Rev. Dexter Cheney will officiate at 9AM Morning Prayer, and preside and preach at the 10AM Holy Eucharist. Dexter+ is much admired by long-time members of the Episcopal Church in CT for his faithfulness, wry counsel, and good humor. He agreed to step-in for the Rev. Mary Anne Osborn who is still recovering from a nasty bout with Covid; please keep her in your prayers. YFNR and Jack-the-dog are in Maine. Another special attraction for this Sunday is the return of soloist Leila Mustakos; Music Director Mark Sullivan will be accompanying her on the newly restored Steinway piano. The General Convention ,of The Episcopal Church is meeting in Baltimore, July 8-11. General Convention, composed of a House of Bishops and a House of Deputies (made up of equal numbers of clergy and lay members), meets once every three years to oversee the worship and witness of The Episcopal Church. Due to Covid, this meeting is a year late and much briefer than typical. Information about Connecticut's presence at General Convention can be found here. Daily reflections and photos of our deputations' arrival in Baltimore can be found here. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's opening sermon is posted here. Parish Transitions: On Thursday, July 7, the Wardens led an informational Vestry+plus discussion about the upcoming clergy transition. Although the process won't begin until after Fr. Harrison's retirement in September, preparations for clergy supply and oversight of the parish's life are underway. The Tag Sale Returns on Saturday, September 24, 8:30AM to 3PM. Donations of like-new housewares are now being received on Sundays during service times and Tuesdays-Thursday, 10AM-2PM in the former Nursery. Co-chairs Rose Robinson and Patti Kron welcome your participation. Beating Guns: Hope for People Weary of Violence, by Shane Claiborne, will shape a discussion led by the Rev. Mary Anne Osborn, on Wednesday evenings at 6:30p.m. Watch for further announcements about the start date. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Black tea, Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Cooking Oil, Hot chocolate(mix), Baked beans, Canned tomatoes, Pasta Sauce, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels Communion in "Both Kinds" continues: We currently provide two options for receiving the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing is optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church. Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.  Sunday, June 26:
Swords to Plowshares; Presiding Bishop's Statements Swords to Plowshares is coming to Christ Church this Sunday, June 26! Bishop James Curry will preach for our 10a.m. service, and then demonstrate at the forge and anvil how firearms can be turned into gardening tools and jewelry. He'll then invite hands-on participation! The gun parts are from weapons that were voluntarily turned-in. Family-friendly, free, and open to the community! Fulfilling prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks," Swords to Plowshares' strategy is to address the epidemic of gun violence by "converting weapons of death into tools of life." Presiding Bishop Michael Curry issued public statements following the Supreme Court's decisions in the cases before it from New York -- regarding permits required for the concealed carry of firearms, and from Mississippi -- overturning its 50-year old precedent in Roe vs. Wade regarding abortion. I commend them to you. rhw+ Rector's Retirement: If you missed the letters from Fr. Harrison and the Wardens sent on June 17th, you can find them here. Much more information about what happens after the departure of Fr. Harrison and Jack-the-dog will be in the July newsletter. Our "Journey Through the Bible" will conclude this Thursday morning. We're finishing our discussions from the puzzling Book of Revelation in Chapter 24, "The Alpha & the Omega" of The Path. Feel free to join the conversation, Thursday at 9:30a.m. Click here for the Zoom. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Black tea, Mayonnaise, Ketchup, Cooking Oil, Hot chocolate(mix), Baked beans, Canned tomatoes, Pasta Sauce, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels Communion in "Both Kinds" Has Returned We currently provide two options for receiving the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing is optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church. ... in Sunday School: Following the practice in the Guilford Public Schools, mask-wearing is optional -- always exercising special concern for any who are vulnerable. Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.  Juneteenth Sunday:
Senior Recital, Saturday, June 18, 7p.m. Cellist Natalie Bryan invites the parish to her Senior Recital, Saturday evening, June 18, at 7p.m. in the church. If you've heard Natalie play during worship, you know we are in for a splendid treat! As an additional enticement. Natalie's recital will also premiere accompaniment on our newly restored Steinway piano. The news from St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, Vestavia Hills, Alabama, breaks the heart: gun violence at a parish potluck resulting in the death of three parishioners, injury to others, pain, grief and sorrow for the whole Church. Here's the Episcopal News Service account, and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's statement. As noted in both the ENS account and by Bishop Curry, today(June 18) is 7th anniversary of the shooting at Mother Emmanuel AME Church in Charleston. How timely for us then that ... Swords to Plowshares will come to Christ Church next Sunday, June 26. Bishop Jim Curry will preach during our 10a.m. service, and then demonstrate at the forge and anvil how guns can be turned into gardening tools and jewelry. He'll then invite hands-on participation! The gun parts are from weapons that were voluntarily turned-in. Family friendly, free, and open to the community! Fulfilling prophecies of Isaiah and Micah, "they shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks," Swords to Plowshares' strategy is to address the epidemic of gun violence by "converting weapons of death into tools of life." Rector's Retirement: If you missed the letters from Fr. Harrison and the Wardens sent on June 17th, you can find them here. Much more information about what happens after the departure of Fr. Harrison and Jack-the-dog will be in the July newsletter. Our "Journey Through the Bible" is coming close to its conclusion this Thursday morning. We're reading and discussing passages from the puzzling Book of Revelation in Chapter 24, "The Alpha & the Omega" of The Path. Feel free to join the conversation, Thursday at 9:30a.m. Click here for the Zoom. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Baked beans, Canned tomatoes, Pasta Sauce, Cooking oil, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Muffin mix, White rice Communion in "Both Kinds" Has Returned We currently provide two options for receiving the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing is optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church. ... in Sunday School: Following the practice in the Guilford Public Schools, mask-wearing is optional -- always exercising special concern for any who are vulnerable. Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.  7th Sunday of Easter, May 29:
In the Wake of Uvalde and Buffalo ... ... the Shoreline Interfaith Clergy invite the community to Come Together in Peace to open a space of lament, prayer, song, and action at 2p.m. Sunday, May 29 on the front steps of the First Congregational Church of Madison, 26 Meeting House Lane. In case of rain, the gathering will move inside the church. A Witness Stone for Pompey, the "last known slave in Guilford," will be installed in a ceremony led by students from Elizabeth Adams Middle School on Friday, June 3, beginning at 9a.m. on the Green. Pompey was a carpenter who quite literally helped build Guilford. YFNR will offer an invocation. Ekklesia Ballet's Body & Land will culminate in an "Exhibition for Eco-Justice" with events June 4-12 at Christ Church Cathedral in Hartford. More information and registration are available here. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and other church leaders offered prayerful and practical responses to the May 24, 2022, mass shooting in Uvalde, Texas which you can find here. Our Bishops Ian Douglas and Laura Ahrens in their message note the painful similarities between the shootings in Sandy Hook Elementary School in 2012 and in Robb Elementary School almost ten years later. They remind us that prayer prepares us for action. A Message from Will Parker: "After much prayer and discernment, I've realized I will need the time and flexibility next year to pursue my music career full-time. It's been a true joy working with the youth of Christ Church this year, and I know I will miss [being Youth Mentor] next year, but I know I need to honor where God is calling me to put my time and energy." I'm very grateful to Will for his ministry with our young people during the 2021-22 academic year. As sorry as I was to receive his decision, it is hard to argue with someone seeking to honor God's call in his life. Faith Formation will be advising on next steps. Harrison+ Our "Journey Through the Bible" continues on Thursdays. Participants decided to return to an earlier pattern of reading passages together and then discussing them. We've started Chapter 23, "Be Doers of the Word." Feel free to join the conversation about the Letters of James and to the Hebrews, Thursday at 9:30a.m. Click here for the Zoom. Although Cecelia Parker's Internship with us has concluded, and we said our official farewells on Sunday, May 22, it's not too late to participate in a "purse" for Cecelia. Donations may be included with Sunday offerings or delivered to the Parish Office. Please make checks payable to Christ Church, with "Cecelia" on the memo line. An ECCT Network is organizing for participation in the Poor People's Campaign: Moral March on Washington, on June 21st. Buses have been reserved, including departure and return to New Haven. Details and registration are available here. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Baked beans, Canned tomatoes, Pasta Sauce, Cooking oil, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Muffin mix, White rice Communion in "Both Kinds" Has Returned During Eastertide we have returned to offering the option to receive the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing is optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church. ... in Sunday School: Following the practice in the Guilford Public Schools, mask-wearing is optional -- always exercising special concern for any who are vulnerable. Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.  Special Electing Convention ...
for the XVIth Bishop Diocesan of Connecticut is scheduled to convene at 11a.m. May 21, in the CT Convention Center in Hartford and online. You can follow the Convention on the Episcopal Church in CT's YouTube channel here. That same link also provides access to recordings of the six Meet & Greet events, May 9-14. Each nominee has a page with a photo, introduction and video, plus links to their resume and a sermon preached in/for their parish/cathedral; at the bottom of their page are their responses to five essay questions put to them all. Please click on the nominee's name to be taken to their respective page. They are the Reverend clergy Glenna Huber, Jeffrey Mello, Kate Morehead, Tanya Wallace, and Whitney Altopp Please keep the nominees, the Electing Convention including Christ Church clergy and delegatesBob Donahue and Susan Pogue in your prayers. Almighty and everliving God, source of all wisdom and understanding, be present with those who take counsel in a Special Convention to elect a Bishop Diocesan for the renewal and mission of your Church. Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory. Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. "A Musical Vigil for Peace Benefiting Ukraine" will be hosted by the First Church of Madison, on Saturday, May 21, at 8p.m. The quintet "Kyrie" includes voice, strings and organ. Although Cecelia Parker's Internship with us has concluded, she plans to be with us for worship on Sunday, May 22. If you would like to participate in a "purse" for Cecelia, donations may be included with Sunday offerings or delivered to the Parish Office. Please make checks payable to Christ Church, with "Cecelia" on the memo line. Presiding Bishop Michael Curry released a hearfelt statement about last Saturday's malicious shooting in the neighborhood of Buffalo, NY, in which he grew up. Our Bishops Ian Douglas and Laura Ahrens also sent a message decrying the apparent racial motivation for this mass shooting. Our "Journey Through the Bible" continues on Thursdays. Participants decided to return to an earlier pattern of reading passages together and then discussing them. After a wrap-up conversation about St. Paul, the Thursday group will move into Chapter 23, "Doers of the Word." Feel free to join the conversation Thursday at 9:30a.m. Click here for the Zoom. An ECCT Network is organizing for participation in the Poor People's Campaign: Moral March on Washington, on June 21st. Buses have been reserved, including departure and return to New Haven. Details and registration are available here. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Baked beans, Canned tomatoes, Pasta Sauce, Cooking oil, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Muffin mix, White rice Communion in "Both Kinds" Has Returned On Easter Sunday we again began offering the option to receive the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing is optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church. ... in Sunday School: Following the practice in the Guilford Public Schools, mask-wearing is optional -- always exercising special concern for any who are vulnerable. \ Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.  5th Sunday of Easter, May 15:
Pastoral News: Barbara "Bobbi" Sobran DeBruyn died in her sleep on Wednesday night/Thursday morning. She was with us in worship last Sunday, and had socialized and gone for a walk Wednesday evening. Service arrangements are pending. On Saturday, May 14, we will give thanks for the life and witness of Patricia Groves Pitkin Chapman, at 11a.m. Pat died in Florida in February. May they rest in peace and rise in glory. Meet & Greet Bishop Nominees Online Opportunities to "Meet & Greet" the nominees for Bishop Diocesan of Connecticut continue May 13 and 14. You can find the links to watch these and earlier Meet & Greets online here. Learn about the nominees here. Please keep this process, the nominees -- The Reverend clergy Glenna Huber, Jeffrey Mello, Kate Morehead, Tanya Wallace, and Whitney Altopp -- and the Electing Convention in your prayers. Christ Church will be represented at the May 21st Special Election Convention by parish clergy, Delegate Bob Donahue, and Alternate Susan Pogue standing in for Delegate Gabrielle Johnson who cannot attend. I'm inviting them to join me in conversation with you during Coffee Hour on May 15 and in a Zoom chat on Monday, May 16, to hear your reactions, thoughts and questions. Growing Hope: Forging Peace Events at Camp Washington May 13-14, Youth Event for middle and high school students Youth are gathering at Camp for an evening of engaging conversation with keynote speaker, Shane Claiborne, beating guns into garden tools around the forge, group art projects, and time to chill and talk around the campfire. Saturday morning includes breakfast & time to wrap up our work from Friday night, as we welcome the larger community to join us for a day of testimony, reflection, experience, and action. See HERE for more information or to register. May 14, All Ages Event for God's Folk Weary of Gun Violence We will gather around the forges as we transform guns into gardening tools and art, and hear from victims and survivors of gun violence, as well as, Shane Claiborne- our keynote speaker, who will offer words of change. Thoughtful conversations will address mental health, safe gun storage and suicide prevention. We will offer our hurts, hopes and dreams to God in song and worship, and end our day with a picnic lunch. Further details and registration are available here. "A Musical Vigil for Peace Benefiting Ukraine" will be hosted by the First Church of Madison, on Saturday, May 21, at 8p.m. The quintet "Kyrie" includes voice, strings and organ. Our "Journey Through the Bible" continues only on Thursdays. Monday evening conversations concluded May 9th. Our Thursday morning conversations have returned to an earlier pattern of reading passages together and then discussing them; so the Thursday group, is still in Chapter 22, "Grace May Abound." Feel free to join the conversations on Monday at 7p.m., and Thursday at 9:30a.m. Click here for the Zoom. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Baked beans, Canned tomatoes, Pasta Sauce, Cooking oil, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Muffin mix, White rice Communion in "Both Kinds" Has Returned As previously announced, on Easter Sunday we began offering the option to receive the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing became optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church beginning March 24. This was on the recommendation of our Worship Options Group adopted by the Vestry as they followed developments closely including this guidance from Bishops Douglas and Ahrens beginning in the third paragraph. ... in Sunday School: Following the practice in the Guilford Public Schools, mask-wearing is optional -- always exercising special concern for any who are vulnerable. Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.  4th Sunday of Easter, May 8:
Good Shepherd Sunday & Mother's Day Poetry Retreat for Eastertide ... ... will be offered Saturday, May 7 from 1:30-3:30p.m. in the Parish Hall We will explore Easter themes through poems curated by Cecelia Parker. All are invited to reflect on the hope of new and Risen Life offered in The Resurrection, as well as the lower-case resurrections in our lives. The 4th Sunday of Easter is always Good Shepherd Sunday. We pray the 23rd Psalm, and read Jesus identifying himself as a shepherd in a portion of the 10th chapter of the Gospel according to John. Being the second Sunday in May, the 8th is also Mother's Day. Thanks to the participation of many, our ECW is placing roses on the altar to honor and remember women significant ton our lives, individually and as a parish. They, too, are/were shepherds to us after the pattern of Jesus. Meet & Greet Bishop Nominees This Week Opportunities to "Meet & Greet" the nominees are scheduled across Connecticut starting Monday, May 9 through Saturday, May 14. You can find the links to watch online or register to attend on site here. You can learn about the nominees here. Four were nominated by the Bishop Transition Committee, and one was added by petition. Please keep this process, the nominees -- The Reverend clergy Glenna Huber, Jeffrey Mello, Kate Morehead, Tanya Wallace, and Whitney Altopp -- and the Committee in your prayers. Christ Church will be represented at the Special Convention to elect our next Bishop Diocesan by parish clergy, Delegate Bob Donahue, and Alternate Susan Pogue standing in for Delegate Gabrielle Johnson who cannot attend. I'm inviting them to join me in conversation with you during Coffee Hour on May 15 and in a Zoom chat on Monday, May 16, to hear your reactions, thoughts and questions. Women's Reproductive Health & the Episcopal Church In the event that the leaked draft of Justice Alito's opinion in the case from Mississippi, has you wondering about the Church's teaching with regard to Women's Reproductive Health, it is summarized here. This is a classic Anglican example of the Church seeking a middle way: to both honor the sacredness of human life, and to respect the dignity of women making informed healthcare decisions. Growing Hope: Forging Peace Events at Camp Washington May 13-14, Youth Event for middle and high school students Youth will gather at Camp for an evening of engaging conversation with our keynote speaker, Shane Claiborne, beating guns into garden tools around the forge, group art projects, and time to chill and talk around the campfire. Saturday morning includes breakfast & time to wrap up our work from Friday night, as we welcome the larger community to join us for a day of testimony, reflection, experience, and action. See HERE for more information or to register. May 14, All Ages Event for God's Folk Weary of Gun Violence We will gather around the forges as we transform guns into gardening tools and art, and hear from victims and survivors of gun violence, as well as, Shane Claiborne- our keynote speaker, who will offer words of change. Thoughtful conversations will address mental health, safe gun storage and suicide prevention. We will offer our hurts, hopes and dreams to God in song and worship, and end our day with a picnic lunch. Further details and registration are available here. Our "Journey Through the Bible" Continues We are still on "The Path" through the Epistles, but our conversations have diverged. Our Monday evening conversations will conclude on May 9th with Chapter 24, "The Alpha & the Omega" and the Epilogue. Our Thursday morning conversation has returned to an earlier pattern of reading passages together and then discussing them; so the Thursday group, is still in Chapter 22, "Grace May Abound," or as one participant called it, "Paul's Greatest Hits." Feel free to join the conversations on Monday at 7p.m., and Thursday at 9:30a.m. Click here for the Zoom. Copies of The Path are available on the Ushers' Table and the Rectory Entry Hall shelf. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Baked beans, Canned tomatoes, Pasta Sauce, Cooking oil, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Muffin mix, White rice Communion in "Both Kinds" Has Returned As previously announced, on Easter Sunday we began offering the option to receive the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing became optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church beginning March 24. This was on the recommendation of our Worship Options Group adopted by the Vestry as they followed developments closely including this guidance from Bishops Douglas and Ahrens beginning in the third paragraph. ... in Sunday School: Following the practice in the Guilford Public Schools, mask-wearing is optional -- always exercising special concern for any who are vulnerable. Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.  Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet will present their work “Body & Land: A Dance & Dialogue for Eco-Justice” on Sunday, April 24 at 1p.m. on the Guilford Green. "Body & Land" is a contemporary ballet for four dancers set to a modern re-composition of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons” celebrating Creation and exploring climate change through an artistic lens. Family friendly, free, interactive, and open to the community! Bring friends, neighbors, chairs and blankets. In case of rain, the event will be moved into the sanctuary of First Congregational Church on Broad Street.
Morley van Yperen, Ekklesia's resident theologian, will be our preacher at both services. Perhaps of more significance to us, Morley is also Jennifer Huebner's daughter! Communion in "Both Kinds" Returns As previously announced, on Easter Sunday we began offering the option to receive the consecrated wine at communion. Worshipers may take a sip from the shared chalice, or from an individual communion glass. To avoid crowding, the administration of communion continues at the foot of the chancel steps. Our Bishops strongly urge us to continue refraining from intinction as we have practiced it -- note the 7th paragraph here. They also underscore that receiving in "one kind" is full communion. Poetry Retreat for Eastertide ... ... will be offered Saturday, May 7 from 1-3p.m. We will explore Easter themes through poems chosen by Cecelia Parker. All are invited to reflect on the hope of new and Risen Life -- in this conversation with Cecelia. Our "Journey Through the Bible" Continues We are still on "The Path" following the events of our Lord's Resurrection. Our Monday evening conversation has pulled ahead, and will be focusing on Chapter 22, "That Grace May Abound." While the Thursday group, moves into Chapter 21, "Filled with the Holy Spirit." Feel free to join the conversations on Monday at 7p.m., and Thursday at 9:30a.m. Click here for the Zoom. Copies of The Path are available on the Rectory Entry Hall shelf. Special Requests from the Guilford Food Bank The Food Bank requests help with the items below. Please leave your donations in the bin by the the north (Town Hall-side) door to the Narthex. Thanks for helping our neighbors in need. Baked beans, Canned tomatoes, Pasta Sauce, Cooking oil, Household cleaner, Laundry detergent, Paper towels, Ketchup, Mayonnaise, Muffin mix, White rice Episcopal Election Update The Bishop Transition Committee has announced their nominees for the next Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. You can learn about them here. Any nominations made by petition are now receiving background checks. Opportunities to "Meet & Greet" the nominees will be scheduled across ECCT during May 9-14. Please keep this process and the Committee in your prayers. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing became optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church beginning March 24. This was on the recommendation of our Worship Options Group adopted by the Vestry as they followed developments closely including this guidance from Bishops Douglas and Ahrens beginning in the third paragraph. ... in Sunday School: Following the practice in the Guilford Public Schools, mask-wearing is optional -- always exercising special concern for any who are vulnerable. Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.  Announcements for Palm Sunday, April 10:
Poetry Retreat for Lent ... ... will be offered Saturday, April 9 from 1-3p.m. in the Rectory. We will explore Lenten themes through poems chosen by Cecelia Parker. All are invited to reflect on their Lenten journeys -- and the parts of life that feel like Lent -- in this conversation with Cecelia. Palm Sunday Preparations for all ages ... ... will be happening Saturday, April 9 from 2 to 5p.m. Soup-making, brownie-baking, and palm-cross crafting are among the planned activities in the Parish Hall and Kitchen. These are all in preparation for our observance of Palm Sunday including the after-worship Soup Lunch. Ecumenical Blessing of the Palms Returns! Our traditional Ecumenical Blessing of the Palms with our neighbors from St. George Catholic Church and First Congregational Church will be back on the Green at 9:45a.m. on Palm Sunday, April 10. Hurray! Palm Sunday Soup Lunch & ECW Bake/Craft Sale ... will follow the 10a.m. service on April 10. Soup, brownies, and coffee will be served in the Parish Hall after the service. We look forward to gathering again for a meal together! Also in the Parish Hall, our ECW will be offering for sale their home-made baked goods, Easter crafts and more. All items will be packaged for your enjoyment, or to give as a gift. Help Ukrainian Refugees ... ... via a collection at Christ Church organized by Dorota Xeller (our Director of Children's Ministries) April 3 -10. All collected items will be delivered to St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in New Haven for shipment via Warsaw to Lviv, Ukraine. Items being sought are: Aspirin, First-aid Kits, Neosporin, Saline wound wash, Toothpaste, Bandages, Gauze, Vaseline, Medical tape, and Men's white socks -- all new and in original packaging, please. Please bring your donations to a box in the narthex or to the Children's altar. The Path of Holy Week ... ... is where our "Journey through the Bible" has brought us. Our Monday evening conversation has pulled ahead, and will be focusing on Chapter 20, "We Have Seen the Lord!" While the Thursday group takes more time with Chapter 19 titled "Crucify Him." Feel free to join the conversations on Monday at 7p.m., and Thursday at 9:30a.m. Click here for the Zoom. Copies of The Path are available on the Ushers' Table and on the Rectory Entry Hall shelf. Episcopal Election Update The Bishop Transition Committee has announced their nominees for the next Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. You can learn about them here. Nominations may now be made by petition through April 14. Opportunities to "Meet & Greet" the nominees will then be scheduled across ECCT during May 9-14. Please keep this process and the Committee in your prayers. Need an Antigen Test? The Town provided Christ Church with a case of COVID-19 Rapid Antigen Tests. These tests are available on a first-come, first-served basis on the Ushers' Table and in the rectory entry hall. Lent Madness concludes the "Holy Kitsch" round today with a toss-up between Thomas Villanova and Thomas Aquinas on their way to the "Golden Halo." Don't know about them? All the more reason to follow LentMadness.org here. And yes, the whole concept is total "madness," and also inspiring and delightfully clever! Mask Protocols ... ... in Worship: Mask-wearing became optional during inside gatherings of Christ Church beginning March 24. This was on the recommendation of our Worship Options Group adopted by the Vestry as they followed developments closely including this guidance from Bishops Douglas and Ahrens beginning in the third paragraph. We will continue distributing communion in one-kind for the balance of Lent, and from the Children's altar. ... in Sunday School: Following the practice in the Guilford Public Schools, mask-wearing is optional -- always exercising special concern for any who are vulnerable. Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People. |
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