10th Sunday after Pentecost: Don't Wash Your Car This Week! Evening ECW Gathers this Thursday; Shed Clean-out on Saturday

August 16, 2019
Dear Hearts,

The primary task of the Men's Discussion Group, as the name suggests, include conversation on topics they have chosen, plus the consumption of beverages and snacks appropriate to the early evening.  Nonetheless, some will gather at 9a.m. this Saturday, August 17, to clean-out the old shed in the church's backyard, and they would welcome your help -- especially if you have a means-of-carting debris to the dump!

Our Evening ECW's August gathering will focus on fellowship, this coming Thursday, August 22.  Rebecca Evans will host the gathering in her home on Peddlars' Lane at 7p.m.   Even if you have never participated in an Evening ECW meeting or project, you are invited to this gathering.  Please be in touch with Rebecca for details.

Please don't wash your car this week!  Instead, bring it to the Youth Car Wash at Palumbo's next Saturday, August 24 between 9a.m. and noon.  Let the team of our young folk wash your car for you.  Your generous donation will help support our young folk's service and special activities.  Note that the car wash will be at Palumbo's, on Route 1 between North and Fair Streets.

The local community group that came together to host a Mexican family seeking asylum welcomed them to their new home last week, following a two-and-a-half-day bus trip from the Texas border.  They were welcomed into a supportive community in New Haven.  They have one pressing medical issue; more details about that and other forms of assistance are in the latest update report available on the Ushers' Table.

During the past three years, I was away for most or all of August.  These were three months of sabbatical leave spread over the three summers of 2016-18.  This August I have fielded some questions about my vacation that almost sounded as if the underlying question was "It's August: What are you doing here?"  We all had a terrific break from my preaching last Sunday when Felix Rivera returned to our pulpit, and offered his own personal perspective on the fear of the disciples in Sunday's gospel reading.  Don't worry, another break is coming: I will be on vacation in Oregon beginning Wednesday, August 21 and returning Thursday, September 5.  Parish Office emails and voice messages will be monitored.  Please be in touch with Mark Sullivan for access to the building.

Preparations for the all-parish Tag Sale continue!  Donations are now being received on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings.  Gently-used housewares -- cookware, china, glassware, small kitchen items -- are all being welcomed -- along with sports equipment, children's toys and games, Christmas decorations, CDs and DVDs.  Furniture is not being received at this time. Also, no computers or other electronic items, please.  As you consider items you might donate, please also consider donating your time to this all-parish effort.  You can sign-up on the Ushers' Table and on Sign-up Genius by clicking here. Otherwise, ChurchTagSale@gmail.com is communications central!

And the wait continues for the installation of the new super-durable kitchen floor.  The supplier expects to receive them in Hartford as early as next Thursday.  Our installer will then pick them up. In preparation for this installation, the stove's gas line has been disconnected to allow it to be moved about.  A new set of ceiling panels has arrived and should be installed this coming week. After the new floor and ceiling surfaces are installed,  Kay Claiborn and Diana Stovall will invite those who share their passion for clean and well-ordered cabinets to join them to install shelf-lining and to wash and restore the Coffee Hour supplies, carafes, service items, china and glassware to the newly-repainted cabinets. All this work in the Parish Hall kitchen is funded by designated-donations from several individuals, the morning 12-Step group "Joy of Living," and our own ECW,  Thanks to all of them!

I hope you can join me in welcoming Mark Rehnstrom this Sunday.  Mark has chosen songs from Mendelssohn and Vaughn Williams that beautifully reflect the appointed readings.  And Mark Sullivan will bracket the 10a.m. service with works by Bach and Pachelbel on a tune we'll sing for "All glory be to God on high."   
In faith, hope, and love,
Harrison+
YFNR
p.s.  In case you didn't see it in the paper, The Shoreline Timeshad a fine report on Rhythms of Grace which is available here.