2nd Christmas Sunday, Epiphany on Wednesday, Jan. Newsletter

2nd Sunday of Christmas, January 3, 2021

The Christmas stories and carols continue this Sunday, the Second of Christmas, and Tenth day of Christmas.  Thanks to Marsha's care, the poinsettias still look grand, and we'll enjoy again the splendor of the season via our livestream worship at 10a.m.  
  
Our Prayers in the Garden service will not meet due to the cold and possible rainfall again this Sunday, January 3.

Digital Sunday School is taking a holiday break.  Look for it to return for next Sunday, January 10.

Mitten Tree:   Thanks to all who have so wonderfully decorated our Mitten Tree with mittens, gloves, scarves and caps.  These will be shared with our neighbors served by the Chapel-on-the-Green in New Haven after the Epiphany service. 
You're welcome to continue decorating the Tree between 10a.m. and 3p.m. daily during Christmastide, entering via the door closest to the Guild Room.  While you're there, please feel free to enjoy a quiet moment alone in the church. 

"Angels-under-the-Balcony"-reminders were hung on the Mitten Tree this year.  Thanks to all who have contributed this historic "warming" ministry of Christ Church.  We continue to receive gifts; checks may be made out to Christ Church with "Angel" or Fuel Fund" on the memo line. Please offer your gift on the altar, the shelf in the Rectory entry hall or mail it to the Parish Office.

The call has gone out for announcements and information for our January Newsletter.  Please submit the same to our new, newsletter editor, Kate Haggans, and her predecessor, Donna LaFata via cecnewsletter2020@gmail.com 

About the taped-up Parish House Door:  Thanks to the good work of Peter Johnson, this door continued to serve for many years longer than expected; nonetheless, it literally started coming apart this week.  It is taped together to keep it from falling into pieces.  Please don't attempt to use it!  Instead, please use the side door, closest to the Guild Room. The work to replace it will begin shortly.

Digital Sunday School is taking a holiday break.  Look for it to return for next Sunday, January 10.

Virtual Coffee Hour... is a great opportunity to "see" one another.  The link to YFNR's Personal Zoom Room seems to work well.  So, join the conversation via Zoom this Sunday, January 3 at 11:30a.m. by clicking this link.  If asked, the  Meeting ID: 540 197 1077, and Passcode: 1744AD

Intercessory Prayer: Please send the people and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People. by replying to these announcements or the "Let us pray" message.  Please consider this the digital version of the clip board on which names and concerns are written when we gather for worship in the nave. 

The Epiphany is this Wednesday, January 6:  We will celebrate the Epiphany in our Order for Evening on that day; the livestream service begins before 7p.m.  We'll sing the Christmas carols relating to the visit of the Wise Watchers of the stars of night, and again have special soloists for the occasion.

Thursday Bible Study has begun to read in Exodus about Moses and the pharaoh who "did not know Joseph." It's interesting to juxtapose here the Biblical story of God's purposes, and the secular history of the ancients.  Join the conversation, at 9:30a.m. Thursday via Zoom.

Estimate of Giving Cards:
Thanks so much to all who have responded with their Estimate of Giving for our operating budget in 2021!  If you need a card, please respond to this message, and one will be in the mail posthaste!

Thanks to all who are mailing in your offerings!  
Although our in-person connections remain severely limited, the routine of the parish continues in the new year.  Thanks to your faithfulness, we are able to continue our shared life of worship and witness -- even while maintaining appropriate distances.  Please continue your financial support of our common life by bringing your offering to the altar, or the parish office, or by mailing to Christ Church, PO Box 574, Guilford, CT 06437.  Your offering will be presented at the altar; it will be physically present, as you remain safely at home.
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
YFNR