3 Easter: Getting Ready for May 12, "The Gift of Years" Conversation, Flight of Eagle Scouts

May 4, 2019
 
Dear Hearts,

Although this coming Sunday, May 5, has its own special features -- preaching by Felix Rivera, more great Easter hymns, and meetings about both InReach and Faith Formation -- there will also be opportunities to prepare for Sunday, May 12:

• Our Sunday School will be working on their songs and roles in telling Jesus' Story of the Good Shepherd -- always the Gospel topic on the 4th Sunday of Easter. The Sunday School's participation will be their treat for Mother's Day, May 12.
• This Sunday will be the closing opportunity to register for our ECW's Roses for Mother's Day and Roses for Mommy.  The information forms and envelopes will be available in the pews. 

We began our conversation about Joan Chittester's book The Gift of Years, this past Tuesday.  And oh my, the energy in the room was amazing.  I'm looking forward to the Rectory Forum's first discussion this Sunday, May 5.  (The Tuesday Supper and Sunday Forum conversations run in parallel to each other.)  Sr. Joan has done her homework, and she has some pointed things to say: Contrary to negative stereotypes that older folks are "away with the fairies" (an Irish saying), she writes "... we do not bumble or dodder or mutter.  We think very well, thank you, and we work hard, and know precisely what is going on in the world around us."!  Also from her chapter on Ageism:
And yes, more older people than younger ones have chronic illnesses,
but they also have fewer acute illnesses than younger ones.
They have fewer injuries in the home
and also fewer accidents on the highway.
The book is an easy read, and available from your favorite on-line and local sources.  But feel free to join the conversation even if you haven't read the first 58 or 111 pages.
Thanks to all the participants in April 28th's Youth Spaghetti Supper!  The meal was truly special and abundant!  Our young bakers, servers and Parmesan cheese graters seemed to delight in their tasks, and the over-the-top desserts were truly over-the-top.  The three clever Raffle baskets -- organized around gardening, bird-watching, and family reading -- by Diane Link, drew wide participation.  Special thanks to this year's chef David Jones, to parent helpers, and especially to chief honcho Susan Shackford.

As Bishop Ian Douglas says for himself and Bishop Ahrens, "We always know where we'll be on the first Thursday in May: At the Annual Meeting of the Episcopal Women of Connecticut!"  And that's true for me as well.  Our connection with the New York Haiti Project began at one of these meetings three years ago.  This year's speaker, Sue Heimer from Illinois, spoke memorably about the example of Moses' sister Miriam -- e.g. her gumption in speaking directly to Pharoah's daughter, and her presence of mind to take her tambourine with her on the Israelites flight out of Egypt.  Miriam would use that tambourine in singing the oldest song in the Bible.(Exodus 15:21)  And I imagine all in attendance will recall Ms. Heimer's sage advice, "If you're riding a 'dead horse,' get off it!"

On Saturday morning, April 27, I was one of four from Christ Church to participate in the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's Spring Training with well over 300 fellow Episcopalians from all across the state at Berlin High School.  I think we all found this to be time well-spent.  In particular, the workshop on "Ending and Healing the Trauma of Anti-Black Racism" was eye-opening for me. 

I left Spring Training early so that I could be back in time for the Eagle Scout Court of Honor for seven young men who grew up together as friends and fellow scouts in Guilford.  Four of the seven who became Eagle Scouts that afternoon have a connection with Christ Church:  Josh Brause worships with us; Bailey Myers participated in Sunday School here; James Crossley actively participates in parish life and was in our 2017 confirmation group; and Mark McNamara, another active participant and 2017 confirmand, raised the funds for and led the bulding and landscaping of our four new picnic tables as his Eagle Scout project.  It was quite a moving experience to hear all seven speak about their projects and thank those who had helped them.  That Guilford would raise up these seven, supporting them individually and together, is to our town's credit, and Christ Church's place within it.

I look forward to continuing with you our Easter celebrations this Sunday.
 With Easter faith, hope, and love,
Harrison+
YFNR