5th Easter: Pastoral News; Meet & Greets

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.