Sunday, January 16, 2022: An Outreach Plea

Announcements for Sunday, January 16, 2022

HELP NEEDED, PLEASE DO WHAT YOU CAN
A Plea from the Outreach Committee at Christ Church
Last night at the Outreach Committee meeting (conducted via Zoom), Cindy McNamara arrived straight from her work at the V.A Hospital and told the rest of us about the extremely trying conditions there. There is a shortage of staff members – doctors, nurses, and respiratory therapists – because so many are out sick with Covid themselves. There is also an acute shortage of blood, both at the V.A. and across the country, resulting in the need for rationing.
     Winnie Seibert then told of a friend who had recently been diagnosed with leukemia and, on one occasion, could only get half of the blood he needed.
WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP?
One thing those of us who are not medical professionals can do is to GIVE BLOOD.
Click here to find Red Cross Blood Drives in the Guilford area.
     If you are out of town and would like to give blood – since there is a national shortage – go to the Red Cross web site (https://www.redcrossblood.org/) and enter your zip code to find a Blood Drive near you. Please pass this information on to your friends and relatives. The need is urgent.
      During these stressful times, we sometimes feel helpless. Giving blood is one simple way we can help those suffering from Covid as well as from other illnesses, and help the medical professionals who have worked so hard and selflessly throughout the pandemic.

Christmas Gratitude:  Many thanks to all who made our celebrations so special during these challenging times --

• to all who provided memorial and thanksgiving gifts for the Christmas poinsettias and special music;
• thanks to Marsha Brown for so creatively arranging the flowers, lanterns and creche;
• thanks to the Choir for so faithfully sharing the gift of music with extra rehearsals and services from Christmas through the Visit of the Magi;
• thanks to all who provided the eight bags of "decorations" for the Mitten Tree for our neighbors served by the Chapel on the Green in New Haven.
• thanks to all the "Angels Under the Balcony" for donating about $600 for Town's Heating Assistance Program.
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"Grateful for All God's Love"
Thanks to all who have responded to our Stewardship Program by offering their Gift Estimate cards for 2022!  Thanks also to those who are still considering what God is asking you to provide for our shared life and witness in the new year.  Please feel free to offer your card during any worship service, or to mail or drop it off during office hours Tuesday-Thursday, or outside of service time daily between 10am and 3p.m. 

Update from Shoreline Interfaith Resettlement
Shoreline Interfaith Resettlement (SHIR) welcomed a family of 11, co-sponsored with Integrated Refugee and Immigration Services (IRIS) on Wednesday, December 29.  Thanks to the Education Committee, led by Jennifer Huebner, family members are getting into ESL classes and registered for school; are completing state registrations with the help of Diane Pierpont; and getting to where they need to go with the help of the Transportation Committee headed by Winnie Seibert.  
Thanks to all Christ Church parishioners who have provided over $6100 in generous financial support!
Shoreline Interfaith Resettlement includes First Congregational Church of Guilford, St. George Catholic Church, Temple Beth Tikvah, North Madison Congregational Church, Christ Church, Guilford Rotary Club and other community individuals and groups.

In Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, January 17:
The 37th Annual Branford Martin Luther King Day Breakfastwill begin on-line, Monday, January 17 at 8:30 am.  This year's speaker is Chris Wilson, author of The Master Plan; My Journey from a Life in Prison to a Life of Purpose.  He's been making the rounds of many talk and news shows, so you night have heard of him.  He has an amazing story to tell.  Melvin Wilson, co-founder of Tiurnaround Tuesday will join Chris in a panel discussion moderated by Deb Rogala of Community Partners in Action.  
Tickets are $15 benefiting the Branford Food Pantry, Feed Branford Kids, and Branford Fuel  Assistance.  Click here to purchase tickets and to view several videos of Chris Wilson (this is particularly helpful if you don't know about him).

St. Peter's Church in Cheshire invites children and adults to elevate their voices, as we march for unity, peace and hope in a "Children's March and Bell-Ringing Ceremony for Unity." We celebrate the power of our youth to make a difference and unite us in love. Together, we will march through the streets of Cheshire — socially distancing, sharing food and hot chocolate, and ringing the bells of freedom.  Beginning at 1p.m. Monday, January 17, at St. Peter's Church, 59 Main Street, Cheshire.
Organized in partnership with the State of Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities and the Commission on Women, Children, Seniors, Equity & Opportunity.

The Path: Journey through the Bible Chapter 11
-- continues with stories about David, "A Man After God's Own Heart," 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.   Please feel free to join the conversation.

Cecelia's Poetry Table & Office Hours ...
remain on semester break with Cecelia.
 
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.