Dear Hearts,

Saturday, April 28, will be a busy day along Park Street.  Our Evening ECW understands that when there is a Book Sale at the Library, folks expect something to be happening at Christ Church.  So, be sure your friends and neighbors know about the Evening ECW's lunch of soups, breads, fruit and desserts between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; it will coincide with the Friends of the Library's Paperback Book Sale.  This fine lunch will raise funds to support the EECW's Parish Hall projects from free-will donations. 

Beginning Saturday evening, our confirmands and YFNR will be participating in The Big Sleep Out on the Guilford Green.  The evening begins with registration at 5:30 p.m. and the Opening at 6 p.m.  During the course of the evening, we will be learning together about the lives of folks who find themselves "homeless." Our own Bobbi Stuart will help lead a workshop on the "Economics of Homelessness" -- how just a few bad breaks and/or poor choices can render a person, or a family, homeless.  This and other presentations, and a shelter-style supper, will fill the evening, before lights out, in a fenced area, on the Green at 10:30 p.m.; wake-up, clean-up and clear-out will be by 7:30 a.m., Sunday morning.

Although organized primarily by and for young folk, it is open to all ages. The Big Sleep Out came together under the auspices of Columbus House, a major support for homeless folk, and those on the margins of homelessness, in New Haven and beyond.  More information is available by clicking here.

Our daytime ECW is reprising their annual "Roses for Mothers" project.  Look for announcements and envelopes to honor and remember women who have been important in your life on the Ushers' table.  Sunday School children have received, and will receive, "Roses for Mommy" announcements.  Gifts over the past several years funded the new white frontal on the altar.  

The Rev.s Rachel Field and Rachel Thomas, the Episcopal Church in CT missionaries for the Southeast and South Central Regions, are offering "Hiking with the Rachels" on the Westwoods Trail, Monday, April 30, beginning at 10 am.  Look for them in the Parking Area in the 520 section of Peddler’s Road, Guilford. The plan for the 6 mile round-trip hike includes moderate to strenuous terrain, and time for prayer, silence, and being with creation!

Thursdays Bible Study and the daytime ECW Gathering will take a break this week for the Diocesan ECW's Annual meeting at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville,  The Rev, Becca Stevens, this year's speaker is an author,  social entrepreneur, Episcopal priest and the founder of Thistle Farms which "offers women hope and healing through a holistic residential program, employment with one of our social enterprises, and a growing national and global network dedicated to changing a culture that allows human beings to be bought and sold."

The Rectory Forum and Tuesday Suppers are on their parallel journeys, with the rest of the Episcopal Church, in reading through the Acts of the Apostles, with particular portions read and discussed each week.  So, there's actually no homework required!

Children's Chapel, Sunday School, and the Middle and High School programs will all meet at their usual times and places this Sunday.  These are important Sundays for our Sunday School as they prepare for their "Pentecost Festival" presentations on May 20.

In faith, hope and love,
Harrison+
YFNR

p.s. Tempus fugit, and so on: May 6, the time will have come for us to bid farewell to our seminary-intern, Graham Marsh.  Graham will receive his S.T.M. degree later in May and be ordained a deacon, God willing, in June.  If you would like to participate in a "Godspeed" purse for Graham, please put his name on the memo line of a check or envelope to Christ Church.  Gifts may be placed in the offering plate or delivered to the parish office.

 Dear Hearts,

As I finish this message, a group of seven Christ Church folk, led by Senior Warden Rose Robinson, are working on Raise-the-Roof's current project house on Lenox Street in Fair Haven.  On Sunday, April 22, we will hear more about the endeavors of Raise-the-Roof as the Shoreline arm of Greater New Haven's Habitat-for-Humanity.  Instead of building a new house from the ground up, this house is a gut renovation of a house that has sheltered families since the late 19th century.

Our "confirmands" -- that's church jargon for candidates for Confirmation -- have a busy week ahead of them:  On Thursday, April 26, they will have dinner with our Bishops, +Ian Douglas and +Laura Ahrens, at The Commons in Meriden.  We will travel together from Park Street, departing at 4:50 p.m.

Beginning Saturday evening, our confirmands and YFNR will be participating in The Big Sleep Out on the Guilford Green.  The evening begins with registration at 5:30 p.m. and the Opening at 6 p.m.  During the course of the evening, we will be learning together about the lives of folks who find themselves "homeless." Our own Bobbi Stuart will help lead a workshop on the "Economics of Homelessness," -- how just a few bad breaks and/or poor choices can render a person, or a family, homeless.  This and other presentations, and a shelter-style supper, will fill the evening, before lights out, in a fenced area, on the Green at 10:30 p.m.; wake-up, clean-up and clear-out will be by 7:30 a.m., Sunday morning.

Although organized primarily by and for young folk, it is open to all ages. The Big Sleep Out came together under the auspices of Columbus House, a major support for homeless folk, and those on the margins of homelessness, in New Haven and beyond.  More information is available by clicking here.

When I was with our confirmands, some parents and others, serving at Chapel-on-the-Green in New Haven, on April 8, the organizer used some terms that were new to me.  She described the Chapel-on-the-Green;s community as a spectrum of folks who are "housed,'" "un-housed," and "formerly un-housed."  We were part of that community, along side all other participants.  I found that re-framed perspective helpful.

Also coming up next Saturday, April 28, is the Evening ECW's lunch of soups, breads, fruit and desserts between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.  Be sure and tell your friends and neighbors who might be at the other end of Park Street for the Library's Paperback Book Sale, that a fine lunch awaits them in the Parish Hall!  Free-will donations will support the EECW's Parish Hall projects.  

Our daytime ECW is reprising their "Roses for Mothers" project this year.  Look for announcements and envelopes to honor and remember women who have been important in your life.  Gifts over the past several years funded the new white frontal on the altar.  

Thursdays Bible Study is on its Eastertide journey through the First Epistle of John.  Given John's unwavering belief that "God is love," this should be an entirely lovely journey.  The Rectory Forum and Tuesday Suppers are on their parallel journeys, with the rest of the Episcopal Church, in reading through the Acts of the Apostles, with particular portions read and discussed each week.  So, there's actually no homework required!

Children's Chapel, Sunday School, and the Middle and High School programs will all meet at their usual times and places this Sunday.  These are important Sundays for our Sunday School as they prepare for their Pentecost "Festival" on May 20.

I hope everyone who was on Spring Break this past week had a great time, and that any travels are ending safely!  I look forward to seeing you in on Sunday.

In faith, hope and love,
Harrison+
YFNR

p.s. As I have been writing this, I have been mindful of the funeral for former First Lady Barbara Bush that is happening at the same time in St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas.  With her husband, Mrs. Bush was a regular worshiper and active member of their local parishes in Houston, Kennebunkport, and Washington, D.C.  We will remember her in the Prayers of the People on Sunday.

May your faithful servant rest in peace,
and may light perpetual shine upon her.

Dear Hearts,

This Sunday is sometimes called "Low Sunday" -- implying low-energy and low-expectations.  That certainly does not describe this weekend of worship and service for Christ Church folk!   A real baking production-line process was underway today, as our young folks prepared all sorts of over-the-top desserts for tomorrow's Spaghetti Supper.  They worked under the direction of Sue Shackford with the hands-on assistance of several parents/adult helpers.

While the desserts will be amazing, the entre' will again be just as splendid:  Chef Antonio's Spaghetti with meat balls, will be served by the youth with freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus bread and green salad.  The proceeds from the dinner will support the in-reach and service activities of our Middle School youth including the Acolytes.  The suggested donations are: $12 per adult; $30 for a family of three or more; children age 5 and under, eat for free.  Dinner service will begin at 5 p.m.

Other folks were busy today in our Parish Hall kitchen making a couple hundred (at least) sandwiches for Sunday's Chapel-on-the-(New Haven)-Green.  A combined effort of Youth Confirmation Group members and Outreach-minded adults; we are taking our turn to provide a solid lunch for our neighbors who live on the margins of New Haven's plenty.  Although many participants in Chapel-on-the-Green would never consider entering Trinity Church, they faithfully participate in the weekly "Chapel" services on the Green followed by a lunch provided by a local house of worship. 

On Sunday, folk will depart from Park Street at about 1:10 p.m. with Christ Church's bounty of sandwiches, plus fruit, chips, treats and water.  Once in New Haven, we will help get things in place for the 2 p.m. worship and then lunch; there's clean-up, and return to the Guilford Green by 4 p.m.  Then we'll enjoy sitting down and being served by our Middle-School youngsters at the Spaghetti Supper beginning at 5 p.m.

Also today, Saturday, April 7, a third group of Christ Church folk -- four current and one former Vestry Members -- participated with about 300 other Connecticut Episcopalians from 77 parishes in "Spring Training" in Meriden.  This exceptionally well-organized event offered 30 different workshops on everything from essential nuts-and-bolts of parish management to opportunities for spiritual growth, including "Paint & Play."  I kid you not.   The whole day, bookended in prayer led by Bishop Laura Ahrens, was thoroughly informative and encouraging.  Somehow, that was even true of the truly daunting workshop "Alzheimer's Disease 101" -- one of the three that I attended.  I'd be happy to share what I learned, and I'm sure that's also true for Diane Kyle, Susan Leonard, Rose Robinson and Michael Crossley.

Our experience of the Risen Life continues in worship on this Second Sunday of Easter.  The church smells and looks every bit as "Easter-y" as it did last week thanks to Marsha Brown's careful care for all the lilies, tulips and forsythia.  The story of that first Resurrection day continues with more great Easter hymns.  Although our Choir took a well-earned break from their  rehearsal schedule this week, I've seen messages indicating that many will be in worship at 10 a.m. to support congregational singing.  Be sure thank those who sit near you for their superb musical offerings last Sunday, and if you spot one of the string players, please thank them also.

This week the Rectory Forum will wind up the "Good Book Club's" time with the Gospel according to Luke, and the Spring Salad Seminar will begin its readings from Luke's "other" book in Holy Scripture -- known to us as the Acts of the Apostles.  Some call Acts, the "Gospel of the Holy Spirit."  In Acts, we see Luke tell -- in his own distinctive way --the story of the Spirit continuing to create, guide and empower the early communities of Jesus' followers.  For those following the practice of a daily reading in Acts, Jay Sidenbotham's cartoon poster will be available on Sunday.

Thursdays Bible Study will begin its Eastertide journey through the First Epistle of John.  Given John's unwavering belief that "God is love," this should be an entirely lovely journey.

I look forward to seeing you for worship, service and/or spaghetti this Sunday!
In faith, hope and love,

Harrison+
YFNR

p.s. Last Saturday's yard crew helped clear the Parish grounds of over 10 large bags of wind debris, removing tripping hazards and underscoring our welcome to all who joined us.  With the backyard all tidy, the pops of color provided by the ECW-stuffed Easter eggs, made for quite a festive sight -- and easy pickings for the Sunday School's Easter Egg Hunt.  Your hospitality to our Easter-guests continued with all the tasty treats you shared for a festive Coffee Hour.  Thanks to one and all!