 June 22, 2019
Dear Hearts, Jeremiah Mead will offer a recital of works for pipe organ by Bach, Buxtehude, Vierne, and Langlais at 4p.m. on Sunday, June 23. Jerry, a native of Madison CT, has finished his second year at The Julliard School in NYC, and practices on our instrument while at home. So, he offers this recital again at no charge. Now that windows are open, I enjoy listening to him practice. This Sunday afternoon, you too can enjoy his expanding organ repertoire. Vacation Bible School begins Monday morning June 24 at 9a.m. and continues 9a.m.-Noon through Friday, June 28. There'll be Bible stories and related crafts, songs, playtime, and of course, snacks! The code words for the week are Faith, Boldness, Kindness, Thankfulness & Hope; the password is Ep3-20("Glory to God whose power working in us can do infinitely more than we can ask or imagine."); and there'll be some fun facts about Mars to share as well! Registrations are still being received: Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to register. Thanks to Page Pelphrey and Donna LaFata for leading our VBS! Mark Sullivan will lead the music segment, and I'll be around to greet, pray, and generally help-out. Our Pentecost celebrations were pretty terrific, thanks to the efforts of Susan Leonard and her InReach Team including Senior Warden Rose Robinson. Grillmasters David Jones and Annie Rae kept the hamburgers and hot dogs coming; Soundmaster Chris Robinson assembled an outdoor system for music and announcements; and you all came through with some terrific southern side dishes and desserts. This was all to celebratePat Wakefield's 21 years of faithful ministry with us, to say thank you and send Pat & Curtiss on their way with our blessings. The shadow over the morning was the sudden decline in the health of Pat's father. As you probably heard or read, Charles Gunn did die later that week. This had been a long good-bye for Charlie and his family, and he was receiving hospice-care. His obituary is available here. May he rest in peace, and light perpetual shine upon him. On Friday of this week, Page Pelphrey and her charges -- including Keelyn E -- will pack up the supplies they've been gathering for Vacation Bible School in the Dominican Republic. They'll leave a week from today. So, one last time, here's a list of needed supplies: Children's scissors Sticker name tags Glue-sticks Frizbees Index cards Gallon zip-lock bags Construction paper Feathers Beads Cupcake liners Bubbles and bubble wands As you may have surmised, I have indeed returned from the Holy Land Pilgrimage of the Episcopal Church in CT. It was a terrific experience, and Jack-the-dog had a great time at his resort; but we are both glad to be sleeping in our own beds again. Thanks to Mark Sullivan, Sheward Hagerty and others for checking voice and email messages, and handling building access. Thanks also to the Rev. Mary Anne Osborn for serving as your celebrant and preacher on June 16. There will be other times and places for me to share the experience of this pilgrimage to Israel/Palestine. At this point, I need to finish labeling my photos while the memories are still fresh. One thing I will say is that it was a real privilege to worship last Sunday with the people of Christ Church (Episcopal) in Nazareth. Although it was Trinity Sunday, it was like Pentecost all over again: we worshiped in Arabic, English and Japanese. There were pilgrims from Delaware, North Carolina and the Anglican Church of Japan (properly called the Nippon Seiko Kai). We also met the Episcopal Archbishop of Jerusalem, and visited one of the Diocese's 16 institutions for healing and learning. We can be very proud of the Episcopal witness in our Holy Land. Because of our Vacation Bible School this week, please don't expect voice and e-mail messages to be returned until the afternoon. Please do be in touch if you would like to participate in a carpool for the Deacons' Ordination service at Christ Church Cathedral, in Hartford on Saturday, June 29 at 3p.m. Our deacon-intern Felix Rivera will be among the ordinands. Parking will be available, across the street, in the Hartford Stage garage. The Cathedral validates tickets. In the meantime, I look forward to sharing tomorrow's worship and recital with you all.. In faith, hope, and love, Harrison+ YFNR
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 June 8, 2019
Dear Hearts, Yesterday evening I accompanied a group of our youngsters, and chaperones, to a Shabbat (Sabbath) service at Temple Beth Tikvah in Madison. We were welcomed very graciously to their pre-service "Oneg" (reception) that featured sung blessings of bread and wine by a young woman whose Bat Mitzvah is today. Near the close of the service, Rabbi Stacy Offner explained that they were nearing the end of an important "counting season:" they were counting the 50 days between Passover and Shavuot -- the meal that protected ancient Israel from the destroyer, leading to their freedom from Pharaoh's bonds, and the Israelite's arrival at the foot of Mt. Sinai and receiving the Torah (first five books of the Bible). I hope the connections to the Christian feasts of Easter and Pentecost are ringing in your minds. During Passover, "Christ our Passover was sacrificed for us" on Good Friday and then raised on Easter to new life, freeing us from the bonds of sin and death. We have also been counting the days and weeks of Eastertide; this Sunday will be the 50th day, i.e. Pentecost in Greek. Pentecost gained new meaning for Christians with the gift of the Holy Spirit that, just as Jesus had promised, came upon his friends, sending them into the streets to boldly proclaim God's love for peoples of "every language, tribe, and nation." Because the Holy Spirit came in a form "something like" wind and flame, it has become something of a tradition for us to wear red or orange on Pentecost. Of course, wearing orange has also taken on the added meaning of working to prevent gun violence -- seems like an activity of the Holy Spirit to me! Our Pentecost celebration will send us spilling out into the parish's backyard for our Annual Parish Picnic and to celebrate Pat Wakefield's 21 years of faithful ministry with us. As with all of our picnics, there will be the usual hot dogs and hamburgers, but also -- to honor Pat & Curtiss's new home in South Carolina -- there will be southern fried chicken and a potluck of southern side dishes and desserts that you all provide. This is my excuse to get out a favorite squash casserole recipe that I haven't made since I left Chattanooga In addition to eating well and enjoying each other's company, we will take a few moments to thank Pat for her pivotal role supporting the worship, witness and fellowship of Christ Church over all these years. She has been our in-house institutional memory, and the always cheerful voice answering the phone. There will also be a few gifts to present including a generous "purse" which we are funding together. Additional donations have been arriving all week, and the "Thanks & Farewell" envelopes for Pat are still available on the Ushers' Table; Please make your checks out to Christ Church with "Thanks Pat!" on the memo line. This Sunday will also be the final sessions for our Sunday's 2018-19 academic year. Special thanks to our teachers, mentors and subs Donna LaFata, Becky Patino, Stephanie Hutchinson, Melissa Perez and Page Pelphrey! You've provided a wonderful year of welcome, community and learning to support our children's growth in the love and knowledge of our Lord! Although Sunday School is concluding its season, Vacation Bible School isn't that far off! June 24-28 There'll be Bible stories and related crafts, songs, playtime, and of course, snacks! The code words for the week are Faith, Boldness, Kindness, Thankfulness & Hope with some fun facts about Mars to share as well! Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page to register. In addition to her ministry with our middle-school youngsters, Page Pelphrey also helps lead youth from Connecticut in offering Vacation Bible School in the Dominican Republic. Here's the list of items needed for the DR Vacation Bible School: Children's scissors Sticker name tags Glue-sticks Frizbees Index cards Gallon zip-lock bags Construction paper Feathers Beads Cupcake liners Bubbles and bubble wands Thanks to our Synagogue chaperones Donna & Anthony LaFata, Page Pelphrey, and Rebecca Evans. A heads-up regarding the Parish Office June 10-20. I'll be participating in the Holy Land Pilgrimage of the Episcopal Church in CT, and Jack-the-dog will be at his doggie resort. Mark Sullivan and other volunteers will be checking voice mail and email messages. Please coordinate access to the building with Mark Sullivan (MarkCEC@snet.net). Please welcome the Rev. Mary Anne Osborn as your celebrant and preacher on June 16. Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding during my absence. In the meantime, I look forward to joining with you tomorrow to celebrate Pentecost and to express our gratitude and farewells to Pat Wakefield! With the Spirit's faith, hope, and love, Harrison+ YFNR p.s. Last Sunday, my sermon included a quotation from Martin Luther King Jr.s' "Letter from Birmingham Jail." I nailed it at 8a.m., but fumbled it at 10a.m. Here it is,"Injustice anywhere threatens justice everywhere." |
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