Tyler's Preaching & Digital Sunday School: I promise you that I invited Tyler Jarvis to preach this Sunday without any thought to the appointed readings; given other commitments, it just worked out he was available to preach this Sunday and seemed happy to do so. When I did look at the readings, I realized he was taking on one of the most challenging texts in the Bible! Our Jewish friends call this story, "The Binding of Isaac." Be sure to check out Tyler's video introduction to Digital Sunday School. According to Tyler, God was changing the world with this story. He asks some great questions to get us to fully enter the story, and to think about what God is up to in the world today. I commend this week's Digital Sunday School to all ages. The coloring pages could be a great meditation for adults, as well as fun for kids. This week's Digital Sunday School arrived in my inbox at 12:25pm on Friday. Gratitude for Youth Mission Challenge & Response to Food Drive for Life Haven Shelter: The great response of our young people to the Youth Mission Challenge, and of the rest of the parish to the Food Drive for the Life Haven Shelter, still has me bursting with pride. The Food Drive was fully subscribed on Sunday, and commitments were fulfilled on Monday! You provided groceries for women with small children and pregnant women without secure housing, served by New Haven's Life Haven Shelter. Thank you so much! Over the course of three days our young people, from rising 9th graders to returning collegians, prepared "Welcome Home" baskets for New Reach families setting up housekeeping, worked in Amistad House's Community Garden, and prepared 300 sandwiches, baked brownies, assembled and served sack lunches to folks who depend on the Community Soup Kitchen out of Christ Church, New Haven. All while wearing masks and maintaining appropriate distances. Along the way, we had some fun, learned about these agencies, the work they do, and the people they serve. The leadership of Jen McShane and Page Pelphrey was essential to these challenges. Thanks to them and all who participated! Tag Sale Donations Suspended: Our Tag Sale leadership has announced the suspension of receipt of donations for the time being. Current circumstances make scheduling volunteers uncertain at this time. So, please put your donations aside at home for now. Guilford High School Mascot Discussion: Based on what I saw and learned this week, I think we have good reason to be proud of the work of our Board of Education on the issue of Guilford High School's mascot. The informational Board Meeting on June 22nd with three scholars, offered me all sorts of instructive insights into what I learned to call, "Native Mascotry." I missed the open hearing on June 25th due to another meeting; you can find both via this link. For us, as Christians formed by our Baptismal Covenant (BCP, p.305), it comes down to serving Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves; and striving for justice and peace among all people, and respecting the dignity of every human being. Given the scholars' presentations, it seems to me that the current mascot fails on every count. The scholars also helpfully reminded me of the difference between "intent" and "impact." This is Guilford, and I think it is reasonably safe to assume that those who adopted the native mascot in 1944-45 had only the best of intentions. There's no need to make them "wrong," or to dismiss or demean all the fun and honorable memories attached to the mascot. At the same time, given what is now known, we can recognize its damaging impact and respond accordingly. July 4th & Worship in July: Our Bishops, +Ian Douglas and +Laura Ahrens, are inviting the people of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut to join them in a brief online service of prayer and reflection on the Fourth of July at 9:00 am "as we dedicate ourselves to pursuing genuine freedom and independence for all Americans." More details will be forthcoming. The next day, we will begin what our Bishops might call "a one-month Sunday Worship 'try-on.'" We will offer an in-person, outdoor, Morning Prayer service at 9a.m. beginning July 5, in addition to continuing the 10a.m. Eucharist with Spiritual Communion. Our Worship Options Group will monitor state and diocesan recommendations and requirements, as well as our own experience, and make recommendations to the Vestry regarding worship in August. The July Sunday Morning Prayer services will be in the parish's backyard, accessed by the double gates from the Town Hall parking lot; worshipers will be asked to wear a mask, bring a folding lawn chair, and maintain physical distance. A limited number of chairs will be available Household groups may use a picnic table. These will be "said" services lasting about 30 minutes. Continuing improvements to the livestream broadcast of our services are now on-order. Once installed, this equipment will sharpen our signal, and allow us to livestream on YouTube, as well as Facebook. Copies of Robin D'Angelo's White Fragility are still available on the shelf in the Rectory's entry hall 10a.m.-5p.m., courtesy of our Evening ECW. Reading this book is one answer to the question, What can I do to address white supremacy and anti-black racism? ECW's Drive for Guilford Food Bank: Our ECW ladies have a keen eye for bargains. When they learned that the Guilford Food Bank could turn a $10 gift into $100 retail value of food, they saw that as too good a deal to pass up. So, they've had a "Pandemic Food Bank" project announced in the weekly letter that Diane Link sends to the ECW's mailing list. If you have questions or want to receive this newsletter, you can reach Diane at (203) 458-1806. If you'd like to participate, contributions may be sent directly to ECW treasurer, Rhoda Whitman, 21 Aberdeen Way, Durham, CT 06422. They are also offering the opportunity for donations to be made in memory of someone who has died, regardless of the cause. They have a card to send to the family of the deceased with the donors' name included. ECW Gift CardHolders are still available! ECW's popular gift cardholders, especially for graduation and birthdays, as well as all-occasions, are still available. Please call Diane at the number above to place your order; be sure and tell her about your graduate's school and school colors, or your special occasion. They are still $1.00 each plus $.50 postage per card. Sunday Intercessions: Please continue sending me the people and concerns you would like included in Sunday's Prayers of the People. This request is the online version of the form on which you would note petitions, intercessions and thanksgivings, as you entered the church for worship. Please reply to this message by 8a.m. Sunday morning. Our intercessions, remembrances and thanksgivings will be sent out on Monday with any particulars you'd like to share; so, please be specific about what you're sharing with me, and what you'd like to share with the entire parish. Virtual Coffee Hour: Please join us for Coffee Hour via Zoom this Sunday June 28 at 11:30a.m. by clicking the link here. You can also participate by phone at 11:30a.m. Sunday by dialing 646.558.8656. You'll be asked for the Meeting ID 870 0445 4526, and Password: 160097. Wednesday Evening Prayers: Our livestream mid-week evening service of prayer and music continue on Wednesday evenings at 7p.m. This Wednesday, July 1, is the Commemoration of the Rev. Pauli Murray, activist, attorney, educator, priest and namesake of a new college at Yale University. Our readings, hymns and prayers will celebrate her witness. An online bulletin will be available Wednesday morning. Thursday Bible Study meets 9:30-10:30a.m. via Zoom. We have begun our study in Genesis of Jacob's story. To join our online conversation, click here. Participation by telephone is also possible; I'll send the connection number on request. Thanks to all who are mailing in your offerings! Although we are not meeting together in-person, the life of the parish continues online, in prayer, worship, education and service -- and in all the ways that support and maintain our common life. So, as you are able, in your current financial situation, please continue your financial support of our common life by sending your offerings to Christ Church, PO Box 574, Guilford, CT 06437. Your offering will be presented at the altar; it will be physically present, even while you remain safely at home. In the faith, hope and love of Christ, Harrison+ YFNR
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 For Juneteenth, and 3rd Sunday after Pentecost -- 2020:
...the day when word of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas, the last holdout of slavery over two years after it was announced! We learned about it from fellow Guilford resident Stephanie Little Brown at yesterday's Prayer Vigil on the Green. I found her remarks particularly powerful. My thanks to those of you who participated! Our fellow parishes, Trinity Church and St. Luke's in Haven are joining together today to offer a Juneteenth Evensong at 5:30p.m. streamed online at: https://facebook.com/WhalleyAve . I hope you'll join me for this "service of light and liberation." Our Bishops, +Ian Douglas and +Laura Ahrens, have sent out a special Juneteenth letter with all sorts of information, resources and announcements about upcoming events. You can find it here. Stephanie had mentioned "the clause" in the Emancipation Proclamation, but the full impact didn't sink in until I read our Bishops' letter. I commend it to you. Digital Sunday School: This week Tyler Jarvis, our Director for Children's & Youth Ministry, draws a crucial insight from the otherwise disturbing Old Testament story about Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael, their son: No one, and no creature in all Creation, is beyond God's love and care. I commend Tyler's video to you all, along with all he provides in this week's Digital Sunday School. In addition to his great questions, he's got helpful suggestions about how we can all apply the readings to our daily lives. Youth Mission Challenge, June 22-24: We're offering a daily mission challenge to our young people, rising 9th graders to high school grads. We'll gather with masks, our own water bottles, and maintain distances. Monday's challenge is to prepare "Welcome Home" baskets for New Reach families setting up housekeeping; Tuesday's, to work in the garden of Amistad House in New Haven and prime some boards; and Wednesday's, to prepare 150 sack lunches for folks served by the Community Soup Kitchen out of Christ Church, New Haven. Along the way, we'll have some fun, learn about these agencies, the work they do, and the people they serve. Fuller announcements have been sent to the likely suspects. If somehow, you didn't receive an announcement message from me for your teen, please reply to this letter. Food Drive for Life Haven Shelter: This shelter for women with small children and pregnant women without secure housing is a program of New Haven's New Reach agency. While our young people are collecting items for the children, and for families moving into secure housing of their own, the rest of the parish is invited to help with groceries. Here's a link for more information and the Sign-Up Genius. Middle School Online Game Night - This Tuesday, June 23rd at 7:00 pm, tune in for Middle School Game Night for rising 5th graders - rising 9th graders with Tyler Jarvis! The link is available here. We'll play some Jackbox Games, so make sure you have access to Zoom as well as access to a web browser of some kind (phone, tablet, computer, any is fine). We'll just play games for about an hour and have a good time! July Worship At its June 17th Zoom meeting, our Vestry received a report from our ad-hoc Worship Options Group. After thorough discussion, the Vestry decided that we would add an in-person outdoor Morning Prayer service at 9a.m. beginning July 5, in addition to continuing the 10a.m. Eucharist with Spiritual Communion. The Worship Options Group will monitor state and diocesan recommendations and requirements, as well as our own experience, and make recommendations to the Vestry regarding worship in August. The July Sunday's Morning Prayer services will be in the backyard, accessed by the double gates from the Town Hall parking lot; worshipers will be asked to wear a mask, bring a folding lawn chair, and maintain physical distance. A limited number of chairs will be available Household groups may use a picnic table. These will be "said" services lasting about 30 minutes. The Vestry also authorized the purchase of equipment to continue and enhance livestream broadcasting of our services. Once installed, this equipment will sharpen the visual focus, and allow us to livestream on YouTube, as well as Facebook. Tag Sale Contributions Being Received: Speaking of the Tag Sale, as they announced in the June newsletter that went out on June 6, there will be another Tag Sale, we just don't know when! Contributions are being received during Office Hours, 10am-3pm Tuesday-Thursday, and at other times by arrangement. ECW's Drive for Guilford Food Bank: Our ECW ladies have a keen eye for bargains. When they learned that the Guilford Food Bank could turn a $10 gift into $100 retail value of food, they saw that as too good a deal to pass up. So, they've had a "Pandemic Food Bank" project announced in the weekly letter that Diane Link sends to the ECW's mailing list. If you have questions or want to receive this newsletter, you can reach Diane at (203) 458-1806. If you'd like to participate, contributions may be sent directly to ECW treasurer, Rhoda Whitman, 21 Aberdeen Way, Durham, CT 06422. They are also offering the opportunity for donations to be made in memory of someone who has died regardless of the cause. They have a card that to send to the family of the deceased with the donors' name included. ECW Gift CardHolders are still available! ECW's popular gift cardholders, especially for graduation and all occasions, are still available. Please call Diane at the number above to place your order; be sure and tell her about your graduate's school and school colors, or special occasion. They are still $1.00 each plus $.50 postage per card. Sunday Intercessions: Please continue sending me the people and concerns you would like included in Sunday's Prayers of the People. This request is the online version of the form on which you would note specific people, concerns and thanksgivings as you entered the church for worship. Please reply to this message by 8a.m. Sunday morning. Our intercessions, remembrances and thanksgivings will be sent out on Monday with any particulars you'd like to share; so, please be specific about what you're sharing with me, and what you'd like to share with the entire parish. Virtual Coffee Hour: Please join us for Coffee Hour via Zoom this Sunday June 21 at 11:30a.m. by clicking the link here. You can also participate by phone at 11:30a.m. Sunday by dialing 646.558.8656. You'll be asked for the Meeting ID 870 0445 4526, and Password: 160097. Wednesday Evening Prayers: Our livestream mid-week evening service of prayer and music continue on Wednesday evenings at 7p.m. This Wednesday, June 24, is the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Our readings, hymns and prayers will tell the story of his birth, and celebrate his witness. An online bulletin will be available Wednesday morning. Thursday Morning Bible Study meets 9:30-10:30a.m. via Zoom. Having completed our study of Romans, participants opted for a season with the Old Testament -- specifically starting with the story of Jacob. our online conversation: click here: Participation by telephone is also possible; I'll send the connection number on request. Thanks to all who are mailing in your offerings! Although we are not meeting together in-person, the life of the parish continues online, in prayer, worship, education and service -- and in all the ways that support and maintain our common life. So, as you are able, in your current financial situation, please continue your financial support of our common life by sending your offerings to Christ Church, PO Box 574, Guilford, CT 06437. Your offering will be presented at the altar; it will be physically present, even while you remain safely at home. In the faith, hope and love of Christ, Harrison+ YFNR p.s. Oh yes, about our like-you-were-there livestream signal: As reported last week, we are changing our internet service provider. Currently on Sunday mornings, and Wednesday evenings, you can see a cable emerging from YFNR's den window, sneaking across the driveway and into the church. A more permanent and settled connection with Comcast's larger available broadband is on order. Thank you so much for your perseverance and patience!!  June 9, 2020
Almighty and eternal God, you have revealed yourself as Father, Son and Holy Spirit, and live and reign in the perfect unity of love: hold us firmly in this faith, that we may know you in all your ways and evermore rejoice in your eternal glory, who are three Persons yet one God, now and for ever. Amen. Common Worship, p.407 Dear Hearts, For me, one of the joys of being an Episcopalian, is that at its best, our Anglican tradition addresses complex theological issues with poetry. The prayer above is an example. It comes from the latest Alternative Services Book the Church of England; we prayed it on Sunday as our postcommunion prayer. Instead of jumping through hoops about the three-ness and the one-ness, the prayer acknowledges God's own self-revelation and divine community of love; we pray that we may have grace to recognize the ways God's at work, and rejoice in our abiding fellowship with God's eternal glory. Tthat works just splendidly for me. Our prayers are specifically asked for ---- All who are ill or in distress including: Shelley T -- facing surgery this week, Joan G -- at home with her daughter; Lois C -- out of the hospital but not yet home; Gabrielle and Robin -- at home, Dale & Michelle -- with the virus, Lisa and Matthew -- at home; thanksgivings for progress of 3 month-old Winnie Z who has finally joined her parents at home, and for all facing financial hardship because of the pandemic. May they all know the healing power of Christ's presence and love. For the repose of Stephen Kozlowski at 101, among the over 113,000 of our fellow citizens who have died of the Covid-19 virus; and for George Floyd, Jose Soto, Breonna Taylor, David McAtee, and too many others who died at the hands of those sworn to protect them, and for Ahmaud Arbery, at the hands of vigilantees: Remember your servants, O Lord, according to the favor you bear unto all your children, may they go from strength to strength in their Risen Life of perfect freedom. Deal graciously with all who mourn, may they know the consolation of your love. Thanksgivings for the 49th wedding anniversary of Rhoda & Paul W May your peace which passes all understanding abide with them all the days of their lives. Please continue to hold in prayer: Hildy J, Bernie and family, Susie & Paul, Gail B, Pam McG, Julie H, Annie & Jim, Sandy G., Murray E., Brooke & family, Kate S., Tracy M., Carl, Michael S, Joanne N-R, Dave K, Madeline H, Kelly G, Paul D, Lois S, Bob vM. Also: Susan S, Margaret S, Linda B, June C, Charlie K, Anne C, Mark S, Angela G, Maria, Bob, Olivia, Lois T, and Jo B. Please also remember: St. Luke’s School & Church in Martel (Haiti). To add names and concerns for next Sunday's intercessions, and this "Let Us Pray" letter, please send them to YFNR at [email protected] with any details you care to share. Names will then move to the "continuing" list for 30 days, and the longer term list upon request. Town Hall with Bishop Douglas and Bishop Ahrens, South Central Region Missionary George Black, and South Central Region Leadership Team TODAY, the 9th of June for a one-hour conversation to explore what are we learning and what is God saying to us during this pandemic? This conversation will take place from 2pm to 3pm. All are welcome. No registration required. Zoom link HERE. Congrats for Quick Lunch Sign-up: Wow, I am so impressed and grateful! On Saturday, the Sign-up Genius was announced in the June Newsletter, for this Thursday's lunch for Amistad House in New Haven. By Monday evening, it was fully subscribed! Hurray, and thanks so much! Thanks also to Jen McShane for organizing, and to Donna LaFata for posting the Sign-Up. Update on Worship Livestream: Thanks to all of you who described your experience of Sunday's livestream beyond merely, Frustrating in the extreme! Mark Sullivan and I collected your responses (In sum: improved audio, but fuzzy video that frequently froze leaving out parts of the service; he used them to pointedly describe our predicament to Frontier, our internet service provider. Their tech identified the issue, recommended a "fix," and are scheduled to be here Wednesday morning to implement it. Fingers crossed! Thanks again for perseverance and patience throughout this maddening process. Please Ignore Online Poseur: Please do not respond to any email with my name coming from any email address other than this one[email protected]. There's another one out there using my name, but not my address! Instead of responding, please "block" it, and report it as SPAM, and fraud. Some poor schmuck needs to find a better use for their energy. Given all that currently divides our nation, I'd like to suggest we pray the following For the Human Family: O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us: unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth, that in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, p. 815 In the faith, hope and love of Christ, Harrison+ YFNR p.s. Please do remember that copies of White Fragility, by Robin Diangelo are available on the shelf in the Rectory entry hall, 10a.m.-5p.m. (and other times by arrangement), courtesy of our Evening ECW.  Dear Hearts,
In these times, God’s Spirit is empowering us for worship, witness and service in challenging, and unfamiliar ways, as we continue to seek to be faithful to Jesus’ call to love God by loving our neighbors and ourselves. (Okay, you got me; yes, Moses wrote it first (Lev.19.18)) Presiding Bishop Michael Curry spoke eloquently to this on the Today show; watch it here. In this newsletter, you’ll find reports about how we did this in May and about opportunities ahead of us in June. There’s a lot here; please read it all, including the Vestry highlights. As strongly urged by our Bishops, we are continuing to offer worship only via livestream through June 20. At its June meeting, your Vestry will consider options for proceeding in Connecticut’s Phase 2. My hunch is that whatever we decide upon, we will continue to offer worship participation via livestream, and that our first in-person offering may be an outdoor service in the parish’s own backyard. Please send me any thoughts you have about these next-steps, and I’ll share them with the group developing options for the Vestry to consider. We are also continuing to explore enhancements to our livestreaming. On June 7, I expect we will begin relying upon a hard-wired ethernet connection directly to the internet; this should diminish the impact of the Town’s broadcast tower next door on our signal. To make this connection, picture Mark Sullivan and me crawling with cable through the undercroft. Our concerns related to the COVID-19 pandemic, its economic impact, and growing awareness of the racial disparities, now share headline space with police brutality against people of color, and now protestors. We are so far from the Beloved Community to which Jesus calls us! Whatever else may be true, George Floyd, Jose Soto, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, David McIntee, and the 75-year old peaceful protestor pushed to the ground in Buffalo, are all our neighbors. They deserved to be treated as neighbors, not as enemies. Our Evening ECW is offering to share copies of White Fragility at no charge. Please read the notice below, and check out this interview with the author in the Washington Post. The Episcopal Church provides these resources for Living the Way of Love during the Pandemic. And Responding to Racial Violence. The latter is rather overwhelming; you might begin with Bishop Michael’s Word-to-the-Church, “When the Cameras are Gone, We’ll Still Be Here.” The purple flags are gone from the Green and from the front of our buildings; this year they celebrated with our gratitude to first-responders and essential workers in medicine, law enforcement, grocery, pharmacy and hardware stores, delivery drivers and warehouse workers, etc. The next color is Orange. The Wear Orange movement remembers a young Chicago African American woman, Hadiya Pendleton who was killed by gun violence in 2013 just weeks after participating in a presidential inaugural parade, and invites us all to respond to another epidemic – that of gun violence, which has increased in domestic situations and suicide during the pandemic. www.WearOrange.org I hope this finds you well, staying safe, saying your prayers, and washing your hands often! In the faith, hope and love of Christ, Harrison+ Into thy hands, O merciful Lord, we commend thy children
who have died during this viral pandemic, beseeching thee that they may be precious in thy sight. Wash them, we pray thee, that the disease that claimed their earthly lives being purged and done away, they may be presented pure and without spot before thee; through the merits of Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord. Amen. Book of Common Prayer, p.488 adapted. Dear Hearts, Our Presiding Bishop and over 100 leaders of an interfaith spectrum of traditions, together with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, representing 1,400 mayors across the country, called for our nation to come together today in a National Day of Mourning & Lament for those who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bishop Michael said, “I encourage Episcopalians to join with other people of faith ... to grieve and honor those who have died from COVID-19, Let this tragic moment not pass without us honoring the many among us who have lost their lives or lost their loved ones and commending them and ourselves to God’s love and peace.” On Sunday, May 24, Bishop Michael preached for "A Time to Mourn, An Ecumenical Memorial Service for Lives Lost to COVID-19." I commend his sermon to you; find it here at about minute 36. He invites us to paraphrase Jesus' last words from the cross, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit," and to commend and commit ourselves and those we love to God's Spirit. Our prayers are specifically asked for ---- All who are ill or in distress including: Hildy J -- in great weakness Bernie A and family, Gail B -- with the virus, Sudie's parents Susie & Paul B, Joan G -- at home with her daughter; Lois C -- out of the hospital but not yet home; Gabrielle and Robin -- at home, Dale & Michelle -- with the virus, Lisa and Matthew -- at home; and for all facing financial hardship because of the pandemic. May they all know the healing power of Christ's presence and love. For the repose of over 104,000 of our fellow citizens who have died of the Covid-19 virus; and for George Floyd, Jose Soto, and Breonna Taylor who died at the hands of those sworn to protect them, and for Ahmaud Arbery who died at the hands of men who took the law into their own hands: Remember your servants, O Lord, according to the favor you bear unto all your children, may they go from strength to strength in their Risen Life of perfect freedom. Deal graciously with all who mourn, may they know the consolation of your love. Thanksgivings as we join together to celebrate the birthdays of Alicia B, Jen McS, Jim R and Chris R May your peace which passes all understanding abide with them all the days of their lives. Please continue to hold in prayer: Pam McG, Julie H, Annie & Jim, Sandy G., Murray E., Brooke & family, Kate S., Tracy M., Carl, Winnie Z, Michael S, Joanne N-R, Dave K, Madeline H, Kelly G, Paul D, Lois S, Bob vM. Also: Susan S, Margaret S, Linda B, June C, Charlie K, Anne C, Mark S, Angela G, Maria, Bob, Olivia, Lois T, and Jo B. Please also remember: St. Luke’s School & Church in Martel (Haiti). To add names and concerns for next Sunday's intercessions, and this "Let Us Pray" letter, please send them to YFNR at [email protected] with any details you care to share. Names will then move to the "continuing" list for 30 days, and the longer term list upon request. Attention High School Seniors: For the 12th consecutive year, our ECW is pleased to offer a scholarship to Christ Church's high school graduating seniors. The requirements needed to apply are: 1) You must be an active member of Christ Episcopal Church; 2) You have already been accepted at a school of higher learning, either academic or technical.. If interested in applying, please send an e-mail letter to Ms. Jean [email protected] Your letter should include all your Christ Church activities, the school to which you have been accepted and your future aspirations. Today, Monday, June 1, 2020, is the deadline! ECW will then confer together and announce recipient (s) shortly thereafter. About Jose Soto: In our Bishops letter, which I read in yesterday's sermon, they included "Jose Soto in Connecticut" among those whose deaths are "tragic and inexcusable." During our virtual Coffee Hour, folks asked about him; his death in Manchester, CT on April 2 has not received much attention in this part of the state. You can read our Bishops' letter here, and read the Hartford Courant's account of his death here. His is a story that could have come from Jen McShane's documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops. His is the story of an abused young man who did not receive the mental health care he needed, whose acting-out behavior brought him into confrontations with police ill-equipped to deal with someone having a mental health crisis, and who, as in Jen's film, was shot to death when he came to the door of his mother's home to give himself up. Our Bishops prefaced their letter with this prayer: God, who can turn our worries into wings of joys and our sorrows into songs of thanks, let not our hearts be so troubled by the tragedies of this life‘s moment that we lose sight of the eternal life in your kingdom. Give comfort and solace to our companions who suffer almost unbearable losses every second, minute, and hour in our nation and world. Strengthen our resolve to replace hatred with love, tension with trust, and selfishness with caring and community. Heal, O God, all your children so that those who hate and those who are hated, those who hurt and those who are hurt, may grow up in an America and in a world of peace, opportunity, and justice. Amen. from Marian Wright Edelman, Guide My Feet, Prayers and Meditations for Our Children, p. 142 (modified) In the faith, hope and love of Christ, Harrison+ YFNR p.s.Reminders for Christ Church's online worship:
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