 Dear Hearts,
On Sunday, our Sunday School gave us a preview of their Nativity Pageant by singing "Mary's Song," and it was splendid! They have been rehearsing during class-time and had a big rehearsal/costume fitting last Saturday morning, The Youth Ensemble of violins, cellos and alto saxophone have also been rehearsing; what a joyful combination!. There's something special about celebrating the birth of Jesus as told, sung and accompanied by our youngsters. The Nativity Pageant Service begins our Christmas celebrations at 4:30p.m. on December 24. I have just come from our Choir's rehearsal, and they are also preparing music that will inspire. Indeed, the music has inspired more singers to join them in the choir loft. Together, they will lead the singing at our 10p.m.Candlelight Service. (Don't worry, there will be plenty of light for you to read your part!) On Christmas Day, our 10a.m. service will continue our celebration with organ, carols and soprano solo. But Christmas will not be unwrapped yet! Not by a long shot! So, on Sunday, December 27, we will hear a sweep of five Christmas readings before communion at 8a.m., and add as many carols to the readings at the 10a.m. service. As noted in the Book of Occasional Services, "A sermon is not traditionally part of this service." (Hurray!) Following the 10a.m. service, a festive Coffee Hour is planned; please bring a treat to share! Christmas is an occasion for all of us to be certain that everyone who worships with us experiences the hospitality of the Kingdom of God. Remember, St. Paul call us all "ambassadors." Perhaps there is someone you know, a family member, neighbor or friend, who has said,"Gosh, I'd like to come, but I wouldn't want to take someone else's seat." Please tell them, there's plenty of room in the stable with Jesus, Mary & Joseph, the shepherds, and the rest of us! Or perhaps, that family member, neighbor or friend, may say, "I just don't think I would feel like I belong." Please tell them, the point of Jesus' Birth is to make it clear to the unlovely -- that would be us humans -- that God loved us enough to become one of us. Or, since I won't be quoting Phillips Brooks in a Christmas sermon this year, you might share this bit from the 19th century preacher who also wrote, "O Little Town of Bethlehem:" O my dear friends, if your lives are hampered and held down by any self-contempt, by any feeling that human life is low, that to be human is to be something narrow, dry and barren; if any such thought is keeping you from doing broad justice to your selves and to your neighbors, cast it aside this Christmas..... Let the Incarnation with all its inspirations ... possess and fill your life. To which I can only say, AMEN. In their Christmas Letter, our Bishops, +Ian Douglas, and +Laura Ahrens, do not use the term "broad justice," but they do write about Jesus modelling for us a "compassionate way." Jesus' way of compassion provides an alternative to the darkness gripping so many headlines, and they invite us to respond in "real and tangible ways." Merry Christmas to one and all! In faith and hope, Harrison+ YFNR P.S. Our Mitten Tree provides another way for us to do "broad justice" to our neighbors. Please help decorate the Tree with new, or as-good-as-new, gloves, scarves, hats and/or coats. Thank you for the thoughtfulness and care already on display! The Mitten Tree will remain up through Sunday, January 3; your gifts will go to the Guilford Food Bank for distribution.
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 Dear Hearts,
When fuel costs were spiraling ever upwards, Christ Church re-focused our "Angels Under the Balcony" gift program on an even older parish tradition: helping our neighbors-in-need stay warm through the cold days of winter. This effort began in the 19th century when Julia Leete Newhall made it possible for the Rector to buy coal, oil or wood to heat the homes of "widows of good character(!)" As the Town grew and my predecessors could no longer vouch for those of good character, this endeavor was entrusted to Social Services and became the foundation of the Town's Fuel Assistance Program. This Sunday, December 20, we will continue Miss Julia's good work with a special offering. Please make checks out to Christ Church with "Fuel" in the memo line. Although fuel prices have moderated and winter is yet to arrive -- officially or literally, there are surely colder days ahead, and we want our neighbors to be warm at home! Our Mitten Tree provides another way for us to serve as "Angels Under the Balcony: and help our neighbors keep warm. Please help decorate the Tree with new, or as-good-as-new, gloves, scarves, hats and/or coats. The first "decorations" last Sunday prompt a big smile and chuckle with their whimsey and joy. Thank you for the thoughtfulness and care already on display! The Mitten Tree will remain up through Sunday, January 3; your gifts will go to the Guilford Food Bank for distribution. The topics of Angels-Under-the-Balcony and Miss Julia, inspire me to remind you of two of her other good works. The Rector's Discretionary Fund still receives the income on a $1,000 note that she gave. That income, plus honoraria from officiating at special services, allows me to respond in the name of Christ Church to needs and opportunities beyond the parish budget, including help with rent, utilities, and other pastoral emergencies, and to offer gifts in gratitude to parish volunteers and staff. Although this Fund is audited, the recipients remain confidential. Miss Julia also gave the Rectors of Christ Church the wherewithal to assist folks who need help with expenses at Yale-New Haven Hospital. She did this by donating her "Bed Fund" to the care of Christ Church clergy. To capitalize the hospital, people purchased the right to a bed (sort of like buying a timeshare); purchasers often entrusted the rights to these Bed Funds to their parish clergy in their estates. Some parishes have many such funds; some have none; Christ Church has Miss Julia's. So, because of her generosity, I am the latest rector who is able to "nominate" individuals to benefit from MIss Julia's Bed Fund. When I don't have a nominee, an Ecumenical Bed Fund Committee, of which I am a member, approves nominations made by the hospital itself. Other Advent preparations continue this Saturday & Sunday:
By definition Advent is a season of preparation: We are preparing the way for the birth of God's love, and keenly mindful of all of God's gifts to us. God's generosity inspires our own giving. Your generous response will help your parish continue to serve as a beacon for the light of Christ to us, and to the world around us. In the words of this Sunday's Collect, may the process of making your pledge for 2016 be part of your Advent so "...that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find in us a mansion prepared for himself." Miss Julia would expect, and do, no less! In faith and hope, Harrison+ YFNR P.S. A December/January issue of "Glad Tidings Online," is now available. In it you'll find information about our Daytime and Evening ECWs, Reports on our diocesan convention from our delegates Jean Valentine and Caroline Herrick, and terrific photos of acolytes at "work."  Dear Hearts,
In this Sunday's reading from the Gospel according to Luke, John the Baptist is asked, "What then should we do?" He replies they need to "bear good fruit" -- that those who have coats and food need to share them with those who don't. His words remind me of two Advent traditions at Christ Church; both traditions seek to keep our neighbors warm during the coming winter:
Our Bishops, +Ian Douglas and +Laura Ahrens, have invited us to use a Litany written for this year's Sabbath by the Bishop of Maine, +Stephen Lee. It will serve as our Prayers of the People at both services on Sunday, and as a devotion following the tolling of the Tower bell at noon on Monday. If you would care to join in tolling on Monday, please gather in the Tower at noon; we will toll the bell 28 times to remember all who were killed by gun violence in Newtown on December 14 three years ago. Other Advent traditions continue this Sunday:
In faith and hope, Harrison+ YFNR P.S. A December/January issue of "Glad Tidings Online," is now available. In it you'll find information about our Daytime and Evening ECWs, Reports on our diocesan convention from our delegates Jean Valentine and Caroline Herrick, and terrific photos of acolytes at "work."  December 6, 2015 Dear Hearts, We are living in darkening times: As we lose almost a minute of light each day, darkened hours outnumber daylight by almost three hours. And then there is the darkness of a world plagued by warfare, gun violence and injustice. In the face of that darkness, and with the rest of Guilford, Christ Church threw a party on Friday evening. You welcomed folks with hot chocolate, a delightful chili supper, the ECW's tasty cookies, and Santa's tempting Gift Shoppe. Beautiful wreaths were displayed, but they had all been pre-sold! Then you invited the community into the church for fun with "sFOURzando's" many hands at the piano! As the days continue to grow shorter, we light the second Advent wreath candle this Sunday. The children will begin their pageant preparations during Sunday School. And Sunday evening at 6p.m., our Choir will lead us in an Advent Festival of Song and Sacred Story. In less than an hour, we will travel through the weeks of Advent to the coming of the One who is the Light of the World. With special guests joining the Choir, we will be inspired by beauty as well as faith and hope. The Advent themes of Faith and Hope take on special importance through the world's gathering darkness. As we are assaulted by news of shootings in California, Colorado, France, Oregon, Tennessee and South Carolina -- to name just seven of this year's many more such tragedies, our Faith helps us keep our "shape," by recalling who and whose we are, and that we are called to work for justice and peace, not revenge. Our Hope helps us keep our eyes focused on the future to which God calls us and all of God's children -- reconciled to God and restored to relationship with one another. Our Bishops, +Ian Douglas and +Laura Ahrens, responded to the shootings in San Bernadino by renewing their invitation for all parishes to participate in next weekend's Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath. You can read their message here. Your Vestry had already given me the go-ahead to include Christ Church of parishes participating in prayer and remembrance. On Monday, December 14, the third anniversary of the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, our tower bell will toll 28 times at noon. "...give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and to put on the armor of light..." In faith and hope, Harrison+ YFNR P.S. A December/January issue of "Glad Tidings Online," is now available. In it you'll find information about our Daytime and Evening ECWs, Reports on our diocesan convention from our delegates Jean Valentine and Caroline Herrick, and terrific photos of acolytes at "work.". |
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