Christmas Lessons & Carols on Sunday; Gratitude

1st Sunday of Christmas, December 27, 2020

Christmas Lessons & Carols:  Join fellow Christians across the Episcopal Church in Connecticut to share in this online Festival service at 10a.m., Sunday, December 27.  Both the service itself and the service bulletin are available here.  By design, this will be our Sunday 10a.m. service.  In addition to readings and carols, the service will include a sermon by the Rev. Canon Timothy Hodapp, and Spiritual Communion.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Christmas Address, "Joy to the World," is available here in both text and video forms.  I commend it to you.

Gratitude for Christmas Worship:  Many thanks to all who made our Nativity Pageant such a delight! 
Nativity Pageant participants:   Natalie Bryan, Lilliana Cripe, Danny DiNardo, Matthew DiNardo, Hailey Hutchison, Anthony (AJ) LaFata, Aleah LaFata, Austin LaFata, Avery LaFata, Kenneth Pelphry, Annora Pierpont, Ben Singh, Ginny Singh, Naomi Singh.
Musicians:  Carter Bryan, Kayla Bryan, Natalie Bryan, Olivia Ste. Marie, Jack Trotter, RT Trotter
Special thanks to all the parents, to Tyler Jarvis, our Director of Children & Youth Ministries, to Susannah Bryan who helped coordinate the music, and to Music Director Mark Sullivan who assembled the service for us to view. 
The Pageant remains available for viewing on YouTube and Facebook.  I've watched it three times myself, and needed a handerkerchief each time.
Thanks to Marsha Brown's efforts, the chancel was decked out in Christmas beauty.
You can appreciate her good works and be inspired again by the harp, vocal, violin and organ music of the Christmas Eve Candlelight service and Christmas Day service here and here.   

Mitten Tree:   Our Mitten Tree continues to be "decorated" with mittens, gloves, scarves and caps.  These will be shared with our neighbors served by the Chapel-on-the-Green in New Haven.
You're welcome to place your "decorations" on the Tree between 10a.m. and 3p.m. daily during Christmastide, entering via the door closest to the Guild Room.  While you're there, please feel free to enjoy a quiet moment alone in the church. 

"Angels-under-the-Balcony"-reminders are hanging on the Mitten Tree this year.  As you are able, please consider an "Angelic" gift to help keep our neighbors warm this winter.  Checks may be made out to Christ Church with "Angel" or "Heating Assistance" on the memo line.  You could leave your gift on the altar, the shelf in the Rectory entry hall or mail it to the Parish Office.  Thank you for participating in these caring traditions.

Our Prayers in the Garden service will not meet due to the cold again this Sunday, December 27.

Digital Sunday School is taking a holiday break.  Look for it to return for January 10.

Virtual Coffee Hour... is a great opportunity to "see" one another.  The link to YFNR's Personal Zoom Room seems to work well.  So, join the conversation via Zoom this Sunday, December 27 at 11:30a.m. by clicking this link.  If asked, the  Meeting ID: 540 197 1077, and Passcode: 1744AD

Intercessory Prayer: Please send the people and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People. by replying to these announcements or the "Let us pray" message.  Please consider this the digital version of the clip board on which names and concerns are written when we gather for worship in the nave. 

Order for the Evening on Wednesday:  We'll transfer the Feast of the Holy Innocents, one day later, to Wednesday, December 20.  The livestream service begins before 7p.m. 

Thursday Bible Study has concluded our study of the sagas of Jacob and Joseph.  We'll re-gather on December 31 to read in Exodus about the pharaoh who "did not know Joseph."  Join the hour-long conversation, at 9:30a.m. Thursday via Zoom.

Estimate of Giving Cards:
Thanks so much to all who have responded with their Estimate of Giving for our operating budget in 2021!  If you need a card, please respond to this message, and one will be in the mail posthaste!

Thanks to all who are mailing in your offerings!  
Although our in-person connections remain severely limited, the routine of the parish continues amidst all the ways that support and maintain our common life.  Thanks so much, for your faithfulness in fulfilling your giving estimate for 2020.  Please continue your financial support of our common life by bringing your offering to the altar, or the parish office, or by mailing to Christ Church, PO Box 574, Guilford, CT 06437.  Your offering will be presented at the altar; it will be physically present, as you remain safely at home.
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
YFNR