For 6th Sunday after Pentecost, June 28, 2020: Worship in the Garden; Sunday School Video; ''Black Lives Matter" Banner; Virtual Coffee Hour; Tag Sale Donations Suspended; ECW's "Pandemic Food Bank" Project; ECW Gift Card Holders; Sunday Intercessions; W

 Worship in the Garden at 9a.m.:
Last Sunday, fifteen of us gathered with our masks on and at a distance in the garden behind the church for a said-service of Morning Prayer.  It went well; we were well-behaved, everyone respected the protocols, and we'll offer the service again this Sunday. 
As you enter the parish's backyard via the double gates from the Town Hall parking lot; with your mask and lawn chair, find a spot at least six feet from others.  There are the four benches for individuals and couples, and household groups may use a picnic table.  Bulletins, hand sanitizer, and extra masks, will be available on the table as you enter. There's also a touch-less thermometer
For July, this is our only in-person worship offering.  Our Worship Options Group is monitoring state and diocesan recommendations and requirements, as well as our own experience, and will make recommendations to the Vestry regarding worship in August.  The Worship Options Group and the Vestry would welcome your thoughts.  If you send them to me by responding to this email, I promise to pass them along.
Our Comcast Business connection has been installed; no more cables draped across the driveway!  You may have noticed sharper audio and more visual detail.  Our equipment orders have not yet arrived.
 
Sunday School Video:
There was a glitch with the video link Tyler Jarvis sent for this week's Digital Sunday School on Friday.  He sent a fresh one today, Saturday; here it is.  I hope you all will watch it!  As our Director for Children's and Youth Ministries, Tyler provides a fine introduction to the kind of stories that Jesus frequently tells, called "parables," and explains how we might approach this Sunday's parables in at least three different ways.  
As a scholar of Biblical languages, Tyler gives us a Hebrew lesson in his introduction to Psalm 119.  As usual, he poses some great questions for us to ponder, and the coloring pages could be a great meditation for adults, as well as fun for kids.

'Black Lives Matter' Banner:
If you read the Highlights of our Vestry's June meeting, you know that the Vestry discussed and authorized putting up this banner.  I collected it from the printer yesterday, waited out the storm, and will put it up after the sun gets a little lower.  On the top line it reads, 'Black Lives Matter'; the quotation marks are because this is a quotation from a witness given by our Presiding Bishop.  The next lines give Bishop Michael's name and title, and then invite passersby to 'Search "Bishop Curry Speaks at Prayerful Procession"' on their smart phones.  The hope is that folks will hear Bishop Michael on how Jesus calls us to a Beloved Community in which the lives of all God's children matter.  Sadly, events too often demonstrate the opposite -- especially for our brothers and sisters of color.  You don't have to do the search;here's the link. 

Virtual Coffee Hour:
Please join us for Coffee Hour via Zoom this Sunday July 12 at 11:30a.m. by clicking the link here.  This is a new link; please disregard past ones.  And apologies to those who missed out on last week's Coffee Hour because of Zoom issues.
You can also participate by phone at 11:30a.m. Sunday by dialing 646.558.8656.  You'll be asked for the Meeting ID: 871 9427 0261 and Password: 899817..
Tag Sale Donations Suspended:
Our Tag Sale leadership has announced the suspension of receiving donations for the time being.  Current circumstances make scheduling volunteers uncertain at this time.  So, please put your donations aside at home for now.

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. 

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 the 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 nave for worship.  Please reply to this message by 8a.m. Sunday morning.
Our Sunday intercessions, remembrances and thanksgivings will be included in the "Let Us Pray" letter, and remembered again during Wednesday Evening Prayers.

Wednesday Evening Prayers:
Our livestream mid-week evening service of prayer and music continue on Wednesday evenings at 7p.m.  This Wednesday, July 15 doesn't have a Feast Day or special Commemoration connected to it.  If there's an issue or concern around which you would like to have one of these services framed, please respond to this message and let me know.  The environment, healing, mourning, and thanksgiving all occur to me. I'll need to make a decision by Monday afternoon to enable preparation of the online bulletin by Wednesday morning.

Thursday Bible Study meets 9:30-10:30a.m. via Zoom.  We are continuing our study in Genesis of Jacob's story.  We're learning how God can work through the lives of the most unlikely people!.  To join our Zoom 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 our in-person worship remains limited, the full life of the parish continues 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 when you remain safely at home.
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
YFNR