Fr. Harrison's Letter for April 29, 2018

Dear Hearts,

Saturday, April 28, will be a busy day along Park Street.  Our Evening ECW understands that when there is a Book Sale at the Library, folks expect something to be happening at Christ Church.  So, be sure your friends and neighbors know about the Evening ECW's lunch of soups, breads, fruit and desserts between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; it will coincide with the Friends of the Library's Paperback Book Sale.  This fine lunch will raise funds to support the EECW's Parish Hall projects from free-will donations. 

Beginning Saturday evening, our confirmands and YFNR will be participating in The Big Sleep Out on the Guilford Green.  The evening begins with registration at 5:30 p.m. and the Opening at 6 p.m.  During the course of the evening, we will be learning together about the lives of folks who find themselves "homeless." Our own Bobbi Stuart will help lead a workshop on the "Economics of Homelessness" -- how just a few bad breaks and/or poor choices can render a person, or a family, homeless.  This and other presentations, and a shelter-style supper, will fill the evening, before lights out, in a fenced area, on the Green at 10:30 p.m.; wake-up, clean-up and clear-out will be by 7:30 a.m., Sunday morning.

Although organized primarily by and for young folk, it is open to all ages. The Big Sleep Out came together under the auspices of Columbus House, a major support for homeless folk, and those on the margins of homelessness, in New Haven and beyond.  More information is available by clicking here.

Our daytime ECW is reprising their annual "Roses for Mothers" project.  Look for announcements and envelopes to honor and remember women who have been important in your life on the Ushers' table.  Sunday School children have received, and will receive, "Roses for Mommy" announcements.  Gifts over the past several years funded the new white frontal on the altar.  

The Rev.s Rachel Field and Rachel Thomas, the Episcopal Church in CT missionaries for the Southeast and South Central Regions, are offering "Hiking with the Rachels" on the Westwoods Trail, Monday, April 30, beginning at 10 am.  Look for them in the Parking Area in the 520 section of Peddler’s Road, Guilford. The plan for the 6 mile round-trip hike includes moderate to strenuous terrain, and time for prayer, silence, and being with creation!

Thursdays Bible Study and the daytime ECW Gathering will take a break this week for the Diocesan ECW's Annual meeting at the Aqua Turf in Plantsville,  The Rev, Becca Stevens, this year's speaker is an author,  social entrepreneur, Episcopal priest and the founder of Thistle Farms which "offers women hope and healing through a holistic residential program, employment with one of our social enterprises, and a growing national and global network dedicated to changing a culture that allows human beings to be bought and sold."

The Rectory Forum and Tuesday Suppers are on their parallel journeys, with the rest of the Episcopal Church, in reading through the Acts of the Apostles, with particular portions read and discussed each week.  So, there's actually no homework required!

Children's Chapel, Sunday School, and the Middle and High School programs will all meet at their usual times and places this Sunday.  These are important Sundays for our Sunday School as they prepare for their "Pentecost Festival" presentations on May 20.

In faith, hope and love,
Harrison+
YFNR

p.s. Tempus fugit, and so on: May 6, the time will have come for us to bid farewell to our seminary-intern, Graham Marsh.  Graham will receive his S.T.M. degree later in May and be ordained a deacon, God willing, in June.  If you would like to participate in a "Godspeed" purse for Graham, please put his name on the memo line of a check or envelope to Christ Church.  Gifts may be placed in the offering plate or delivered to the parish office.