Fr. Harrison's Letter for April 30, 2017

Dear Hearts,  

A real baking production-line process has been underway today, as our middle-school youth have prepared all sorts of over-the-top desserts for tomorrow's Spaghetti Supper.  They worked under the direction of Sue Shackford with the hands-on help of several parents and seniors Ava & Elle -- for whom this may be year eight!

While the desserts will be amazing, the entre' will again be just as splendid:  Chef Antonio's Spaghetti with meat balls, will be served by the youth with freshly grated parmesan cheese, plus bread and green salad.  The proceeds from the dinner will support the activities of our middle-schoolers including the acolytes.  The suggested donations are: $12 per adult; $30 for a family of three or more; children age 5 and under, eat for free.

This dinner will be a great opportunity to wear our new Name-Tags, and be able to address one another by name with confidence. For the evening, the Name-Tag boards will be moved to the Parish Hall, from the Narthex, or church vestibule, where we can find them in the morning. 

Our terrific new Parish Photo Directories will also remain available.  One per household, please!  Please sign out your family's directory so we know to whom we need to deliver a copy.

Congratulations to the Evening ECW on their inaugural Soup & Bread Lunch on Saturday, April 22.  Their hunch that the community would respond to an invitation to lunch before or after shopping at the Library's Paperback Booksale, proved to be well-founded.  The Evening ECW dedicated the $440 proceeds toward additional work on Phase 2 of their Parish Hall enhancement project.

It's not too early to get excited about the Sunday's School's "Good Shepherd Musical," which will have its dress rehearsal, Saturday, May 6 at 10 a.m.  The Sunday School will be largely responsible for the Liturgy of the Word on Good Shepherd Sunday, May 7, at the 10 a.m. service.

And, it's not too late to participate in the daytime ECW's Roses for Mother's Day project.  Envelopes/forms are in the pews.

This past week was a busy one for our Youth Confirmation Group:  We went on our NYC Adventure Saturday, April 22 -- to the Cloisters, Cathedral of St. John the Divine, and Riverside Church; the next day, we met with other youth, seminarian Andrew Doss, and Jen McShane to view and discuss her "Mothers of Bedford" documentary; and on Thursday evening, we went to The Commons of The Episcopal Church in Connecticut(ECCT) for dinner and conversation with our Bishops, and other youth from across ECCT. 

I'm going to brag about our young people:  fellow mentor Jennifer Huebner and I were so impressed by their attentiveness, articulate expression, and good-humored participation!  You can ask them how stained glass is made, but more importantly why light is so important in Christian worship, and how our bishops invite us all to respond to Jesus' call to be both disciples and apostles -- people who are gathered and sent.

Thank you for your prayers that saw us safely through and home from our trips!
Easter blessings,
Harrison+
YFNR

p.s.:  Social media provide new means for us to share and send the Good News of the Risen Life which we have received in our gathered fellowship as Christ Church.  So, don't forget to be inspired again by our Choir's Maundy Thursday anthem, which you can find here, and their Easter anthem, accompanied by our strings, which you can find here.  Please remember to "Like" them, and to "Share" them on your favorite social media platform.

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