Fr. Harrison's Letter for April 9, 2016

Details to Follow
 
April 9, 2016
Dear Hearts,

As I sit down to write to you, my head is swimming with thoughts from your Vestry's annual workshop today.  The Rev. Canon Tim Hodapp led us through a busy day: We began with prayer,  Bible study, and getting better acquainted; Tim+ reminded us of Vestry responsibilities, provided us with perspectives on God's Mission to reconcile and restore humanity and Creation to full relationship with God; and then led us through a process to note with gratitude where we have felt the Kingdom drawn near in the last 12 monhts, how we turned to be open to the kingdom in our midst, and a "next-steps" approach concerning where we find challenges to our common life.

Details will follow on how your Vestry will share these insights and this process with the whole parish.  Tim+, who serves the Episcopal Church in Connecticut as Canon for Mission Collaboration -- encouraged us to recognize the tools we have at hand.  My hunch is that the Vestry will collaborate with parishioners by sharing the collated responses from our Home Gatherings and HymnSing; and somehow, because this is Christ Church, food will be involved!

Speaking of the Home Gatherings, the need for a new Parish Directory was a recurring theme in the responses.  God knows us each of us by name, but sometimes our memories fail us!  Details will follow next week on a new photo directory to be developed "in house."  This directory will be available in print and online through the parish website; the online version, accessible from computer and mobile devices, will have individual password protection.

Opportunities for hands-on involvement reaching out in service to our neighbors also figures in Home Gathering responses.  Details will follow beginning this Sunday on how we can help build the Raise-the-Roof Habitat house now going up in New Haven.  We will also have opportunities for all ages to participate in the Raise-the-Roof "Build" on Guilford's own Green on Saturday, May 21.

Our youth, their mentors and parent-helpers, worked very hard last weekend to make this year's Spaghetti Supper a tremendous evening for us all.  Thanks to those who made it possible and all who participated!  Try as we might, not all the desserts were consumed last Sunday.  So, this Sunday bring your appetites to Coffee Hour for delicious youth-baked treats!

To honor all the time our teachers and students put into the Spaghetti Supper, and because Guilford Public School students are on Spring Break, Sunday School programs for children and youth will not meet this Sunday, April 10.  They will resume next Sunday, April 17.

Wherever this finds you, I hope you remember to say your Easter Alleluias!  
Alleluia, alleluia! Christ is risen! 

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia, alleluia!

In faith and hope,
Harrison+
YFNR

p.s. The March/April edition of GTO: Glad Tidings Online is now available by clicking here.  Print copies are available in the back of the church and in the parish office for those without internet access.  Another reason to check out the Parish website is our ECW's page.  While you are there, please complete their incredibly simple, three-question survey at the bottom of the page.  The Episcopal Church Women thank you!

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