Fr. Harrison's Letter for December 4, 2016

Dear Hearts,

Today, December 2, the Town of Guilford gathers on the Green for the Tree-Lighting on the Green! Together with our neighbors of other faith traditions, and none, we celebrate light in the midst of darkness. Our events provide an occasion to extend the hospitality of Christ Church to our neighbors and friends, as we add to the evening’s brightness: 
 
Chili-Supper -- Warm yourselves against the evening chill with delicious chili prepared to your preferred degree of hotness – con carne and vegetarian.  Please remember your promised cornbread and help with the evening's tasks.

Cookie Sale –  Chili Supper patrons may purchase dessert from the bounty of cookies and other holiday treats at the ECW’s sale table; and you'll also be able to purchase favorites to take home and enjoy later.  Please remember to drop off your homemade favorites when you can today.

Wreath Sale –  as of this writing, the Middle School youth have four beautiful wreaths to sell, in addition to the 46 that were  pre-sold!  Check out their handiwork in the rectory garage, and get a cup of hot chocolate while you browse!

sFOURzando Piano Extravaganza – Be delighted as two to four people, four-to-eight hands, perform favorites from this entertaining repertoire on the nave’s Steinway.  Before radio and television, before vinyl and digital recordings, folks entertained at home by gathering around the piano.  We’ll gather with Vicky Reeve and three friends for a lot of fun!

Proceeds from the Chili Supper and Concert will support Guilford Interfaith Volunteers’ Meals-on-Wheels, making sure our neighbors have a daily hot meal. 
 
In looking for an appropriate topic for the Rectory Forum during Advent, I also wanted a subject as engaging as Andrew Doss's play.  How about Advent with Scrooge!?  

In 1843 Charles Dickens created some of his most unforgettable characters in his novella, A Christmas Carol.  Its full title is A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost-Story of Christmas.  Perhaps better known from its adaptations for the screen, stage, television and cartoon animation, the brief text rewards reading.  So, on Sundays in Advent and early Epiphany, we will read portions of the text during the Rectory Forum, and discuss what we think Dickens may have been trying to say.  All are welcome to join the conversation over coffee and tea in the rectory living room at 10a.m.-ish.

I found this delightfully illustrated text for A Christmas Carol online HERE.  I'll have some printed copies available for the Forum.  Here's the passage I quoted in last Sunday's sermon.  Scrooge has just told the ghost of his deceased partner, Jacob Marley, that "you were always a good man of business, ...."
 
'Business!' cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. 'Mankind was my business.
The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!'
.
A December issue of Glad Tidings Online is newly available HERE.  Check it out for News from the Sunday School, Greetings from the ECW, Thanks for Consecration Sunday, an Update on the Evening ECW's Parish Hall Project Fundraising, a Report from an Adventure in Christ Church's historical records, and Vestry Meeting Highlights.  There are some great pictures from parish events, and an early 20th century photograph of the church structure.  Can anyone date it by the automobiles on the street?

In the meantime, I look forward to sharing in the Tree-Lighting events later today!

In faith and hope,
Harrison+
YFNR

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