Fr. Harrison's Letter for February 4, 2018

​Dear Hearts,

The clergy at First Congregation Church wrote this morning, announcing a Vigil on the Green at 6:30 p.m., this evening February 2.  They have been directly supporting the Song family following young Ethan's tragic death on Wednesday.  I plan to attend.

This Sunday is our appointed day to take counsel together for "... the renewal and mission of [Christ's] Church."  Beginning with a soup brunch, the Annual Parish Meeting will follow Sunday's 10 a.m. worship service; we will quickly do the important tasks for organizing our life together:  electing a new class of parish officers, Vestry and Nominating Committee members, and Delegate to diocesan convention*, and receiving written reports from 2017, including reports from the Treasurer and a budget for 2018. 

Then we'll get to what I hope will be a fun part of the meeting.  I have organized some great photos made by Sue Shackford into a slide show about our Tower, through the ages and as it is now.   If you've never been up to the bell chamber, you will want to see the bird and squirrels' eye view with these photos.

This will be the 274th Annual Parish Meeting, which means that the next one will be the 275th, and perhaps a good time for some celebrating.  We could start thinking about that!

The In-reach Committee has taken the lead in preparing a light repast to sustain us through our Annual Parish Meeting.  The menu includes a couple tasty soups with rice, breads and fruit.  Many thanks to chief organizer Susan Leonard and all who will help prepare and serve.  Your help with clean-up would be appreciated.

Sunday School Director Laurie Varley will keep our younger parishioners happily occupied during the meeting.  There will be a pizza for them to eat.  Adults:  No fair trying to slip downstairs and join the children!  And remember, in the Episcopal Church, voting membership begins at age 16!

Oh yes, this Sunday is also Super Bowl Sunday!  Not to worry, there will be plenty of time to get home after the meeting, well before even the pre-pregame shows begin; and the game itself doesn't start until 6:30 p.m. E.T. 
​
In faith and hope,
Harrison+
YFNR
 
*And the nominees are:  Senior Warden -- Rose Robinson; Junior Warden -- Sue Shackford; Treasurer -- Michael Crossley; Clerk -- Susan Leonard; Vestry Class of 2019 -- Mardee Moore; Vestry Class of 2021 -- Bill Cuddy, Sudie Danaher, Juliana Harris; Delegate to Diocesan Convention -- Jennifer Huebner; Nominating Committee for the 2019 Annual Parish Meeting -- Caroline Herrick, Kathleen Jones, Diane Kyle, Annie Rae