Fr. Harrison's Letter for July 30, 2017 and beyond

Dear Hearts, 
 
First of all, a profound Sarum bow to our In-Reach Committee for last Sunday's Meet & Greet breakfast! The French toast, sausages and cup of fresh fruit were delightful!  Tables were beautifully set with wildflower bouquets, and most every chair was taken at some point in the morning. Folks -- including South Central Region Missionary Rachel Field+ -- were table-hopping to visit with as many as possible; so, an exact count was impossible.  Some of us, who had heard about the breakfasts of years ago, now understand why those breakfasts are recalled so fondly.  The Committee assures us that there will be more.

Our Outreach Committee and Vacation Bible School, invite us to help youngsters have what they need for new beginnings. During VBS, the children joined an effort to provide necessary items for newborn babies at St. Raphael's.  We learned about this effort through Steve Varley, Laurie's husband, who works at Yale's School of Nursing.  Not all of St. R's new moms have all the supplies they need when they take their babies home; our children were invited to help out.  And they are inviting us to also help with diapers (newborn to Size 1), baby wipe packages of 75-100, and short-sleeved onesies.  Please bring your contribution to the "VBS Mission Project" table in the Parish Hall.

The Outreach Committee's invitation concerns new-beginnings for children who are a bit older -- those starting a new year of school.   We can help make sure every child in Guilford has all the supplies they need for the first day of school.  It may seem cruel to be talking about School Supplies so far in advance of August 31, but we need to do the shopping now; so that Guilford Social Services can have them ready for children on their first day of school.  Supplies most needed are:  large backpacks, lunch boxes, composition notebooks, 1 & 3-subject notebooks, 3-ring binders with filler paper, and note cards.  Please bring your contributions to the Children's Altar by August 6.

While Your Friendly Neighborhood Rector is on vacation, you have the opportunity to hear other voices and learn from other perspectives.  On Sunday July 30,  I hope you will take advantage of Benjamin Wyatt's preaching and leading of Morning Prayer at 8 and 10 a.m.  Ben is a rising senior at Yale Divinity School, and hails from the middle of the “three great states of Tennessee.”  A graduate of Nashville’s Vanderbilt University; he is a candidate for Holy Orders in the Diocese of TN.  Ben and YNFR met in the course, “Bread & the Bible.” taught by Berkeley Divinity School's Dean McGowan in June.

On the following Sunday, August 6, well-known friend of the parish, the Rev. Kent Smith will celebrate and preach for the Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10a.m.  Although Kent and Margaret actively participate in the life of New Haven's Christ Church (across from the Yale Bookstore), they live in Guilford, are active members of the local community, and occasionally worship with us -- most recently on July 23.

Jack-the-dog and I send greetings from Rehoboth Beach, Delaware.  The whiz-bang thunderstorms here have kept Jack on alert, and given me the excuse to just sit on the porch and read.
 
May God's love and power continue to enfold us all,

​Harrison+
YFNR

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