Fr. Harrison's Letter for March 5, 2017

3/4/2017

Dear Hearts,

"Compassion for Refugees" combines a brief contemporary ballet with an invitation to activities and conversation about the plight of Syrian refugees. The ballet Roar of Nations portrays the pain and struggle of leaving a war-torn country. The activities will help us un-pack the experience. Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet is bringing this event to our Parish Hall during Coffee Hour following the 10 a.m. service, this Sunday, March 5.

A word of gratitude to Shrove Tuesday Supper helpers including Dennis Burke, Katherine Frydenborg, Sheward Hagerty, Lisa Ste.Marie, and other helpful folks. Thanks to them the pancakes were terrific! The palm conflagration was perhaps a bit more exciting than planned, but left us ready for Ash Wednesday and to make a good beginning to Lent.

If it is Lent, it must be time for our Lenten Soup Suppers, and paired Rectory Forums. Andrew Doss will lead reading and conversation about a book from Episcopal author Madeleine L'Engle's famous "Time Quintet.". Andrew writes: A Wind in the Door follows her most famous A Wrinkle in Time. ... as it follows a group of children to save the galaxy from the forces of hate and restore harmony to the rhythm of creation." He'll share how this work of juvenile fiction "exemplifies" a major study of his.

The Lenten Rectory Forum begins this Sunday following the 8 a.m. service; coffee and tea will be at the ready. The Lenten Soup Supper series begins this Tuesday, March 7 at 6 p.m. in the rectory dining room. If you have a copy of A Wind in the Door be sure and bring it with you.

Although they don't claim the headlines, ministries of reconciliation and restoration are happening in Israel and Palestine. A ministry network within the Episcopal Church in Connecticut committed to "Our Holy Land" has organized weekly video introductions to these ministries. These week's is from our own Bishop Ian Douglas about his sabbatical experience in Israel and Palestine. You can watch it here.

Lent Madness -- the tongue-in-cheek takeoff on March Madness playoffs -- has also begun. So far we have learned about Saints Alban and Stephen, Aelred and Bishop Henry Beard Delany. Aelred's writing on friendship, and all that Bishop Delany endured and overcame made choosing between them particularly difficult. Which is what makes Lent Madness such, well, madness. Copies of the "Definitive Guide" are still available for $2 each. To participate on- line go to www.lentmadness.org.

In faith and hope,
Harrison+
YFNR

1 Comment

Jane Ferrall

3/4/2017 05:56:30 pm

The Facebook image is entitled "Jesus Carried up to a Pinnacle of the Temple" and is dated between 1886 and 1894. It was painted by James Jacques Tissot and is on view at the Brooklyn Museum. The blog image is dated 1960 and is a scene from the Nashville Civil Rights Movement. Although the commentary is long, it is worth repeating:

"The Nashville Sit-in Movement officially began with the first sit-in taking place on February 7th 1960. Yet, this was preceded by months of student participation in workshops, conducted by the Vanderbilt Divinity School’s own James Lawson. These workshops dealt with the discipline of nonviolence as espoused by Gandhi with specific reflection on the Christian faith and its role in bringing about peace and love. Born, then, from a profound emphasis on the teachings of the Christian tradition, the sit-ins served as a concrete response to the injustice of segregation in U.S. society.

As supporter and activist John Lewis recalls his involvement and experiences in the movement, it is evident how the impetus of the Christian faith to love one’s neighbors as one’s self was continually sacrificed in the face of racist bigotry. He states, “We went into the five-and-tens—Woolworth, Kresge’s, McClellan’s—because these stores were known all across the South…We took our seats in a very orderly, peaceful fashion. The students were dressed like they were on the way to church or going to a big social affair. … The managers ordered that the lunch counters be closed, that the restaurants be closed, and we’d just sit there all day long.”

For the managers of these local businesses to deny service appears to be a small and insignificant act. However, when reflecting on the week's text of Deuteronomy 26: 1-11, we are made aware of how antithetical their action is in light of the spirit of word on which the Christian message rests."

Words to ponder!

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