Fr. Harrison's Letter for May 14, 2017

Dear Hearts,  

As I write these words, the church and parish hall are being decked out in their Roses for Mother's Day splendor.  Many thanks to the ECW for this celebration of women who are important to us; and a special tip of the hat to Diane Link for her hard work in making it happen.  Adding this year's proceeds to those of previous years, the ECW will likely be ready to commission new white altar hangings.  As lovely as the current ones are, close inspection reveals they are hanging on by a thread!

May 14 will also be the Sunday when we say, "Fare-forward, Voyager!" to our seminary-intern Andrew Doss, as his internship comes to its conclusion.  In addition to preaching, serving as lector, intercessor and chalice bearer, doing some pastoral care, and dreaming with us about our service to our community, Andrew led our Rectory Forum and Tuesday Supper conversations of his play, A Man Coming Through, and Madeleine L'Engle's novel, A Wind in the Door, to share his passion for "Process Theology." 

After graduation next week, Andrew will be returning to his home in New Orleans, and then in June heading to Medellin, Columbia to begin intensive study of Spanish there.  Although Yale is underwriting this course of study, Andrew is responsible for food, housing, transportation and personal expenses.  You can help support our "voyager" on his next adventure by contributing to his "Fare-forward" purse.  Checks may be made out to Christ Church, with something like "Andrew's Purse" on the Memo line, and placed in the offering plate or delivered to the Parish Office.

The glowing reviews for the Sunday's School's "Good Shepherd Musical," presented Sunday, May 7, continued all week!  Thanks to all the children who provided us with tableau visions of the story.  Now, when I hear about the sheep, the hired hand, the stranger, the wolf and the Good Shepherd, our children will appear in my mind's eye!  Thanks also to our Sunday School Teachers, to Sunday School Director Laurie Varley, and Music Director (and composer!) Mark Sullivan.  Miss Laurie had prepared for each child herb plants flagged with "God loves you all the 'thyme'!"  And, she had led the children in creating unique sheep "faces" for each child that adorned the church window sills.

As you may have heard elsewhere, our Bishop Suffragan, +Laura Ahrens, has been included among the five nominees for Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Delaware.  She will be participating in "Walk-Abouts" in Delaware on June 28-30; the electing convention will begin July 15.  Bishop Laura has asked that we keep her, all the nominees, and Delaware in our prayers.  You can read her letter to us, along with Bishop Douglas' statement, here.

As you may recall, the process known as "Re-imagining the Episcopal Church in Connecticut" re-organized the diocese from 14 deaneries into six regions, with each region receiving a "missionary" to connect, catalyze and equip parishes and worshiping communities for collaboration in God's Mission.  Those six missionaries were announced this week; here's the announcement email with photos, statements and short biographies for each.  We are in the South Central Region (from Guilford to Milford, and Shelton to Durham).  Our missionary, the Rev. Rachel Field, will begin on June 6.

One final reminder:  I am in "sales," not "management;" so I'm not the complaint department for our recent coolish weather.  Let us give thanks for the rains that have ended drought in New England.  North-central Connecticut is now considered only "abnormally dry."

Easter blessings continue,

Harrison+
YFNR