Fr. Harrison's Letter for November 20, 2016

Dear Hearts,

This Sunday, we all have the opportunity to see and hear the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, +Michael Curry.  Bishop Curry, one of the dynamic preachers of our day, will preach at the Sunday morning Eucharist of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut's Annual Convention. Although 2,000 will be present with him in the Convention Center in Hartford, Christ Church folks can make the journey from a 10 a.m. service of Morning Prayer into the Parish Hall for the Presiding Bishop's sermon.  The sermon will be simulcast and broadcast on our screen. 

Since this is the Sunday before Thanksgiving Day, please remember to bring canned, boxed and/or dry foods to share on Sunday or Monday morning.  We will be supporting the Guilford Food Bank's drive to make sure that all our Guilford neighbors have the appropriate makings for a Thanksgiving Day meal.  Please leave your contributions at the Children's altar. 

Sunday School and child care will be offered beginning as usual and continuing through the Presiding Bishop's sermon.  Coffee hour will happen around the sermon; the Evening ECW will offer their Holiday breads for sale; and Middle School Youth will be taking orders for Wreaths.  Also, the 8 a.m. Eucharist will be offered as usual, with YFNR,  our convention delegates, and others with tickets, leaving immediately thereafter for Hartford. 

Join our Shoreline interfaith community in a choral celebration of Thanks + Giving Sunday afternoon at 4 p.m. in Guilford’s First Congregational Church.  “Thanks” underscores the musical offerings from choirs representing houses of worship in Guilford and Madison – including our own!  “Giving” describes the gifts of food and funds we offer for local food banks and shelter builders – especially our local Raise-the-Roof Habitat-for-Humanity affiliate.   This is a wonderful opportunity for people of faith from the Shoreline’s diverse traditions to come together in Thanks + Giving.
 
On Thursday, our national Thanksgiving Holiday, join in singing the Church’s great hymns of thanksgiving, at 10 a.m.  We will do more than just sing:  We will offer the “Great Thanksgiving,” the banquet of Holy Communion, be inspired by Beth Steven’s offertory anthem, and by a treasured Connecticut Thanksgiving proclamation from 70 years ago.  For newcomers to Connecticut, “Wilbur Cross” may be only a parkway, but the parkway is a memorial to Governor Wilbur Cross whose inspiring-- and brief -- counsel we need to hear again. 

After the service, the Rector invites one and all to continue the celebration over appetizers and beverages in the Rectory.

I trust that every household receiving this e-letter has also received an "Estimate of Giving Card."  If somehow you did not receive a card in the mail or in worship, please let the Parish Office know; or you could simply reply to this message. Please say your prayers, ask yourself the God-question about your financial support for the life and witness of Christ Church in 2017, and return the card as soon as you can.  Many thanks to the 73 households who have responded!

Returning to prayers for our nation, Tuesday morning's Meditation & Prayer group asked me to share here, a prayer we offered together.  You'll find it in the Prayer Book on page 824:
Prayer 28: In Times of Conflict
O God, you have bound us together in a common life.  Help us in the midst of our struggles for justice and truth, to confront one another without hatred or bitterness, and to work together with mutual forbearance and respect; through Jesus Christ our  Lord.  Amen.
 
In faith and hope,
Harrison+
YFNR
p.s. The October-November issue of Glad Tidings Online is available on our parish website.  There's news from the Sunday School, ECW, Vestry, about the Tag Sale, and an introduction to Rectory's newest resident.  Check it out here.

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