Fr. Harrison's Letter for October 29, 2017

Dear Hearts,

Our costumed talent show, otherwise known as the Halloween Howler, will be this Saturday, October 28 at 4 p.m.  All musicians, dancers, joke-tellers, sorcerers, ghosts and super heroes, who have yet to contact Music (and Howler) Director Mark Sullivan, please send him a quick email -- [email protected]. Feel free to invite friends to perform with you!  Costumes are encouraged for audience members, as well as performers.  The now-traditional audience-participation Halloween song will conclude the event.

If Halloween is approaching, then so is the Town's Spooktacular Trunk or Treat event scheduled for Park Street on Sunday, October 29, between 2 and 4 p.m.  Sunday School Director Laurie Varley is organizing our participation, and would welcome your help; let's hope the weatherman doesn't scare the event indoors to the Community Center.  The daytime ECW is providing a boatload of candy!  Thanks so much!

If Halloween is approaching, then it is good for us to recall that the origin of "Halloween" is "All Hallows' Eve" (or Even -- drop the "v" and you get "-een"), or the Eve of All Saints' Day.  Although Martin Luther wasn't the only cleric talking reform in 1517, and although he had previously posted "99 Theses" on the door of Wittenberg's All Saints' Cathedral, the "95 Theses" disputing the sale of indulgences posted on All Saints' Eve, October 31, 1517, began the movement called "The Reformation."  Why the church door?  It was the "bulletin board" for Wittenberg University which Luther served as professor of biblical theology.  Why All Saints' Eve?  All Saints' Cathedral was filled with an enormous collection of relics of the saints; the church's medieval theology taught that the faithful, being truly sorry for their sins, could view these relics as part of their penance and receive absolution on All Saints' Day. 

I trust there will be no posting on the doors of Christ Church this Reformation Sunday, but there will be some special music by Bach, Pachelbel and Tallis.  Kayla Bryan will perform a violin prelude, and the offertory anthem will be accompanied by Kayla, James Crossley, Mariam Kish, Gabby Perea, Natalia Perez, and Olivia Ste. Marie, 

All Saints' Day, November 1, is Wednesday.  We will observe our Recollection of All the Faithful  Departed that evening, at 6 p.m..  We will gather in the chancel to recall those who have died and now rejoice with us at the other end of the messianic banquet table.  There will be time for prayers, shared memories of the departed, silence, closing prayers, and a blessing.

We will observe All Saints' Sunday on November 5.  As part of our worship, we will name those who now abide "in a brighter light, and on another shore,"  So that friends and family members who died within the past year (or so) are accurately included, please use a pew card, voice mail or email to provide the correct spelling.    

Last Sunday's Consecration Sunday event was pretty terrific!  Thanks go the terrific team led by Senior Warden Rose Robinson, and former SW Pat Daunic; speakers Bobbi Stuart, Sudie Danaher, and Bob McNamara; lunch coordinators Bob Donahue & Michael D'Agostino; caterers Debbie & Antonio Greco; the Vestry, and many helpers, including Carol Iovanna, Jennifer Huebner, Kay Claiborn, Lois Sawtell, Dennis Burke, James and Jonathan Brunetti.  Thanks to them, and to all the middle and high school youth who pitched in to help with serving and clean-up!

Letters are in the mail to those who couldn't join in last Sunday's festivities.  Please take a moment to ask the Consecration Sunday question -- "What portion of my weekly income is God calling me to give in 2018?"  Then, please return your Estimate of Giving card, as soon as you can;

May God's love and mystery continue to enfold us all,
Harrison+
YFNR

p.s. On November 2, 2017, the public is invited to join Adams Middle School 8th grade students, the Witness Stones Committee, and community leaders on the Guilford Green at 9:30 am for the inaugural ceremony commemorating the installation of the first Witness Stones in Guilford. 

The first three stones will give witness to the lives of Moses, Phillis and Candace, three enslaved African-Americans who lived and worked at the Hyland House, and on the property on which the Town Hall, Christ Church, the rectory, and Guilford Savings Bank now stand.

Learn about the Witness Stones Project here.

​Because of the Ceremony on the Green, Thursday morning's Bible Study will not meet.  Hope to see you on the Green!