Fr. Harrison's Letter for the Third Sunday in Advent

Dear Hearts,

In this Sunday's reading from the Gospel according to Luke, John the Baptist is asked, "What then should we do?"  He replies they need to "bear good fruit" -- that those who have coats and food need to share them with those who don't.  His words remind me of two Advent traditions at Christ Church; both traditions seek to keep our neighbors warm during the coming winter:

1. Our Mitten Tree will be up this Sunday, next to the pulpit, ready for you to decorate with new, or as-good-as-new, gloves, scarves, hats or coats.  The Mitten Tree will remain up through Sunday, January 3; your gifts will be distributed by the Guilford Food Bank.
2. Our "Angels Under the Balcony" collection for the Town's Fuel Assistance Program will be received next Sunday December 20.  In supporting this program, we are continuing a tradition begun at Christ Church when Julia Leete Newhall made it possible for the Rector to buy coal, oil or wood to heat the homes of townsfolk in need.

A sad tradition was added to our Advent observances by the tragic shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School, December 14, 2012:  the Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, led by the Newtown Action Alliance, Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, Washington National Cathedral, and Bishops United Against Gun Violence, among others. This year's observance began Thursday evening with a Service of Remembrance at St. Mark's Church, Capitol Hill, and continues through Monday with a wide range of occasions for prayer and remembrance, advocacy and action throughout the country.  With your Vestry's approval, Christ Church is included as a participating parish with special prayers on Sunday and tolling the Tower Bell on Monday.
 
Our Bishops, +Ian Douglas and +Laura Ahrens, have invited us to use a Litany written for this year's Sabbath by the Bishop of Maine, +Stephen Lee.  It will serve as our Prayers of the People at both services on Sunday, and as a devotion following the tolling of the Tower bell at noon on Monday.  If you would care to join in tolling on Monday, please gather in the Tower at noon; we will toll the bell 28 times to remember all who were killed by gun violence in Newtown on December 14 three years ago.

Other Advent traditions continue this Sunday:

• Our Sunday School continues Nativity Pageant preparations during their classtime, this Sunday and next.  They will offer a Pageant preview during worship on December 20; so rehearsals are important even for those who will be away on Christmas Eve.
• Youth Orchestra Ensemble rehearsals begin this Sunday, 9:30-10:15a.m. in the Parish House, and continue next Sunday under the direction of Maestro Suky Bryan.
• Stagehands!  Please help move the stage parts into the church and bring your drills to help assemble our familiar Pageant Platform.  This fun begins after the 10a.m. service this Sunday.

During Advent, as we prepare the way for the birth of God's love, we are keenly mindful of all of God's gifts to us.  God's gifts inspire our own giving -- including our participation in the Annual Pledge Appeal for 2016.  Your generous response will help your parish continue to serve as a beacon for the light of Christ to us, and to the community around us.  Pledge Appeal packets were mailed early last week, and a surprising number of pledge cards were included in last Sunday's offering; please use the pledge card and privacy envelope to offer your pledge to God's Mission through Christ Church.  May this offering serve as part of your Advent preparation for welcoming the gift God gives us all in Jesus Christ his Son...
In faith and hope,
Harrison+
YFNR
 
P.S. A December/January issue of "Glad Tidings Online," is now available.  In it you'll find information about our Daytime and Evening ECWs, Reports on our diocesan convention from our delegates Jean Valentine and Caroline Herrick, and terrific photos of acolytes at "work." 

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