Juneteenth; Youth Challenge; Shelter Food Drive; July Worship

6/20/2020

For Juneteenth, and 3rd Sunday after Pentecost -- 2020:

Today is Juneteenth...
...the day when word of the Emancipation Proclamation reached Galveston, Texas, the last holdout of slavery over two years after it was announced! We learned about it from fellow Guilford resident Stephanie Little Brown at yesterday's Prayer Vigil on the Green. I found her remarks particularly powerful. My thanks to those of you who participated!
Our fellow parishes, Trinity Church and St. Luke's in Haven are joining together today to offer a Juneteenth Evensong at 5:30p.m. streamed online at: https://facebook.com/WhalleyAve . I hope you'll join me for this "service of light and liberation."
Our Bishops, +Ian Douglas and +Laura Ahrens, have sent out a special Juneteenth letter with all sorts of information, resources and announcements about upcoming events. You can find it here.  Stephanie had mentioned "the clause" in the Emancipation Proclamation, but the full impact didn't sink in until I read our Bishops' letter. I commend it to you.

Digital Sunday School:
This week Tyler Jarvis, our Director for Children's & Youth Ministry, draws a crucial insight from the otherwise disturbing Old Testament story about Abraham, Sarah, Hagar and Ishmael, their son: No one, and no creature in all Creation, is beyond God's love and care. I commend Tyler's video to you all, along with all he provides in this week's Digital Sunday School. In addition to his great questions, he's got helpful suggestions about how we can all apply the readings to our daily lives.

Youth Mission Challenge, June 22-24:
We're offering a daily mission challenge to our young people, rising 9th graders to high school grads. We'll gather with masks, our own water bottles, and maintain distances. Monday's challenge is to prepare "Welcome Home" baskets for New Reach families setting up housekeeping; Tuesday's, to work in the garden of Amistad House in New Haven and prime some boards; and Wednesday's, to prepare 150 sack lunches for folks served by the Community Soup Kitchen out of Christ Church, New Haven.
Along the way, we'll have some fun, learn about these agencies, the work they do, and the people they serve.
Fuller announcements have been sent to the likely suspects. If somehow, you didn't receive an announcement message from me for your teen, please reply to this letter.

Food Drive for Life Haven Shelter:
This shelter for women with small children and pregnant women without secure housing is a program of New Haven's New Reach agency. While our young people are collecting items for the children, and for families moving into secure housing of their own, the rest of the parish is invited to help with groceries.  Here's a link for more information and the Sign-Up Genius.

Middle School Online Game Night -
This Tuesday, June 23rd at 7:00 pm, tune in for Middle School Game Night for rising 5th graders - rising 9th graders with Tyler Jarvis! The link is available here. We'll play some Jackbox Games, so make sure you have access to Zoom as well as access to a web browser of some kind (phone, tablet, computer, any is fine). We'll just play games for about an hour and have a good time!

July Worship
At its June 17th Zoom meeting, our Vestry received a report from our ad-hoc Worship Options Group. After thorough discussion, the Vestry decided that we would add an in-person outdoor Morning Prayer service at 9a.m. beginning July 5, in addition to continuing the 10a.m. Eucharist with Spiritual Communion. The Worship Options Group will monitor state and diocesan recommendations and requirements, as well as our own experience, and make recommendations to the Vestry regarding worship in August.
The July Sunday's Morning Prayer services will be in the backyard, accessed by the double gates from the Town Hall parking lot; worshipers will be asked to wear a mask, bring a folding lawn chair, and maintain physical distance. A limited number of chairs will be available Household groups may use a picnic table. These will be "said" services lasting about 30 minutes.
The Vestry also authorized the purchase of equipment to continue and enhance livestream broadcasting of our services. Once installed, this equipment will sharpen the visual focus, and allow us to livestream on YouTube, as well as Facebook.

Tag Sale Contributions Being Received:
Speaking of the Tag Sale, as they announced in the June newsletter that went out on June 6, there will be another Tag Sale, we just don't know when! Contributions are being received during Office Hours, 10am-3pm Tuesday-Thursday, and at other times by arrangement.

ECW's Drive for Guilford Food Bank:
Our ECW ladies have a keen eye for bargains. When they learned that the Guilford Food Bank could turn a $10 gift into $100 retail value of food, they saw that as too good a deal to pass up. So, they've had a "Pandemic Food Bank" project announced in the weekly letter that Diane Link sends to the ECW's mailing list.  If you have questions or want to receive this newsletter, you can reach Diane at (203) 458-1806. If you'd like to participate, contributions may be sent directly to ECW treasurer, Rhoda Whitman, 21 Aberdeen Way, Durham, CT 06422. They are also offering the opportunity for donations to be made in memory of someone who has died regardless of the cause. They have a card that to send to the family of the deceased with the donors' name included.

ECW Gift CardHolders are still available!
ECW's popular gift cardholders, especially for graduation and all occasions, are still available. Please call Diane at the number above to place your order; be sure and tell her about your graduate's school and school colors, or special occasion. They are still $1.00 each plus $.50 postage per card.

Sunday Intercessions:
Please continue sending me the people and concerns you would like included in Sunday's Prayers of the People. This request is the online version of the form on which you would note specific people, concerns and thanksgivings as you entered the church for worship. Please reply to this message by 8a.m. Sunday morning.
Our intercessions, remembrances and thanksgivings will be sent out on Monday with any particulars you'd like to share; so, please be specific about what you're sharing with me, and what you'd like to share with the entire parish.

Virtual Coffee Hour:
Please join us for Coffee Hour via Zoom this Sunday June 21 at 11:30a.m. by clicking the link here.
You can also participate by phone at 11:30a.m. Sunday by dialing 646.558.8656. You'll be asked for the Meeting ID 870 0445 4526, and Password: 160097.

Wednesday Evening Prayers:
Our livestream mid-week evening service of prayer and music continue on Wednesday evenings at 7p.m. This Wednesday, June 24, is the Feast of the Nativity of John the Baptist. Our readings, hymns and prayers will tell the story of his birth, and celebrate his witness. An online bulletin will be available Wednesday morning.

Thursday Morning Bible Study meets 9:30-10:30a.m. via Zoom.   Having completed our study of Romans, participants opted for a season with the Old Testament -- specifically starting with the story of Jacob. our online conversation: click here:   Participation by telephone is also possible; I'll send the connection number on request.

Thanks to all who are mailing in your offerings!
Although we are not meeting together in-person, the life of the parish continues online, in prayer, worship, education and service -- and in all the ways that support and maintain our common life. So, as you are able, in your current financial situation, please continue your financial support of our common life by sending your offerings to Christ Church, PO Box 574, Guilford, CT 06437. Your offering will be presented at the altar; it will be physically present, even while you remain safely at home.
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
YFNR
p.s. Oh yes, about our like-you-were-there livestream signal: As reported last week, we are changing our internet service provider. Currently on Sunday mornings, and Wednesday evenings, you can see a cable emerging from YFNR's den window, sneaking across the driveway and into the church. A more permanent and settled connection with Comcast's larger available broadband is on order. Thank you so much for your perseverance and patience!!

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