Let Us Pray + A Rose for Mothers

May 4, 2021
Let Us Pray +  An Easter Carol

 
Through each wonder of fair days God himself expresses;
Beauty follows all his ways, As the world he blesses;
So, as he renews the earth, Artist without rival,
In his grace of glad new birth We must week revival.
2nd Verse Medieval Easter Carol
sung by Mark Rehnstrom on May 2,2021
Dear Hearts,
      The rule of thumb among clergy is to never invite a more stirring preacher to the pulpit in one's care.  I hope you appreciate that I routinely disregard that rule!   As it happened, I got to hear Sunday's story from Acts (8:26-40) about Philip the Deacon and the Ethiopian eunuch three times on Sunday -- from Fr. Scott Lee's sermon twice and then from Tyler Jarvis at the Sunday School Families Gathering.  What a great day!
      Fr. Scott invited us to follow the example of an exotic official from a far away empire who found his own life's story in a biblical story.  If we do, Fr. Scott suggested, the Bible's Story of hope, redemption and salvation will become our story. Tyler invited us to follow Philip's example in willingly serving others who don't look, act, think, or talk like us -- even when that's a really hard thing to do.  Tyler suggested that if we're willing to serve others, we'll find ourselves loving God.
    
Let us pray for all who are commended to the parish's prayers:
All who are ill, including
Eugenia, Ann S, Jack, Alphonse, Elizabeth, Jim R,
Kevin and Danielle;  
and for all who are contending with Covid-19 disease;
for medical caregivers ministering of God's healing gifts;
and for all facing financial hardship because of the pandemic.
May they all know the healing power of
Christ's presence and love.
 
And for all who have died,
and for the over 578,000 of our fellow citizens
claimed by the coronavirus.
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord;
may light perpetual shine upon them.

Look with favor, O Lord, upon
 Michael Haggans, Ed Seibert and Hope Sperry,
as they celebrate their birthdays.
May they continue to grow in grace and wisdom.

Please also continue to pray for Amy B, Virginia, Sonny P, Alex M. Maryanne M, Carol U, Diane L, Jason, Peter, Dale, Buster, Jimmy C, Patrick and family, Felipe, Richard D, Alice M, Elizabeth Ann, Parker, Webb, Jill, Andrew E, Ed C, Pastor Bryan Meyers, Bob C, Sue S, George H, Alex & John H, Jeremy H, Shelly, Philippe, Kate, Frank, Jack, Judy & Ed S,  Michael M,  Richard D, Dave K, Brian A, Annie, John, Joan G., Lois C., Winnie Z, Bernie and family, Susie & Paul, Pam McG, Julie H,  Murray E., Brooke & family, Kate S., Tracy M., Carl, Michael S, Joanne N-R,  Madeline H, and Kelly G,
Also: Paul D, Susan S, Linda B, Charlie K, Anne C, Mark S, Angela G, Maria, Bob, and Olivia;
Please also remember:  St. Luke’s School & Church in Martel (Haiti)
To add names and concerns for Wednesday's and Sunday's intercessions, and this "Let Us Pray" letter, please send them to YFNR at [email protected] with any details you care to share.  Names will move to the longer term list upon request.  
 
"A Rose for Mother" Deadline Approaches: Our ECW's 7thAnnual “A Rose For Mother” project, will once again offer the  opportunity to honor the women in our lives, -- mothers, grand-mothers, sisters, aunts, friends, --  with a red rose for the living or a white rose for the departed.
     The ECW invites our free-will donations along with the names of the women we wish to honor.  Please clearly print the name(s) and indicate  a red rose for the living or a white rose for the deceased.  The bouquets of roses on the altar will be removed to the parish hall after the 10:00 am service and remain there for a day or two.  You will be welcome to pick-up a rose while they last.
     So that the names of the honored women may appear in the bulletin on Mothers' Day, please be sure to send name(s) and your contribution to support the ECW's good work to  Mrs. Paul Whitman, 21 Aberdeen Way, Durham CT 06422, or Mrs. Diane W. Link, 118 Michael Drive, Guilford, CT 06437, by May 5.  Please make checks payable to Christ Church ECW, with "Roses for Mother" on the memo line.  
 
Wednesday's Order for Evening will offer readings, hymns and prayers to honor the witness of the "Martyrs of the Resurrection" -- both those with whom we identify, and those whose loyalties were in other traditions.  This observance "is a sobering reminder of just how swiftly Christians have often turned from being persecuted and oppressed to being the persecutors and the oppressors of others." The livestream of the service will start before 7p.m. via www.facebook.com/cecguilford.
 
Thursday Bible Study continues May 6 at 9:30a.m. as we now follow the Israelites' wanderings in the Book of  Numbers. Join the conversation via this Eastertide Zoom code.  There are no prerequisites or homework!
 
Our discussions of  Love is the Way: Holding onto Hope in Troubling Times, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's latest book, continues Tuesday evenings and Sunday mornings. Bishop Curry writes the stories of love in action, just as surely as did the writer of the Letter of John that we're reading on Sundays.
  
Sunday's worship:  Because Guilford remains in a Connecticut "red zone," our indoor 10a.m. service with sung music will continue to be livestreamed via facebook.com/cecguilford .
     Our 1p.m. Prayers in the Garden may need to move indoors depending on when the rain starts.
     The church is accessible via the driveway door between 10a.m. and 3p.m. daily for quiet time, likely alone.

Here's the third verse of the beautiful Medieval Easter carol which Mark Rehnstrom sang on Sunday to a lovely tune he had composed:
Praise the Maker, all ye saints; He with glory girt you,
He who skies and meadows paints, Fashioned all your virtue;
Praise Him seers, heroes, kings, Heralds of perfection;
Brother, praise Him for He brings All to resurrection.
 
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
Your Friendly Neighborhood Rector