Pentecost Monday: National Day of Mourning & Lament—Let Us Pray

Into thy hands, O merciful Lord, we commend thy children
who have died during this viral pandemic,
beseeching thee that they may be precious in thy sight. 
Wash them, we pray thee, that the disease that claimed
their earthly lives being purged and done away,
they may be presented pure and without spot before thee;
through the merits of Jesus Christ thine only Son our Lord.  Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, p.488  adapted.
 
Dear Hearts,
      Our Presiding Bishop and over 100 leaders of an interfaith spectrum of traditions, together with the U.S. Conference of Mayors, representing 1,400 mayors across the country, called for our nation to come together today in a National Day of Mourning & Lament for those who have died during the COVID-19 pandemic.  Bishop Michael said, “I encourage Episcopalians to join with other people of faith ... to grieve and honor those who have died from COVID-19, Let this tragic moment not pass without us honoring the many among us who have lost their lives or lost their loved ones and commending them and ourselves to God’s love and peace.” 
      On Sunday, May 24, Bishop Michael preached for "A Time to Mourn, An Ecumenical Memorial Service for Lives Lost to COVID-19."  I commend his sermon to you; find it here at about minute 36.  He invites us to paraphrase Jesus' last words from the cross, "Into thy hands I commend my spirit," and to commend and commit ourselves and those we love to God's Spirit.

Our prayers are specifically asked for ----
All who are ill or in distress including:
Hildy J -- in great weakness
Bernie A and family,
Gail B -- with the virus,
Sudie's parents Susie & Paul B,
Joan G -- at home with her daughter;
Lois C -- out of the hospital but not yet home;
Gabrielle and Robin --  at home,
Dale & Michelle -- with the virus,
Lisa and Matthew -- at home;
 and
for all facing financial hardship because of the pandemic.
May they all know the healing power of
Christ's presence and love.
 
For the repose of over 104,000 of our fellow citizens
 who have died of the Covid-19 virus;
and for George Floyd, Jose Soto, and Breonna Taylor
who died at the hands of those sworn to protect them,
and for Ahmaud Arbery who died at the hands of men
who took the law into their own hands:
Remember your servants, O Lord,
according to the favor you bear unto all your children,
may they go from strength to strength
in their Risen Life of perfect freedom.
Deal graciously with all who mourn,
may they know the consolation of your love.
 
Thanksgivings as we join together to celebrate the birthdays of
Alicia B, Jen McS, Jim R and Chris R
May your peace which passes all understanding
abide with them all the days of their lives.
 
Please continue to hold in prayer:
Pam McG, Julie H, Annie & Jim, Sandy G., Murray E., Brooke & family, Kate S., Tracy M., Carl, Winnie Z, Michael S, Joanne N-R, Dave K, Madeline H, Kelly G, Paul D, Lois S,  Bob vM.
Also:  Susan S, Margaret S,  Linda B, June C, Charlie K, Anne C, Mark S, Angela G, Maria, Bob, Olivia, Lois T, and Jo B.
Please also remember:  St. Luke’s School & Church in Martel (Haiti).

To add names and concerns for next 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 then move to the "continuing" list for 30 days, and the longer term list upon request. 

Attention High School Seniors:
For the 12th consecutive year, our ECW is pleased to offer a scholarship to Christ Church's high school graduating seniors.  The requirements needed to apply are:  1) You must be an active member of Christ Episcopal Church;  2) You have already been accepted at a school of higher learning, either academic or technical..
If interested in applying, please send an e-mail letter to Ms. Jean [email protected]
Your letter should include all your Christ Church activities, the school to which you have been accepted and your future aspirations.  Today, Monday, June 1, 2020, is the deadline!  ECW will then confer together and announce  recipient (s) shortly thereafter.

About Jose Soto:
In our Bishops letter, which I read in yesterday's sermon, they included "Jose Soto in Connecticut" among those whose deaths are "tragic and inexcusable."  During our virtual Coffee Hour, folks asked about him; his death in Manchester, CT on April 2 has not received much attention in this part of the state.  You can read our Bishops' letter here, and read the Hartford Courant's account of his death here.  His is a story that could have come from Jen McShane's documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops.   His is the story of an abused young man who did not receive the mental health care he needed, whose acting-out behavior brought him into confrontations with police ill-equipped to deal with someone having a mental health crisis, and who, as in Jen's film, was shot to death when he came to the door of his mother's home to give himself up.
 
Our Bishops prefaced their letter with this prayer:
God, who can turn our worries into wings of joys
and our sorrows into songs of thanks, let not our hearts
be so troubled by the tragedies of this life‘s moment
that we lose sight of the eternal life in your kingdom.
Give comfort and solace to our companions
who suffer almost unbearable losses
every second, minute, and hour in our nation and world.
Strengthen our resolve to replace hatred with love,
tension with trust, and selfishness with caring and community.
Heal, O God, all your children so that those who hate and those who are hated, those who hurt and those who are hurt,
may grow up in an America and in a world of peace,
opportunity, and justice. Amen.  
from Marian Wright  Edelman, Guide My Feet, Prayers and Meditations for Our Children, p. 142 (modified)
 
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
YFNR
 
p.s.Reminders for Christ Church's online worship:

• You can access the livestream directly at facebook.com/cecguilford. or the parish website christchurchguilford.org
• You may find that using an external speaker or headphones may improve the quality of audio from your device.
• Please remember to adjust both volume settings on your device: 

1. There is the device's volume control, usually accessed via the speaker icon on the lower right corner of your screen;  Be sure that the volume is turned up here.
2. There is another volume control on the Facebook Live image, as well. It's in the control panel at the bottom of the Live image.  The default setting on that control is often mute, indicated by an "x" over the speaker icon.  Be sure to click on the speaker icon to "unmute" the sound, and to turn up the volume here as well.