Pentecost: Spirit is moving!

Day of Pentecost, May 23, 2021:

The Story of Pentecost, will be told by some our children and youth this Sunday, May 23, during the 10a.m. livestream service.  Director for Children & Youth Ministries Tyler Jarvis will preach; so I'm looking forward to that!
     Looks like we'll have a summer-like condition for our 1p.m. Prayers in the Garden service.  I'll do my best to provide a Reader's Digest version of Tyler's sermon.  Please remember a lawn chair, mask, and to watch your distance.
     Next Sunday, May 30, we will join with the rest of the Episcopal Church in CT for a livestreamed "Fifth Sunday" service hosted by St. Paul's Church, Fairfield, at 10a.m. on ECCT's Facebook and YouTube channels.  We will have our own Prayers in the Garden at 1p.m.

Change is coming on June 6:    
      On Sunday, June 6, our Garden Service will return to its summer time of 9a.m. 
      At 10a.m. on June 6, expect to see our red front doors wide open for those who wish to participate in-person in the livestream Holy Eucharist.  At their meeting this week, our Vestry accepted the recommendations from our "Worship Options Group" for this third option with the following expectations:  wearing masks, and maintaining distance between "bubbles" of families and friends.  Communion wafers will again be consecrated during the Great Thanksgiving and offered to those present at the Children's Altar; the Spiritual Communion prayer will be offered for those on the livestream.
       Following the 10a.m. service, at about 11:15a.m., we will move to the garden for a box-lunch and to reconvene our Annual Parish Meeting.
    
     Digital Sunday School was mailed Friday about noon.  Be sure to check out Children and Youth Ministries Director Tyler Jarvis' video introduction to Sunday's readings from Ezekiel and Acts, as well as his letter with all the links to videos, songs, coloring pages, and discussion questions.  As usual, Tyler's enthusiasm is infectious!  And his discussion questions aren't just for youngsters, e.g. Where do see God breathing new life into the world around us?

In the final chapters of Love is the Way: Holding onto Hope in Troubling Times, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry shares stories that answer the question, "Does love mean avoiding politics?"  For Bishop Curry love is the test, "If it's not about love, it's not about God."
    A parallel evening discussion on Tuesday evening will follow the chapters 10 and 11 discussed in Sunday morning's  Rectory Forum conversation at 9a.m.  Here's the Zoom link for the Sunday Forum. 

Virtual Coffee Hour:  Check in with folks about Spring adventures.  The link to YFNR's Personal Zoom Room seems to work well.  So, join the conversation via Zoom on Sunday, May 16 at 11:30a.m. by clicking this link. 

Wednesday's Order for Evening falls into the "meanwhile time" between Ascension and Pentecost. Join our livestream prayers and hymns, Wednesday evening, May 12, at 7p.m.
 
Thursday Bible Study will read the charming story of Baalam and his talking donkey in the Book of Numbers.  You read that right, a talking donkey.  Join the conversation about Numbers Chapter 22, at 9:30a.m. Thursday, May 20, via Zoom.

Purple Flags have Returned.  The purple flags in front of Christ Church demonstrate our solidarity with the rest of the Town in encouraging healthy choices among our young people.  This is one of Guilford D.A.Y.'s projects, which have "achieved great success in reducing teen alcohol/substance abuse by 50% or more over the past ten years, moving [Guilford] from statistics worse than the state average, to a position substantially better than average," reports leader Bo Huhn.

Intercessory Prayer: Please help shape the Prayers of the People, by replying to this message with the people, birthdays, anniversaries, and concerns you would like included in the Prayers of the People.

      We are continuing our experiment with leaving the door closest to the Guild Room unlocked between 10a.m. and at least 3p.m.  Please enjoy a quiet moment of prayer, likely alone, and pick up a candle stub for prayers at home.

Thanks to all who are mailing in your offerings!  
​​Thanks to your faithfulness, we are able to continue our shared life of worship and witness.  Please continue your financial support of our common life by bringing your offering to a garden service, or the parish office, or by mailing to Christ Church, PO Box 574, Guilford, CT 06437.
In the faith, hope and love of Christ,
Harrison+
YFNR
p.s. before I forget yet again:  copies of Forward Day by Day for May-July are still available.  Please respond to this message if you'd like to have one mailed to you.  They are available to be picked-up on the chancel table with the candle stubs.