Thanking Melissa, School Holiday, Bishop Survey

Thank you, Melissa!

This Sunday we'll thank Melissa Lamoreaux for over 12 years of service as our volunteer bookkeeper. 
Initially stepping in to help out on a temporary basis, Melissa brought her professional accountancy skills to our parish finances for over 12 years!  Over the summer, she worked with our Finance Team to make the transition from in-house to our new contract bookkeepers as smooth as possible.  In the meantime, Melissa was one our Behind-the-Scenes volunteers who enabled our parish life to happen!  Let's all thank her this Sunday during the 10a.m. service, and in the garden afterwards -- weather permitting. Look for the card to sign.  

Speaking of "Behind-the-Scenes Helpers:" Last Sunday we thanked Marsha Brown, Cynthia Dwyer and Katherine Frydenborg for their largely unseen help in preparing for Sunday worship. 
Marsha, who has long arranged Sunday altar flowers, did the Christmas and Easter decorating almost entirely by herself and served as part of the core presenters of our 10a.m. livestream worship.  Since in-person, inside worship resumed in June, Marsha has done most of the ushering -- including the post-service tidying up -- pending the return of our usher teams.
     While we worshiped at 10a.m. only via livestream, there were still linens and silverware to wash, hangings and candles to change, and Katherine and Cynthia did all of that.  Since the return of inside, in-person worship, they have also been doing all the setting-up before and cleaning-up afterwards.  We thanked them for all of that, and a number of you stepped-up to assist with the cleaning-up and putting-away.
     The Thank-Yous continued in the garden between and after services.  If you'd like to add your gratitude to the cards, please include your message to Marsha, Katherine and/or Cynthia in a reply to these announcements.

Our Wednesday Order for Evening services resumed October 6, and will continue at 7p.m. during the weeks ahead.  Worshippers are welcome to join in the prayers, readings and hymns either in-person or online.  The link is www.facebook.com/cecguilford

Thursday Bible Study had its first Hybrid gathering on October 7.  We'll continue at 9:30a.m. in the Parish Hall, and online at this link.  We will continue our focus on Sundays' lectionary readings from the wisdom and poetical traditions with Job 38

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) of Christ Churchwill meet Thursday, October 14th, 12 noon at the Maritime Grill for a no-host lunch and a business meeting to discuss future fundraisers and projects. 
Julie Harris will join us and share her latest book and give us insight into her next book. 
All Christ Church Women are welcome, and we welcome new and former members.  Friends are also welcome.

The Bishop Transition Committee, for the next Bishop of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut, is receiving responses to itsonline survey via this link through 11:59p.m. today, October 8.  The survey poses the same questions as in the listening sessions, but you'll be done much more quickly! The Committee hopes to hear from many folks across ECCT to shape the call for our next Bishop Diocesan.

"Shoreline Interfaith Resettlement" ...
a group of 50+ folks, gathered for a second meeting on October 6, with representatives from First Congregational Church, Temple Beth Tikvah, North Madison Congregational Church, Christ Church and other community members.  
     We heard from Ashley Makar, who assists community co-sponsors resettle refugees through Integrated Refugee & Immigration Services(IRIS).  She reported that evacuees from Afghanistan are currently being vetted at US military bases: IRIS is expecting about 400 individuals -- mostly in family groups -- for resettlement in CT in the coming months.  So, they are welcoming co-sponsoring groups.  Housing and fund-raising are two key concerns, followed closely by the various tasks needed to equip and orient one family.  This informational document, and this tasks document from IRIS guided the creation of eight committees for our local collaboration; all now have leaders, and are seeking helpers.  Those interested in participating will need to participate in trainings on the evenings of October 25, 26, and 27. 
 

 
  
 
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.
      In addition to our, so far successful, experiment with leaving the door closest to the Guild Room unlocked daily between 10a.m. and at least 3p.m., you may notice a red narthex door standing open during the day.  That means that Music Director Mark Sullivan is rehearsing and passersby are welcome to come in for some musical refreshment.