A Message from Rev. Bob
Hello Grace and St Peter’s,
I am delighted to report that George Black, our former South Central Regional Missionary, will be joining us for two upcoming events. First, on Sunday George will be preaching at our 9AM service in the side yard at St John’s, North Haven. Then, on Monday, April 26th at 7:15PM (7PM for casual conversation), George will be our guest at the next installment of our Jesus’ Kingship of Kinship racial justice conversation. As usual, I will send out a link for this gathering on the same day.
Since leaving his SC Region post, George has been working as a venture manager for Collab, a non-profit organization that helps Black people and women start businesses in New Haven. He has also been working with ECCT as a Safe Church Trainer. We look forward to hearing from and speaking with George next week!
And please remember that Thursday is Earth Day. We will not be holding a dedicated Earth Day service this year, but we must not forget that behind, around and beneath all the other challenges that we face as a community, a nation and a world is the relentless destruction of our natural environment at our own hands. Please pray for the Earth and for all of God’s Creation. Pray that we might learn to be true stewards of this majestic gift, the gift that sustains our lives and thrills our spirits. Pray, in the words we have recently been adding to our baptismal covenant, that we might “cherish the wondrous works of God and protect the beauty and integrity of all Creation.”
Below is a prayer from the Greek Orthodox tradition that I found in Anne and Jeffery Rowthorn’s book, God’s Good Earth. Please feel free to make use of it.
O Holy God, how lovely it is to be your guest: breezes full of scent, mountains reaching to the skies; waters like a boundless mirror, reflecting the sun’s golden rays and the scudding clouds. All nature murmurs mysteriously, breathing depths of tenderness; birds and beasts bear the imprint of your love. Blessed are you, Mother Earth, in your overwhelming loveliness, which wakens our yearning for happiness that will last forever. All creation sings to you. Alleluia!
Wearing of Maks to Continue at Sunday Services
Although Governor Lamont has announced plans to eliminate most of the state's COVID-19 restrictions for every sector by May 19, 2021, (CT Covid Guidelines) in the interest of protecting the most vunerable amongst us, we will continue to wear masks and maintain 6' of social distancing at our services. Our towns currently remain in the "red zone", and covid continues to be spread. We will continue to evaluate the situation, and once our towns are no longer in the red zone, will revisit our safety precautions with the input of our Bishops. Thank you for your patience as we continue to navigate the pandemic, for the safety of us all.
A gun buy back event was held in New Haven this past Saturday. Along with the New Haven Police Department and Swords to Plowshares, Senetor Blumenthal and Govenor Lamont were in attendance. Below are three news clips highlighting this very successful event.
Eye Witness News 3
Fox 61
News 8 WTNH
Spring Is Here, The Grass is Growing
Time to Mow the Lawn!
I am putting together a rota for lawn mowing. If you are available to help with the mowing, please send an email to Kim at office@graceandstpeters.org.
ECCT eNews
Click here for the latest updates and events:
A Message of Gratitude From Columbus House!
Click here to view the video and read the thank you message
Save the Date
Picnic at Killam's Point with St. John's
Sunday, September 12th
Faith Study Group
Meeting tonight
The Faith Study Group continues to meet twice a month via Zoom, led by parishioner Gretchen Pritchard.
Our leisurely journey through the book “Manna and Mercy" by Daniel Erlander, has stayed in synch with the church year since Advent: we have just read the chapter on the Cross and are moving into the Easter and Pentecost stories and the life of the early Church.
Erlander’s presentation of the story of the Church as told in the Acts of the Apostles and the letters of Paul reflects the same topical and innovative approach we have already found so provocative in his retellings of the story of Israel and the Gospels.
So, how does “the Church”—the community of believers in the New Life of the Risen Lord—live out the Good News in the world? Join the discussion!
The Zoom meeting opens for casual conversation around 6:30, and discussion begins at 7:00 pm. The group is open to all. There is no “homework” or advance reading for the meetings, and no question is too basic or too complicated. Regular or occasional participation are both welcome.
If you would like to find out more, or if you’re interested in joining in the Faith Study Group and would like a copy of the book, please contact Gretchen Pritchard at 203-624-2520 or sundaypaper@snet.net. Please also let Gretchen know if you’d like to be on the Faith Study Group e-mailing list to receive reminders of the meetings and the Zoom log-in invitation.
PRAYERS
We pray for our ministries at Arden House and Whitney Manor. We pray for our Friday night dinner ministry. We pray for the ministry of Christian Community Action in New Haven, and the families they serve. We pray for our own parish of Grace and St. Peter's.
We pray for those in need of healing:
Michael, Andy, Frank, Sharon, Dan, Glenn, Peter, Mary, Mac, Alice, Bernadette, Marge, Sandi, Micki, Matthew, Peter, Nancy, Judy, John, Chukky, Elsie, Joan, Charles, Fiona, Marion, Dan, Debbie, Ellen, Nicole, Cassie, Phillip, Anthony, Mary-Anne, Margaret, Gwennie, Christy, James, Pat L., Ed, Alicia, Sean, Diane, Debbie, Esther, Candice, and Verna. We hold in our hearts all those who mourn.
Joining the Episcopal Church of Connecticut in the cycle of prayer, we pray for: St. Andrew’s, Milford; St. Peter’s, Milford; and Trinity, Milton. We also pray for parishes in transition, transition teams, and interim clergy.
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