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Dear Friends in Christ,
I pray this email finds you enjoying the middle of summer, in New Haven or wherever you are. Summer is a good time for rest, for a break, for Sabbath--rest that reorients us towards God, towards remembering the values of what is ultimately important, towards remembering right relationships with God, with one another, and with ourselves--all that God loves and has created. I hope it will be such a time for you.
The work of the Church goes on even in summer--the presence of Christ in the sacraments, the daily round of prayer, and reaching out to our fellow humans in care and concern. None of this stops, even as we may rest, and I am grateful to the volunteer lay readers and affiliate clergy along with the Curate who keep facilitating our corporate prayer this month.
I also write to let you know of two exciting new developments in our parish.
The long-anticipated project of using our undercroft showers to provide a showers ministry to the neighborhood is now underway. Beginning in July guests of Community Soup Kitchen who wish to come early can sign up for shower slot. I am grateful to our community partner CSK, to its volunteers and board, and to the staff for facilitating this important new ministry. If you'd like to help by volunteering to supervise a shift, please reply to this email. Showers are available 8:30am to 10:30am on Tuesdays and Thursdays. See volunteers at CSK to sign up.
Other good news is that we are beginning our process of re-staffing the parish office and music programs. Luke Plein in Yale College will join as my assistant in August. Luke is preparing to study medicine and theology with an interest in end-of-life care; you can read more about his discernment on the staff pages our website.
Alex Whittington, a candidate for the M. M. in Choral Conducting in the Institute of Sacred Music, joins the parish as our new Choirmaster. Alex grew up as a dancer and now sings and conducts; read more about their musical interests at the staff pages of our website. You'll see them at mass beginning in late August. (Thomas Williford, our present choirmaster, is resigning but will stay on in the parish as we pray together. We'll say thank you to Thomas at coffee hour on August 11.)
And finally, in September Clayton Farmer will join in September as the new Organ Scholar. He comes to us (and to the ISM at Yale) from Christ Church, Cranbrook, where he's served as Assistant Director of Music.
I'm delighted to welcome these capable and talented folks to Christ Church, and I look forward to their joining this community of faith in the new term.
Finally, mark your calendars for August 15, the Feast of Saint Mary the Virgin. There's a mass and cookout; it's a great time to meet folks who have moved to New Haven recently and a good time to celebrate together.
Enjoy the summer, and Saint Mary, pray for us!
Yours in the love of Christ,
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