GLAD TIDINGS

No.3. Vol 09 March 2009 christchurchguilford.org

Looking Ahead to the Glory of Easter

O
ne way to describe the Episcopal Church would be to identify us as a “Liturgical Church in the
Apostolic Succession.” That is, we are a church that has historical roots and traditions of worship
going back to the apostles.

We are a church that finds its equilibrium and order in the worship services and liturgical calendar that the
Church provides through our Book of Common Prayer. Part of our rich liturgical heritage as Anglicans is
made up of the beautiful worship services that comprise the diverse options of religious observance for our
liturgical expression and celebrations during the days of Holy Week.

Beginning with our celebration of Christ’s Passion on Palm Sunday, we commence our walk with the Lord
starting with his triumphal entry into Jerusalem. The Liturgies of Holy Week guide us through Maundy
Thursday and Christ’s institution of the Holy Eucharist at the Last Supper as we recall and re-enact his act
of humility as he kneels before his disciples and washes their feet. In anticipation of the solemnity of Good
Friday, our Maundy Thursday Liturgy is concluded by the stripping of the altar and sanctuary. Candles are
extinguished and removed, fair linens are taken from the altar, pulpit hangings and the altar frontal are put
away.

Since the Church does not permit bishops or priests to celebrate the Holy Eucharist on Good Friday, the
consecrated Sacrament is “reserved” or placed at an “altar of repose” in anticipation of its distribution on
Good Friday. That altar holds the lighted sanctuary lamp, indicating the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
and flowers in anticipation of the Resurrection.

Our Good Friday Liturgy includes the reading of the Passion Gospel and an opportunity for the veneration
of the Holy Cross, a centuries-old tradition tracing back to the early church and Holy Week observances
recorded in the 4th century in Jerusalem. The Solemnity of Holy Week culminates with the joy and glory of
the Resurrection and Christ’s victory over death.

Our Easter observance begins with the Great Vigil of Easter, on Saturday night. The Liturgy provided for the
Easter Vigil is, I believe, the most dramatic and impressive liturgy in the Church. As dusk turns into night,
the Church gathers to celebrate the first Eucharist of Easter. There is
a palpable sense of anticipation as the clergy and congregation gather
in a darkened church to begin the Service of Light to kindle and bless
the new fire of Easter. As the flames in the basin grow, light gradually
dispels the darkness that envelopes the people in the nave and sanctuary,
symbolic of Christ, the New Light, and his victory over the grave. The
celebrant inscribes the Paschal Candle with the symbols of the Alpha ∆
and the Omega Ω and the year, saying: “Christ yesterday and today, the
Beginning and the End, Alpha and Omega. His are the times and ages.
To him be glory and dominion through all ages of eternity.”

The celebrant then places five grains of incense into the four points and
center of the traced cross on the Candle, saying: “Through his holy and glorious wounds may Christ the
Lord guard and preserve us.” The Paschal Candle is lighted from the new fire and is carried into the
Church. Tapers throughout the congregation are lighted from its flame as light spreads over the people.
The Exsultet, or Paschal Proclamation, is sung as the procession moves to the sanctuary for the Liturgy of
the Word and then the First Festival Eucharist of the Resurrection. The interior lights of the church are
restored at the singing of the Gloria as the church bells are rung to signal Christ’s rising from the dead.

Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!!

GLAD TIDINGS
 GLAD TIDINGS
Mardi Gras Party brings out revelers
“Laissez les bon temps rouler.” For we who are French
challenged, this means “It’s party time!” Christ Church
parishioners filled the parish hall on Saturday, February
21 bringing New Orleans to Guilford. “Fat Tuesday,” the
day before Ash Wednesday, is a last chance to party before
Lent arrives when we will focus on Jesus’ 40 days in the
wilderness and our Lenten obligations.

New Orleans’ Mardi Gras features lavish costumes of

green, purple, and gold for those willing to make a fool of
themselves. Costumes ranged from Father Tony’s fancy
geisha gown, to our Mardi Gras King Paul Ayotte, many
ladies dressed in lavish gowns, a few cruise tourists added to
the party, and a Tom Hanks wannabe, looked very much like
a survivor on a desert island.

Music was non-stop New Orleans creole and jazz, which

encouraged a snake dance led by Geisha Tony. Great New
Orleans’ cuisine was well prepared and served with Tabasco
sauce to flavor the jambalaya just right. To close the evening,
King Cake was cut by each diner. A plastic baby was hidden
in the cake and he or she who was lucky enough to find the
baby will buy or bake the cake for the next Mardi Gras party
sure to repeat in a year.
 Anouncements
ECW Pot Luck Volunteers ECW
Lunch Needed Contributes
 
Coming up Thursday, April 9, at the
Interested in helping with Christ
Church publicity?
Leadership Gift
ECW Meeting is Quest speaker Barbara The ECW of Christ Church have come
Katz of the VNA. She will presenting Nimble fingers and friendly faces are forward with a generous $3,000.00
needed by Pat Wakefied on Fridays contribution to the parish from

s
helpful, useful information about Fall
Risks. All attending will receive a to prepare the Sunday Bulletin for proceeds of the organization’s fund
the 8 and 10 o’clock services. It is
useful booklet on this common elderly
easy coffee-klatch sorting and fold- raisers. The gift has been designated
problem.  
ing with the chance to hear breaking as the first ‘leadership gift’ in our effort
ALL are welcome: male,  female, young news from our busy calendar. to retire the debt incurred through the
and old.  Pot luck lunch will be at 12:00 restoration of the former rectory. The
with the presentation at 1:00.    Once a month on Wednesday or Wardens and Vestry will be developing
Thursday, Glad Tidings needs tender an appeal for other leadership gifts
Please join us, you’re never too young or care to label, fold and collate for from potential donors in the parish.
old to come! For more information bulk mailing. A few volunteers can
do the job in an hour. All but approximately $4,400 of the
please call Cindy Smith 453-4648.
funds used in restoring the rectory were

Holy Week and Easter at borrowed by the parish to complete the

project.

Christ Episcopal Church E A S T E R

MEMORIALS
Passion Sunday April 5
FUND SPECIAL
8:00 am - Liturgy of the Palms Ω The Passion Gospel
Holy Eucharist Rite I
10:00 am – Ecumenical Liturgy of the Palms on the Green Ω
EASTER MUSIC
Procession to Christ Church Ω The Passion Gospel & FLOWERS
Holy Eucharist Rite II Easter Memorial Gift Envelopes,
available since Ash Wednesday, may
Wednesday in Holy Week April 8 be used to fund the Easter flowers, to
decorate the sanctuary for Easter, and for
7:30 pm A Service of Tenebrae additional musicians for special Easter
music for our Festival Holy Eucharists
Maundy Thursday April 9 on Easter Sunday. Easter Memorials
7:30 pm The Liturgy for Maundy Thursday may be given either in memory of a
Ceremonial Foot Washing Ω Celebration of the Lord’s Supper deceased loved one or in thanksgiving
Reservation of the Sacrament Ω Solemn Stripping of the Altar for God’s abundant blessings. Your
generosity ontributes to the joyous
celebration we anticipate.
Good Friday April 10
12 Noon Mass of the Pre-Sanctified
Veneration of the Holy Cross Laura Kennel
7:30 pm Mass of the Pre-Sanctified with organ and choir Provides Nursery
Veneration of the Holy Cross Care
Laura Kennel, 18, will be our Nursery
The Great Vigil of Easter Saturday April 11 Care-giver for toddlers up to 3 yrs.
7:30 pm Kindling of the New Fire of Easter old on Sunday Mornings. This ‘paid’
Blessing and Inscription of the Paschal Candle position is funded by a generous
Festival Holy Eucharist of the Resurrection donation of the Lameroux family,
recent newcomers to Christ Church.
Renewal of Baptismal Vows
Nursery care is available from 9:30
a.m. until after the 10:00 am Sunday
 GT profiles
earning a living as a stockbroker. June also volunteered with the
Guilford Interfaith Ministries
When she was forty years old of Churches as a friendly visitor,
and her children no longer Meals-on-Wheels driver, and
needing constant care, she went Food Bank volunteer.
back to college at Western
Connecticut State to earn her The Christ Church Altar Guild
MA as a teacher. She taught has been decimated by the
third grade at the Brookside departure of a number of faithful
Elementary School in Norwalk volunteers, so June and other
for 3 years, but decided she ECW and Altar Guild members
June Crouter could better serve her family and
herself at home.
are opening their arms for new
volunteers. Those who do answer

Chittick As retirement age approached for

Bob, the Chitticks were offered
this call will get to know June
Chittick. That, in itself, will be
an uplifting experience.

B
orn in Burlington, VT, a handsome price for their
June has solid upper New
England genes developed
attractive home in Westport.
With daughters grown, they
Vestry Member
in a state where farmers still
predominate and cows once
moved up the Sound to Guilford
in 1997. June says that Guilford
Recognized for
outnumbered human beings. has the rural feel that she is Service
Vermonters are often good comfortable with as a Vermonter

B
listeners and hard workers. They -- a bit more country, slower ob Donahue, Vestry
also display a great sense of paced than lower Fairfield County member and Stewardship
humor always looking for the -- and filled with friendly people Chairman here at Christ
quirky things in life to laugh at like herself. Episcopal Church, , was recognized
or to build a joke upon. June by People’s United Bank as their
has those traits: more willing to When Bob died suddenly six “2008 Corporate Volunteer of the
listen and react than to dominate years ago, The Rev. Norman Year.” Bob received the award at
conversation, satisfied to be a McLeod offered to do the funeral their annual awards banquet, held
doer rather than a dominator, service and June found a new, this year in his honor at the Grassy
and, always, offering a smile and a caring home at Christ Church. Hill Country Club on March 11.
chuckle when something strikes Her first volunteer work was with The award was presented to Bob
her alert sense of humor. the ECW after Jeanette Koncz by People’s President and Chief
convinced her to join the group. Executive Officer. Congratulations,
June graduated from the Join she did and soon June was a Bob!!
University of Vermont in 1951. vital, dependable member of the
She got more than her BA degree Christ Church Altar Guild. She
when she met her husband-to-be, sees her service preparing the
Robert Chittick, a Bostonian, altar as a privilege, not a burden.
who was a classmate. The few hours of attending to the
sacred preparation of the altar for
June and Bob settled in Westport, communion is uplifting for her.
CT, where they lived happily for
forty-five years. June was then a Her dependability and positive
traditional housewife busy raising approach to her volunteer service
her daughters Jennifer, Cynthia, was noticed and appreciated and
and Deborah while Bob was she was elected to the Vestry.
Christ Episcopal Church Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
P. O. Box 574 PAID
Guilford, Connecticut 06437 Guilford, Connecticut
Permit Number 1

Change Service Requested

Easter
GLAD TIDINGS
a publication of
Pledges Top 2009 Budget
Christ Episcopal Church
11 Park Street As Stewardship Chairman, I have to scream Thank you! Thank you!
Guilford, Connecticut 06437 Thank you! to our Christ Church family. We have made our Pledge
The Rev’d. Anthony C. Dinoto Commitment goal for 2009!!
Interim Rector
Editor As of March 1st we have received in $161,000.00 in pledge
[email protected] commitments and our goal was $160,700.00!!!!What a phenomenal
203-453-2279
feat for our church! Thanks to all the parishioners who sent in
Edward Seibert their pledge cards and made this happen. Thanks also to those of
Senior Warden you who made amendments to your pledge based upon our needs
[email protected] and to those of you for pledging for the first time! Thank you for
203-458-6516 responding to my follow-up phone calls and making this process
Pat Wakefield fruitful for all of us!
Parish Administrator
[email protected] What a great feeling to be a part of this wonderful and giving
203-453-2279
community! "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be
William D. Glover also" (Matthew, 6: 21)
Managing Editor
[email protected] Bob Donahue, Stewardship Chair.
203-458-1926