RI The Apr i l 2021 Cornerstone Christ Church | West erly,

IN THIS ISSUE: RECTOR'S MESSAGE The Rev. Sunil Chandy

NEWS FROM THE ?Therefore, I tell you, do not worry ALTAR GUILD about your life, what you will eat PG 3 or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than FROM THE PRIEST food, and the body more than ASSOCIATE clothes? Look at the birds of the PG 4-5 air; they do not sow or reap or

CELEBRATING store away in barns, and yet your GEORGE KENT'S 65TH YEAR AT heavenly Father feeds them. Are CHRIST CHURCH PG 6-7 you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you, by worrying, add a single hour to your life?"

CHRISTIAN Matthew 6: 25-27 FORMATION PG 8 As I write this newsletter article in the middle of March, I hear the birds chirping on this glorious Spring morning, reminding me of the above words of Jesus. TRIVIA ?Why do you worry? ? every tim1 e I read or remember PG 8-11 these words of Jesus, I sense he is speaking to me. Perhaps it is because I know that I have a holy vocation HOLY WEEK & VIRTUAL as a priest to be a man of faith. I know that I should be WORSHIP SERVICES a faithful role model for my family and church family. PG 12-14 But friends, one of my sins that I confess daily is the

CALENDAR AND sin of ?lack of faith.? Because I am a worrier, yes, Jesus EVENTS speaks these words to me and to all of humanity. For PG 15-18 it is our human condition to worry. Now before I indulge in my guilt-ridden ?mea but not to let them dominate our culpa?, I want to gratefully lives, preventing us from hearing acknowledge that I have gotten the lovely conversations of birds, better through prayer and my the smell of flowers, the affections deepening relationship with God. of friends both new and old. In No, I am not perfect, but neither Easter, we acknowledge the fears does God require our perfection to and worries that beset our lives, receive God?s grace and love. but we embrace a faith that gives I have come to understand the good us the courage to live despite news. That God gives us faith and those fears. We know that the fear to be tools that help author of life has created us adapt and live in the this life and us, and it is world. Sometimes fear is ?good.? necessary, for it protects So this spring, when the us from the dangers birds are chirping, don?t inherent in life. But when forget to listen to their fear dominates our melody that honors our thoughts and Creator and reminds us conversations, we don?t that it is our choice to see truly live. the beauty and joy in life. When we worry, we become dominated and imprisoned by fear. But if we step outside that prison, then we see that fear can become part of the conversation along with faith, love and joy. I have found that it is far better to have our 2 fears in conversation with our faith. When we do this, like Jesus, we can live and love despite the risks Blessings, inherent in life. Fr. Sunil+ Friends, in the Easter season and the springtime, Jesus invites us to let go of our fears. To be aware of them NEWS FROM THE ALTAR GUILD

How wonderful it is to be able to decorate our beautiful church for Holy Week and Easter. Although things are still not ?back to normal? we are so pleased to be able to go back to being able to keep up our traditions. This is a very busy time for the Altar Guild! The Garden of Repose will be in place for Maundy Thursday and on Holy Saturday we will unveil the crosses, return all of our brass, bring back the hangings (white) and adorn the Paschal Candle with a ring of flowers. This year the All Night Vigil in the Garden of Repose will be virtual. One will be able to click on the link and pray and meditate at any time during the night. The Altar Guild wishes to thank Vickie VanHorn, a longtime member of the Altar Guild for replacing the gold fringe and braid on the altar white and gold hanging given by Janet M. Gordon, an Emeritus member of the Altar Guild and mother of our Co-Directress, Natalie Pukas. Almost two years ago at Easter, we discovered that the mice had loved the gold fringe at the bottom and destroyed most of it. It was a difficult task to find a match but finally, it was found in England and was sent to us. We received a very generous donation from Barbara Capalbo for its repair. Vickie has replaced it and it will once again adorn our altar for the Easter Season. Thank you all for your generosity and support for our Mothering Sunday Rose Sale. Again, we were so happy to do it this year with the addition of a drive through pick up. From last year?s add3itional profits after buying the chairs for the Parish Hall, we were able to donate $900.00 to the refinishing of the Parish House floor. We are also glad to be able to offer the Caring Crosses for Easter with our memorials and thanksgivings. All names will be published in the email blast as well as during the 10AM Easter Service. Crosses will be blessed and be available for pick up after each service on Saturday and Sunday. They will be placed outside of the office for pick-up during the week. FR. ERIK LARSEN

From the Priest Associate

Dear Friends: Here's an Easter meditation: There was a charming article in the Times of London a fewyears ago about a six-year-old girl named Lulu who went to a Scottish church primary school. Her teachers asked her to write the following letter: "To God, How did you get invented?" Her father was somewhat taken aback: "We had no idea that a state primary school affiliated with a church would 'do' quite so much God," says her father. He could have told Lulu that, in his opinion, there was no God; or he could have pretended that he was a believer. He chose to do neither, instead emailing her letter to the Scottish Episcopal Church (no reply), the Presbyterians (ditto) and the Scottish Catholics (a nice but theologically complex answer). For good measure, he also sent it to 4 "the head of theology of the Anglican Communion, based at Lambeth Palace" ? and this was the response: Dear Lulu, Your dad has sent on your letter and asked if I have any answers. It's a difficult one! But I think God might reply a bit like this ? 'Dear Lulu ? Nobody invented me ? but lots of people discovered me and were quite surprised. They discovered me when they looked round at the world and thought it was really beautiful or really mysterious and wondered where it came from. They discovered me when they were very, very quiet on their own and felt a sort of peace and love they hadn't expected. Then they invented ideas about me ? some of them sensible and some of them not very sensible. From time to time I sent them some hints ? specially in the life of Jesus ? to help them get closer to what I'm really like. But there was nothing and nobody around before me to invent me. Rather like somebody who writes a story in a book, I started making up the story of the world and eventually invented human beings like you who could ask me awkward questions! And then he'd send you lots of love and sign off. I know he doesn't usually write letters, so I have to do the best I can on his behalf.? Lots of love from me too. It was signed, +Archbishop Rowan Williams (the now retired Archbishop of Canterbury.) I love this. Could anyone have done better?

What do you think?

Fr. Erik+ 5 I had t he honor and privilege of sit t ing dow n w it h George Kent t o discuss his upcom ing 65t h Anniversary w it h Christ Church. George, you?ve been here for 65 years? w hat m ade you st ay? I?ve had other opportunities, but there were no oceans! It really boils down to the people here? they are so important. For instance, I knew Meg Roy since she was in kindergarten. It?s also this special area and the beauty of this place that I never tire of. Lastly, in the Episcopal Church, music is such a large part of the service. The choir feels like it?s a ministry for them and their dedication is inspiring. Can you w alk dow n m em ory lane a bit for m e and t alk about w hat it w as like w hen you first st art ed at Christ Church? In 1956, there were only 4 choir members. I had this idea to get the children involved, and once they were, they really helped to grow the choir. The girls sang at one service and the trebles (the boys) at another. I have fond memories of choir camp which was always a part of my life and my family?s life. As far back as the 1920?s, my father and my aunt would spend evenings at the camp which at that time was located at Weekapaug. You?ve im pact ed t he com m unit y out side of Christ Church. Tell m e a lit t le about The Chorus of West erly. In the beginning, The Chorus of Westerly used to meet at Christ Church for several years. They also had performances here. There were two existing choirs in town, but no mixed choir. I had this idea to incorporate the kids in the chorus. I always felt that children could sing the major works and they proved me right. Eventually, the old Immaculate Conception church with its incredible acoustics became the home of the Chorus. It was built out of old materials, especially old wood that help the resonation qualities. What keeps you going? It?s got to be the choir members? dedication. They keep me focused and committed. What ?s dow n t he pike? It?s going to take some time to get the choir?s voices back in shape. As you know, if you don?t use your voice, it needs to be exercised. I?m also looking forward to maintaining the English music tradition by introducing new music selections. What did you do during t he Covid 19 lockdow n? 6 I?ve been working here at the church on new music and have been drawing up a yearly plan that?s doable and appropriate for the choir. What m usic do you play just for fun? I used to play trumpet on Saturday nights with a dance band at local gigs. I stopped in 1963 when rock and roll came onto the scene. I?ll never forget how amazed I was by how well I could hear the choir that following Sunday! Can you im agine your life w it hout m usic? I used to teach a course at URI that included a discussion of how important slowing down and paying attention to your five senses. I focused on how important it was to truly listen to music. I find that it?s hard for me to turn that off, especially when there?s music in the background. I?m currently watching a series on TV and it?s hard to concentrate on the storyline. All I can hear is the background music, especially one cellist who consistently plays out of tune! 7 8

APRIL 1. This year, East er com es earlier, on April 4 (last year it w as on April 12). Do you recall how t he dat e is TRIVIA det erm ined? 2. Richard, Bishop of Chichest er, is observed on April 3, w ho w as he? 3. One of t he early saint s, St . Anselm , is honored on April 21. What do w e know about him ? Apr il Tr ivia Answer s

1. Since t he deat h and resurrect ion of Jesus Christ occurred during t he t im e of t he Jew ish Passover, t he dat e of t he full m oon is t he det erm ining fact or, as it Vacation Bible School Recap w as w it h t he dat e of Passover. East er is alw ays t he first Sunday aft er t he Paschal Full Moon, t he first full m oon t hat falls on or aft er t he Vernal Equinox, set by t he church long ago as March 21, t o avoid any confusion should it occur on March 20, as it does t his year. It cannot occur before March 22 or aft er April 25, on t he Gregorian calendar. The dat es are different for t he Ort hodox, w ho st ill use t he Julian calendar. 2. Richard w as born in England, c.1197, t o a gent ry fam ily near w hat is now Worcest ershire. He and his older brot her w ere quit e young w hen t heir parent s died, leaving t he est at e in t he care of a guardian t o m anage. Aft er w orking on t he est at e for a w hile, Richard t urned it over t o his brot her and w ent t o 9 Oxford, preferring a life of st udy and t he church. Succeeding in his st udies, he began t o t each t here as w ell. From t here he w ent t o st udy law in Paris and t hen Bologna, w here he dist inguished him self in canon law , earning a doct orat e. He ret urned t o Oxford in 1235 and becam e Universit y Chancellor t here. Short ly aft erw ards, his form er t ut or, now t he Archbishop of Cant erbury, appoint ed him t o be his ow n chancellor. He joined t he archbishop in exile in France, due t o conflict w it h King Henry III, and upon t he archbishop's deat h, Richard m oved t o Orleans t o st udy t heology, and w as ordained as a priest in 1243. He t hen ret urned t o England, becom ing a parish priest and w as soon reappoint ed Chancellor of Cant erbury by t he new archbishop t here. In 1244 he w as elect ed Bishop, w hich w as opposed by t he king, w ho m ade life difficult for him . Threat ened by t he Pope, King Henry finally acknow ledged Richard as Bishop in 1246. He served his diocese as a preacher, confessor, t eacher and counselor for t he next eight years, unt il his deat h. He died on April 3, 1253. He w as canonized nine years lat er, in 1262. His best rem em bered w ords are: "Dear Lord, of t hee t hree t hings I pray: To see t hee m ore clearly, Love t hee m ore dearly, Follow t hee m ore nearly." They m ight sound fam iliar, as t hey w ere used in t he song "Day by Day," from t he popular m usical "Godspell." 3. Anselm w as born in It aly around 1033. At t he age of 15, he decided t o ent er a m onast ery,1 0but failing t o obt ain his fat her 's consent , he w as refused by t he abbot . Lat er, he t raveled t hrough France, reaching Norm andy in 1059, and t ook m onast ic vow s at t he Abbey of Bec in 1060. He succeeded his t eacher Lanfranc as Prior of Bec in 1063, and w as elect ed

Bec's abbot follow ing t he deat h of it s founder in 1078. Under his direct ion, Bec becam e t he forem ost seat of learning in Europe, at t ract ing st udent s from all over. Follow ing t he Norm an Conquest of England in 1066, devot ed lords had given t he abbey ext ensive lands t here, and Anselm w ould go t o oversee t he propert y and visit Lanfranc, w ho had becom e Archbishop of Cant erbury in 1070. He w ould lat er be appoint ed t o t hat posit ion him self, in 1093, w here he m aint ained his m onast ic ideals in t he m idst of ot her conflict s. He is know n as a pioneer in t he scholast ic m et hod, and rem ains t he great exponent of t he "ont ological argum ent " for t he exist ence of God and of t he "sat isfact ion t heory" of t he at onem ent . He died on April 21, 1109, and w as lat er canonized as a saint and proclaim ed a Doct or of t he Church by t he Pope.

Have a Happy and Blessed East er, and see you in May!

11 12 Christ Church Virtual Worship Services Available Saturdays, Sundays and Wednesdays

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Service Hours Subject t o change Saturday 5:00 p.m. In-Person Holy Eucharist Saturday 6:00 p.m. Virtual Compline Sunday 10:00 a.m. In-Person Holy Eucharist Christ Episcopal Church Sunday, following the service Sunday School CLERGY Monday 2:30 p.m. The Rev. Sunil Chandy, Christ Church Rector Virtual Bible Study The Rt. Rev. David Joslin, Rector Emeritus; Bishop in Residence Wednesday 10:00 a.m. The Rev. Erik Larsen, Assistant to the Rector Virtual Morning Prayer Wednesday 6:00 p.m. Virtual Compline STAFF George Kent, Organist & Choirmaster Jacquelyn Smith, Parish Administrator; Wedding Coordinator Dorothy Adams, Parish Secretary Kristy Allardyce, Director of Christian Formation

VESTRY COME JOIN US! Caswell Cooke, Jr., Senior Warden Sarah Starkweather, Junior Warden Natalie Pukas, Clerk Daniel Leonard, Treasurer

19 Fred Allardyce Paul Kuhn Barbara Capalbo Doug Lawrence Mike Evering Emily Mugge Katherine Hoxsie Thomas Quaratella 7 Elm Street | Westerly, RI 02891 Jean Kelly Richard Roy 401-596-0197 Lisa Kitchen Molly Schonenberg [email protected]