Dear Friends,
I want to cover three things in this easing-into-summer missive: the ministers’ on-call schedule; a Habitat For Humanity proposal; and an invitation to participate in my next recorded book project, In Times of Trouble.
Barbara and I have worked out a schedule for the summer. She will be on call for church emergencies the first two weeks in July and the last two weeks in August. I will be on call from mid-July through mid-August. The office will be open from 9 to 1 every week day–they will be able to contact one of us. We will also return emergency messages left on our voice mail during our on-call times.
As you probably know, Habitat For Humanity has been working in Bridgeport for 16 years, building and rehabbing houses for low-income families to buy. There are 1500 houses in Bridgeport which are not fit to live in. Many are abandoned and used as crack houses, creating unsafe conditions for everyone in those neighborhoods.
Our Social Action Committee has proposed forming a coalition with two or three other congregations in Westport to sponsor and build a new home at a total cost of about $70,000. That’s right. You can build a home for $70,000. If four congregations participate, our commitment would be $17,500. We’re confident we can raise that money without taking away from our annual canvass but be a boost to it.
When the Social Action Committee made the proposal to the Board last month I said I hoped such a project would assist our annual canvass-we all feel better about supporting our budget when we are helping to make this a better, more livable world. I’m confident you’ll agree and respond. You’ll be hearing more about this in coming weeks.
Finally, let me tell you a little about the above-mentioned project: In Times of Trouble.
I’m putting together a collection of Psalms, poems, prayers, inspirational readings and I’ve written some meditations of my own. I will record each of these pieces, similar to the Natural Selections poetry anthology. I hope this new collection will provide support during difficult days-the inevitable times of trouble, sorrow, adversity and heartache and grief each of us faces.
Do you have suggestions for inclusion in this collection? Please send them to me. I hope to complete the project by the end of July so we can have it ready for print and recording.
Thoreau said, “I wish to begin this summer well, to do something in it worthy of it and of me; to transcend my daily routine; to have my immortality now in the quality of my daily life.” The project, In Times of Trouble, as well as the plans for a Habitat house, seem worthy of the summer, transcending my daily routine. I wish you a good summer, and I hope you plan to participate in the summer Sunday lay-led services. Be well.
Cheers,
Frank
