The West Suffield Congregation is putting up our flags. They were given to us by the family of Benjamin Franklin Yates (WWI veteran) and Albert P. Yates (WWII and Korean War); both men were from Suffield. The flags were presented to the families; they had originally been draped across their caskets.
It was an honor to receive those flags. We put them up for Memorial Day and Veterans Day as a sign of our support for the military. One of our active service parishioners will be hanging the flags in a gesture of gratitude for their service, bravery, and sacrifice. We invite you to remember those who served and who we have lost, as you drive by the church and see them.
On Cinco de Mayo, well, actually on Quatro de Mayo, we will be having a Cinco de Mayo party at the church after our 10 a.m. service. Our coffee hour will be decorated with bright flowers, and we will eat tacos, chili and a three-layer dip while we sit and socialize. Wearing bright colors and flowers in your hair is encouraged.
John Nielsen: Korean War Veteran, current Guardian Angel
Finally, on May 18, we will be celebrating a vital ministry in our church: Wrapped in Prayer – A Service Honoring the Prayer Shawl Ministry. Conceived by our Head Deacon, Lucille Miller, the ministry has delivered over thirty shawls since its inception two years ago. Lucille writes: We have a group of knitters and crocheters who meet once a month. As we knit or crochet these items in our church group and at home, we pray for comfort and healing for the recipient. During our meeting, we pray as a group as each new shawl is made and then the shawls are brought into the sanctuary on Communion Sunday to be consecrated by the Congregation, who add their prayers and blessings to them. We know our prayers are felt by those who receive these prayer shawls and blankets as they have told us that these garments are very special. They have said they feel the warmth and prayers as they wear the shawl or blanket and they are comforted. We usually don’t know who will receive the prayer shawl as we are knitting, but we always pray for comfort and healing. Sometimes the prayer shawl finds the person.
Blessings on your day.