Emilie Hitron recently traveled to Haiti to meet with our friends and Parish partners at St. Luc’s in Lazil. Her update helps connect us with their lives:

“I wanted to report back to my church about how your partners in Haiti are doing. I had a brief but intense visit with St. Luc’s. The primary purpose of my visit was to hire a new nurse, since our last nurse, Rigan, left in August. I am happy to report that we have a wonderful new nurse in place that I have every confidence will do a wonderful job.
The previous church was destroyed in the earthquake five years ago, and since then the congregation has been worshipping in the old school building you see in the background—also substantially damaged, but still standing. The congregation has been doing its best to try to raise money for building materials. They are poor financially, but rich in spirit. They felt as an act of faith, they needed to do what they could and not hope for money that may never come. The entire congregation chose a day, and men, women and children started out at first light and headed down a steep ravine that runs in the back of the church property to the bottom where they knew were usable rocks. The men and women each carried a rock on their head back to the church, and the children carried the smaller rocks in their hands. They made trip after trip until they lost the light, and in the next few days laid this foundation. The next step will be to buy concrete blocks. They know that whatever blocks they are able to buy will also need to be carried on their heads from the paved road a two-hour walk away.
Words cannot express how this foundation moves me. How many of us would be willing to give this much for our church? More money would of course make their efforts easier and a time may come when I ask for your help rebuilding St. Luc’s. I know well we have our own structural and maintenance issues here at Christ Church that regularly eat at our budget. For now, I ask that you keep this faithful congregation in your regular prayers.
There is also plenty to be said about the goat project. All the does are pregnant and one has delivered. One buck is underperforming and I am soliciting veterinary advice on how to deal with this. School has reopened after the Christmas break with a drastically reduced enrollment. Father Desire, the priest at St. Luc’s, named a new director, so at present the school is in a bit of a transition. A high percentage of the students are enrolled in the music program, but they need more instruments. They currently need to share trumpets and saxophones, and Anielle, the music teacher, would also love a set of drums. If anyone knows of trumpets or saxophones that are not being used we can take them with us in August. We can’t bring a drum, but Anielle tells me he can buy one for $50 in Haiti. If someone feels moved to make a donation, I know he and the students would be very grateful.”

Join us as we experience the journey of Jesus and his disciples through Holy Week. Join our procession with palms at the start of the Palm Sunday 10:00 a.m. service on March 29. Contemplate the Last Supper and commandment to love one another at our Maundy Thursday (April 2) service. On Good Friday (April 3), join us for 1 of 3 services: noon for a liturgy remembering Jesus’ death on the cross; 3 p.m. for the Children’s Service; 6:45 p.m. for a dramatic Tenebrae service. Celebrate the joy of Easter at 9 a.m. or 11 a.m. services on Sunday, April 5. See our listing and full description of Holy Week and Easter services. View our music program for the services.

Holy Week and Easter

April 2

                7:00 P.M. – Maundy Thursday

                8:00 P.M. – All Night Vigil

April 3

                12:00 Noon – Good Friday Liturgy from the Book of Common Prayer

                3:00 P.M. – Children’s Good Friday Service

                6:45 P.M. – Tenebrae

April 5   Easter Sunday 

                9:00 A.M. – Festal Holy Eucharist with Choir

                10:30 A.M. – Easter Egg Hunt

                11:00 A.M. – Festal Holy Eucharist with Choir

Plan to join us at Circle of Hope’s upcoming fundraising event. The event, called Revival, is a two-day home design showcase featuring ten home vignettes of previously owned furniture and accessories … all wrapped up in a party. These restored and re-purposed pieces will be for sale through a silent auction. Co-sponsored by Needham Bank and Dedham Savings, the Revival Preview Party takes place March 28th and 29th at the Marriott Residence Inn in Needham. Preview Party ticket holders will be the first to view and bid on the ten vignettes at a cocktail party complemented with live music. On March 28th, as a ticket holder, you can enjoy the cocktail party and live music, while you preview the pieces and bid on the items you want. Come back on the 29th between noon and 4pm for more fun and see what you’ll take home.

The proceeds of Revival will enable Circle of Hope to serve Boston’s homeless and at-risk children, women, and men by providing essential clothing for dignity and health, school and work, and a future of self-sufficiency. For tickets or more information contact Kate Maguire at Kate@circleofhopeonline.org or visit our website.
In other big news, a small group of Circle of Hope board members has been working quietly and tirelessly behind the scenes to raise funds to purchase a cargo van to deliver our donations all over Greater Boston. We’ve been telling the story of how a cargo van will transform the way we serve poor and homeless individuals and families. A cargo van carries as many donations as we can jam into three or four volunteers’ cars. And, in the winter we won’t have to make the heart-wrenching choice between delivering warm coats, bedding or clothing to each shelter. We’re announcing [insert drumroll] the arrival of the new COH cargo van! [Insert our grateful applause] We thank our board members who gave so generously and campaigned relentlessly until we achieved this pivotal milestone for Circle of Hope. Soon you’ll see our cargo van rolling out and serving our brothers and sisters in deep need!