Since I am so delightfully busy here at Saint Alban's and owe so many people letters, I am resorting to the less personal (but more efficient) device of "mimeography" to get some answers off.

We arrived here in Simsbury on June eighth; our furniture from Wisconsin had already arrived, so we spent the week getting the house in order. Our things from Massachusetts had not yet arrived! What a shock it would be if, just once, movers got things moved on time and without incident.

I began "work" on Thursday the eleventh, after attending the Ordinations of the Connecticut Deacons in Hartford.

Since the parish was not planning to see us until the 15th, we went up to Needham for the weekend of the 13th.

Then, Monday, I began my parish calls, new-comer greetings, trips to Hartford hospitals, etc. We had a dance for the young people on the 19th. The parish has grown so fast that we are just now beginning to give the teenagers any sort of a program (other than their regular Church school).

The parishioners have been so wonderful to us: supplied us with the major appliances we lacked, papered and painted the kitchen, cleaned up our yard, filled the cupboards with supplies and groceries at a Pantry Shower before we arrived. The ladies in the neighborhood had a Coffee for Claudine.

On Sunday, the 21st, the Parish had a Reception for us, following a parish Corporate Communion honoring Saint Alban, our patron. As Deacon of the Mass, I read the Gospel appointed for a Saint's Day, Matt. 25.32 ff. In it is the line, "... for I was an hungered and ye gave me meat..." In his sermon, Fr. Wardrop reminded the people that Claudine and Jessica would be away for the summer, and that they ought to get the point of the Gospel. They sure have! I have rarely seen such dynamic Christian hospitality in action.

The Rector and his family left on the 28th for three weeks at the Cape, leaving the parish in my hands. Wow! Claudine and Jessica flew out of Hartford on June 30th, arriving in Brussels shortly thereafter. From her letters, I can see that Claudine is having a wonderful time making up for five years absence. Jessica is having a great visit with her two young cousins.

I now see how busy a Clergyman's life must be. Also, the great satisfactions of my work are getting through to me. Never have I been so sure that I am trying to do just what He intends.

Sorry, but I don't think I'll be a very good correspondent henceforth; please, however, send me news whenever you can.

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These notes last changed 16 December 2000