Friday, May 9
GUILFORD -- The Guilford Community Church, United Church of Christ, plans several events in May and early June to honor the life and legacy of its late pastor, the Rev. Shirley Crockett, marking the 10th anniversary of her death on May 24, 1998. All of the events listed here are open to anyone wishing to attend. Shirley Crockett was the pastor of the Guilford Community Church for over 21 years (1976-1997). During her spirit-filled ministry, the church experienced unprecedented growth and developed into the wonderfully welcoming and caring community it is today.

Sunday, May 11, Mother's Day, at the regular Sunday worship at 10 a.m., Pastor Lise Sparrow will celebrate the feminine dimension of God and the mentorship of Shirley Crockett as a woman minister, one of the first in this area. Music for the service will include special music pieces "White Goddess" and Bobby McFerrin's "23rd Psalm," as well as "Sing 'Til the Power of the Lord Come Down!" in honor of Pentecost.

Saturday, May 24, at 10 a.m., there will be an audio service of worship from the 1990s, "led" by Shirley Crockett. The complete recording of a service she led. The tape will be played in the sanctuary and those

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present will join in the hymns, responses and prayers as they normally would. Afterward there will be opportunity to share feelings and reminisce.

The following day, on Sunday, May 25, at 10 a.m., the regular Sunday service of worship will be in memory of Shirley Crockett. The Rev. Larrimore Crockett, her husband, will reflect on her life and legacy, Pastor Sparrow will tell one of Shirley Crockett's children's stories, and prayers will be drawn from her pastoral ministry.

On Friday, June 6, at 7 p.m., there will be a viewing of a video of her ordination service, which was held in Christ Church in Guilford on May 1, 1994. That service was an amazing experience for all who attended it -- a sudden gust of wind occurred just as the service was starting which literally blew the assembled clergy in the door, blew down the tent which had been erected for the reception, and became a powerful symbol for the presence of the spirit in the singing, prayers and preaching which took place that day. A light supper will be available at 6 p.m. prior to this viewing.

On Sunday, June 8, at 3 p.m., the famous "Nine O'Clock Choir" of the Guilford Community Church, led by Peter Amidon, Tony Barrand and Andy Davis, will offer a concert in Shirley Crockett's memory. This concert will in part recapitulate a memorial concert which was held at the time of her death, and will also include more recent songs from the choir's repertoire. It will feature a performance of "Shirley of Guilford," a song composed by Tony Barrand in the early 1990s in honor of Shirley Crockett, echoing her mentors, Hildegaard of Bingen and Julien of Norwich, and nicely capturing the essence of her preaching and ministry in the Guilford Church. All donations will go to a scholarship fund established in her honor.

On the weekend of May 24-25, the book "Be Present Here: The Pastoral Prayers of Shirley Harris Crockett" will be released. This collection of 200 of her pastoral prayers has been drawn from the archive of over 450 cassette recordings of Guilford Community Church services in the 1980s and '90s. Copies of this book may be picked up or purchased at all the events listed in this article.

To order a book or for further information about any of these events, contact the Rev. Larrimore Crockett at 802-257-7917 or by e-mail at crockett@sover.net.