July 10, 2014

Jesus said, "Take my yoke upon you and learn from me..."
The Clarke family
 Services for this coming Sunday, July 13th, The Fifth Sunday after Pentecost, will be two services at 8 and 10 am. With sorrow, but thanksgiving to God for our time together, we will be saying good-by to Lynn, Richard, and Levi Clarke, who will be leaving soon for their new home in Washington state so that Lynn and Levi can join Richard where he works.

The readings for this coming Sunday are Genesis 25:19-34, Psalm 119:105-112, Romans 8:1-11, Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23.
Last Sunday’s sermon and the opportunity to try on an actual yoke and discover its surprising comfort led to much engaged conversation! See pictures below.
IT’S DONE!  Yes, the 2014 Parish Directory will be in your Parish Hall mailboxes this Sunday, or on the adjacent table for pick-up. If you are out-of-town and would like a copy, please call or email the office and Debra will mail you your copy. If you notice any corrections or changes, please let the office know.  If your picture didn’t make it in, please make sure we have one for the production of any future copies. Don’t miss the reflection piece from Heidi and the end of this MEMO.
 


Welcome to Jane and Todd Horn. Jane is Kitty Lou and John Booty's youngest daughter, and they have just moved to Mt. Israel Road in Sandwich from the Denver, Colorado area where they were active members of the cathedral congregation. It will be a joy to have them with us, not just occasionally, but regularly.
So let's pull out those name tags and use them! Not just for Jane and Todd's benefit, but to help other newer folks in our midst. Summer is a wonderful time to be intentional about introducing ourselves when you see someone you don't think you recognize ... or someone whom you recognize, but realize you really don't know.
 
A big thank you from Barbara Worcester (for the parish’s participation in the celebration of her son Charlie’s life held here last Sunday.)
Wow! …Kindness … common sense … humor …humanity … even a joyful occasion … a wonderful atmosphere of thanks for Charlie's life!
     I particularly want to thank the people who contributed such a glorious feast for the reception.  It was colorful, beautifully set out, varied and delicious.  It felt like a wedding reception (more joy).  One guest asked Barbara Lloyd who the church's caterer was.  It was, of course, the artists of the cakes and cookies and sandwiches and fruit and iced tea and other contributions which added up to a happy and fitting good-bye to a former chef and gourmet. 
   My family and I are hugely grateful to all of St. Andrews for the outpouring of love and support and effort that made the service and reception such a success, physically, spiritually and emotionally. 
   Many, many thanks to you all. 
                                                                        With love, Barbara Worcester
 



Restoration of the stonework of the west end is now underway, thanks to your support of the church building and repair fund. Our stonemason is Chris Brown of Silver Lake. Much of the southwest buttress, which had become seriously unstable, is being dismantled and will be reconstructed with the same stones and fresh mortar. Much of the façade will be re-pointed and the stains will be cleaned.
Education for Ministry – if you want to learn more about how God is connected to your life and  how you might serve God in the world, if you would like to learn more about the Bible, then EfM might be for you. It is being offered, meeting weekly beginning in September, at Trinity Church, Meredith, with Rev. Robin Soller as mentor. Questions? Talk to Rev. Heidi or Gretchen Behr-Svendsen, who will be embarking on year III of this excellent program.
Lobster or Steak is Back at St. Andrew's! Have you been one of those waiting for the almost annual event to return to Saint Andrew's? Well here it is: Friday evening August 1st at 6:30 pm. Tickets are available at the church Tuesdays through Fridays from 9 am to Noon.  Reservations can also be made by calling the Church office at 323-8515 or David Manley 301-1074.  Reservations are limited and must be paid in advance.  Tickets must be purchased no later than July 23rd. That’s just 2 weeks from yesterday!
Your meal will begin with Steamers, followed by your choice of either a succulent Lobster or a mouth watering Steak – cooked to perfection and just the way you like it – and accompanied by Corn-on-the-cob, Homemade Cole Slaw and Dinner Rolls.  And did you wonder if there is dessert? Well of course it is all topped off by our World Famous Blueberry Buckle!! Beverages include Iced Tea or ice water or bring your own beer or wine to the dinner.
The price is $30. There is also an alternative, $10 children’s meal that includes a hot dog with all the other accompanying items listed above.
A portion of our proceeds goes to support some vital organizations in the community, including Starting Point, Tamworth Caregivers and the Tamworth/Sandwich Food Pantry.  

The Community Food Pantry is encouraging a new approach to non-food donations. Help stock the shelves with this necessary item that is not covered by Food Stamps. Thanks.
July 13: Jelly other than grape.  July 20: Shampoo/Conditioner. 

Food for thought and some important information prompted by our new pictorial Parish Directory…
One of the most fundamental longings of the human soul is to feel known, and one of the blessings of this parish is that knowing each other and being known by each other is part of the fabric of who we are. Through our worshipping together (opening ourselves to God and one another), our reaching out when someone new comes through our doors, our socializing over coffee hour, and our teaming up together as we engage in the many ventures of tending to our life together and our reaching out to the wider world, we share our joys and concerns with each other and come to know one another more deeply.
     We all are aware that knowing someone and being known and is much more that just a matter of being able to “put a name to a face,” but our pictorial Directory can be a big help in the process. Of course it is a quick (and we home accurate) way to get in touch with each other, and it’s a great way to put names and faces together. But it goes beyond that as we look through the pictures and notice our love and caring or are reminded of the challenges that a particular individual might be facing, such that “just scanning the Directory,” nudged by the Holy Spirit, becomes an invitation to prayer. I hope you will allow yourself to use the Directory in that way – often.
     The Directory is set up in three sections – members, affiliates, and friends. Please know (especially if you are not happy with where you have been listed) these are somewhat fluid categories with “fuzzy edges.” Listed as members are “regulars” who participate in the life of the parish on a year-round basis. Affiliates are people who are active members of some other church besides St. Andrew’s – most often that means summer residents, and folks who live elsewhere but with a second home in the area who may be with us from time to time throughout the year. Friends are former members who have left the area but still want to stay in touch; people who feel connected to us and worship with us a few times a year when they are up here visiting; folks who have a sacramental connection having been baptized, married, or had a close family member be buried from this parish; and others who are drawn to worship with us from time to time. We have included pictures for many of the Friends in this edition, to help all of us remember who you are when we welcome you back among us. Several pages for “notes” have been included at the end and changes and corrections will be made available as needed.
    The Directory was made possible through the tireless efforts of Duane Dale (our photographer-in-chief) and Debra Hoyt, our office manager, who has tried valiantly to keep track of the multitudinous changes in contact information. If you discover errors – and I know some information is already out-of-date! – please just let Deb know. If you would like to be included and are not, it probably means that we do not have your contact information.
     And a request: Remember that the Parish Directory information is provided to you “in trust” and is not to be used as a solicitation device. Likewise, if someone outside the parish asks you for contact information on someone listed in the Directory, please contact the person listed in the directory and ask permission to pass the info along, or have him or her connect with the one inquiring. Thanks.

See you in church!
Blessings, Heidi+