August 21, 2014


Services for this coming Sunday, August 24th, the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost, will be at 8 and 10 am. We hope you will join us for worship and fellowship.
A fabric artist's rendition of Joseph's coat
 This whole summer season we have been engaged in the great saga from Genesis of the patriarchs and their wives – the story of Abraham and Sarah, and Isaac and Rebekah. Then we really zeroed in on their sons, Esau and Jacob, following closely on Jacob’s life with his two wives, Leah and Rachel, and their twelve sons. Two weeks ago our focus moved to Joseph (of “coat-of-many-colors” fame), Jacob’s first son by Rachel, who was sold into slavery in Egypt by his brothers, only to rise to a position of power in Egypt and to re-encounter his family when they arrived in Egypt for assistance in a time of famine. To the astonishment of Joseph and perhaps even greater astonishment of his brothers and their aged father, Jacob, the family is re-united. Joseph provides the aid and welcome they need. Last Sunday’s reading ended with Genesis 45:15.
But that is not the end of the story!!! And if you have been gripped by this saga, as many of us have been, you might want to pull out your Bible before Sunday, picking up at Genesis 45:16 and continuing through chapter 50, the end of Genesis, to reach the conclusion of the story with the death of our friend Jacob.
We are about to begin the Book of Exodus, with which we will stay through October. This Sunday’s portion begins “Now a new king arose over Egypt who knew not Joseph.” The stage is set for the birth of Moses!!! Every third year, we have this opportunity to reacquaint ourselves with this section of scripture that is so fundamental to the Jewish people and is the foundation on which Christianity came to be.
The readings for this Sunday are Exodus 1:8-2:10, Psalm 124, Romans 2:1-8, Matthew 16:13-20.
Chris and Cathie gather squashes
 How great the harvest is. . .
Preparations are underway for our booth at the Sandwich Fair (October 11-13)!!!
 Gretchen has been teaming up with Almighty God, growing dozens and dozens of gourds, squash, and pumpkins, the Annual Harvest Gathering Party for which is scheduled for Saturday, September 6, meeting at Gretchen and Karl’s house at 9 AM so that we can all go into the field to harvest together. At noon we will gather for a pot-luck meal together at their house. Please mark you calendar for two weeks from Saturday, and plan to come! No special skills required.
 Calling all lovers of homemade jams, jellies, pickles, etc. Sandwich Fair is coming up the second weekend of October. Anyone who wishes to create their own delicacies for sale, please contact David, Gretchen, Chris or Carol with questions and requests for labels. For all who love to consume homemade canned goods, consider saving you empty jars for re-use by one of us. Also, if you frequent yard sales and happen to see 8 or 16oz canning jars, grab them. (New jars run from $8-$12/case of twelve) We will reimburse you.
Hospitality and Coffee Hour Hosting: Thanks for your enthusiastic response to last week’s MEMO! Please add your name to the other willing volunteers. Many hands make light work! Sign-up lists for general hospitality volunteers and for Coffee Hour teams will be on a table in the Parish Hall. (See last week’s MEMO for specifics.)
 
Lakes Region Convocation (the association of Episcopal Churches in this region of the state) will be meeting here at Saint Andrew’s on Tuesday, September 2nd at 7 pm. This will be preceded by a half hour of social time. The Episcopal Church is a participatory democracy, with delegates from each parish. If you are interested in what’s going on in the Episcopal Church in the Diocese of New Hampshire, or if you would like to be part of our ministry of hospitality that evening (we provide the refreshment), please speak to Carol Tubman or Gretchen Behr-Svendsen, our wardens. Or feel free just to come and see!
There will NOT be a rummage sale this year. The committee is taking a break from this event for this year. If you planned to donate items for this year, our friends at Agape Ministries will gladly accept your donations or spread them out and drop off at other various locations. 

Mount Chocorua
Food for thought … or prayer … in these lingering days of summer, from Wendell Berry’s book of poetry entitled Leavings. This one from “Sabbaths 2005.”

XIII
Eternity is not infinity.
It is not a long time.
It does not begin at the end of time.
In its entirety it always was.
In its entirety it will always be.
It is entirely present always.


See you in church!
Summer blessings,
Heidi+