Friends,
Your
presence is requested this coming Sunday, January
29th, at 9 a.m. for worship, followed by A
Slideshow of the Year in Review, brunch and our Annual Meeting.
“Requested?” you say.
Yes. We both want and need you with us for the service and the meeting that follows as we check in on how we’re doing, officially welcome newcomers, and elect new vestry members. We also need you with us as we consider some important Next Steps for us. And… in order for us to have a valid Annual Meeting we need a quorum.
Yes. We both want and need you with us for the service and the meeting that follows as we check in on how we’re doing, officially welcome newcomers, and elect new vestry members. We also need you with us as we consider some important Next Steps for us. And… in order for us to have a valid Annual Meeting we need a quorum.
The
Brunch is Pot Luck, so bring something to share for the sit-down meal – savory
or sweet, vegetable, fruit, or protein.
If
you missed church last Sunday when copies of the 2014 Annual report were
delivered, feel free to stop by Thursday or Friday morning to pick up a copy.
They are on the table in front of the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Or
email her (office@standrewsinthevalley.org)
for an electronic copy.
The Nominating
committee has put forward the following slate: (Photos
of them are on the Parish bulletin board)
Senior Warden: Carol Tubman
Junior Warden: Sally DeGroot*
Clerk: Chris Mills
Treasurer: Bob Seston
Vestry: Jennifer Huckman*
Vestry: Gretchen Behr-Svendsen
Vestry: David Manley
Vestry: Phil Wallick
* indicate new to the position
Senior Warden: Carol Tubman
Junior Warden: Sally DeGroot*
Clerk: Chris Mills
Treasurer: Bob Seston
Vestry: Jennifer Huckman*
Vestry: Gretchen Behr-Svendsen
Vestry: David Manley
Vestry: Phil Wallick
* indicate new to the position
Readings for this Sunday: Deuteronomy
18:15-20, Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13, Mark 1:21-28.
This Sunday at 4:00 pm a
service of Evensong will be held at Trinity Church in Tilton. Bishop
Rob Hirschfeld will be officiating for the Secularizing of a Consecrated
Building. The small congregation of Trinity made the difficult decision several
months ago to close its doors as a church and to be open to the Spirit’s call
for their next steps in what God is calling them to, and where. I expect to be
attending and have space for a couple of passengers if you are interested
in joining me in this witness of
support. If you choose to go on your own the address is 274 Main Street,
Tilton.
Lent begins February 18th.
Lent is traditionally a time to take on some form of spiritual practice that
helps us draw closer to God. We are in the process of deciding on a couple of
offerings ranging from a couple of book possibilities, to a daily Lenten series
offered through SSJE focusing on our relationship with and understanding of time,
to a weekly shared meal (with or without a study or worship component), to an
initiative that might involve participants of all ages, to a contemplative
early evening worship service. Some of these could even lend themselves to
on-line, rather than, or in addition to, in-person, participation. If you are
interested in being part of the decision-making, or if you have other
suggestions, you are invited to join me and others immediately following the
10:00 service on February 8 and if you can’t make it on the 8th,
let me know your thoughts.
All are Welcome! Every
Wednesday at 9 AM a small congregation gathers for a service of Morning Prayer.
This is a Prayer Book service of scripture readings, reflection, and prayer – a
wonderful way to begin your day and anchor the middle of your week. All are
welcome.
Food for
thought…
Understanding the words we use in liturgy, as well as in our common speech, matters. And when it comes to religious matters in some cases it can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes digging into the etymology of words can shed some welcome light:
Understanding the words we use in liturgy, as well as in our common speech, matters. And when it comes to religious matters in some cases it can make all the difference in the world. Sometimes digging into the etymology of words can shed some welcome light:
from Unearthing My Religion Real Talk about Real Faith,
by Mary Gray-Reeves, Bishop of the diocese of El Camino Real in Californian
… “To believe” in Latin (the language that has
shaped much of Western theological thought) is opinor, opinari, meaning “to opine” (from which we get out word
opinion), which was not typically a religious word. Instead, Latin used credo, meaning “I set my heart upon” or
“I give my loyalty to,” as the word to describe religious “believing.” In
medieval English, the concept of credo
was translated as “believe,” but in medieval English that meant roughly the
same thing as its German cousin belieben,
“to prize, treasure, or hold dear,” and which comes from the root word Liebe, “love.” Thus in early English, to
“believe” was to “belove” something or someone as an act of trust or loyalty.
Belief was not an intellectual opinion.
… [It is a relatively modern to associate
believing with provable fact.] In centuries past, belief had nothing to do with
one’s weighing evidence or intellectual choice. Belief was not a doctrinal
test. Instead, belief was more like a marriage vow – “I do” as a pledge of
faithfulness and loving service to and with the other. Indeed, in early English
usage, you could not hold, claim, or possess a belief about God, but you could
cherish, love, and trust in, or devote yourself to God.
…So the creeds
(from credo) – “I/we believe in God…
[and] in one Lord, Jesus Christ …[and] in the
Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life … – or baptismal faith
statements like “I accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior,” may better be embraced
as “I trust… ,” or the more awkward, “I belove.” I trust Jesus. I belove
Jesus. I trust the faith. I belove the faith. Trust Christian community. Belove Christian community.”
I invite you to
consider this the next time you recite the creed or the next time you find
yourself in conversation with someone who is trying to figure out what “this
church stuff that so occupies your life” is all about!
Blessings in this season of
light.
See you in church!
Heidi+
See you in church!
Heidi+
