January 18, 2018



“Come, follow me, and I will show you how to fish for people!” 
And they left their nets at once and followed him.

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP

THIS SUNDAY, January 21st, The Third Sunday after Epiphany, there will be two services of Holy Eucharist at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m.
There is a service of Morning Prayer on Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.

We hope you will join us for worship and fellowship.
Pictures from the Wednesday evening Celtic Prayer Service
READINGS FOR SUNDAY                
Sunday, January 21, 2018
Third Sunday after Epiphany
Year B
Jonah 3:1-5, 10
Psalm 62:6-14
1 Corinthians 7:29-31
Mark 1:14-20
 
FROM THE INTERIM RECTOR

Believe it or not, Lent is only a month away! Ash Wednesday falls on February 14 this year (yes, Valentine’s Day) and Easter is on April 1 (yes, April Fool’s Day… oh well, this year we can all be Fools for Christ!). As we approach Lent I’d like your help in deciding what sort of Lenten program to offer this year. For the next two Sundays there will be very brief questionnaires available for you to express your preferences. 
The first question is when, and the choices are:
·         Sunday morning between services (9:00 – 9:45)
·         Sunday morning after the late service (either 11:15 to 12:15 or 10:15 to 11:15)
·        Tuesday evening beginning with a light soup and salad supper at 6:00, followed by discussion from 6:30-7:30. (We’ve done this on Wednesday evenings before, but I’d like to leave Wednesdays open for evening services on Ash Wednesday and Wednesday in Holy week and one Taize or Celtic evening service.)
The second question is what, and the three program options are:
Becoming the Beloved Community. This is a movement conceived by our Presiding Bishop, the Most Rev. Michael Curry, that focuses on healing and reconciliation of racial divisions. There are some materials available from The Episcopal Church, and the fall clergy conference also provided resources.
Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John, offered by the Brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist in Cambridge, MA. This is similar to their previous offerings, but with more of a focus on daily journaling. A series of video meditations will be published each day during Lent. For more information go to www.meetingjesusinjohn.org. A copy of the booklet is on the table in the parish hall.
A Journey with Luke: The 50 Day Bible Challenge. This book is part of a series that grew out of the original Bible Challenge, which covered the entire Bible in one year.  A Journey with Luke features fifty days of scripture, meditations and prayer.
A short form of this information will be available by the bulletins for the next two Sundays. If you are interested in attending one of these offerings please indicate your preference either by filling out one of the forms on Sunday or by emailing me at interimsaitv@gmail.com. Based on your feedback I’ll decide what we will do and when during Lent this year.
God's abundant blessings!
Caroline
Midge Pendergast's
Ordination picture

FUNDRAISING
St.  Andrew's in the Valley
will host a Contra Dance
Saturday January 20, 2018
Tamworth Town House
8:00 pm to 10:00 pm
Looking for a few snack contributions, particularly:
A small platter of cheese and crackers
Veggies and dip/ hummus
A small plate of cookies
A pitcher or two of ice tea.

Please call Chris Mills @ 452-4049 if you are able to help!

Thank you for your generosity in advance!

The  musical duo,  String Equinox, comprised of Beverly Woods and Shana Aisenberg, will provide the music and calling. The first half hour will be dedicated to a brief overview of the basic steps of New England contra dance, and neither experience nor a partner is required. Dances are a fun and energizing night out for all ages and abilities, even if you simply prefer to cheer the dancers on from the sidelines and enjoy the live music.  
Adults $8.00
Kids 6-18 $5.00 (5 and under free)
Light refreshments will be available.
String Equinox is comprised of Beverly Woods and Shana Aisenberg.  Beverly sings and plays hammered dulcimer, tsimbl, piano, organ and other keyboards, piano and chromatic button accordions, 6- and 7-string guitars, autoharp, mandolin, bouzouki, pennywhistle, hand percussion, fretted dulcimer, folk harp, concertina, nyckelharpa, tenor banjo, and hurdy-gurdy.  Beverly also calls contra dances.  Shana is an acoustic multi-instrumentalist, composing, playing, recording and teaching diverse styles from traditional Appalachian, Celtic and New England contradance music to eastern European Klezmer, Balkan, Nordic, bottleneck blues and jazz.
  
PLEDGE PROGRESS
Help us reach our Goals!
 Rector Search Fund 
 Goal ~ $ 20,000
34 pledges $ 9,049.00
~
2018 Stewardship Pledge
Goal~ $148,215.00
57 pledges $ 143,130.00

Note: End of year (2017) pledge statements have been mailed. If you have any questions, please contact Deb in the office.  Thank you for your continued support of this parish.  We can’t do it without you!

DINNER BELL
 
Dinner Bell cook team for this Sunday January 21ST
SANDWICH COMMUNITY CHURCH

Dinner Bell cook team for next Sunday January 28th  
RAU
~
Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!

SEARCH COMMITTEE

The Search Committee is preparing questions to use in the interview process. We will also be conducting a practice interview on Skype with a clergy member chosen from this diocese. This will give us feedback on the best way to present Saint Andrew's to the candidates and a model for engaging in meaningful, focused, and productive conversation. We expect to begin interviewing prospective candidates in January, 2018. We pray for continuing openness to the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives and in the lives of those walking toward us.
Lisa Thompson, Search Committee
Prayer for St. Andrew’s during the search process.
Everliving and everloving Lord, as we are in the midst of our challenging task to search for our new rector, we pray that you continue to lead our parish to be in one mind and spirit through the conclusion of this journey.  May we be strong in the assurance that you are guiding us and carrying us safely to calling the person you have chosen to be our rector.  In Jesus' name we pray.  Amen.

Search Committee
Pat Adams, Betsy Hess, Tom Huckman, Cathie Lewis, George Rau, Lisa Thompson.

Click on “Parish Profile” button to read!

 

COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
The monthly item for January is shampoo/conditioner.

FORWARD DAY BY DAY FOR TODAY
THURSDAY, January 18, 2018
Confession of Saint Peter, Apostle
Psalm 23:1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
When I was thirteen, my grandmother challenged me. Memorize the 23rd Psalm, she said, and I’ll buy you the newest Hardy Boys mystery. I devoured every adventure of Frank and Joe Hardy that I could find, so the words of the psalm were soon locked into place. I knew the words but not necessarily the depth of their meaning.
The five words that begin Psalm 23 are among the most widely known in the Bible. But the phrase is almost too familiar and in danger of becoming a cliché.
“The Lord is my shepherd” is written on a piece of paper and taped to a mirror in my study. But I have added a word: “Today.” The Lord is my shepherd—today. In my Bible, I have handwritten the word “today” after every verse of Psalm 23, underscoring the power and immediacy of these promises.
MOVING FORWARD: Encourage a young person in your life to memorize a Bible passage.
FROM Deb IN THE OFFICE

Annual Reports: If you have not sent in your reports. I ABSOLUTELY need them by Monday 22nd. Please get them in to me so that I may expedite putting the report together. Thank you.

The office will be closed tomorrow, Friday 19th.

January BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

If you do not see your birthday or anniversary listed, please make sure Deb in the office has an information sheet on file for you.
     
Birthdays
3        Donna Jones
4        Ellie McLaughlin, Jen Huckman
6        Joyce Carter
9        Pat Adams
19      Ginger Heard, Jonathon Brady
25      Connor Bunker, Ann Cady
27      Carol Tubman
29      Denise Foreman
31      Al Rich




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