Painting Progress
This week our painters have finished painting the water-stained
ceiling panels in the sanctuary and removed all the old popcorn ceiling coating
in the Parish Hall, stage area and ramp by the office door. Almost all of the
repairs to the walls and ceilings caused by roof leaks have been completed, and
painting is continuing.
An insurance adjustor for Mike Lord, our roofer,
has been in contact, and we will receive payment (amount to be determined) for
the damages caused by the roof leaks that occurred during installation.
And we are in the process of finalizing a contract
with J&J Flooring in Intervale, NH for carpet tiles in the Parish Hall, on
the ramps and stage area and in the Prince Room. Tentative dates for carpet
installation are December 28-29 for the Parish Hall, ramps and stage, and mid
to late January for the Prince Room (carpet for the Prince Room is a special
order and will take a few weeks longer to receive).
Pledge Update
Our pledge ingathering day was on November 1 this
year, and the drive by parade held on November 8. We have received approximately
two-thirds of the pledges we received last year and are on track to maintain
last year’s pledge level if the remaining one third of pledges come in at the
same level. This would be an outstanding outcome during the pandemic and
holding our worship services on Zoom! Many thanks to everyone who has turned in
a pledge card. If you have not yet turned in your pledge for 2021, please do so
as soon as possible. It is time to create next year’s budget, and we need to
know what our income will likely be.
Here are some statistics for those of you who like
to watch our progress.
2020 2021
Number
of Pledges 59 39
Amount
pledged $156,537 $120,730
Of the 39 pledges received, 13 have increased, 4 have decreased, and 22 remain the same as in 2020. This is so encouraging, given the year we have faced!!
Caroline
via Zoom (email RectorSAITV@gmail.com for Zoom information) AND...
on ZOOM
Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Proper 28, Year A
Collect of the Day We center ourselves for worship in prayer
Blessed Lord, who caused all holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
First Lesson
Judges
4:1-7
In this lesson from the
Hebrew Bible the Israelites prove unfaithful to the Lord, going after foreign
gods and doing what is evil in God’s sight.
In consequence, they fall under the oppression of the Canaanite King Jabin
and the commander of his army, Sisera.
The Lord raises up for the Hebrew people Deborah, a prophetess, to
arbitrate for justice among them.
Deborah, a gifted leader, is inspired to liberate the Israelites from their
Canaanite overlords and summons the warrior Barak. Deborah commands Barak in the name of the
Lord to gather warriors against the superior chariots and troops of Sisera,
confident that God will grant the Israelites success.
Psalm 123
Those who are lowly
and scorned place their trust in the merciful Lord.
The Second Lesson 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
In this
reading Paul counsels the new disciples to be alert as in the daylight, for the
day of the Lord will come swiftly and unexpectedly, although at a time unknown
to mortals. Many early Christians
believed that the course of world history would soon come to an end. Paul urges the Thessalonians not to live like
people of the night but soberly and expectantly. Whether they first die or remain alive they
may look forward, not to God’s wrath, but to a salvation that has been gained
through Jesus. Paul’s central point
remains valid for us: we do not know
when the consummation of history will take place, but are to live always
prepared for judgment.
The
Gospel
Matthew
25:14-30
Our gospel is the parable of the wise and foolish maidens–those
prepared and unprepared for the bridegroom’s coming. In several ways the details of the story may
strike us as odd and even a little unfair, but such a concern misses the main
point, which has much in common with other of Jesus’ parables. One must at all times be ready with
repentance and decision for the kingdom’s coming. In a later period this story was read with
allegorical overtones. Jesus is the
bridegroom whose return is delayed. Some
in the church are falling asleep while others remain expectant.
Our gospel is the parable of the servants who made different uses of
the money entrusted to them. The
evangelist intends the story to be instructive to Christian disciples. The master Jesus is now away. When he returns, he will expect his followers
to have made diligent use of the faith he has left in their charge. If it has not grown, then it has been without
value and will be taken away. One also
recognizes how immense are the sums left with the servants. The parable warns
against the false security of only guarding the traditions and not investing
them in life and in others.
For God alone my soul in silence waits; from God comes my salvation.
God alone is my rock and my salvation, my stronghold, so that I shall not be greatly shaken.
Psalm 62:1-2
If you are interested in strengthening or building a contemplative practice or seek silence within community, please plan to join others, each Tuesday, beginning September 15th, at 9:00am. Newcomers are welcome at any gathering. No previous meditation experience needed.
Our time begins with a brief sitting practice, facilitated by Christi Humphrey. Christi has lead other groups which gather to explore contemplative practices through meditation, teachings, and discussion. Guided meditations and teachings draw upon the Christian contemplative tradition, monastic spirituality, Buddhist meditation, and self-compassion practices.
If you would like to learn more or have questions, contact Christi Humphrey at cchumphrey@comcast.net. If you would like to sample Christi leading a guided meditation visit her blog https://watchingforgrace.wordpress.com/2020/03/21/bringing-compassion-to-these-anxious-times/
For our First Nation people and those in this country who are living in impoverished areas of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and the inner city areas populated by some of our poorest citizens.
For all those who are on the front lines serving communities during these difficult times.
Updating the Prayer List
Please let Deb know if you want to put someone back on the prayer list going forward. Thank you for helping us keep our prayer list up to date.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
From the Diocese: ChIPS and UTO
Due to the pandemic, the prison system is not allowing many visitors into the prison. This will make it impossible for us to offer the ChIPS program this year. I'm afraid we won't be taking donations of money or gifts for the children of prisoners this year.
Please send your United Thank Offering (UTO) donations through your church so each church sends one check, made out to the Episcopal Church of NH with UTO in the memo line. We look forward to honoring these donations during our worship. Thank you for your support of this important program.
Volunteer Shoppers Needed for the Tamworth Christmas Project
As most of you know, the Tamworth Community Christmas Project distributes gifts to local children at St. Andrew’s in December each year. This is also one of the projects our outreach program supports. This year, due to the pandemic, some of their volunteer shoppers will not be shopping. Cathy Baybutt, director of the project, is looking for new volunteers
Volunteers shop for a family (from 1 to 4 children). The parents fill out a form with sizes and needs. We ask shoppers to purchase items on the list and then tally them up, then we send them a reimbursement check for the amount. I have very specific directions which seem to work very well. If you enjoy shopping and might lend a hand, please contact Cathy Baybutt at tamworthchristmasproject@gmail.com.
Next Food Pantry: November 18th
STAY CALM AND JUST BREATHE
“Armistice” is from the Latin arma (“arms”) and sistere (“stand still”). Imagine the stillness, the quiet that came from laying down weapons on both sides, after years of grueling, bloody trench warfare.
The United States Congress subsequently declared that the date “should be commemorated with thanksgiving and prayer and exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations.”
Sadly, it was not “the war to end all wars” — and so in 1954, the day was renamed, “Veterans Day” in order to honor veterans from all the wars since, not just World War I. But the words of Congress still resonate, as do the holiday’s origins in that great stillness.
A day of thanksgiving: for the service of veterans, living and dead; for the service of caregivers — doctors and nurses and chaplains and mental health professionals and spouses and family members and friends — who walk with veterans through the ravages of war, even after the bullets and bombs and missiles stop flying; and for the days of peace that come at long last.
A day of prayer: for people of all faiths (or no faith at all), a time of prayer, meditation, or reflection on the stillness of armistice, so that the days of peace on Earth increase, and the days of war decrease.
A day of exercises designed to perpetuate peace through good will and mutual understanding between nations: for all of us to find ways, large and small, to build bridges across lines of difference, suspicion, or hostility, in our neighborhoods, our country, and among the nations of the world.
To lay down our arms. To step into a new stillness together. To sing with our ancestors that we, too, will lay down our swords and shields, “down by the riverside, and study war no more” — so that the next hundred-and-two years may be more peaceful than the last.
May God’s peace be with you on this Veterans Day, this Armistice Day, and may we lay down all of our arms, all of our burdens, in God’s great Shalom rising up even now, like soldiers climbing out of trenches a century ago.
Love and peace, The SALT Team
25 John & Joan Marshall
