Saint Andrew's-in-the-Snow
Thursday MEMO
February 10, 2011

This coming Sunday, February 13th and the Sixth Sunday after Epiphany, we will have two services, one at 8 and one at 10, each followed by coffee and refreshments.
But this Sunday is not "business as usual!"
At 8 o'clock we will have a service of Morning Prayer, with Tom Reinfuss and Lisa Thompson officiating and Tom offering the homily which (I'm told) will drawn on his experiences as a chaplain with Seafarer's Friend. Lay ministry takes many forms, including worship leadership. I am grateful to Lisa and Tom, both of whom are trained and licensed Lay Worship Leaders, for their desire to exercise their ministry with you.
At the 10 o'clock service of Holy Eucharist, the Rev. Robert Stiefel will preach and preside.
Robert is a retired faculty member from the University of New Hampshire, and engaging preacher, and a welcomed supply clergy person here at Saint Andrew's.

Duane I will be taking a week of vacation and retreat time with our son Chris at his Theravada Buddhist monastery in the hills east of San Diego California. We leave Thursday morning and will return on the 17th. In the event of a pastoral emergency in my absence, please call Debra Hoyt at the church if it is during morning office hours or contact Sammie Wakefield at 476-2346 or Sally DeGroot at 323-2050. Episcopal clergy at our neighboring parishes are available if needed.

Do check your mail box when you are at church. You will be rewarded with a Saint Andrew's-in-the-Valley pen, courtesy of the Parish Life Committee. These have been purchased to include with our new member packets and to offer to guests, but the committee figured members might like to have one as well. So enjoy... use it out in the world... share it when someone who needs a pen... and if you lose track of it, know that our church is being made known wherever the pen goes!

Game Night coming up! On Friday evening, February 25th, the Parish Life Committee will be hosting a Pot Luck supper and Game Night. Gather at 6 O'clock with a dish to share for the pot luck supper. We'll follow our meal with games for all ages and abilities. Lots of variety! If you have a favorite, bring that along as well!

Would you be willing to be on an "Available to Help" list? From time to time someone comes to the church in need of help that is not necessarily financial. This week we received such a request from a woman who need some snow shoveled. Sometimes it's a request for a ride needed on short notice or a run and/or ride to a grocery store or pharmacy. These requests do not come often, but when they do it would be helpful to me if we had a list of folks who would be willing to be called. Being on this list would never require you to say yes to any given request, but it would mean that you'd be willing to be called. If being part of this approach is interesting to you, please let me know. If you would be willing to be the official "caller" for such a list, having such a person would be helpful as well. Thanks.


Kathy and Albert prepare the table to celebrate Peg Cade's birthday at coffee hour -- Cake and decorations courtesy of David Manley. Thanks, David!









Readings for Sunday: Ecclesiasticus (Sirach) 15:15-20, Psalm 119:1-8, 1 Corinthians 3:1-9, Matthew 5:21-37

Food for reflection: Cathie Lewis, Duane, and I have just returned from the joyous Celebration of New Ministry at St. James' Church in Laconia, at which Tobias Nyatsambo was installed as rector. The biddings that follow are from the Litany for the Renewal of the Church that we prayed this evening:

That the Church may become alive again with the fire of its first charity, fearless of danger ... in the splendor of that Life which is the light of the world.
Receive our prayer, O Christ.
That the Church may be worthy of its liberty, persistent in reform, active in benevolence ...]
Receive our prayer, O Christ.
That the old may dream dreams, and the young see visions; that its sons and daughters may prophesy, bearing eager witness of its beauty to the world.
Receive our prayer, O Christ.
That all its members, putting aside self ... may seek and find God, and rejoice in the truth.
Receive our prayer, O Christ.
That we may forsake that love of party which keeps us from loving one another; and so, coming together in friendship, we may find the overpowering love of God, which shall knit us all together in on united Church.
Receive our prayer, O Christ.
And, finally, that the church, with love recovered in its midst, may teach all to love one another, and all nations to dwell together in helpfulness and friendship, reconciled and redeemed.
Receive our prayer, O Christ.

Blessings, All.
Have a good week.
Pax, Heidi+