January 26, 2012

Services for this coming Sunday, January 29th, the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, will be at 8 and 10 AM, with coffee hours following both services.

Readings for this Sunday: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28. 

Clergy from four area churches gathered at Christ Church, North Conway, last Sunday evening to lead the closing service of our area's observation of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. Clergy from six Conway churches participated in a pulpit swap during Sunday morning services. Rev. Heidi joined three others for the evening service. Above, from left to right: Martell Spagnolo (Conway Village Congregational), Sue Davidson (Conway and Center Conway United Methodist), Susan Buchanan (Christ Church), and Rev. Heidi. 
 

We've come across a two minute video of Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori, responding to the question, "...What would you say to me to convince me to become an Episcopalian?" It's worth a listen! Click on this link: 
http://www.youtube.com/embed/PW6A1ZRvBXc .

Altar flowers for last Sunday, Jan. 22nd. If you would like to donate flowers in thanksgiving, in memory, or in honor, please check the signup sheet for in the Parish Hall for available dates before and after Lent. Suggested donation, $20.  (During Lent, in place of flowers we enjoy the sparseness of bare branches.)

The Food Pantry is in need of egg cartons.  Please save and bring in your clean, used egg cartons.

Plan to attend the Annual Meeting on Sunday February 5th, at approximately 10:15 am, following the single 9:00 am service. The meeting will begin with a pot-luck brunch for which a few volunteers are needed.
Annual Reports will be available to pick up this coming Sunday to review in advance of the meeting. If you take one home, please remember to bring your copy with you to the meeting.

 
ALL ARE WELCOME every Wednesday at 9 AM for a Service of Morning Prayer led by one of our three licensed worship leaders.

Food for thought on the work of conversion, from Br. Kevin Hacket, SSJE
The work of conversion, the slow, hard, often painful process of turning our lives around, requires that we relinquish the list of goodies and “gifts” we bring to God for this project. Grace asks one thing and only one thing: that we receive it. And in order to receive it, we need empty hands, not clenched fists.


 
Blessings from The Office at St. Andrew’s 

UPCOMING WEEK’S CALENDAR:

Fri  1/27:        
            10a-noon  Food Center

Sat  1/28:       

            8pm AA & Al-Anon(PH,PR)

Sun 1/29        

            8 AM Holy Eucharist
           10 AM Holy Eucharist
            5 PM Dinner Bell (Cook Team: Sandwich)

Mon 1/30        Church office closed

      

Tue  1/31:      

            10a-noon  Food Center
            7 pm Discernment Committee
            8pm AA (PH)

Wed 2/1:        

            9am  Morning Prayer

Thu  2/2:

January 19, 2012

Services for this coming Sunday, January 22nd, The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, will be at 8 and 10 am.

Readings for this Sunday: Jonah 3:1-5, 10; Psalm 62:6-14; 1 Corinthians 7:29-31; Mark 1:14-20.

Last Sunday the congregation enjoyed a chancel drama casting Duane Dale, Kaitlyn Marshall, Lisa Thompson and Jonthan Brady. For video of the chancel drama and the dialogue sermon, click on the words 2012 Blog in the left-hand column.

Eli to Samuel: "If he calls you, you shall say
"Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening."

Reverend Heidi leads a dialogue sermon
about the chancel drama

COFFEE HOUR HOSTS NEEDED: Please check the signup sheet in the Parish Hall for dates that need to be filled for after the 8am and 10 am services. There are people who will gladly show you the ropes if you have never hosted.
 
Mark your calendar for the Annual Meeting on Sunday February 5th, at approximately 10:15 am, following the single 9:00 am service. Also please check the posted list of members eligible to vote. If your name is not there and you would like to be a voting member of St. Andrew’s, please talk with Rev. Heidi or Gretchen, our clerk.
If you have not turned in your committee report they are DUE! It is planned to have the reports completed to hand out on Sunday, January 29th, for your review before the meeting.

Diocesan News: The Election and Transition Committee of our diocese has just announced the three sites for the Meet and Greet sessions – opportunities for the Convention Delegates, members of congregations, and clergy to meet the candidates for the 10th Bishop of New Hampshire.

All three will be held in the early evening from 6:30 - 8:30pm and each will be followed by a period of fellowship and refreshments. The dates and locations are:

Tuesday May 1, 2012 Exeter High School in Exeter New Hampshire
Wednesday May 2, 2012 The Holderness School in Plymouth, NH
Thursday May 3, 2012 St. Paul's School in Concord, NH

The three sites were selected so that attendees would not have an unreasonable drive to and from the events, that the sites would have sufficient space to comfortably accommodate the number of attendees anticipated.

The site nearest to Saint Andrew’s (and the one for which we have been asked to contribute refreshments) is the Holderness School. Being part of the calling of a Bishop is an exciting opportunity. Our delegates will all be attending this event and extend an invitation to all who might be interested to join us that evening. When the date gets nearer, we will facilitate car-pooling from the church. In the meantime, please block off the evening of Wednesday, May 2nd in your calendars.

ALL ARE WELCOME! To join a Service of Morning Prayer, every Wednesday at 9 AM, led by one of our three licensed worship leaders. 
Food for thought and reflection from Brother James Koester, SSJE, as we continue into this season after the Epiphany:

Like Peter, we believe that Jesus is the promised one of God who will make real and present for us the mystery of God’s reign. What sets us apart as Christians is that we believe with Peter that Jesus is not simply an itinerant preacher and miracle worker or even a prophet but that he is himself “Emmanuel” — “God with us.” 

 
See you in church!
Blessings from The Office at St. Andrew’s 

UPCOMING WEEK’S CALENDAR:

Fri  1/20:        
            10a-noon  Food Center

Sat  1/21:       

            8pm AA & Al-Anon(PH,PR)

Sun 1/22        

            8 AM Holy Eucharist
           10 AM Holy Eucharist

 Mon 1/23        Church office closed

            7 pm Boyscouts

 Tue  1/24:      

           10a-noon  Food Center
            8pm AA (PH)

 Wed 1/25:      

            9am  Morning Prayer

Thu  1/26:

           

January 12, 2012

Winter is Here!

Services for this coming Sunday, January 15th, The Second Sunday after the Epiphany, will be at 8 and 10 am.

Readings for this Sunday: 1 Samuel 3:1-20 (with dramatic presentation at the 10 o'clock service)); Psalm 139: 1-5, 12-17; 1 Corinthians 6:12-20; John 1:43-51. 

An invitation from the Pastoral Care Team: Members of the Pastoral Care Team take communion out to members of the parish who are home-bound and unable to make it to church. They go out as “representatives” of the congregation and would welcome your companionship. If you would like to accompany a eucharistic visitor on a visit with one of our homebound members, please talk to Peg Reinfuss (367-8498).

Mark your calendar for the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 5th, at approximately 10:15 am following the single 9:00 am service. Also please check the posted list of members eligible to vote. If your name is not there and you would like to be a voting member of St. Andrew’s, please talk to Rev. Heidi or Gretchen Behr-Svendsen, our clerk.  
As is our custom, a potluck brunch will precede the meeting.

Reminder: January 17th is the due date for Annual Reports by committee chairs and people with designated responsibilities to the Parish. If you need samples of the reports from last year, Please see Debra in the office. You can submit your reports by emailing to the office or leave them in Debra’s office In-Box. The earlier the better. Thanks.

Elections to be held at the Annual Meeting to fill the following positions:
Junior Warden, Treasurer, Clerk, One Vestry member (1 year term), Two Vestry members (2 year terms), and an Alternate Delegate to Convocation.
The nominating committee has prepared a slate that will be posted next week and presented at the meeting. We would still welcome additional nominations for the one-year Vestry position. If there is someone you would like to nominate, please contact Patti Rau (367-8223). Nominations made at this time will constitute a "nomination from the floor," and must be received by January 29th.
 
Diocesan News: The Election and Transition Committee of our diocese has just announced the three sites for the Meet and Greet sessions – opportunities for the Convention Delegates, members of congregations, and clergy to meet the candidates for the 10th Bishop of New Hampshire.

All three will be held in the early evening from 6:30 - 8:30pm and each will be followed by a period of fellowship and refreshments. The dates and locations are:

Tuesday May 1, 2012 Exeter High School in Exeter New Hampshire

Wednesday May 2, 2012 The Holderness School in Plymouth, NH

Thursday May 3, 2012 St. Paul's School in Concord, NH

The three sites were selected so that attendees would not have an unreasonable drive to and from the events, that the sites would have sufficient space to comfortably accommodate the number of attendees anticipated.

The site nearest to Saint Andrew’s (and the one for which we have been asked to contribute refreshments) is the Holderness School. Being part of the calling of a Bishop is an exciting opportunity. Our delegates will all be attending this event and extend an invitation to all who might be interested to join us that evening. When the date gets nearer, we will facilitate car-pooling from the church. In the meantime, please block off the evening of Wednesday, May 2nd in your calendars. 

ALL ARE WELCOME! To join a Service of Morning Prayer, every Wednesday at 9 AM, led by one of our three licensed worship leaders. 

Food for thought from poet Denise Levertov

Suspended

I had grasped God's garment in the void
but my hand slipped
on the rich silk of it. 
The 'everlasting arms' my sister loved to remember
must have upheld my leaden weight
from falling, even so,
for though I claw at empty air and feel
nothing, no embrace,
I have not plummeted. 

 It's worth calling to mind how many times experiences that description calls to mind.

See you in church.
Blessings,
Heidi+

UPCOMING WEEK’S CALENDAR:

Fri  1/13:        

            10a-noon  Food Center

Sat  1/14:       

            8pm AA & Al-Anon(PH,PR)

Sun 1/15:       

            8 AM Holy Eucharist

            10 AM Holy Eucharist

Mon 1/16:       Church office closed

Tue  1/17:      

            10a-noon  Food Center
            8pm AA (PH)

Wed 1/18:      

           9am  Morning Prayer
           

Thu  1/19:

              6:00 PM Round table eucharist
              6:30 PM Brown bag supper
              7:00 PM Vestry Meeting
  

         

Holy Name Sunday, January 1, 2012

 Thursday, January 5, 2012

Services for this coming Sunday, January 8th, The Baptism of Our Lord, will be at 8 and 10 am with guest preacher, The Rev. Robert Stiefel. This Sunday, Rev. Heidi will be taking her “post-Christmas” leave to spend time with her father as he recovers from hernia surgery. In her absence, the Rev. Robert Stiefel will be presiding and preaching for both services. Robert is an old friend of the parish and is looking forward to being back with all of you again.

This Sunday, in keeping with our calendar, we will celebrate the Baptism of Our Lord, the closing festal day of our Christmas season. After Sunday, we will put away the white and gold and return to the green of the season after the Epiphany

Readings for this Sunday: Genesis 1:1-5, Psalm 29, Acts 19:1-7, Mark 1:4-11

Happy 12th Day of Christmas! Tonight’s the night for taking down the Christmas tree and having your 12th Night bonfire (but do get a fire permit before you burn) and the last day for sending out your Christmas greetings!

Tomorrow, January 6th, is the Feast of the Epiphany, celebrating the arrival of the Magi to the stable and the offering of their gifts to the Christ child. “Epiphany” is derived from the Greek word meaning “manifestation” or “appearing. We often speak of this event as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles (referring to those “wise guys” from the east with their camels), but originally it had a three-fold focus: the Magi, the Baptism of Jesus, and the 1st Miracle at the Wedding Feast at Cana. Interestingly, the Christian observance on January 6th is found as early as the end of the 2nd century in Egypt, somewhat before the date of December 25th was established in Rome as the celebration of the Nativity. Epiphany (rather than Christmas) is still the primary Feast of the Incarnation in Eastern (Orthodox) Churches, and they still lift up the three-part focus.

Next Wednesday, Jan 11th, the Women’s Lunch Bunch will meet at noon at the Mtn. View Station restaurant in Center Ossipee. If you would like to join the group or have any questions, please contact Dale Appleton at 539-3761.
 
An invitation from the Pastoral Care Team: Members of the Pastoral Care Team take communion out to members of the parish who are homebound and unable to make it to church. They go out as “representatives” of the congregation and would welcome your companionship. If you would like to accompany a eucharistic visitor on a visit with one of our homebound members, please talk to Peg Reinfuss (367-8498).

Mark your calendar for the Annual Meeting on Sunday, February 5th, at approximately 10:15 am following the single 9:00 am service. Also please check the posted list of members eligible to vote. If your name is not there and you would like to be a voting member of St. Andrew’s, please talk to Rev. Heidi or Gretchen Behr-Svendsen, our clerk.

Reminder: January 17th is the due date for Annual Reports by committee chairs and people with designated responsibilities to the Parish. If you need samples of the reports from last year, Please see Debra in the office. You can submit your reports by emailing to the office or leave them in Debra’s office In-Box. The earlier the better. Thanks.

Open Vestry positions: Elections to be held at the Annual Meeting to fill the following positions:
Junior Warden, Clerk, One Vestry member (1 year term), Two Vestry members (2 year terms), and an Alternate Delegate to Convocation.
The nominating committee will present a slate of nominations at the meeting.

Diocesan News: The Election and Transition Committee of our diocese has just announced the three sites for the Meet and Greet sessions – opportunities for the Convention Delegates, members of congregations, and clergy to meet the candidates for the 10th Bishop of New Hampshire.

All three will be held in the early evening from 6:30 - 8:30pm and each will be followed by a period of fellowship and refreshments. The dates and locations are:

Tuesday May 1, 2012 Exeter High School in Exeter New Hampshire
Wednesday May 2, 2012 The Holderness School in Plymouth, NH
Thursday May 3, 2012 St. Paul's School in Concord, NH

The three sites were selected so that attendees would not have an unreasonable drive to and from the events, that the sites would have sufficient space to comfortably accommodate the number of attendees anticipated.

The site nearest to Saint Andrew’s (and the one for which we have been asked to contribute refreshments) is the Holderness School. Being part of the calling of a Bishop is an exciting opportunity. Our delegates will all be attending this event and extend an invitation to all who might be interested to join us that evening. When the date gets nearer, we will facilitate car-pooling from the church. In the meantime, please block off the evening of Wednesday, May 2nd in your calendars.

 
ALL ARE WELCOME to join in a Service of Morning Prayer, every Wednesday at 9 AM, led by one of our three licensed worship leaders. 

The Collect for the Epiphany 

O God, by the leading of a star you manifested your only Son to the peoples of the earth: Lead us, who know you now by faith, to your presence, where we may see you glory face to face; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. 
 
Blessings from The Office at St. Andrew’s

 UPCOMING WEEK’S CALENDAR:

Fri  1/6:          

            10a-noon  Food Center

           

Sat  1/7:         

            8pm AA & Al-Anon(PH,PR)

           

Sun 1/8:         

            8 AM Holy Eucharist

            10 AM Holy Eucharist

Mon 1/9:         Church office closed

           

Tue  1/10:      

            10a-noon  Food Center

            8pm AA (PH)

Wed 1/11:      

            9am  Morning Prayer

            Noon: Lunch Bunch at Mtn View Station

           

Thu  1/12:

            6:00 PM round table eucharist

            6:30 PM brown bag supper

            7 PM Vestry meeting