January 14, 2016

An acolyte readies the altar for the liturgy.
 This coming Sunday, January 17th and Second Sunday after the Epiphany, we will have services at 8 and 10 AM, with coffee hour following both services. We hope you will join us for worship and fellowship.
The procession begins.
In place of a more conventional sermon, this week I will be offering Part 1 of a three-part Instructed Eucharist. We will explore the Entrance Rite. This portion will begin promptly at ten o'clock, but before the worship service actually begins, so that the information conveyed will not interrupt the flow of the liturgy. At coffee hour following the service, any who are interested are invited to gather to ask questions and explore the topic in greater detail. Next Sunday (January 24th), Part 2 will focus on the Liturgy of the Word, with the presentation during the standard sermon time slot, and on January 31st, Part 3 will focus on the Liturgy of the Table and the Dismissal, both with time set aside during coffee hour for questions and conversation.
This series is really designed for everyone. Whether you’ve been an Episcopalian all your life, or found this branch of the church more recently, my hope is that you will pick up some things that will make your worship more meaningful.

The readings for this Sunday: Isaiah 62:1-5, Psalm 36:5-10, 1 Corinthians 12:1-11, John 2:1-11.

Martin Luther King Day will be celebrated Monday, January 18th. A community observance with plenty of singing will take place at the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House in Tamworth at 6:30. All are welcome.

Annual Report Preparers: The due date is tomorrow (Friday, January 15th). Deb needs to put the full report together next week.

Last Sunday we celebrated the Baptism of Jesus and explored together through a dialogue sermon something of what it means to be baptized. Perhaps the high point was when we all considered the notion that our shared last name is Christ!  Click here for a lively video of our whole conversation!

Our regular Wednesday 9:00 Service of Morning Prayer is cancelled for next week, January 20th, due to a variety of conflicts. But we will be back on track on the 27th. On Wednesday, February 3rd, in place of Morning Prayer, in celebration of the Feast of the Presentation we will have a service of Holy Eucharist.

Altar Flowers, an update: Our Christmas Poinsettias are still doing well, but looking ahead, we expect to need altar flowers for January 31, and for February 7th (Our Annual Meeting Sunday). Ash Wednesday is February 10th and marks the beginning of Lent, when we use only simple bare branches. We will, of course, have palms for Palm Sunday (March 20th), then lilies for Easter and the Sundays that follow. But our 2016 Altar Flower Chart (posted on the Food Pantry closet door) stands open, awaiting flower contributions given in memory, in thanksgiving, or in honor of someone or something. They can be ordered from the florist or you can provide them directly. The details are on the flower chart. Think about whether you might like to remember someone special in this way.

Easter is early this year, making for a short Epiphany season:
February 7: Last Sunday after the Epiphany (and the last Alleluias)
                    and Annual Meeting after the 9:00 service
February 9: Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper at 6 PM
February 10: Ash Wednesday services at noon and 7 PM
February 14: Lent I
March 20: Palm Sunday, one service at 10 AM
March 24: Maundy Thursday service at 7 PM
March 25: Good Friday services at noon and 7 PM
March 26: Holy Saturday. Easter Vigil at 8 PM
March 27: Easter Day. One service at 10 AM



Food for thought, 
from a book of poetry I received for Christmas -- Felicity, by Mary Oliver . . . 

The World I Live In

I have refused to live
locked in the orderly house of
reasons and proofs.
The world I live in and believe in
is wider than that. And anyway,
what's wrong with "Maybe"?

You wouldn't believe what once or
twice I have seen. I'll
just tell you this:
only if there are angels in your head will you
ever, possibly, see one.

Blessings in this season of returning light!
See you in church.
Heidi+