June 9, 2016

Thursday MEMO

The Rector with our Presiding Bishop in Concord this week
Don't miss the Picture Gallery at the end of this MEMO

Services for this coming Sunday, June 12th and the 4th Sunday after Pentecost will be at 8 and 10 AM, with coffee hour following each service. The Rev. John Allen will be our guest priest. Heidi and Duane will be taking some days off this week. We hope you will join us for worship and fellowship.

Readings for Sunday: 1 Kings 21:1-21a, Psalm 5:1-8, Galatians 2:15-21, Luke 7:36-8:3

The New Parish Directory is now available!!! Please help yourself to a copy from the table in the Parish Hall. If the supply runs out, more can be made. Debra has worked hard to incorporate updates, but if some detail is amiss, please drop her a note so that she can make the correction for future runs. Now you can put names together with faces! A number of people have joined us in recent months. Whether you're new or have been here all your life, please reach out and introduce yourself! And consider wearing your name tag for summer!

Dedication of the mosaic mural for the Tamworth 250th! Two mosaics, created by many members of this town, now grace the front wall of the Brett School. Look closely; Saint Andrew's in there in the center left. The dedication ceremony will be on Tuesday, June 14th at 6:30 PM and will include some singing by the Silver Lake Singers. Lower image is an enlargement that shows Saint Andrew's.

Don't forget...Our annual White Lake State Park All-Parish Eucharist and Picnic is coming up! The date: Sunday, June 26th. Burgers, hot-dogs, rolls, and beverages will be provided. Plan to bring chips, a salad, or dessert to share. This always a lot of fun for everyone. We have reserved the pavilion, so we are protected from both sun and rain. It's wheel-chair accessible and both the swimming and the companionship are wonderful...a perfect way to really kick off the summer season!

Many of you have commented on the poignancy of last Sunday's Story Circle liturgy in the Parish Hall. Over a dozen  people shared wide-ranging personal two-minute "mini-stories" of glimpses of God's presence in the parish over the past 12+ years. Thank you to each of you who made yourselves vulnerable and in so doing touched all of us with your stories that are now our stories as well. The Spirit is indeed present in this place! Sharing and remembering, and learning from one another is a blessing in the moment that will continue to strengthen this beloved community throughout the transition and into the future!  There are lots more pictures below. 

Be sure to mark these dates on your calendar:
Friday evening July 15 for the celebration of Heidi and Duane's ministry.
Sunday morning July 17th, 10 AM for Heidi's last service (One service only)

Quite a group of us from Saint Andrew's gathered in Concord this past Monday to hear our Presiding Bishop, the Right Reverend Michael Curry: Cathie Lewis, Betsy Hess, Pat Adams, Midge Pendergast, Alys and Ray Walker, and Heidi. Thanks to Ray and Midge (an affiliate member and a recently appointed postulant to the diaconate in the Diocese of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania) for their their brief reflections that follow.

From Ray: "Bishop Curry spoke to us, as a group of his friends, there was no distance from us. He spoke from questions put to him by us. As he answered he found connections to our shared daily life. He gave us a new vision of our Episcopal Church."

Bp. Rob and Presiding Bp. Michael
listen to audience questions

From Midge: I was brought to tears a few times, one of which was in witnessing the warm, easy, and respectful relationship between the Presiding Bishop and Bishop Rob was touching.  Bishop Curry is a fantastic 'story teller' - his high-level humor brings lightness to serious topics. He is disarming in his presentation and then quietly and steadily comes to a beautiful wording of what he needs to explain to answer a question.

His suggestions of replacing the word 'Kingdom,' as in the Kingdom of God' with the word 'Movement'seems like the Spirit moving - but with a stronger expectation - that was a powerful moment for me. 

I loved the way he talked about mission - in a manner of simplicity in relationships and shared hospitality.  I was thrilled to hear about initiatives in this diocese in both Cuba and Angola.  It was an amazing experience and a privilege to be with him in person.

If you'd like to get deeper sense of Bp. Curry's powerful and persuasive thinking, those of us who have read it (Midge, Ray, and Heidi) strongly recommend his book Crazy Christians: A Call to Follow Jesus.

Food for thought prompted by Bishop Curry's powerful vision of what it means for all of us to be truly follow Jesus...

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you; for the honor of your Name. Amen. [BCP p. 101, Service of Morning Prayer]

Story Circle Liturgy

And from the Celebration
of the Life of Walter Fortier this morning

At Chocorua Cemetery

With Military Honors