Our yearly "ice fall" |
JOIN US
FOR WORSHIP
This Sunday, The Last Sunday after Epiphany,
there will be two services at 8 and 10am
There is a service of Morning Prayer on Wednesday
mornings at 9 a.m.
ASH
WEDNESDAY
Services on Wednesday, March 1st at Noon and 7pm
We hope you will join us for worship and
fellowship.
READINGS
FOR SUNDAY
Exodus 24:12-18
Psalm 99
2 Peter 1:16-21
Matthew 17:1-9
FROM THE INTERIM RECTOR
State House
Bill 478 and Why It Matters
I
was privileged to attend the committee hearing on House Bill 478 at the State
House on Tuesday. The bill's purpose is to provide fair and equal protection
for transgender residents, who are not currently protected by
anti-discrimination legislation in NH. The hearing room was packed, with the
standing room only crowd spilling through the doorway. Some 80 people signed up
to speak for or against the bill, and the overwhelming majority spoke for it.
Speakers in favor of the bill included professionals in the medical and helping
professions, representatives from the Business and Industry Association of NH
and the NH Association of Chiefs of Police, and transgender people of all ages.
The testimony was often eloquent and moving, but Sarah Huckman's testimony was
simply amazing. The committee chair had been clear that the audience could be
cleared from the hearing room if they made comments during testimony or
applauded, but there was prolonged and enthusiastic applause for Sarah, and the
chair joined in. We have all seen how
poised and confident Sarah is, but testifying in front of a State House
committee and large audience would be daunting for anyone. Sarah was awesome!
My favorite moment came several speakers later, when Sarah's name was called
(Tom had given up his chance to speak and asked that Sarah take his place when
his name was called). When her name was called Sarah said that she had already
spoken, and one of the committee members called out, "Encore!" She
was that impressive.
Sarah Huckman speaking to the Committee |
Yesterday
we learned that the committee approved the bill by a margin of 15-2, and sent
it on to the full House with a positive recommendation. Great work, Sarah, Tom,
Jen, and all the many others who have worked for this result. There is
obviously more to be done, but this is a great first step.
Thank
you, Sarah. You rock!
Faithfully,
Caroline
LAST SUNDAY
The
Dedication of the new Credence Table constructed
by the loving hands of Sammie
Wakefield. Thank you Sammie!
The
Commissioning of Sammie for her trip to Peru.
AND DON'T FORGET TO COME FOR PANCAKES!
Pancake
Supper Help Needed
We need 3-5 volunteers for the Shrove Tuesday
Pancake Supper in order to make it happen – adults or older kids; men or women,
handy with a pancake flipper or not! Can you pitch in? George Rau and Tom
Huckman will have everything ready, but need extra hands beginning at 5:00.
Please let George know if you are available no later than Sunday morning (367-8223).
RESOURCES FOR LENT
There are
several Lenten resources available this year, either in the parish hall or
online. In the parish hall you will find the workbook, 5 Marks of Love; Living Life Marked as Christ’s Own, which
is what we will use for our Wednesday evening program. In addition to the
workbook there will also be daily videos from the Brothers of SSJE. To sign up
for these videos go to http://ssje.org/ssje/5marksoflove/. The video
series begins this Sunday, February 26.
Also available
in the parish hall are copies of Lenten
Meditations 2017 from Episcopal Relief and Development. “This year’s
devotional focuses on creating economic opportunities and strengthening
communities, with a particular focus on empowering women. The daily readings
are co-authored by a group of leaders from across the Anglican Communion, who
bring a range of perspectives as they reflect on Scripture and other sources of
spiritual wisdom.” For more information go to: http://www.episcopalrelief.org/church-in-action/church-campaigns/lent.
Finally,
there is Lent Madness, a fun
and educational, sometimes (often?) irreverent online opportunity to learn
about saints of the church. According to the website, “Lent Madness, the ‘saintly smackdown’ in which thirty-two saints do battle
to win the coveted Golden Halo during the season of Lent,” begins on Thursday,
March 2.
To participate in Lent Madness, go
to http://www.lentmadness.org/
and sign up for a daily email (upper right portion of webpage), or “like it” on
Facebook. On the website you can also be
introduced to the Supreme Executive Committee, Celebrity Bloggers and even Nina,
the Official Horse of Lent Madness.
For more information click here. Also look for the Saintly
Bracket and the Saintly Scorecard, coming soon to the parish hall. Too much fun
to miss!
SEARCH COMMITTEE
Photo that was not available last week~
Search Committee Tom Huckman, Hannah Anderson, Lisa Thompson, Cathie Lewis, Betsy Hess and George Rau |
SAFE CHURCH
If
you are a new vestry member or are in need of refresher training, please
contact Marty Cloran with your interest to attend one of these training
dates. He will advise you if you need to
also complete the online modules prior to the in person training. For more
information of the training sites listed below, click here.
March
4- St. Paul’s, Concord
March
11- Christ Church, Exeter
April
29- Trinity Church, Claremont
Sept
30- St. Thomas Church, Hanover
COMMUNITY
FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions
throughout the year.
The
monthly item for February is Razors
for men and women.
FOOD FOR
THOUGHT
Grant
us open hearts, O God,
open
to you
and
open to one another,
open
to the splendor of the earth
and
open to its pain and the pain of its people.
Grant
us open hearts, O God.
From J. Philip Newell, Celtic Treasure
Blessings,
See you
in Church!
Photography by:
Lisa Thompson
Sammie Wakefield
Deb Hoyt
LINKS FOR MOBILE VIEWERS: