March 21, 2019



JOIN US FOR WORSHIP

THIS SUNDAY, March 24th, The 3rd Sunday of Lent,  there will be two services at 8 and 10 am.

Note: The Ethiopian Cross will be on the retable through Lent.  It's open pattern allows both light and darkness through it.  With God's help, may our hearts open to the light and darkness in our own selves.  And may we be reconciled, renewed and redeemed in the image of Christ.

Following the 10:00 a.m. service on Sunday, March 24th please join us for:
Is Solar Energy in St. Andrew's Future?  An innovative partnership between the NH Diocese and Revision Energy, NE’s largest solar installer, would make it possible for St. Andrew's to install solar panels with no upfront costs, produce electricity at lower than current rates from day one, and potentially pay for itself over time with the savings accrued.  Too good to be true?  Come find out!  Doug Smithwood and Susan Fuller from Solar Saints, All Saints Church, Wolfeboro  will be with us THIS SUNDAY following 10:00 worship to outline St. Andrew's potential for solar energy. (Hint:  it's a win-win for St. Andrew's and the earth)

CENTERING PRAYER  
Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m.  (Note: New time)

MORNING PRAYER 
Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
LENTEN STUDY
Wednesdays 6:00 p.m.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
and FELLOWSHIP

READINGS FOR SUNDAY

Sunday, March 24th
3rd Sunday in Lent
Year C

Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 63:1-8
1 Corinthians 10:1-13
Luke 13:1-9



FROM THE RECTOR

Part 3 of our Parish Meeting Planning Sessions

Mark your calendars for the third of our Parish Meeting planning sessions, which will be on Sunday, April 7 following the 9:00 service. In our first session, at the Annual Meeting on the first Sunday in February, we looked at highlights over the past year. Then on the first Sunday in March we discussed what we most value about St. Andrew’s and our hopes and dreams for the next several years. Now it’s time to take all of that information, prioritize it and determine how we can make some of our hopes and dreams become reality.

The first two meetings generated a lot of conversation and energy around who we are now as a parish and how we can become even better, and some new ideas are already coming into fruition. We have the beginnings of a new flower ministry for our homebound parishioners and those who are sick or recovering from an illness or surgery, spearheaded by Claudia Kennedy. Since we’re in Lent now, and therefore without altar flowers, it will be more fully realized after Easter. Claudia will put together small vases of flowers to be delivered as part of home communion visits or for people to drop off to someone on their way home from church. Flowers can be taken by anyone to someone who is sick or in the hospital or just needs something to brighten their day. She made beautiful arrangements from our altar flowers on Shrove Tuesday which were distributed for delivery at the pancake supper. After Easter she will do this on one or two Sundays a month.
Another exciting development is a new prayer shawl ministry. Lin Frank is gathering a group of interested people this week to determine next steps for initiating this, and will share details as it takes shape. Anyone who loves to knit or crochet or wants to learn is invited. Both this and the flower ministry will touch many people both in our parish and beyond. Stay tuned for more information as these new ministries get underway.

In addition, Jim Theodore has been working on organizing a new fundraising event, the St. Andrew’s Invitational Golf Tournament to be held at ___ in September. More information on that will also be coming as it is available.

These are exciting times at St. Andrew’s. Something new is afoot, and it makes me think of the old hymn:

“There's a sweet, sweet spirit in this place
And I know that it's the spirit of the Lord.”


Please plan to attend our Parish Meeting on April 7. We will pick up where we left off at our last meeting. Who knows what else may evolve?!  
Caroline
SAVE THE DATE
St. Andrew's Potluck and Game Night
Friday, April 5 at 6:00 pm
Watch the Thursday Memo for details

LENTEN RESOURCES


Lenten Study Group

It’s not too late to join our Lenten study group, the Poetry of Lent: A Companion to Mary Oliver’s Devotions. We are meeting on Wednesdays at 6:00 – 7:30 pm and begin with a simple supper of soup and salad. Join us for good food, fellowship and discussion!


Lenten Resources and Lay Lent Quiet Day with the Bishop:
Please visit our website for a variety of resources for your use during Lent. These can be found on our Lent Resources webpage: HERE.  

As part of our Lenten observances, the Bishop will lead a Lay Lent Quiet Day on Saturday, March 23 at Christ Church in Exeter. The Quiet Day is specifically intended for all lay members of your congregation. Please make all members of your congregation aware of this wonderful spiritual opportunity and encourage them to attend. Learn more HERE: 


All are Invited to Spring Renewal: Spring Renewal is happening May 11th at Manchester Community College. We're excited to be offering this festive day full of spiritual renewal and ministry development workshops, worship, and activities to inspire us in the Way of Love. We hope lay and clergy will take advantage of this wonderful offering. Share information about this exciting day of community and learning with your congregation. Details and registration can be found HERE.

Lent Madness 2019 The Tenth Annual Saintly Smackdown!
With its unique blend of competition, learning, and humor, Lent Madness allows participants to be inspired by the ways in which God has worked through the lives of saintly souls across generations and cultures. Throughout Lent, thirty-two saints will do battle to win the coveted Golden Halo. Based loosely on the NCAA basketball tournament of a similar name, this online devotion pits saints against one another in a bracket as voters choose their favorites throughout this penitential season.
Here’s how to participate: on the weekdays of Lent, information is posted at www.lentmadness.org about two different saints. Each pairing remains open for 24 hours as participants read about and then vote to determine which saint moves on to the next round. Sixteen saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the coveted Golden Halo. Click on the link above to sign up for a daily email with information about each saint. And check the door by the kitchen for the full sized poster.
PLANNING FOR HOLY WEEK  SERVICES

CLICK FOR EASTER SCHEDULE

DINNER BELL

Dinner Bell cook teams for March are:

24th- Tubman & Preston
31st-UUFES
~
COOK TEAMS NEEDED!
for the following dates:

May 26
June 9
June 23
Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!

FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Logos


Why worry about the loaves and fishes?
If you say the right words, the wine expands. 
If you say them with love
and the felt ferocity of that love 
and the felt necessity of that love,
the fish explode into many. 
Imagine him, speaking,
and don’t worry about what is reality, 
or what is plain, or what is mysterious.
If you were there, it was all those things. 
If you can imagine it, it is all those things.
Eat, drink, be happy. 
Accept the miracle.
Accept, too, each spoken word 
spoken with love.

~ Mary Oliver, Devotions

COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
The monthly item for March is 
COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
 will receive proceeds from the 
Fight Hunger bag during the month of March


at the Hannaford  store located at: 891 NH-16, Ossipee NH

FORWARD DAY BY DAY FOR TODAY

THURSDAY March 21, 2019
Psalm 71:9 Do not cast me off in my old age; forsake me not when my strength fails.
When I was a junior in high school, my grandfather died, and my grandmother came to live with us. By the time I left for college, I decided I did not like old people.
Now I am one.
My husband and I are in relatively good health and have sufficient income, but I look at the situations of our contemporaries and realize that, in our youth-obsessed culture, it is not good to be old. God does not cast us off in old age, but in too many cases we heedlessly cast each other off.
Recent studies show the devastating effects of loneliness on health outcomes of older Americans. Without human contact, those who have outlived a spouse or never married, those without children, siblings, or friends close by, literally wither and die. Because we know that God has not abandoned us, we need to make sure no one feels forsaken in old age.

MOVING FORWARD: Do you have friends who are not your age? How can you widen your circle and share your love and life?
FROM Deb IN THE OFFICE


MARCH  BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES

If you do not see your birthday or anniversary listed, please make sure Deb in the office has an information sheet on file for you.

Birthdays                       
10     Susan Ines
13     Trudy Thompson
16     Caroline Hines
20     Albert Bunker
21     Chris Boldt
30     Kaitlyn Marshall, Barbara Lord
31     Claudia Kennedy 


PHOTO GALLERY