March 26, 2020


FROM THE RECTOR
Good Thursday afternoon, everyone! 
     
And so life continues in this strange new reality. Our Bishop has likened this period of time in our lives to the exile that the Judeans experienced in the 6th century BCE. Under King Nebuchadnezzar they were captured and taken from their homeland to Babylon, where they lived in exile for 60 years. These words from Psalm 137 lament their situation:

1 By the waters of Babylon we sat down and wept, *
    when we remembered you, O Zion.
2 As for our harps, we hung them up *
    on the trees in the midst of that land.
3 For those who led us away captive asked us for a song,
         and our oppressors called for mirth: *
    "Sing us one of the songs of Zion."
4 How shall we sing the LORD'S song *
    upon an alien soil?

We have not been physically exiled from our homes or our homeland, but some of us have been isolated. And I suspect all of us are feeling some degree of dislocation as we cope with the news, physical distancing, working from home, kids at home, anxiety, groceries with empty shelves… and on and on the list goes. It is interesting that all of this is happening during Lent. We are now fasting from so many things, including gathering in our beautiful sanctuary, being with our St. Andrew’s community and perhaps most poignantly, from the Eucharist. It’s nearly two weeks now since any of us were able to receive Communion, and we don’t know how much longer it will be. I, and I suspect many of you, are yearning for the time when we can once again gather together on Sunday morning and celebrate the Eucharist.

Meanwhile, we continue to hold five midweek services that are available online and via telephone. I encourage you to join us for one of these if you haven’t already. I’ve heard from some of you that you are not able to connect online, but this does not mean that you cannot participate. There is a phone number to call that will connect you to the audio portion of a Zoom call, and you will be able to hear the entire service. If you have felt discourage or frustrated by the need to use technology you’ve never used before, please call in.

To simplify matters I have combined all of our worship services and Coffee Hour under one link, meeting ID and password. The phone number is always the same.
The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/540930905
Password: Prayer   
Phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 540 930 905
(For those of you who had saved the links, this is the old Compline link.)

Caroline
 WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY- March 29th

This Sunday we will again join the Bishop and the rest of the diocese for worship at 10:00 am. Two of our members are assisting in leading this service: Valerie May will play and lead two hymns on her harp and Sammie Wakefield is the reader.

The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/971001199. You may share your intercessions and thanksgivings via the “chat” function during the service. To join by phone (audio only), dial 1-929-205-6099, Webinar ID: 971-001-199.

Following the service there will be another Zoom Coffee hour. It will be a separate Zoom call from the diocesan worship service, so you will need to leave the worship service and sign in/ call in to our St. Andrew’s link listed above.

 You might like to have your Book of Common Prayer within reach as well, or get the BCP online at www.bcponline.org.


OFFERING: Thank you for continuing to honor your pledges during this time while we cannot gather in the church. Our usual practices for counting, recording and depositing your pledge payments continue. You may mail your checks to the office or set up a direct payment through the bill pay feature of your bank. Our expenses continue as usual, even though we are not able to gather in person.
         
READINGS FOR SUNDAY
Sunday, March 29th
Fifrth Sunday in Lent
Year A

COLLECT
Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
READINGS
Ezekiel 37:1-14
Psalm 130
Romans 8:6-11
John 11:1-45

Click below to see the readings: 

AND...
JOIN US FOLLOWING THE SERVICE FOR 
A VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
on ZOOM

The Zoom link is https://zoom.us/j/540930905
Password: Prayer   
Phone: 1-929-436-2866
Meeting ID: 540 930 905

MIDWEEK WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Each of these weekday services will be live streamed on Facebook and available on ZOOM.
  
The Zoom link for all of these is https://zoom.us/j/540930905
Password: Prayer   
Phone: 1 929 436 2866
Meeting ID: 540 930 905

Or you may watch any of the services on Facebook live at:  

EVENING PRAYER -Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.










MORNING PRAYER -Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m.









COMPLINE - Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.






WE HOPE YOU WILL Continue to JOIN US FOR WORSHIP and FELLOWSHIP in our online presence.

OFFICE HOURS AND HOW TO REACH US

The Office is closed, but Deb continues to respond to email, phone messages and fulfill her other responsibilities.

If you need to contact Caroline she is available 9:00 – 5:00 Sunday – Thursday via email (RectorSAITV@gmail.com) or cell phone (603-553-9254). In the case of a true emergency please call anytime. Of course you may also email her at any time, but she will answer email during her regular hours. 

If you are sick PLEASE let Caroline know!



PRAYERS FOR EACH OTHER

One thing we can always do while we stay at home is to pray for each other! We would like to keep our prayer list up to date and publish it each week in the Thursday Memo. Please email Deb at office@standrewsinthevalley.org with any updates.


PLEASE PRAY FOR 

Health and Wholeness for:
Dave Appleton, Hettie, Courtney and her baby, Christian, Victor, Tiffany, Kyren, Bob & Sue Huckman, Kenneth LaForge, Viv, David Manley, Robin Martelle, John McGowan, Gabriele Wallace, Tamara, Jennifer M, Milan McNall, Jerry Williams, Marilyn Cloran, Joan Marshall, Rick, John, Joyce Gendron, Cecile Hopkins.

For those who have died especially Todd Demijohn, cousin and dear friend of Chris Boldt.
LENTEN RESOURCES

Lent Madness 2020 The Tenth Annual Saintly Smackdown!
CONTINUE to enjoy participating in Lent Madness.
Here is the bracket as of today! (click on the photo for a larger view)

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. 

TIPS FOR AVOIDING THE FLU OR CORONAVIRUS

Wash your hands frequently. 

Sanitize hands before and after contact with others. 

It’s not too late to get your flu shot. While our primary concern is the spread of COVID-19, this is also a bad flu season. If people have not gotten a flu vaccine, there’s still time before the expected second wave of seasonal flu infections.

Additional information and links may be found at the Episcopal Church of NH website at https://www.nhepiscopal.org/covid19 and on the Episcopal Relief & Development web page, “Faith-Based Response to Epidemics.”

DINNER BELL
DINNER BELL will be canceled until further notice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!


SAFE CHURCH

If you are up for Safe Church Renewal
you must do your renewal modules on Armatus
then sign up for one of the following meetings online.

Safe Church Zoom Call
If you have questions, please contact Safe Church Minister, Marty Cloran.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY

We cannot meet at this time, but KNIT ON!



If you have any questions, please call Lin Frank at 323-0402.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT

In the Morning

This is another day, O Lord. 
I know not what it will bring forth,
but make me ready, Lord, for whatever it may be. 
If I am to stand up, help me to stand bravely. 
If I am to sit still, help me to sit quietly. 
If I am to lie low, help me to do it patiently. 
And if I am to do nothing, let me do it gallantly. 
Make these words more than words,
and give me the Spirit of Jesus.  Amen.

COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
Food pantry continues to serve the communities needs
Tuesday and Friday 10am - Noon
and Wednesdays 5pm-7pm

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




LINKS




March 19, 2020


FROM THE RECTOR
Good Thursday afternoon, everyone! 
     
     What a week this has been! Though things have continued to change rapidly, it seems that what we’ve put in place for this week will continue for some time. There is much I’d like to share, so settle in. Or skip to the parts that are of interest to you. I’ll use headings for that purpose.

     This Sunday Bishop Rob has invited us all to join him for online worship from the chapel at Diocesan House at 10:00 a.m. via Facebook live streaming. For this week that will be our Sunday morning worship opportunity so that we can all hear his sermon, as well as join others around the diocese.

     I have set up a Zoom meeting for St. Andrew’s parishioners following the service so that we can connect with each other after the service for a “virtual” coffee hour.
     We have also scheduled several mid-week online worship opportunities: Evening Prayer every Tuesday at 5:30 pm; our usual Morning Prayer every Wednesday at 9:00 am; and Compline every Thursday at 8:30 pm. These mid-week services are all being live streamed on Facebook AND available as a Zoom meeting.
     If you do not have a Prayer Book at home you may come by the church during office hours and borrow one to take home. Please look for the sign out sheet by the parish hall entrance into the church. An online version is available at www.bcponline.org.
     Please note that you do not need to be a member of Facebook to watch Facebook live streaming. Just click on the link provided or call the number listed. Both Facebook live streaming and Zoom are accessible by phone if you cannot connect through the internet. See below for links and more specific information.
     Wondering what the difference is between Facebook live streaming and Zoom? The biggest difference is that you can only watch something on Facebook live streaming, whereas you can see each other and talk to each other on Zoom.
     But Facebook live streaming is easier to access if you aren’t particularly tech savvy. You only need to click on the link given you and scroll down the page until you reach the live streamed video. You won’t be able to see it until the time it is scheduled to begin.

     The Zoom platform requires downloading the Zoom app on your preferred computer, tablet or mobile phone. Once you have it downloaded you then click on the link in the Zoom invitation. Here is a link to a video introduction: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362193-How-Do-I-Join-A-Meeting-
Caroline
 WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY- March 22nd

You are invited to join Bishop Rob Hirschfeld with Canon Tina Pickering and Deacon Shawn LaFrance for The Great Litany, Supplication and Liturgy of the Word this Sunday at 10:00 am via Facebook Live video streaming from the Chapel of All Angels in Diocesan House. 
          You will find the live stream, beginning at 10 am on Sunday, on the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire's Facebook page here: www.facebook.com/NHEpiscopal/
          PLEASE NOTE: NH Episcopal is a public Facebook page and you do NOT have to have a Facebook account in order to watch and participate in the live stream.
          During the service, you may add your responses and prayer requests in the comment section of the Facebook live video.
          If you do not have a computer or a web-enabled phone on which you can watch video, you can also listen to the service by calling 1-929-205-6099, meeting ID 972-806-124, then press # and then # again (no personal ID). You will not be able to comment or make prayer requests over the phone.
          If you are unable to join live, the service will be recorded and posted to the NH Episcopal Facebook page for watching at any time, though you will no longer be able to post comments and prayer requests.
          You might like to have your Book of Common Prayer within reach as well, or get the BCP online at www.bcponline.org.
READINGS FOR SUNDAY
Sunday, March 22nd
Fourth Sunday in Lent
Year A

COLLECT
Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
READINGS
1 Samuel 16:1-13
Psalm 23
Ephesians 5:8-14
John 9:1-41

Click below to see the readings: 

AND...
JOIN US FOLLOWING THE SERVICE FOR 
A VIRTUAL COFFEE HOUR
on ZOOM

Topic: Virtual Coffee Hour!
Time: Mar 22, 2020 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada)

To join the Zoom Meeting click here: Virtual Coffee Hour
Meeting ID: 331 579 522
Or to call in: dial 1-929-436-2866 and give the meeting ID: 331 579 522

MIDWEEK WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

Each of these weekday services will be live streamed on Facebook and available on ZOOM.

EVENING PRAYER -Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.
To join the Zoom Meeting click here: EVENING PRAYER
Meeting ID: 250 190 891
Or to call in: dial 1-929-436-2866 and give the meeting ID: 250 190 891
Or to watch it on Facebook click here: https://www.facebook.com/standrewsinthevalleytamworth, and scroll down.




MORNING PRAYER -Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m.
To join the Zoom Meeting, click here: MORNING PRAYER
Meeting ID: 918 135 078
Or to call in dial 1-929-436-2866 and give the meeting ID: 918 135 078
Or to watch it on Facebook click here: https://www.facebook.com/standrewsinthevalleytamworth, and scroll down.




COMPLINE -Thursdays at 8:30 p.m.
To join the Zoom Meeting click here: COMPLINE
Meeting ID: 973 184 781

Or to call in dial 1-929-436-2866 and give the meeting ID: 973 184 781

Or to watch it on Facebook click here: https://www.facebook.com/standrewsinthevalleytamworth, and scroll down.




WE HOPE YOU WILL Continue to JOIN US FOR WORSHIP and FELLOWSHIP in our online presence.

OFFICE HOURS AND HOW TO REACH US

Office hours remain the same as usual: Tuesday morning 9-Noon and Wednesday and Thursday mornings 1:00 – 5:00. If you come to the office please maintain the recommended 6 ft. distance from others.

If you need to contact me I am available 9:00 – 5:00 Sunday – Thursday via email (RectorSAITV@gmail.com) or my cell phone (603-553-9254). In the case of a true emergency please call anytime. Of course you may also email me at any time, but I will answer email during my regular hours. 

If you are sick PLEASE let me know!

PRAYERS FOR EACH OTHER

One thing we can always do while we stay at home is to pray for each other! We would like to keep our prayer list up to date and publish it each week in the Thursday Memo. Please email Deb at office@standrewsinthevalley.org with any updates.


PLEASE PRAY FOR 
Hettie, Courtney and her baby, Christian, Victor, Tiffany, Kyren, Bob & Sue Huckman, Kenneth LaForge, Viv, David Manley, Robin Martelle, John McGowan, Gabriele Wallace, Tamara, Jennifer M, Milan McNall, Jerry Williams, Marilyn Cloran, Joan Marshall, Rick, John, Joyce Gendron, Cecile Hopkins.
LENTEN RESOURCES

Lent Madness 2020 The Tenth Annual Saintly Smackdown!
CONTINUE to enjoy participating in Lent Madness.
Here is the bracket as of today! (click on the photo for a larger view)

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. 

TIPS FOR AVOIDING THE FLU OR CORONAVIRUS

Wash your hands frequently. 

Sanitize hands before and after contact with others. Place containers of hand sanitizer in the pews, near doors, and beside tissue boxes to be used when hand washing is not possible.

It’s not too late to get your flu shot. While many are worried about the COVID19 virus spreading, this is already a bad flu season. If people have not gotten a flu vaccine, there’s still time before the expected second wave of seasonal flu infections.

Additional information and links may be found on the Episcopal Relief & Development web page, “Faith-Based Response to Epidemics.”

DINNER BELL
DINNER BELL IS NOW TAKE OUT

Dinner Bell cook teams for March are:
22nd - Tubman
31st-UUFES
Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!


SAFE CHURCH

If you are up for Safe Church Renewal
you must do your renewal modules on Armatus
then sign up for one of the following meetings online.

Safe Church Zoom Call
If you have questions, please contact Safe Church Minister, Marty Cloran.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY
Come join us! Knitting skills not required.
We cannot meet at this time, but KNIT ON!



If you have any questions, please call Lin Frank at 323-0402.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Pandemic


What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now, 
on trying to make the world
different than it is. 
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love--
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.


                   ~ Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
Food pantry continues to serve the communities needs
Tuesday and Friday 10am - Noon
and Wednesdays 5pm-7pm

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




LINKS