JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
CENTERING PRAYER
Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m.
MORNING PRAYER
Wednesday mornings at 9:00 a.m.
WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US FOR WORSHIP
and FELLOWSHIP
READINGS FOR SUNDAY
Sunday, March 15th
3rd Sunday in Lent
Year A
Year A
Exodus 17:1-7
Psalm 95
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42
READERS FOR THIS SUNDAY:
Psalm 95
Romans 5:1-11
John 4:5-42
1st Reading: Carol Tubman
2nd Reading: Patti Rau
Prayers: Dale Appleton
Click below to see the readings:
FROM THE RECTOR
The times, they are a’changing. Life is never
dull, is it? The arrival of the corona virus in our local communities appears
inevitable at this point, though as of this morning the news outlets were still
saying that community transmission is not happening in NH. The best-case
scenario seems to be that we are able to “flatten the curve” of the spread of
the virus in the U.S. so that our health care systems and hospitals and are not
overwhelmed.
Our Bishop has issued a pastoral directive (which,
If you haven’t read it, can be found here: https://www.nhepiscopal.org/news-updates/2020/3/10/bishop-rob-issues-pastoral-directive-regarding-covid-19
) to help guide us in our worship.
We will follow his directive, and serve only bread
at communion, thus taking no chances on transmission by the communion cup. And
instead of using our wonderful homemade bread which I have to break apart, we
will use communion wafers.
We will continue to exchange the Peace verbally,
with a bow, a nod, a peace sign, or whatever is comfortable for you that
doesn’t involve touch. Last week some of us enjoyed playing with new options. I
for one found that I like making a little bow toward you. And eye contact
becomes more important without touch, which is also nice.
And we will take a couple of additional steps:
We will place the offering plates at each
entrance, rather than passing them from person to person.
We will wipe down pew tops and the altar rail with
a strong solution of Murphey’s Oil Soap and water, but please feel free to
stand at the altar rail instead of kneeling (and having to grip the altar rail
upon rising).
I appreciate the way Bishop Rob has framed the
changes we need to make in our worship as a way of standing in solidarity with
those already sick or in isolation: These new protocols, shared with many of
our sibling churches throughout the Episcopal Church and other liturgical
denominations are temporary and are to remain in place until this current
health crisis has passed. Though they can be seen as a bothersome change, I
believe these practices can also provide us a way to live in sacred solidarity
with those who are now living with restrictions, even quarantine or
hospitalization. We are in this together, in this life together, as part of a
human family. I would also remind and reassure our worshippers that Communion
by one element, by bread alone, allows us to receive the full spiritual
benefits of our Lord’s Passion and Resurrection.
As we continue to navigate this new reality of
COVID-19, may we be mindful of how our behavior may impact others, and focus on
best practices for the health of all. And above all, may we remember the words
of the blessing the Bishop always uses:
Live without fear;
Your Creator has made you holy,
Has always protected you,
And loves you with a power and a presence
That is stronger than death.
And may the blessing of God Almighty,
Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
Be among you and remain with you always.
Caroline
INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGILS
INTERFAITH PRAYER VIGILS FOR IMMIGRANT JUSTICE
Please join us and participate in an important act of witness and solidarity. Interfaith Prayer Vigils and Jericho Walks take place on the first and third Tuesdays of each month from 9:00 am - 10:15 am at the Norris Cotton Federal Building, 275 Chestnut Street, Manchester. The next Prayer Vigis and Jericho Walk is on Tuesday, March 17th.
The walks’ name refers to the the biblical story which describes the walls of Jericho falling down after the Israelites marched around the city seven times. (Joshua 6:15-27) More information about the Jericho Walks can be found at https://www.afsc.org/blogs/news-and-commentary/bringing-down-walls-our-unjust-immigration-system.
If you would like to carpool please be in touch with Christi Humphrey, cchumphrey@comcast.net.
LENTEN RESOURCES
Lenten Book Study: Wednesdays 12:00-1:30 pm.
Join us for a book study each Wednesday in Lent from Noon to 1:30 p.m. Our discussion will follow a simple lunch of soup and salad. The book is Entering the Passion of Christ: A Beginner's Guide to Holy Week, by Amy-Jill Levine.
From the Amazon website:
Lent Madness 2020 The Tenth Annual Saintly Smackdown!
From the Amazon website:
In Entering the Passion of Jesus: A Beginner’s Guide to Holy Week, author, professor, and biblical scholar Amy-Jill Levine explores the biblical texts surrounding the Passion story. She shows us how the text raises ethical and spiritual questions for the reader, and how we all face risk in our Christian experience.
The book’s six chapters include:
- Jerusalem: Risking Reputation
- The Temple: Risking Righteous Anger
- Teachings: Risking Challenge
- The First Dinner: Risking Rejection
- The Last Supper: Risking the Loss of Friends
- Gethsemane: Risking Temptation
Lent Madness 2020 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.
TIPS FOR AVOIDING THE FLU OR CORONAVIRUS
From the Diocesan Office:
With the regular flu season upon us, and increasing concerns about the possible spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, the Diocese wishes to remind everyone about mindful practices for hygiene to minimize the risk of contagious diseases in churches. Here are some simple things you can do to help everyone:
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.
If you are not feeling well (even a little bit), stay home. You are not helping any one by arriving at church with a cold or the flu to tough it out. Clergy or lay ministers can bring the sacraments to shut-ins and/or provide pastoral care by phone as appropriate. Substitutes can be found for Sunday ministries.
The Peace — respectful acknowledgment of each other with no physical contact. Parishioners who are coughing or sneezing should refrain from handshaking during the Peace. Bowing to each other, friendly waves, and peace signs are all perfectly acceptable substitutes for handshakes and hugs.
Make sure the Holy Eucharist is offered by individuals who have cleaned their hands (and used hand sanitizer). Ask the altar guild to clean handrails and the altar rail before and after each service.
Avoid intinction — the dipping of the bread into the wine — even by celebrants or communion-administrators. Intinction is not a sanitary substitute for drinking from the chalice. Intinction risks possibly unclean hands being dipped in the wine and is thus an infection transmission route. It also creates risk for those with certain allergies.
The shared communion cup. There is little evidence of risk of disease associated with the shared communion cup, but each parishioner must make up their own minds about its use.
Greeting the Ministers following the service should include conversation, but with no physical contact.
Coffee Hour. All effort should be made to minimize the touching of food or beverages. Food should be served by individuals who have washed their hands, put on serving gloves, and are using tongs. Beverages should be served by individuals who have washed their hands and are wearing gloves. Either paper plates and napkins or a dishwasher with a water temperature setting hot enough to kill germs should be used for cleanup.
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 cook teams for March are:
15th- Lewis
22nd -COOK TEAM NEEDED
31st-UUFES
22nd -COOK TEAM NEEDED
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.
1st and 3rd Wednesday morning at 10:15 a.m.
If you knit or crochet (or would like to learn how to) and are led to engaging in an outreach mission that provides physical and spiritual comfort to those in need, please join us on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of every month at 10:15 AM in the Prince Room. We are a joyous group that will keep you in stitches! The coffee and tea will be on and new members are always welcome. If you have any questions, please call Lin Frank at 323-0402.
FOOD FOR THOUGHT
Face
the past without
regret,
the future without
fear
and live in the
present
with gratitude.
Frank Hall
COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
FOOD CENTER
The monthly item for March is
FROM Deb IN THE OFFICE
I will be looking for angels to help in the office during the month of March with bulletin assembly and maybe various other tasks that I would need a right arm for. Thank you in advance for you assistance.
Debra
Debra
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
13 Trudy Thompson
16 Caroline Hines
20 Albert Bunker
21 Chris Boldt
30 Kaitlyn Marshall, Barbara Lord
31 Claudia Kennedy
PHOTO GALLERY
LINKS
