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:
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.
when we remembered you, O Zion.
2 As for our harps, we hung them up *
on the trees in the midst of that land.
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."
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?
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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:
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.
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’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.
Here is the bracket as of today! (click on the photo for a larger view)
TIPS FOR AVOIDING THE FLU OR CORONAVIRUS
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
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
13 Trudy Thompson
16 Caroline Hines
20 Albert Bunker
21 Chris Boldt
30 Kaitlyn Marshall, Barbara Lord
31 Claudia Kennedy
PHOTO GALLERY
LINKS
