FROM THE RECTOR
Thank you all for continuing to come to church
every Sunday! As is the case in many of the churches across the diocese, our
attendance is higher than usual at this time of year. I’m sure there are a lot
of reasons for this:
·
You can come to church even if you’re
out of town
·
You can sleep in, have breakfast and
go to church without leaving home
·
You only have to get dressed from the
waist up
·
You can visit a new church without
having to meet a lot of new people
What else do you like about online church? I’d love
to hear!
If someone had told me a couple of months ago that
I would find church via Zoom or Facebook meaningful and enriching, I would have
thought they were nuts! But here we are, gathering every Sunday and looking
forward to the next Sunday service. Getting to see all of you, even though it’s
on a computer screen, is wonderful! Hearing different voices reading, singing,
praying – it’s not the same as being together at St. Andrew’s, and yet it is
working. God is present. We are present. And it is good.
As we continue to stay at home, I wonder if you
would like to have a mid-week gathering? Last week I said I would prepare some
poll questions about the form of our worship as we move forward. Would you
prefer to do this after church or at another time? I’d love to hear if you have
any interest in this possibility. There are gatherings during the week that
allow us to connect (Compline, Morning Prayer and Book Group), but there
usually isn’t more than 10-15 minutes of social time, and generally no more than
12 people present. So I offer that as a possibility, and will have poll
questions prepared for Sunday to find out if there’s interest, and if so, the
best time to do this. If you can’t be in church on Sunday, please let me know
what you think about this via email.
Enjoy this gorgeous day!
Blessings,
Caroline
SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP AT 10:00 AM
via Zoom (see email for Zoom information)
or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/standrewsinthevalleytamworth/
5/17/2020 BULLETIN LINK
via Zoom (see email for Zoom information)
or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/standrewsinthevalleytamworth/
5/17/2020 BULLETIN LINK
AND...
JOIN US FOLLOWING THE SERVICE FOR
A VIRTUAL
on ZOOM
READINGS FOR SUNDAY
Sunday, May 17th
The Sixth Sunday
of Easter
of Easter
Year A
COLLECT
READINGS
Acts 17:22-31
Psalm 66:7-18
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Psalm 66:7-18
1 Peter 3:13-22
John 14:15-21
Click below to see the readings:
PLEDGE PAYMENT REMINDER
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.
BOOK GROUP
Join our Book Group
on Wednesdays at 12:30 during the Easter Season
The Gospel Of Matthew
We will join the Good Book Club for a study of the Gospel of Matthew.
Daily readings began on Easter Sunday
and continue through the Day of Pentecost, May 31.
For the daily reading schedule go to
https://www.goodbookclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Readings_Matthew.pdf
Daily readings began on Easter Sunday
and continue through the Day of Pentecost, May 31.
For the daily reading schedule go to
https://www.goodbookclub.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Readings_Matthew.pdf
MIDWEEK WORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
Each of these weekday services will be live streamed on Facebook and available on Zoom.
Please email Caroline for the Zoom link
rectorsaitv@gmail.com
COMPLINE
Monday-Thursday at 8:30 p.m.
MORNING PRAYER
Wednesdays at 9:00 a.m.
WE HOPE YOU WILL Continue to JOIN US FOR WORSHIP and FELLOWSHIP in our online presence.
There are as many ways to walk a labyrinth as there
are people to walk it. Your walks will vary each time you enter the path: each
experience is simply your experience;
each walk your walk.
OUTSIDE CHURCH - Walking the Labyrinth
There are as many ways to walk a labyrinth as there
are people to walk it. Your walks will vary each time you enter the path: each
experience is simply your experience;
each walk your walk.
One day, you might enter with rage: What were you thinking, God?! Why is this
coming into my life now? Another day, with gratitude: Thank you, God, for my grandchildren who, even via Zoom, bring me
strength. Or with personal concerns: I
am so confused, Lord. Guide me in how to be in this new relationship.
That said, to approach the labyrinth with a willingness
to let go of control frees us to walk the path with no expectation(s) about
what our experience will be like. This freedom allows our walk to be what it is,
without our interfering story of what the walk could-should-might-will do for
us. Walking the labyrinth is not a one-time transaction between us and God: it
is a letting go so that we can be in a continuing relationship with God,
ourselves, and the world around us.
THRESHOLD: the entrance. Walking the labyrinth is a
helpful spiritual tool to quiet the mind, open the heart, and bring new
clarity. Standing at the entrance, take a moment to calm and center yourself.
Several ways to help focus your intention
are: breath, a prayer, a question, a simple word or phrase: Here I am, Lord…Thank you, God…To what are
you calling me today, Lord?...You are my joy, O God. If your first
intention changes during your walk, let it do so.
JOURNEY: the path. When you are ready, enter the
labyrinth, find your own pace and
follow the path. A slower pace will
allow you to walk without being concerned about each step: the path itself will
lead you. Are you letting go, allowing your intention to carry you deeper into
new awareness, toward your center, toward God?
RESTING PLACE: the center. There are many ways to describe what you may
find at the center: peace, joy, loss, completion, judgment, boredom,
fulfillment, confession, strength love; God…the Universal Christ...Divine
Wisdom. Stop. Rest. Listen. Be in the
moment.
JOURNEY OUT: the return. You will know when it is time to begin your journey out, to return.
How does it feel? Do you feel differently than when you were walking in? What,
if anything, has changed? Once at the entrance, turning again to face the
center, you may want to complete your walk with a final slow breath, prayer,
intention, thanksgiving. Go in Peace.
“Don’t worry if nothing happens or no new insight is
gained – sometimes the walk itself is a sufficient and heartening grace.” 1
(1) With
gratitude to the Labyrinth Guild of New England for permission to quote from
their “Experience the Labyrinth Walk”. www.labyrinthguld.org
Their website has several videos, but
doesn’t seem to have been updated recently.
(2) Photo credit: The
Labyrinth at Saint Andrew’s, Tamworth NH: by Lisa Thompson, Sunday evening,
5/10/20.
(3) The
labyrinth brochure is being updated. It will be available to you from a mailbox
attached to the nearby tool shed.
Lisa
Thompson
(TM 5-14-20)
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 access to the building, please call the office first to see if the building will be open.
Please contact Caroline during regular "office" hours. I am available 9:00 – 5:00 Sunday – Thursday via email (RectorSAITV@gmail.com) or cell phone (603-553-9254). Please limit your calls to me to these times, except in the case of a true emergency. Of course you may also email me at any time, but I will answer email during my regular hours. Many thanks!
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.
This Week We Pray for
Health and Wholeness for: Dave Appleton, Hettie Buck, Courtney and her baby, Christian, Tiffany, Kyren, Dorothy O'Donnell, Lisa Lemire, Donn Carty, Bob & Sue Huckman, Kenneth LaForge, Jennifer M, David Manley, Robin Martelle, John McGowan, Gabriele Wallace, Carolyn Jarvis, Tamara, Milan McNall, Jerry Williams, Marilyn Cloran, Joan Marshall, Rick, John, Carolyn Boldt, the Huckman family, as they grieve the death of Tom's uncle, Norm.
For those who are homebound: Joyce Gendron, Marge Hagerup, Elizabeth Pease, Susannah Keith, Alida, Dylan, Brian & Sara Kelley, Bob Wallace, Carl Mamigonian, Elizabeth Wiesner, Judy Grace, Audrey Berry.
For our First Nation people and those in this country who are living in impoverished areas of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and the inner city areas populated by some of our poorest citizens.
For all those who are on the front lines serving communities during these difficult times.
For those who are homebound: Joyce Gendron, Marge Hagerup, Elizabeth Pease, Susannah Keith, Alida, Dylan, Brian & Sara Kelley, Bob Wallace, Carl Mamigonian, Elizabeth Wiesner, Judy Grace, Audrey Berry.
For our First Nation people and those in this country who are living in impoverished areas of the Ninth Ward of New Orleans and the inner city areas populated by some of our poorest citizens.
For all those who are on the front lines serving communities during these difficult times.
DINNER BELL
No DINNER BELL until further notice.
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 meetings online.
The next Safe Church Zoom calls are scheduled for
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
Let Evening Come
Let the light of late afternoon
shine through chinks in the barn, moving
up the bales as the sun moves down.
Let the cricket take up chafing
as a woman takes up her needles
and her yarn. Let evening come.
Let dew collect on the hoe abandoned
in long grass. Let the stars appear
and the moon disclose her silver horn.
Let the fox go back to its sandy den.
Let the wind die down. Let the shed
go black inside. Let evening come.
To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop
in the oats, to air in the lung
let evening come.
Let it come, as it will, and don’t
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.
~
Jane Kenyon.shine through chinks in the barn, moving
up the bales as the sun moves down.
Let the cricket take up chafing
as a woman takes up her needles
and her yarn. Let evening come.
Let dew collect on the hoe abandoned
in long grass. Let the stars appear
and the moon disclose her silver horn.
Let the fox go back to its sandy den.
Let the wind die down. Let the shed
go black inside. Let evening come.
To the bottle in the ditch, to the scoop
in the oats, to air in the lung
let evening come.
Let it come, as it will, and don’t
be afraid. God does not leave us
comfortless, so let evening come.
COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER
FOOD CENTER
The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
Food pantry continues to serve the communities needs
New Hours
Alternating Wednesdays
3-7 pm
May 27
May 27
Any questions call 603-960-4067
FROM Deb IN THE OFFICE
MAY 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.
1 John Marshall
7 Elaine South
15 Kitty Lou Booty
15 Betty Faella
17 Kit Morgan
18 Tim Huckman
20 Tom Forbes
28 Bob Luz
28 David Gatrell
7 Elaine South
15 Kitty Lou Booty
15 Betty Faella
17 Kit Morgan
18 Tim Huckman
20 Tom Forbes
28 Bob Luz
28 David Gatrell
Anniversaries
13 Tom & Jen Huckman
20 Jonathan & Lois Brady
26 Grete & George Plender
28 Bruce & Denise Foreman
30 Bob & Gabriele Wallace
20 Jonathan & Lois Brady
26 Grete & George Plender
28 Bruce & Denise Foreman
30 Bob & Gabriele Wallace
PHOTO GALLERY- Breathing "Outside"
photos and I will post each week!
send to office@standrewsinthevalley.org
Now that the weather is getting better and we are finding time outside
please share your pictures of what you are doing...
Getting your gardens ready? Going for a hike?
Planting flowers? Taking in a picnic? Wildlife encounters?
Pictures from Great Hill Road (Caroline)
George & Grete's rooster
Trillium on the bank in front of Caroline's house
LINKS
