December 3, 2020

 

Advent 

FROM THE   RECTOR      

“A Sacred Meal for a Dispersed Community” with Advent Candle Lighting

Those from St. Andrew’s who attended the diocesan service, “A Sacred Meal for a Dispersed Community” voted unanimously to continue using this service for the rest of Advent. This will be a parish service on our usual Zoom link (not the diocesan service), which you will receive on Saturday with the bulletin.

The candles on the parish Advent wreath will be lit at the beginning of the service. You are invited to light yours at home as well, and, if possible, to have it in your camera view.

Please have ceremonial food prepared prior to the service. Bread could be one of the following suggestions: Jewish braided challah, a sweet bread such as Moravian Love Feast Buns (see links to recipes below) or any bread you have on hand. The drink could be juice, water or a beverage of your choice.

This service is based on the Agape Meal for Maundy Thursday found on page 84 in the Book of Occasional Services. There is acknowledgement of a connection with the Jewish shabbat tradition of a Friday night ceremonial meal usually celebrated in the home, remembering the dispersal of the Jewish people and God’s provision in exile.

Suggested bread recipes are found here: Challah or Moravian Love Feast Buns.

Please join us! 

Caroline

SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP
JOIN US FOR WORSHIP 
The 1st Sunday of the month at 9:00 AM 
The remaining Sundays at 10:00 AM

This Sunday-December 6th
at 9:00 a.m.
The 2nd Sunday of Advent

via Zoom (email RectorSAITV@gmail.com for Zoom information) 
or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/standrewsinthevalleytamworth/

AND...
JOIN US FOLLOWING THE SERVICE FOR 
A VIRTUAL 

on ZOOM

READINGS FOR SUNDAY                

The Second Sunday of Advent

COLLECT OF THE DAY    

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen

The First Lesson                       Isaiah 40:1-11

The first reading is a message of comfort and new hope to God’s people.  The time of exile in Babylon is coming to an end.  A new way is made through the desert, and the mighty Lord comes, bringing peace and pardon to Jerusalem.  Though all human powers fail, the Lord’s word will stand.  Like a shepherd, God will care for the people.

Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13

The psalm both celebrates and prays for the Lord’s gracious favor, for God’s forgiveness, deliverance, and justice.

The Second Lesson                             2 Peter 3:8-15a

This lesson is a reminder that the divine perspective on time can be very different from that of human beings.  Many wonder why the Lord seems so slow to fulfill the promises of salvation and judgment.  God, however, is patient and has divine purposes.  Still, the day of the Lord will come suddenly, bringing a new heaven and earth.  Christians must live both in patience and with a zeal for righteousness and peace in readiness for that judgment.

The Gospel                               Mark 1:1-8

The Gospel of Mark begins with the ministry of John the Baptist.  He is the messenger spoken of in the scriptures, the voice that cries aloud in the wilderness. He is sent to prepare the way of the Lord through his call for repentance and baptism in water for the forgiveness of sins.  The people flock to him, but he tells of a mightier one still to come who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.

 


Click below to see the readings: 

ADVENT 

TWO ADVENT OFFERINGS FOR THIS YEAR:

Christi Humphrey will offer an Advent Quiet Morning on Saturday, December 5 at 10:00 – Noon. Thank you for once again helping to feed our souls, Christi!

 ADVENT: A SEASON OF WAITING WITH A SENSE OF PROMISE 

As the calendar turns toward Christmas, the liturgical season moves into Advent. It is a season of preparation and waiting. Advent arrives in 2020 in an atmosphere of stress, worry, and loss. Our routines have been upended for months, there are still many unknowns and it is difficult to wait for answers, relief, and clarity.

In the scripture readings for Advent, prophets, saints, and shepherds proclaim the incarnation of God in the world. Is the waiting in Advent different from our waiting for the results of a medical test, a vaccine, or to be able to gather with family? Advent waiting has been described as holy waiting. Waiting that requires profound patience and trust and is colored by hope.

A quiet morning is planned for Saturday, December 5, 2020 from 10:00am-noon for cultivating the practice of holy waiting. Gathering virtually, our time together will include prayer, guided meditation, individual contemplation time, and fellowship. Christi Humphrey will facilitate. Christi is a spiritual director, retreat facilitator, and a colleague at the Bethany House of Prayer in Arlington, MA.

No matter where you are on your journey of faith and your ability to wait, please plan to join. To indicate your interest in attending and receive login information, please contact Christi Humphrey at cchumphrey@comcasat.net or 508-633-7466.

 MAYA ANGELOU AND THE FREEDOM POETRY OF ADVENT

This Advent we are meeting weekly to discuss this resource from the SALT Project. It is very similar to the Lenten sturdy we did two years ago using Mary Oliver’s poetry. Booklets are available to download here. We meet via Zoom for discussion on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm. All are welcome, even if you missed the first session.

 Here is the info:

In this Advent devotional, biblical texts and simple, accessible practices interweave with Maya Angelou’s stirring vision of faith, freedom, and dignity. All you’ll need is your favorite Bible and Maya Angelou’s The Complete Poetry (all the poems are also available online). Week by week, as we wait, and watch, and pray, we’ll walk toward Bethlehem - with Maya Angelou as our guide. 

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: Jean DeThomas, Terri Hooper,  Martin, John McGowan, Sue Huckman, Steve Thompson, Joan Marshall, Marilyn Cloran, Kitty Lou Booty, Gabriele and Bob Wallace, Dave Appleton, Carolyn Boldt, Angela B., Tom, Carolyn Jarvis, Doug Crapser, Peg Patenaude, Joyce Humphrey, 

For those who are homebound: Joyce Gendron, Marge Hagerup, Elizabeth Pease, Brian & Sara Kelley, 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.

Updating the Prayer List

Please let Deb know if you want to put someone back on the prayer list going forward. Thank you for helping us keep our prayer list up to date.

DINNER BELL      


No DINNER BELL until further notice.

Thank you for your volunteer
work in this special Outreach program!

COMMUNITY 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
12-6 pm
Next Food Pantry: December 9
Any questions call 603-960-4067


FOOD FOR THOUGHT


       Making the House Ready for the Lord

Dear Lord, I have swept and I have washed but

still nothing is as shining as it should be

for you. Under the sink, for example, is an

uproar of mice – it is the season of their

many children. What shall I do? And under the eaves

and through the walls the squirrels

have gnawed their ragged entrances – but it the season

when they need shelter, so what shall I do? And

the raccoon limps into the kitchen and opens the cupboard

while the dog snores, the cat holds the pillow;

what shall I do? Beautiful is the new snow falling

in the yard and the fox who is staring boldly

up the path, to the door. And I still believe you will

come, Lord; you will, when I speak to the fox,

the sparrow, the lost dog, the shivering sea-goose, know

that I am really speaking to you whenever I say,

as I do all morning and afternoon: Come in, Come in.

                                                         ~ Mary Oliver, Thirst


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
6        Carolyn Seston
12      Hettie Buck
13      Suzanne Morgan
27      Debra Hoyt
30      Gretchen Behr-Svendsen

     Anniversaries
8        Bob & Carolyn Seston
21      Chris & Carolyn Boldt

FROM THE OFFICE
It appears to me to be an especially colorful 
season of lights this year. I am noticing that more lights are adorning homes than I have ever noticed before. 
It could be just that it is a welcome sight to see 
bright colors everywhere in contrast to the darkness of 
the recent months.

If you have pictures of your home or others that you would like to share please send them to me at office@standrewsinthevalley.org
and I will be happy to share them in the Memo for December.

PHOTO GALLERY


LINKS