In-person Worship
is Back Soon!
The Bishop and the Short Term COVID-19 Response Team issued new guidelines for worship yesterday, which allow us to gather both indoors and outdoors. The guidelines are of course different for indoor and outdoor gathering. Here is a summary for both:
Outdoor Services
- Either masks or distancing is required
- Soft singing is allowed, but only with both masks and distancing
- Bread for Communion should be brought from home
- Wine for Communion will be consecrated and then poured into small cups for individuals
Indoor Services
- Masks and distancing required, including when receiving Communion
- Service should be short, i.e. 45 minutes Soft singing allowed
- Windows and doors should be open; fans on
In addition:
- Live streamed worship should continue.
- Small meetings may be held in church buildings; Masks and/or distancing should be observed unless all are vaccinated and comfortable not wearing masks
We plan to have a indoor hybrid service (both in person and online) on May 23, Pentecost Sunday with about 18-20 present in the church. Please let me know by Sunday the 16th if you would like to attend in person.
As we proceed, we will continue to need to sign up for attending indoor services, as we can’t all fit inside safely distanced. The Vestry meets on May 24 and will form a plan for moving forward. Once I am able to walk again – sometime in June - we will return to a two service format. Stay tuned for more details!
The remaining Sundays at 10:00 AM
This Sunday-May 16th
at 10:00 a.m.
The Seventh Sunday of Easter
via Zoom (email RectorSAITV@gmail.com for Zoom information)or Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/standrewsinthevalleytamworth/
JOIN US FOLLOWING THE SERVICE FOR
A VIRTUAL
on ZOOM
The Collect
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
First Lesson Acts 1:15-17, 21-26
In this lesson we hear of the selection of Matthias to take Judas’s place as one of the twelve apostles. Peter perceives that it is prophesied that another should replace Judas, and lots are cast to select between two men who had been among the larger band of Jesus’ followers. Matthias is chosen as one of the companions of Jesus who is able to witness to the resurrection.
Psalm 1
The Lord makes fruitful those who choose the way of righteousness.
The Second Lesson 1 John 5:9-13
In this lection disciples are bid to believe in the testimony that God has borne to Jesus, the Son of God. They are to have confidence that their prayers are heard and that in the Son they have eternal life. Elsewhere in this letter it is indicated that God’s witness to Jesus is especially made known through the experience of love, a love made manifest in Jesus. Those who trust in Jesus as the Son of God realize this testimony within their own hearts. Refusal to accept this witness means to lose the possibility of true life.
The Gospel John 17:6-19
In our gospel Jesus prays for his disciples shortly before his death, asking for their unity and sanctification in truth. He prays that they may be protected in the Father’s name, that is, by God’s true character as it has been made known by Jesus. Because of Jesus’ revelation to them, the disciples are set apart from disbelieving worldly society. Yet, in another important sense, they remain a part of this world and are consecrated to witness to the truth in it.
For all those who working with COVID patients, vaccinations and vaccines.
Updating the Prayer List
Please let Deb know when a person can be removed from the prayer list. Thank you.
THE WORLD I LIVE IN
I have refused to live
locked in the orderly house of
reasons and proofs.
The world I live in and believe in
is wider than that. And anyway,
what’s wrong with Maybe?
You wouldn’t believe what once or
twice I have seen. I’ll just
tell you this:
only if there are angels in your head will you
ever, possibly, see one.
~ Mary Oliver
Hannaford Fight Hunger Bag Program
Benefiting Month: May 2021
7 Elaine South
15 Betty Faella
17 Kit Morgan
18 Tim Huckman
20 Tom Forbes
28 Bob Luz
28 David Gartrell
20 Jonathan & Lois Brady
26 Grete & George Plender
30 Bob & Gabriele Wallace
