March 24, 2022

 


"God of peace and justice, we pray for the people of Ukraine today. We pray for peace and the laying down of weapons. We pray for all those who fear for tomorrow, that your Spirit of comfort would draw near to them. We pray for those with power over war or peace, for wisdom, discernment and compassion to guide their decisions. Above all, we pray for all your precious children, at risk and in fear, that you would hold and protect them. We pray in the name of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.  

~Archbishop Justin Welby, Archbishop Stephen Cottrell

FROM THE RECTOR

IN-PERSON WORSHIP THIS SUNDAY

Thank you to everyone who filled out a survey re: wearing masks in church and coffee hour, or responded by email. The results overwhelmingly support making masks optional, and resuming coffee hour. In addition, the CDC tracking website shows that Carroll County and surrounding counties are in the low-risk category, meaning that new and active case numbers have significantly decreased. According to the NY Times tracker. the average number of new cases in Carroll County was six when data was last released on Friday (the website responsible for releasing numbers is undergoing revision, and data has not been released this week).

 

Beginning this Sunday, March 27 masks are optional except while singing, when our respiratory droplets can spread as far as 15 feet. There will be an area in the back of the church on the Memorial Garden side that is reserved for those who are more comfortable being masked and physically distanced. Signs will be posted in that area. Masks are required for singing, so please bring a mask or pick one up at the door.

 

We will also resume Coffee Hour as soon as someone signs up to host. Pre-pandemic it had become difficult to find hosts. A sign-up sheet will be posted by the kitchen door. Going forward, if we have a host we will have coffee hour; if no one has signed up we will not. I know that many are ready to resume this time to be together, so please take the opportunity to sign up to host. Please let me know if you would like to host coffee hour this Sunday.

 

As before, please, for the safety of others, plan to attend church on Zoom if you have recently traveled and/or been present at large gatherings, or are not feeling well.

 

EPISCOPAL RELIEF AND DEVELOPMENT DONATIONS FOR UKRAINE

Are you looking for a way to help Ukrainians? Episcopal Relief and Development is collecting donations that are sent to organizations that are already on the Ground in Ukraine. You may bring a check to church on Sunday (make it out to St. Andrew’s and put ERD in the memo line) or you may donate online at https://Support.episcopalrelief.org/ukraineresponse

 

 LINK TO FORWARD DAY BY DAY

For some unknown reason we didn’t receive this quarter’s copies of Forward Day by Day. For those of you who are missing it, it is available online at this link:

https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/fdd/

If you would like to receive the daily reflection via email, scroll to the bottom of the website page and click on the “Subscribe” button.

If you’re a Facebook user it’s also available there. Search for Forward Day by Day and follow the page. We hope to receive next quarter’s booklet on time!

Blessings, Caroline


SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP 
This Sunday-March 27
at 10:00 am
The Fourth Sunday in Lent

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
Sunday,March 27, 2022
The Fourth Sunday in Lent

The Collect  

Gracious Father, whose blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which gives life to the world: Evermore give us this bread, that he may live in us, and we in him; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.


          First Lesson      Joshua 5:9-12 

The Old Testament reading tells of the first Passover kept by the Israelites after they had crossed over the Jordan River into the promised land. Now that they can eat the produce of the countryside, there is no longer need for the miraculous manna of the wilderness. this happens at Gilgal, a name meaning wheel, which suggest the wordplay as God declares the reproaches of the people to be rolled away.

Psalm 32

A thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sin.

The Second Lesson       2 Corinthians 5:16-21

In this passage Paul celebrates the new perspective that comes in Christ, and God's reconciling work in Christ that now makes its appeal to others through his disciples. Those who are united to Christ are part of a new order of creation. For our sake Christ experienced the consequences of human sin that we might have a right relationship with God. Now we are ambassadors of this message of reconciliation.

The Gospel  Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32

Our gospel is the parable of the prodigal son, his elder brother, and their loving father. Hearers are meant to participate in the story by experiencing how it feels to be these individuals. One notices that the wastrel son thinks his father will only take him back if he promises to work hard and form a legalistic relationship with him. But what is the father to do when he sees his long-lost son coming down the road? How is the elder son to react to his brother's joyous welcome? The parable closes by leaving that last question to us.







Click below to see the readings: 



HOLY WEEK SCHEDULE



                                         April 10      Palm Sunday             8:00 and 10:00
                                     April 14      Maundy Thursday     7:00 pm
                                 April 15      Good Friday (Noon-1:00pm Church open for Prayer) 7:00 pm
                                     April 16      Easter Vigil               8:00 pm
                                     April 17      Easter Sunday           One service at 10:00 am


DIOCESAN CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

The Ministerial Development Fund brings high-potential early- and mid-career clergy together with congregations, who have similarly great potential but are not able yet to support full-time clergy. The partnership provides three fully funded years, and reduced support for two more years, to encourage dynamic clergy leaders to engage and grow their congregations and establish financial sustainability. Without the Ministerial Development Fund, St. Peter’s, Londonderry might not have a full-time clergy person today.

 Consider:

How might these funds have an impact on a church’s sustainability and future mission?

 

Hear from the Rev. Colin Chapman, rector of St. Peter’s, Londonderry, by clicking below:

https://youtu.be/K8HvAwSF8IY

Learn more about the From Deep Roots, New Life campaign by clicking here



PRAYERS FOR EACH OTHER
One thing we can always do while we stay at home is to pray for each other! 

This Week We Pray for:


Health and Wholeness for our:

Parish: Carolyn, Judy, Jim, Sue, Joan, John, Grete,  Becky, Steve, Gabriele and Bob, Dick

Family and FriendsMegan, John, Angela, Gary, Grace, Tracy,  Joyce, Marge, Carolyn, Jack, Alexa, Chris, Lyse, Margaret, Melody, Peg, Curt, Sage, Sharon, Mary, Judy

For those who have died: 

For those celebrating birthdays this month: Kaitlyn, Barbara, Claudia

 For those celebrating anniversaries 


Please let the Parish Office know if you would like to add or remove someone 

on the prayer list. Thank you.

   

COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER

The Food Pantry thanks you for your contributions throughout the year.
Food pantry continues to serve the communities needs with new hours.
Alternating Wednesdays
11am-3pm
                                                    April 13, 27

Any questions please call 603-960-4067.   


INTRODUCTION TO MINDFUL LIVING - An offering from Christi Humphrey

Introduction to Mindful Living

A six session program, April – May 2022

offered online

 Are you curious to learn what mindfulness is and how it can benefit you?

Are you wishing for a mindfulness refresher?

 

This six session, 90-minute class, will introduce various types of mindfulness meditations and practices to support you in incorporating mindfulness into your daily life. Each session will provide a supportive environment with time for instruction and practice and a question and response period. The program will assist you in building and deepening your own meditation practice. You will also learn informal ways to bring mindfulness into everyday life.

 Topics covered will include:

·               Mindfulness of breath and body

·           Mindfulness of emotions

·               Understanding thoughts & beliefs

·               The wise heart --  nurturing joy & compassion

·               Bringing your practice into the world

Practices will include:

·               Walking meditation & mindful movement

·               Self-compassion practices

·               Mindfulness of thought meditation

·               Offering compassion for self and others

·               Working with difficult emotions 


Facilitator --  Christianne Humphrey MDiv is a student within the Mindfulness Meditation

Teacher Training Certification program offered by Sounds True, in association withThe AwarenessTraining Institute and the Greater Good Science Center at the University of California at Berkeley. Christi has supported others in practices of the heart for over 20 years.

 For more information or to register, contact Christi by phone (508) 633-7466 or email cchumphrey1@gmail.com.


FOOD FOR THOUGHT

Food for Thought


"Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass. God does not change. Patience achieves everything."

~Teresa of Avila