October 27, 2022

                                              










FROM THE RECTOR                                                                                      

The CDC website places Carroll County in the medium range for Covid community spread, after a week in the high range. At our Vestry meeting on Monday evening we decided to cancel coffee hour until further notice, and the Stewardship Brunch on November 6 will be postponed. Masks are required for worship and meetings at St. Andrew's.

Knowing that large group gatherings are where many of us have caught Covid, the Vestry members who were planning to attend the Presiding Bishop's sermon and panel discussion on November 5 have decided to attend online instead. Others are invited to consider this option. 

The link to view online is here: YouTube page.

We also ask that you attend church online instead of in person if you have been in a large gathering in the prior week.


For more on the Presiding Bishop's visit to New Hampshire, visit this link: https://www.nhepiscopal.org/pbvisit

This event will also be live streamed on the diocesan YouTube page.

UPDATED SCHEDULE FOR BOOK STUDY: Our next book study will meet after the 10:00 service this Sunday, October 30.  Please read Chapters 3-4 for this meeting. We will then meet on November 13 and discuss Chapters 5-6 at our final meeting . 

WE ARE COLLECTING FUNDS for the United Thank Offering (UTO) and Children of Incarcerated Persons (ChIPs) through October 30. Scroll down for more information about both organizations.

FALL CLEAN UP DAY                                                                                  

This year's fall clean up day will be on Sunday, November 6 following coffee hour.

Please come to church dressed to work, and bring your rakes, clippers and other handy tools to spruce up our grounds. Inside work also available.

LET US DREAM OF A CHURCH...   JOIN US THIS SUNDAY                        

Recently, I shared a poem with the transition committee, titled, Let us Dream of a Church. It is a collection of the words and thoughts of The Rt. Rev. Wes Frensdorf, Episcopal bishop of Nevada from 1972-1985. Bishop Frensdorf was a leader in the Total Ministry movement, “a strategy for living out our Baptismal Covenant in community. In the 1970’s Bishop Frensdorf wrote that every congregation has gifts sufficient to fulfill its ministry. For him, and many others, the typical hierarchical model of leadership in the church does not properly reflect the community that is described in scripture. Instead of a triangle with ordained leaders at the top and lay leaders at the bottom, Total Ministry understands a more relational model depicted by a circle. Within the circle, the ministry of all members of a community are supported and encouraged, both in the church and in the world.

A portion of the poem is shared below. The transition committee invites you to have a look and begin to ponder the ideas presented. What is your dream for the church? During the sermon on Sunday, October 30, we will have time for conversation about Bishop Frensdorf’s vision and also the church community you dream of.

           ~ Christi Humphrey, member Transition Team

 

Let us dream of a church

in which all members know surely and simply God's great love, and each is certain that in the divine heart we are all known by name.

In which Jesus
is very Word,
 our window into the Father's heart;
 the sign of God's hope and his design for all humankind.

In which the Spirit is not a party symbol,
but wind and fire in everyone;
gracing the church with a kaleidoscope of gifts and constant renewal for all.
 
A church in which
worship is lively and fun as well as reverent and holy;
 and we might be moved to dance and laugh;
            to be solemn, cry or beat the breast.
 
People know how
to pray and enjoy it—frequently and regularly, privately and corporately, in silence and in word and song.
 
The Eucharist is the center of life
            and servanthood the center of mission:
 the servant Lord truly known in the breaking of the bread.
With service flowing from worship, and everyone understanding why a worship is called a service.
 
Let us dream of a church
in which the sacraments,
            free from captivity by a professional elite,
are available in every congregation regardless of size, culture, location or budget.
 
A church
            affirming life over death as much as life after death,
            unafraid of change, able to recognize God's hand in the                     revolutions,
 
affirming the beauty of diversity,
abhorring the imprisonment of uniformity,
 
as concerned about love in all relationships as it is about chastity,
and affirming the personal in all expressions of sexuality;
 
denying the separation between secular and sacred,
world and church, since it is the world Christ came to and died for.

PARISH CALENDAR                                                                                      

Sun. Oct. 30

11:15 am

Book Study, chapters 3-4

Tue. Nov. 1

9:00 am

Contemplative Practice

Wed. Nov 2

10:15 am

Prayer Shawl Ministry

Wed. Nov 2

1:00 pm

Transition Team

Fri. Nov. 4

6:00

Diocesan Convention

Sat. Nov. 5

10:00

Presiding Bishop sermon and panel

 

 

 

Sun. Nov. 6

9:00

One service, clean up day

Wed. Nov. 7

10:15

Morning Prayer meeting

Wed. Nov. 7

1:00

Transition Team

Thur. Nov. 10

12:00

Lunch Bunch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Every Week

 

Tuesday

8:00 pm

AA Meeting

Wednesday

9:00 am

Morning Prayer

Saturday

8:00 pm

AA and Al Anon Meetings

CONTEMPLATIVE PRACTICE                                                                   

Contemplative Practice Continues

Tuesday, October 25th from 9:00-10:00am

Teach us to count our days that we may gain a wise heart.

Psalm 90:12

The pace with which we move through our days can cause our hearts to be weary and distracted. We can feel disconnected from our lives. Making room in our life to pause, sit in silence, and simply be can help us reconnect and strengthen our hearts.

Each Tuesday morning our session will draw upon the Christian contemplative tradition, monastic spirituality, mindfulness meditation, and self-compassion practices. Our time together will include prayer, guided meditation, contemplative sharing from the heart, conversation, and fellowship. Newcomers are welcome at each session.

We will gather via Zoom.

If you would like to learn more or have questions, contact Christi Humphrey at cchumphrey@comcast.net.

Christi offers a Tuesday evening contemplative practice, virtually, through Bethany House of Prayer, Arlington, MA. If you are interest in this offering visit https://www.bethanyhousearlington.org/contemplative or contact Christi.

MINDFULNESS MEDITATION WORKSHOP                                         

Bringing Compassion to these Complex Times 
               Saturday, October 29, 2022                  
                    9:30am – 3:30pm                              
                Saint Andrew’s in-the-Valley              

A retreat for those interested in learning mindfulness meditations and practices which support bringing compassion to the difficulties of being human in these times. How might we offer loving-kindness to ourselves and those around us? Topics covered will include: 
• Mindfulness of breath and body 
• Mindfulness of emotions 
• RAIN- recognize, allow, investigate and nurture 
• Loving Kindness 
• Compassion for Self and Others 

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

Facilitator - Christianne Humphrey, MDiv, is a student within the Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training Certification program offered by Sounds True, in association with The Awareness Training 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.

    SUNDAY MORNING WORSHIP                                                            

JOIN US FOR WORSHIP 
This Sunday - October 30, 2022
 Services at 8:00 and 10:00 AM 

Both services will be in person and the 10:00 service will be livestreamed via Zoom and Facebook Live.

Email RectorSAITV@gmail.com for Zoom meeting information or
visit Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/standrewsinthevalleytamworth/

AND...
JOIN US FOLLOWING THE SERVICE FOR



READINGS FOR SUNDAY                                                                            
Sunday October 30, 2022
The Twenty-First Sunday after Pentecost 

The Collect of the Day
Almighty and merciful God, it is only by your gift that your faithful people offer you true and laudable service: Grant that we may run without stumbling to obtain your heavenly promises; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

    The First Reading          Isaiah 1:10-18

Our opening lesson tells how the Lord cannot abide the offerings and solemn ceremonies of a people who are without compassion and bloody with injustice. Yet, if they turn from their ways and become obedient, God will wash them clean. Judah's rulers and people are so corrupt that they are compared to the notorious cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

    Psalm                            Psalm 32:1-8

A thanksgiving for the forgiveness of sin.

    The Second Reading     2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12

Together with Silvanus and Timothy, Paul greets the new disciples in Thessalonica. He offers thanks to God for the increase of their faith under persecution and assures them of his prayers. Paul is so proud of their growing faith and love that he boasts about them to others. He suggests that their present troubles may be God's way of proving them worthy of the reign of God.

  The Holy Gospel           Luke 19:1-10
In the gospel, Jesus answers a question concerning the chief command of the law by reciting the double commandment to love God and one's neighbor. Jesus was not unique in bringing together these two great teachings from Israel's heritage, but the New Testament gives them special emphasis. They are closely linked, for in responding to God's love, we learn that we are lovable, and so begin to be able to love others as ourselves. In loving our neighbors we discover the mystery that we are also loving in them their Creator. The man who asked Jesus the question repeats the commandments in his own words. He is not far from the kingdom.

  Click below to see all the readings: 
              
LAY MINISTRY SCHEDULE                                                                       

 

October 30

November 6

Acolyte

Ann 

Kaitlyn

LEM


Sammie

1st Reader

TinaCarol 

2nd Reader


Sammie 

Prayers

Patti Rau

Bob S

Camera

Sammie

Jen

8:00

Bob I



UNITED THANK OFFERING (UTO)                                                           

The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church.  UTO invites us to embrace and deepen a personal daily spiritual discipline of gratitude. UTO encourages people to notice the good things that happen each day, give thanks to God for those blessings and make an offering for each blessing. UTO is entrusted to receive the offerings, and to distribute the 100% of what is collected to support innovative mission and ministry throughout The Episcopal Church and Provinces of the Anglican Communion. If you would like to make a donation in gratitude for your blessings, checks may be written to St. Andrew's with UTO in the Memo line, and placed in the offering plate on Sunday or mailed to the church office. Deadline for donations is Sunday, October 30.

 CHILDREN OF INCARCERATED PERSONS (ChIPS)                         

Christmas comes to the children of incarcerated persons every year. You and sponsors like you who donate gifts and funds help make it happen! Both the families of and the parents who are incarcerated are deeply grateful for the opportunity that ChIPs affords them. Children of prison inmates can live lonely lives. It’s easy to believe that a parent you never see just doesn’t care. Persons who are incarcerated also find themselves feeling isolated and abandoned, unable to provide for or to be a part of their families. 

Being able to offer their children a gift during the Christmas visit gives the inmates an opportunity for connection, for a sliver of normalcy in their family relations. Studies have shown that parolees are significantly more likely to integrate back into society if they are able to maintain relationships with their families. The ChIPs program creates positive experiences on which to build a foundation for those relationships. Usually, the inmate is a parent. Sometimes a grandparent. Sometimes even a big brother or sister. Covid isolation has hit this population especially hard, but now the ChIPs program has been given the green light to come back. 

Your help is urgently needed to brighten the lives of all these people! If you would like to make a monetary donation to ChIPS, please write a check to St. Andrew's with ChIPS in the Memo line, and put it in the offering plate on Sunday or mail it to the church office. Deadline for donations is Sunday, October 30.

PRAYERS FOR EACH OTHER                                                                        

This Week We Pray for:

Health and Wholeness:

ParishCarolyn, Judy, Grace, Tim, Sue, Joan, Elizabeth, Grete, Steve, Gabriele and Bob

Family and FriendsMegan, Alec, John, Angela, Gary, Grace, Dick, Tracy, Jan & George, Carolyn, Jack, Laurie, Alexa, Chris, Lyse, Margaret, Melody, Peg, Curt, Sharon, and Mary.

Birthdays:  

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

on the prayer list. Thank you.


COMMUNITY FOOD CENTER                                                                       
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 
                                                                                                                                                              November 9 and 23

                           Any questions please call 603-960-4067.   


FOOD FOR THOUGHT                                                                                     
  I will pour out my spirit on all flesh.
             —Joel 2.28

The people you love
are not just there by quirk.
They are God's love breathed upon you.
All those you meet are vessels of the Spirit.
Everything that exists—the trees, the mountains—
all are emanations of the Spirit of Love.
Nothing, no one, not even your enemies,
are devoid of that Spirit.
It may be denied, silenced, opposed, defied—
but it is still there.
Sit by the pond and behold its holiness.
Listen to the stranger and hear the divine breath.
Be still, and let the Spirit pour over you.

                               Steve Garnaas-Holmes
                   Unfolding Light
                                 www.unfoldinglight.net
                        

PHOTO GALLERY  - NEW APPLIANCES ARRIVE!!