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WEEKLY BULLETIN
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the Episcopal church of st. andrew
first sunday after epiphany, 11 january 2026
Sunday Worship - The Baptism of Christ - Epiphany means manifestation. Last Sunday we celebrated the revelation of Christ to the Gentiles. This Sunday we focus on how the identity of Jesus is made manifest at his baptism. Our focus is on the font as we acknowledge our sin, experience Christ's cleansing forgiveness, and hear ourselves acclaimed as God's beloved children. The 10am service is live-streamed HERE and the Order of Worship for online viewers is HERE.
Funeral for John MacLeod - The funeral service for John MacLeod, Jay’s father, will be held on Friday, 16 January at 2pm at the First Baptist Church in New London with a reception to follow. Bishop Rob Hirschfeld will preside. Click HERE for John's obituary. Please note St. Andrew's office will close at 1:30pm on Friday for all to attend.
We celebrate birthdays this week with John Jevne, Peter Machen, Barbara Smith, David Marshall, Nancy Rollins, Andy and Patrick Seward.
Last Sunday Offering for January - In our description of the work of The American Friends of the Episcopal Church of the Sudans (AFRECS), we begin with its support to those displaced from their homes. AFRECS will direct our funds toward this kind of urgent assistance. The benefits of this work may be best illustrated in a letter from Bishop Ismail Abudgin, Diocesan Bishop of El Obeid in south central Sudan (and shown holding an offering of food in the photo):“The support that the Province of Sudan receives make great impact on the suffering people in Sudan, particularly in the affected areas like Darfur, El Obeid, Dillng and Kadugli, and Khartoum. We have heard very good stories from the displaced people, when we provide blankets, cooked food, plastic sheets, and clothes. We do also provide sweets for children at least to make them happy. The stories we hear is that most of them did not believe the church can come to help the Muslim people, but those who know the church they were even telling their brothers that the Christians are [more] faithful than their people.
…I do believe that [what] the E.C.S [is] doing is breaking the barrier between Muslims and Christians, to live together in peace and harmony. In fact, I received not less than 5 calls from people every day to come and help, which was not normal.”
As we continue this journey, please keep the people of Sudan and South Sudan in your prayers. As always, your financial support will be matched by our anonymous donors. Checks payable to St. Andrew's (Sudan or Outreach in memo) can be put in the collection plate or sent to the parish office. You can also give online HERE.
Christian Education and Spiritual Formation - Bible Study Opportunities
Bible Study on the Book of Job with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church continues on Wednesdays at 7pm. Apologies for an incorrect Zoom link last week. HERE is the correct Zoom link to join this week.
Jared is traveling on 13 January to the U.S. so our Bible Study with him will resume on Tuesday 20 January at 4pm in person in the parish hall with a discussion on Exodus.
Letter from the Bishop Search Committee - To the Beloved People of the Episcopal Church
of New Hampshire,
As the Search Committee for the Eleventh Bishop of New Hampshire continues its prayerful work, we are pleased to announce a series of Listening Sessions throughout our diocese in the first few weeks of January. These gatherings are a vital part of our discernment process, and we warmly invite and encourage every member of our diocesan family to participate in any session, either in person or online. What we learn from these sessions, along with the responses to the online survey that will arrive in your inbox early in the new year, will shape the diocesan profile we are now preparing.
The initial Listening Sessions will take place at the following times and locations and are open to both lay and clergy.
Listening is holy work. In these sessions, we will engage in holy listening, creating space for your voices, hopes, questions, dreams, and prayers for the future of our diocese. Members of the Search Committee will facilitate and listen deeply to all who attend.
The questions we will be reflecting on together during our sessions are:
We urge you to come and share. Whether you are a long-time parishioner, a new member, or someone who feels on the margins, your voice matters. This is a moment for all of us to come together in faith, trusting that God is doing a new and wonderful thing in our midst.
Please keep the search process in your prayers, and let us all remain open to the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit as we journey forward. For questions please email [email protected].
With Gratitude,
The Search Committee for the Eleventh Bishop of New Hampshire
Annual Meeting and Bylaws Vote -
The Annual Meeting is on Sunday, 25 January at 11:30am when we'll elect officers, receive the 2026 budget, enjoy a review of the year in photos. Mike Quinn, our treasurer, will meet 18 January at 9am to answer questions about the 2026 Budget.
To help you prepare for the Bylaws update vote at the Annual meeting, HERE is a link to the full text with changes highlighted in red.
The two big changes the vestry is proposing are to allow a Vestry officer to extend for one additional year if needed (this will allow Mike to stay on as Treasurer for one more year) and the second is in regard to Convocation and Diocesan Convention Delegates – multiple changes to address Delegate vs alternate delegate and to add language regarding filling vacancies, resignation and removal of delegates.
In addition there are a number of minor changes to correct errors, typos, make Bylaws match current practice and to remove ambiguity.
Composing a Life - The Composing a Life group will read and discuss a short article by C.S. Lewis, The Efficacy of Prayer, on 26 January at 10am and 28 January at 4pm. The article appeared in The Atlantic Monthly in 1959. Access to the article online is HERE and paper copies will be in the narthex. Alison Seward suggests that conversation about prayer as we approach Lent seems like it might be well-timed.
Kearsarge Chorale Concert - The Kearsarge Chorale, including several St. Andrew’s members, will present its mid-winter program Laughter and Tears under the direction of Alex Ager, Artistic Director, at Our Lady of Fatima Church, New London, on Sunday, 25 January at 3pm (Storm date is 1 February.) The program will include some light-hearted numbers as well as more serious ones. The latter include Requiem by John Rutter with a chamber orchestra and soprano soloist and Into the Light, an exciting contemporary composition by Jake Runestad, also with orchestra. Tickets may be purchased from Chorale members, Tatewell Gallery, Morgan Hill Bookstore, or online at kearsargechorale.org. $15 or at the door $20. Students are free.
Parish Pilgrimage in Spring 2027 - Inspired by Karen Zurheide's experience, a parish pilgrimage is being planned along the Camino Portuguese Coastal Way. Covering 100 miles in ten days, the challenging walk provides time and space to reflect on our life's journey and to grow closer to God and each other. Details are available HERE. Please let Jim Mathias or Jim Dexter know if you are provisionally interested. There will be a brief informational meeting on Sunday, 1 February at 9:20am in the parish hall.
Childcare at St. Andrew's - At its October meeting, the Vestry approved moving forward to permit a childcare center in the church basement to be operated independently by Candace Smith, who currently runs a small childcare center out of her home in Wilmot. Church representatives have met with Candace on several occasions, and we feel she would be an ideal person to lead this effort. The center would serve up to 12 children ages 0-4 in Classrooms 1 and 2 downstairs. St. Andrew's would provide space for this modestly sized center, and we envision attractive volunteer opportunities to interact with the children, to raise funds for infrastructure needs and scholarships to assist needy families, and to address other challenges.
As many of you know, the Kearsarge region suffers from a severe shortage of high quality, affordable childcare options. Along with the center that Liz Niehaus is currently constructing nearby on Main Street for up to 36 children, our 12-child center could make a material positive difference on an intractable community problem that plagues many families.
There would be an impact on Thrift Shop which currently uses Classroom 1 for men's clothing, but Jackie Thompson and Betsy Dexter are graciously willing to adapt, and we'll make extra space for Thrift storage in the cupboards downstairs.
Since the subject was broached at our Annual Meeting nearly three years ago, St. Andrew's has sought to address this issue. Support for improved childcare fits squarely within our overall impressive community Outreach efforts at St. Andrew's. We currently are addressing the licensing and approval processes before a center would be ready to open. Jim Mathias and Paul Catsos are working with Candace on licensing processes and overseeing the work to prepare the space and properly document our relationship with Candace. All being well, we hope the childcare center will be ready to open sometime in 2026.
Dates for Your Calendar
10 Jan 9:00am
Faith & Issues on Zoom
11 Jan 2:00pm
Bishop Search Listening Session
St. John’s, Walpole, NH
13, 20, 27 Jan 4:00pm
Bible Study with Jared Goldfarb
14 Jan 7:00pm
Book of Job Bible Study on Zoom
16 Jan 2:00pm
John MacLeod Funeral at FBC
18 Jan 9:00am
Budget Review with Mike Quinn
21 Jan 7:00pm
Book of Job Bible Study on Zoom
23 Jan 4:00pm
Concord Friendly Kitchen
25 Jan 11:30am
Annual Meeting
26 Jan 10:00am
Composing A Life Group
28 Jan 4:00pm
Composing A Life Group
28 Jan 7:00pm
Book of Job Bible Study on Zoom
1 Feb 9:20am
Coastal Camino Pilgrimage
Informational Meeting
Craft Group - All are welcome on Tuesday mornings 9:30-11:30 to join our Craft Group. No experience necessary! Stop by to enjoy fellowship time! On vacation after St. Nicholas Fair
Faith & Issues - Faith & Issues meets on Saturday mornings at 9am on Zoom. Please email the Rev. Dr. Katrina Wagner HERE if you are interested and she'll send you the Zoom link.
Year's Mind to Remember Our Loved Ones - Each Sunday, toward the end of the Prayers of the People, we remember by name our loved ones prior to the anniversary of their death. Called the Year's Mind, it is the church's way of giving thanks for their lives, to pray for their souls, and to ask God to comfort those who still grieve. If you would like to add family members to the Year's Mind, there's a sign-up sheet on the narthex shelf.
Congregational Care Committee - Every church seeks to care for its members, but sometimes people fall through the cracks. This happened last year when one of our members had an injury and missed church for months but never received so much as a phone call from the rector or other church member. The Congregational Care Committee (CCC) was formed to ensure this never happens again. Two of CCC members regularly attend the 8 o'clock Eucharist, sit on different sides of church, and will take note and make inquiries if someone misses church for several weeks, informing Jay and Shelly if they are ill and would welcome a visit. Two other CCC members will do the same at 10am, and both sets of volunteers will also make a note of newcomers as well.
If you are ill or know someone who is, please call the office to speak with Shelly who will relay the information to Jay. The CCC will work with Jay to coordinate our support, but the care itself can be delivered by any church member. This often happens naturally through friendships. Any and all church members can be part of this ministry. Please make our Lenten workshops a priority. If you would like to be part of the Congregational Care Committee, please call or email Shelly.
Opportunities abound at St. Andrew's to deepen your faith.
Bits & Bobs -
Jennifer's and Jay's email and texts: From time to time, scammers create a fraudulent email address similar to Jay's and send out "phishing emails" and texts that impersonate Jay and ask people to reply to the email. Please do not respond. I have two email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]. If you receive an email asking for a favor, or if the tone strikes you as a bit strange, please check the email address of the sender. And please know that I will not ask for favors, gift vouchers, or money via email. If you are in the slightest doubt, please do not respond to the email and call the office instead.
Monday Meditation at 6pm in the sanctuary. A snippet of scripture and a bit of music lead into 20 minutes of silent prayer.
Prayer List - Marilyn and Frank, Patricia Brown, Jim, Chris, Valeria, Cynthia, Debbie, Alain, Barbara Dello Russo, the Avram family, Helen, Tim, Barbie W., Elizabeth Wassell, Kristen Stoll, Charlie, Suzanne, Nancy Rowley, Greg Vogt, John, Jenny Norton, Ashley, Joanne, Mary, Maureen, Sydney Kunz, Daniel Gately, Sharon A., Claudia, Stephen, Bruce, Mary M., Serette Beauvoir, David S., David M., Anne Bailey, Ann, Bennett Gray, Janet, Neisja.
Pray for the repose of the soul of John MacLeod recently departed.
We remember with thanksgiving those who died at this time in years past Janet Sharkey, Jack Tate, Dudley Alleman, Joyce Eldridge, Tom Eslick, Anne Lederer, Russell Attridge.
Are You Caring for Someone with Dementia? Good Day Respite is a day program run by Lake Sunapee VNA that supports adults with mild to moderate memory loss and their caregivers. A Licensed Nursing Assistant oversees the program, which meets throughout the year on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church in New London. Participants are dropped off by their caregivers at 10am and enjoy discussion, games, lunch, crafts, entertainment, and more. Volunteers help facilitate these activities, all of which provide stimulation and socialization for the program participants until their caregivers return to pick them up at 3pm. During the program’s five hours, caregivers of the participants have time for errands, activities, and a much-needed break, knowing their loved ones are in a safe and enjoyable place. The program fee is $50 per day, and scholarships are available for those in need. If you are caring for an individual with dementia, Lake Sunapee VNA can help you determine if the program is right for you. For more information or to set up a time to visit the program, call 603-526-4077.
Feeling Called? Jay spoke about our calling to serve God. If you would like to help lead our worship, our Verger Anne Hall would love to hear from you ([email protected]). There are openings for ushers, acolytes, lectors and chalice bearers. Training is provided. If you would like to learn how to craft the Prayers of the People for Sunday morning worship and take a turn composing them every few months, please be in touch with Jay ([email protected]).
Christian Formation - Opportunities abound at St. Andrew's and in the wider Episcopal Church to deepen your faith.
Interviews with Jim, Gardner and Claire - Click on their names to learn more about Clare Bennett, Gardner Yenawine and the Rev'd Jim Ransom from interviews conducted by Tatanya and Tayshawn, our Voorhees Scholar-Interns. For the next six weeks, Tatanya and Tayshawn will serve as counselors at the New London Outing Club Summer Camp. It will be a fun but demanding job, so please keep them in your prayers. We'll see Tayshawn and Tatanya on Sunday mornings, at Thursday cook-outs, and around town. Previous Scholar-Interns stayed with church families, whereas T&T are staying in dorm rooms at Colby-Sawyer College and are responsible for their own meals. Hint: gift cards are available at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center (across from New London Inn) that can be used at almost all local eateries.
Invitation to Craft Group on Tuesdays - Please join us Tuesdays at 9:30 in the parish hall after winter break. You might:
Openings on Our Altar Guild - St. Andrew's Altar Guild always welcomes new members. If you are looking for a quiet way to be more involved in church activities, please contact JoAnn Hicks or Becky Rylander.
Our Thrift Shop is looking for a few good volunteers to help a couple of hours per week and is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10am - 1pm.. Please contact Jackie Thompson if you can help (603.526.8979)
Funeral for John MacLeod - The funeral service for John MacLeod, Jay’s father, will be held on Friday, 16 January at 2pm at the First Baptist Church in New London with a reception to follow. Bishop Rob Hirschfeld will preside. Click HERE for John's obituary. Please note St. Andrew's office will close at 1:30pm on Friday for all to attend.
We celebrate birthdays this week with John Jevne, Peter Machen, Barbara Smith, David Marshall, Nancy Rollins, Andy and Patrick Seward.
Last Sunday Offering for January - In our description of the work of The American Friends of the Episcopal Church of the Sudans (AFRECS), we begin with its support to those displaced from their homes. AFRECS will direct our funds toward this kind of urgent assistance. The benefits of this work may be best illustrated in a letter from Bishop Ismail Abudgin, Diocesan Bishop of El Obeid in south central Sudan (and shown holding an offering of food in the photo):“The support that the Province of Sudan receives make great impact on the suffering people in Sudan, particularly in the affected areas like Darfur, El Obeid, Dillng and Kadugli, and Khartoum. We have heard very good stories from the displaced people, when we provide blankets, cooked food, plastic sheets, and clothes. We do also provide sweets for children at least to make them happy. The stories we hear is that most of them did not believe the church can come to help the Muslim people, but those who know the church they were even telling their brothers that the Christians are [more] faithful than their people.
…I do believe that [what] the E.C.S [is] doing is breaking the barrier between Muslims and Christians, to live together in peace and harmony. In fact, I received not less than 5 calls from people every day to come and help, which was not normal.”
As we continue this journey, please keep the people of Sudan and South Sudan in your prayers. As always, your financial support will be matched by our anonymous donors. Checks payable to St. Andrew's (Sudan or Outreach in memo) can be put in the collection plate or sent to the parish office. You can also give online HERE.
Christian Education and Spiritual Formation - Bible Study Opportunities
Bible Study on the Book of Job with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church continues on Wednesdays at 7pm. Apologies for an incorrect Zoom link last week. HERE is the correct Zoom link to join this week.
Jared is traveling on 13 January to the U.S. so our Bible Study with him will resume on Tuesday 20 January at 4pm in person in the parish hall with a discussion on Exodus.
Letter from the Bishop Search Committee - To the Beloved People of the Episcopal Church
of New Hampshire,
As the Search Committee for the Eleventh Bishop of New Hampshire continues its prayerful work, we are pleased to announce a series of Listening Sessions throughout our diocese in the first few weeks of January. These gatherings are a vital part of our discernment process, and we warmly invite and encourage every member of our diocesan family to participate in any session, either in person or online. What we learn from these sessions, along with the responses to the online survey that will arrive in your inbox early in the new year, will shape the diocesan profile we are now preparing.
The initial Listening Sessions will take place at the following times and locations and are open to both lay and clergy.
- Sunday, January 11 at 2:00 pm- St. John’s, Walpole (in person)
- Wednesday, January 14 at 6pm – Online via Zoom Register HERE
- Sunday, January 18 at 1:30 pm - Online via Zoom Register HERE
Listening is holy work. In these sessions, we will engage in holy listening, creating space for your voices, hopes, questions, dreams, and prayers for the future of our diocese. Members of the Search Committee will facilitate and listen deeply to all who attend.
The questions we will be reflecting on together during our sessions are:
- What experiences in your parish do you value most? How have you changed as a result of these experiences? How has the diocese supported or enhanced these experiences? What else might be helpful from them?
- What message or example does our diocese offer the world today?
- What is our greatest opportunity as a diocese? Who is God calling us to become?
- Given everything you shared and reflected on, what qualities are most important in a bishop at this time in our life as a diocese?
We urge you to come and share. Whether you are a long-time parishioner, a new member, or someone who feels on the margins, your voice matters. This is a moment for all of us to come together in faith, trusting that God is doing a new and wonderful thing in our midst.
Please keep the search process in your prayers, and let us all remain open to the guidance and wisdom of the Holy Spirit as we journey forward. For questions please email [email protected].
With Gratitude,
The Search Committee for the Eleventh Bishop of New Hampshire
Annual Meeting and Bylaws Vote -
The Annual Meeting is on Sunday, 25 January at 11:30am when we'll elect officers, receive the 2026 budget, enjoy a review of the year in photos. Mike Quinn, our treasurer, will meet 18 January at 9am to answer questions about the 2026 Budget.
To help you prepare for the Bylaws update vote at the Annual meeting, HERE is a link to the full text with changes highlighted in red.
The two big changes the vestry is proposing are to allow a Vestry officer to extend for one additional year if needed (this will allow Mike to stay on as Treasurer for one more year) and the second is in regard to Convocation and Diocesan Convention Delegates – multiple changes to address Delegate vs alternate delegate and to add language regarding filling vacancies, resignation and removal of delegates.
In addition there are a number of minor changes to correct errors, typos, make Bylaws match current practice and to remove ambiguity.
Composing a Life - The Composing a Life group will read and discuss a short article by C.S. Lewis, The Efficacy of Prayer, on 26 January at 10am and 28 January at 4pm. The article appeared in The Atlantic Monthly in 1959. Access to the article online is HERE and paper copies will be in the narthex. Alison Seward suggests that conversation about prayer as we approach Lent seems like it might be well-timed.
Kearsarge Chorale Concert - The Kearsarge Chorale, including several St. Andrew’s members, will present its mid-winter program Laughter and Tears under the direction of Alex Ager, Artistic Director, at Our Lady of Fatima Church, New London, on Sunday, 25 January at 3pm (Storm date is 1 February.) The program will include some light-hearted numbers as well as more serious ones. The latter include Requiem by John Rutter with a chamber orchestra and soprano soloist and Into the Light, an exciting contemporary composition by Jake Runestad, also with orchestra. Tickets may be purchased from Chorale members, Tatewell Gallery, Morgan Hill Bookstore, or online at kearsargechorale.org. $15 or at the door $20. Students are free.
Parish Pilgrimage in Spring 2027 - Inspired by Karen Zurheide's experience, a parish pilgrimage is being planned along the Camino Portuguese Coastal Way. Covering 100 miles in ten days, the challenging walk provides time and space to reflect on our life's journey and to grow closer to God and each other. Details are available HERE. Please let Jim Mathias or Jim Dexter know if you are provisionally interested. There will be a brief informational meeting on Sunday, 1 February at 9:20am in the parish hall.
Childcare at St. Andrew's - At its October meeting, the Vestry approved moving forward to permit a childcare center in the church basement to be operated independently by Candace Smith, who currently runs a small childcare center out of her home in Wilmot. Church representatives have met with Candace on several occasions, and we feel she would be an ideal person to lead this effort. The center would serve up to 12 children ages 0-4 in Classrooms 1 and 2 downstairs. St. Andrew's would provide space for this modestly sized center, and we envision attractive volunteer opportunities to interact with the children, to raise funds for infrastructure needs and scholarships to assist needy families, and to address other challenges.
As many of you know, the Kearsarge region suffers from a severe shortage of high quality, affordable childcare options. Along with the center that Liz Niehaus is currently constructing nearby on Main Street for up to 36 children, our 12-child center could make a material positive difference on an intractable community problem that plagues many families.
There would be an impact on Thrift Shop which currently uses Classroom 1 for men's clothing, but Jackie Thompson and Betsy Dexter are graciously willing to adapt, and we'll make extra space for Thrift storage in the cupboards downstairs.
Since the subject was broached at our Annual Meeting nearly three years ago, St. Andrew's has sought to address this issue. Support for improved childcare fits squarely within our overall impressive community Outreach efforts at St. Andrew's. We currently are addressing the licensing and approval processes before a center would be ready to open. Jim Mathias and Paul Catsos are working with Candace on licensing processes and overseeing the work to prepare the space and properly document our relationship with Candace. All being well, we hope the childcare center will be ready to open sometime in 2026.
Dates for Your Calendar
10 Jan 9:00am
Faith & Issues on Zoom
11 Jan 2:00pm
Bishop Search Listening Session
St. John’s, Walpole, NH
13, 20, 27 Jan 4:00pm
Bible Study with Jared Goldfarb
14 Jan 7:00pm
Book of Job Bible Study on Zoom
16 Jan 2:00pm
John MacLeod Funeral at FBC
18 Jan 9:00am
Budget Review with Mike Quinn
21 Jan 7:00pm
Book of Job Bible Study on Zoom
23 Jan 4:00pm
Concord Friendly Kitchen
25 Jan 11:30am
Annual Meeting
26 Jan 10:00am
Composing A Life Group
28 Jan 4:00pm
Composing A Life Group
28 Jan 7:00pm
Book of Job Bible Study on Zoom
1 Feb 9:20am
Coastal Camino Pilgrimage
Informational Meeting
Craft Group - All are welcome on Tuesday mornings 9:30-11:30 to join our Craft Group. No experience necessary! Stop by to enjoy fellowship time! On vacation after St. Nicholas Fair
Faith & Issues - Faith & Issues meets on Saturday mornings at 9am on Zoom. Please email the Rev. Dr. Katrina Wagner HERE if you are interested and she'll send you the Zoom link.
Year's Mind to Remember Our Loved Ones - Each Sunday, toward the end of the Prayers of the People, we remember by name our loved ones prior to the anniversary of their death. Called the Year's Mind, it is the church's way of giving thanks for their lives, to pray for their souls, and to ask God to comfort those who still grieve. If you would like to add family members to the Year's Mind, there's a sign-up sheet on the narthex shelf.
Congregational Care Committee - Every church seeks to care for its members, but sometimes people fall through the cracks. This happened last year when one of our members had an injury and missed church for months but never received so much as a phone call from the rector or other church member. The Congregational Care Committee (CCC) was formed to ensure this never happens again. Two of CCC members regularly attend the 8 o'clock Eucharist, sit on different sides of church, and will take note and make inquiries if someone misses church for several weeks, informing Jay and Shelly if they are ill and would welcome a visit. Two other CCC members will do the same at 10am, and both sets of volunteers will also make a note of newcomers as well.
If you are ill or know someone who is, please call the office to speak with Shelly who will relay the information to Jay. The CCC will work with Jay to coordinate our support, but the care itself can be delivered by any church member. This often happens naturally through friendships. Any and all church members can be part of this ministry. Please make our Lenten workshops a priority. If you would like to be part of the Congregational Care Committee, please call or email Shelly.
Opportunities abound at St. Andrew's to deepen your faith.
- Jay concluded a recent Eucharist with a blessing from Saint Clare and was asked to share it more widely: Go forth without fear, for your Creator has made you holy, has always protected you, and loves you as a mother. With swift pace, light step, and unswerving feet, go in peace to follow the good road, and may God’s blessing be with you always. Amen.
- Faith & Issues meets via Zoom on Saturday mornings from 9:00 - 10:30. The Rev'd Katrina Wagner convenes and coordinates the group. You can contact her at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about the group and the next book they'll be reading.
- The brainchild of Alison Seward, our "Composing a Life" book group first met in January 2023. Taking its title from Mary Catherine Bateson, the group explores a range of topics related to living well in the last decades of life. See above for meeting dates.
- If you are unable to join us for Midday Prayer at 12 noon in church on weekdays, a group meets online with those in church. Please contact Anne Hall ([email protected]) for the Zoom link.
- There are many online prayer tools, but for brevity and quality, Jay highly recommends this 12-minute daily offering: pray-as-you-go.org for your phone or computer.
- The Lectionary Page sets out the Bible passages read in worship on Sundays and other holy days HERE.
Bits & Bobs -
- Having divided up our coffee hour host responsibilities so that others bake, we still require more hosts! Please be in touch with Rosie Best if you can help at 8am and John and Lou Moses if you can take a turn as coffee hour host at 10am.
- We still have openings for our pilgrimage to Iona in April 2026. Please contact Rev Jennifer at [email protected] or Alison Seward [email protected] for more information.
- Faith and Issues meets via Zoom on Saturdays from 9:00-10:30 .
- If you are unable to make it to church and would like to receive the Eucharist at home, please call the office to let us know. We have wonderful and caring Eucharistic Visitors who would delight in bringing Holy Communion to you!
- On Wednesdays at 7PM from 7 January to 11 February, we are invited to a Zoom Bible study on the Book of Job. We are joining with Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Fernandina Beach, Florida. John Harris will lead the Bible study, supported by Pastor Pat Harris. Pat and John were members of Saint Andrew's while they lived in NH, and Pastor Pat still participates in our Faith & Issues discussions on Saturday mornings led by the Rev. Katrina Wagner.
- We are offering a subsidized pilgrimage and retreat to Taizé, France for St. Andrew's young people aged 15-30 (or younger if accompanied by a parent). Flying into and out of Geneva, we'll also do some hiking in the Swiss Alps. We reached out to young people in June and asked them to respond by today. To date we have eight people on board. Details about the trip in June 2026 are HERE.
- Since the COVID pandemic, we've had two gatherings for Midday Prayer -- one in church and one online. We've brought these two congregations together via a hybrid service in church where roughly half the congregation joins us via Zoom. If you'd like the Zoom link, lease email Anne Hall at [email protected]. The Order of Worship for the "Christmas season" that runs until Lent is HERE. The lectionary (which gives the daily Psalm and Gospel readings) is HERE. Of course, you can also say Midday Prayer at home on your own. Centered on scripture, the service includes a period of shared silent prayer.
- Jay's day off is Wednesday. Jennifer works 3/4 time and takes Tuesdays and Fridays off.
- Food Pantry- St. Andrew's is asked to donate hearty soups and stews in December.
- Solar Update. You can’t see it, but there’s plenty of action on the church roof. In the first year of continuous operation, the solar array produced 13% more energy than predicted and saved the church over $4,000. Many thanks to our anonymous donor for moving us toward a more sustainable future.
- Join us for Midday Worship at noon on weekdays in church and on line.
- Please make a point of putting on your name tag before worship. Among other things, it allows us to greet each other by name at the Peace. If you don't have a name tag, there's a little sign up sheet by the kitchen door. Thanks
- Jay presides at worship services at Sunapee Cove at 1:30 pm on the third Sunday of every month and at 11:00 am at Woodcrest Village on the first Tuesday of alternate months. He'd love to be accompanied this Tuesday (3 December) at Woodcrest by a church member with a strong singing voice.
Jennifer's and Jay's email and texts: From time to time, scammers create a fraudulent email address similar to Jay's and send out "phishing emails" and texts that impersonate Jay and ask people to reply to the email. Please do not respond. I have two email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected]. If you receive an email asking for a favor, or if the tone strikes you as a bit strange, please check the email address of the sender. And please know that I will not ask for favors, gift vouchers, or money via email. If you are in the slightest doubt, please do not respond to the email and call the office instead.
Monday Meditation at 6pm in the sanctuary. A snippet of scripture and a bit of music lead into 20 minutes of silent prayer.
Prayer List - Marilyn and Frank, Patricia Brown, Jim, Chris, Valeria, Cynthia, Debbie, Alain, Barbara Dello Russo, the Avram family, Helen, Tim, Barbie W., Elizabeth Wassell, Kristen Stoll, Charlie, Suzanne, Nancy Rowley, Greg Vogt, John, Jenny Norton, Ashley, Joanne, Mary, Maureen, Sydney Kunz, Daniel Gately, Sharon A., Claudia, Stephen, Bruce, Mary M., Serette Beauvoir, David S., David M., Anne Bailey, Ann, Bennett Gray, Janet, Neisja.
Pray for the repose of the soul of John MacLeod recently departed.
We remember with thanksgiving those who died at this time in years past Janet Sharkey, Jack Tate, Dudley Alleman, Joyce Eldridge, Tom Eslick, Anne Lederer, Russell Attridge.
Are You Caring for Someone with Dementia? Good Day Respite is a day program run by Lake Sunapee VNA that supports adults with mild to moderate memory loss and their caregivers. A Licensed Nursing Assistant oversees the program, which meets throughout the year on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church in New London. Participants are dropped off by their caregivers at 10am and enjoy discussion, games, lunch, crafts, entertainment, and more. Volunteers help facilitate these activities, all of which provide stimulation and socialization for the program participants until their caregivers return to pick them up at 3pm. During the program’s five hours, caregivers of the participants have time for errands, activities, and a much-needed break, knowing their loved ones are in a safe and enjoyable place. The program fee is $50 per day, and scholarships are available for those in need. If you are caring for an individual with dementia, Lake Sunapee VNA can help you determine if the program is right for you. For more information or to set up a time to visit the program, call 603-526-4077.
Feeling Called? Jay spoke about our calling to serve God. If you would like to help lead our worship, our Verger Anne Hall would love to hear from you ([email protected]). There are openings for ushers, acolytes, lectors and chalice bearers. Training is provided. If you would like to learn how to craft the Prayers of the People for Sunday morning worship and take a turn composing them every few months, please be in touch with Jay ([email protected]).
Christian Formation - Opportunities abound at St. Andrew's and in the wider Episcopal Church to deepen your faith.
- Faith & Issues meets via Zoom on Saturday mornings from 9:00 - 10:30. The Rev'd Katrina Wagner convenes and coordinates the group. You can contact her at [email protected] if you are interested in learning more about the group. They are taking a break over the summer and will meet again in September.
- If you are unable to join us for Midday Prayer at 12 noon in church on weekdays, a group meets online with those in church. Please contact Anne Hall ([email protected]) for the Zoom link.
- There are many online prayer tools, but for brevity and quality, Jay highly recommends this 12-minute daily offering: pray-as-you-go.org for your phone or computer.
- The Rev'd Celeste Hemingson offers a weekly Bible study on Zoom that looks at the upcoming Sunday readings. You can contact Celeste at [email protected].
- The Lectionary Page sets out the Bible passages read in worship on Sundays and other holy days HERE.
Interviews with Jim, Gardner and Claire - Click on their names to learn more about Clare Bennett, Gardner Yenawine and the Rev'd Jim Ransom from interviews conducted by Tatanya and Tayshawn, our Voorhees Scholar-Interns. For the next six weeks, Tatanya and Tayshawn will serve as counselors at the New London Outing Club Summer Camp. It will be a fun but demanding job, so please keep them in your prayers. We'll see Tayshawn and Tatanya on Sunday mornings, at Thursday cook-outs, and around town. Previous Scholar-Interns stayed with church families, whereas T&T are staying in dorm rooms at Colby-Sawyer College and are responsible for their own meals. Hint: gift cards are available at the Chamber of Commerce Visitor Information Center (across from New London Inn) that can be used at almost all local eateries.
Invitation to Craft Group on Tuesdays - Please join us Tuesdays at 9:30 in the parish hall after winter break. You might:
- work on a project to sell at our Summer Fair or St. Nicholas Fair;
- work on you own project;
- see what others are creating and maybe try something new (one week clay earrings were made using a pasta machine!)
- enjoy lively conversation
- The coffee will be on!
Openings on Our Altar Guild - St. Andrew's Altar Guild always welcomes new members. If you are looking for a quiet way to be more involved in church activities, please contact JoAnn Hicks or Becky Rylander.
Our Thrift Shop is looking for a few good volunteers to help a couple of hours per week and is open Tuesday - Saturday from 10am - 1pm.. Please contact Jackie Thompson if you can help (603.526.8979)
