WEEKLY BULLETIN
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the Episcopal church of st. andrew
fifth Sunday of lent , 17 march 2024
SUNDAY WORSHIP: This Sunday's 8am Eucharist is Rite I from the Prayer Book. The 10am Eucharist features the choir and is live-streamed HERE. The Order of Worship for online viewers is HERE.
Open Meeting on the Proposed Pre-School - Please join us this Sunday, 17 March, at 11:30am for a presentation about the proposed pre-school to be located at Saint Andrew's. We welcome your questions, comments, and concerns. This proposal presents a significant impact to our church community and we want to hear from you. Ultimately, the Vestry will make the decision on how best to proceed.
Enjoy Babette's Feast This Sunday - Ginger Milord leads a unique Lent experience. Join us at 2pm this Sunday in the parish hall to view the Oscar-winning Danish film. Two devout and elderly sisters allow their cook, a French refugee, to prepare a feast in honor of their late father's 100th birthday, despite their spiritual concerns over the sensuality and decadence of French cuisine. The film is 1 hour and 45 minutes long. Ginger will then lead a discussion of its spiritual implications. Popcorn will be served!
We celebrate birthdays this week with Jenny Harrington, Nicole Densmore, and Deborah Ransom.
Composing a Life: Conversations This Week - The Composing a Life book group is reading Parker Palmer's On the Brink of Everything. Participants may join one of these conversations:
Support Overcomers Refugee Services - This month’s Last Sunday offering will help fund the work of Overcomers Refugee Services (ORS) of Concord, for which our own Jerry Coogan has volunteered. Jerry has assisted a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an ORS client, in improving her English conversational skills, one of the biggest needs common to New Americans. The two met regularly over a period of ten weeks to discuss current events, books and US history. This impressive woman is a proud New American, who neither “drinks nor smokes,” and who works back-to-back shifts (4PM-midnight and midnight-8AM) at a group home in Laconia. On a few occasions, she and Jerry shared breakfast at a local restaurant, a first for this woman. With the support of ORS, refugees like her are able to successfully establish themselves in their new homes, contributing greatly to their local communities, strengthening our economy and enriching cultural diversity. Please help such neighbors by supporting the mission of ORS with your gift, to be matched by our generous anonymous donors. You may put your check in the collection plate, send or drop it by the office or give online HERE.
Gearing Up for Holy Week - Please join us for all of the Holy Week services. To attend only one or two of these days is like hearing some, but not all, the movements of a symphony. Pleasure there may be, but there cannot be real understanding, real entering in, without the experience of the whole.
Palm Sunday (24 March)
8 & 10 am We re-live Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem with the Palm Liturgy and Procession into Church. Instead of the full Passion Gospel, the Choir sings a stunning anthem that takes us to Calvary.
Maundy Thursday (28 March)
6 pm We remember the first Passover and celebrate the gift of love in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood and in the footwashing. The stripping of the altar initiates a time of watching and waiting with Christ. Stay for a few minutes or a few hours. Church remains open til midnight if people want to drop in later.
Good Friday (29 March)
12 noon Solemn Ecumenical Service with Passion Gospel and Proclamation of the Cross. We survey the wondrous cross and ponder the mystery of God’s suffering and our salvation.
Easter (31 March)
5:45 am We begin in darkness with the Vigil and celebrate the resurrection in a glorious Eucharist as the dawn breaks. A champagne breakfast follows.
8 am Eucharist with renewal of baptismal vows
10 am Festival Eucharist with Choir and nursery provision
Support Overcomers Refugee Services - Since the passage of the Refugee Act in 1980, more than 7,500 refugees have made New Hampshire their home. The most recent annual count for refugees being resettled in our state was 171, of which 102 were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Financial support and other services are provided for 90 days, clearly not long enough to function well on their own, what with language and cultural barriers, and the fact that nearly all are starting completely from scratch in terms of financial resources. New Americans need longer-term help from people who speak their home languages and are familiar with their challenges, and who also understood the new culture and what is required to succeed here. That’s where Overcomers Refugee Services in Concord, founded in 2013, comes in. Read about ORS and its Executive Director Clement Kigugu (who was a classmate of parishioner Karen Zurheide in the 2023 Leadership New Hampshire class) HERE. Please support the work of ORS with your Last Sunday Outreach gift matched by our generous anonymous donors.
Braver Angels- Our Braver Angels team is providing a free, 90-minute workshop on Sunday, 24 March at 2pm called Skills for Disagreeing Better. Participants will learn to listen, understand more fully, and share their own perspectives in constructive ways -- even when you disagree sharply. Sometimes you can find more common ground than you thought possible. This is an interactive workshop with discussion and a chance to practice the skills. To register, click HERE or contact wcanaday@braverangels.org for more information.
Braver Angels requires Red-Blue balance at all levels of leadership.
Braver Lent: Weekly suggestions from our BA team
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23). Sometimes I manage to speak kindly while still holding unkind feelings toward others. Jesus certainly got this. He took the Law to a deeper level in the Beatitudes. It’s not enough just to not kill. We are even called to pray for our enemies! Praying changes our hearts. This week, can we work on softening our hearts towards those we don’t agree with?
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.
Monday Meditation during Lent - Join Jay from 6:00 - 6:30pm for Monday Meditation beginning on 19 February. A snippet of scripture, a brief reading, and a couple of minutes of music lead into twenty minutes of shared silent contemplation. Giving things up for Lent strengthens self-discipline, but you might also try taking on Monday Meditation. Lenten themes can be dark. We begin with "expelled" and "flooded" on our first two Mondays. But silent reflection leads us from the shadows toward the light of Easter.
The Chosen Sessions Are Chosen! - Season 4 of the acclaimed TV series is out in cinemas, including Claremont and Lebanon, and I know that some of you have seen episodes 1-3 already. The eight episodes should be streaming for free to your TV by mid-March. The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Rusnak will lead discussions of Season 4, two episodes at a time, on Sundays during Eastertide from 11:30 - 12:30 in our parish hall as follows:
Episodes 1 & 2 on 7 April
Episodes 3 & 4 on 14 April
Episodes 5 & 6 on 5 May
Episodes 7 & 8 on 19 May
If you are new to The Chosen, please consider viewing Seasons 1-3 on your TV now. The actor Jonathan Roumie gives us an astonishingly fresh and Jewish Jesus. But most of the episodes teach us about Jesus through the eyes and lives of his followers and of those who are swept up in his ministry. As we witness the disciples changing, viewers can feel the claim of Jesus on their lives.
The acting, script, cinematography and soundtrack are first-rate and the episodes are often gritty and gripping. The Chosen won’t be to everyone’s taste, but please persevere until Episode 4 of Season 1 when the Bible really comes to life.
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 (verger@standrewsnl.org). 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 (jay@standrewsnl.org).
Might You Host a Voorhees Intern this Summer? - Please let Jay know immediately if you might be willing and able to host one or two student interns from Voorhees University this summer for three or four weeks. This does not commit you but will give us confidence as we set about recruiting at the end of this month. Host families receive a stipend to cover the costs of food, but it is a significant commitment of energy, time and care.
Bits & Bobs -
Bishop Mark Beckwith took a few runs with us on Wednesday! Thanks to everyone who joined us atop Mount Sunapee.
We look forward to decorating the church with flowers for Easter. To honor a loved one by giving to the flower fund, please fill out a pink form at church or print HERE and return to the office by 27 March. There is also an opportunity to give altar flowers on 21 April. Please email Mary Bayerl mebayerl@gmail.com or call the office.
All St. Andrew’s men and guests are invited to a Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, 23 March at 8:30am. Sign up in the hallway.
Please consider completing the New London Hospital resident survey about community health needs in our region HERE.
Christian Formation - Opportunities abound at St. Andrew's and in the wider Episcopal Church to deepen your faith.
Prayer List - Leon Sampson & Joe Hubbard, Hugo, Janie, Tyler N., Ann, The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Sue, Donna Goldfarb, Christine Taylor, Leni, Bud Wassell, Christy, Bennett Gray, MaryAnne & Paul, Gary P., Anne & Dave Bailey, Valerie Gage, Neisja, Hunter, Kate Strachan, Greg Potter, Janet, Dan Gately, Ryan & Lorraine, Morris & Jeanne, Carol Paige, and Russell Jacobs
Pray for the repose of the souls of the recently departed.
Remember with thanksgiving those who died at this time in years past: Heidi Beckwith, June Liberman, Libby Phillips, and Kenneth Almy.
Goings On About Town
Invitation to Craft Group on Tuesdays - resuming in 13 February. Please join us Tuesdays at 9:30 in the parish hall. 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.
Please Step Up - We need lectors and intercessors to read the Bible and the Prayers of the People in our worship services. And Anne Hall, our Verger, would also love to hear from you if you'd like to carry the cross as crucifer or a candle as an acolyte. We also need individuals, couples and families to serve as ushers. All of these leadership roles come with guidance and a bit of training. Please contact Anne Hall (603.526.8530 or verger@standrewsnl.org) if you are interested and she can provide more information.
Our Thrift Shop is looking for a few good volunteers to help a couple of hours per week. Please contact Jackie Thompson if you can help (603.526.8979).
Open Meeting on the Proposed Pre-School - Please join us this Sunday, 17 March, at 11:30am for a presentation about the proposed pre-school to be located at Saint Andrew's. We welcome your questions, comments, and concerns. This proposal presents a significant impact to our church community and we want to hear from you. Ultimately, the Vestry will make the decision on how best to proceed.
Enjoy Babette's Feast This Sunday - Ginger Milord leads a unique Lent experience. Join us at 2pm this Sunday in the parish hall to view the Oscar-winning Danish film. Two devout and elderly sisters allow their cook, a French refugee, to prepare a feast in honor of their late father's 100th birthday, despite their spiritual concerns over the sensuality and decadence of French cuisine. The film is 1 hour and 45 minutes long. Ginger will then lead a discussion of its spiritual implications. Popcorn will be served!
We celebrate birthdays this week with Jenny Harrington, Nicole Densmore, and Deborah Ransom.
Composing a Life: Conversations This Week - The Composing a Life book group is reading Parker Palmer's On the Brink of Everything. Participants may join one of these conversations:
- Monday, 18 March at 10am;
- Wednesday, 20 March at 4pm, or
- Thursday, 21 March at 4pm.
Support Overcomers Refugee Services - This month’s Last Sunday offering will help fund the work of Overcomers Refugee Services (ORS) of Concord, for which our own Jerry Coogan has volunteered. Jerry has assisted a refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, an ORS client, in improving her English conversational skills, one of the biggest needs common to New Americans. The two met regularly over a period of ten weeks to discuss current events, books and US history. This impressive woman is a proud New American, who neither “drinks nor smokes,” and who works back-to-back shifts (4PM-midnight and midnight-8AM) at a group home in Laconia. On a few occasions, she and Jerry shared breakfast at a local restaurant, a first for this woman. With the support of ORS, refugees like her are able to successfully establish themselves in their new homes, contributing greatly to their local communities, strengthening our economy and enriching cultural diversity. Please help such neighbors by supporting the mission of ORS with your gift, to be matched by our generous anonymous donors. You may put your check in the collection plate, send or drop it by the office or give online HERE.
Gearing Up for Holy Week - Please join us for all of the Holy Week services. To attend only one or two of these days is like hearing some, but not all, the movements of a symphony. Pleasure there may be, but there cannot be real understanding, real entering in, without the experience of the whole.
Palm Sunday (24 March)
8 & 10 am We re-live Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem with the Palm Liturgy and Procession into Church. Instead of the full Passion Gospel, the Choir sings a stunning anthem that takes us to Calvary.
Maundy Thursday (28 March)
6 pm We remember the first Passover and celebrate the gift of love in the sacrament of Christ’s body and blood and in the footwashing. The stripping of the altar initiates a time of watching and waiting with Christ. Stay for a few minutes or a few hours. Church remains open til midnight if people want to drop in later.
Good Friday (29 March)
12 noon Solemn Ecumenical Service with Passion Gospel and Proclamation of the Cross. We survey the wondrous cross and ponder the mystery of God’s suffering and our salvation.
Easter (31 March)
5:45 am We begin in darkness with the Vigil and celebrate the resurrection in a glorious Eucharist as the dawn breaks. A champagne breakfast follows.
8 am Eucharist with renewal of baptismal vows
10 am Festival Eucharist with Choir and nursery provision
Support Overcomers Refugee Services - Since the passage of the Refugee Act in 1980, more than 7,500 refugees have made New Hampshire their home. The most recent annual count for refugees being resettled in our state was 171, of which 102 were from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Financial support and other services are provided for 90 days, clearly not long enough to function well on their own, what with language and cultural barriers, and the fact that nearly all are starting completely from scratch in terms of financial resources. New Americans need longer-term help from people who speak their home languages and are familiar with their challenges, and who also understood the new culture and what is required to succeed here. That’s where Overcomers Refugee Services in Concord, founded in 2013, comes in. Read about ORS and its Executive Director Clement Kigugu (who was a classmate of parishioner Karen Zurheide in the 2023 Leadership New Hampshire class) HERE. Please support the work of ORS with your Last Sunday Outreach gift matched by our generous anonymous donors.
Braver Angels- Our Braver Angels team is providing a free, 90-minute workshop on Sunday, 24 March at 2pm called Skills for Disagreeing Better. Participants will learn to listen, understand more fully, and share their own perspectives in constructive ways -- even when you disagree sharply. Sometimes you can find more common ground than you thought possible. This is an interactive workshop with discussion and a chance to practice the skills. To register, click HERE or contact wcanaday@braverangels.org for more information.
Braver Angels requires Red-Blue balance at all levels of leadership.
Braver Lent: Weekly suggestions from our BA team
Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23). Sometimes I manage to speak kindly while still holding unkind feelings toward others. Jesus certainly got this. He took the Law to a deeper level in the Beatitudes. It’s not enough just to not kill. We are even called to pray for our enemies! Praying changes our hearts. This week, can we work on softening our hearts towards those we don’t agree with?
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.
Monday Meditation during Lent - Join Jay from 6:00 - 6:30pm for Monday Meditation beginning on 19 February. A snippet of scripture, a brief reading, and a couple of minutes of music lead into twenty minutes of shared silent contemplation. Giving things up for Lent strengthens self-discipline, but you might also try taking on Monday Meditation. Lenten themes can be dark. We begin with "expelled" and "flooded" on our first two Mondays. But silent reflection leads us from the shadows toward the light of Easter.
The Chosen Sessions Are Chosen! - Season 4 of the acclaimed TV series is out in cinemas, including Claremont and Lebanon, and I know that some of you have seen episodes 1-3 already. The eight episodes should be streaming for free to your TV by mid-March. The Rev. Dr. Kathleen Rusnak will lead discussions of Season 4, two episodes at a time, on Sundays during Eastertide from 11:30 - 12:30 in our parish hall as follows:
Episodes 1 & 2 on 7 April
Episodes 3 & 4 on 14 April
Episodes 5 & 6 on 5 May
Episodes 7 & 8 on 19 May
If you are new to The Chosen, please consider viewing Seasons 1-3 on your TV now. The actor Jonathan Roumie gives us an astonishingly fresh and Jewish Jesus. But most of the episodes teach us about Jesus through the eyes and lives of his followers and of those who are swept up in his ministry. As we witness the disciples changing, viewers can feel the claim of Jesus on their lives.
The acting, script, cinematography and soundtrack are first-rate and the episodes are often gritty and gripping. The Chosen won’t be to everyone’s taste, but please persevere until Episode 4 of Season 1 when the Bible really comes to life.
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 (verger@standrewsnl.org). 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 (jay@standrewsnl.org).
Might You Host a Voorhees Intern this Summer? - Please let Jay know immediately if you might be willing and able to host one or two student interns from Voorhees University this summer for three or four weeks. This does not commit you but will give us confidence as we set about recruiting at the end of this month. Host families receive a stipend to cover the costs of food, but it is a significant commitment of energy, time and care.
Bits & Bobs -
Bishop Mark Beckwith took a few runs with us on Wednesday! Thanks to everyone who joined us atop Mount Sunapee.
We look forward to decorating the church with flowers for Easter. To honor a loved one by giving to the flower fund, please fill out a pink form at church or print HERE and return to the office by 27 March. There is also an opportunity to give altar flowers on 21 April. Please email Mary Bayerl mebayerl@gmail.com or call the office.
All St. Andrew’s men and guests are invited to a Men’s Breakfast on Saturday, 23 March at 8:30am. Sign up in the hallway.
Please consider completing the New London Hospital resident survey about community health needs in our region HERE.
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 krbwagner@gmail.com if you are interested in learning more about the group and the next book they'll be reading in February.
- During Lent and Eastertide last year, up to fifty people met weekly in the parish hall to discuss the first three seasons of the TV series The Chosen. Season 4 should be streaming on the free Chosen TV app in March, and we'll be discussing episodes two at a time in April and May. If you haven't seen the first three seasons, now is the time to catch up. Episodes 1-3 are a little bit tough to follow, so please persevere through episode 4 when the Gospels really come to life.
- If you are unable to join us for Midday Prayer at 12 noon in church on weekdays, a group meets online. Please contact Anne Hall (verger@standrewsnl.org) 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 celeste340@aol.com.
- The Lectionary Page sets out the Bible passages read in worship on Sundays and other holy days HERE.
Prayer List - Leon Sampson & Joe Hubbard, Hugo, Janie, Tyler N., Ann, The Rt. Rev. Michael Curry, Sue, Donna Goldfarb, Christine Taylor, Leni, Bud Wassell, Christy, Bennett Gray, MaryAnne & Paul, Gary P., Anne & Dave Bailey, Valerie Gage, Neisja, Hunter, Kate Strachan, Greg Potter, Janet, Dan Gately, Ryan & Lorraine, Morris & Jeanne, Carol Paige, and Russell Jacobs
Pray for the repose of the souls of the recently departed.
Remember with thanksgiving those who died at this time in years past: Heidi Beckwith, June Liberman, Libby Phillips, and Kenneth Almy.
Goings On About Town
Invitation to Craft Group on Tuesdays - resuming in 13 February. Please join us Tuesdays at 9:30 in the parish hall. 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.
Please Step Up - We need lectors and intercessors to read the Bible and the Prayers of the People in our worship services. And Anne Hall, our Verger, would also love to hear from you if you'd like to carry the cross as crucifer or a candle as an acolyte. We also need individuals, couples and families to serve as ushers. All of these leadership roles come with guidance and a bit of training. Please contact Anne Hall (603.526.8530 or verger@standrewsnl.org) if you are interested and she can provide more information.
Our Thrift Shop is looking for a few good volunteers to help a couple of hours per week. Please contact Jackie Thompson if you can help (603.526.8979).