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WEEKLY BULLETIN
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twentyfirst sunday after Pentecost, 18 october 2026
BEST Barn & Yard Sale for St. Andrew's Outeach - Make your way to Harvey and Rosie Best's homestead on the Wilmot-Andover border on Saturday, 17 October from 9am - 3pm to pick up some great bargains on furniture, attic treasures and bric-a-brac before the Christmas season. They live at 41 Pleasant Road, Andover. All money raised will go to St. Andrew's mission and outreach projects. Please: no early birds!
Sunday Worship and more -
18 October marks the Feast of Saint Luke on the church calendar, so we celebrate the Gospel author this Sunday. Join us at 8am for classic Prayer Book Communion. Our 10am Eucharist features our choir and will be live-streamed HERE; the Order of Worship for online viewers is HERE.
There will be a Parish Conversation from 11:15 - 12:00 so that our delegates to Convention can hear what church members make of the candidates for Bishop. You can view recordings of the Meet & Greet sessions on the diocesan YouTube channel HERE.
Shortly after noon, people will gather by our labyrinth to hang and bless prayer flags created to remember 62 people who died in ICE custody or as a result of immigration enforcement. This is part of a multi-faith state-wide witness that STAND for Justice and Peace has embraced. I know that members of our congregation hold differing views on immigration policy and about this particular initiative. But as your rector, I hope we can nevertheless stand together in affirming that every human life is precious in God's sight, and that praying for those who have died and for the families who mourn them is something the Church is called to do. We don't need to know someone personally, or approve of everything they may have done, to commend them to God's mercy.
As it happens, when I joined the STAND meeting last week to make a flag, the name I was given was Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal. I knew nothing about him at the time, but I've since learned a little of his story.
Nazeer was a 41-year-old Afghan man, a father of six, who had worked alongside American Special Forces for more than a decade. After the Taliban returned to power, he and his family were evacuated to the United States. He was detained by ICE in Texas in March and died the following day. His family has spoken of the anguish of his children, who keep asking when their father will come home, and have asked people to pray for them.
Sally was given the name of Jesús Molina-Veya, a 45-year-old Mexican man who died by suicide in an ICE detention center in Georgia last year. His story is very different. He had repeatedly entered the country illegally and had been convicted of serious crimes, including child molestation. With Sally, we can acknowledge the harm he caused, and pray for those he harmed, while still commending him to God's mercy.
Whatever our views on immigration, I invite you to pray for Nazeer, Jesús and all those remembered by these flags, for those who mourn them, and for ICE agents charged with a difficult task, that they may carry out their duties with wisdom, compassion and humanity.
The flowers above the altar are given to the glory of God by Peter Ruth and Mary Bayerl in loving memory of Caroline and Albert Ruth.
We celebrate birthdays this week with Jane Jefferson, Aldyn Frenkiewich, Judy Brown, Kathi Almond, Shane Boucher, and Monique Jevne.
Bishop's Visitation on Sunday, 25 October - Bishop Rob will be with us for both Eucharists the day after Convention! The celebrations will include Baptism, Confirmation, Reception into the Episcopal Church and Reaffirmation of Faith. Bishop Rob will say a few words at both "coffee-hours," leading into an open conversation with questions welcome from any quarter on any topic.
Like every Episcopal parishioner in New Hampshire, each of us is invited to offer a farewell gift to Bishop Rob by making a contribution to Belonging & Thriving in the Love of Jesus: The Fund for Youth Ministry at the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire. You may give directly online HERE but we invite you to write a check payable to St. Andrew's with "+Rob Youth" in the memo line, and we'll present him with a single check on Sunday, 25 October.
A Home for Growth: Our Stewardship Appeal - We’ve surpassed the $100,000 mark in pledges for 2027 and are marching onward toward our $530,000 goal! Even more encouraging, nearly three-quarters of those who have pledged so far have increased their pledge over last year. That’s amazing and speaks to the generosity of our St. Andrew’s community.
If you haven’t yet returned your pledge card, we hope you’ll consider doing so before our Ingathering on Sunday, November 8. Many thanks for helping make St. Andrew’s a home for growth!
God 101 and Baptism, Confirmation and R & R The final session of God 101 takes place this Sunday from 6:00 - 7:00 on "Church: Following Jesus in the Way of Love." If you missed last week's session on "Holy Scripture and Its Interpretation," you can read a PDF of the presentation with Jay's notes HERE. The notes for Session 3 are HERE and for Session 2 HERE. The powerpoint for Session 1 is HERE with Jay's notes HERE.
If you are considering being baptized, confirmed, received into the Episcopal Church or reaffirming your baptismal vows, please print and fill out the form HERE; alternatively, email Jay with the information ([email protected]). Please do not rely on Jay's memory!
Middle-school candidates will meet with Jay on Sunday at 4:30 in his office with God 101 following in the parish hall at 6pm and a rehearsal for all candidates from 7:00 - 7:30 pm in the sanctuary.
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." - Camden's weekly SNAP myth buster
Myth #7: SNAP is only worth $23 a month
$23 is the minimum monthly benefit, not the typical amount. Reports show
that the average benefit for an older adult living alone is about $188 per month, and
roughly 80% of older adults receive more than the minimum.
Christian Formation Opportunities - You can view the full menu of our Christian Education offerings for the next year HERE. Here are three options to pursue immediately:
October Outreach for El Hogar in Honduras - This school in Honduras is always reaching out to address all of the students’ needs and give them every opportunity to become productive, independent adults. From medical and dental care to participation in sports and cultural events, and more, El Hogar takes a holistic approach to student health, all based on consistent love and support in a safe environment. New residential students are welcomed gently and carefully into life on campus. Here is one of them enjoying a meal in his new home. Read more about the care taken to assimilate new students sensitively on the “news” page at ElHogar.org. If you missed the visit from Denise last Sunday, you can tune in to last Sunday's service HERE.
Please give generously before the end of the month to further the work of this remarkable school. A check to St. Andrew’s marked for outreach or an online donation HERE will be matched as usual by our anonymous donors. Please note that when Bishop Rob visits on Sunday, 25 October, the offertory collection is designated toward the Bishop's Discretionary Fund. So if you'd like to put cash in the plate and have it matched and to El Hogar, please do so on Sunday, 18 October.
Prayer Flag Project of Sacred Remembrance - After its meeting on Monday, STAND for Justice & Peace members explained the Prayer Flag Project to interested church members. As part of a statewide multifaith community witness, the flags are being created to remember those who died in ICE custody or as a result of ICE violence over the past year. We assembled kits that contain all the materials needed to create a flag at home and put them on the table in the hallway for people to help themselves. Then we each created a prayer flag ourselves. Thanks to a prayer created by Rev. Jennifer McCracken, this became a deeply moving experience. You can read the prayer HERE.
The flags will be hung and blessed at 12 noon (not 12:30) on Sunday, 18 October (after the parish conversation about the Bishop candidates). We'll gather by the trees near the labyrinth. Please consider picking up a prayer kit from the table in church and making a flag yourself.
Entering Election Season - Colby-Sawyer College is offering a non-partisan Fall Political Series as part of Adventures in Learning. More details and registration HERE. We are offering spiritual sustenance with the help of our labyrinth. Details below. And don't forget daily prayer every weekday at noon -- Midday Prayer in person or online (Healing Eucharist on Thursday).
As Election Day approaches, step away from the noise and find a place of peace. Take it slow; these 3 steps may help.
RELEASE — walking inward
With each step, let go of worries, distractions and burdens.
RECEIVE — at the center
Rest. Open your heart to receive God's peace.
RELEASE — walking outward
Step back into the world carrying that deep, grounded peace.
Want to walk with others? The Rev’d Jennifer McCracken leads walks at 11:30am on October 19, 21, 26 & 28 and November 2.
Last Chance to Provide ChIPs Toys - Gifts for Children of Incarcerated Persons should be unwrapped and left at the altar prior to Thursday, 22 October. Gifts for children from birth to 15 and should not exceed $25 in original retail value. Books are welcome but not used items, homemade items or gift cards. If you purchase a gift that requires batteries, please attach them to the gift. NOT acceptable are jewelry, balloons, crayons, play dough, glue, bubbles, make-up, long sticks, knitting needles, crochet hooks, paint brushes, glass items, clothing, sharp tools or toy weapons.
Dates for Your Calendar -
Gathering in Grace and Love on 4 November - On Wednesday, 4 November from 2-5pm, you are invited to join us in the kitchen as we gather to prepare freezer-ready meals for our homebound parishioners. These meals will serve as a vital supplement to our ongoing Meal Train ministry, ensuring that members of our congregation in need always have a comforting dinner ready when needed.
We have intentionally chosen the day after Election Day for this gathering. No matter what the news or the world brings on that morning, we know that our call remains unchanged: to love, to serve, and to care for one another. In moments that can feel fractured or overwhelming, there is deep healing in working side-by-side to create tangible expressions of God's love for the most vulnerable among us.
Colby-Sawyer College's Wind Phone - CSC is offering grief support by installing a Wind Phone between their library and Main Street. A Wind Phone is a beautifully simple idea: an old-fashioned telephone, often rotary, placed in a quiet space for reflection. It is inspired by the original Wind Phone created by Itaru Sasaki in Japan in 2010; a disconnected phone booth became a place of comfort for thousands following the 2011 tsunami. "Conversations in the Wind" offer a gentle invitation to pause, remember, and speak from the heart. Visitors are invited to pick up the receiver, dial a number, and speak with the one they miss. It is a place where grief is welcomed without judgment, where love is spoken freely, and where memories can breathe. Above all, the Wind Phone represents hope: the gentle, enduring hope that love continues, that connection remains, and that even death does not truly separate us. The Wind Phone will be dedicated on Monday, 19 October from 4-5pm. All are welcome.
Volunteering with the Warm Welcome Shelter - Trinity Church in Claremont will once again open its doors to house an emergency overnight facility that provides a safe, dignified, and warm place to sleep for up to 24 unhoused guests during the coldest months of the year. WWS relies heavily on volunteers for both:
St. Andrew's Library - With thanks to the Buildings and Grounds crew and to the Library team, the parish library is now open (again) on the basement level. Please visit the library and find something for your summer reading. Please sign out anything you borrow in the notebook provided. It is also important that you check the column marked “returned” when you place a book on the Return shelf. See posters in the library or find additional information on the St. Andrew’s website under the “Learn” tab.
St. Andrew’s is asked to give canned tuna and chicken to the KLS Food Pantry in October.
Congregational Care - Our Congregational Care Committee helps ensure that parishioners' needs are being met. We aim to draw our congregation together as a village, with newcomers welcomed, and existing members valued. We try to make sure that no one is overlooked, and we need your help. If you are new, please fill out a pew response card, and join us for coffee hour so we can get to know you! If you are heading off for a lovely vacation, please let Shelly know, and tell us about your adventures when you return :). If you need assistance, or can’t make it to services, please reach out. If you have concerns about someone else, please let Shelly know. We all work together to make sure everyone knows they are loved. The Congregational Care Committee is chaired by Claire Pace; of your clergy, Jay is involved, but Jennifer takes the lead.
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.
Local Food Insecurity - Our ongoing work to reduce food insecurity in the Kearsarge/Sunapee area:
St. Andrew’s is committed to caring for our neighbors by engaging with local organizations to reduce food insecurity in our region. While the immediate crisis of the loss of SNAP and WIC benefits have lessened, food insecurity remains prominent in our local community. Food pantries continue to see an increased need and families still need our support. KNP has gathered a group of public health clinicians, food pantry leaders, and faith communities, to raise awareness of the ongoing need and finding ways to meet that need. St Andrew’s has signed on to help. Please read the letter to the Kearsarge/ Sunapee community HERE and an opportunity to further engage to attend a summit HERE.
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!
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.
Opportunities abound at St. Andrew's to deepen your faith.
Bits & Bobs -
Monday Meditation at 6pm in the sanctuary. A snippet of scripture and a bit of music lead into 20 minutes of silent prayer. It will return in September.
Prayer List - Meca. Valen, & Naomi, Carrie, Josh, Mary Minifie, Loa, Elizabeth Wassell, John,Ann L., Fifi, Kimberly, Dan Lewis and family, Nikki Richer, Barbie, Michael, Paul French, Billy, Karl and Anne Pankow, Karen W., Maureen, Joann Schuyler, Bobbie Hambley, Charlotte, Natalie & Spenser, Brian, Chad, Mike & Carolyn, Debbie, Nancy Rowley, Jenny Norton, Sydney Kunz, Sharon A., David S. Bennett Gray, Neisja, Dan Gately, Ann Bailey,
We pray for the repose of the souls of the recently departed and remember with thanksgiving Robert Reitter, Walter Wotjczak, Sherrie Carville, Ellen Schauff, Henry Koser, Ray Woolson, Frank Bodurtha, Jr., and Ann Feeley Kieffer.
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.
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)
Sunday Worship and more -
18 October marks the Feast of Saint Luke on the church calendar, so we celebrate the Gospel author this Sunday. Join us at 8am for classic Prayer Book Communion. Our 10am Eucharist features our choir and will be live-streamed HERE; the Order of Worship for online viewers is HERE.
There will be a Parish Conversation from 11:15 - 12:00 so that our delegates to Convention can hear what church members make of the candidates for Bishop. You can view recordings of the Meet & Greet sessions on the diocesan YouTube channel HERE.
Shortly after noon, people will gather by our labyrinth to hang and bless prayer flags created to remember 62 people who died in ICE custody or as a result of immigration enforcement. This is part of a multi-faith state-wide witness that STAND for Justice and Peace has embraced. I know that members of our congregation hold differing views on immigration policy and about this particular initiative. But as your rector, I hope we can nevertheless stand together in affirming that every human life is precious in God's sight, and that praying for those who have died and for the families who mourn them is something the Church is called to do. We don't need to know someone personally, or approve of everything they may have done, to commend them to God's mercy.
As it happens, when I joined the STAND meeting last week to make a flag, the name I was given was Mohammad Nazeer Paktiawal. I knew nothing about him at the time, but I've since learned a little of his story.
Nazeer was a 41-year-old Afghan man, a father of six, who had worked alongside American Special Forces for more than a decade. After the Taliban returned to power, he and his family were evacuated to the United States. He was detained by ICE in Texas in March and died the following day. His family has spoken of the anguish of his children, who keep asking when their father will come home, and have asked people to pray for them.
Sally was given the name of Jesús Molina-Veya, a 45-year-old Mexican man who died by suicide in an ICE detention center in Georgia last year. His story is very different. He had repeatedly entered the country illegally and had been convicted of serious crimes, including child molestation. With Sally, we can acknowledge the harm he caused, and pray for those he harmed, while still commending him to God's mercy.
Whatever our views on immigration, I invite you to pray for Nazeer, Jesús and all those remembered by these flags, for those who mourn them, and for ICE agents charged with a difficult task, that they may carry out their duties with wisdom, compassion and humanity.
The flowers above the altar are given to the glory of God by Peter Ruth and Mary Bayerl in loving memory of Caroline and Albert Ruth.
We celebrate birthdays this week with Jane Jefferson, Aldyn Frenkiewich, Judy Brown, Kathi Almond, Shane Boucher, and Monique Jevne.
Bishop's Visitation on Sunday, 25 October - Bishop Rob will be with us for both Eucharists the day after Convention! The celebrations will include Baptism, Confirmation, Reception into the Episcopal Church and Reaffirmation of Faith. Bishop Rob will say a few words at both "coffee-hours," leading into an open conversation with questions welcome from any quarter on any topic.
Like every Episcopal parishioner in New Hampshire, each of us is invited to offer a farewell gift to Bishop Rob by making a contribution to Belonging & Thriving in the Love of Jesus: The Fund for Youth Ministry at the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire. You may give directly online HERE but we invite you to write a check payable to St. Andrew's with "+Rob Youth" in the memo line, and we'll present him with a single check on Sunday, 25 October.
A Home for Growth: Our Stewardship Appeal - We’ve surpassed the $100,000 mark in pledges for 2027 and are marching onward toward our $530,000 goal! Even more encouraging, nearly three-quarters of those who have pledged so far have increased their pledge over last year. That’s amazing and speaks to the generosity of our St. Andrew’s community.
If you haven’t yet returned your pledge card, we hope you’ll consider doing so before our Ingathering on Sunday, November 8. Many thanks for helping make St. Andrew’s a home for growth!
God 101 and Baptism, Confirmation and R & R The final session of God 101 takes place this Sunday from 6:00 - 7:00 on "Church: Following Jesus in the Way of Love." If you missed last week's session on "Holy Scripture and Its Interpretation," you can read a PDF of the presentation with Jay's notes HERE. The notes for Session 3 are HERE and for Session 2 HERE. The powerpoint for Session 1 is HERE with Jay's notes HERE.
If you are considering being baptized, confirmed, received into the Episcopal Church or reaffirming your baptismal vows, please print and fill out the form HERE; alternatively, email Jay with the information ([email protected]). Please do not rely on Jay's memory!
Middle-school candidates will meet with Jay on Sunday at 4:30 in his office with God 101 following in the parish hall at 6pm and a rehearsal for all candidates from 7:00 - 7:30 pm in the sanctuary.
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs." - Camden's weekly SNAP myth buster
Myth #7: SNAP is only worth $23 a month
$23 is the minimum monthly benefit, not the typical amount. Reports show
that the average benefit for an older adult living alone is about $188 per month, and
roughly 80% of older adults receive more than the minimum.
Christian Formation Opportunities - You can view the full menu of our Christian Education offerings for the next year HERE. Here are three options to pursue immediately:
- This week's bible study at 4pm on Tuesday will continue with Exodus 35. The Zoom link is HERE. If you need them, the meeting ID is 825 9690 3220; the passcode is 967483. You can view a recording of last week's session on Exodus 34 HERE. The passcode is Krd2*^c!
October Outreach for El Hogar in Honduras - This school in Honduras is always reaching out to address all of the students’ needs and give them every opportunity to become productive, independent adults. From medical and dental care to participation in sports and cultural events, and more, El Hogar takes a holistic approach to student health, all based on consistent love and support in a safe environment. New residential students are welcomed gently and carefully into life on campus. Here is one of them enjoying a meal in his new home. Read more about the care taken to assimilate new students sensitively on the “news” page at ElHogar.org. If you missed the visit from Denise last Sunday, you can tune in to last Sunday's service HERE.
Please give generously before the end of the month to further the work of this remarkable school. A check to St. Andrew’s marked for outreach or an online donation HERE will be matched as usual by our anonymous donors. Please note that when Bishop Rob visits on Sunday, 25 October, the offertory collection is designated toward the Bishop's Discretionary Fund. So if you'd like to put cash in the plate and have it matched and to El Hogar, please do so on Sunday, 18 October.
Prayer Flag Project of Sacred Remembrance - After its meeting on Monday, STAND for Justice & Peace members explained the Prayer Flag Project to interested church members. As part of a statewide multifaith community witness, the flags are being created to remember those who died in ICE custody or as a result of ICE violence over the past year. We assembled kits that contain all the materials needed to create a flag at home and put them on the table in the hallway for people to help themselves. Then we each created a prayer flag ourselves. Thanks to a prayer created by Rev. Jennifer McCracken, this became a deeply moving experience. You can read the prayer HERE.
The flags will be hung and blessed at 12 noon (not 12:30) on Sunday, 18 October (after the parish conversation about the Bishop candidates). We'll gather by the trees near the labyrinth. Please consider picking up a prayer kit from the table in church and making a flag yourself.
Entering Election Season - Colby-Sawyer College is offering a non-partisan Fall Political Series as part of Adventures in Learning. More details and registration HERE. We are offering spiritual sustenance with the help of our labyrinth. Details below. And don't forget daily prayer every weekday at noon -- Midday Prayer in person or online (Healing Eucharist on Thursday).
As Election Day approaches, step away from the noise and find a place of peace. Take it slow; these 3 steps may help.
RELEASE — walking inward
With each step, let go of worries, distractions and burdens.
RECEIVE — at the center
Rest. Open your heart to receive God's peace.
RELEASE — walking outward
Step back into the world carrying that deep, grounded peace.
Want to walk with others? The Rev’d Jennifer McCracken leads walks at 11:30am on October 19, 21, 26 & 28 and November 2.
Last Chance to Provide ChIPs Toys - Gifts for Children of Incarcerated Persons should be unwrapped and left at the altar prior to Thursday, 22 October. Gifts for children from birth to 15 and should not exceed $25 in original retail value. Books are welcome but not used items, homemade items or gift cards. If you purchase a gift that requires batteries, please attach them to the gift. NOT acceptable are jewelry, balloons, crayons, play dough, glue, bubbles, make-up, long sticks, knitting needles, crochet hooks, paint brushes, glass items, clothing, sharp tools or toy weapons.
Dates for Your Calendar -
- Monday, 19 October Colby-Sawyer College's Wind Phone will be dedicated between the library and Main Street at 4pm.
- Sunday, 8 November In-Gathering of Pledges at both Eucharists.
- Tuesday, 1 December Celebrating Saint Andrew and our Home for Growth with Midday Prayer and a Parish Luncheon
- Saturday, 12 December St Nicholas Fair
- Sunday, 24 January Annual Church Meeting at 9am
Gathering in Grace and Love on 4 November - On Wednesday, 4 November from 2-5pm, you are invited to join us in the kitchen as we gather to prepare freezer-ready meals for our homebound parishioners. These meals will serve as a vital supplement to our ongoing Meal Train ministry, ensuring that members of our congregation in need always have a comforting dinner ready when needed.
We have intentionally chosen the day after Election Day for this gathering. No matter what the news or the world brings on that morning, we know that our call remains unchanged: to love, to serve, and to care for one another. In moments that can feel fractured or overwhelming, there is deep healing in working side-by-side to create tangible expressions of God's love for the most vulnerable among us.
- When: Wednesday, 4 November 4 | 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM
- Where: Kitchen/ Parish Hall
- What to bring: Just your hands and a willing heart. All recipes and ingredients will be fully provided.
Colby-Sawyer College's Wind Phone - CSC is offering grief support by installing a Wind Phone between their library and Main Street. A Wind Phone is a beautifully simple idea: an old-fashioned telephone, often rotary, placed in a quiet space for reflection. It is inspired by the original Wind Phone created by Itaru Sasaki in Japan in 2010; a disconnected phone booth became a place of comfort for thousands following the 2011 tsunami. "Conversations in the Wind" offer a gentle invitation to pause, remember, and speak from the heart. Visitors are invited to pick up the receiver, dial a number, and speak with the one they miss. It is a place where grief is welcomed without judgment, where love is spoken freely, and where memories can breathe. Above all, the Wind Phone represents hope: the gentle, enduring hope that love continues, that connection remains, and that even death does not truly separate us. The Wind Phone will be dedicated on Monday, 19 October from 4-5pm. All are welcome.
Volunteering with the Warm Welcome Shelter - Trinity Church in Claremont will once again open its doors to house an emergency overnight facility that provides a safe, dignified, and warm place to sleep for up to 24 unhoused guests during the coldest months of the year. WWS relies heavily on volunteers for both:
- Morning Hospitality from 6:45-8:45am to assist guests as they awake, help provide breakfast, pack away bed linen, and thoroughly clean the premises;
- Evening Hospitality from 7:30-9:30pm to welcome guests, help them settle in, and assist with dinner distribution.
St. Andrew's Library - With thanks to the Buildings and Grounds crew and to the Library team, the parish library is now open (again) on the basement level. Please visit the library and find something for your summer reading. Please sign out anything you borrow in the notebook provided. It is also important that you check the column marked “returned” when you place a book on the Return shelf. See posters in the library or find additional information on the St. Andrew’s website under the “Learn” tab.
St. Andrew’s is asked to give canned tuna and chicken to the KLS Food Pantry in October.
Congregational Care - Our Congregational Care Committee helps ensure that parishioners' needs are being met. We aim to draw our congregation together as a village, with newcomers welcomed, and existing members valued. We try to make sure that no one is overlooked, and we need your help. If you are new, please fill out a pew response card, and join us for coffee hour so we can get to know you! If you are heading off for a lovely vacation, please let Shelly know, and tell us about your adventures when you return :). If you need assistance, or can’t make it to services, please reach out. If you have concerns about someone else, please let Shelly know. We all work together to make sure everyone knows they are loved. The Congregational Care Committee is chaired by Claire Pace; of your clergy, Jay is involved, but Jennifer takes the lead.
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.
Local Food Insecurity - Our ongoing work to reduce food insecurity in the Kearsarge/Sunapee area:
St. Andrew’s is committed to caring for our neighbors by engaging with local organizations to reduce food insecurity in our region. While the immediate crisis of the loss of SNAP and WIC benefits have lessened, food insecurity remains prominent in our local community. Food pantries continue to see an increased need and families still need our support. KNP has gathered a group of public health clinicians, food pantry leaders, and faith communities, to raise awareness of the ongoing need and finding ways to meet that need. St Andrew’s has signed on to help. Please read the letter to the Kearsarge/ Sunapee community HERE and an opportunity to further engage to attend a summit HERE.
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!
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.
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.
- 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 -
- This woman's black leather jacket was left at church last Sunday and another woman's black leather jacket with a zipper was taken in error. Please check your closets to check if you or your loved one mistakenly took the wrong jacket home. Please call the office or exchange it on Sunday.
- This week's bible study at 4pm on Tuesday will continue with Exodus 35. The Zoom link is HERE. If you need them, the meeting ID is 825 9690 3220; the passcode is 967483. You can view a recording of last week's session on Exodus 34 HERE. The passcode is Krd2*^c!
- For the first time in recent memory, there will be no VNA Christmas Giving Tree in the parish hall from which you take a star and provide a gift for a needy Kearsarge kid. Instead, the VNA requests that we purchase $50 Walmart gift cards and drop them off at 107 Newport Road before 20 November. Questions to Cathy at [email protected].
- Kearsarge Regional Ecumenical Ministries is looking for a Treasurer, as is St. Andrew's Episcopal Church! Please speak with KREM chair Froncie Quinn or with Jay if you are interested.
- Take a ride up King Hill Road to check out Andrea Avila's sweet and savory treats! Andrea is mom to Mia, one of our Youth Choir members. Please support this new small business at 246 King Hill Road. More info HERE.
- The sermon a few Sundays ago was theologically dense, starting with a lesson about the messiah that Peter had to unlearn -- and what that has to do with a coffin, a horse and two ancient sieges. Reading "The Horse or the Coffin" might be easier; it's posted HERE.
- Lake Sunapee VNA is seeking additional volunteers to help with its Good Day Respite program for adults with mild to moderate memory loss as they enjoy games, crafts, lunch, music, discussion and more. The program is held on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Kearsarge Community Presbyterian Church in New London. Typical volunteer shifts are 9:45 am -12:15 pm or 12:00 -3:00 pm. Volunteer as much or as little as your schedule allows! Contact Elizabeth Gantner for more information at [email protected] or 603-748-2225.
- Loa Winter has moved temporarily to Summercrest in Newport (169 Summer Street) with her dog Pele. As she recovers from a broken ankle, Loa welcomes visitors. She's grateful for our support over the past few days, especially to those who visited, walked Pele, and even stayed overnight.
- Equal Exchange is our provider of fair trade coffee and tea. If you'd like to savor your cuppa at home knowing that those who harvested your tea or coffee are getting a fair deal, consider buying a FairTrade brand at the supermarket. Please see Shelly if we are running low on teas in the kitchen.
- St. Andrew's Thrift Shop welcomes your donations of ladies fall clothes, as well as linens and household items. Please bring them to the shop during open hours: Tuesday - Saturday, 10:00 - 1:00. Unfortunately we can no longer accept men's clothing. Thank you.
- 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!
- 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].
- Jay's day off is Wednesday. Jennifer works 3/4 time and takes Tuesdays and Fridays off.
- 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 sign up sheet by the kitchen door. Thanks
- Jay or Jennifer presides at worship services at 11:00 am at Woodcrest Village on the first Tuesday of alternate months.
Monday Meditation at 6pm in the sanctuary. A snippet of scripture and a bit of music lead into 20 minutes of silent prayer. It will return in September.
Prayer List - Meca. Valen, & Naomi, Carrie, Josh, Mary Minifie, Loa, Elizabeth Wassell, John,Ann L., Fifi, Kimberly, Dan Lewis and family, Nikki Richer, Barbie, Michael, Paul French, Billy, Karl and Anne Pankow, Karen W., Maureen, Joann Schuyler, Bobbie Hambley, Charlotte, Natalie & Spenser, Brian, Chad, Mike & Carolyn, Debbie, Nancy Rowley, Jenny Norton, Sydney Kunz, Sharon A., David S. Bennett Gray, Neisja, Dan Gately, Ann Bailey,
We pray for the repose of the souls of the recently departed and remember with thanksgiving Robert Reitter, Walter Wotjczak, Sherrie Carville, Ellen Schauff, Henry Koser, Ray Woolson, Frank Bodurtha, Jr., and Ann Feeley Kieffer.
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.
- 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.
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)
