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March 16, 2018- Vol 11, Issue 11
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Sunday Ministry Assignments
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Altar Guild
Louise Graham, Joy Jones
Carolyn Sundquist
Ushers
Lectors
8 AM
Jay Wyman
10 AM
Holly Simons
Presenters
Bill & Susan Lander
Eucharistic
Mini
sters
8 AM
Dave Haeger
10 AM Art Slocum
Sandi Johnson
Greeters
Georgia Mosher
Jane Newcomb
Flower Guild
No flowers in Lent
Flower Delivery
No flowers in Lent
Coffee
8 AM Cynthia Quinn
10 AM
Joanne Crowe
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Birthdays - March
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18 Michaela Young
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19 Rick Lundy
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20 Al Greymont
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22 Paul Karpinski
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23 Jack McLaughlin
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23 Paige Hunt
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24 Jane Newcomb
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| Quick Links |
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Rector's Reflections
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The Attraction of the Repellant Cross
Two themes vie for attention in the readings: divine forgiveness (with attention paid to the human sinfulness that makes it necessary!) and the cross's mysterious power.
Jeremiah prophesies of God's desire and ability to wipe the slate clean and to come even closer than before, in the form of a "new covenant" with God's people. But how is this possible? God and God's people were already as close as husband and wife-one flesh! Even so, God promises to forgive the divorce and forge an even more profound unity and intimacy with God's people.
The composer of psalm 51 sings of the relief and joy of being forgiven and then taught, sustained, and sanctified by God's Spirit. The psalmist testifies that relief and joy more than balance the agony of confessing their unworthiness and brokenness and their own culpability for both.
In the gospel, Jesus plants the image of the (dead) seed coming to life and bearing fruit, as a metaphor for his own crucifixion and being "lifted up" on our behalf. The Greeks ask to see Jesus. We might paraphrase Jesus' oblique response this way: "If you want to see me, first look down into the dirt; then look up to the cross."
The connection point for the two themes is deep (even intimate) service to the other. Jeremiah tells us that God will come closer to us than a partner/spouse-directly into our hearts! Deep in this mystery we will be known-truly known even beyond our fear of being known-and forgiven and loved. Jesus then promises that through his life in us, we will be drawn into a similar emptying of selves as we enter richly into the lives of others so that they too will know the joy and relief of being known and loved. In this way, confession leads finally to mission. [Sundays and Seasons, 2018]
Walking together,
Bill +
Readings for Sunday:
Second Reading -
Hebrews 5:5-10
- Through suffering Christ becomes the source of salvation
Note:
Audio recordings of the current sermons are now available on our website under the "Worship" tab, or by
clicking here
. Current sermon/services are not available on YouTube at this time.
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Maundy Thursday Dinner and Worship
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We will gather for a community meal in the parish hall at 5:00 pm, followed by worship at 6:30 pm. Please sign-up in the parish hall for the dinner, to help set-up, and clean-up. Maundy Thursday Dinner will be provided and a free-will offering taken. Any questions about helping with the dinner, please contact Donna Young at
4youngs03855@gmail.com
or 729-7700.
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Bishops United Against Gun Violence
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An adapted litany by the Rt. Rev. A. Robert Hirschfeld, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of NH
Have mercy upon us, most holy God, Source of all being, all hope, and all life.
We confess to you, O God, our worship of unholy things fashioned not by you, but by our own hands.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our fascination with those guns and weapons that claim the lives of the undefended and the vulnerable, especially of children wounded and killed in acts of random terror.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our attachment to the means of violence and bloodshed, and our idolatry in claiming that they alone can save us.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you that our eyes have watched what is worthless, and that we have allowed our hearts to be misshapen by media that glorify violence and trivialize human life.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our lack of courage and clarity in public policy, choosing individual rights over the common weal.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you that we have appealed to your holy Name to justify our right to defend and protect, even when you gave up your defenses, dying on the cross to rise again and to destroy the power of sin and death.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our willingness to allow the false god of consumerism to deafen us to the cries of the injured and the grieving.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you the poverty of our response to gun deaths among people of color and our lack of the outrage that we reserve for the slaughter of white children.
Lord, have mercy.
We confess to you our facile acceptance of the lie that "the only thing that can stop a bad guy with a gun is a good guy with a gun."
Lord, have mercy.
Hear us, good Lord and God of all creation, and grant us the grace to build more loving households, to be more caring neighbors, to fund and equip our schools more generously, and to hear in our hearts your message of love and forgiveness.
Hear us, good Lord.
Unfetter us, O God of deliverance, from the grip of the unholy trinity of poverty, racism, and guns.
Hear us, good Lord.
Guide us, O God of the prophets, in the difficult conversations about what truly drives our fears.
Hear us, good Lord.
Protect, O God our Sun and Shield, those whom you have called to speak the truth to the powerful and the contented.
Hear us, good Lord.
Teach us, O God of Holy Community, to desire only the sword of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, and the helmet of salvation.
Hear us, good Lord.
Help us, O God of Shalom, to dwell peacefully and boldly in your Holy Name, that the militias of hatred and fear will step back and fall to the ground.
Hear us, good Lord.
Lord, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.
Eternal God, in whose perfect reign no weapon is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: Guide us with your cloud by day and your fire by night, and grant us wisdom and courage for the facing of this hour. All this we ask for the sake of your love. Amen
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Addiction & Recovery
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Did you know there is a prayerful effort to address the drug crisis in our greater community? Please hold the White Horse Addiction Center, those in our area with the brain disease of addiction, and all who accompany and care for them in prayer. As St. Paul writes: "I do not understand my own actions. For I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate. Now if I do what I do not want, I agree that the law is good. But in fact it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me. For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I that do it, but sin that dwells within me."
Romans 7:15-20 (NRSV)
Substance misuse, abuse and addiction impacts individuals, families, and churches in both powerful and subtle ways. Recovery is possible.
In the Episcopal Church we are called to:
- Help the addicted and those who love them connect with spiritual resources and find lasting recovery.
- Witness to Christ's unfailing mercy by welcoming unchurched members of Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12-Step programs into an Episcopal faith community.
- Raise awareness about the disease of addiction and the redemption and grace found in recovery.
- Strengthen recovering Episcopalians in the work of their recovery and help proclaim the Gospel in the world and carry their recovery into the Church.
- Resources, information and support are available: Recovery
O blessed Jesus, you ministered to all who came to you. Look with compassion upon all who through addiction have lost their health and freedom. Restore to them the assurance of your unfailing mercy; remove the fears that attack them; strengthen those who are engaged in the work of recovery; and to those who care for them, give honesty, understanding, and persevering love; for your mercy's sake. Amen.
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Easter Offering Recipient
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All Saints' Easter Offering Recipient Selected
The Mission Outreach Team voted to have the
All Saints' Children's Initiative Fund be the recipient of our Easter Offering for the second year in a row. This emphasis on children, who are our future, is also encouraged at a Diocesan Level by Bishop Rob who has created 'Our Kids Youth Commission' to close the opportunity gap for low-income and vulnerable children in NH.
Last year our Easter Offering monies were spent to send 7 Governor Wentworth Regional School District students to summer camps and enrichment programs. We paid partial tuition for a leadership camp, Camp Invention, Camp Sentinel, ADA Camp Carefree, Northeastern Ballet, and a Drivers Ed course.
Our parishioners were so generous to this plea last year. Please consider the All Saints' Children's Initiative Fund again this Easter season as we work to fulfill Bishop Rob's charge "to find and serve the Child Jesus in our communities" by working with our local youth.
Thank you.
Gerry DeGeorge and Beth Smith
Mission Outreach Team Conveners
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Wolfeboro Reads Bishop Rob's Book for Lent
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Shame severs our relationship from God. It is so powerful that it often results in denial, apathy, and even a self-defensive wrath toward neighbor. At the same time, shame may drive us to discover the true source of our dignity beyond our isolated and broken self. The arc of the biblical narrative takes us from the fig leaves of Adam and Eve, who desire to hide from God and each other, to the liberation from self-consciousness that Jesus displays at the Last Supper, which can be seen as undoing the shame of Adam and Eve. Shame is the experience that can bring us close to the experience of the Cross, the place of simultaneous condemnation and liberation. By examining the biblical stories of shame and some personal and public stories of shame and of being shamed, Hirschfeld delves into this emotional and spiritual phenomenon to mine what shame has to teach. Shame cannot be erased, but God does not want us to be stuck in it. Working through our shame can lead us to a deeper sense of joy and freedom so we can, as the Proper Preface for Advent says, without shame or fear rejoice to behold [Christs] appearing?
We meet Tuesday, 4:00-5:30 March 20th in the Gathering Space at First Congregational Church Wolfeboro. Bishop Rob will be with us for this session. Books are available in the church office for $14.
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Episcopalians Against Gun Violence
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This ad-hoc group of bishops, clergy and lay people disseminating information about Episcopalians who are working, collectively and individually, to curb gun violence, believes in a God of life in the face of death who calls our church to speak and act decisively against the unholy trinity of poverty, racism and violence. You can connect to the group via Facebook:
Episcopalians Against Gun Violence
Bishops United Against Gun Violence
(of which Bishop +Rob is a part) has issued the following call to action in the wake of the school shooting in Parkland, Florida:
Bishops Against Gun Vilence
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Church Renovation Business Cards
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As several of you have asked for information about who did the renovation work, I asked the men and women to send me their business cards. I will put them on a plate and leave them for a few weeks on the small table in the narthex, right at the top of the stairs. Not everyone sent me their card. If you are interested in hiring someone who did not, just contact me for the info. The Vestry is very happy with all the work and would recommend any and all of these people. I personally know how difficult it can be to find good people. That said, All Saints did not need to hire a mason; but, after many struggles to find one for my own home, I was referred to one by a neighbor. He was wonderful. If ever you need a mason, just let me know. The person I have been most asked about is Steve Parker. He refinished the wooden chairs. His company is called Mountain View Refinishing. If you have any questions, please contact me, Sarah Day at 515-1889 or
sarahday66@hotmail.com
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Cultural Diversity Talk and Photo Exhibit
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Becky Field's photography focuses primarily on social documentary issues. Since early 2012, she has photographed cultural, ethnic and religious diversity in New Hampshire.
Having seen the high value placed on education among immigrant families, Field partnered with the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation in 2017 to start the Different Roots, Common Dreams Scholarship. Fund, to help refugees and immigrants complete a four-year undergraduate degree.
Her talk, at the Wolfeboro Public Library will be at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, March 21. Copies of her book will be available for purchase after the talk. The photo exhibit is sponsored by the Governor Wentworth Arts Council. For more information, contact the library at 569-2428.
You can view her website here:
Fields
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Becoming Beloved Community
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The Diocesan Reconciliation Commission invites parishes across NH to enter into the Holy Season of Lent with an openness to listen, to wait, to pray and to open our ears so our eyes can fulfill our baptismal vow by promoting justice, peace and love.
The
Black Heritage Trail of New Hampshire
is honored to partner with the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire to offer a collection of short readings on little known historic figures from New Hampshire's African American community for the Episcopalians' 2018 Lenten Program, beginning Ash Wednesday, February 14. In this way, we will join with them to celebrate and honor New Hampshire's inclusive history. To read the first story and to subscribe to the email list for the rest of the stories, one each day, click
HERE
. You'll find a button at the top of the page to subscribe.
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Lenten Study - Meeting Jesus
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Have you ever wished to deepen your relationship with God? Wished to experience a warm friendship with God? Or, maybe even fall in love with God - again - or for the very first time?
This Lent (starting February 15th) we will gather Thursday afternoons at 3:00 pm in the Beck Memorial Library for Meeting Jesus, a resource
from the monks of Society of Saint John the Evangelist (SSJE) to journey and reflect on the Gospel According to John. For those unable to join us in person, please share your e-mail for our Weekly Bible Study e-blast (if you haven't already) and you can participate in the journey on your own.
Watch Presiding Bishop Curry introduce this study:
Bishop Curry
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Dinner Bell Volunteers Needed
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Dinner Bell is looking for volunteers for
March 22nd. If you are able to volunteer 3 hours of your time on a Thursday from 3-6 pm, please contact
Donna Young at 729-7700 or
4youngs03855@gmail.com.
Responsibilities include setting tables, assisting cook with serving dinner, plating soup table by table, clean up and washing dishes. You also have dinner with us. Training can be done if this is your first time.
Thank you.
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Office Hours
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Monday - 9 AM - 5 PM
Tuesday - 1 PM - 5 PM
Wednesday - 9 AM- Noon
Thursday - 9 AM - Noon
Friday - Closed
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L.I.F.E. Ministries
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L.I.F.E. Ministries Food Pantry w
elcomes and is extremely thankful for any and all donations. Items that are costly and cannot usually be purchased from the Food Bank are especially needed. These items are: Beef Stew, Soup, Canned Fruit, Hash, Spam, Cereal.
Thank you for all your donations!
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March - 2018
Calendar
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Schedule for Lord & Tailor; Food Pantry
Lord & Tailor
Thursday & Friday 10 AM - 3 PM; Saturday 10 AM - 1 PM
Food Pantry
10 AM - 1 PM; 5 PM - 7 PM
SUNDAY March 18
8 & 10 AM Holy Eucharist
6 PM AA Meeting (PH)
11:30 Vestry (L)
MONDAY March 19
10-2:00 PM Senior Meals & Activities
1 PM Bridge (L)
7 PM Photo Club (PH)
TUESDAY March 20 FIRST DAY OF SPRING!
7 AM Women's
Worship (PH)
1:30 PM-4 PM Scrabble Club (L)
4 PM Wolfeboro Reads @First Congregational Church
WEDNESDAY March 21
10 AM - 2 PM Senior Meals & Activities
1-3:30 PM Knitting Club (L)
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM Table Tennis (PH)
6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Choir Rehearsal
THURSDAY March 22
7:30 AM - Men's Bible Study (PH)
12 PM Outreach Luncheon
3:00 PM - 4:30 PM - Bible Study & Holy Eucharist (L)
5-7:00 PM - Dinner Bell (PH)
FRIDAY March 23
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM Senior Meals & Activities
8-9:30 PM AA Meeting (PH)
SATURDAY March 24
10-11:30 AM AA Meeting (L)
8-9:30 PM AA (PH)
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All Saints e-News
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We hope you have enjoyed reading our e-News and we encourage your feedback to help us make it even better. We publish an issue weekly on Friday afternoon, to help keep you up to date and in touch with our current news and activities. We think this may be especially helpful to those that are unable to attend our Sunday worship services, are out of town and away for the season. Please let us know if you have some information you would like us to share in future issues of this newsletter.
Feel free to share our e-News with others by clicking on the "Forward email" link below. They may then subscribe by clicking on the "Join Our Mailing List!" button above.
If you no longer wish to receive our e-News you may unsubscribe by clicking on the "SafeUnsubscribe" link below.
Rev. Bill Petersen
Rector, All Saints Church
Editor, All Saints E-News
Carolyn Sundquist, Christy Parker, and Ralph Simons
Associate Editors, All Saints e-News
603-569-3453
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