St. Andrew's e-Pistle for May 31,2020
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Greetings!
This Sunday we celebrate the important Christian festival of Pentecost. This festival celebrates the sending of the Holy Spirit upon the disciples after Christ had departed from them when he ascended to be with God the Father.
The importance of Pentecost is that it inaugurates a new era in what theologians call "God's salvation history" or in other words, the way God has interacted with humanity to make God's saving grace and love present in the world.
In broad terms the Old Testament represents one era of God's interaction with humanity with the sending of the law and the prophets.
The coming of God in Jesus Christ our Lord represents another stage - the era of the Incarnation.
The next era, inaugurated by Pentecost, is the era of the Holy Spirit. This is the era in which we live now. During this time Christ is made present in and among us through the power of the Holy Spirit.
The importance of this for us is that God has empowered us by sending the Holy Spirit upon us to be the witnesses of Christ's love and grace to the world by the manner in which we live our lives. In this way God is treating us like partners in this divine endeavor. The challenge of whether Christ's love is present in the world is down to us aided by the Holy Spirit.
I find this enormously exciting and a good reason to get out of bed in the morning. It seems a huge gift to know that whatever each of us does, however small, can make a difference.
Normally on Pentecost, we would be encouraging you to come to church wearing something red because the liturgical color for Pentecost is red. The color red signifies the tongues of flame of the Holy Spirit that came to rest on the disciples heads at Pentecost.
However, I find it interesting to note that in the older Episcopal tradition the Feast of Pentecost was known as "Whitsun" which is a contraction of the word "White Sunday". According to one interpretation, this name comes from Pentecost being a day for baptisms when those being baptized would wear white.
"Whitsun" is also thought to derive from the Anglo-Saxon word "wit" meaning "understanding", to celebrate the disciples being filled with the wisdom of the Holy Spirit.
I much prefer this latter explanation because it reminds us that at the Last Supper, Jesus tells the disciples that he will be sending them the Holy Spirit who will remind them of his teaching and in the future will lead them into all truth or in other words "wit".
The spiritual life is about the continual opening up of oneself to be taught about Christ's teaching by the Holy Spirit. It is about being reminded in the reality of your individual life about allowing yourself to experience God's love, grace and forgiveness and to share this with your neighbor, remembering especially the poorest and those most in need.
Happy Pentecost!
Yours in Christ, Adrian
P.S.
Online Services and the Opening of the Church
There havebeen no further developments since I updated you last week in the e-pistle But in case you missed the e-pistle last week, the situation is as follows:
- Under the direction of the Bishop of Massachusetts, all Episcopal churches in our diocese remain closed to 'in-person' worship until at least the end of June.
- Following consultation with the St. Andrew's wardens and vestry there is a good chance that St. Andrew's might remain closed for the rest of the summer in line with other churches in Wellesley.
- Given the fluidity of the situation in regard to the virus, if we receive advice and guidance that opening up using social distancing protocols might be safe, then it is possible we might have some limited 'in-person' worship at the church at some point in the summer.
- Regardless of whether we do open for 'in-person' worship we will continue our online Sunday services through the summer. This will allow you to continue to worship with us if you are away or do not yet wish to return to worship in the church building.
- We have set up a panel of doctors from the congregation to help us think through safety procedures once we do open.
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Mail is being delivered, invoices and check requests are being processed and payments are being received and credited for pledges, flowers, and the capital campaign.
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Online Church Directory and Mobile App
Did you know that we have a directory for church members that you can access
from our website
? Your email address will need to be in our database for you to get a username and password. Click on “
Directory
” in the upper right hand corner. Then look for "
Need a login? Click here
" and enter your email, first name, and last name. you will be prompted from there about getting a password. (
Click here to email Kate
with questions.)
There is also a mobile app for your cell phone called “
Church Life
” you can use once you have a username and password. Check it out!
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News, Announcements, and Prayers
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Book of Common Prayer Resources
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Having a Book of Common Prayer might assist you better in following along with the online daily offices and services. If you are interested in this, here are some links that may help you get what would work for you. There is an
online BCP here that can be helpful, but it is hard to navigate. You can buy a hard copy of the book to have at home with you
from the Church Publishing
website,
from Cokesbury, and of course
on Amazon which also has it for your kindle if you want. And finally, here is a
link to a downloadable PDF of the book if you think that would serve you. We hope these resources will help you.
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Quarterly Giving Statements
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Due to the many changes in the past several months, the first quarter giving statements for 2020 will not be issued. Instead, there will be a combined six-month statement produced in July. Quarterly statements will resume for the third quarter.
Thank you for your understanding as I adjust to both the new role and the remote working situation.
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To stay up to date with St. Andrew's virtual content, make sure to like and follow St. Andrew's on the social media platforms you use.
- Following our Facebook page and turning on notifications will help you know when we are live - or when we get back on air after being disconnected!
- Subscribing to our YouTube Channel will let you know when new hymn, sermon, and service videos are posted. Our YouTube Channel also contains church school lesson and activity videos.
- Follow our parish instagram, @staswellesley, for photos of our parish life throughout the week. Follow our youth instagram @staswellesleyyouth, for content related to children and youth.
- Our Twitter handle is @StAsWellesley
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Things are changing rapidly in the world. Our church needs and goals are evolving as well. Please
check our website often to see the changes we are making and join us for Facebook Live weekday services when you can, or view them after they have posted. You will find other ways to join us in community
by following this link
.
Our
Sunday Service this week will begin at 10am on Facebook and YouTube.
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Following the service, you're invited to
drop-in to check-in
with our clergy and other parishioners after the service until 11:30am. Dress code is casual! (PJs encouraged!)
Scroll down to the bottom of the email for more detailed instructions for how to use Zoom on phone or computer.
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9am Adult Forum on May 31
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This Sunday at
9am we will be looking at the same reading we did last week – Genesis 37 but this time looking at it from a different angle – from the Qur'an. We will read it at the beginning of our time together and ask the questions, “What do you notice is the same?” and “What do you notice that is different?” and “How do you account for the differences?”
Next Sunday, June 7th, we will be discussing how often we would like to meet over the summer and what we would like to study. One option is to continue with the Joseph Novella. -
Rev. Sarah Robbins-Cole
If you wish to dial in on your phone for the class: (
929) 205-6099
Meeting I
D: 818 3737 8032
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Amanda Kern will be hosting a Junior Choir End of Year Wrap Up Zoom, this upcoming Sunday, May 31 from
9-9:30AM. We will checking in with each other, share a video and playing a game together. There is no pressure to participate and we will be happy to see whoever can make it! -
Amanda Kern
Zoom Link
(Meeting ID: 872 2409 7003, Password: 621627)
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No Church School on Zoom on May 31
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Instead of coming to Church school at 9am, families and kids are invited to a special family coffee hour at
11am. Junior Choir is invited to a wrap-up party and check-in at
9am.
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11am Family Coffee Hour on Sunday, May 31
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Instead of church school at 9am next
Sunday, May 31, families and children are invited to a special "Coffee Hour" at
11am after our church service. We'll be shuffling into small breakout rooms to get a chance to say hi and check in with our church friends. Don't forget to wear Pentecost red to celebrate the church's birthday!
Zoom Link (Meeting ID: 209 973 2402).
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11am Rite-13 on Zoom on May 31
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We missed you last week! Rite-13 continues to meet at
11am
this Sunday on
Zoom
.
(
Meeting ID: 863 3480 4540, Password: Rite13)
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6:45pm Eighth Graders & Youth Group on May 31
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Eighth-graders are especially invited to visit Youth Group at
6:45pm
on
Zoom
this Sunday. (
Meeting ID: 801 766 9266, Password: 0072020)
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4pm
College-age Bible Study Group on Tuesday, June 2
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Building a faith community is more important than ever. That’s where this low commitment bible study comes in. No matter what church you go to you are welcome to join! It will take place once a week via WebEx on
Tuesdays at 4pm
. We'll begin with 1 John.
Don’t know anybody? Don’t worry we don’t either, that’s the whole point. We will make a GroupMe to keep the conversation and community going. We hope to “virtually” see you soon! For the Webex meeting link email
Tessa May
.
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Spring Bible Circles: The Creation Stories
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Please join us for two weeks as we reflect upon the creation stories of Genesis.
They have much to teach us about our understanding of God and ourselves.
Newcomers are especially welcome to try out a Bible study with us.
This week, Week Two, we are studying Genesis Chapter 2:4-2:25
We have two Bible Circles:
Our
Tuesday morning Circle, from
11am – noon, is our most long-lasting circle; we have been meeting monthly for 67 years.
Our
Wednesday night Circle, from
7pm-8pm, tends to draw people who can’t come on Tuesday morning because of work or child care.
Please plan on signing in five minutes before the start of the meeting if you can.
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Visit from Ramona the Assistant Rector Mouse
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You know Rodney the Rector Mouse...introducing his new friend, Ramona the Assistant Rector Mouse!
Ramona has already started visiting the children of the parish and will be throughout the summer. Don't worry - she's machine-washable and comes with her own tiny face mask!
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Congratulations to Katie Hodges on her recital!
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You can watch the beautiful piano recital by Katie Hodges, Wellesley College senior and St. Andrew's choirmember, by
clicking this link
. The recital was live-streamed this past Saturday.
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Parish Prayer List
Asher Griffin, Kim McGovern, Melissa Stampf, Vickie Alexander, Stephen, Theresa Given, Cam Czubek, Rob Rodormer, Jack, Roxanne Manners, Lisa Dutile, Jim Tilmon, Bill, Ashley, Michael, Jean, Chetan Phadnis, David McFarlane, Gary Christelis, Alison, Meredith, Mark Peacor, David Sears, James, Emily, Lindsay, Jim Weigel, John & Laura, Carolyn Frye, Mary Ann, Bobbe, Cindy, Jessica, Connie, Wendy Barnes, Kelly, Kathy, Elizabeth Peishoff, Vivienne Mary Kurz Engelke and Rebecca Kurz Engelke, Joseph Harris, the Marcineli family, Myron Allukian, Gina, Anne, Lee Clarke, Mimi West, Eva and Melanie, Jack Beggs, Jake, Sharon, Don Hawley, Mick
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We pray for the repose of the soul of
Janet Flett, who died on Tuesday this week
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Flowers are given to the glory of God and in Memory of
Pat Davis and Nathaniel Kettendorf
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Special Prayer for Outreach Partners
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We expect you are concerned about the needy in our community in these days and we encourage your prayers for our outreach partners. Here is updated information on the Outreach partners in our community, as of May 13. If you are shopping on Amazon, please consider using Amazon SMILE to support El Hogar in Honduras or the Wellesley Food Pantry.
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St. Stephen's Youth Programs
We are actively supporting SSYP to distribute food to needy families in their group of 200 families. Click here to access our
St. Andrew's signup genius. We are also encouraging contributions to their
Pandemic Relief Fund. 98% of these households have lost one or more jobs in the economic closures. SSYP was able to get a PPP grant to continue paying their 32 adult staff and 29 teen staff, which is the only family income in many cases. A decision about B-SAFE summer camp will be made soon.
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Family Promise
Some astonishingly good news: a family of four moved out of shelter, after two years, and into their own apartment! The remaining shelter families are in a hotel and trying to maintain some normalcy. FPM is serving 23 families, with 27 adults and 46 children across all the programs. The Campaign for Hope exceeded its fundraising goal, but we still need donations during the pandemic.
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common cathedral
common cathedral is continuing to have Sunday worship, safely, with the homeless congregation at Brewer Fountain on Boston Common, and offering what people need now: respite, bathroom, phone charger, food, rest. At the Day Center at Emmanuel Church, visitors can get a sandwich and a place to rest, at a safe distance.
Click here to donate.
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Healthcare Without Walls
HWW continues to provide medical service to homeless and marginally housed women and babies, and supporting clients with grocery store gift cards.
Click here to donate
.
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United Way/Pearl Street Cupboard & Cafe
While Pearl Street Cafe is not serving meals, the food pantry is open and is distributing needed food.
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Knitting Ministry
Continues individually making many shawls, baby hats and sweaters, in anticipation of a greater than expected need this coming winter.
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el hogar
Staff are working in one- to two-week shifts around the clock, living on campus to ensure the health, safety and emotional welfare of the 41 children living at El Hogar during the crisis. There are always three teachers on site and the cook lives at the school. All the teachers and staff continue to be paid and El Hogar received a PPP grant to pay their US staff. Fortunately, there has been no infection so far.
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Wellesley Food Pantry
Please see
their website
for list of needed items, which can be dropped off Monday mornings, or in bins at town grocery stores. They have changed procedures to keep a safe distance and volunteers bag the items (not clients getting items) to reduce exposure. The Pantry will temporarily move to the UU church at the end of May due to renovations starting at the Hills Church.
Please click here to donate.
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Join Coffee Hour via computer
If prompted to enter a Meeting ID it is:
231 303 1816
Join the meeting using your computer's audio and video. You can opt to join without video.
You will be automatically muted when you join.
Click the microphone button
in the bottom left-hand corner of your screen to unmute. Please mute yourself when you are not talking.
You can also stop your video at any point if you'd like by clicking the stop video button.
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Join Coffee Hour via phone:
After the service concludes, dial:
929 205 6099.
The voice will prompt you to enter the meeting ID:
231 303 1816
The voice will prompt you to enter a participant ID or to press pound.
Press Pound
. You will automatically be muted. To unmute yourself,
press *6
. To re-mute yourself,
press *6
again.
Please mute when you are not talking or when your background noise is loud.
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