1)    How does temptation work? It works by keeping us unaware of itself, numb, and distracted. As C.S. Lewis notes in “The Screwtape Letters”, “the safest road to Hell is the gradual one – the gentle slope, soft underfoot, without sudden turnings, without milestones, without signposts.” (p. 61)

2)    What are some temptations humans struggle against?  Everything is made by God, and everything natural is good, but everything can be twisted to become ugly, unhealthy, or damning. We each have certain temptations that are more powerful than others for us.

3)    How is temptation resisted? First, we keep an honest sense of self; we keep our eyes open about our own imperfection. Secondly, we hold them up to God and stay open for change and healing. We also find communities – family, friends, church - where we can get support and be honest about our real selves- strengths and warts included. Lastly, we remember that God wants us to recognize the real pain in our lives and claim the real pleasures in our lives as touchstones to real life with God. Real pleasures and pains keep us linked to the real world and God’s love for us. (Resist numbness and distraction.)

Yours in Christ,

Margaret

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Our 10:15am Sunday Service will be on our website, YouTube, and Facebook. If one platform doesn't seem to be working, try another! Our service sheet for any given week is posted here on our website.

Following the service, you're invited to attend Coffee Hour. Scroll down to the bottom of the email for more detailed instructions for how to use Zoom on phone or computer. Click here for the Link to Coffee Hour.

9-9:30am - Zoom Church School with Rev. Mia. Meeting ID: 849 7619 7447; Passcode: JesusLove

9:30-10am - Zoom Junior Choir with Amanda Kern. Meeting ID: 833 6283 9699; Passcode: JesusLove

11-11:45am - Zoom Rite-13 Meeting ID: 865 1893 6642; Passcode: ChristLove

5-6pm - Zoom Youth Group Discussion on Anti-Racism Meeting ID: 839 9664 4094; Passcode: GodLove

Join us this Sunday, February 28 for the second class of Stages of Faith Development, led by The Reverend Dr. Jim Weiss from Boston College. Theologians and pastors have used Eric Erickson’s model of stages of life to examine the way faith grows, changes, or stays the same in the lives of faithful people. Dr. Weiss' second class will continue to explore the models of faith development by theologian James Fowler. We will discuss these models and reflect upon how we see our faith lives working in different “stages” sequentially or simultaneously. All are welcome. Use this link to get the class notes for this week: they come out on Friday. Everyone is welcome. —Rev. Margaret Schwarzer 

Join us next Sunday, March 7 for the first of four classes on our Lenten Book: The World Before and After Jesus: Desire of the Everlasting Hills by Thomas Cahill. On March 7, we will reflect on Chapter 4: Luke's Jesus: The Gentile Messiah. The New York Times Book Review called Cahill's book "rare and inspiring... a stunning success."  Join us for a thoughtful discussion of Cahill's brilliant insights about the Jesus the first disciples knew. 

A parish-wide meeting was held Sunday, February 21 to discuss the petition for a "Black Lives Matter" banner on the church. The meeting was attended by about 60 households. The meeting was followed-up by the presentation of the petition to the vestry Tuesday, February 23. There was robust and vigorous discussion at both meetings.

The key points that emerged were an acknowledgement that it is a non-negotiable that all Christians need to oppose racism. And that we as a parish must do our part.

The vestry will be gathering for a special meeting on March 8 dedicated solely to the challenge of anti-racism. The questions it will consider include the banner, the establishment of a Vestry anti-racism group, and other concrete actions.

If you have any questions or comments please contact Adrian.

The purpose of the group is to share our experience of undertaking the Examen and to support & encourage each other to maintain the discipline during Lent. The group will meet each week during Lent at 12noon beginning Thursday February 25. Please email me if you would like to be involved with the group. —Adrian

Join us from 7pm-8pm on the Wednesday Nights of Lent for our Lenten Program: Finding Our Way to Grace: Temptation, Suffering, and Hope. Each Wednesday, we will offer a program that addresses some of the spiritual challenges we have faced this year. How do we resist temptation, endure suffering, recognize grace? We can move through this difficult time together with grace and hope.

We will miss gathering for our potlucks this year, but we will still enjoy fellowship, shared learning and reflection, and the warmth and groundedness of our church community. Find the notes for this class here. Join us; all are welcome. —Rev. Margaret Schwarzer

Join us on Zoom by clicking here.

As part of their “MLK Season of Action,” SSYP and Blackstone School are showcasing children’s books on social justice and diversity. You can participate in two ways from now through March 5:

1. Purchase books for classroom libraries from their wish list at Porter Square Books. (St. Stephen’s will pick the purchased books up.)

2. Read a picture book aloud over Zoom. Your recording (5-12 minutes) will be used in virtual classes and programs for elementary students. Please contact Cam McCormick soon if you are interested; she will provide a selection of books and record your reading.

March is the month to “march with fellowship.” Join us each Sunday from March 1 thru March 31 at 11:30am in the St. Andrew’s parking lot for a group walk. Divided into pods of up to six people, we will saunter off on a variety of routes neighboring the church. This activity is suited to walkers of all ages and abilities - the only requirement is a mask and a social attitude!

Please join us on Sunday March 7, from 11:30 am-12:15pm for How We Engage our Anxiety: Reflections and Strategies. The pandemic has created challenging times for all of us. Together, we will reflect on how we can direct anxiety rather than getting caught up in it. This is an intergenerational class; everyone 13 and older is welcome. —Rev. Margaret Schwarzer

Prayer is for everyone! Send in a video of you or your kids reciting the Lord’s Prayer to this dropbox link by Monday, March 15. Be as creative as you like! Email Rev. Mia with questions. More instructions here. 

With the decline in COVID rates and increased in-person learning at Boston Public Schools, St. Stephen’s (SSYP) is cautiously expanding its work by running Resource Centers—spaces for students to do their virtual learning. These students need lots of support rebuilding their confidence and staying focused. Safety is the top priority and SSYP is following strict protocols. If you feel comfortable doing in-person volunteer work, they could use your help! Opportunities are available Monday to Friday, with morning (8am to 12noon) and afternoon (12noon to 3pm) shifts. To learn more please contact [email protected].

Buy This Year’s Lenten Book: The World Before and After Jesus: Desire of the Everlasting Hills

This Lent, we will be reading portions of Thomas Cahill’s bestseller, The World Before and After Jesus: Desire of the Everlasting Hills in our 9am Christian Learning Class. The New York Times Book Review called it “rare and inspiring ... A stunning success.” Cahill’s vigorous writing pulls us into the vivid story of the early church. During Lent, we will meet the Jesus the disciples and the early church knew best. To purchase a book, please send an email to Margaret, telling me you want to buy the book. Then write a check for $14.00, made out to “St. Andrew’s”, with “Lenten Book” in the memo and and send it to “St. Andrew’s c/o Rev. Margaret.” You will get an email back from me when the book is in; you can pick it up from Wellesley Books at a convenient time for you.

In this challenging year, 47 members of St. Andrew’s have written for our daily meditation guide, sharing their courage, strength, and hope. This year, each family will receive a guide in the mail in the week before Ash Wednesday. We will also have extra copies in a bin outside the Denton Road door in case your family would like more than one guide. The thoughtfulness, faith, and power of the meditations confirms for me that we continue to be “St. Andrew’s Strong” in the midst of this difficult pandemic. I’m thankful to each member of our community who wrote this year. We grow in faith when we share our faith with one another. You can receive a daily email with the Lenten reflection of the day by signing up here. — Rev. Margaret Schwarzer

We will pray for and celebrate all our Scouts during our Youth Sunday worship service on Sunday, March 21.

Send in a video of you in your uniform greeting the congregation ("Good morning, welcome to Youth Sunday!"). Submit your video here! We'll also be honoring the Girl Scouts who complete the My Faith, My Promise award

All Girl Scouts are invited to earn the My Promise, My Faith award, a special honor that recognizes the role of spirituality in scouting. Wendy Barry is organizing this year's My Promise, My Faith event at St. Andrew's.

Kids, it’s your turn to lead church on Sunday, March 21! There’s tons of ways to get involved. We need readers, greeters, artists, actors, and prayer leaders! Sign-up here.

- You can send in a video or art you've created ahead of the service. All materials are due to Dropbox the Tuesday (March 16) before Youth Sunday

- You can help lead the service Live on Sunday, March 21. Sign-up here to receive the Zoom link and join at 9:45am. Questions and ideas? - email Rev. Mia!

St. Andrew’s outreach committee once again has funds available for one-time grants, initiated by parishioners, to nonprofit organizations that meet certain criteria. This program was suspended for 2020, but 2019 grant recipients were: The Wily Network, ProGente, Wellesley S.T.A.R.S., The Outreach Program, Bridges to Moms, Wellesley A Better Chance, and X-Cel Education. The spring round application deadline is May 31. Click here for more information.

You will probably be aware that Massachusetts is now allowing people who accompany older residents to their Covid vaccine appointments at eligible state vaccine sites to also receive the vaccine at the same time. St Andrew's is happy to informally match any parishioners over the age of 75 who need help in arranging & getting to their vaccines appointments with younger parishioners who can take them & also receive the vaccine at the same time.

Please contact Adrian ([email protected] ) if you are a senior over 75 needing help arranging a vaccine or a person willing to help an older parishioner get their vaccine. To schedule an appointment for a 75 or older resident and a caregiver go to: mass.gov/covidvaccine

Did you know we keep a list of parish teens who are looking for babysitting or tutoring gigs or who are willing to do odd jobs like shoveling for some extra cash? Request access to view the list here. If you or your teen would like to be on one of the lists, request permission to edit the list here. Questions or issues with the list? Email Rev. Mia.

Lent Lesson are now in your inbox! You can pick them up in the box outside Denton office after Sunday. The week's lesson and video can be found on our webpage.

The world is a changed place. Staff is working both in the office and at home. Currently, all the clergy work Sunday through Thursday; their 'weekends' are Friday and Saturday. If you would like to contact a clergy person during regular work hours, please feel free to contact them on their cell numbers. Adrian can be reached at: 603/831-4938; Margaret at: 617/733-0661; and Mia can be at: 203/814-8804. If you need a clergy person on the weekend, please call Adrian: 603/831-4938.

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.

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! 

After the service concludes, click the link in the Sunday link email. If you do not already have Zoom, your browser will prompt you to download Zoom as a desktop application. Download Zoom. Here are video instructions for how to download Zoom on different browsers.

If prompted to enter a Meeting ID it is: 833 9625 7693 and the meeting passcode is "StAndrews" 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.

929 205 6099. The voice will prompt you to enter the meeting ID: 833 9625 7693.

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.