Farnham & St. John's
Torrence's Weekly Message
"For A Time Such As This"
“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?
I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.” (Isaiah 43:13)

An ancient people in exile from all that was familiar to them lean into the words of God’s prophet with a yearning deep and powerful. They had survived the most powerful storm in their lives and the life of their homeland. The wreckage was devastating as the Babylonian war tide receded taking their hostages into exile. Life has been profoundly altered for these ancient people, who now question: “Where do we go from here; how now do we renew life and live in a strange land?”

When we are stripped of the familiar, find ourselves in a wilderness or desert time, we are in strange territory. Though we may have survived a major storm in our life, the landscape on which we stand seems to be in ruins and the horizon in front of us fraught with uncertainty. It feels like something old and cherished has passed away. Where do we go from here?

Thank the Lord, creation’s cycle of life so exquisitely and bountifully mirrors the reality and trustworthiness of our Creator’s design of new life springing out of what has passed. As the old passes away there is room for new growth, for a re-blooming, renewal, things resurrected out of the old.

For a time such as this may we heed God’s words spoken through the prophet Isaiah. To watch for, listen for, open all of our senses to perceive how, where, when God is moving through this time in new ways. To perceive where things seem to be blooming in what has seemed an isolated, barren, stark and stormy landscape for life during the past year as an enemy virus has been stalking us, trying to destroy life or at least our way of life.

God opens paths for us to walk through the thickest wilderness, channels streams of water through dry and barren territory to refresh that which clings to life even there. May we be renewed as surely as the rest of God’s creation as we live into springtime after winter, yet again.

Torrence

P. S. Please take the time to read and reflect on Bishop Goff’s wonderful meditation offering inspirited insights for after the storm.
The beach after a storm is a place of wonders. With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, I get up before dawn and go outside as the sun rises. I find
         A tree trunk lying askew, as if          casually tossed by a giant hand
         Gaping holes and deep gullies in          places they hadn’t been the day before 
         The sand stripped away in some spots          and piled high in others
         Shredded beach umbrellas and bent          chairs strewn every which way.
           
Amid the wreckage, life goes on. 
           Sandpipers continue their dance at the edge of the breakers
           Gulls cry overhead
           Pelicans dive and dolphins swim
Life goes on, changed and ever new. 
 
With a mixture of anticipation and trepidation, women friends of Jesus got up before dawn after a weekend of storms and went to the tomb as the sun rose. They found
           A stone rolled away, as if casually tossed by a giant hand
           A gaping hole that had once been closed and sealed
           The earth stripped away beneath the displaced boulder
           Grave cloths strewn and scattered every which way.
 
Amid the wreckage, life went on.
           Birds sang. Critters crawled. 
           And, so much more.
           Resurrection was revealed in the simple calling of a name:
           “Mary.” “Rabbi.” “My brothers.” 
Amid the wreckage, Christ is risen. Life prevails. Liberation is loose in the world.
 
In this Easter season, this time of wonder that transforms our world,
In this Easter season, as we begin to emerge from the wreckage of pandemic
 
Our Liberator shows us how to live with eyes wide open
           to see how the pandemic has changed the landscape
           to lament what has been lost and broken
           to witness the power of resurrection even in the wreckage,
           especially in the wreckage.
 
Our Liberator strengthens us to live with ears wide open
           to hear the pain and confusion of others
           to hear their stories of freedom and transformation
           to hear Jesus every time he calls us by name even in the wreckage,
           especially in the wreckage.
           
Our Liberator delights for us to live with hearts and minds wide open
           to celebrate how life goes on without demanding that it be the way it was before
           to find beauty in the brokenness,
           life amid the loss,
           wonder in the old and in the new.
 
Christ is risen. Life is changed. We are free. 
What will we do with our wild, wily and wonderful freedom?  
Easter at Farnham & St. John's
Announcements
Reminder about Outdoor Services
Change in Service time to 10 a.m.

  • Bring your own outdoor chair
  • Wear a mask and respect social distancing
  • Parking at N. Farnham is easily accessible.
  • Parking at St. John's is available on a limited basis in the church parking lot; alternative parking is permitted in the NNEC parking lot behind the church.

The outdoor service is dependent on favorable weather. If cancelled, we will attempt to notify you by email the day before or early morning before the service.
If the outdoor service is cancelled or you choose not to attend for health or scheduling reasons, there's a Zoom service at 5:00 p.m.
Services & Sermons
Please note the change in the outdoor service times to 10:00. The Zoom link for the 5 p.m. service is on our web-site, farnhamwithstjohns.org; Zoom links are the third item in the dropdown menu on the left hand side of the home page. It will also be e-mailed to the congregation in the service announcement sent Saturday. The Zoom service this Sunday is Holy Communion, so please have a piece of bread.
Sunday, April 18th  



Holy Communion
10 a.m. Service Outdoors

St. John's


5:00 p.m.
 Zoom Service
Sunday, April 25th  



Morning Prayer
10 a.m. Service Outdoors

N. Farnham


5:00 p.m.
 Zoom Service
Sunday, May 2nd  



Morning Prayer
10 a.m. Service Outdoors

St. John's


5:00 p.m.
 Zoom Service
Sunday, May 9th  



Morning Prayer
10 a.m. Service Outdoors

N. Farnham


5:00 p.m.
 Zoom Service
Please review the prayer list and send any updates to parishchurchnews@gmail.com.
The Parish Prayer List
for those in need of God's comfort and healing:
Courtenay Altaffer
Martha Berger
Randall Bone
Sue Bowie
Nancy Allin Bush
Constance Edwards
Bob File
David Gallagher
Regina Griggs
Barbara Grander
Dorothy Grove
The Rev. Howard Hanchey
Weir Harman
Billy Hooper
Rebecca Hubert
Marcia Jenkins
Stephanie, Nick & Donovan Kaywork
Jim & Sharon Krider
Mary Douglas Lawton
The Rt. Rev. Peter Lee
Susan Lewis
Frank Lynch
Susannah Marais
Pat Merkel
Tommy Neuman
Judi Newman
Kirsten Palubinski
James Rynd
Marsha Rynd
Chris Smith
Debbie Belfield Stacks
Scott Strickler
Waldy Sulik
Billy Tennyson
Roclyn Tennyson
John Welch, II
Matthew Yates
Rose Mary Zellner and
all the victims of COVID 19
and for those serving in our armed forces:
Royce Baker
David Berger
Ryan Berger
Allen Crocker
Randy Crocker
Court Garretson
Cameron Heidenreich
Dan Heidenreich
Charles Jones
Daniel Kirk
Mark Lawton
Scott Longar
Luis Loya
Christopher Strickler
Gavin Wade McClung
and Travis Pullen
We also pray for those who have died.
Upcoming Birthdays
April 21st – Arline Hinkson
April 23rd - Martha Berger
April 27th – Dean Garretson
April 29th – Gwynne Tayloe
April 30st – Ed Milsted
May 4th -Ben Cox
The Episcopal Church Welcomes You!

Our Outdoor Service this Sunday is at 10 a.m. with a Communion Service at St. John's Church. We also have a Zoom service at 5:00 p.m. The link for the Zoom service is on our website farnhamwithstjohns.org
North Farnham Church
St. John's Church

Background photo from Brent & Becky's Bulbs in Gloucester.