April 3 - The Fifth Sunday of Lent

Rite I 8 a.m. | Rite II 10 a.m. (Sung)

9:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal

9:15 - Children's Sunday School in Lower Level

9:15 - Adults - Morning Prayer and conversation in Pearson Hall

10 a.m. service streamed via Facebook Live.

Coffee hour follows the 10 a.m. service.

Virtual coffee hour chat available at https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81076773055

If you wish to make an Easter offering to the Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Music Fund, Outreach or to St. Andrew's, the Easter Offering Form is at this link. Offerings made now through Palm Sunday will be recognized in this newsletter.

Easter offerings can also be made online but will not be acknowledged in the newsletter unless a form is submitted. For online offerings, be sure to enter which ministries you are supporting in the comments box.

Join others on Wednesday evening at six to walk the Stations of the Cross for the last Wednesday of Lent. We hope to see you there as we contemplate together the Passion of our Lord, pausing station by station to reflect upon the cross of Christ. You may observe this online then follow the prayers for the Stations of the Cross using the pages from The Book of Occasional Services at this link.

Moving to Communion, this Sunday will see the Sacrament distributed in separate kinds. In addition to the practical elements below, let me first touch on a couple of reminders that are always in order.

All baptized Christians are welcome to receive Communion.

Reception in one kind is sufficient to fully participate in the grace of the Sacrament, known as Concomitance, should a communicant be unable to receive in both kinds for whatever reason.

Those not receiving may wish to remain in their pew or to come forward with the communicants and receive a blessing, indicated by crossing their arms across their chest.

Turning our attention to the logistical changes, we begin with the celebrant distributing the blessed host in the hand, held out one on top of the other, or upon the tongue. Those wishing to receive only the host no longer need to indicate this to the priest. Having received the host as mentioned above, those wishing to not receive the chalice are asked to remain at the rail and cross your arms, indicating your abstention, returning to your pew after the chalice has passed.

 

A Eucharistic Minister will follow the priest and administer the chalice which may be received by drinking or intinction. To drink, take the base or foot of the chalice and help guide the cup to your lips as the Eucharistic Minister retains control of the chalice. Afterwards, the Eucharistic Minister will wipe the lip of the chalice before administering it to the next person. Please do not grab the top of the chalice with fingers on or near the lip of the cup. For those who prefer to receive by intinction, self-intinction is not permitted. Instead, please leave the host in the hand, and the Eucharistic Minister will dip the host and return it to the communicant for their reception.

 

For those who have been active in the Episcopal Church and similar traditions, these will seem fairly familiar. Recognizing that it has been a while, and that we have new and prospective members among us, it is helpful to refresh ourselves on what we’re doing and how we do it, so that we may by grace enter it anew together.

 

In the majesty of the Psalms and the splendor of the Sacraments, the Lord has indeed shown forth his glory. Let us worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness: Come let us adore him. 

-Fr. Ben

Minutes – Marty Cavanaugh, Parish Clerk, presented the minutes and they were approved.

Treasurer – Maxine Callies presented a budget/expense report to the vestry and indicated contact had been made with two managers at Aplos, who indicated they would ensure assistance is provided to resolve problems with the information in and timing of St. Andrew’s reports. She and Marian have a one-hour call scheduled with the bookkeeper to begin working on these issues.

Junior Warden - Carl Slaughter, reported that he installed three new Wi-Fi nodes, which should improve internet connectivity throughout our facility.

Meeting adjourned at 1:42 p.m.

Painting in Pearson Hall and the adjoining rooms was completed Friday, March 25, and installation of the carpet tile in the parish hall and flooring in the two adjoining rooms is anticipated to occur in mid-May. Vallow Flooring is working to determine the actual date. (JW Photo: Velma Schmidt filling pantry shelves with help from Fr. Ben.)

The first phase of renovations in Pearson Hall is estimated to cost $17,888. The total of gifts from seven parish families, Scrip Program, and ECW is $17, 388. At this point, an additional $500 is needed to cover the complete cost of the project. Gifts of any denomination are welcome and the memo line on checks should say "Pearson Hall Renovation Phase One."

The excitement of beginning the improvements in Pearson Hall encouraged parish and vestry discussion of additional needs on the main floor of the addition: new tile needed in the rear and front entries of Pearson Hall as well as the adjoining cloak room and bathrooms, plus new carpeting for the walkway and narthex. These areas have been given the name "Phase Two" and it is hoped that funds can be raised in 2022 to cover the cost of this additional work. An early estimate is $15k. Parishioners are invited to send early gifts now identified as "Phase Two Renovations" but formal fundraising will begin in September.

Information shared by Liz Edwards and Marian Smithson at the March 20 vestry meeting mapped out the sequence of the two renovation projects and the paving of the parking lot. The vestry supported their recommendation that Renovations Phase Two fundraising and work occur between September 2022 and early 2023, followed by fundraising and paving of the parking lot areas in 2023. Three parishioners have already donated $21k for the parking lot work and an early estimate from a local contractor is a maximum of $50k. Gifts for the parking lot can also be made now but formal fundraising will begin in early 2023. Gifts should be designated as "Parking Lot Fund."

-Marian Smithson, Coordinator for Renovations, Phase One and Two

Action by Churches Together Alliance will provide cash, blankets, hygiene supplies and other needed assistance.

International Disaster Response Fund will provide humanitarian assistance for the crisis in Ukraine."