It looks like March will be moving in as the much preferred “lamb” and we all can begin to look for those inevitable signs of spring and the start of our Lenten season. Our Ash Wednesday service is today at noon with Father Wieland officiating. We will continue through the season using Rite II, not making the change back to the more formal Rite I celebration of communion, as we have done many times in the past. The beginning of Lent also signifies our “countdown” to our welcoming our new Rector, Jennifer Oldstone-Moore, on Palm Sunday. I remain extremely grateful to Father Mark and the wonderful priests (and Canon) who have officiated our Sunday services these many months of our search. We have indeed been blessed.

For those of you who were unable to attend our annual parish meeting on February 20^th, it seems important to give you an update. Carl Huffman, our most capable and diligent Treasurer, was able to tell us our financial situation is very healthy going into 2022. We have been helped  by the Diocese with 6 month’s forgiveness of our diocesan assessment in 2021, by Federal PPP dollars and the absence of a permanent rector. Nonetheless, we are well positioned moving forward and your Vestry is optimistic about St. Andrew’s future.

Speaking of the Vestry, our 2/20 meeting elected two new Vestry members. Pam Smith is taking the last year of Terry Noble’s term. Fred Vallowe is taking a new three year term and Carrie Klaus has agreed to stay on the Vestry for a second three year term. We are very much going to miss Terry and Dennis, their wisdom and dedication to the life of St. Andrew’s are extraordinary. Thank you both. We also elected Dennis to be one of our delegates to Diocesan Convention this fall. Our parish sends two delegates to this event so if you are interested in attending with Dennis, please let me know.

Finally, we have started singing again in church, albeit with masks, but it is wonderful to hear the voices of the congregation joining with our wonderful choir  I knew I missed singing, but I didn’t realize how much until the first hymn started on Sunday. Our Easter hallelujah’s should be heavenly. Blessings and thanks.

Sue Murray

SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING SINGING, MASKING, AND SEATING

As we gather in person for Sunday worship, please remember we still need to be protective of each other as the Omicron Variant of the Covid virus continues to spread. Even those who are vaccinated may become infected and transmit the virus. To protect our communities until this subsides, the Diocese has suggested that you wear masks indoors regardless of vaccination status. We also ask that you maintain social distancing. We now encourage you to sing, but with your masks on. Many thanks to everyone for your patience.

Prayers and Reflections for this week

Sunday In-Person Morning Worship Service, March 6 led by The Rev. Kelsey Hutto-Ford

You can connect to the service via Zoom. Click on this link to connect. If you have not used Zoom before, you will be prompted to download Zoom, go ahead and do that. When you enter the meeting you should be able to see and hear others and others can see and hear you. If you come in a little late, please listen for a moment before speaking. In order to see everyone, go to Gallery view (upper right on PCs and upper left for Macintosh). When we get started everyone except the speaker will be muted. If you are reading or playing music, please be sure to unmute yourself.

If you are connecting via telephone dial 301-715-8592 and when prompted enter the Meeting ID: 847 8600 1703 and press #, then enter the password: pray and press # again.

Click here for the service booklet for March 6

Your prayers are asked for: