St. Andrew's Friday eNews 3.20.20

Dear ones,

These are indeed uncharted waters! Bishop Miller has suspended public worship in our churches and banned all meetings of more than five people. He said he will revisit this decision on March 31 ^st but acknowledges that this suspension may well las through Holy Week and Easter. You can read Bishop Miller’s letter to the Diocese of Milwaukee here.

Given all of that, there are lots of things that we need to relearn right now. Things that used to be easy, that we took for granted, now require a lot more thought and effort. As we all work to find a way to be in the midst of our current reality, we are working very hard to reshape what it means for us to continue to be The Church.

Below you will find a link to this Sunday’s online worship. You will also find links to two live streamed midweek liturgies, Morning Prayer on Tuesday and Compline on Thursday.

We have also included digital sign ups for online formation classes, a St. Andrew’s online book group, and an opportunity to make phone calls to members to our congregation who are struggling during this time.

The two of us will be offering online office hours via Zoom to provide opportunity to connect and chat with whoever drops in. Check the schedule, pour a cup of coffee, and log in using the links provided below.

We are also available to chat with you individually, either by phone or “face to face” via Zoom or FaceTime. Our emails and our cell phone numbers are listed below.

We are wired, in moments like this, to come together; to sing, to pray, to hold one another close and share in our common grief and humanity. Think about the ways in which we held one another up in the days after 9/11. The nature of this crisis prevents us from doing the very thing that makes us whole, that makes us one, that makes us a communion of God’s beloved children. We encourage you to reach out to one another. Pick up the phone. Send an email. Write a note and drop it in the mail!

The St Andrew's Prayer Chain is expanding their role and has committed to pray daily for everyone on our Prayer List. Open the link to the prayer list below and join them as we lift one another up to God in these difficult times.

We will continue to offer ways to connect and to facilitate connection and community so that we can continue to be the Body of Christ at 1833 Regent Street.

Be safe. Wash your hands. Reach to offer help, and, as hard as this is for independent and self reliant mid-westerners, to ask for help if you need it! We have a growing list of poeple who are already offing to come to your assistance!

Faithfully,

Andy+ and Melesa+

Email Fr. Andy

Email Mtr. Melesa

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WORSHIP

Sunday Services

Join us this Sunday at 9:00am for Morning Prayer and an interactive reflection on the scripture readings! We will be live-streaming on our Facebook page (no Facebook account required), and on our website. If you are not able to join us at 9:00am, the video will be available in both places. Following the 9:00am service we will host a sermon talk back on Facebook Live. Join us there to say hello, ask questions and share insights!

Midweek Worship

Starting Tuesday, March 24, we will be offering two online midweek services from the Book of Common Prayer. We will gather on Zoom, which will allow us to see and hear one another across the digital space. Information on how to join these meetings is provided below.

Morning Prayer | Tuesday, March 24 at 7:00am

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/360585781

Phone in: 1-312-626-6799

Meeting ID: 360585781

Compline | Thursday, March 26 at 8:00pm

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/293776774

Phone in: 1-312-626-6799

Meeting ID: 293776774

Prayer

List

Lectionary

Readings

Gospel

Reflection

PASTORAL CARE

During this period of increasing isolation it is valuable that we find new ways to connect with one another. Starting next week Mtr. Melesa and Fr. Andy will be holding virtual office hours. What this means is that you can link on one of the links below during the times listed, and be connected to us and others in the community in a virtual Zoom meeting room. If you do not have access to the technology to make use of this way of gathering, know the we will be taking good old fashion phone calls too (see our cell phone numbers listed above).

Fr. Andy's Virtual Office Hours

Monday, March 23 | 9:00am - 10:00am

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/327840734

Monday, March 23 | 7:00pm - 8:00pm

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/984312748

Wednesday, March 25 | 12:00pm - 1:00pm

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/821345839

Mtr. Melesa's Virtual Office Hours

Tuesday, March 24 | 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/867652895

Thursday, March 26 | 12:30pm - 2:30pm

Join URL: https://zoom.us/j/532154924

RESOURCES

Habits of Grace

A weekly Monday reflection from our Presiding Bishop, Michael Curry. You can find the first Monday reflection here.

Prayer & Worship at Home eCourse

A resource offered by many leaders in The Episcopal Church. Click here to learn more.

A Litany Amidst COVID-19 Outbreak

Virtual Foyer Groups

Share in some good table fellowship every 1-2 weeks with fellow St. Andrew's folk! Groups will be comprised of 4-6 households and gather digitally for conversation.

A Book Group

Interested in breaking the isolation with a book group? Join us on Tuesdays from 2-3pm in reading Disquiet Time: Rants and Reflections on the Good Book by the Skeptical, the Faithful, and a Few Scoundrels. Sign up by providing your information here.

FAITH @ HOME

Our friends at Faith@Home are providing a variety of ways to engage your child in matters of faith while at home. Check out their website here, and email Ruth to receive weekly emails with their resources.

Coloring Prayer Sheets

Pull out those crayons, markers and colored pencils with this downloadable coloring book of prayers!

An Opportunity to be in Prayer with Members of Our Community

St. Andrew’s parishioners, Mtr. Lynne Carver and Susan Fiore, have been holding space for Contemplative Prayer at 7:00 on Tuesday nights at St Andrew’s. We don’t have to stop this practice just because we can’t gather in the Parish Hall.

Click here for more information!

OUTREACH

Cherokee Heights Food Pantry

St. Andrew's has been a committed partner of the Cherokee Heights Middle School Food Pantry that was started with the help of our very own, Beth Bookland. With the closing of the Middle School, the pantry is now in need of volunteers to help deliver weekly groceries to the 80 families they support each week. If you have 3-4 hours each week during this time of school closure, please consider delivering groceries to 3-4 families. A sign up can be found here.

Phone a Friend

As many in our community choose to self quarantine and social distance, the networks of support that we are so used to may begin to weaken. If you would like someone to give you a weekly phone call as you are isolated in your home or if you would be willing to make a weekly phone call to a St. Andrew's member who is sheltering at home, please let us know by signing up here.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

MARCH INGATHERING: HEALING HOUSE

Each month the St. Andrew's Outreach Committee identifies a need or organization in the community we designate our offering to on the third Sunday of each month. The March InGathering will be given to Healing House. Healing House is a place where a homeless child or family member can go to receive medical respite after surgery or medical crisis. To learn more visit their website here .

20's & 30's Brunch is On!

Cook up some pancakes, grab your favorite coffee mug and settle in on the couch for a Zoom brunch t his Sunday, March 22, at noon. Join us on Zoom with the following URL: https://zoom.us/j/184425760

REQUESTING PRAYER

We will continue to update the St. Andrew's Prayer List each week and share it with you in the Friday eNews. If you would like to request prayer, please email Dorie .

WEEKLY WORDS OF WELLNESS

Each week the Living Compass Wellness Initiative publishes a short reflection that can be found here .