This weekend is a busy and full one in the life of our parish. On Saturday, we will have our Fall Clean Up effort around the church. All are welcome from 10am-2pm to help us spruce up outside, in advance of our Come Back Sunday on September 22nd. If you are available on Saturday, please join us! Come for an hour, or for the full time. Snacks will be provided as well as tons of gratitude for this group effort! 

Saturday, I will be celebrating the life of Judith E. Crawford, who passed away on September 3rd, and will be honored at Blanchard Funeral Chapel in Whitman, and presiding at her burial in the Hanover Center Cemetery. Judy loved St. Andrew’s. She and her children were married here and participated in youth ministry – and Judy was one of our storied Sunday School teachers.  LINK to Obituary.

Sunday we are blessed with rich and dense scripture passages each of which point to a change in the trajectory of Jesus’ ministry. We will explore his stern rebuke to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan!” as we consider what Jesus meant when he prescribed that his followers must take up their crosses to follow him.

We will have a wonderful Sunday! We are also kicking off our Youth Groups this Sunday! High Schoolers are invited to join me and Jim Laprade in Cohasset at St. Stephens Episcopal Church (the great big church on the giant rock in the middle of town) and our Middle Schoolers (6th, 7th & 8th graders) are joyfully invited to join the brand new Middle School program which launches at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Scituate, with their intrepid and energetic rector, Reverend Natasha Stewart. 

Sunday afternoon there will be a wake for Vern Gibson, in advance of his funeral at St. Andrew’s on Monday morning at 10 am. It is a gift and mixed blessing to learn of such an extraordinary life as Vern’s. He and his wife Betty were married here and raised their children here and it is an honor to be able to host the more than 300 people who are expected to join us for this Easter celebration of a life well-lived. LINK to obituary

You are always welcome to join us for church or for funerals. We will make every effort to stream our services so that they can be enjoyed beyond our beautiful sanctuary space.  

I hope that you will find time between now and Sunday to be outside -- to take in some fresh air, as we continue our Creation Season celebration, and we experience the outer edges of Fall foliage. May each of us know God’s presence in this gorgeous change of seasons. 

God’s Peace, 

Reverend Amy+ 

The Adult Choir will start back up again on Sunday, September 22 with a rehearsal at 9:00 a.m. in the parish hall. The choir will sing at the 9:30 a.m. service that morning. All are welcome; no prior experience necessary.  Those who sing, pray twice!

SENIOR YOUTH MINISTRY -- 9th - 12th Graders 

Join us in new ministry for our high school students. We are among the founding members of the South Shore Youth Group, which will gather once a month between September and July 2026. Each gathering will include great food, thought provoking conversation and an opportunity to strengthen our roots as a community for all ages. The Senior Youth Group is open to anyone entering 9th – 12th grades. The first meeting will be Sunday, September 15th from 5:30 pm – 7:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Cohasset. This group will embark on a mission trip in July 2o25, and our two year program will culminate in a pilgrimage to Cape Town South Africa. Our monthly gatherings will be full of good food and nourishing conversation and ALL high school students are welcome! 

If you have questions or are interested in learning more about this new ministry, please give Reverend Amy a call. 

South Shore Episcopal Middle School Youth Group

Calling all Middle Schoolers (grades 6-7-8)! We are starting a fun, faith-filled, and service centered Youth Group partnering with other Episcopal Parishes on the South Shore. Activities will include “Service Ghosts”, making giveaways for the homeless, Christmas Party with Secret Angels, Social Justice, Lock-in, St. Patrick’s Day Parade Float, and so much more! We will meet once a month, typically the 3rd Sunday, from 5:30pm-7:30pm at the different participating parishes. The first gathering will be Sept15 th at St. Luke's Scituate. Reverend Amy is one of the leaders for this group, so please let her know if you are interested or have questions. Parent/lay leadership is also welcome. (other dates are: Oct 27 at St. Andrews, Nov 17, Dec 15, Jan 19, Feb 28-Mar 1 (Lockin in Duxbury!), Mar 16, April 27, May 18, and June 15).

Rev. Natasha Stewart, Rector at hosting St Luke's has asked that if you plan on attending to use the below link to sign up and if you are able to bring one part of the meal to use the same link by Saturday morning.

 https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050C4DA8AF2FA2FF2-51175610-middle 

COME HOME SUNDAY!

“COME HOME SUNDAY” is a week from this Sunday! JJoin us to welcome our new rector, Reverend Amy, and to reconnect with old friends while making new ones. Invite family and friends to join us.

Courtney Hill along with the Sunday School are organizing outdoor games for the children. Janet Keane will be leading the brunch food donations. If you can donate food for the brunch please contact Janet Keane at jkp482000@yahoo.com or find her after church in her office! If you're able to assist please reach out to Sarah Kelbaugh at sarah@kelbaugh.com. Consider this opportunity to volunteer.

Are you a social butterfly who delights in meeting people? Consider investing your extroverted gifts as one of our greeters for Come Back Sunday! We are seeking 3 people with 3 hours to invest. Job description: Meet people as they arrive at church on September 22nd, hand them their name tag. check in with newcomers as guides and St. Andrew’s Ambassadors throughout the event. NO HEAVY LIFTING included. Please let Joanne know that you would like to volunteer for this ambassadorship. 

Make Kindness Loud t-shirts will be on sale that Sunday. If you would like to preorder a t-shirt, e-mail the office or see Dianne Nicol. The cost of a shirt is $25 for an adult size and $20 for a child size.25 for an adult size and $20 for a child size.

MAKE KINDNESS LOUD WITH ST. ANDREW’S

AT HANSON DAY

Saturday, September 28 at Indian Head School, 726 Indian Head Street, Hanson 

11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Free for vendors and attendees. 

Join Dianne Nicol and Reverend Amy that day. Volunteer sheets in parish hall.

Any questions, email office@standrewshanover.org

Our organist, Sean Glennon, recently attended a recital of the famous Wanamaker organ located inside the Macy's building in Philadelphia. The instrument is the largest functional pipe organ in the world, consisting of 28,750 pipes; six keyboards; 729 color-coded stop tabs; 168 piston buttons (for pre-programming stop tab registrations); and 42 foot controls. The massive console weighs 2.5 tons, and the entire instrument weighs an astonishing 287 tons. Sean was all smiles as he had the opportunity to sit on the bench and admire the console in all its glory. To learn more about the fascinating history of the organ and/or to listen to recordings of the instrument, please visit wanamakerorgan.com 

Congratulations to Sean Glennon, who has been installed to another two-year term on the executive committee of the Boston Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. The installation was held this past Monday night at First Parish Church in Concord, and featured prayer, readings, two choral anthems, and spectacular performances by five organists.

Last Saturday, we celebrated the funeral of Elizabeth "Betsy" Smith, who served as organist and choir director at St. Andrew's from 1994-2011. As reads her memorial plaque next to the organ console, "Her musical gifts inspired the congregation and her students." Betsy also founded the handbell choir during her tenure with our faith community. With grateful praise, we honor her contributions to our parish, and we thank all who participated in her funeral liturgy, especially the choir. 

The "supplemental Call" we promised you last week . . . Dane Ripellino’s journey to becoming an ordained Catholic priest and a lovely note from our Sextant and frequent crucifer Jesse Avellino who is embarking on his next formation step in his process toward becoming an ordained Episcopal priest. 

On September 15, 1979 I was ordained to the priesthood. It was a crisp sunny autumn morning. My family was there and hope was in the air. During the ceremony Cardinal Medeiros said: 

“Would those who are about to be ordained all stand. “ 8 men stood up- and about 12 women. I was secretly thrilled. A tiny, bold step towards equality in the church seemed to be unfolding. I felt justice really could take place in and through the church.

My service in the priesthood included 3 years working with the deaf and hearing impaired, working in parishes, vocation director for my religious order, and service to the LGBT+ community through Dignity (an organization for gay Catholics) for years. This included the years when AIDS was a leprosy among the gay community.  

I needed a more expansive and inclusive experience of church.

On September 15, 2018, after being ‘unchurched’, but still a seeker, I found myself in the back of the church of St. Andrew’s. That first visit, I was welcomed heartily and warmly by Gary I. and Sherry L, I immediately felt ‘this is my faith community’. Rev. Kevin spoke directly to my heart in his sermon. Again confirming’ this was my community.’

Later, Pattie encouraged me to celebrate my priestly ordination, and included me in that role as she was able.

  I am honored to be a member of this community of followers of Jesus, in action and in faith. I give God great thanks for guiding me here, and hold gratitude for each member that has welcomed and supported my faith. Thanks for welcoming me in!

Dane

With a hopeful heart, I'm announcing that my journey to attend other parishes for formation has begun. 

It's time for me to see how our denomination operates in different contexts, but I will still be in the building to perform my duties as sexton. 

Thank you for giving me spiritual shelter. I had felt like an outcast, but am now part of a whole. You've provided a place to grow, and nurtured my gifts to better serve God and community. 

I have been very blessed to have the support of Pattie and Amy, the discernment committee, our former Junior Warden (who prefers to remain nameless), and three godmothers in Linda, Kathleen, and Sally. 

We've experienced the joys of baptism and confirmation, as well as the struggles of accepting temporary loss when our loved ones have moved on to God's eternal kingdom. 

I'm eternally grateful to have felt and seen the Holy Spirit within each and every one of us at St. Andrew's as we have walked together.

Thank you, and God bless you. Jesse

What's Up with the Nicene Creed?

We have welcomed the Nicene Creed back into our services! After the sermon, and a couple of minutes of silent reflection, we take advantage of the opportunity to affirm our shared faith and beliefs using this ancient prayer. The version we are using was adopted at General Convention in 2018 and includes the expansive language that we pray. While it may feel a bit foreign, the Creed was updated to this language in solidarity for our more orthodox religious siblings. For the technically minded and churchy-curious, the 2018 General Convention removed the filioque ("....and from the son") from the Creed. Great tomes have been written about the politics and motivation behind the insertion of the filioque by the Third Council of Toledo in 589. My hope is that this version will begin to feel comfortable and that we will extend grace to folks who continue with the ancient version. Rev. Amy+

OFFICE HOURS:

TUESDAY, 9:30 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M.

WEDNESDAY, 9:30 A.M. TO 3:30 P.M.

THURSDAY, NOON TO 6:00 P.M.

LINK TO PRINTABLE SEPTEMBER CALENDAR

LINK TO CALENDAR ON WEBSITE

DIOCESAN EVENTS . . .

Zoom Discussion on Proposed Convention Resolutions

Tue, 09/17/2024 - 7:00pm

A Zoom session for discussion of proposed resolutions to the Diocesan Convention is schedule for Tuesday, Sept. 17 at 7 p.m. on Zoom. The resolution open comment period is Sept. 13-18. For more information and Zoom registration, as it becomes available, visit www.diomass.org

Reverend Amy will be attending:

2024 Clergy Day

Wed, 09/25/2024 - 9:30am  3:30pm

Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont Street, Boston, MA

Join in Celebration with the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

God willing and the people consenting,

The Rev. Julia E. Whitworth

will be ordained and consecrated a Bishop

in the one holy catholic and apostolic Church and 17th Bishop of the

Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. Trinity Church in the City of Boston

206 Clarendon Street

The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry,

Presiding Bishop and Primate of

The Episcopal Church, presiding

All are welcome!

Clergy: Red stoles

Reception to follow the service

Seating is available as capacity allows.

Register to attend, watch the livestream, or join a watch party:

www.diomass.org/consecration

Evensong with Seating of Our New Bishop

 Our new bishop will be seated at the

Cathedral Church of St. Paul, 138 Tremont Street, Boston on

Sunday, Oct. 20 at 5:00 p.m.

All are welcome!

RSVP for Oct. 20 requested here.

HANOVER FOOD PANTRY:  St. Andrew’s collects items for the Hanover Food Pantry. Please drop off in the narthex. Our current needs are: apple juice; peanut butter (smooth and chunky); pancake syrup; ground coffee (12 oz.); cookies; brownie mixes; cookie mixes

NEW PRAYER LIST

This is the new prayer list with the requests we have received through publication. If you wish to add people to this list, please submit names by email to office@standrewshanover.org or call the office or place a note on the offertory plate or give to an usher or give to Rev. Amy at Sunday service.