St. Andrew's Online Giving Link | |  | |
The Call
The Newsletter
of
St. Andrew's
Episcopal Church
Centered in God,
Focused on Others
office@standrewshanover.org
www.standrewshanover.org
781-826-2062
The Rev'd Amy Whitcomb Slemmer, Esq., Rector
Suzanne Bunszel, Sr. Warden
Joanne Bibeau, Administrative Assistant
Jesse Avellino, Sexton
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Dear Siblings in Christ,
What a joy our Sunday worship was! I've received a pair of lovely comments from participants who joined us online, noting the children and especially appreciating our exuberant celebration of birthdays and anniversaries. Keith Mcleod's announcement of both his birthday and his availability for dates should inspire all of us (and perhaps even allow for a little matchmaking for our nonagenarian acolyte!).
Thank you to our Godly Play Fairies and our Christmas Fair Fairies, whose enthusiasm for their ministries is infectious! I invite each of you to take a walk through our downstairs spaces. Christmas has arrived!
If you are finding yourself overwhelmed by any and all things, next Sunday's service is for you. We are blessed to have Jesus remind us of what matters most in all the world:
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.” This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. (Matthew 37-40)
Let's gather on Sunday and spend some time considering The Great Commandment.
We have other great news: we have a finalist for the Music Director position and will host him next week for a shared meal and choir practice, Wednesday, October 28 and Thursday, October 29. All choir members and anyone interested in exploring the choir is invited to gather for Choir Practice, Wednesday at 7pm.
Tomorrow (Thursday, October 22, 2026) you are invited to join me in making our communion bread at 4pm. Your presence is welcome and a blessing.
See you on campus!
God's Peace,
Amy+
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Readings for the Twenty Second Sunday after Pentecost, Proper 25, Year A
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Costumes
Halloween costumes are welcomed and strongly encouraged for ALL AGES Sunday, October 25 in anticipation of Halloween. Wear the same one you wore to the Parish Life Party on Saturday! Wear a different one and keep people guessing! Be creative! Have fun!
Music
This week, Claire DeCusati is our guest organist and leader of the choir. The choir will meet in the parish hall at 8:45 a.m. prior to the service to practice the music for Sunday.
Choir
We welcome back the choir who will be in their robes, in the choir pews, leading us in hymns and inspired songs and joyous worship!
| | PARISH LIFE HALLOWEEN PARTY | |
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HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY
Come join our next parish life event -- HALLOWEEN PARTY FOR ALL AGES!
Saturday, OCTOBER 24, 5-7 p.m.
Potluck Food; Games; Fun; Costumes Encouraged!
Use this LINK to sign up!
| | | | ST. ANDREW'S CELEBRATES HALLOWEEN! | |
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St. Andrew's celebrates Halloween!
On Saturday, October 31st St. Andrew's will hand out candy, welcoming children and families from 5-8pm .... rumor has it, we will have FULL SIZE CANDY BARS ....
On the hour, we will also invite children to ring our historic and incredibly heavy steeple church bell. Helpers will be available!
No tricks - all treats. And prayers for God's Peace. Anyone who would like a prayer for themselves or for their family or loved ones will be welcome to write their prayer requests for our community to pray.
| | | | MESSAGE FROM SEAN GLENNON | | |
To my dear St. Andrew’s family:
I am writing to express my deepest gratitude and heartfelt appreciation for hosting the farewell reception for me and my family earlier this month. I was overwhelmed with the number of parishioners who came to extend their warmest wishes. The engraved bell and parish photo are items that I will always treasure. I am humbled and honored in joining the pantheon of Marge Jarvis and Betsy Smith by having a plaque installed on the console with my name. Words cannot truly describe how grateful I am for your love and support over the years. You can be sure that I will be back to visit, and am especially looking forward to the holiday fair and cookie sale! God bless you all, and keep singing!
Sean
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All Saints’ Sunday - Remembering Those We Love and Baptizing our newest members — November 1, 2026
On Sunday, November 1, we will celebrate All Saints’ Day, giving thanks for the communion of saints and remembering those who have gone before us in faith.
During our 9:30 a.m. worship service, we will remember and honor members of our St. Andrew’s parish family and loved ones who have died during the past year (November 1, 2025 – October 31, 2026).
We invite you to share the names of those you would like remembered aloud in our prayers and included in our service bulletin. Please send their names to Joanne in the parish office at office@standrewshanover.org or call 781-826-2062 by no later than noon on Thursday, October 29.
As we gather in gratitude, remembrance, and hope, we celebrate the love that endures beyond death and the promise that, in God, we remain connected to one another.
We bless your holy name, O God, for all your servants who, having finished their course, now rest from their labors. Give us grace to follow the example of their steadfastness and faithfulness, and to make kindness loud in our own lives; through Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen.
| | | | GODLY PLAY IS NOW UNDERWAY | |
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FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED, CURIOUS OR WONDERS ABOUT GODLY PLAY:
Before 9:00 a.m. grownups bring their children directly to the Godly Play Room where we will begin our morning together.
While grownups head to worship, children enter a beautiful, welcoming space created especially for them to hear stories, ask big questions, wonder, create, pray and discover how much God loves them.
After Godly Play, the children join their families in the church for announcements and Holy Communion, so that we end our Sunday morning together as one church family.
Curious? See Rev'd Amy or any one of our ambassadors (Elizabeth Lehnertz, Ann Hunt, Linda Thurston, Sally Boutin, Suzanne Bunszel, Susan Soumah).
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CHRISTMAS FAIR UPDATES, PLANS, REQUESTS --
THE FAIR IS TWO WEEKS
FROM THIS COMING FRIDAY!
| | Help us get the word out -- post a flyer; plant a yard sign; shout the news on facebook/instagram/your social network! | | |
Bruins Tickets Raffle
TWO tickets to Tuesday, January 12th, 7pm game
Bruins vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Section 309, Row 8, Seats 3 & 4. (Value $300)
Celtics Tickets Raffle
TWO tickets to Sunday, April 11th, 6pm game
Celtics vs. Milwaukee Bucks
Section 19, Row 26, Seats 21 & 22. (Value $400)
Raffle Ticket prices: $10 for one, $20 for three.
(For each game: No exchanges or refunds. The date is firm and final.
Tickets delivered electronically.)
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PUBLICITY CHAIR/TEAM NEEDED!
Are you good with social media, posters, talking to people, publicizing events? We NEED your help. We are looking for one or more persons to lead our publicity efforts to get the word out to the community of the best Christmas Fair eva! Let Dianne Nicol or Sarah Kelbaugh know if you are interested.
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In addition to the Gift Baskets items listed at the LINK above, we welcome ready-to-go Themed Baskets (we can wrap & complete) and empty baskets that we can fill.
Some theme suggestions:
• Patriot’s/Red Sox/Bruin’s/Celtic’s fan
• Dog/cat lover
• Tea/coffee drinker
• Wine and cheese
• Baby boy/girl
• Movie/game night
• Teacher thank-you
• Spa/relaxation
• Gourmet treats
• Holiday baking
• Christmas morning breakfast
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Donations Needed:
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For "Rooms". Donations are needed for the Toy Room, Grandma's Attic, the Holiday Room, and the Boutique. All donations should be left on the stage in the parish hall.
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For our Bake Sale Table. Donors name and ingredient list should be included with each donation.
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Fudge. Watch for tins & recipe.
| We need your food for the St. A's Cafe . . . | Apple donations needed! Please bring to the kitchen. . . | | | |
Craft/Artisan Tables . Once again, our vendors tables are going to be held exclusively for parishioners and their family/friends. For a $50.00 rental fee, and a willingness to be at the table for both days of the fair, everything the vendors make from their sales is theirs to keep! To reserve your table, (or share one with another church friend) see Sarah Kelbaugh. | | | | THANK YOU - THANK YOU - THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR SUPPORT! | | DUCT TAPE COMMITTEE ON OCTOBER 31 | | In anticipation of final preparations for the Christmas Fair, the Duct Tape Committee will be meeting on Saturday, October 31 at 9-11. (NOTE date change!) | | |
Our next celebration of Baptisms will be on Sunday, November 1. We will be baptizing Theodore "Theo" Hubbard White and Francis Leonardo "Leo" Fortin. This is a joyous occasion and is for anyone regardless of age, background or belief. If you or you have a loved one whom you wish to be baptized or you have any questions, please be in touch with Rev’d Amy.
| | Calling "yarn magicians"! We are in need of small baby blankets (suggested maximum 2' x 3') to be included in our baptism baskets. You can leave them in the sacristy or bring them to the office. Thank you! | | SHORE TO SHORE: A JOURNEY OF FAITH & FRIENDSHIP | | |
A YOU(TH) GROUP!
Young People Change the World
Shore to Shore connects teenagers from Massachusetts to South Africa
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Sunday November 8 || TIME TO BE DETERMINED!
Great Food, New Friends, a Place of Belonging
Need a Ride? Contact Jim Laprade — JFLaprade@comcast.net (617) 312-4631
https://www.standrewshanover.org/shore-to-shore.html
✨ All Teens Invited ✨
There are two ways to give and support this ministry. The first is to bring your spare change to church and drop it in one of the Shore to Shore change buckets (making a change with every gift!); the second is to give through the give butter platform – that link is here: please share it with your networks.
| | ST. ANDREW'S BRIDGE BUILDERS | | |
Keith MacLeod is reconvening the St. Andrew’s Bridge Builders – a group of aspiring bridge players who gather and learn the game together in the Parish Hall.
The group will meet on Tuesdays, 1-4pm in the parish hall.
New members and beginners welcome each week! Come join the fun, learning, companionship.
| | ST. ANDREW'S IN THE WORLD | | Check out our website at this LINK for the latest pictures that have been submitted. | | | | God's light in the pines! | | The Priests' Memorial Tree | | | ST. ANDREW'S OUTREACH EFFORTS | | |
Thank you so much for the consistent donations that are making Hanover Food Pantry operations successful.
You are invited to join Rev’d Amy when she blesses the donations for the Food Pantry. She prays in thanksgiving for the donors, and for the health and wellbeing of the eventual recipients.
For the month of October we have been asked to collect pudding cups and fruit cups.
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Help Us Support Dignity Matters
Our church is excited to begin supporting Dignity Matters, a Massachusetts nonprofit that provides free menstrual care products to women and girls experiencing homelessness or hardship. These essential items are rarely donated and often cannot be purchased with public benefits (like SNAP), yet they are critical to health, confidence, and basic dignity. Dignity Matters works with community partners throughout Massachusetts to get these necessities to those who need them most.
We now have a Dignity Matters collection bin at the church by the parish hall doors, and there are lots of ways to get involved! You can donate needed products, help hang flyers and spread the word in our community, or volunteer to transport our collected donations to the Dignity Matters warehouse in Westborough.
The warehouse is about an hour away and accepts drop-offs Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. We anticipate needing a volunteer driver about once every other month, adjusting as we see how many donations we receive.
Dignity Matters also welcomes volunteers at its warehouse and other locations. We’re even hoping to organize a church “field trip” to the warehouse to see their work firsthand, so stay tuned!
Interested in helping or have questions? Please reach out to Elizabeth Lehnertz (774-999-9376). Learn more at Dignity Matters.
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Saturday, October 24
Parish Life Halloween Party, 5-7 p.m.
Tuesday, October 27
Bridge Builders: learning & playing bridge
1-4pm in the parish hall
Wednesday, October 28
Choir Practice at 7pm with Music Director candidate
Saturday, October 31, 9-11 a.m.
Duct Tape Committee
Saturday, October 31
Church doors open to trick or treaters, 5-8 pm!
Children get to ring the bell on the hour.
Prayer cards will be collected.
Sunday, November 1
All Saints & Baptisms at 9:30 a.m. service
Parish Life Committee meeting after service
Tuesday, November 3
Bridge Builders: learning & playing bridge
1-4pm in the parish hall
Friday and Saturday, November 6 & 7
Annual Christmas Fair
Sunday, November 8
Shore to Shore TIME to be determined!
Tuesday, November 10
Bridge Builders: learning & playing bridge
1-4pm in the parish hall
Sunday, November 15
Vestry Meeting, 11:15 am
Recurring events:
Sundays:
Godly Play 9:00 am
Choir Practice in parish hall 8:45 a.m.
Service 9:30 am
Coffee Hour following service
Bridge Builders - learning and playing bridge
Tuesdays, 1-4pm in the parish hall
A Six-Week Inquirers' Series
Wednesdays • 7:00–8:30 p.m. (in person or via zoom)
September 30 – November 4
See parish website for more details and to register and for Zoom link. Can also use this LINK to sign up and use this LINK to join by Zoom.
A Six-Week Class for Couples focused on The Art of Being Together
Thursdays • 7:00-8:15 p.m. (in person or via Zoom)
October 1 – November 5 (in person or via zoom)
Attend in person at St. Andrew's or online via Zoom). Please sign up HERE
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Are you a musician? Do you know one?
We seek a Director of Music who will partner with clergy and parish leadership to build upon a strong musical foundation while helping shape the next era of ministry at St. Andrew's.
Salary: Competitive and commensurate with experience
Part-Time (approximately 10-12 hours per week)
LINK to full description and application process
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St. Andrew's would like the congregation to invite Jesus into their lives and into their homes. Find him in the sanctuary and you get to bring him home with you. Share your stories and pictures of your time with Jesus with the office (office@standrewshanover.org) so we can share them with all.
| | | | Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. | | | |
PRAYER LIST
Godly Play Prayers:
friend Lisa - my family
Those in need:
Donald Howard - Joan Breiling – Barbara Kean - Darren and Katrina - Nicole - Linda - John G - Christine, Derek & Kelly - Chuck F - Kevin S - Mary D - Libby Tolley - Penny - Carol & Twig - Monica - Patrick S - Louie - John S - Carol and Chick Kastner - Edward “Ned” McCann - Sue G - Mary Robinson - Camdyn M - Matt - Aiden – safe return of Nancy Guthrie and The Guthrie Family - Eileen K - Patricia - Carol Ann - Link Family -- Stern Family -- Ben - Prescott and Mansfield families - Alec - Ann Ferzoco - Ellen Elliott -- Meredith C -- Greg Eaton - Nicol Family – John – Tracy Sprows – Dennis - Lee G – Don S – Leah – Paul Nicol –Mark D – Art J – Matthew –Thomas & Gloria – Susannah L -- David – Paula – Bill – David H – Sharon M – Greyson - Rosie & Silva Family – Haley - Sarah – Valerie – Dennis -- Jesse on his seminary journey
Those who have died and their families and loved ones:
Pat Stout - Thomas Armstrong - Judge Paul Heffernan - Joan Dwyer - Dieter Braun - David Magraw - Celeste Hopkins – Richard Buonvicino - Joy Misek - Benjamin Tappa - Tiffany Gloria Malloy - Jimmy Tracy - James Busby
| | Each week this prayer list includes requests we have received through bulletin publication (Wednesday, noon). If you wish to add people to this list, please use the prayer board in the narthex or email office@standrewshanover.org or call the office or place a note on the offertory plate or give to an usher or to Rev. Amy at Sunday service. | |
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OFFICE HOURS:
MONDAY: Rector’s Sabbath
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.
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Hybrid Worship Service
In person on Sundays at 9:30 A.M. and live streamed on our YouTube channel.
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