Holy Habits - a 5-week series on practices that foster healing

Using the documentary film The Connection as our framework, we will explore the many ways that Holy Habits foster healing in our lives. The documentary draws from the work of top researchers of Mind-Body Medicine along with true stories of people who developed a healthy way of living after experiencing a serious health condition. The film takes an in-depth look at scientific evidence of healing that occurred when individuals engaged in a variety of Holy Habits. We too, have the same potential for health when we incorporate Holy Habits into our daily lives!

Each week, along with an episode of the documentary, we will hear from a series of regional professionals engaged in integrative healing approaches. These professionals will offer their own research as well as experiences of healing from those who have put Holy Habits in place in their lives. 

Click here for a program brochure.  Click here for info on other Lenten events at St. Andrew's.

Series begins March 8 and continues each Wednesday evening through April 5. Evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with soup and salad supper; program begins at 6:15. Nursery care is available after supper. RSVP to 595-0371 or saec0371@verizon.net if you plan to attend so that we can plan accordingly.

Keeping a holy Lent

Lent begins on Ash Wednesday and is a season of preparation leading up to the celebration of Easter and Christ's resurrection. Come join us at St. Andrew's as we observe a holy Lent.

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper
February 28, 5:30 p.m.
Before the solemnity of Lent begins on Ash Wednesday, join us for this beloved annual tradition. The Fishermen of St. Andrew's will host a pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 28, from 5:30 to 6:15 p.m. and the Parish Life Team will provide fun and games! Come enjoy the last "Alleluias" before the start of Lent.

Ash Wednesday Services
March 1 at 7:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 7 p.m.

Wednesdays in Lent
The "Wednesdays in Lent" begin on March 8 and continue each Wednesday evening through April 5. You're invited to join us each Wednesday for all or just some of these events:
7:30 a.m. Lenten Service
8 a.m. Breakfast
11 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Healing
5:30 p.m. Soup & Salad Supper
6:15 p.m. Lenten Program: Embracing the Mystery of Healing

Click here for more Lenten programs and resources.

What is Children's Chapel?

So you’re sitting in the 10:30 service and you suddenly realize all the children have left.  Do they know something you don’t know?  Is there cake somewhere?  Where have they gone? 

All kids are invited to Children’s Chapel, which is held during the Sermon and through the Prayers of the People each Sunday.  Led by clergy and lay teachers, the kids head to the school library which has been set up for them.  The Altar Guild sets up a small altar complete with candles to light.  Kid-sized chairs and tables await.  The Gospel for the day is presented to the kids through music, video, crafts, picture books, games, skits, drawings, food, discussion, prayer, liturgy, Legos, and other things that work.  There is a “Sunday Paper” interpretation of the Gospel for younger kids to color and take home, and another one for older kids.  With two teachers present, we sometimes have the little kids do one activity while the older kids do another.  All of this comes with a juice box!

Jen Kimball + 

More Opportunities to Learn from the Rev. Dr. John W. Herbst: Islam, Immigration, and More

The Rev. Dr. John W. Herbst, husband of Anne Kirchmier, mentioned during his Adult Forum presentation that he has been teaching about Islam for eight years.  His blog, focused on helping Christians understand Islam can be found here: https://christianguidetoislam.com/.  

In March John will be presenting two sessions (one on Islam and one on Immigration) at the Mid Atlantic Regional Justice Conference being held March 21-23 at the Hampton Coliseum.  For more information about the conference, go to: http://www.midatlanticrjc.org.  Sometime after Lent, John will teach an Adult Forum series for St. Andrew's about Islam.

Reflections on Annual Council

It was a great joy for me to attend our Annual Diocesan Council February 10th and 11th with the members of the St. Andrew's delegation.  As Episcopalians, we understand that the building block of our church polity is actually the diocese, not each individual parish, so it is a privilege to gather each year with other members of our diocese for worship, fellowship, and the conducting of church business.  The keynote speaker this year, the Rev. Timothy Dombek, provided us with thought-provoking insights about the connection between stewardship and discipleship.  I will be sharing his materials with our St. Andrew's vestry to help shape our ministry together.

Anne Kirchmier +
Rector

Souper Bowl Sunday fundraiser benefits Food Bank

Many thanks to everyone who contributed to the EYC's Souper Bowl Sunday fundraiser to benefit the Food Bank of the Virginia Peninsula. The EYC raised over $300 and a generous amount of canned goods.

Letter of thanks from our new rector

Dear friends,
 
Thank you!!  What an amazing, gracious welcome you have given me and John during (and even prior to!) our first days here.  So many people have done so many kind and generous acts of love.  You’ve unpacked and decorated my office, showered me with gifts, written beautiful reflections about your experiences of God’s light at St. Andrew’s, and put on a glorious reception, with so many people contributing food and labor and love.  The flower team and altar guild lavishly decorated the church and parish hall for my first Sunday.  Brad Norris composed a gorgeous, eloquent prayer that the choir sang during our first service together.  Our wonderful parish staff has welcomed me warmly (with a homemade breakfast, no less!) and has been incredibly patient with my many questions.  Janna and her staff and our day school students have greeted me with warmth and enthusiasm and encouragement.  Thank you all.

Did you know?  In your incredible graciousness, you are a living, breathing reminder of the way God works: God moves first, loves us first, is gracious to us before we have ever offered God anything and beyond what we could ever deserve.  I am brand new to you, and yet you have greeted me with affection and warmth and love, giving generously of yourselves before I’ve had any opportunity to give to you and beyond any generosity that I can repay.  Thank you so very much, not only for your loving welcome but for reminding me once again of God’s pattern of love.

In the first few weeks, I am scrambling a bit to learn how things work here at St. Andrew’s.  I am meeting one-on-one with each staff member to learn about their hopes and concerns and to figure out how best I can support this amazing team in the ministry they are carrying out.  I am in close contact with our wardens, John and Doug, and am looking forward to my first vestry meeting.  Please keep me in your prayers as I listen and learn; and please know that you and our ministry together are very much in my prayers.

Every blessing and much gratitude,
Anne 

Circle 4 meeting features presentation by the Rev. Carol Chamberlain

Circle 4’s first meeting of 2017 was held on Tuesday, February 7.  The group was thrilled to have the Rev. Carol Chamberlain, our priest associate, as its presenter.  Carol shared her walk “from Nursing to Ordination,” and we enjoyed getting to know Carol in such an inspirational and personal way.  We were also delighted to have the Rev. Anne Kirchmier, our new rector, drop in and chat a bit. 

Check out our webpage at http://bit.ly/circle4saec to catch up and perhaps support Circle 4 at our next meeting and in the future.  Mark your calendars for Tuesday, March 7, at 10 a.m., and plan to attend Circle 4’s next meeting. Details forthcoming.

St. Andrew's welcomes our new rector!

On Sunday, February 5, St. Andrew's welcomed our new rector, the Rev. Anne Kirchmier, and her husband, John Herbst. Naturally, there was a party to celebrate!

St. Andrew's honors first responders

If you were at St. Andrews on Sunday, January 31, you were exploding with pride and love. Our First Responder's Community Event was a resounding success thanks to you! Our staff, our volunteers, our cooks and our first responders joined for a special worship service featuring Kathy Gray's magnificent message of appreciation and gratitude and the presentation of St. Michael medals to our guests. Every word in every hymn sounded hand selected for the occasion. Our Brunswick stew luncheon followed and over 100 parishioners joined with our first responder guests for a delicious welcoming meal. During the luncheon members of our parish delivered lunches to police and fire fighters on duty that day. This was truly a community event and the members of St. Andrews formed a dynamic team to make it happen.