Outreach opportunities!

 Asset-Based Community Development discussion on March 8

All are invited to join us on Tuesday, March 8, 6:30 to 8 PM to learn about Asset-Based Community Development. Jim Moynihan (www.weareonechurch.com), whose calling is ministry to and with the local community, will talk to us about Asset-Based Community Development and the ways in which St. Andrew’s can be more productive in our community organizing and outreach in 2022. This is open to anyone interested in the topic as well as any guests or neighbors that you would like to bring. Coffee and light refreshments will be provided. No RSVP necessary. For questions or ideas, feel free to contact Matt Deller at pablodeller@outlook.com or 757-812-9852. 

PORT volunteers needed

St. Andrew's will be partnering with Denbigh United Presbyterian Church on Tuesday evening, March 22, through Wednesday morning, March 23, for our second PORT commitment this winter. PORT is a program that provides meals and overnight accommodations at host churches for the homeless in our community. Our volunteers will be feeding and hosting the overnight guests at the site location (302 Denbigh Blvd, Newport News). We are looking for a leader for our cook team! The St. Andrew’s cook team will prepare a hot dinner meal and “breakfast in a bag” items for the overnight guests. Volunteers in the evening will greet the guests, help store their personal bags and hand out bedding. Morning volunteers will assist in handing out bagged breakfasts, returning personal belongings, and taking in bedding. If you would like to join us on any of these teams, a sign-up sheet will be made available in the Main Street Lobby or you may contact Matt Deller at pablodeller@outlook.com or 757-812-9852.

Speaking up on behalf of the oppressed

 Dear friends,

In both the Old and the New Testament, believers are called upon to speak up for those who are oppressed. Proverbs 31:8-9 says, Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. In the sheep and the goats parable in Matthew 25:40, Jesus tells his followers, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me."

As you know from a recent newsletter article, I have been facilitating an interfaith clergy group here in Newport News with the aim of finding ways to work together for the betterment of our city. In response to the hostage-taking last month at a Texas synagogue, members of our group composed a statement, which Unitarian Universalist Pastor Andrew Millard submitted to the letter section of the Daily Press and the Virginia Pilot. 

The other day, Pastor Millard received a poignant letter of thanks from a Jewish woman who lives in Norfolk. In her letter (see below), she talks about what it means to oppressed communities when other people are willing to speak up on their behalf. I thought you might want to read and ponder her words.

May God bless us as we carry out the work of ministry, including advocating for others. 

--Anne

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Dear Rev. Millard,

 

I want you to know that your letter to the Editor in the Virginian Pilot, “Address Antisemitism,” affected me deeply. As a past director of the Holocaust Commission of the United Jewish Federation of Tidewater, I have spent years studying and teaching about this tragic time.

 

One of my “heroes” is Elie Wiesel, survivor of the Holocaust, writer, teacher, and perhaps a prophet in our time.

 

One of Wiesel’s statements has remained with me all these years; “It must be emphasized that the victims suffered more, and more profoundly, from the indifference of the onlookers than from the brutality of the executioner… it was the silence of those he believed to be his friends… which broke his heart.”

 

Your letter came at a time that helps to restore the Jewish people’s faith in humanity, when once again antisemitism rears its ugly head. In the words of Wiesel, “Indifference can be… seductive. It is so much easier to look away from victims… It is, after all, troublesome to be involved in another person’s pain and despair.”

 

Please let your friends in “Pastoring the City” know how grateful the Jewish community is for your courage to speak out, for your commitment to “dismantle antisemitism, racism, hatred and bigotry.” And for your friendship.

 

I am forwarding your letter to Rabbi Ron Koas, the spiritual leader of Congregation Beth El in Norfolk (to which I belong) in case he missed it.

 

Again, our hearts are filled with gratitude to know that we have friends, friends willing to speak up on our behalf against not only hate, but also indifference.

 

B’shalom,

Betsy O. Karotkin

Past President of Congregation Beth El

A Lenten Invitation

Just like Advent isn't really a season in its own right, but rather a period of preparation for the celebration of the Incarnation, Lent is at its core a period of personal and communal self-examination intended to prepare us for the celebration of a glorious Easter.  But that is not how we usually think of Lent.  Lent is penitential, gloomy, a time to take a hard look at ourselves and the burden of sin we carry, a time to give something up that we like, a time when we shout as a congregation “Crucify him!” (him being Jesus) during dramatic readings of the gospels on Palm Sunday and Good Friday.  Nothing very glorious about any of that!

But consider a different perspective, one more faithful to the intent of the Lenten season.  Lent is derived from a word meaning “springtime,” denoting new birth, restored life, a chance for a new start.  Here is a novel idea to think about.  Instead of giving up something you like, how about giving up something that you don’t like, such as things that get in the way of a glorious Easter celebration?  Things like self-absorption, lack of charity, refusal to forgive, or disdain for those who differ from you in some way.  That, of course, means taking a hard look yourself, maybe expressing sorrow to God for hurt that is caused, but there is little chance for a new start without knowing where those things that hinder our relationship with God and one another reside in our hearts and actions.

The Invitation to a Holy Lent during the Ash Wednesday service in the Prayer Book (BCP p. 264-5) notes that, by our disciplines of self-examination, repentance, prayer, fasting, self-denial, and reading and meditating on God's holy Word through this season, “the whole congregation [is] put in mind of the message of pardon and absolution set forth in the Gospel of our Savior,” such that our cry to “Crucify!” culminates in Thomas’ post-resurrection experience with Jesus, as he (we) exclaims “My Lord and my God!” 

Penitential?  Maybe.  Gloomy?  Doesn’t have to be.  Hard self-look?  Sure, but worthy endeavors, all, because our Lenten preparations are intended to culminate in a glorious Easter.

-Marc

Regathering for Worship this Sunday

 Dear friends,

After consultation with Marc, the wardens, and Health and Safety Officer Joel Duregger; and with input from a medical professional at Riverside Hospital, I decided to petition the diocese to allow us to regather for worship and activities. The diocese has given us permission to do so. Thus, as of this coming Sunday, February 6, we will resume in-person worship services at 8 and 10:30 on Sunday mornings; the Wednesday 11 AM healing service; and all of our usual weekly Bible studies, contemplative prayer groups, etc.

As I’m sure you can imagine, this was not an easy decision to make. Nothing about navigating this pandemic has been easy for any of us, and I very much appreciate your prayers and support, even and especially when our leadership decisions were not the same ones you would have made. As is true about most things, St. Andrew’s parishioners have expressed a wide variety of thoughts and opinions about when and whether to regather. I am grateful for the diversity of points of view in our congregation, even when it sometimes makes things difficult! The Body of Christ needs all of its members, each with something different to offer.

We will continue to abide by the diocesan guidelines requiring social distancing (the pews are marked with blue dots showing where it is okay to sit), masking for all people inside our buildings, and attendance collection for the purposes of contact tracing.  The 10:30 service will include congregational singing.

Please, please, please make whatever worship decision works best for you and for your family. If you are not comfortable being in the building, please tune in to the live stream service on Facebook. If you want to come to worship but are uncomfortable about the singing, please come to the Sunday 8 AM or Wednesday healing service. 

I know that the pandemic continues to be a very isolating experience, leading to anxiety and depression and loneliness. I pray that being able to regather for worship together will be a source of comfort and strength for all of us.

There are currently 119 Covid cases across all of the Riverside hospitals. Of the vaccinated patients, most did not get booster shots. So if you have not yet been vaccinated and boosted, please do so as soon as possible. Our Riverside contact noted that there continues to be a desperate need for blood donations. If you are able to help in that way, please do so.

I look forward to worshipping with you in whatever way works best for you. I continue to hold all of you in my prayers.

Blessings. - Anne