Dear Friends,

Today Jesse and I joined the clergy and those seeking Holy Orders at a "meet and ask questions" of the 6 candidates for the 17th Bishop of Massachusetts.

The diversity of the men and one woman was interesting. What was hopeful was the deep faith of each candidate. Their spiritual journeys were all different, but all deep and continuing -- and all were willing to share a part of their journey where more prayer was needed. Whoever of the candidates is chosen, we will be in good hands -- working with a person committed to the social justice issues of our time, to the shrinking churches, to ministry to the children, and most of all to proclaiming Good News in the world and to the world.

The election is May 18. I am praying about how I shall vote. I do not yet know, but I do know that each of the candidates brings gifts of love and life to us. That is a gift in of itself.

This Sunday, Dianne and team St. Andrews will be walking to end violence. Let us remember them in our prayers.

And lastly, this Sunday let us remember our mothers and those who mothered us, whether still on pilgrimage with us or already in the larger life, with gratitude for the gift of love they gave to us.

Blessings and love,

Pattie

The flowers on the altar today are in loving memory of

Sophy Richmond Church Hansen and for all mothers, everywhere.

Dianne and Paul Nicol have created a St Andrew’s Episcopal Church, Hanover - 28th Annual Mother's Day Walk for Peace TEAM. Use this LINK - https://www.mothersdaywalk4peace.org/StAndrews to JOIN the TEAM as a WALKER and/or to donate in support of the walkers.

The students meet with Rev. Pattie after the 9:30 services on Sundays.

Mark your calendars. Confirmation will take place Saturday, June 15 2024 at 10:30am for the South Shore Deanery at Church of St. John the Evangelist, Duxbury, MA; Bishop Alan M. Gates scheduled to preside.

“LOVE FROM OLIVIA”

We are collecting donations of diapers and Similac formula from now until Mother’s Day, May 12, 2024

Help fill care baskets for the babies in shelter at the Baymont Hotel

and the Pilgrim’s Hope shelter in Kingston. All are under the care of

the Plymouth Area Coalition for the Homeless.

Donations needed: Diapers (sizes 4,5 and 6); Similac formula (blue) powdered.

Donations can be dropped off at the stage in the Parish Hall. See Sherry Long with any questions. Thank you!

We have prepared pledge envelopes for those who indicated on their 2024 pledge cards that they would make the pledge donations using them. The boxes of envelopes are labeled by Name/Number and will be available in the narthex this weekend.

If we did not prepare a box for you and you would like a set of envelopes, please call the office. Thank you for your support of St. Andrews!

REQUEST FROM KITCHEN COMMITTEE:

 Any food in the refrigerator that is outdated, soon to be outdated, or is not serving a purpose, please take it with you or dispose of it. Also, any food on the counters or in the cabinets should be in airtight containers. Many thanks!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. 

Did you know that our congregation supports mental health by serving as one of five sites of Pastoral Counseling Services of the South Shore? Their office is located on our premises.   PCSSS is distinctive from other counseling agencies because its professionally licensed therapists are trained in Spiritually Integrated Psychotherapy, meaning they are skilled in caring for people of faith according to the clients’ interests. If you or a loved one are in need of mental or behavioral health services, Pattie can make a referral for you, or you may reach out directly for intake at 781-826-0011 x 112, or intake@islpma.org. (After the referral, all of your contact with PCSSS would be strictly confidential.) Most insurances accepted. Visit www.islpma.org for more information.

Registration for the Special Convention to Elect our 17th Bishop Diocesan, to take place Saturday, May 18, 2024, at Trinity Church in Boston, is OPEN! Click here to register now. This convention is open to all in the diocesan community, however only voting members and those with assigned credentials will have center floor seating. Please note voting is limited to in-person attendees only. Non-voting attendees will be seated in the wings or in the balcony on a first-come, first-served basis and as space allows.

For more information about this convention, please visit this page which is being updated regularly: https://www.diomass.org/electing-convention-2024

Questions: convention@diomass.org or Margaret Lias, Administrator for Governance and Grants mlias@diomass.org.

___

The Office of Convention

The Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts

convention@diomass.org

In loving memory of Sophy Richmond Church Hansen April 25, 1922 - May 12, 2020

As my mother Sophy was slowly passing in May 2020, during Covid, the song, “Lullaby”, sung by the Mormon Tabernacle Choir seemed to soothe her more than other songs I played over Face Time. I saw it was the poem, “Lullaby” by Eugene Field, set to music by Associate Music Director Ryan Murphy for the Sandy Hook Elementary School children who were killed by gun violence in 2012. It is a mother’s lullaby for her children. Sophy was an elementary school teacher. She loved children.

At Sophy’s burial ceremony in May 2020, we were allowed few people, few words, due to Covid. I played this song, “Lullaby”, as it had soothed her. There were sobs far out into the cemetery, from the many who had followed us. When I arrived home that evening, the phone rang. It was a fund raiser for Sandy Hook Elementary. I knew it was Sophy, telling us what we must do about guns.

Ryan Murphy, who attended Sandy Hook from kindergarten to second grade, said, “One of the greatest roles of the choir is to bring peace and hope through their music.” “Lullaby”, brought peace to Sophy. May it bring peace and hope to all mothers and everyone affected by gun violence in our world.

I know that Sophy will be walking with the St. Andrews team on this Mother’s Day Walk For Peace, for the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute.

Sophy’s memorial service will be held at St. Andrews Church on Sunday, June 2 at 11:00 am.

Deborah Hansen Hollenberg

“No love in mortality comes closer to approximating the pure love of Jesus Christ than the selfless love a devoted mother has for her child”….“Maternal love has to be divine.” Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, “Behold Thy Mother”

OFFICE HOURS: For month of MAY, the office will be OPEN

• every Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.;
• every Thursday noon to 6:00 p.m. and
• alternating Tuesdays and Fridays, 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. as follows:
• Tuesday, MAY 7 and 21;
• Friday, MAY 17 & 31

Email: office@standrewshanover.org or call (781-826-2062) with the name and date of birth for yourself and your loved ones. Each month or quarter we will list the names (without ages – unless requested!) and offer a special blessing on a designated Sunday for all of those celebrating a birthday that month or quarter.