Become a "Lenten Friend"

This Lent send and receive prayers and secret greetings:

• Put your name and mailing address in the LENTEN FRIEND jar in the parish hall before Ash Wednesday.

• Draw a Lenten Friend name Ash Wednesday or Sunday, March 9.

• Keep your Lenten friend in your prayers and mail an occasional note or card.

• Give your Lenten friend in person a little present on or near Easter Day. (ex Easter chocolate egg, small plant, something baked…)

• Know that the person who drew your name will be doing the same for you.

If you can’t be in church and want to participate, let Carolyn Platt know (cwplatt3@gmail.com) and she will put your name and snail mail in the jar…and also pick a name for you.

Rev. Ken Schmidt, Deacon

The gospel and sermon for February 23, 2025, the Rev. Ken Schmidt, Deacon Emeritus

Episcopal Church joins religious freedom lawsuit challenging ICE enforcement actions in churches

On February 11 the Episcopal Church joined dozens of multifaith plaintiffs challenging the recent removal of churches, schools and hospitals from protected status for immigration enforcement.

Referring to this lawsuit, Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Sean Rowe said that "in God's kingdom, immigrants and refugees are not at the edges, fearful and alone, but are the very center of God's story."

"We believe their struggles reveal the heart of God, and we cannot worship freely if some among us live in fear, " he said. "We are seeking the ability to fully gather and follow Jesus' command to love our neighbors as ourselves."

Read more on the Episcopal Church website.

Theatre with a Twist tickets go on sale February 8!

Since the new year, dozens of children with Theatre with a Twist have been busy rehearsing in our parish hall, acting, singing, and dancing their way through scenes from Alice in Wonderland and Anastasia. This Saturday, February 8 tickets for their final performances go on sale!

If you’d like to support these wonderful young thespians (including some you may recognize from church!), you may purchase tickets online starting this Saturday. Online ticket sales close on Wednesday, March 5.

Thank you from Esperanza Academy

In December we ran a drive to support Esperanza Academy, a free-tuition middle school for girls in Lawrence. We collected $880 in donations which has been sent to the school to be used to purchase items on their wish list.

Esperanza Academy was thrilled to receive this gift and sent the following thank you letter to the parish community.

Dear Rev. Eleanor, and Ellen, and Esteemed Parishioners,

On behalf of our students, faculty, and alumni, thank you for your generosity. Your gift of $880 will help purchase school supplies from our Amazon Wishlist through The Esperanza Fund. We are so grateful for Barbara's leadership and support through this year's drive! Because of your partnership, we can continue advancing our mission to provide an urban education built on justice and centered in joy. Your gift helps Esperanza students learn and grow in a space where they can redefine what is expected of them and take on challenges that will positively impact the trajectory of their lives.

Your contribution helps prove that a tuition-free, independent middle school can succeed in moving Lawrence girls out of the generational poverty cycle and into fulfilling futures through education. In addition, your support ensures our girls' success beyond the walls of Esperanza. Our 12-year commitment includes the Graduate Support program providing mentoring and targeted academic, social-emotional, financial, and career support. Since Esperanza's founding in 2006, we have graduated 224 students. We are proud to share that along with 100% of our alumni completing high school in four years, over 75% of our graduates are pursuing higher education at schools across the country.

Your impact is felt at each step of the wrap-around Esperanza experience. As a supporter, you join a community of family members, faculty, volunteers, secondary schools, and colleges committed to helping our students soar. Once again, I deeply appreciate all that you have done and continue to do for our girls by choosing to give to Esperanza Academy. I send you my very best wishes from Lawrence and look forward to having an opportunity to connect with you so that I may express my gratitude personally.

With gratitude,

Pati Fernández

Chief Development Officer
Esperanza Academy

Rev. Eleanor A. Terry, Rector

2025-02-02 Gospel & Sermon, Rev Eleanor A. Terry, Rector

Understand the changing landscape of U.S. immigration, refugee, and migration policy

Immigration lawyers are saying it is hard to know who is and is not at risk in the rapidly moving changes in immigration orders during the last week. We do not know if our Afghan families will be affected. We think, but are not completely certain, that our Rohingya families may be okay. Churches are asking questions about how their on-site food pantries, ELL classes and even Sunday services may be disrupted by ICE and what are their legal rights.

The Episcopal Migration Ministries is actively engaged with the fast moving changes in immigration policies. They are offering an incredibly well-informed webinar series for church members every Tuesday at 1:00 PM EST to keep up with the deluge of questions and information. The first session had 800 participants.

Register for an upcoming online session.

The Rev. Eleanor Terry, Rector

2025-01-26 Gospel & Sermon, Rev. Eleanor Terry

Good Shepherd at Household Goods

In the middle of January, two teams from Good Shepherd, totaling 20 people, brought lots of energy to a variety of tasks at Household Goods. Over two afternoons they created family-size dish sets, sorted bins of donated linens, cleaned rugs and assembled dining tables. Our teams were amazed at the logistics and organization required to have enough goods in ready-to-go condition to completely furnish apartments for 104 households a week! This is something we will definitely do again! But, in the meantime, the next time you clean out your home or the home of a loved one, please bring your furnishings to Household Goods in Acton to help a family. They especially need lamps and twin sheet sets today. And, if you are looking for a regular volunteer commitment, they will put you to good work!

Two teams of shepherds recently volunteered their time and talents at Household Goods.

Rev. Ken Schmidt

January 19, 2025 Gospel & Sermon Rev. Ken Schmidt, Deacon Emeritus