March 29 2020 – United Church of Christ
https://www.ucc.org/worship_samuel_sermon_seeds_march_29_2020
Dear Family and Friends of St. Andrew’s
As we continue on our Lentan journey together times like these causes us to take stalk of our lives and directions. I turn 72 in May and my contract here at St. Andrew’s is over at the end of the year. This has been cause for reflection for me and my life beyond St. Andrew’s.
When the Archdeacon was here in January we discussed my future in the Diocese and while he made suggestions for me to consider I also informed him that two parishes in the Episcopal Church USA were considering me and wanted to have me come over to meet with them in February. I also informed the Senior Warden of my intentions and I appreciate the spiritual and moral support she gave me.
Since I have returned I have spoken to Bishop David, Archdeacon Leslie and the Church Wardens to inform them that I have accepted the call to serve as Rector of St. Andrew’s New Bedford, Massachusetts. I will start there the 1st of September 2020.
In June I will go home to start the process of moving and will be away the Sundays of the 7th and 14th. The Archdeacon said that he will try to be here then to discuss the transition process and fill in for those two Sundays.
From the 20th of July to the 8th of August I will again take up Diocesan Duties as Chaplain in Balastrand Norway and will return for services here on the 9th. Andrew Wingate will return to take services at that time.
My last Sunday at St. Andrew’s will be the 16th of August with the following two Sundays being my remaining vacation time which I will take to make the transition home.
Thank you for the 4 years which I have spent here with you and I wish you every blessing in your journey to the future.
Best Wishes,
David Bruce, Chaplain
Dear Family and Friends of St. Andrew’s,
I am sure you are all aware of the health crisis pertaining to Corona Virus gripping the world so I don’t need to get into this in any detail.
I write instead to inform you of change in policy regarding our central act of being as a Christian Community namily our worship each Sunday.
The Bishop has recommended that in compliance with the general policy in England and elsewhere that gatherings over 50 people be suspended for the time being untill the crisis abates. This is a recommemdation and not a mandate. Since our services in the past have usually drawn about fifty people and last Sunday we had about 15 I will continue to be in Church on Sundays to conduct worship untill ordered to cease to do so.
The service will still be the Eucharist with a few modifications .
1. Sit comfortably distant from others in order to ward off contact.
2. At the exchange of peace do so verbally but with no physical contact.
3. At communion receive only the bread, which in itself is a complete communion and for the blessing I will make the sign of the cross over the head of the receiver.
There will be hand sanitizer in the washroom and at the entrance of the Church. I will use this during the service when it comes time to administer the bread.
If you feel sick please stay home so as not linfect others. Take care of yourself above all else.
I feel that if common sense measures are exercized by everyone then this to shall pass.
I wish you all a productive Lent and a Happy Easter wherever we may be.
Best Wishes,
David Bruce, Chaplain
Dear Family and Friends of St. Andrew’s,
We have begun our journey through Lent and I want to update you on upcoming events in the life of our Parish.
There are five Sundays of Lent which cover the Sundays of March 1, 8, 15 , 22 and the 29th. The 4th Sunday is Mothering Sunday which is observed as Mother’s Day in England. Since ours is an English Church that holiday is traditionally observed as such in our Congregation with the sharing of posies with the mothers and simnal cake at coffee fellowship at the end of the service that day.
April 5th is Palm Sunday which starts Holy Week observances leading to Easter. On Palm Sunday there will be the blessing of Palm Crosses and procession around the Church at the 11am service. There will also be a 930 service that day.
The rest of the week will be observed with Maundy Thursday at 1800, Good Friday at noon and Easter Day at the regular hour of 1100.
The Music Director and I have been discussing having a service of Lessons and Carols for Easter Eve on Saturday evening the 11th which would be based on the Easter Vigil Service. This would depend on the in gathering of choir members from our’s and other choirs in the city. We will keep you posted.
Wednesday’s in Lent at 1800 there will be a study group meeting at the Church to discuss the life and work of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Christian Theologian and Martyr. This will start on the evening of Wednesday the 4th and continue on the evenings of the 11th, 18th and the 25th. If you are unable to attend on Wednesday Evenings, as I said on last Sunday, I will also be in the Church on Fridays from 1500 to 1700 to discuss this or I am willing to fika with anyone individually.
You may also Google him or use YouTube to get information on him.
Finally I suggest for your personal edification the series I suggested in previous years “The Best Lent Ever” which may be downloaded as well.
So here is wishing you a Holy Lent,
Blessed Holy Week and Joyous Easter.
Blessings ,
David Bruce, Chaplain
