Sunday February 22nd

First Sunday in Lent

I am deeply grateful to be serving among the leaders (both formal and informal!) of SOV! Your efforts and presence allow us to carry out the mission God has for us, not always perfectly, but faithfully. While I was away for continuing education, the stories I heard continually connected me back to SOV and how we are and can be accepting, joyful disciples of Jesus.

First, I attended a gathering of the ELCA’s  Multiethnic and Intersectional Network. Here is a video from an earlier gathering. Our conversations and experiences centered around welcoming, belonging and our connectedness. Part of welcome and belonging connects to our space. As we continue to make improvements, it’s clear that they will help with how we are able to accept all people. When St. Andrew’s worshipped with us Wednesday evening, the hospitality so many provided by accompanying people on the trek to our restrooms was an important piece of being a disciple of Jesus.

The second part of my time away was spent on the island of O’ahu in Hawai’i. Here I did team building and visioning work with Organizing for Mission Network in addition to providing training in community organizing with Faith Action for Community Equity. I was able to share the story of our small part in the organizing work with Devenscrest Tenant Association. SOV’s intentional choice to be present in Ayer was largely motivated by a desire to be closer to a variety of people in different racial and economic communities as well as joyfully sharing love in a new community as disciples of Jesus.

In both of these settings, conversations about how space and property is stewarded were prominent. The stories of congregations that recognized they exist not for themselves but as part of the ecosystem of the broader community gave me renewed energy to keep this front and center for SOV.

As we have begun the season of Lent, let us not forget the joy that comes with fully grasping Jesus’ unconditional love - for each one of us, but especially for those we encounter outside of SOV. The need for people to know we are loved UNCONDITIONALLY is great. May we be free to share that good news!

Peace,

Pastor Gaeta

NOTE: On Friday, February 13, 2026, United States District Judge Dennis Saylor ruled in favor of the New England Synod and other plaintiffs and against the January 2025 order by the Department of Homeland Security allowing unlimited access to places of worship for immigration enforcement activities. What does this mean? Short version: Without a warrant or "exigent circumstances" such as a risk to life and safety, ICE may not enter any of our properties, including schools. Without a warrant, "exigent circumstances," or prior approval from a supervisor, ICE must stay at least 100 feet away from entrances to our buildings. Read the Bishop’s complete message here. We have responded to his request of all congregations to describe the entire area of our property.

Study the Bible This Lent (and beyond!)

We will be working through the 10 module course called Gen to Rev: A Bible Survey from Luther Seminary’s Faith+Lead learning platform. We will meet in person at SOV at 6:30pm, begin the study by 6:45 and finish no later than 8:00pm. There will also be a real-time hybrid option where you can zoom in. Additionally, there is a Course Handbook you can work through on your own with free links to most of the content. Please see Pastor Gaeta for more information or just show up on Wednesday evening!

Coming Up This Week

Pastor Gaeta's week schedule - Monday Council Meeting and prep, Tuesday comp day, Wednesday Synod/SOV work from home, Thursday SOV in Ayer, Friday SOV at home, Saturday Calumet for BIPOC Women’s Retreat

Saturday, Feb 21
9am - 12pm Stone Soup Kitchen pantry pickups

Sunday, Feb 22
9:30am Choir Rehearsal

10 am Service in the Sanctuary and on Zoom

Monday, Feb 23

7pm Council Meeting on Zoom

Wednesday, Feb 25

6:30pm Bible Study

Thursday Feb 26

7:15 pm Bell choir rehearsal

Friday, Feb 27
5pm Stone Soup Kitchen Friday Meal 

Saturday, Feb 28
9am - 12pm Stone Soup Kitchen pantry pickups

Sunday, March 1

10am Service with Holy Communion

Looking Ahead

March 8th - 9:30am worship at St. Andrew’s and Adult Forum with Partakers at 11:15am

May 17 - Congregational Meeting

Link to updated calendar: SOV Calendar  

All Zoom meetings: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/9785400768

Children and Youth Ministry

For Sr high youth group, City Reach planning is underway as well and will be February 27-28. And we have selected a date and location for the mission trip next summer: Winchester, Kentucky July 5th - 11th! 

Atrium

We partner with St. Andrew's Episcopal Church for children's faith formation. Click here to learn more about Catechesis of the Good Shepherd which takes place in the Atrium from 9-10am.

Atrium schedule for reference (subject to change):

Meets from 9-10am in the St. Andrew's Parish Hall.

Jan 25; Feb 8, 22; Mar 1, 8, 22; Apr 12. 16; May 3, 17, 31; June 7, 14 

 Local Opportunities To Serve

Household Goods

Household Goods is located at 530 Main Street (Rt. 27) in Acton.  If you have furniture (No office or gaming desks, and no office chairs), kitchen goods, bathroom goods, clean usable sheets, any household items that are in decent condition and usable, they will take them.

CityReach 2026

It is time to start collecting warm clothes and other items for the unhoused.  Including:

 ● Warm coats in Winter ● Nylon jackets, ponchos, and raincoats for the Spring & Fall ● Sweatshirts and sweatpants (especially hooded sweatshirts) ● Sweaters ● T-shirts ● Long-sleeve shirts ● Jeans, khakis and other casual pants ● Waterproof boots, comfortable shoes, and sneakers ● Hats, waterproof gloves, scarves ● Belts ⬥ All kinds of carrying cases such as backpacks, tote bags, fanny packs, small suitcases with wheels ⬥ Travel-size toiletries such as soap, shampoo, deodorant, lotion, chapstick.

Neighbor to Neighbor

Thursday mornings Karen S. and Janet V. serve at the Lowell location of the IINE sorting and delivering groceries. Please email Janet at jkvesper@comcast.net; or Karen at Karen.Sheldon217@gmail.com if you're interested in joining them

Between September and December teams are providing direct support to immigrant neighbors in our region under the direction of the International Institute of New England (IINE). IINE is a highly regarded immigrant support organization that has been in operation for over a century with offices in Lowell, Boston, and Manchester, New Hampshire.

Partakers Prison Ministry

Laurie Sabol, a community member and friend of SOV, recently invited Pastor Gaeta to learn more about Partakers and their College Behind Bars program. Incarcerated college students are matched with teams of mentors for encouragement in their educational journey. Pastor Gaeta has met with Melanie McFarlane, Deputy Director of Tufts University Prison Initiative of Tisch College (TUPIT) to learn more about this program. They are in need of mentor teams for students beginning in January as well as ongoing support in inviting the community to form mentor teams.

Why Mentors?

• Incarcerated students are almost always first-generation college students from underserved communities

• Incarcerated students are earning a degree with severely limited resources and little to no support

• Mentors provide critical encouragement and reinforce the benefits of earning a degree

• Mentors also provide and model positive relationships

What Does Being a Mentor Mean?

• Mentors form teams of 2-4 people per student

• Mentors write and visit in pairs once a month in a secure, open visiting room

• Mentors also via check in through letters (snail mail and a secure email app)

• No academic tutoring required! Mentors provide encouragement and support

Time commitment is VERY flexible!

Speak with Pastor Gaeta if you are interested in serving and pass the word on to others: College Behind Bars — Partakers We have heard from 4 people so far who are interested in being mentors!