Sunday, April 13 - Palm/Passion Sunday

I am writing to you on the eve of our annual Easter Egg Hunt. Once again, we are doing something new! In order to allow our neighbors at Stone Soup Kitchen to continue the regular Saturday morning pattern (which is getting smoothed out after the move!) St. Andrew's has been happy to host the Easter Egg Hunt. I was hopeful months ago that with Easter being so late this year we could hide eggs outside. Alas, the weather is not cooperating. The Parish Hall at St. Andrew's is well suited though for an indoor hunt! Children will gather in the Atirum space downstairs for the Resurrection Eggs Easter Storytelling. Then they will head upstairs for the hunting fun and refreshments! I love this tradition as a way to kick off Holy Week.

I love this week in the church year. The complete focus on worship and so many chances to gather make it a special time for the church. One might hear church "professionals" bemoaning how busy they are and all of the extra stuff that needs to be done and that is real. AND it is an opportunity to truly do the work of the people to worship God and share the good news in Christ.

On Maundy Thursday we will try Supper Service for a second year. This is an intimate time together to gather with an order of individual confession and absolution, enjoy a meal in the fellowship space, head up to the sanctuary for a celebration of communion and then prepare for the next day with the stripping of the altar. 

Good Friday at noon we gather at St. Andrew's to participate in the Way of the Cross. We walk through stations of the cross through downtown Ayer, giving public witness to our faith. This year's structure is a little different with reflection questions to ponder and discuss during the walk. Then at 7pm we will have a Tenebrae Service of reflections on the 7 Last Words of Jesus by various members of the community. This promises to be a very meaningful way to mark the death of Jesus.

On Saturday I will be joining First Lutheran Church in Lynn for their Easter Vigil, held in partnership with First/Redeemer coming from Malden and Woburn. This is Pastor Wylie Cook's first Easter as their newly called pastor!

I look forward to worshiping with you this week.

Peace in Christ's name,

Pastor Gaeta

Where in the Bible are we?

If you are joining along in reading through the bible this year, we began on Monday, January 6 - the Feast of the Epiphany. Here's a link to the website to follow along: The Bible Project  If you choose to download the app for your phone, look for me! I'm on there as Pastor Susan Gaeta. There's a place to "Talk it Over" as well and it could be a good place to share any insights or questions. This coming Sunday we will check in again after worship to share how this experience is going. We are in the first few chapters of 2 Samuel. I can see where today's modern family dramas get their inspiration! 

COUNCIL Corner

The council meeting for April has been moved to April 22nd, so that it

will not be during Holy Week. Also, looking forward to the May 18 Congregational Meeting we are looking for persons eager to serve on Council. Please speak

to Pastor or any council member.

Dates to remember:

13 April - Palm Sunday worship at 10am

17 April - Maundy Thursday Supper Service - Order of Forgiveness, Meal and Communion at 6pm

18 April - Good Friday 

Walk the Stations of the Cross starting at St. Andrew's at 12 noon and Service of the Seven Last Words at SOV at 7:00pm

19 April - Easter Vigil at First Lutheran Church Lynn - speak with Pastor

20 April - Easter Sunday worship at SOV at 10am

22 April - Council Meeting at 7pm

11 May - Worship at the Groton School together with St. Andrew's

13 May - Council Meeting at 7pm

18 May - Congregational Meeting after worship

25 May - SOV worship only on Zoom at 10am

Council Members:  Pastor Gaeta, Karen Sheldon, Cindy Boaen, Wayne Twombly, Kim Duhamel, Stefanie Heiter, Valerie Wilkins, Joshua Kamalaraj and Janet Vesper

Ayer ANSWER Group Opportunities

Ayer Neighbors Supporting and Welcoming Each Resident (ANSWER) is a group of residents from Ayer and surrounding communities who came together in 2023 in response to the crisis of families across the Commonwealth and in Ayer in need of emergency shelter. Wherever they are from, if they’ve found their way to our community, we are here to provide support and welcome.

This is what is currently happening:

• ESOL classes are being taught every Saturday from 10-11:30. We often need an extra adult or two to assist with childcare.

• A Pre-School group is meeting every Tuesday and Thursday from 10-noon and can always use more help.

• Students from Parker School and Groton School are helping with an after-school program for Shelter children.

• We are planning to have a vegetable garden again this year.  Seeds have been planted, and seedlings will be planted in May, beginning on Saturday, May 24

• We are thinking about summer programs for the children.  Ideas and implementation assistance are both needed.

• We are writing up a checklist for Residents who will be moving on to new housing and jobs.  We also hope to find ways to be supportive once they leave the Shelter.

• We have written a letter to Governor Healey urging her to keep this Shelter open beyond the end of the year and had positive responses from legislators, and other community groups.

• Presentations have been made at 1st Parish Groton and the Groton Democratic Town Committee.

If you have questions about any of these activities, please go to Contact Ayer ANSWER – Ayer ANSWER to send an email to the group. We review them once a week.

Amazon Wishlist - The most streamlined and helpful way to contribute tangibly, supplementing the support residents at the Inn receive through MOC is to use the amazon wish list that has been set up: CLICK HERE

JAK-L Strides event

Please see the flyer on the bulletin board in the kitchen or speak with Kerry B for more information! For the full SPONSORSHIP form to use if you want to participate, click here.

Habitat Update - 12 Newton St.

Join with St. Andrew's Ayer and Groton UCC for a Build Day on Saturday, May 10!

Join us on Saturday, May 10th from 8:30 - 4:00 for what promises to be a fun day of helping to build a two-family home in Ayer. Fear not if you have no relevant experience! You don't need to be a seasoned pro to participate and to make a difference in the lives of the two deserving families who will soon call these homes their own. Church members (age 16 and older) from UCC Groton, Shepherd of the Valley and St. Andrew's will join in this special event (which will include a delicious lunch prepared by UCC Groton).

Sign up HERE and stay tuned for further details.

Is offering food for workers more your gift?

Students from Saginaw Valley State University (SVSU) in Michigan are spending a week in mid-May on the Ayer Habitat house. Transportation and housing are arranged, but they need lunches.  There will be 12 students and two group leaders, or a total of 14, volunteering May 12th - 17th.  Lunches are therefore needed for three more days that week. Beverages are already donated. Please tell Tara Chaco, Volunteer Coordinator, at (978) 348-2749 or email tara@ncmhabitat.org if you can take responsibility for one day, organizing helpers you may need for that day.

Pastor Gaeta would love to have company at this upcoming fundraising event. If you can't join her but want to send along a contribution, let her know.