I returned to New Bedford yesterday afternoon for the next Love VIGIL and it did not disappoint. In fact, our gathering has grown, the group is a bit more bold, and our shared singing was definitely better. I liked last evening’s song selections a bit more - “We Shall Overcome”, “This Little Light of Mine” and other familiar tunes that offered a gentle sound track to the waves, giant smiles and peace signs that we offered our surprised New Bedford neighbors. 

If you are wondering whether my experience is consistent and available for other participants, please know that two people were so surprised and moved by this time in community that they have pledged to duplicate the effort in their own communities. 

There is something profound and beautiful about being able to appeal to leather-wearing Harley driving bikers, and school buses full of children. There is something that feels deeply faithful to offer the same warm and welcoming smile to folks who speed by us, or are finishing their hot and dusty day of road repair. 

​We were good news again in New Bedford, making heart connections and expanding the Kingdom of God with one wave, smile or greeting at a time. I am so grateful to the souls who are organizing these gatherings, and I am grateful to be able to participate! All are loved and welcome. We Episcopalians know that All means ALL, and based on a weekly 60 minute vigil on a busy street corner in New Bedford, hundreds of our siblings now know that Todos sois amados y bienvenidos. 

Meet George - he is 90 and a force of nature.

Group gathered just before 5:30 start.

I believe that love is a special gift with eternal, deeply rooted, connecting power that calls out the best in us, provides a balm for hurt, a trampoline for joy, a spiritual thread that connects us one to another and tethers us to God. I also believe that at times, we must look hard, with intention to see it in the world and in each other.  
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Yesterday, I made my first foray into standing vigil in New Bedford. Members of the immigrant communities in the area were asked what they needed or what would help counter the perception that they are pariah and not welcome. The local clergy and folks from the Quaker Meeting House and Mass Council of Churches organized a series of vigils. The plan is to gather together for an hour each Wednesday, hold signs, sing songs. Stand in love. 

Yesterday we stood in a little pocket park in New Bedford and held signs and made eye contact with people walking and driving by.  

I’ll struggle to convey how powerful an experience this was.  

Imagine drivers slowing down to read or see what on earth this group of people are doing sitting and standing in an unused area, and then smiling, shoulders relaxing, waving and driving on. We were good (and surprising) news to people in the neighborhood.  

A bus driver slowed down so that the remaining children on her bus could see us. She waved, and I felt like we’d offered the best civics lesson imaginable. There were tinted windowed souped up cars that slowed and drivers who were shocked to read our themes. When someone boldly rolled down the window and said - “What are you doing?” the response was “Standing in Love” which must have been puzzling, because she turned around and drove by again and the smile that spread across her face was infectious! I had such goosebumps by this simple act of connection and companionship. At the end of the hour, I was all in.  

I’ll do this again next Wednesday, and God willing, the Wednesday after that. The simple act of standing and offering a loving presence in an area that is carrying hurt and fear and distrust feels remarkable and holy. I am grateful to have been included, and profoundly grateful for the people for whom we were a surprise. I hope they go home and tell someone about what they saw. Perhaps our standing in love will spread and dissipate a bit of the added burden that people who saw us are carrying.  

Logistics: I’ll leave church at 4:15pm on Wednesday afternoons in order to arrive in New Bedford at 5:30pm. I have 3 comfortable and 4 seats if we squoosh, and would be happy to offer chauffer services if you would like to join me.

​Amy+ 

Sunday’s church service was marvelous for many many reasons, not least of which were the observations and assertions made by some of our children. At the altar rail we had siblings schooling each other on the proper method for taking communion – so much better than having the priest butt in! And then, at the back of the sanctuary a three year old exclaimed that she found Jesus. I’m nearly certain that there is no better sentence uttered by a person of ANY age than that. There was such sincerity and intention in this declaration, that I have been replaying it in my head since I first heard it at the end of our service. 

Sure enough, during Sean’s postlude, I followed the children as they retrieved Jesus from a window shutter near the sanctuary piano. Jesus tumbled from his perch, but was unharmed. I explained that I always have to go looking for him because he hides himself and is in a different spot every week! THIS week, he has his Shepherd’s Crook AND a sheep. We’ll see where they go. I hope that another child will find them sometime during our service! 
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Mother’s Day is this weekend and we will offer special prayers for mothers and grandmothers on Sunday. God bless each of you who helps shape these remarkable young people. It is a delight to spend time with them exploring, learning and in worship! 

HELLO from Devens, MA – the weather is absolutely gorgeous, I am so grateful to be at my first overnight at Clergy Conference, and I have A LOT to say about the extraordinary sessions that are being led by the founder of Thistle Farms.

I arrived yesterday as Bishop Whitworth was talking about her experience in the Diocese thus far and it sounds as though she is settling in nicely AND is challenged with balancing her family life – which continues to be spread between Indianapolis and Boston – and the myriad demands on her time as our new Bishop. The mood at the conference has been full of gratitude and some humor –which is a delightful surprise.

This morning, I treated myself to a crack-of-dawn outing to explore the area and clear my head in advance of a full day and packed Clergy Conference Agenda...two things to note. First: a photo of our street sign and Second: This morning as I was walking, I heard reveille! Now, I’m guessing that not many people at this conference are brought to a memory of a previous job or incarnation, but I was immediately pulled back to my first job out of college. I was a contractor for the US Army, working at the Arsenal in Watertown! (Or more accurately, the CTX for CPC @MTL w/in AMC – or for laypeople who don’t adore acronyms: I worked at the Center of Excellence for Corrosion Prevention and Control at the Materials Technology Laboratory within the Army’s Materiel Command, which as you know, is the division of the US Army responsible for making sure that Army equipment is ready and military action is sustainable, when needed).
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The shorthand for my first job is that I was a Rust-Buster for the US Army. Some GREAT stories abound from this work experience, but this morning’s flashback was to my morning routine on the base in Watertown. I would call friends at 6 am who were usually getting ready for their work day, and I would open my office window and throw the phone receiver out so that they too could enjoy reveille! I thought it was hilarious – NEVER in a disrespectful way, but in a “What have I gotten myself into?!?” way! (After the recording was finished, I’d reel the phone back in – OH the days of corded phones and – and laugh and wish my phone buddy a very good day, and hang up!)

The beauty of the colors here and Spring in evidence is a great buffer for this day. I hope that each of you finds surprising signs of new life and resurrection. Amy+
 

I have committed to taking a 10 minute walk every day and to feeding the birds at home. Each of these added activities has been nourishing for different reasons. Being so public about my chosen disciplines definitely encourages accountability and faithfulness! I have walked every day since Ash Wednesday, and each has been a different experience. I now find that I look forward to eeking out that time whether it is the start of my day or closer to the close. I’ve seen a beautiful and subtle sunset, found sea glass *(shards – nothing to brag about, but they are at home now) during a stroll on the beach, and met a stranger and helped her find her dog during another outing. Each has offered some quiet – phone at home, eyes up and ears open, reflective time for which I am grateful.
The bird watching is simply sublime! I feel as though I’ve come late to a party that is super fun and engaging for all. Does everyone find that Grackles are preposterous? Here in Hull they are bossy and act as though they are starving! Yesterday they started a fight for the suet, while sparrows looked on and ate at the other feeder. My favorite episode of “For the Birds” - my time with coffee observing them was astonishingly busy – I don’t know how they don’t crash into one another. I had a male Robin doing Howard Cosell like commentary from a tree, sparrows and some other smaller birds (chicadees perhaps?) attacking my squirrel proof feeder and draining it, while a pair of Mourning Doves watched first perched on my garage roof, cooing quietly and then they hopped down to the yard to watch the action from afar. I could hear a Cardinal, but couldn’t see it. Word is out that there is great food on S Street!
My newest “For the Birds” episode was a lesson for me – I have a suet feeder and a large cylindrical feeder with multiple perches for the bird buffet. I filled everything yesterday before leaving for Hanover. At the end of the day, when I returned, I was curious to find out how many days’ servings my feeders are.....those of you experienced in this realm will not share my astonishment to find that they are ONE DAY FEEDERS. And that has been the consistent experience this week. Fill everything in the morning. Watch with delight at the bird antics before commuting. Return home to find empty feeders – with little left on the ground, though twice I’ve had bunnies cleaning up under the feeders, which I much prefer to their previous practice of stripping the bark from trees and bushes, which is lethal for the plants.
So, YAY Lent. I’ve taken on a couple of other practices and found the fasting to be much more challenging the second time than the first. I’m not abstaining from beverages or liquid during my fast, and I am praying that I avoid being like the hypocrites we read about on Ash Wednesday who make their fasting habit a front page affair. Mine is quiet and I got through it by thanking God when I was tempted to break the fast ahead of schedule.
​May anyone who reads this also find themselves moved by a Lenten practice. I’m grateful to be in community and to be setting aside this season for deep reflection, prayer and practicing the hard lessons Jesus left for us. With love and gratitude – Amy+

Sunday Evening 11.17.24 
The senior youth have headed home. Our church bell has quieted. The moon is nearly full and makes it possible to see comfortably outside tonight. 
I am filled with gratitude for the energy and enthusiasm of our high school students. We had 6 high school students for tonight’s gathering. They enjoyed exploring our bell tower, and seeing how many rooms we have at St. Andrew’s. They thought it looked much smaller from the outside......we ate delicious Thai Food, and enjoyed laughter and fantastic sweet treats for dessert. 
This is a shared ministry with St. Stephen’s Cohasset, which is going to host the very first fundraiser for this group’s future travel. More info to follow when I have it. I (....enthusiastically!!) invited this group to join us for December’s Cookie Sale. I made it sound ok, but group member Taylor Clemons REALLY sold it as being super fun. Fingers crossed for some high school representation.
At 7:30 pm this group headed out to attend to what sounds like LOADS of homework. God Bless our young people and all who take great care of them. Amen+ 

​I have decided to unplug and forgo my favorite podcasts and late-night shows. I am eschewing talking heads of every sort – those who agree, disagree and anyone who is trying to explain this week’s electoral outcome. Six months from now, I’ll read some fact based reporting or explanation of Tuesday’s vote. And rather than reading the Globe and NYT with intensity each morning, I’ll skim headlines and read lifestyle silliness or cooking tips. In place of all the news I was consuming, I’m redoubling my reading time, both religious and non. Somehow the act of picking up a book and immersing myself in an author’s world is comforting. 

​Rev. Amy+