TCP will be joining together, this Lent, with our neighbors at Trinity Episcopal.  From Ash Wednesday through Good Friday, we will share the Lenten journey in a series of gatherings and worship services held alternately at Trinity and at TCP — with Rev. Beck and Pastor Andi co-leading the worship services.  All are welcome to be part of this shared, ecumenical journey to Easter! 

Note that the book group meets weekly, but you do not need to make a commitment to come every week in order to participate!  Come when you can, and know that you will be welcome.

Dear Church,

I am thrilled to announce that a small team of us — Lindsey Vagt, Heather Trainor, Heather Emanuelson, and me — will be offering an after-school program to kids in the community on Tuesdays during the month of March.  Combining music and story, we’ll journey our way towards Easter in a weekly time of singing and story-telling and games.  Please spread the word to any children you know who might interested in doing some singing and learning about Easter!  No musical experience is needed, and it’s open to all – no prior church experience is needed, either. All are welcome.  And if you’re interested in helping out in any way, please let me know! 

Joyfully,
 
Pastor Andi

And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white.

Matthew 17:2

 
This Sunday, the final Sunday before Lent begins, brings us to the Transfiguration: Jesus brings Peter, James, and John up a mountain and is transfigured before them.  He shines.  He dazzles.  It’s a strange story.  An extraordinary story. 
 
And I find myself wanting to approach it “on soft feet, breath held like a cap in the hand,” as the poet R.S. Thomas so eloquently put it.  I don’t want to analyze.  Or explain.  I simply want to sit in the presence of the Mystery that this text holds. The Mystery that this world holds.
 
And to that end, I want to share with you a poem by Denise Levertov, one of my favorite poets.  It’s called Primary Wonder.
 

            Days pass when I forget the mystery.

            Problems insoluble and problems offering

            their own ignored solutions

            jostle for my attention, they crowd its antechamber

            along with a host of diversions, my courtiers, wearing

            their colored clothes; cap and bells.

                                                        And then

            once more the quiet mystery

            is present to me, the throng's clamor

            recedes: the mystery

            that there is anything, anything at all,

            let alone cosmos, joy, memory, everything,

            rather than void: and that, O Lord,

            Creator, Hallowed One, You still,

            hour by hour sustain it.

 
We do forget the mystery. This week, let’s try to remember: pause in our busyness, shake free from our distractions, and open ourselves to the possibility of Mystery.  Is it possible that glory of God is shining all around us, always?  Dazzling away at us, if only we would notice?  I wonder.
 
Grace and peace,
 
Pastor Andi

The menu this month will be: 

Feb    15     4 p.m.           Choir Rehearsal
Feb    16     5 p.m.           Church Council meeting
Feb    19     9:30 a.m.      Sunday Worship (in person & streaming)
Feb    20                          Presidents' Day
Feb    21     9 a.m.           Bible Study (Zoom)
Feb    21     4 p.m.           Board of Deacon's Meeting
Feb    22     4 p.m.           Choir Rehearsal
Feb.   22     6 p.m.           Ash Wednesday potluck supper at Trinity Episcopal
Feb    22     7 p.m.           Ash Wednesday ecumenical service at Trinity Episcopal
Feb    26     9:30 a.m.      Sunday Worship (in person & streaming)
Feb    27     1 p.m.           Shawl Ministry
Feb    28     9 a.m.           Bible Study (Zoom)
 

It's a harbinger of spring! Though we are in the heart of winter, the delivery of the spring edition of Our Daily Bread is inspiring. 
 
Get the latest copy of Our Daily Bread now. This little book of daily devotions is designed to inspire you to spend time with God every day. Pick up a copy at church this Sunday, or contact the office 207-326-9486 and we can arrange to get a copy to you. There are still copies of the winter edition which goes to the end of February. Don't miss a day!

If you’re interested in providing flowers, or serving as an usher, or bringing coffee hour refreshments, or spending time in the Children’s Corner with the littlest members of our community, please visit the Sign-Up Genius:
 

or sign up on the clip-boards downstairs in the Vestry.
We are looking for ushers for Feb 26. March is wide open, so sign up online or in the Vestry for any task that you'd like to take on!

All are welcome to join an ecumenical Bible study, co-hosted by TCP and Trinity Episcopal Church, every Tuesday at 9 a.m.  Each week, we read and discuss the texts for the upcoming Sunday - as appointed by the Revised Common Lectionary.  The coming week's texts can be found above.  (Wondering what the Revised Common Lectionary is?  Read more here!) 

This Bible study happens over Zoom, so folks can (and do!) join from far and near.  Here’s the Zoom information, which will remain unchanged week to week.

If you or someone you know is in need of our prayers, either individually or during our time of congregational prayer in Sunday worship, please let Pastor Andi know, using her contact information below. 
 

For non-emergency pastoral care needs or visits, please contact Andi by e-mail or telephone below, using the contact information below.  For emergency pastoral care needs that arise outside of regular church hours, please call or text Andi on her cell phone: (802)-989-1448.

Yes, social media is complicated.  And yes, our feelings about it are many and varied.  And, it is one of the many ways that we can help people get to know about the good things happening at TCP.  The church has a Facebook page and an Instagram account, on which Pastor Andi shares this newsletter, announcements about news & events & resources that might be of interest, photos and posts about and from church gatherings, and invitations to worship.
 
The goal is to keep the folks who already know about TCP connected and to reach folks who don’t yet know about TCP.  And if you are on Facebook or Instagram, you can help with that project! 

 Thank you!