The End of Year BBQ is June 11, 2023
It's almost that time of the year - the Annual End of Year BBQ - with bouncy castle, music, good food, and always great company! Join us on the lawn after the Service on June 11th to celebrate the end of the Sunday School year!

Holy Week Schedule 2023

Palm Sunday, April 2
9:30 am -  Blessing of the Palms, Holy Eucharist, Reading of the Passion.  Meet in the Parish Hall.

Maundy Thursday, April 6
7:00 pm -   Holy Eucharist with Foot Washing and Stripping of the Altar

Good Friday, April 7
Noon –    Stations of the Cross walking through Ayer alongside Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church. Start at St. Andrew’s Church

Noon to 3:00 pm St. Andrew’s Church will be open for prayer and Reflection

7:00 pm – Good Friday Proper Liturgy

Holy Saturday, April 8
7:30 pm -   No service at St. Andrew’s, but all are welcome to the service at Shepherd of the Valley Church on Washington Street, Ayer

Easter Sunday, April 9
9:30 am – Festive Holy Eucharist
10:45am – Easter Egg Hunt on the Lawn
11:00am – Coffee Hour at the Parish Hall

St. Andrew's History Night
An Interactive presentation recounting of St. Andrew's History along with a fabulous Potluck was held recently - this was a great look at the who, what, when, and where, that made our parish what it is today.

City Reach - Unhoused Outreach
Sunday School Teens from St. Andrew's Church joined by Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Ayer, and UCC Groton, with chaperones and volunteers packed up and headed into St. Paul's in Boston to spend a night helping the Unhoused in Boston in March 2023.

Stewardship Season has begun.  Please consider how you can support St. Andrew's in 2023.

Click here to view the Stewardship Presentation from October 16, 2022.
Pledge cards will be mailed out to Parishioners homes shortly and an online Pledge Form is available here.

October 16 -Stewardship Sunday
October 23 –Stewardship Speaker
October 30 –Stewardship Speaker
November 13 -Ingathering Sunday

Blessing of the Animals - Sunday, October 2, 2022

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church was excited to welcome parishioners and the greater community for a Blessing of the Animals. A joyful way to recognize the Feast of St. Francis, everyone was invited to bring beloved pets and stuffed animals alike for a Blessing

Sunday School Kickoff 

St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church kicked off the new church school year with its annual cookout on the lawn complete with a kids’ bouncy house and sidewalk chalk art on September 25, 2022. We are always open to welcoming new families and children anytime.  Parents can tour the classrooms and meet with teachers about the curriculum after any Service. Come and see what St. Andrew’s can offer you. It’s never too late to get started.

Our DOORS Are OPEN! Sundays @ 9:30am. Come in-person or join us on Facebook Live.

Annual Nativity

Every year at this time St. Andrew's has hosted a Nativity Display, showcasing Nativity sets from around the world as well as Parishioners' own precious sets.  This year over the course of the coming week and next we will present a number of these special Nativities for your viewing pleasure on our Facebook page.  

A video Rob Mitchell put together in 2017 can also be seen here. 

Melanie Hickcox's Stewardship Talk.  

This talk was presented at our Sunday Service on November 15th, however due to technical difficulties most people were unable to hear the talk.  This was a great talk and well worth watching!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=j6yggBtRhds

Prayers at the time of death and dying can be said as you gather together with your loved one.  Use this guide to get started.

Join us in practicing a "Way of Love". Learn more at https://episcopalchurch.org/way-of-love

Early Christians observed "a season of penitence and fasting" in preparation for the Paschal feast, or Pascha (BCP, pp. 264-265). The season now known as Lent (from an Old English word meaning "spring," the time of lengthening days) provides Christians an opportunity to pray, fast, and prepare.

Advent 4:  For the 4th week of advent we offer you this prayer as you finish your preparations.

God, help us remember that you are Love, that you are beyond description. Help us remember that you love us. Help us live out your call to love you and to love others as Jesus loved us, became one of us and died for us.

Advent 3: A nativity scene (sometimes called a crèche), is another way to highlight the season of Advent. Instead of putting out the whole set at once, try building the scene slowly. Begin with the manger.  Gradually add animals, Mary and Joseph. On Christmas Eve add the baby Jesus and any additional figures. This increases the feeling of anticipation that is Advent.

Advent 2: "As it is written in the prophet Isaiah, See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way; the voice of one crying out in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight,"

Advent 1: Advent is a season of quiet expectation and contrast.  It begins somberly as we reflect on endings, judgment and human frailty, but looks toward greater light and joy as we near the Nativity.  During Advent, our worship space, words and actions reflect the tone of the season. Each Sunday just before worship a new candle on the Advent Wreath is lit gradually increasing the light.

Sunday School begins Sunday, Sept 22 in the Parish Hall.

In accordance with the policies established by the Diocese of Massachusetts, St. Andrew's maintains compliance with the Safe Church training standards for all clergy, employees, wardens, vestry members, lay eucharistic visitors, pastoral visitors, youth leaders, acolyte leaders, choir directors, church school teachers and volunteers working within our parish.  Contact The Rev. Joyce Scherer-Hoock with any questions on this subject.

Esperanza Academy Head of School to Preach at St. Andrew’s on Sunday, 9/22: Jadihel (Jadi) Taveras, Head of School for Esperanza Academy will deliver the sermon at the 9:30 am service on Sunday, September 22.  He will also lead the Adult Forum after the service and coffee hour.

It's back to Sunday School time at St. Andrew's.  Join us on Sunday, September 15th after the regular service at 9:30am for the All Parish Barbecue to kick-off the new Sunday School year.

Sunday School Open House is September 15th. Come & See the classrooms and register your kids for 2019-2020.

Choir begins August 29th! Come & See what choir is all about. The choir is preparing for the 2019-2020 season under the direction of Daniel Francois, Organist and Choir Master. The group begins rehearsals at 7:00 pm on Thursday, August 29.

The choir rehearses every Thursday evening to prepare the music for the following Sunday. Additionally, they rehearse music for upcoming holidays and holy days. They practice chants as well as study anthems in various styles of sacred music.

St. Andrew’s Choir is a non-audition group and new members are always welcome. Singers for all voice parts are needed.

It’s time for the Backpack Drive! 
Would you like to help us with our next Outreach project? The Union Congregational Church in Groton has taken over the Backpack drive from Loaves & Fishes.  The drive provides much needed school supplies to children in Ayer, Devens, Groton, Harvard, Littleton, and Shirley.  Supply lists are in the Parish Hall and donations can be dropped off in the Peabody Room or the Parish Hall no later than Sunday, August 11.  

We also need volunteers to help bring the backpacks and supplies from St. Andrew’s to the Congregational Church on Sunday, August 11th.  Additionally, volunteers will set up for the drive on Wednesday, August 21 starting at 9am at the Congregational Church and/or Distribute backpacks and supplies on Friday, August 23 starting at 8am at the Congregational Church.

There's a sign up  sheet available in the Parish Hall if you would like to join us for any of these tasks. Questions? Contact Jenny Outman

Join us for an afternoon of music on Sunday June 9th at 3pm.  Learn more and purchase tickets at http://standrewsayer.org/events/outreach-concert/index.html

Join us on Sunday, March 17th at 9:00 am when we will reconsecrate the church before the regular service at 9:30 am.  Worship will begin with a procession and prayers.