ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
April 5, 2020
April 1, 2020
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Church,
Aloha! I hope and pray that you are well as we live into the third week of the Shelter-in-Place directive with the intent of slowing down the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. Much has changed in our lives which we normally take for granted. We are not able to gather in person and greet our neighbors, co-workers, friends and family who does not live with us. For those of us who live with others, at least we can have another human being to touch and to converse with face to face. For those of us who live alone, we spend our days physically isolated.
It is amazing to me how quickly the directives regarding the response to the Coronavirus evolved. On Sunday, March 1st, we gathered for worship, but were instructed not to use home baked bread for communion nor to intinct in the common cup. On Sunday, March 8th, we gathered for worship, but were instructed not to offer the common cup. And on Sunday, March 15th we cancelled worship-in-person. On Sundays, March 22nd and 29th we created a virtual live-streaming Liturgy of the Word service at 10 a.m. through You Tube Live-Streaming. The link is:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg The worship bulletin is posted on the church website at www.stambrosefostercity.org.
This year, due to how life has changed for us all, we will have a Virtual Good Friday service on Friday, April 10th at 12:10 p.m. We will also have a Virtual Easter Sunday service on Sunday, April 12th at 10 a.m. Sadly, this year we will not have a Maundy Thursday Liturgy or an Easter Vigil Liturgy with Holy Baptism. (See Mark Your Calendars for online options.)
On a positive note, we have continued to communicate with one another through Zoom meetings. We have been able to have Youth Group meetings, Sunday School classes, Bible studies, as well as the meetings of the School Board, the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the Vestry. Members and friends have also been in contact with one another, checking up with each other.
I am grateful to everyone who has helped us adapt to the new circumstances of our lives. In an ironic way, our ministry is now more accessible to people who for reason of distance or inability to come to our church facility are now able to participate in worship and meetings in ways they did not before. On the other hand, for some of us who are not as technologically connected, we will need to find ways to stay in contact with one another.
Also, I ask you to continue to financially support our ministry together and to send in your offerings as you are able. Some of us may have had their finances affected by the need to Shelter-In-Place. Some people have been laid off. Some who own their own businesses will have a loss in income. For those of us who can continue to make our offerings or a portion of them, I encourage you to do so.
Finally, as we live into Holy Week and Easter this year struggling with the Coronavirus and the suffering it is causing, I invite you to be steadfast in your faith, trusting in God’s love for us all, as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ to bear the burdens we must for the sake of loving God and our neighbor. I wish you all a blessed Holy Week and Easter.
Yours,
David Y. Ota, Rector
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Church,
Aloha! I hope and pray that you are well as we live into the third week of the Shelter-in-Place directive with the intent of slowing down the spread of the Novel Coronavirus. Much has changed in our lives which we normally take for granted. We are not able to gather in person and greet our neighbors, co-workers, friends and family who does not live with us. For those of us who live with others, at least we can have another human being to touch and to converse with face to face. For those of us who live alone, we spend our days physically isolated.
It is amazing to me how quickly the directives regarding the response to the Coronavirus evolved. On Sunday, March 1st, we gathered for worship, but were instructed not to use home baked bread for communion nor to intinct in the common cup. On Sunday, March 8th, we gathered for worship, but were instructed not to offer the common cup. And on Sunday, March 15th we cancelled worship-in-person. On Sundays, March 22nd and 29th we created a virtual live-streaming Liturgy of the Word service at 10 a.m. through You Tube Live-Streaming. The link is:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg The worship bulletin is posted on the church website at www.stambrosefostercity.org.
This year, due to how life has changed for us all, we will have a Virtual Good Friday service on Friday, April 10th at 12:10 p.m. We will also have a Virtual Easter Sunday service on Sunday, April 12th at 10 a.m. Sadly, this year we will not have a Maundy Thursday Liturgy or an Easter Vigil Liturgy with Holy Baptism. (See Mark Your Calendars for online options.)
On a positive note, we have continued to communicate with one another through Zoom meetings. We have been able to have Youth Group meetings, Sunday School classes, Bible studies, as well as the meetings of the School Board, the Buildings and Grounds Committee and the Vestry. Members and friends have also been in contact with one another, checking up with each other.
I am grateful to everyone who has helped us adapt to the new circumstances of our lives. In an ironic way, our ministry is now more accessible to people who for reason of distance or inability to come to our church facility are now able to participate in worship and meetings in ways they did not before. On the other hand, for some of us who are not as technologically connected, we will need to find ways to stay in contact with one another.
Also, I ask you to continue to financially support our ministry together and to send in your offerings as you are able. Some of us may have had their finances affected by the need to Shelter-In-Place. Some people have been laid off. Some who own their own businesses will have a loss in income. For those of us who can continue to make our offerings or a portion of them, I encourage you to do so.
Finally, as we live into Holy Week and Easter this year struggling with the Coronavirus and the suffering it is causing, I invite you to be steadfast in your faith, trusting in God’s love for us all, as we follow our Lord Jesus Christ to bear the burdens we must for the sake of loving God and our neighbor. I wish you all a blessed Holy Week and Easter.
Yours,
David Y. Ota, Rector
SUNDAY, APRIL 5
Welcome to our visitors. As worship in person is cancelled through May 10th, please plan to join us for worship online. The Rector will be available on his cell phone: 650 200-9331.
10:00 am: Liturgy of the Word from the Holy Eucharist Rite II, You Tube link:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
10:00 am: Children’s Sunday School Zoom Meeting, Preschool to Second Grade
To be invited to the Zoom Meeting, contact Fe Balamiento at valentin_fe@yahoo.com or 415-579-8872
11:00 am: Children’s Sunday School Zoom Meeting, 3rd Grade to 5th Grade
To be invited to the Zoom Meeting, contact Fe Balamiento at valentin_fe@yahoo.com or 415-579-8872
4:00 pm: Youth Sunday School Zoom Meeting. To be invited to the Zoom Meeting, contact the Rev. Karen Swanson at karen.2.swanson@gmail.com or 650 200-8449.
Prayer Requests: Please call in or email your prayer requests to 650 574-1369 or dyota@mindspring.com. If you have an on-going prayer request, please leave a message for the church office (stambrose@mindspring.com or 574-1369).
THIS WEEK
- Bible Study on James: Tuesday, April 7, 1:00 pm, Zoom Meeting. To be invited to the Zoom Meeting, contact the Rev. David Ota at dyota@mindspring.com or 650 200-9331.
- Virtual Maundy Thursday Liturgy at the Washington National Cathedral: April 9, 4:30 pm, https://cathedral.org/event/online-holy-eucharist-with-stripping-of-the-altar/
- Virtual Good Friday Liturgy: April 10, 12:10 pm You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
- Great Vigil Online Live Stream from Grace Cathedral: Saturday, April 11, 9 pm, https://gracecathedral.org/events/the-great-vigil-online-live-stream-3/
ST. AMBROSE ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Mason Jar Mission Sale
St. Ambrose Youth will be selling mason jars filled with goodies to make bean soup or cookies. Jars are available for purchase now. You can order your jars from the Rev. Karen Swanson at karen.2.swanson@gmail.com, or you can place an order by calling the church office. We will arrange for jars to be picked up.
April Youth Inquirers’ Class
The Youth Inquirers’ Class is designed for any youth who would like to be confirmed, or would like to explore the Christian faith as it is expressed in the Episcopalian tradition. The first class session will be rescheduled. The class will end with the Bishop’s visit in June. It will include a focus on the spiritual life, a service opportunity, and hands on learning about the faith. The teaching approach will include art, discussion, games, and a movie as well as mini-lectures. Please contact the Rev. Karen Swanson (650-200-8449) to sign up for this opportunity.
Study groups schedule
The Tuesday Bible Study group will be meeting via Zoom on April 7th at 1:00 pm. They are reading the Letter of James.
Updating the Church Directory
It is time to update the church directory. The information we request for the church directory is names, address, wedding anniversary date, email addresses and phone numbers. Please send you information to Administrative Assistant, Margie Lee at stambrose@mindspring.com.
Signing Up for the Carbon Tracker
David McIntyre has given presentations at St. Ambrose on how to sign up for the Carbon Tracker. If you want to get started on your own, it’s pretty easy.
1.Go to: https://www.sustainislandhome.org/, which is the portal for the Diocese of California (the generic portal for non-church members would be:
https://sanmateo.goco2free.org/) .
St. Ambrose Choirs
As worship in person is cancelled through May 10th the Adult Choir is taking a break through May 7th. Choir Director, Maureen Fromme, will be in contact with choir members about how to proceed.
The Children’s Choir which meets on Sundays after the 10 am service is cancelled until May 17th.
Please contact Maureen Fromme if you have any questions, or email her at mhfromme@yahoo.com.
Forward Day by Day
Forward Day by Day is available on-line at https://prayer.forwardmovement.org. You can read the daily meditation on the scripture for the day, as well as find other resources.
Altar Guild Flower Fund
During the Shelter-in-Place time, we will not be having flowers for the altar until worship services in person are scheduled.
The St. Ambrose Altar Guild prepares the altar and sanctuary for each service. As part of these responsibilities, the guild provides the beautiful flower arrangements for the sanctuary. These flowers are funded by individual donations. The cost of the altar flowers is $65 per week, but any amount is welcome. You may contribute toward flowers in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days, or in memory of loved ones. To make a donation please complete the blue form in the flower pot on the credenza in the foyer, and place this blue form along with your donation in one of the white envelopes also found there. Checks are to be made out to St. Ambrose Episcopal Church. Please put “Altar Flowers” in the memo line. To complete your donation, put the white envelope in the offertory plate or on the desk of the administrative assistant, which is the desk facing you when you enter the church office. Thank you! Your donation is much appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to Charlene Adolph (650-504-5525).
Sign up for E-script:
Good news: SaveMart, Lucky, and Food Maxx have recently partnered with E-script. If you haven’t already signed up for E-script, please sign up under Group name: St Ambrose and Group ID #139618933. All your support helps.
St. Ambrose Youth will be selling mason jars filled with goodies to make bean soup or cookies. Jars are available for purchase now. You can order your jars from the Rev. Karen Swanson at karen.2.swanson@gmail.com, or you can place an order by calling the church office. We will arrange for jars to be picked up.
April Youth Inquirers’ Class
The Youth Inquirers’ Class is designed for any youth who would like to be confirmed, or would like to explore the Christian faith as it is expressed in the Episcopalian tradition. The first class session will be rescheduled. The class will end with the Bishop’s visit in June. It will include a focus on the spiritual life, a service opportunity, and hands on learning about the faith. The teaching approach will include art, discussion, games, and a movie as well as mini-lectures. Please contact the Rev. Karen Swanson (650-200-8449) to sign up for this opportunity.
Study groups schedule
The Tuesday Bible Study group will be meeting via Zoom on April 7th at 1:00 pm. They are reading the Letter of James.
Updating the Church Directory
It is time to update the church directory. The information we request for the church directory is names, address, wedding anniversary date, email addresses and phone numbers. Please send you information to Administrative Assistant, Margie Lee at stambrose@mindspring.com.
Signing Up for the Carbon Tracker
David McIntyre has given presentations at St. Ambrose on how to sign up for the Carbon Tracker. If you want to get started on your own, it’s pretty easy.
1.Go to: https://www.sustainislandhome.org/, which is the portal for the Diocese of California (the generic portal for non-church members would be:
https://sanmateo.goco2free.org/) .
- Click GET STARTED; create a household name, enter your e-mail and name, prove that you’re not a robot, and CREATE NEW ACCOUNT.
- As you move through the process, you’ll want to select your Parish (St. Ambrose) and City (Where you live.) The Parish pools all the members of the congregation together. The City gives you information for people in your geographic residence.
- After you’re in, you’ll answer some basic questions about your household and energy usage. The website can estimate your usage, but some things that you might want to gather before you start would be your usage over the past year of: water, electricity, natural gas, car mileage, and air miles.
- From there, the website gives you a report, and then information about how to make informed decisions going forward. This doesn’t need to be confusing and is something that we can easily do from a laptop during coffee hour at St. Ambrose.
St. Ambrose Choirs
As worship in person is cancelled through May 10th the Adult Choir is taking a break through May 7th. Choir Director, Maureen Fromme, will be in contact with choir members about how to proceed.
The Children’s Choir which meets on Sundays after the 10 am service is cancelled until May 17th.
Please contact Maureen Fromme if you have any questions, or email her at mhfromme@yahoo.com.
Forward Day by Day
Forward Day by Day is available on-line at https://prayer.forwardmovement.org. You can read the daily meditation on the scripture for the day, as well as find other resources.
Altar Guild Flower Fund
During the Shelter-in-Place time, we will not be having flowers for the altar until worship services in person are scheduled.
The St. Ambrose Altar Guild prepares the altar and sanctuary for each service. As part of these responsibilities, the guild provides the beautiful flower arrangements for the sanctuary. These flowers are funded by individual donations. The cost of the altar flowers is $65 per week, but any amount is welcome. You may contribute toward flowers in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days, or in memory of loved ones. To make a donation please complete the blue form in the flower pot on the credenza in the foyer, and place this blue form along with your donation in one of the white envelopes also found there. Checks are to be made out to St. Ambrose Episcopal Church. Please put “Altar Flowers” in the memo line. To complete your donation, put the white envelope in the offertory plate or on the desk of the administrative assistant, which is the desk facing you when you enter the church office. Thank you! Your donation is much appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to Charlene Adolph (650-504-5525).
Sign up for E-script:
Good news: SaveMart, Lucky, and Food Maxx have recently partnered with E-script. If you haven’t already signed up for E-script, please sign up under Group name: St Ambrose and Group ID #139618933. All your support helps.
Mark Your Calendars
- Virtual Sunday of the Passion, Palm Sunday: April 5, 10 am, You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
- Virtual Children’s Sunday School, Preschool to 2nd grade: Sunday, April 5, 10 am, Join Zoom Meeting. To be invited contact Fe Balamiento at valentin_fe@yahoo.com or 415-579-8872.
- Virtual Children’s Sunday School, 3rd to 5th grade: Sunday, April 5, 11 am, Join Zoom Meeting. To be invited contact Fe Balamiento at valentin_fe@yahoo.com or 415-579-8872.
- Mason Jar Mission Sales: Contact the Rev. Karen Swanson to order your jars, karen.2.swanson@gmail.com or 650-200-8449
- Virtual Youth Group Meeting: Sunday, April 5, 4 pm, To be invited, contact the Rev. Karen Swanson at karen.2.swanson@gmail.com; 650-200-8449
- First Inquirer’s Class for Youth Ministry: Youth, Children and Family Ministry Office in the chapel; for more information contact karen.2.swanson@gmail.com or call at 650-200-8449
- Virtual Maundy Thursday Liturgy at the Washington National Cathedral: April 9, 4:30 pm, https://cathedral.org/event/online-holy-eucharist-with-stripping-of-the-altar/
- Virtual Good Friday Liturgy: April 10, 12:10 pm You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
- Great Vigil Online Live Stream from Grace Cathedral: Saturday, April 11, 9 pm, https://gracecathedral.org/events/the-great-vigil-online-live-stream-3/
- Virtual Easter Sunday Liturgy of the Word from the Holy Eucharist: Rite II: April 11, 10 am, You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
- Virtual Easter Egg Hunt: April 11, time to be determined. For more information contact Fe Balamiento at valentin_fe@yahoo.com.
- Monday Zoom Bible Study Group: Mondays, April 13 and 27, 7 pm; To be invited please contact Warren Wong at wwong@nd.edu.
- Virtual Sunday Liturgy of the Word from the Holy Eucharist: Rite II: April 19 and 26, 10 am, You Tube link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCfCRkqxS1Ii-yYov5kMpvDg
- Bishop Marc Andrus’ Visitation to St. Ambrose: Sunday, June 21, 8 am and 10 am
- Diocesan Convention: Friday, October 23, 2 pm to 8:30 pm, Saturday, 9 am to 3:30 pm, Grace Cathedral
- Harvest Festival Dinner: Saturday, October 24, 6 pm, Foster City Recreation Center, Lagoon Room and Blue Bird Room
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Second Harvest Food Barrel: Thanks to all who donate. We have a new barrel to fill! Please bring cans of food when you come to worship and place it in the Second Harvest Food Barrel in the foyer. Monetary contributions to Second Harvest may be made to St. Ambrose, designated “Second Harvest,” or sent directly to The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Attention: Donation Dept., P.O. Box 213, San Mateo, CA 94401-0213.
DIOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENTS
A Pastoral Message to the Diocese, from Bishop Marc
On April 2, 2020, Bishop Marc, with his wife Sheila's help, produced a video greeting to the people of our diocese from their home in San Francisco. Please watch the video here.
Helpful instructions on how to join a Zoom call
We have heard from some of our clergy that parishioners are having a hard time logging onto Zoom calls. Below please find clear, hopefully easy instructions on how to join a zoom call. Feel free to share with your parishioners. For more thorough instructions, click here.
How to join Zoom by computer
On April 2, 2020, Bishop Marc, with his wife Sheila's help, produced a video greeting to the people of our diocese from their home in San Francisco. Please watch the video here.
Helpful instructions on how to join a Zoom call
We have heard from some of our clergy that parishioners are having a hard time logging onto Zoom calls. Below please find clear, hopefully easy instructions on how to join a zoom call. Feel free to share with your parishioners. For more thorough instructions, click here.
How to join Zoom by computer
- Make sure all other programs on your computer that uses your camera are closed first (ex: Facetime, Skype, etc.)
- Have a headset available if possible to minimize feedback – your cellphone earbuds will work well.
- Click the Zoom link that’s been sent to you in an email, and Zoom should automatically and quickly download to your computer.
- In Downloads on your computer, click Zoom_launcher.exe.
- Once Zoom has launched, a screen should pop up asking for your name. This will identify you during the meeting.
- You should now be part of the meeting. Click the green button that says “Join Audio By Computer”.
- If you choose to use your tablet or smartphone, be sure to download the Zoom app ahead of time.
- Once you have downloaded the Zoom app, follow the “Join by computer” instructions above.
- First, dial the phone number provided in the Zoom email.
For DioBytes Archive
Please click on the link above for past issues of the DioBytes for Weekly News from the Episcopal Diocese of California
Please click on the link above for past issues of the DioBytes for Weekly News from the Episcopal Diocese of California
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
HIP Housing is a Non-Profit Organization in San Mateo County:
The purpose of this non-profit is to connect people with extra living space in their homes with people who are looking for a room to rent. A flier about HIP Housing is posted in the Parish Hall on the Community News Bulletin Board. To contact HIP Housing call 650-348-6660. To schedule an appointment to discuss home sharing opportunities or other available affordable housing visit www.HIPhousing.org. On this website you will also find information about Rooms For Rent Providers and Rooms for Rent Seekers.
The purpose of this non-profit is to connect people with extra living space in their homes with people who are looking for a room to rent. A flier about HIP Housing is posted in the Parish Hall on the Community News Bulletin Board. To contact HIP Housing call 650-348-6660. To schedule an appointment to discuss home sharing opportunities or other available affordable housing visit www.HIPhousing.org. On this website you will also find information about Rooms For Rent Providers and Rooms for Rent Seekers.