April 9, 2022

Good Afternoon My Friends,

Wow, +12degrees, the sun is shining, there is open water in the river, the snow banks are dropping and I have green shoots coming up through the brown grass on my back lawn. Dare I say it, winter may be over and the "S word" may just be in full bloom.

I pray that you are all well and prepared for the long week to come. As a quick reminder, tomorrow we have Palm Sunday services at St. George's and Trinity, Holy Wednesday, we have Holy Eucharist at St. Ansgar's, the Maundy Thursday service will be held at Trinity and Good Friday will also be at Trinity. These are centrally located so that no one has to travel any distance to take part. Please pass these locations on to everyone who may want to attend.

Please find attached this week's readings and homily for you to read at your own leisure and prepare for Sunday's service.

May the Lord bless you and keep you, may you find comfort in His presence and strength in His lessons. May His peace fill your lives with joy and love. As you prepare for Holy Week, may you all be filled with a sense of contentment and blessing in the sacrifices made for you.

God Bless, Yours in Christ,

Harold+

--

The Reverend Harold Boomer, MTS

Parishes of Andover and Denmark

110 Fisher Ave.

Woodstock, NB

E7M 1S2

506-325-8125

February 26, 2022

This year's Ash Wednesday Service will held at Trinity Church in Andover. The service begins at 7:00pm, come and worship with us as we enter the season of Lent.

The members of our Church families in Andover and Denmark will begin preparing our hearts, minds and souls for the reflections and scriptures of our Lord's journey. Come and join us as we journey with Him.

All are welcome, all are wanted, all are children of creation. See you there. God Bless. H+

Good and Glorious Morning to you all,

I hope that everyone is well this week. It seems that before long we will not only see green grass and crocuses but also for the first time in months each other's faces. The thing I want most of all for you each to realize is just because we will no longer be required to wear masks, and be socially distant it doesn't mean that you need to abandon your own comfort levels and the level of safety that you have become accustomed to.

We are a family and the most important thing for us to be happy and fulfilled as a family, is that we are all first and foremost comfortable in each other's presence. For the time being, I will continue to wear my mask during communion, this will be for two reasons. First, because I am the point of contact for every person who partakes in the Eucharist, second because I will be handling the host and mixing the wine for the blessing.

We will sing, we will praise God for the strength He has Graced us with, we will focus on the Journey of our Saviour Jesus Christ, we will once again adapt to our lives and be thankful for all we have.

Tomorrow, February 27, 2022, will be the Annual Meeting for the Parish of Denmark. It will be held immediately after the 11:00am service of Holy Eucharist. Let me also remind you that Wednesday March 2, 2022 we will have our Ash Wednesday Service at Trinity Church in Andover. In the days to come, I will draw up the service schedule for Easter so that everyone has time to get them written down, since I am sure you will spend the next forty days of Lent thinking about Holy Week :)

May God continue to keep you safe in all you do. May He be present in your lives and comfort you in your changes.

Yours in Christ,

Harold+

--

The Reverend Harold Boomer, MTS

Parishes of Andover and Denmark

110 Fisher Ave.

Woodstock, NB

E7M 1S2

506-325-8125

February 5, 2022

Good Morning,

I trust everyone managed to make it through the second huge snowstorm in as many weeks. It will be nice to see the crocuses sprouting up through the soil in spring.

I pray that you have all remained healthy and that I will see you tomorrow as we once again begin in person worship in our Churches.

God Bless,

Yours inChrist,

Harold

--

The Reverend Harold Boomer, MTS

Parishes of Andover and Denmark

110 Fisher Ave.

Woodstock, NB

E7M 1S2

506-325-8125

January 13, 2022

We will be holding our services online until the end of January. May God bless you all and keep you safe as we continue to adjust our lives.

Please take the time to check in with friends and family, mental health is as important as physical health! Stay strong, keep warm and be thankful for the blessings we have.

From:Harold Boomer <harold.boomer@anglican.nb.ca>

Sent:Saturday, September 18, 2021 10:33 AM

To:

Subject:Readings, Updates and Prayers

Good Morning Everyone,

This week as you know we will have the Archbishop with us at Four Falls, as a result he will be preaching. I have included in this week's readings a homily written several years ago, that is a parallel Gospel to this Sunday's. If nothing else it is something to read.

The Upper Valley has once again, as I am sure you are all aware, been hammered by COVID. We have seen cases in our schools, churches and businesses. Although the evil of this disease continues to plague our lives, we can be confident that it will be eradicated and our lives will return to normal. In the meantime, I would ask that we all pray for those who have become sick, pray for their families, pray for the Doctors and Nurses who care for them. In this dark time we need to find the things we are grateful for, today I am grateful that we live where we live and that our leaders are working to resolve this problem. The news reports this morning stated that in the anti-vax state of Mississippi, 1:300 are presently dieing from COVID and hundreds more wait to be tested and admitted.

I am copying the Archbishop's letter that was sent out to Clergy yesterday for your review. My suggestion to our Parishes, is rather than alienate our brothers and sisters by polling the vaccinated, that we reinstate, at least for the time being, our COVID protocols. It is better for us to wear our masks, sanitize our hands and keep socially distant than be forced to close our doors again.

I pray daily for you all to be surrounded by the Grace of our Lord, and that you remain safe and surrounded by love, hope, faith and compassion.

May God bless you all!

Harold

A Letter From Archbishop David Edwards

Dear friends

It has been a busy couple of days in our province. On Wednesday the Government releasednewsabout new regulations to increase vaccination rates and slow the spread of COVID-19 that will come into effect on Tuesday September 21^stat midnight. On Thursday I was invited to participate in a meeting with the Health Minister, the Hon. Dorothy Shephard. I have taken some time to consider what Minister Shephard said and today I want to tell you the implications for our parishes.

The impetus for the new government regulations comes from two main concerns: the impact on our health-care system of the increasing cases of COVID-19, and those increases anticipated in the coming days, and emphasizing that vaccination is the public health measure most effective in combatting the Delta variant which is on the rise in the province.

The count on Thursday, September 16^thwas 336 active cases with 9 people in ICU. Projections suggest that over the next seven days we should expect 100 cases per day with 2 to 3 cases requiring a hospital bed. This has the potential to overwhelm our health care system if the government does not act to reverse this trend.

With the increased transmissibility of the Delta variant, public health’s latest scientific evidence is that herd immunity requires 90% of all eligible people to be double vaccinated.

Minister Shephard said, “I am asking for your help” to encourage worshippers to become fully vaccinated and to poll regular worshippers confidentially to find out the percentage of peoplewhoare double vaccinated, in your congregations. This only needs to be done once and would be anonymous, just recording numbers not names.

Our understanding now is that non-double-vaccinated people should not attend weddings or funerals. Minister Shephard made no comments on singing in worship, but did suggest that faith communities promote mask wearing indoors, particularly when moving to seats and moving around, and resume or continue contact tracing lists.

Minister Shephard noted that the government was trying to give faith communities flexibility, but the government expects us to implement regulations and the government intends to monitor compliance if necessary.

I expect more information from the government in a few days and I will pass it on when it is available.

This is what we can do now:

• Reconsider our parish risk assessments given this new information.

• Understand that the most effective public health measure is vaccination, and a 90% double vaccination rate is required for herd immunity. Our best protection is to meet this target and know when we are meeting this target.

• Poll congregation members asking their vaccination status and keep a record of the responses in a safe place.

• Maintain contact tracing lists for worship services.

• Consider an infectious disease plan that includes the public health measures we used in our COVID-19 operational plans.

• Keep our parishioners informed with emails, communications, and government posters.

We understand that more comprehensive guidance will be issued by the government during the next few days, so the information is incomplete at present. When it is received it will be made available.

A Personal Note

I am very sorry that we are having to face this again. I appreciate that it is an extra burden placed upon us and that there is an incompleteness in the guidance we have at present. I am grateful for the diligence we have all shown during the last 18 months in keeping each other safe.

Let us pray:

O Lord, support us all the day long of this troublous life, until the shades lengthen and the evening comes, the busy world is hushed, the fever of life is over and our work is done; then Lord, in thy mercy, grant us safe lodging, a holy rest, and peace at the last, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

--

The Reverend Harold Boomer, MTS

Parishes of Andover and Denmark

110 Fisher Ave.

Woodstock, NB

E7M 1S2

506-3254-8125

September 18, 2021

This is our new outdoor worship shelter. It was constructed on the site of St. John’s church at Four Falls. As you can see, it houses the bell from St. John’s and is a wonderful addition to our Parishes. Although there is still some fund raising to take place to complete its payment, all will be done by God’s Grace and will.

This Sunday, September 19th, we will be joined at our first outdoor service by Archbishop David Edwards. A service of Holy Eucharist will begin at 10:00am. It will be the only service in either parish this week and all are welcome. All you need to bring is a lawn chair.

In light of the recent upswing in COVID activity in the Upper Valley, it is recommended that although we will be outside and socially distant, ALL precautions be taken and masks are recommended.

May God bless you all and keep you safe.

Harold

Friday, February 19, 2021

Good Afternoon All,

It sounds like our prayers have been answered. Now that we have access North of the Four Falls Bridge, we will pick up with Holy Eucharist at Limestone Siding on Sunday Morning at 9:00am. The Annual meeting will be held at Trinity Church for the Parish of Andover after the 11:00am church service.

I would like to have a Parish of Denmark vestry meeting next week, Tuesday evening if possible and we will have a communion service beforehand at 7:00pm. I will post these times and dates on facebook so we can reach as many people as possible.

I am so pleased that this has progressed faster than we had originally thought.

God bless you all, stay safe and warm. See you Sunday.

Yours in Christ,

Harold

From Rev. Boomer:

Feb. 9, 2021

Good Morning All,

My apologies for the absence of a broadcast Sunday service. Unfortunately technology does not always want to cooperate with our plans. When I arrived home on Sunday, I worked to salvage a service from our recording, however for some reason we had bits and pieces of video and bits and pieces of audio and together it was perhaps five minutes of totally irrelevant mumble. I am trying to improve things with the equipment I have. We will hope that like everything, this will continue to improve.

This is a red letter day for our Brothers and SIsters North of the Four Falls Bridge. I pray that this rollback to red from isolation, continues to improve and that we can once again worship in person.

God Bless and stay safe,

Yours in Christ,

Harold

January 29, 2020

From Rev. Boomer:

“Good Evening,

First of all, I pray that you are all well. I have continued to pray for your safety and health. I believe that we have been apart far too long. This Sunday, with our return to orange and reduced numbers in zone 3, I would like to gather for Holy Eucharist at both St. George's and Trinity. I will bring my camera and now that the Youtube channel has been established, post the 11:00am service when I return home.

I think to remain on the side of caution we will celebrate in one manner, with the host only, just as we did when we were placed in orange last month.

For our Sisters and Brothers in Zone 4, I pray that you are Graced by the Holy Spirit, comforted by your faith and energized by the thought that this cannot last without end.

God bless you all and those who fill your lives.

Yours in Christ,

Harold “

From: Cheryl Jacobs

Date: Thu, Mar 19, 2020 at 4:26 PM

Subject: New Brunswick Calls State of Emergency

To:

Dear clergy and wardens of parishes with no incumbent,

I hope everyone is doing well, in all senses.

Bishop David has asked me to write to you to ensure you are all aware that Premier Higgs has declared a state of emergency for New Brunswick, effective immediately and until further notice.

In declaring this Premier Higgs indicated that there should be NO gatherings of more than 10 people. Chief Medical Office Dr. Russell has also indicated that everyone who can, should stay home and limit contact with the outside.

In view of this, Bishop David wishes to reiterate that there be NO public worship services in, or outside, our church buildings or in homes as per his directive from Monday.

We shall, of course, continue to pray.

Shalom,

Cheryl

Anglican Diocese of Fredericton

Cheryl Jacobs | Bishop's Secretary

cjacobs@diofton.ca

Image

Anglican Diocese of Fredericton

506.459.1801 ext 223

anglican.nb.ca