Kristina DeFrancesco
Prayer for a New Day
Prayer for a New Day
Worship, News
Kristina DeFrancesco
Blessing of the Animals October 3

Join us October 3 at 5pm for an outdoor Blessing of the Animals. Animals on leashes or in carriers are warmly welcome, as are stuffed animals and photos.

Blessing of the Animals October 3
Sermon
Kristina DeFrancesco
Pentecost 2 (6/6/21) – Garrett Yates

“It feels like this is something of our last Sunday of the school year, before we shift into summer mode next week with one 9am service. It’s also like we are at this societal moment of pivoting out of COVID-19 restrictions and more or less going back to normal – if there ever was such a thing. What’s been a bit disorienting for me was the radical abruptness of reopening. It was like the CDC and our civic leaders just got tired of the gray zone of semi-regulated communal life, and rather than slowly undimming the lights, they just decided to flick the switch on, and many of us, accustomed to the dark and coziness of quarantine, are squinting a little bit, trying to acclimate to the bright lights of normal.”

Pentecost 2 (6/6/21) – Garrett Yates
Sermon
Kristina DeFrancesco
Trinity Sunday (5/30/21) – Garrett Yates

“Imagine a Portrait Gallery approached you and wanted to capture your image for posterity. How would you like to be portrayed? What picture of yourself would you like others to see? And do you think that picture ties up at all with the pictures others have of you? How would you be in this portrait? Where would you be? What emotion, position, look would just capture you?”

Trinity Sunday (5/30/21) – Garrett Yates
Sermon
Kristina DeFrancesco
Day of Pentecost (5/23/21) – Garrett Yates

“Human beings take around 650,000,000 breaths in their lifetime;

About 25,000 a day. How many of those are we aware?

My Apple watch rings once an hour with a reminder to Breathe.

It’s kind of annoying:

What does it think I’ve been doing for the last hour?

It doesn’t give me a reminder to tell my heart to pump blood

Or to my intestines to digest food.

Why does it suppose I’ve neglected my breath?”

Day of Pentecost (5/23/21) – Garrett Yates

Join us for two special musical events this Sunday, May 18

Organ Recital

For the past few years, Jay Lane has served as Dean of the Merrimack Valley Chapter of the American Guild of Organists. As his term comes to an end, he’s invited chapter members to St. Anne’s to give their annual Members’ Recital, so they can enjoy our newly-expanded pipe organ. This short, informal event will be on Sunday afternoon May 19 at 2 pm. Please come listen!

 Pentecost Evensong at Trinity Concord

For many years, choirs from St. Anne's, St. Elizabeth's in Sudbury, Trinity in Concord, and Good Shepherd in Acton have gathered in the spring to sing together in a joint service. This tradition stopped during the recent pandemic, but will resume again in a service of Choral Evensong on Sunday, May 19, at 5 pm at Trinity at 81 Elm St. in Concord. Music sung by the combined choirs will include works by Philipp Racliffe, C. V. Stanford, and Everett Titcomb, who was for many years the musician at the Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Boston's Beacon Hill. The service is free and open to all.

Lent begins on Wednesday, February 14: Join us!

First, come eat pancakes on Shrove Tuesday, February 13 at 5 pm in Flint Hall. A host of dedicated flippers will toss you fresh pancakes, onto which you can add fruit, chocolate, syrup, butter, whipped cream… anything you want! It’s a festival of carbs and sugar! All are welcome and no need to bring anything.

Then, at 7 pm on Wednesday, February 14, we begin the solemn season of Lent with our Ash Wednesday service in the Sanctuary. We hope you will join us for this poignant service at which time we receive ashes on our forehead to remind us to choose humility and understanding over pride and willfulness.

And, if you would like to receive a copy of our 2024 Lenten Booklet, please contact Jennie in our Parish Office. The Booklet contains 40 essays, poems, and musings on the theme of “Everyday Saints” by our parishioners, clergy, staff, and friends.

Join Us this Sunday for the Memorial Tree Lighting & Blue Christmas Service

Each year on the first Sunday of Advent, we hold two very special services of remembrance.

The first occurs at dusk, 4:30 pm, when we light the huge Douglas fir at the top of the church driveway in memory of those we mourn during this usually festive season. The Memorial Tree was planted in the 1980s to commemorate the tragic passing of three young parishioners, and is the centerpiece of a short, poignant service at which we switch on the beautiful lights and hang ornaments for those we wish to remember.

Our Blue Christmas service immediately follows in the St. Anne’s Sanctuary at 5 pm. For those who have lost those most beloved to them, this service allows reflection in mourning and celebration through candles, quiet, and prayers.

We welcome any and all to attend one or both of these special services. For more information, please contact the Parish Office (781.259.8834).

Join Us on All Saints' Day

Fauré Requiem for All Saints’ Day, November 5

On Sunday evening November 5 at 5 pm we will observe the feast of All Saints with the Requiem by French composer Gabriel Fauré, accompanied by a chamber orchestra. In this serene and beautiful work, beloved by singers and listeners alike, Fauré sets the traditional words of the Latin Requiem mass to peaceful, moving music. Join us at this special event as we gather to remember all the faithful departed.

Join us for Evensong!

This Sunday, October 1 at 5 pm, come and experience evensong, an Anglican liturgy of rare and mystical beauty in which the Word is illuminated by music. Our next evensong will honor Thérèse of Lisieux, known as “The Little Flower.” The choir will chant the psalms and prayers, sing the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis as set by Stanford, and offer the lovely anthem “Like as the Hart” by Herbert Howells. Join us!

Welcome Back Sunday & Ministry Fair: September 17

Please join us in Flint Hall after both services for a lively Coffee Hour and chance to chat with old friends and newcomers. Representatives of our many commissions, fellowship groups, and service committees will be available to tell you about their vital work for the parish of St. Anne’s. The gathering will also feature our “Gallery of Creation” exhibit - a joyous celebration of what we all enjoyed, tried, cooked, saw, and experienced this past summer. This is also the day to bring in your filled pencil cases or supplies! We will bless the students, educators, and cases at the 10 am service. We hope you will join in all this fun as St. Anne’s kicks-off another program year!

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September Sunday School Resumes - Welcome Home!

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Our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program (preK-7th) begins with Children’s Chapel at 10:00 on September 10. We will all head to the service together for the Sign of Peace and Holy Eucharist. During the Coffee Hour, there will be a registration table for all families with CORI check updates and health/photo forms.

Our Atrium time will begin at 9:30 on September 17, with Parents of Good Shepherd (preK-1st grade) and Mustard Seed (2-4th grade) meeting in the People of God Atrium. Students in People of God (5-7th grade) will attend the 10:00 service and meet in the Sanctuary at 11:15 (after a quick snack in Coffee Hour!) for a Welcome Back and review of Acolyte poise and procedures. All Atrium groups will meet at 9:30 on September 24.