Saint Mary’s Weekly News
February 17, 2013: The First Sunday in Lent
The Great Litany is customarily sung or said on the First Sunday in Lent. It was used by the Church as early as the fifth century in Rome. The Great Litany was the first English language liturgy prepared by Archbishop Thomas Cranmer after Henry the VIII’s break with the Pope. It was first published in 1544. Cranmer modified an earlier litany by consolidating groups of petitions into single prayers with responses by the people. The use of this Litany in parish processions was ordered by Henry VIII when England was at war with Scotland and France. It was printed as an appendix to the Eucharist in the 1549 Book of Common Prayer and it has been widely used in Anglican churches around the world since then.
Stewardship
Just a reminder that even though we are beginning our stewardship campaign during Lent, we still need your financial support, so please maintain your current pledge from last year, or consider increasing (I just had to put that in there!). The pledge form you will be turning in on or before Palm Sunday will be for contributions starting on March 31 (the closest Sunday to April Thanks for your support of S. Mary’s many ministries. You make this all happen – every one of you is part of the One Body!
Acolyte Training: **It's not too late**
The last Training class will be held on March 3 after 10am service. Youth 8+ and Adults are welcome. We are in special need of older youth who can carry the cross. The last class will be approximately 1 hour with practice carrying candles and setting the altar for communion. Acolytes generally serve once per month from Sept – June. FMI contact: Tricia Wheeler at tjwheel@maine.rr.com.
Offering Envelopes for 2013 - Can be found in the Guild Room
Our Stewardship Campaign in 2013 will take place during Lent, but offering envelopes for the entire year are available to those who have used them previously or those who have requested them. If you would like to have the parish provide you with offering envelopes, you may sign-up for these in the Parish House or in the Narthex of the church or call the parish office.
Lenten Conversations with our Deacon: “Resilience”
In our ever changing lives, one thing is certain and that is that God is with us! Nothing is so certain as change and coping with change is very difficult. Our help is in God who teaches us resilience. On Thursday, February 21 at noon and each Thursday thereafter until March 21, Deacon Christine will guide a conversation about resilience based on a collection of articles from "Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life" Copies of each week's article will be available in the Guild room in advance of each session. Please come!
Are you ready for “Lent Madness”?
Vote for your favorite saint! Who will win “The Golden Halo”? Join this fun parody of “March Madness” throughout the season of Lent to learn about the saints and to support your favorites in this on-line competition. See www.lentmadness.org.
Calling All BOOKS!
As part of our 2013 Outreach Project, S. Mary's is holding its Book, Bake & Soup Sale on Saturday, March 16th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. WE NEED YOU to: donate books, videos, games & puzzles; sort books; sell books; BAKE for the bake sale; clean-up.
Please sign up to help in whatever way you are able and willing. There are sign-up sheets in the Guild Room. Any questions about baking call Elizabeth Heinzman; any questions about books, contact Becky Pride. Thanks to Babs Bell for making the soups. Regarding books, games or puzzles: Please leave them in the wool room in the auditorium lobby anytime across from the bathrooms.
Please do not donate used textbooks, encyclopedia sets, magazine sets.
Legacy Project - The End Game!
As we finish major construction on February 22 and begin the move of all furniture and furnishings back into the Parish House at 9am on February 23 (Hunks o' S. Mary's, please mark your calendars!) we are also moving into full swing to finish this campaign. We have come so very far against this $2.9 million campaign; as of this date we have a funding gap of $88,000, thanks to 211 parishioners who have pledged--including 49 who have given a second gift. We need each and every parishioner who has not yet joined this effort to consider doing so to help S. Mary's close this remaining gap!
We are so grateful as well to all who have pledged for keeping your payments current. We have credited $1,904,512 in payments to date, again keeping our borrowing to a minimum! Thank you!
Men’s Overnight Snowshoe Adventure
Calling all Saint Mary’s men of all ages to join Nathan up in Carrabassett Valley for an adventure in the snow around the Bigelow range and Flagstaff Lake! Thursday evening (Feb. 28) to Saturday afternoon (March 2). Interested? Don’t be afraid! You can do it! Send him an e-mail at nathanferrell@smary.org .
Haiti Trip this Fall!!
If you want to help change the world, there will be a week-long HAITI TRIP in November to work in a school across the border from the Dominican Republic. See Becky Pride for details.
Youth Center Ministry needs you!
Jim Stoddard, Marian McCue, Bruce Fithian and Becky Pride had another joy-filled and fun time at the Long Creek Youth Center this past Thursday. Our 17 young men are so appreciative and polite. This is such a safe and rewarding ministry! Please consider joining us as a team member once a month for an hour and a half. We would be so grateful if you did so. We played bucket ball, bean bags, Life, Yahtzee, Connect Four, and just talked ... oh, and we ate lots of cookies and drank soda!! See any of us for more information.
Coffee Hour Hosts Needed
Consider hosting a coffee hour in the Guild Room following the service (either by yourself or with another family.) A feast is not needed – just a tidbit to enjoy with the coffee that is already made. FMI, contact Betsy Stoddard at 829-2026 by e-mail at jbstod@myfairpoint.net
Godspeed
Saturday morning prayer & running & winter sports group! If there is snow, we will gather for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing tours in front of the Parish House on Saturday mornings at 8 am. Watch the E-News for weekly updates.
Fr.
Feel free to contact Fr. Nathan at any time if you wish to speak with him. You can e-mail him directly at nathanferrell@smary.org, or call him on his cell at 609-410-7573. Follow him on Twitter @FatherNate or visit his blog at www.fatherferrell.blogspot.com .
Emergency Fuel Discretionary Assistance
As the winter continues and the temperatures drop, let’s not forget to lend assistance to those that are struggling to stay warm. Requests for help come frequently to our office. Emergency Fuel Fund envelopes can be found in the hymnals in each pew. Thank you on behalf of the Outreach Committee and of those you truly need the help.
Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion to those unable to worship with us on Sunday morning. The Eucharistic Visitor this week is Lee Snow.
Wednesday Evening Lenten Series:
February 20, 27, March 6, 13, 20
“How to Pray without Ceasing”
Join your parish family for a 5-week study opportunity led by Fr. Nathan. Together we will read “The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer That Tunes the Heart to God”, a book by Frederica Mathewes-Green. After a simple meal of soup, salad and bread, we will join in a group discussion of this book and what it means for our daily lives. The books can be purchased for $8 each.
Here’s How it Works:
Each week, two or three people prepare soup or beans.
Other participants bring a salad, bread, or beverage.
Please sign up in the Guild Room, so we know how much soup to prepare.
(You can sign up for every week, or for those that fit your schedule.)
6:00 Simple supper for all
6:30 Group discussion begins
7:30 Closing prayer and clean-up
7:45 Clean-up and out the door!
This Week’s Calendar at Saint Mary’s – February 2013
Sunday 17 8:00am The 1st Sunday in Lent: Traditional Eucharist
9:30am Guiding RAY opens downstairs
10:00am The 1st Sunday in Lent: Contemporary Eucharist
Monday 18 President’s Day - Public School vacation week
Tuesday 19 8:00am Open Door - Twitter live with Fr. Nathan
10:00am Order of St. Luke in church
1:00pm Staff meeting
4:00pm Pastoral Partners
5:00pm Prayer Chain
7:00pm Specially-called Vestry meeting - in the Chapel
7:00pm AA in Auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Wednesday 20 Legacy Project Walk Through
6:00pm Lenten Soup, Salad & Program - All welcome!
Thursday 21 10:30am Weekday Worship – in the church
7:00pm Choir Rehearsal
7:30pm Men’s AA in the Guild Room
Friday 22 5:00pm Community Souper Supper
5:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Saturday 23 MOVING DAY!!! Time to move into our Parish House!
8:00am Godspeed outdoors group (weather permitting)
Sunday 24 8:00am The 2nd Sunday in Lent: Traditional Eucharist
10:00am The 2nd Sunday in Lent: Contemporary Eucharist and
Intergenerational Service – Kids of all ages are in church
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