Saint Mary’s Weekly News
March 24, 2013 – The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday
It’s Palm Sunday this Sunday.
Remember we start both services in the auditorium and process together to the church.
Maundy Thursday Agape meal sign up
Thursday evening at 6:00 pm. Our Maundy Thursday Agapé Supper and Liturgy is one of our most special liturgies of the year. We gather for a simple meal of soup, bread, cheese, and fruit. Holy Scripture proclaims the institution of the Lord’s Supper and Jesus’ act of service by washing the feet of his disciples. We re-enact the footwashing. At the conclusion of the meal, we walk over to the Church for the remainder of the Eucharist, and the stripping and washing of the Altar.
Because space in the auditorium is limited, we need to know who is coming. Visit the Sign-Up Table by the Guild Room where you may indicate if you (and your family/friends) are planning to attend this special event. You may indicate if you would like to bring fruit juice, dried fruit, wine, bread, cheese, olives, or nuts.
All-Night Vigil of Prayer and Adoration
Maundy Thursday 9:00pm to Good Friday 12 noon in our new Chapel.
“Can you not watch with me one hour?” These are the words spoken by Jesus to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. We overcome the failure of the twelve by keeping an all-night vigil of prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in our new Chapel. This is an intimate, highly spiritual time to spend in the presence of God. Visit the Sign-Up Table by the Guild Room where you may indicate the time that you would like to keep vigil.
Good Friday at S. Mary’s: A Day of Prayer and Fasting
Friday at 4:00pm: Walking the Way of the Cross for Children. Our children read the descriptions of the “Stations of the Cross”. Even if you have no children, to hear our young people proclaim the events of Good Friday may well move you to tears.
Friday at 7:00pm: The Liturgy of the day. There are powerful readings, times of silence, and the Church stripped bare by the austerity of mourning. The Passion According to Saint John is chanted to an ancient tone; a plain, wooden cross is brought into our midst. The organ does not sound; it, too, is silent in the face of Christ’s self-offering. Make plans now to enter into the mystery and awe.
The Great Vigil
Saturday evening at 7:05pm. The Great Vigil is the single most powerful liturgy of the year. It begins at sundown at 7:05pm with the Blessing of the New Fire, the Lighting of the Paschal Candle, and our procession into the darkness of the Church, still in mourning for the death of Jesus. The story of salvation is told through Hebrew Scripture, the font is filled and Baptismal Water blessed, and the lights of the church go on as Christ is proclaimed risen! This liturgy is unique. Bring a bell from home to help proclaim the Lord’s resurrection.
The Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day
9:00am: Traditional Festive Eucharist with choir, organ and brass.
10:30am: Children’s Easter Egg Hunt outside (weather permitting) or in the Parish House.
11:00am: Contemporary Festive Eucharist with organ, brass, and choir.
Celebrate or remember your loved ones through floral tributes on the altar.
The Altar Flower Guild is honored to provide flowers not only at Easter but on each Sunday throughout the year (except for Advent and Lent.) You may support these special decorations by donating to the Altar Flower Guild in memory, in honor or in celebration of someone special to you. Please see the enclosed lavender or pink-colored form or locate one in the back of the church, the guild room or the parish office. Deadline is this Monday!
Habitat for Humanity Family and Pet Walk! It’s time to start gearing up
Saturday, April 27th The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary the Virgin- 43 Foreside Road, Falmouth Pancake Breakfast - 8am to 9am Official Walk Start Time - 9am Registration - 8am until 10am.
Foreside Community Church will be the half way turn around this year. Walkers, volunteers and sponsors are needed! For more information or to find out how you can help please contact Anne LaFond @alafond@maine.rr.com, 781-8820.
Sunday, April 7th, is Habitat Sunday. There will be a brief presentation to Guiding RAY, and the congregation about the value of Habitat for Humanity and what Habitat contributes in the Greater Portland area. Hands, Feet and Dollar bills will be available in the bulletin for volunteer sign up.
2013 Stewardship Campaign: “All Baptized into One Body”
Christ offered himself freely for us, so that we might live a new life in hope.
In recognition of this gift, we offer portions of our time and treasure so that God can continue to bless the world through the church. Thank you to those who brought your 2013 Pledges today, Palm Sunday, March 24, when we will have a special Ingathering during the service. Don’t worry if you left yours at home; there are extra pledge forms in the back of the church. Thank you so much for your vital and faithful support of S. Mary’s!
Here are our 2013 Pledge results so far:
Godspeed- S. Mary’s Saturday prayer & running group
8 am every Saturday morning! All are invited to gather by the Parish House. The group pace will be determined by those who show up, but you can expect to be challenged! Watch the E-News for weekly updates if there are weather concerns.
Communicating with Fr. Nathan
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
Interested in starting a Book Club based at S. Mary’s?
We worship together; we pray, we eat, and we laugh together - let’s read together too. If interested in helping to charter a S. Mary’s Book Club, please contact Kathy Street, 878-9641 kathstreet@live.com.
Safe Church Trainings this Spring
The Diocese of Maine is sponsoring three Safe Church Training programs which include healthy church practices concerning the safety of ministry with adults, protection of children and youth, and elder abuse prevention. Participants will build an awareness and strive to make our churches safer places for all generations. For complete information about Diocesan Policies and Procedures, the schedule of trainings, and links to register for training, visit tinyurl.com/DioMaineSafeChurch
Scheduled trainings: April 13 at St. George’s in Sanford; and Saturday, May 11th at Trinity Church, in Castine. We have people going to both, so we can car pool!
Our children in church
The Guiding RAY Leadership Team is developing new quiet baskets for the children in church. Please look through your toy baskets at home and bring in any coloring books (gently used is fine), drawing books, notebooks, pencils, crayons, lacing cards, magna doodles, etc. Any quiet, interactive activities are most appreciated. Please note we cannot use play-doh, moon sand, markers, or any other items that may damage the kneelers. Anything we can't use will be donated to Goodwill or to Guiding RAY.
Join the Souper Supper Team
We offer free community suppers on the second and fourth Friday of each month in the auditorium of S. Mary’s Parish House. The dinners, which will be available to the public at no charge, are served in a family-style setting and consist of a hearty soup or entree, salad or vegetable, bread, homemade desserts and beverages. We’d love to have you join us for a wonderful fellowship dinner or to help out in setup serving or clean-up. contact Jennifer Gregg jenniferanngregg@gmail.com if interested or if you would like more information.
Don’t buy your coffee anywhere else! Support Souper Supper at S. Mary's
Fair Traded “Coffee by Design” Coffee on Sale Now!
If 50 families bought just 1 bag a month, we could support our Souper Supper community fellowship effort! …. and support fair trade practices by local owners…..and get GREAT organic coffee! Win! Win! Win!
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.
Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion to those unable to worship with us on Sunday morning. The Eucharistic Visitor this week is Ginny Stelk.
This Week’s Calendar at Saint Mary’s – March 2013
Sunday 24 8:00am Palm Sunday: Traditional Eucharist
9:30am Guiding RAY open downstairs in Parish House
10:00am Palm Sunday: Contemporary Eucharist
Monday 25 12noon Prayer in the Chapel
Tuesday 26 10:00am Order of St. Luke in church
12noon Prayer in the Chapel
1:30pm Garden Club meeting
7:00pm AA in Auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Wednesday 27 12noon Prayer in the Chapel
6:00pm Stewardship meeting
7:00pm Choir Rehearsal – in Church
Thursday 28 Maundy Thursday
10:30am Weekday Worship – in the Chapel
4:00pm Boy Singers of Maine
6:00pm Agape Meal
7:30pm Maundy Thursday Liturgy
7:30pm Men’s AA downstairs
9:00pm All-Night Vigil of Prayer and Adoration begins
Friday 29 Good Friday
4:00pm Children’s Walking the Way of the Cross
5:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
7:00pm Good Friday Liturgy
Saturday 30 Holy Saturday
8:00am Godspeed outdoors group (weather permitting)
9:00am Boy Singers of Maine
7:05pm The Great Vigil
Sunday 31 Sunday of the Resurrection: Easter Day
9:00am The Sunday of the Resurrection: Traditional Eucharist
10:30am Children’s Easter Egg Hunt
11:00am The Sunday of the Resurrection: Contemporary Eucharist
No comments:
Post a Comment