Thursday, December 19, 2013

S. Mary's eNEWS for 12.22.13

Saint Mary’s Weekly News

December 22, 2013 – The Fourth Sunday of Advent

 

Our prayer concerns for this week

For healing: Marge Devine, Nat Fenollosa, Andrew Leighton, Roger Murray, Peg Pierce, Dolores and John Rich, Jen Rothbart, Lynne Shepherd Eileen Shortell, and  John Unfricht.

 

Pledge Envelopes for 2014 will be available next week.  We will provide them for those who have requested envelopes in the past few years, and there will be a sign-up sheet outside the Guild Room if you do not have them but would like to do so.

 

The Annual Sparkles Concert:  “A Child Is Born”  - 

Rescheduled for 4 pm this SUNDAY afternoon 

This seasonal program is presented by a chorus, some of Maine finest solo singers, period baroque instruments (violins and oboe), lute, and organ in a program that will lift your spirits. Interspersed throughout the evening will be readings from the King James Bible, and poetry from masters of all ages read by Saint Mary's rector, Father Nathan Ferrell. After the concert you are invited to an elegant reception to end the Advent Sparkles Season.  Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, with a family cap of $40.00, and are available on line at stmaryschola.org, at the parish office, at coffee hours or at the door.

 

Stewardship Update

Thank you to all who give so much to our life here at Saint Mary's. We are so blessed to have so many contributing time, talents and/or treasures. As you may recall, our stewardship campaign was not on the typical annual schedule last year. Pledges were made during Lent. We hope that you'll continue your pledge as we pass into 2014. We'll begin our stewardship campaign in January so stay tuned for more information. There are some among us who like to give annually in December or January. If that timing is better for you and your budget, please feel free to continue. You can let Beth know your intention for 2014. And thank you for all you do to enrich the ministries and programs here at Saint Mary's!!

 

Youth Ministry Notes

“The Middlers”

The Middlers are “on break” during the holidays and will restart in early 2014! 

 

Godly Play - Christian Formation for our younger Christians

We offer a Montessori-based program called Godly Play to learn about God, the Bible, and the Church with our children.  Family Chapel begins at 9:15am followed by Guiding RAY classes (age 4 through 5th grade) begin downstairs in the Parish House at 9:30am. The nursery also opens at 9:15 for our infants and preschoolers. 

There will be no Chapel or classes on December 29. These will resume on January 5.

 

Serving The World

Thanks to all who gave gifts to the Saint Mary’s Giving Tree this year

 

TODAY, December 22nd, is our Soup Kitchen Sunday 

The Fourth Sunday of each month, Saint Mary’s prepares and serves a hot meal to the clients at the Preble Street Soup Kitchen.  We need people to (a) go around 10:30 to help with the cooking and set-up; (b) to arrive about 11:45 to assist with table service; and/or (c) to help with clean-up beginning at 1:00.  Bless you. Questions?  Please call Marian McCue at 761-1936 or mmccue@maine.rr.com 

 

 

Haiti Mission Team reporting: January 5 & 12 

Becky, Kelly and Bruce will share their experience in Haiti with the parish by photo, video and storytelling at our Twelfth Night Potluck & Epiphany Eucharist on Jan. 5 at 5 pm. Then Becky will be our preacher on January 12 and share about their experience of hands-on mission work in light of the Gospel message. Don’t miss it!

 

Meetings, Gatherings and Events

 

Twelfth Night Potluck, Eucharist and Mission Program

Sunday, January 5th - SAVE the DATE!!!!

Let’s join together to celebrate the twelfth night of Christmas and the Epiphany.  Epiphany means to show, is a season of light, when Christ is shown to be the light of the world. During Epiphany, we follow the wise men and the disciples as they learn to follow Jesus and what it means for us to follow Jesus.  What a perfect time for our missionaries to Haiti to share their experiences with us!  There is a sign-up sheet by the Guild Room.  

 

Art and Faith Dialogue Group

Everyone is welcome to join this open group discussion at 9:15 am on Sundays in the Guild Room. This group will convene again on January 5 and continue to make plans for a potential Lenten art show.

 

Spiritual nourishment for all: Thursdays at Saint Mary’s   

Our 10:30 am Study and 12 noon Healing Eucharist will be offered again on January 2.

 

Saint Mary's Book Group - NEW and corrected

will meet on Monday, January 27 at 2:00.  We will discuss Wallace Stenger's "The Spectator Bird".  It is a tongue-in-cheek novel about aging.   Everyone is welcome!  Please come! Call Jean Wandel 781-4940 for more details.

 

Pastoral Care

 

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 anytime on his cell at 609-410-7573.

 

Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion to those unable to worship with us on Sunday morning.  The Eucharistic Visitor today is Deacon Christine Bennett.  During the week if you or someone you know needs communion, please call the Parish Office. If you wish to learn more about this special ministry, feel free to speak with Deacon Christine.

 

This Week’s Calendar at Saint Mary’s

Sunday                      22      8:00am       The 4th  Sunday of Advent: Traditional Eucharist

                                           9:15am       Art and Faith Discussion group

                                           10:00am       The 4th Sunday of Advent: Christmas Pageant & Eucharist

                                                                                10:30am         Preble Street Soup Kitchen work begins

                                                          4:00pm           Sparkles SCHOLA Concert at S. Mary’s

Monday                     23      12noon       Noonday Prayer in the Chapel

Tuesday                     24      THE EVE OF THE NATIVITY

                                           10:00am       Order of St. Luke 

                                                          12noon       Noonday Prayer in the Chapel

                                               4:00pm       Christmas Eve Family Liturgy

                                           6:00pm       Christmas Eve Family Liturgy

                                           11:00pm       Christmas Eve Candlelight Mass

                                           7:00pm       AA in Auditorium

                                           7:30pm       Al-Anon in the Guild Room

Wednesday               25      THE FEAST OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

                                           Parish Office Closed                      

                                                          10:00am       Christmas Day Eucharist

Thursday                   26      Saint Stephen, Deacon and Martyr

                                           Parish Office Closed

                                           12noon       Noonday Prayer - wherever you find yourself

Friday                        27      Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

                                           Parish Office Closed

                                           12noon       Noonday Prayer - wherever you find yourself

                                           4:00pm       Wedding rehearsal

                                           5 - 7pm       Community Souper Supper

                                           5:30pm       Al-Anon in the Guild Room           

Saturday                    28      The Holy Innocents

                                           3:00pm           Smith - Duchin Wedding

Sunday                      29      8:00am       The 1st Sunday of Christmas: Traditional Eucharist

                                           10:00am       The 1st Sunday of Christmas: Contemporary Eucharist

                                                                       

 

 

 

Beth Shaw

Parish Administrator

The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary

43 Foreside Road (Route 88)

Falmouth, ME 04105

207-781-3366

www.smary.org

 

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