Saint Mary’s Weekly News
February 15, 2015 – The Fourth Sunday after Epiphany
Weather Alert! With the snow predictions for this Saturday night into Sunday looking a bit ‘white’ at this moment, please use discretion in your decision to travel out your door. Father Nathan will hold services as he can walk to church, but he understands if your weather – affected conclusion causes you to worship at home.
The Gospel lesson for Sunday tells the story of Jesus’ Transfiguration: Mark 9:2-9
February 18 is Ash Wednesday: The Invitation to a Holy Lent
There will be multiple opportunities for everyone to observe this special day of fasting, prayer and self-denial. In addition, if anyone would like ashes brought to a homebound member, please call the Parish Office right away. Our Ash Wednesday services will be:
· 7 – 9am: Ashes-To-Go in the Pratt-Abbott parking lot (Rt. 1 and Depot Rd)
· 12noon: Ash Wednesday liturgy – in the Chapel
· 4pm: Ash Wednesday for Children and Youth – in the Chapel
· 6pm: Ash Wednesday liturgy with music – in the Church .
Thanks to all who brought in your palms from last year to burn for use on Ash Wednesday.
5 for 5 in Lent: Small Groups for everyone! Beginning Feb. 22
Sunday, Feb. 22, at 4 pm in Yarmouth: “Freeway” study led by Fr. Nathan
Monday, Feb. 23 at 7 pm in Scarborough: “Being Christian” study led by Fr. Jim Low
Tue, Feb. 24 at 11 am at Saint Mary’s: “Being Christian” study led by Deacon Christine
Tue, Feb. 24 at 3:30 pm in W. Falmouth: “Being Christian” study led by Jane Stegemann
Wed, Feb 25 at 7 pm in Falmouth: Epistle of James study led by the Hurdman’s
THIS is our special program for Lent! Our goal is for everyone to make a special Lenten commitment for 5 weeks to participate in a small group study. This is a proven path to achieve spiritual growth and to strengthen our community here at Saint Mary’s.
Need details? Call the Parish Office or go to www.smary.org . Make the call today!
Stewardship 2015 Update
We are all God’s servants, working together; you are God’s field, God’s building. (1 Cor. 3:9)
We continue to get closer to our pledge goal of $265,000!!! Thank you to the 139 families who have pledged $241,894. Saint Mary's is truly blessed! To meet our mission, we need to achieve our goal. Use this time before Lent begins to consider your pledge. If you need a form or have questions, call or email Beth Shaw, our Parish Administrator, 781-3366 or admin@smary.org. Thank you for your pledge!!!
2015 Offering Envelopes: on the Sign-Up Table now!
Our 2015 Stewardship Campaign begins their wrap up today, but offering envelopes for the entire year are available to those who have requested them at any time. If you would like to have offering envelopes, please contact Beth Shaw in the Office to request these.
Serving The World
Preble Street Soup Kitchen: Next Sunday, February 22
The Fourth Sunday of each month Saint Mary's prepares and serves a hot meal to the clients at the Preble Street Soup Kitchen. Preble Street serves many of the homeless in Portland, as well as others who cannot afford to buy food. We often serve up to 300 clients at a setting. We have a dedicated band of volunteers who find this work very rewarding. We are always looking for more people to help. We need people to (a) arrive 10:30 am 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 from 12:45 to 2 pm.
If you would like to join us, please contact Carla Birt at carlabirt@gmail.com , or Marian McCue at mmccue@maine.rr.com .
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 are 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. FMI, contact Jennifer Gregg at jenniferanngregg@gmail.com .
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!
Emergency Fuel Fund
Please consider making a special offering to enable our support of those who need help with their heating bills this winter. Envelopes are available in the Prayer Books and in the Narthex. Thanks from the Outreach Committee and all those who you will help!
Become a Hospice of Southern Maine Volunteer
Hospice of Maine is currently accepting applications for our April training. If you are interested in becoming a hospice volunteer, and would like more information, please contact the volunteer department. You may also visit www.hospiceofsouthernmaine.org and click on Volunteering.
Christian Formation Notes
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)
At 9:30 AM, Family Chapel is a brief time for families and children to be with Fr. Nathan in the Chapel. Guiding RAY classes begin immediately afterward at 9:45 AM.
The Nursery is open for our youngest disciples in the Kneeler Room (near the Auditorium) beginning at 9:45 AM every Sunday morning.
The Middlers meet at 9:30 AM over in the Living Room of the Rectory. They are led by Jeff and Diane Campbell and they all have a great time together!
Youth Ministry
Middle School Winter Event: March 6 – 8
Friday night to Sunday afternoon at St. Paul’s Church in Brunswick. All of those in 6 – 8th grade are invited to meet new friends from across the state, have fun, and learn more about God. Go now to www.maineyouth.net to register. Don’t miss it!
High School Service Group: February 13, 22, and 27
This group serves as a vehicle for service, fellowship and spirituality for all high schoolers. We will focus on two of S. Mary's established outreach programs: Preble Street Soup Kitchen (on the 4th Sunday of every month) and Souper Supper (on the 2nd and 4th Fridays of every month.) Please see the Sign-Up Table outside the Guild Room. Or contact Anne LaFond (alafond@maine.rr.com or 781-8820) with your dates/times or any questions you might have.
Young Life Club: every MONDAY night at 7:31PM !
Every Monday night at 2 Town Landing Rd (the Herdrich family house), all high schoolers are invited to come and bring a friend. You can park in the town lot across from the Town Landing Market. This is CRAZY fun every time! Tomorrow night is GAME NIGHT.
Meetings, Events & Notes
2015 Class for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation
First informational meeting on Sunday, February 22, at 9:15 AM
Everyone who might be interested is invited to our initial meeting in the Parish House. We will discuss our preparations for this special event. Please bring your questions to this meeting, or contact Fr. Nathan in advance.
Who should come to this meeting and join this class? Those who wish:
· To confirm their baptismal identity as followers of Christ
- To be received into the fellowship of The Episcopal Church from another denomination (and so be eligible for parish leadership positions)
- To reaffirm their trust in God and their commitment to life in Christ
Get Stitching: every Tuesday at 1 PM
We are gathering at the church EVERY TUESDAY AT 1:00pm to stitch. Some are knitting prayer scarves, some making dryer balls, some quilting, some making mitten, or socks, or vests. We help each other and chat about whatever we want. There is laughter as well as concern for our world. Everyone is welcome to an hour (and a half) of productive fellowship.
Noonday Prayer every other weekday (Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri) in the Chapel
VERY IMPORTANT! Prayer is central to our community. This takes 10 minutes and all are welcome. You are also invited, wherever you may be, to STOP and PRAY at 12 noon for those in need, for our parish family, for our bishop, and for your own life with God.
Jazz to Celebrate Mardi Gras at the Cathedral: Tuesday at 7 PM
Come have a little fun with blues singer, Lorraine Bohland, pianist, Terry Foster and Port City Jazz in a concert of jazz to celebrate Mardi Gras on Tuesday, February 17 at 7:00 PM. Lorraine Bohland and Terry Foster are well-known in the Portland jazz community. Ms. Bohland’s program will feature her unique interpretations of jazz favorites such as, “St. Louis Blues” and “Won’t You Come Home Bill Bailey”. Led by trumpeter and vocalist, Carl Bradford, Port City Jazz will perform a variety of jazz classics including “As Time Goes By”, and “When the Saints go Marching In”. Suggested donations for the concert are $10 and $5 for students and seniors, with children under 12 admitted free. Don’t forget pancakes in the Lower Hall at 6:00 PM. For more details, visit www.stlukesportland.org
Mathematics is FUN: for 2nd – 8th graders
The MMSETS Program is offering Enrichment Mathematics Program for grades 2-5 (at 3:30 p.m.) and for grades 6-8 (at 5:30 p.m.) in our Parish House. The program brings back the curiosity, relevance and excitement of mathematics through puzzles, mathematical games and building modular origami constructions. As far as the students are concerned, they have fun, while we teach them to think mathematically, the ability to encode ideas in linguistic, symbolic way, translating it into diagrams and graph languages and coordinate the activation of various regions of the brain.
FMI about the program and the instructor for the MMSETS Program go to www.mmsets.org or contact Eva Szillery at evaszillerymmsets@gwi.net
Pastoral Care
Communicating with Father Nathan
Feel free to contact Nathan+ at any time if you wish to speak with him. You can e-mail him directly at nathanferrell@smary.org or call his cell anytime at 207-310-0268.
Prayer Concerns for this week:
For healing: Russell Jennings, Sarah Gorman, Mary Loring, Helen Baldwin, Rick Bartlett, Sasha and Chris Bartlett, Suzanne Bauer, Michelle Bilodeau, Gay Freeman, Paula Gardner, John Horahan, Angela Kase, Arthur Markos, Sandy Pauly, Peg Pierce, Wendy Pierce, Dennis Pike, Sandy Snow, Jean Wandel.
For those deployed: for Mark Winter, and for all active-duty military personnel and their families.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD NAMES TO THE PRAYER LIST, write them on the Sunday Prayer List found in the Narthex or contact the Office (781-3366 or smary@smary.org).
This Week at Saint Mary’s
Sunday 15 8:00am The Last Sunday after Epiphany: Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour & The Moth @ Saint Mary’s
9:30am Family Chapel & The Middlers
9:45am Guiding RAY classes begin
10:00am The Last Sunday after Epiphany: Contemporary Eucharist
11:00am Coffee Hour continues AND the palms are burnt!
Monday 16 Happy President’s Day – parish office closed for the holiday
12noon Noonday Prayer - wherever you find yourself
3:30–6pm MMSET classes on vacation
7:31pm Young Life Club – Game Night!
Tuesday 17 9:30am Art Group in auditorium
11:00am Wisdom Seekers small group study
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
1:00pm Get Stitching
6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon
7:00pm AA in the Auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Wednesday 18 ASH Wednesday - The Season of Lent begins
7 - 9am Ashes-to-Go at Pratt Abbott on Rt. 1
12noon Ash Wednesday liturgy – in the Chapel
4:00pm Ash Wednesday for Children and Youth – in the Chapel
6:00pm Ash Wednesday liturgy with music – in the Church
Thursday 19 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
7:00pm Choir rehearsal
Friday 20 Parish Office is closed on Fridays
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
5:30pm Al-Anon meeting
Sunday 22 8:00am The First Sunday in Lent: The Great Litany and Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour & The Moth @ Saint Mary’s
9:15am Confirmation, Reception and Reaffirmation meeting
9:30am Family Chapel & The Middlers
9:45am Guiding RAY classes begin
10:00am The First Sunday in Lent: The Great Litany and Contemporary Eucharist
11:00am Coffee Hour continues
4:00pm Lent Small Group: Freeway study in Yarmouth
March AVE deadline
Beth Shaw
Parish Administrator
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
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