Saint Mary’s Weekly News
September 6, 2015 – The Fifteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Nomination Open for Vestry 2016
Serving on the Vestry is fulfilling, challenging and rewarding. It is a significant opportunity to serve and be stewards of our parish family. We need your input with nominations of wonderful candidates for the Vestry; feel free to nominate yourself if you wish. Just fill in the inserted form or find one in the narthex of the church or outside the Guild Room door by the ballot boxes. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact any member of the Nominating Committee: Anne LaFond (co-chair), Mary Ann McLean (co-chair), Jim Stoddard, and Shelly Maher. Thank you for your assistance!
Click for nomination form or just write you nominees on a sheet of paper
SEPTEMBER 13: Welcome Home Sunday BBQ Picnic – NEXT SUNDAY
Plans are being made now to kick off our new Program Year with energy! The Choir returns, Guiding RAY classes meet, and many hibernating committees, guilds and ministries kick into gear. Of course, we will have the ever-popular Bounce House and cotton candy machine in action! Hospitality will be cooking and there will be plenty of ways for you to help out. Please add to the festivities by bringing a side dish, salad or dessert.
· Last names beginning with A-K – bring a side dish or salad
· Last names beginning with L-Z – bring a dessert, bars, or cookies
NEXT SUNDAY, the full AUTUMN Sunday schedule resumes
- 8:00 AM Traditional Eucharist
- 9:00 AM Coffee Hour begins (in the Auditorium)
- 9:00 AM The Choir rehearses
- 9:30 AM Family Chapel (for all families and children) in the Chapel
- 9:30 AM The Middlers gather in the Youth Room
- 9:45 AM Guiding RAY class begin downstairs in the Parish House
- 10:00 AM Contemporary Eucharist
- 11:00 AM Coffee Hour continues – with our special cookout on Sunday, Sept 13!
Thursday Eucharist restarts this week in the Chapel at 12 noon – September 10
This is an informal time to gather at the Lord’s Table with a meditation on the scripture or the saint of the day, time for group discussion, and prayers for healing.
Noonday Prayer every other weekday in the Chapel
Pause for 10 minutes of prayer together. Everyone is welcome! You are also invited, wherever you may be, to STOP and PRAY with us in the Spirit at 12 noon for those in need, for our parish family, for our bishop, and for your own daily life with God.
Ready, Set…and Not Going Yet! September 20, 9 AM to 12:30 PM
Are your final arrangements all in place? Have you planned out your funeral? Are all of your family photos labeled? Spend some time in the Parish House on Sunday, September 20 and make sure that all your things are in order…even if you intend to live for many, many more years! It is a wonderful gift to your family for you to take the time to make your plans now. Lots of resources will be available. Come anytime for the entire tour. Bring a friend or members of your family.
Autumn Study Groups: beginning soon
Look for the sign-up sheets outside the Guild Room to ensure that we have enough room and plenty of books for all to participate. Join us for one or more!
Tuesdays at 10:30 AM (beginning September 22)
Ø “The Four Vision Quests of Jesus” – a six week study of Bishop Steven Charleston's book led by Deacon Christine. This book offers us a new perspective on four of the key events of Jesus' ministry through the lens of Native American spirituality.
Wednesdays at 6:30 PM (beginning September 23)
Ø “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home” – a six week study of Richard Foster’s book led by Deacon Christine. The book is a classic on every kind of prayer from adoration to contemplation and everything in between.
Wednesdays at 6:30 PM (beginning October 7)
Ø “Care for Our Common Home” – plans for coming together for an ecumenical community study of Pope Francis’ recent encyclical (teaching letter) which calls on every single human being to understand “just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.” All Falmouth congregations are participating in this study group which will continue for 5 weeks. The location is TBD.
Let us Sing to the Lord
Please consider joining the choir! We are a merry band who love praising God through music and enjoy a weekly dose of warm fellowship. During the program year, we meet on Thursdays at 7PM in the Choir Room on the lower level of the Parish House. We are looking forward to our weekly anthems and service music as well as a special All Saints Evensong on Sunday, November 1, when we will sing a great masterpiece, Fauré's Requiem. Please do not hesitate to contact Bruce after worship or by phone or email (831-7113, bsfithian@aol.com) or any choir member as we would love to have new friends and voices to join us!
Let’s all wear our Nametags!
Nametags are found in the Parish House. As a sign of hospitality, please wear them each Sunday and reach out to visitors. If you need a nametag, contact Beth in the parish office.
Christian Formation Notes
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)
Guiding RAY program will resume next Sunday, September 13. For more information on our Guiding RAY or Godly Play programs, please visit our website www.smary.org
The Nursery will remain open for our youngest disciples in the Kneeler Room (near the Auditorium) beginning at 9:15 AM. Next Sunday, the nursery will return to the Guiding RAY spaces in the lower level of the Parish House, and will begin at 9:30 AM.
Youth Ministry
Young Life Club: getting ready to re-launch soon!
Watch for notes of upcoming events and the re-launching of Club soon.
High School Service Group
This group serves as a vehicle for service, fellowship and spirituality for all high schoolers. We focus on two of Saint Mary's established outreach programs: and Souper Supper (every 2nd and 4th Friday) and Preble Street Soup Kitchen. Please see the sign-up Table outside the Guild Room. Or contact Anne LaFond (781-8820 or alafond@maine.rr.com) with your dates/times and any questions.
Serving The World
St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center: Tuesday, Sept. 8 from 9 – 11 AM
This is a vital outreach ministry of our Diocese which is hosted by St. Luke’s Cathedral. All are welcome to come and serve those in need in Portland. A group from Saint Mary’s will be there on Tuesday morning. Enter from the parking lot behind St. Luke’s Cathedral which is on Park Street.
Souper Suppers at Saint Mary’s: Every 2nd and 4th Friday – September 11 &25
This is a FREE Friday night dinner for everyone and anyone. Join us for supper for a relaxed evening of fellowship and outreach to the community and each other.
And join the Souper Supper Team! FMI: contact Jennifer, jenniferanngregg@gmail.com.
Falmouth Food Pantry
Serving the needs of citizens in Falmouth and surrounding communities for over 25 years. Food and supplies may be brought to worship on Sundays or to the Parish House during the week. Save the Date for the Annual Harvest Turkey Dinner, Thursday, October 15. This town-wide dinner supports all of the wonderful goodness and assistance that comes out of the Falmouth Food Pantry. Watch for ways that you can help out.
Haiti Mission Trip in February 2016: Info Meeting NEXT SUNDAY
Want to see and support the work of the Christian school Institution Univers in person? There will be a brief meeting of all those potentially interested in the Haiti trip between the liturgies on Sunday, September 13 at 9:15 AM in the Auditorium. Kelly Ianno and Becky Pride will be there to answer any questions you may have. Folks will need to decide if they plan to go on the trip by November 1. FMI: contact Kelly (mianno@maine.rr.com) or Becky (rebeccapride1@gmail.com).
Upcoming Events & Gatherings
Be Still: offered again on Monday, September 7, 7 -8 PM
Saint Mary's offers multiple ways for all to seek, hear, experience God. One such way is to stop...and give ourselves an opportunity to listen. Parishioners are warmly invited to gather in the Father James' Chapel every first Monday each month between 7 and 8 PM for silent reflection, contemplation or meditation. There will be no presentation or service, though some resources are available. The time is yours. Come for five minutes or come for an hour.
SPARKLES NEWS
The first Sparkles organization meeting is Thursday, September 10th at 6:30 PM in the Guild Room. We love seeing our returning Sparklers AND having new folks join us. Anyone who is interested in helping Sparkles is WELCOME. Join in the fun!!
Co-chairs: Jan Mordarski (899-4099) or Onnie Hastings (878-6683)
Drop off dates for your gently used household items and treasures (no rummage or books please) will be October 10, 24, 31, November 7 and 21. Start collecting goodies to donate!
Community Care & Nurture
Communicating with Father Nathan
Feel free to contact Nathan+ at any time if you wish to speak with him. You can call or text his cell anytime at 207-310-0268 or e-mail him directly at nathanferrell@smary.org.
Prayer Concerns for this week: For healing: Roger Murray, Nancy Casey, Zachary Ferrell, Jackie Kopacz, Gay Freeman, Paula Gardner, Lisa Gaskin, Sarah Gorman, Lynn Hathaway, Cindy Horton, John Horahan, Scott Ryan, Lynne Shepherd, and Cathy Stakel.
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 6 8:00am The 15th Sunday after Pentecost: Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour
9:30am The 15th Sunday after Pentecost Contemporary Eucharist
10:30am Coffee Hour continues
2:30pm Kyros-Riddle Wedding in the church
Monday 7 Parish Office is closed for the Labor Day Holiday
12noon Noonday Prayer - wherever you find yourself
Tuesday 8 8:30am Saint Marians volunteer at St Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center
9:30am Art Group in Auditorium
10:00am Order of Saint Luke in the Wool Room
11:00am Wisdom Seekers in Chapel
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
1:00pm Get Stitching in the Wool Room
1:00pm Staff meeting
6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon
7:00pm AA in auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon meeting – in Guild Room
Wednesday 9 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Thursday 10 12noon Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel
4:00pm Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals
6:30pm Sparkles organizational meeting
7:00pm Choir Rehearsal
Friday 11 Parish Office is closed on Fridays
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
5-7pm Souper Supper – community dinner free for all
5:30pm Al-Anon meeting
Saturday 12 9:00am Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals and Parents meeting
Sunday 13 WELCOME HOME SUNDAY
8:00am The 16th Sunday after Pentecost: Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour
9:15am Haiti 2016 trip info meeting
9:30am Family Chapel & The Middlers
9:45am Guiding RAY classes begin
10:00am The 16th Sunday after Pentecost Contemporary Eucharist
11:15am Welcome Home Picnic & BBQ for everyone
Our Hymn Heritage – on September 6
Hymn 1 “Father, we praise thee, now the night is over” is a beautiful hymn combining both praise and prayer. In our daily round of work we meditate on our future life in God’s heaven and rejoice in the new day, God’s glory and creation (The Hymnal Companion, The Church Hymnal Corporation - hereafter to be labeled THC). The words are a translation of a Latin hymn, nocte sergentes, from the ten century. You can see that our hymns come from an ancient heritage.
The melody (Christe sanctorem) is also very old, from 17th century France and the famous Benedictine abbey of Cluny
Hymn 618 “Ye watchers and ye holy ones.” This is certainly a favorite hymn since its introduction in 1916. We are indebted to Ralph Vaughan Williams, who as co-editor prepared the English Hymnal from 1906. Our present day Episcopal hymnal has had three revisions: 1916, 1940 and currently 1982.
The words reflect the interest in the eastern church: verse 1 mentions the nine orders of angels codified by an important leader in the Byzantine church (pseudo-Dionysius); verse 2 is a paraphrase of the Theotokion, the “Greek Hymn to the Mother of God;” verse 3 calls upon the saints at rest, patriarchs, prophets, the apostles and martyrs to praise the Lord; and verse 4 is in invitation to the saints on earth to join this song of praise to the most Holy Trinity.
The melody, “Lasst uns erfreuen,” again thanks to Vaughan Williams, was taken from a German Catholic hymn from 1623 that in turn was taken from a 1525 French hymn from Strasbourg. What magnificent and enduring music.
Beth Shaw
Parish Administrator
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
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