Friday, October 30, 2015

Saint Mary's eNEWS for 11.1.15

Saint Mary’s Weekly News

November 1, 2015 – All Saints’ Day


 

November 1st – Daylight Savings Ends - Clocks go back one hour

 

Acolytes Needed! New acolyte training is November 1 & 8

An acolyte assists the clergy in leading worship.  Saint Mary’s acolytes are a faithful and dedicated group of people – youth and adult.  It is also a great way for families to worship together.  The training is simple and easy and most acolytes serve once a month.  We invite you to join our very important ministry!  FMI:  Tricia Wheeler at tjwheel@maine.rr.com .

CELEBRATE, HONOR, SERVE:  2016 Stewardship Kicks Off

We have kicked off our annual Stewardship Campaign. Woo hoo! By starting now, we hope everyone will have the chance to consider an amount to pledge for 2016. The packet includes a pledge form. Our hope is to have all the pledge forms returned by the end of the year. This helps us understand what revenue we can expect in 2016. 80% of our operating resources comes from your regular pledges. Our pledge goal is $265,000. So take time to review your packet and consider what you might be able to give back to God through Saint Mary’s in 2016. All pledges are welcome and celebrated. Thank you for your support! Together we will continue to celebrate, honor and serve the living God. 

Care for Our Common Home” : our turn at the Audubon Center

This is the final session of a community study of Pope Francis’ recent 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 5 week study group.  The last in the series is this Wednesday and Saint Mary’s will serve as the host.

·        Nov. 4 at 6:30 PM: Spirituality and Action, at Maine Audubon, led by Fr. Nathan

Thursday Eucharists: every Thursday in the Chapel at 12 noon

This is a beautiful, informal time to gather at the Lord’s Table with a meditation on the scriptures or the lives of the saints, 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.

Like us on Facebook and Twitter!

Would you like regular updates of what is happening at Saint Mary’s?

Then like us on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/ChurchofSaintMary   

Follow us on Twitter:  @SMaryFalmouth    And visit our website: www.smary.org

Christian Formation Notes

Guiding RAY  (Religious Adventures for Youth):   9:30 / 9:45 each Sunday   

At 9:30 AM, Family Chapel is a special time for families and children with Fr. Nathan in the Chapel. Guiding RAY classes begin immediately afterward at 9:45 AM.

For more information on our Guiding RAY or Godly Play programs, please visit our website  www.smary.org . The Nursery  opens at 9:30 AM for our youngest disciples and has returned to the Guiding RAY spaces in the lower level of the Parish House.

Youth Ministry

Young Life Casco Bay: Club on 11/2 at 7:31 PM

It’s time! All area high schoolers are invited to crash the Herdrich’s home at 2 Town Landing Rd in Falmouth (the corner of Foreside Rd and Town Landing). Park in the corner lot across from the Market. Bring ALL of your friends!

The Middlers: gather at 9:30 AM every Sunday morning

Ping pong, pool, cool music, and role playing of Bible stories! What’s not to love? Right now, ALL middle schoolers AND high schoolers are welcome to gather in the Youth Room on the Parish House lower level on Sunday mornings.

Serving The World

BLACK FRIDAY Blood Drive: November 27, 8 AM – 1 PM

Come and share the gift of life with others as a way to give thanks for our many blessings. The Blood Drive is here in our Parish House Auditorium.  Sign-up now or walk in that Friday. To sign up, go to www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code “SMary” to make your donor appointment.  FMI: contact our Coordinator, Jana Burke, at 272-4535 or jana.burke@icloud.com or Beth in the Parish Office at admin@smary.org

Upcoming Events & Gatherings

All Saints’ Evensong: THIS AFTERNOON  (November 1) at 4 pm

The choir will lift their voices in presenting a special offering: Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, with organ and harp accompaniment.  We will sing such wonderful hymns as ‘Who are these like stars appearing Hymn (#286), and ‘Abide with me, fast falls the eventide’ (#662).

 

Gratitude Progressive Dinner: Saturday, November 7th!   There’s still time!

Mark your calendars now! If you attended or hosted last year, you know what a good time we all had.

How does it work?     There’s still time!!

5:45 PM: We gather at the Parish House for social time and a blessing prayer.

6:30 PM: Everyone heads off to their assigned homes for dinner. Directions are provided. (Attendees will be assigned to a host home for the entrée portion of the evening. Hosts will get their list of guests the week prior to the dinner).

8:45 PM: Everyone returns to the Parish House for dessert!

Those with last names beginning with A-L bring a simple appetizer to share for the social hour. Those with last names beginning with M-Z bring a simple dessert to share. (Dinner hosts are exempt from this.) This is a fun and casual way to get to know fellow parishioners.

There is a sign-up sheet for hosts and attendees outside the Guild Room, or contact Beth Shaw or Janet Bowne (janetbowne@maine.rr.com ). Please indicate on the sign-up sheet if child care at the Parish House from 5:45-9:30 PM would help to make this possible. 

Regional Confirmation, Reception & Reaffirmation: November 11 at 6 PM

Next Wednesday, we will host our Bishop, Steven Lane, and others from our region for a liturgy of confirmation, reception and reaffirmation. All are welcome to join the celebration!

 

 

ATTENTION 8 0-CLOCKERS!  YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED...

On November 15 at 9:30 AM, directly following Bruce Fithian's Casavant Organ presentation, you are invited and encouraged to attend a "coffee klatch" with our youngest parishioners in the auditorium.  We hope you will come and sit at tables with our Guiding RAY children to enjoy refreshments and exchange stories about Thanksgiving, what it means to you, your favorite memories, etc.  There will be a small craft that you can work on with them if you choose, and Guiding RAY teachers will be there to facilitate conversation, as desired.   Our youngest parishioners want and need to know you better!  And we think it will be fun for you, too!  THOSE ATTENDING THE 10 AM SERVICE ARE, OF COURSE, ALSO VERY WELCOME!!!  

   We ask ALL parishioners to bring a donation for the Falmouth Food Pantry that day - a can of tuna or a bag of rice would be particularly welcome.  THANK YOU!  

SPARKLES NEWS: Saturday, December 5 

JOIN the SPARKLE TEAM today for a special coffee hour after both services.

Enjoy a sweet or savory treat that will be available at the Sparkle Fair on Dec. 5th.  We will be in the auditorium today with good eats.  BUT WE NEED YOUR HELP.

We are asking you to help with Sparkles.  There will be sign up sheets for all sorts of things that make Sparkles a success---not only financially but also by building community and friendships at S. Mary's and beyond.

We will also have sheets available to pre-order lobster stew, Schola tickets and boxwood centerpieces.   This is the time to buy (and pay for) wreaths or poinsettia's ----this is a new project this year, thanks to Janet Bowne and Skillins.

Advent "Memorial and Celebration" Tree---Fill out the insert located in your bulletin, the Narthex or the entrances of the Parish Hall to celebrate your loved ones by remembering them and giving thanks for them.  The tree Lighting is on Sunday November 29th following the Potluck/Workshop to make your own Advent Wreath to take home.   Bring a main dish, side or dessert to share.

Next drop off dates are  October 31st  and   November 7th   9am to 12noon.

 

NEW this year! Maine-made wreaths and Maine-grown poinsettias

As part of Sparkles, you can now order all your wreaths, poinsettias and roping, grown in Maine. We’ll take orders during Coffee Hour and in the Office from November 1 – 18 for December 2-4  pick-up.

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:  Zachary Ferrell, Gay Freeman, Sarah Gorman, Lynn Hathaway, Cindy Horton, John Horahan, Shelly Maher, Roger Murray, Scott Ryan, and Jim Whittemore.       

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   Nov. 1    Daylight Savings time ends - set clocks back one hour

                             8:00am     All Saints’: Traditional Eucharist

                             9:00am     Coffee Hour begins

                             9:30am     Family Chapel & The Middlers

                             9:45am     Guiding RAY classes begin

                             10:00am     All Saint’s Contemporary Eucharist and Baptism

                             11:15am     Coffee Hour continues  & Acolyte Training (1 of 2)

                             4:00pm     All Saints’ Evensong & the Fauré Requiem

Monday         2      9:00am     Budget & Finance Committee meeting

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel   

                             4:30pm     Outreach Committee meeting

Tuesday         3      9-12:30     Art Group in Auditorium

                             10:30am     “The Four Vision Quests of Jesus Book Study (6) in Guild Room

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel

                             1:00pm     Get Stitching in the White Wool Room

                             1:00pm     Staff meeting

                             3:30pm     Executive Committee meeting

                             4:00pm     “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home(6)    

                             7:00pm     AA in auditorium

                             7:30pm     Al-Anon meeting – in Guild Room (6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon)

Wednesday   4       12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel   

                             6:00pm     Women’s Oratorio Chorale rehearse in the Chapel

                             6:30pm     Care for Our Common Home”  community group study ‘Spirituality and Action’ led by Fr. Nathan

Thursday       5      12noon     Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel

                             4:00pm     Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals

                             7:00pm     Choir rehearsal

Friday            6      Parish Office is closed on Fridays

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer – wherever you find yourself

                             5:30pm     Al-Anon meeting

Saturday        7     9:00am     Boy Singers of Maine rehearse

                             9a-12n      Sparkles Drop-off #3

                             5:45pm     GRATITUDE Progressive Dinner begins

Sunday,  Nov. 8    8:00am     Traditional Eucharist

                             9:00am     Coffee Hour begins

                             9:30am     Family Chapel & The Middlers

                             9:45am     Guiding RAY classes begin

                             10:00am     Contemporary Eucharist

                             11:15am     Coffee Hour continues  &  Acolyte Training (2 of 2)

 

 

Beth Shaw

Parish Administrator

The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary

43 Foreside Road

Falmouth, Maine  04105

207.781.3366

 

Monday, October 26, 2015

Saint Mary's eNERWS for 10.25.15

Saint Mary’s Weekly News

October 25, 2015 – The Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost


196th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine: October 23 – 24

“Rooted in Scripture and Nurtured by Grace”. This year, our annual convention takes place in Portland at USM, the Italian Heritage Center, and at the Cathedral of St. Luke. Please remember to PRAY for this gathering, for our Bishop Steve, and for the future of the Diocese as we seek to faithfully respond to God’s work in this state.

Saint Mary’s clergy and delegates attending:  Rev. Nathan Ferrell, Rev Christine Bennett, Jim Kane, Janet Bowne, Bill Gowen, Linda Eaton, Stan Eaton, Betsy Stoddard, and Jim Stoddard. 

 

This SUNDAY, October 25:  Newcomers Welcome and Ministry Fair

Join us as we welcome those who are new to Saint Mary’s. Then during Coffee Hour, come to visit our Ministry Fair in the Auditorium. Discover the many ways that Saint Mary’s is serving God through our ministries, committees and guilds.  Representatives from each group will be available to answer questions or share their passion for their group with you.  Then you can sign up to get involved!

Ecumenical Study Group: Laudato Si’ – Care for our Common Home

Wednesdays at 6:30 PM   (began October 7)     

Join us for a community study of Pope Francis’ recent 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 runs for 5 weeks. 

Oct. 28 at 6:30 - Sustainable Int’l development, at Plummer-Motz, led by Rev. Bob Gustafson

Nov. 4 at 6:30 - Spirituality and action, at Maine Audubon, led by Fr. Nathan Ferrell

CELEBRATE, HONOR, SERVE:  2016 Stewardship Kicks Off

We’re kicking off the Stewardship Campaign in October. By starting now, we hope our families will have the chance to consider an amount to pledge for 2016. The packet includes a pledge form. Our hope is to have all the pledge forms returned by the end of the year. Doing so, helps us understand what revenue we can expect in 2016. Pledge income is the single largest revenue source for Saint Mary’s. Our goal is $265,000. So take time to review your packet and consider what you might be able to commit to Saint Mary’s in 2016. All pledges are welcome and celebrated. Thank you for your support. Together we will continue to celebrate, honor and serve the living God. 

 

Thursday Eucharist: every week in the Chapel at 12 noon

This is a beautiful, informal time to gather at the Lord’s Table with a meditation on the scriptures or the lives of the saints, 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.

Christian Formation Notes

Guiding RAY  (Religious Adventures for Youth):   9:30 / 9:45 each Sunday   

At 9:30 AM, Family Chapel is a special time for families and children with Fr. Nathan in the Chapel. Guiding RAY classes begin immediately afterward at 9:45 AM.

For more information on our Guiding RAY or Godly Play programs, please visit our website  www.smary.org . The Nursery  opens at 9:30 AM for our youngest disciples and has returned to the Guiding RAY spaces in the lower level of the Parish House.

Youth Ministry

Young Life Casco Bay: Club every Monday night at 7:31 PM

It’s time! All area high schoolers are invited to crash the Herdrich’s home at 2 Town Landing Rd in Falmouth (the corner of Foreside Rd and Town Landing). Park in the corner lot. Bring ALL of your friends!

The Middlers: every Sunday morning at 9:30 AM

Fresh bagels and cream cheese, ping pong, pool, cool music, and role playing of Bible stories! What’s not to love? For now, ALL middle schoolers AND high schoolers are welcome to join the fun in the Youth Room on the Parish House lower level. 

Serving The World

Souper Suppers at Saint Mary’s: every 2nd and 4th Friday – Oct 23, Nov 13, 27

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! Serve the community by being part of a Friday team. FMI: contact Jennifer Gregg: jenniferanngregg@gmail.com

 

Upcoming Events & Gatherings

All Saint’s Evensong:  November 1 at 4pm

The choir will lift their voices in presenting a special offering - Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, with organ and harp accompaniment.  We will sing such wonderful hymns as ‘Who are these like stars appearing Hymn (#286), and ‘Abide with me, fast falls the eventide’(#662).

 

Gratitude Progressive Dinner: Saturday, November 7th!

Mark your calendars now! If you attended or hosted last year, you know what a good time we all had.

How does it work?

5:45 PM: We gather at the Parish House for social time and a blessing prayer.

6:30 PM: Everyone heads off to their assigned homes for dinner. Directions are provided. (Attendees will be assigned to a host home for the entrée portion of the evening. Hosts will get their list of guests the week prior to the dinner).

8:45 PM: Everyone returns to the Parish House for dessert!

Those with last names beginning with A-L bring a simple appetizer to share for the social hour. Those with last names beginning with M-Z bring a simple dessert to share. (Dinner hosts are exempt from this.) This is a fun and casual way to get to know fellow parishioners.

There is a sign-up sheet for hosts and attendees outside the Guild Room, or contact Beth Shaw or Janet Bowne (janetbowne@maine.rr.com ). Please indicate on the sign-up sheet if child care at the Parish House from 5:45-9:30 PM would help to make this possible. 

 

SPARKLES NEWS: Saturday, December 5 

YOU ARE INVITED to the special Sparkle Coffee Hour next week (NOVEMBER 1st) after both services.  We will have all the sheets out for you to sign up to help with various Sparkle Activities.  We need lots of help---from baking cookies and cakes, to hanging flyers, to decorating, setting up and selling.  Many hands make light work so PLEASE give generously of your time and talents.

During that coffee hour we will also be doing pre-sales for lobster stew, Schola tickets and boxwood centerpieces.  New this year will be the sale of wreaths and poinsettias----orders will be taken at coffee hour and for 2 weeks after----these must be pre-paid so have your check book or cash handy :)

Next drop off date is October 31st-----please no books, clothes or rummage.

 

Live, local theater    Our high schools have some of the best and talented people on stage.  Check out one of these local performances of Pinocchio this weekend.  Show are on Friday, October 23 at 7pm; Saturday, October 24 at 3pm and 7pm and Sunday afternoon, October 25 at 3pm.  $7 adults and $5 students  at the Falmouth High School auditorium.  Don’t miss it!

 

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:  Zachary Ferrell, Jackie Kopacz, Gay Freeman, Lynn Hathaway, Samantha Heinzman, Cindy Horton, John Horahan, Shelly Maher, Roger Murray, Scott Ryan, Suzanne Sanford and Jim Whittemore.     

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

Friday            23    Diocesan Convention begins at the Abromson Center at USM

                             Parish Office is closed on Fridays

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer – wherever you find yourself

                             5:00pm     Souper Supper –free community dinner!

                             5:30pm     Al-Anon meeting

Saturday        24    Diocesan Convention continues at the Abromson Center at USM

                             9:00am     Boy Singers of Maine rehearse

                             9a-12n      Sparkles Drop-off #2

                             3:00pm     Memorial Service & Reception for Cathy Stakel

Sunday          25    Newcomers’ Welcome and Ministry Faith

                             8:00am     Traditional Eucharist

                             9:00am     Ministry Fair begins

                             9:30am     Family Chapel & The Middlers

                             9:45am     Guiding RAY classes begin

                             10:00am     Contemporary Eucharist

                             11:15am     Ministry Fair continues 

Monday         26    12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel.  Nathan off today and Beth leaving in afternoon 

                             3:00pm     MMSETS

Tuesday         27    9-12:30     Art Group in Auditorium

                             10:00am     Order of Saint Luke in the Wool Room

                             10:30am     “The Four Vision Quests of Jesus Book Study (6) in Guild Room

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel

                             1:00pm     Get Stitching in the White Wool Room

                             1:00pm     Staff meeting

                             4:00pm     “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home(6)    

                             6:30pm     Beginner’s Al-Anon

                             7:00pm     AA in auditorium

                             7:30pm     Al-Anon meeting – in Guild Room

Wednesday   28     12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel   

                             6:00pm     Women’s Oratorio Chorale rehearse in the Chapel

                             6:30pm     Care for Our Common Home”  community group study ‘Sustainable International Development’ at Plummer-Motz

Thursday       29    12noon     Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel

                             4:00pm     Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals

                             7:00pm     Choir rehearsal

Friday            30    Parish Office is closed on Fridays

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer – wherever you find yourself

                             5:30pm     Al-Anon meeting

Saturday        31    9:00am     Boy Singers of Maine rehearse

                             9a-12n      Sparkles Drop-off #3

Sunday   Nov. 1    Daylight Savings Time ends

                             8:00am     The Feast of All Saints’ Day: Traditional Eucharist

                             9:00am     Coffee Hour begins

                             9:30am     Family Chapel & The Middlers

                             9:45am     Guiding RAY classes begin

                             10:00am     All Saints’ Day: Contemporary Eucharist & Baptism

                             11:15am     Coffee Hour continues 

                             11:15am     Acolyte Training (1 of 2)

                             4:00pm     All Saints’ Evensong & Fauré Requiem

 

Our Great Hymn Heritage

Hymn 381 “Thy strong word did cleave the darkness” is another example of the Welsh genius for song. The tune swept the Welsh nation in the 1900’s and soon thereafter England (Vaughan Williams considered it one of the great hymns of the 1906 English Hymnal). A legend grew that it was a melody found in a bottle at the seashore, and thus became known as Ton-y-betel (in Welsh “the tune in a bottle”). It actually was written by Welshman, Thomas John Williams, for an anthem “Light in the valley.” How wonderful that this theme of light continued in the present text, written by  Martin H. Franzman for the commencement exercises of the St. Louis Concordia Seminary. The motto of the seminary is the Greek Anothon to Phos which means “Light from above. What a powerful way to start a service, whether commencement or a Eucharist at Saint Mary’s.

 

Hymn 671 “Amazing grace! how sweet the sound” is known worldwide in many languages. The power of the words and the music has consoled many throughout the last two hundred years. It’s history is fascinating. The stirring text was written by a slave-ship captain, John Newton, whose vessel was badly damaged in a storm off the coast of Ireland. At 23, he wrote the first stanza of the poem, and eventually gave up the slave trade profession when he was 30. Thus the words are intensely personal, about his degrading life (Amazing grace that saved a wretch like me) and his conversion. A hundred years later, the poem was linked for the first time with the American folk tune that is known as “New Britain,” most famously in the shape note publication  Southern Harmony in 1835 (although it’s first name was Saint Mary’s). Another miraculous journey across the sea from a repentant slave trader to an American folk tradition.

 

Hymn 325 Let us break bread together on our knees is an African-American spiritual brought to life by slaves worshipping in the various areas of the south. Slaves who attended Roman Catholic services in substantial numbers were located in New Orleans, and there were a number of slaves who attended Episcopal services in South Carolina, where prior to the Civil War, the bishop claimed more African-American communicants than white. How wonderful that a profoundly moving Eucharist hymn flows form the struggles of the oppressed. It is an ancient tradition that churches were built with an East-West axis, so that, like at Saint Mary’s, all can worship  “with my face to the rising sun.”

 

The verses for hymn 493 “O for a thousand tongues to sing” are by Charles Wesley (1707-1788), who was the brother of the founder of Methodism, John Wesley. Charles wrote over 6,000 hymns, including the powerful “Lo! he comes, with clouds descending.” Our hymnal has 23 examples from his vast output. “O for a thousand tongues to sing” was apparently written on the first anniversary of Charles’ evangelical conversion, and as such hold a special place in the Methodist tradition. It is always listed as the first hymn of any Methodist hymnal.

The melody is by a German composer, Carl Gläser, and was discovered by Lowell Mason on a trip to Europe (Mason was a leading figure in American church music in the nineteenth century, who wrote over 1600 hymn tunes, thirteen of which are in our hymnal).

 

 

 

Beth Shaw

Parish Administrator

The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary

43 Foreside Road

Falmouth, Maine  04105

207.781.3366

 

Thursday, October 15, 2015

Saint Mary's eNEWS for

Saint Mary’s Weekly News

October 18, 2015 – The Twenty-first Sunday after Pentecost


Remember to go to the COMMUNITY HARVEST DINNER

Thursday, October 15 from 4:30 – 7pm

 

NOTE: The Organ Tour originally scheduled for October 18th

has been rescheduled for November 15 at 9am.

196th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Maine: October 23 – 24

“Rooted in Scripture and Nurtured by Grace”. This year, our annual convention takes place in Portland at USM, the Italian Heritage Center, and at the Cathedral of St. Luke. Please remember to PRAY for this gathering, for our Bishop Steve, and for the future of the Diocese as we seek to faithfully respond to God’s work in this state.

CELEBRATE, HONOR, SERVE: 2016 Stewardship Kicks Off

We’re kicking off the annual Stewardship Campaign NOW! Soon you’ll receive your stewardship packet (if you haven’t already). By starting now, we hope our families will have the chance to prayerfully consider an amount to pledge for 2016. The packet includes a pledge form. Our hope is to have all the pledge forms returned by the end of the year. This helps us understand what revenue we can expect in 2016. Pledge income is the single largest revenue source for Saint Mary’s. Our goal is $265,000. So take time to review the packet, pray and ask for God’s guidance, and consider what you can commit to Saint Mary’s in 2016.  All pledges are welcome and celebrated, no matter the amount. Thank you for your support! Together, let us continue our mission to celebrate the goodness of God and the gift of life, honor the presence of Christ in one another, and serve the world in the power of the Holy Spirit.  

Ecumenical Study Group: Laudato Si’ – Care for our Common Home

Wednesdays at 6:30 PM   (began October 7)     

Join us for a community study of Pope Francis’ recent 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 runs for 5 weeks. 

Oct. 21 at 6:30 - Humans and technology, at Maine Audubon, led by Rev. Susan Gilpin

Oct. 28 at 6:30 - Sustainable Int’l development, at Plummer-Motz, led by Rev. Bob Gustafson

Nov. 4 at 6:30 - Spirituality and action, at Maine Audubon, led by Fr. Nathan Ferrell

Thursday Eucharist: every week in the Chapel at 12 noon

This is a beautiful, informal time to gather at the Lord’s Table with a meditation on the scriptures or the lives of the saints, 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.

Christian Formation Notes

Guiding RAY  (Religious Adventures for Youth):   9:30 / 9:45 each Sunday   

At 9:30 AM, Family Chapel is a special time for families and children with Fr. Nathan in the Chapel. Guiding RAY classes begin immediately afterward at 9:45 AM.

For more information on our Guiding RAY or Godly Play programs, please visit our website  www.smary.org . The Nursery opens at 9:30 AM for our youngest disciples and has returned to the Guiding RAY spaces in the lower level of the Parish House.

Youth Ministry

Young Life Casco Bay: Club on 10/19 at 7:31 PM

It’s time! All area high schoolers are invited to crash the Herdrich’s home at 2 Town Landing Rd in Falmouth (the corner of Foreside Rd and Town Landing). Park in the corner lot. Bring ALL of your friends!

The Middlers: gather at 9:30 AM every Sunday morning

Fresh bagels and cream cheese, ping pong, pool, cool music, and role playing of Bible stories! What’s not to love? For now, ALL middle schoolers AND high schoolers are welcome to join the fun in the Youth Room on the Parish House lower level. 

Serving The World

St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center service: 9 – 11 AM on Tuesday, October 20

Come out to serve those in need in Portland at Saint Elizabeth’s. A group from Saint Mary’s will be there on Tuesday morning to distribute clothing and other important items. Enter from the parking lot behind St. Luke’s Cathedral on Park Street.

 

Souper Suppers at Saint Mary’s: every 2nd and 4th Friday – Oct. 23 next

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.

Upcoming Events & Gatherings

 

NEXT SUNDAY, October 25:   Welcome and Join in God’s work

Join us as we welcome those who are relatively new to Saint Mary’s, exploring Saint Mary’s as a possible church home, or returning to or rediscovering Saint Mary’s Church.    We welcome them especially during coffee hour times.  This Sunday will also be a time when we hold our Ministry Fair  during Coffee Hour, and we can all discover the great works Saint Mary’s is doing for God through our ministries, committees and guilds.  Representatives from each group will be available to answer questions or share their passion for their group with you.  There will be an opportunity to sign up to learn more about any of Saint Mary’s ministries, so come with an open heart.  Please join us to welcome newer folks and share in the good works. 

 

All Saint’s Requiem Evensong:  November 1 at 4 pm

The choir will lift their voices in presenting a special offering of Gabriel Fauré’s Requiem, with organ and harp accompaniment.  This special liturgy will also include wonderful hymns as ‘Who are these like stars appearing Hymn (#286), and ‘Abide with me, fast falls the eventide’ (#662) and an opportunity for all of us to remember those who have died.

Gratitude Progressive Dinner: Saturday, November 7th!

Mark your calendars now! If you attended or hosted last year, you know what a good time we all had.

How does it work?

5:45 PM: We gather at the Parish House for social time and a blessing prayer.

6:30 PM: Everyone heads off to their assigned homes for dinner. Directions are provided. (Attendees will be assigned to a host home for the entrée portion of the evening. Hosts will get their list of guests the week prior to the dinner).

8:45 PM: Everyone returns to the Parish House for dessert!

Those with last names beginning with A-L bring a simple appetizer to share for the social hour. Those with last names beginning with M-Z bring a simple dessert to share. (Dinner hosts are exempt from this.) This is a fun and casual way to get to know fellow parishioners.

There is a sign-up sheet for hosts and attendees outside the Guild Room, or contact Beth Shaw or Janet Bowne (janetbowne@maine.rr.com ). Please indicate on the sign-up sheet if child care at the Parish House from 5:45-9:30 PM would help to make this possible. 

 

SPARKLES NEWS: Saturday, December 5 

We are "Sparkling on Facebook!!  Thanks to Jana Burke, we have our own Facebook page to go to Sparkles Saint Mary’s Falmouth to like us and keep up with what is happening!!

DON'T FORGET to 1)  Pick up a gift box for filling  (return to office by Nov. 12th) and 

       2)  Bring in a bag or two of dried beans to help create Saint Mary's Friendship Soup.

Next Drop-off date is October 24 from 9:00 AM to 12 noon. Bring in your gently-used treasures and household goods. Please no books, magazines or rummage.

NEW this year! Maine-made wreaths and Maine-grown poinsettias

As part of Sparkles, you can now order all your wreaths, poinsettias and roping, grown in Maine. We’ll take orders during Coffee Hour and in the Office from November 1 – 18 for December 2-4  pick-up.

Aging in Place Program:  A community Forum on October 31: 10am – 2pm (lunch included; register at 9:30am)  offered by the town of Cumberland at Greely Middle School.  FMI on Aging in Place   www.cumberlandmaine.com

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:  Zachary Ferrell, Jackie Kopacz, Gay Freeman, Lynn Hathaway, Samantha Heinzman, Cindy Horton, John Horahan, Shelly Maher, Roger Murray, Scott Ryan, Suzanne Sanford and Jim Whittemore.       

IF YOU WANT TO ADD NAMES TO THE PRAYER LIST, write them on the Narthex Prayer List, on a Welcome Card, or contact the Office  (781-3366 or smary@smary.org).

This Week at Saint Mary’s

Sunday          18    8:00am     The 21st  Sunday after Pentecost: Traditional Eucharist

                             9:00am     Coffee Hour begins   (Organ Tour rescheduled for Nov 15)

                             9:30am     Family Chapel & The Middlers

                             9:45am     Guiding RAY classes begin

                             10:00am     The 21st  Sunday after Pentecost Contemporary Eucharist

                             11:15am     Coffee Hour continues 

Monday         19    9:30am     Garden Club lecture and meeting

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel

Tuesday         20    8:30am     Saint Marians volunteer at St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center

                             9-12:30     Art Group in Auditorium

                             10:00am     Order of Saint Luke in the Wool Room

                             10:30am     “The Four Vision Quests of Jesus study group in Guild Room

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel

                             1:00pm     Get Stitching in the White Wool Room

                             1:00pm     Staff meeting

                             3:00pm     Pastoral Partners meeting

                             4:00pm     “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Homestudy group   

                             7:00pm     AA in auditorium

                             7:30pm     Al-Anon meeting – in Guild Room (6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon)

Wednesday   21     12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel

                             6:30pm     Care for Our Common Home”  community group study ‘Humans and technology’, at Maine Audubon

                             6:00pm     Vestry meeting

Thursday       22    12noon     Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel

                             4:00pm     Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals

                             7:00pm     Choir rehearsal

Friday            23    Diocesan Convention begins at the Abromson Center at USM

                             Parish Office is closed on Fridays

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer – wherever you find yourself

                             5:00pm     Souper Supper –free community dinner!

                             5:30pm     Al-Anon meeting

Saturday        24    Diocesan Convention continues at the Abromson Center at USM

                             9:00am     Boy Singers of Maine rehearse

                             9a-12n      Sparkles Drop-off #2

                             3:00pm     Memorial Service & Reception for Cathy Stakel

Sunday          25    Newcomers’ Welcome and Ministry Faith

                             8:00am     The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost: Traditional Eucharist

                             9:00am     Ministry Fair begins

                             9:30am     Family Chapel & The Middlers

                             9:45am     Guiding RAY classes begin

                             10:00am     The 22nd Sunday after Pentecost Contemporary Eucharist

                             11:15am     Ministry Fair continues 

 

 

Beth Shaw

Parish Administrator

The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary

43 Foreside Road

Falmouth, Maine  04105

207.781.3366