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.
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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