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
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