Saint Mary’s Weekly News
November 29, 2015 – The First Sunday of Advent
ADVENT Lessons & Carols: Sunday morning at 10
To kick-off the Church’s New Year, we will gather next Sunday to hear the story of salvation told in readings from Holy Scripture and in the singing of sacred music.
ADVENT Potluck, Workshop & Tree Lighting: SUNday at 3 PM
How do you observe Advent in your home? Come and gather resources for each family and household to watch, wait and prepare for the birth of Christ throughout the season of Advent. Bring any dish to share. Then we light the Memorial and Celebration Tree which shines until the celebration of the Epiphany on January 6.
Celebrate Honor Serve: 2016 Stewardship Campaign
Thank you to the over 65 households who have turned in their completed pledge forms for 2016!! As of last Sunday, our total was $144, toward our goal of $265,000. We have a long way to go by the end of December. We’re going to be making reminder calls to everyone to be sure they received their pledge packet and have what they need to make their pledge intention. You can drop your pledge form in an envelope into the collection plates, mail it to the Beth Shaw in the Parish Office, scan it and email it to Beth at admin@smary.org or you can drop it off at the Parish Office. It’s the season of thanksgiving and we are most thankful for all the support we receive from our parishioners!!
Wisdom Seekers: every Tuesday at 10:30 AM
Join us for our Advent book study, “Awaiting the Already.” All are welcome and invited for this Advent season. FMI contact Deacon Christine: deacab@maine.rr.com, 653-2448.
Thursday Eucharist: 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.
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.
NOTE: There will be no Guiding RAY classes on November 29 and on December 20. Children will go to church with their families on Nov. 29 to participate in Advent Lessons & Carols and on Dec. 20 for the Christmas pageant.
The Nursery always opens at 9:30 AM for our youngest disciples and has returned to the Guiding RAY rooms in the lower level of the Parish House.
Casting Call! The 2015 Christmas Pageant: December 20 at 10 AM
It’s only a few weeks away! Practice has begun, but it’s not too late! FMI: please contact Julie Otte at 781-2322 or juliemomotter@aol.com .
Youth Ministry
Young Life Casco Bay: Club on Mondays at 7:31 PM
You’re crazy to miss it! 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!
Advent for the Middlers: Christmas Around the World
Open to all youth from 6th to 12th grades. Gather at 9:30 AM in the Youth Room on the four Sundays of Advent to learn how Christmas is celebrated in Ethiopia, Germany and Mexico. Christians on each continent have their own unique traditions which we will explore with special food, activities and games particular to each culture. Questions? Call or email Meg Hurdman 400-9011 or hurdman@maine.rr.com.
Nov. 29: Focus on Ethiopia, one of the oldest Christian communities in the world, learn about their beautiful white robes, unique church buildings and why no gifts are exchanged.
Dec. 6: (St. Nicholas Day) Focus on Germany and learn about Advent calendars, Christmas trees and what children hope for when they leave their shoes out overnight!
Dec. 13: Focus on Mexico, learn about poinsettias and pinatas and what it means when you greet someone by saying, "Feliz Navidad".
Dec. 20: Meet briefly for hot chocolate with cinnamon and special snacks and learn how the wise men/three kings represent foreign counties and cultures paying homage to Jesus. Then attend Saint Mary's children's Christmas pageant at 10 AM.
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
Saint Mary’s Advent Snowman Tree
We look forward every year to having an Advent Giving Tree! Here is an opportunity to become engaged in the spirit of giving this Christmas. Saint Mary’s, together with the Salvation Army, are hosting a “SnowAngel Giving Tree. Snowman tags will be on the Christmas tree with a child’s gift request. Kindly take a tag, purchase item(s) on the tag, and bring back to Saint Mary’s. Unwrapped gifts should be back under the tree no later than December 13 with the tag on them to ensure the families receive them in time for Christmas. For more information contact Betsy or Jim Stoddard 829-2026 jbstod@myfairpoint.net
St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center service: 9 – 11 AM on Tuesday, December 1
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.
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. Thank you from all those who you will help!
Join the Souper Supper Team
We offer free community suppers on the second and fourth Friday of each month in the auditorium of Saint Mary’s Parish House. The dinners 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. Contact Jennifer Gregg jenniferanngregg@gmail.com .
Upcoming Events & Gatherings
SPARKLES NEWS
Today (Nov. 29) is the beginning of Advent and the Sparkle Festivities.
3 PM Sunday: the Family Advent Wreath Making Workshop and Potluck in the Auditorium followed by the lighting of the Memorial and Celebration Tree around 4:30 PM outdoors. FMI: Megan Akers at meganakers@maine.rr.com
(Don’t worry – the Patriots play at 8:30 PM!) Be sure to drop by Skillins and thank them for once again donating two trees to beautify our campus throughout this season.
· December 2 (beginning at 12 noon) and Dec. 3 and 4 (all day) we set up for the Sparkles Fair and Boutique and we need LOTs of helpers.
URGENT UPDATE: The Sparkles Bake Sale needs more goodies!! Please help with this successful fund raiser with a contribution of your prettiest Christmas cookies or yummy baked goods. PLEASE bring tthem to the Parish kitchen by NOON on Friday, December 4 (NOT on Saturday).
· December 5, 9 AM to 2 PM: the Boutique, Café, Cookie Walk and Bake Sale. We need volunteers to gather downstairs in the Guiding Ray rooms by 8:00 AM. Yes, there will be donuts and coffee!! Lunch is also provided for all volunteers.
Please come shopping and bring your friends. Again this year, we are cooperating with Foreside Community Church with a raffle bowl at Skillins. When you pay for your purchases, you will be given a ticket to write your name on and drop in the raffle bowl at Skillins. One ticket will be drawn for a $25 gift certificate at Skillins Greenhouse.
December 11 is Caroling and Souper Supper. We’ll go caroling at some of the local retirement homes followed by Souper Supper. A great event for families and for all!
December 13 is the Sparkles Benefit Schola Concert. This year the Schola will present "The Season of Light". This wonderful concert is followed by a gala reception which officially concludes the Sparkles Season. An early music instructional lecture will be offered at 3:30 PM with the concert beginning at 4:00.
SPECIAL CALL! All Middlers and High Schoolers: we need your help with bagging and greeting and carrying on the day of Sparkles! Please call/email/text Father Nathan or Beth Shaw or Jan Mordarski if you can help. Thank you!
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Community Care & Nurture
If You Have to Spend Time in a Hospital…
Please make sure that you register yourself as a member of The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary in Falmouth! MMC no longer keeps track of general religious affiliation, but only membership in a specific congregation. And make sure to call S. Mary’s and let us know!
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: Rick Bartlett, Tim Blanchette, Janet Dorman, Gay Freeman, Olive Galen, Sarah Gorman, Lynn Hathaway, Cindy Horton, Chandra Lowe, Mary Lygo, 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).
Christmas 2015 at Saint Mary’s
Children’s Christmas Pageant: December 20 at 10AM
Christmas Eve: Family Eucharist at 4pm and 6pm , Choral Eucharist at 9pm
Christmas Day: Holy Eucharist with carols at 10am
This Week at Saint Mary’s
Sunday 29 8:00am Traditional Eucharist: using Rite II in Advent
9:00am Coffee hour begins
9:30am Family Chapel: “Welcome to Advent!”
9:30am Middlers: “Christmas around the world!”
10:00am Advent Lessons & Carols: all children in church
11:00am Coffee hour continues
3:00pm Advent Potluck, Wreath Workshop & the Lighting of the
Memorial & Celebration tree (at approx. 4:30pm)
Monday 30 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Tuesday, Dec. 1 9:00am Saint Marians volunteer at St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center
9-12:30 Art Group in Auditorium
9am-2pm Embroiderer’s Guild Party in the Guild Room & Kitchen
10:30am Wisdom Seekers Advent Study: “Awaiting the Already”
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
1:00pm Get Stitching in the White Wool Room
1:00pm Staff meeting in office wing
3:30pm Executive Committee meeting in office wing
6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon
7:00pm AA in auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon meeting – in Guild Room
Wednesday 2 10a-2pm Mainely Weavers Christmas Party in the Guild Room
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
12:15pm Sparkles set-up begins!
Thursday 3 Sparkles set-up all day!
12noon Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel
4:00pm Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals in Chapel and Lower level
7:00pm Choir rehearsal
Friday 4 Sparkles set-up all day! Parish Office is closed on Fridays
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
5:30pm Al-Anon meeting
Saturday 5 9am-2pm Sparkles Christmas Fair
Sunday 6 8:00am Holy Eucharist: using Rite II in Advent
9:00am Coffee hour begins
9:30am Family Chapel (in the Chapel)
9:30am Middlers: Christmas around the world!
10:00am Choral Holy Eucharist
11:00am Coffee hour continues
Beth Shaw
Parish Administrator
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
