Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Saint Mary's eNEWS for 12.4.16

Saint Mary’s Weekly News

December 4, 2016 – The Second Sunday of Advent


 

Welcome to the newly Confirmed and Received!!

Congratulations to all those who received the laying on of apostolic hands by Bishop Stephen Lane today at our the 10am liturgy: Scot Draeger, Natalia Fulton, Ellie Holt, George Holt, Maggie Holt, Kyle Lamberson,  Lauren Lamberson, Benjamin Otte, Emily Stinneford, Fiona Ferrell, and Marguerite Gardner.

Celebrate Honor Serve 2017

Thank you to all who have made a pledge commitment! Pledging is about ensuring that we can do the work God is asking us to do within our community and in the larger world. From Souper Supper to Mission Mornings and Guiding RAY to glorious music programs, our annual budget supports all of these activities and supports the infrastructure needed for our staff and our buildings and grounds. If you haven’t had a chance to consider your pledge yet, please take a minute to pray and to do so. Your support will make all the difference!

 

Contemporary Language Usage at 8 AM

Once again, in this Advent season we will experiment with the use of contemporary language texts (Rite II) at our 8 AM Eucharist. It is important for everyone to become accustomed to these texts, as the old Elizabethan texts will be discontinued at some point in the future. Change is difficult, but necessary. Please speak with Nathan+ if you have thoughts or concerns about this experiment.

"Be Still" : every Monday in Advent, 5:30 – 6:30 PM  

Especially for busy parents, a time to “Be Still” is offered each Monday of Advent (December 5, 12, & 19). This is time for quiet in the Father James Chapel. Time to breathe, re-center, reflect, to “be” with God. Come for five minutes, or come for the hour!

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SPARKLES NEWS

Saturday, Dec. 3 – SPARKLES Fair – 9am to 2pm

The Boutique, Antiques, Jewelry, Household treasures, Holiday gifts, Cookie Walk, Bake Sale,

Soup, Lobster Stew and MORE!

Visit both Saint Mary’s and Foreside Community’s Fairs and get the chance to win a Skillin’s Gift Certificate

 

Christmas Caroling for all: Friday, December 9, 4 PM  

Adults and children are encouraged to gather at the Parish House on Friday afternoon for caroling at Falmouth by the Sea and Foreside Harbor, followed by a hearty meal (and singing for your supper...) at Saint Mary's SOUPER SUPPER.  Sign-up in the Auditorium at Coffee Hour today!   

Sparkles Schola Benefit Concert: next Sunday, December 11, 4 PM

Natus est a joyous celebration of the season.  The St. Mary Schola offers its annual SPARKLES Concert to benefit our parish family. If you want to experience the mystery of medieval song, the glory of early music, and hear some of Maine's best singers and players celebrate this season, please come. Bruce will present a brief early music lecture at 3:30PM$20 adults. Students are free. The concert is followed by an elegant reception hosted by Bob and Nadine Timberlake to end the Sparkles season. Tickets are available on-line (www.stmaryschola.org), in the Parish Office or at the door IF any are left!

 

Your Sparkles Chairs (Jan Mordarski and Onnie Hastings) wish to thank all of you who have helped to make the Sparkles Season a success.  Sparkles is not only a fundraiser, but it is a wonderful way for us to work together, create community together and provide another form of outreach in our community.  Thank you and MERRY CHRISTMAS and HAPPY NEW YEAR to all!!

 

Serving the World

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 Sanctuary Prayer Books and in the Narthex. Thank you for all those who you will help!

 

St. Elizabeth’s has cold hands to warm up! 

As cold weather approaches, one of the biggest needs at St. E's is winter gloves (and mittens) for children, women and men. However, the biggest need is for large and extra-large gloves for men. As you prep for winter, you may find a pair that you rarely use and we urge you to contribute them to St. E's. It is unbelievable how many people appear on bitter cold Tuesday mornings, with no gloves at all. (If you are shopping and see gloves on sale...consider buying them and sending them in as your contribution.) Thanks in advance!  Please drop them off in our St. Elizabeth’s box next to the sign-up table outside the Guild Room.

Saint Mary’s Advent Snowman Tree – gifts due back by December 11!

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 “Snowman 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 11 with the tag on them to ensure the families receive them in time for Christmas. FMI, contact Betsy Stoddard (829-2026 or  jbstod@myfairpoint.net).

Souper Supper: 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month

Our free suppers in our Parish House Auditorium open to anyone and everyone. Please consider dropping in sometime between 5 – 7 PM on either evening for dinner served in a family-style setting and consisting of a hearty soup, salad, bread, homemade desserts and beverages. And we are always looking for more servers to join the Souper Supper Team. FMI, contact Jennifer Gregg  (jenniferanngregg@gmail.com or 781-2665).

Youth Ministry

 

Guiding RAY  (Religious Adventures for Youth)    

Our children’s programs is in full swing;  for more information on our Guiding RAY or Godly Play programs, please visit our website  www.smary.org

The Nursery is open for our youngest disciples in the lower level of the Parish House beginning at 9:30 AM every Sunday morning.

The 2016 Christmas Pageant:  Sunday, December 18 at 10 AM

It’s only a couple weeks away!  Practice has begun, but it’s not too late to participate!  FMI: please contact Julie Otte at 781-2322 or juliemomotter@aol.com 

 

 

For older Guiding RAY youth

Fourth, Fifth and Sixth graders are invited to a special series of Bible lessons using Legos. The youth will meet during the 10:00 AM service in the Guild Room and will follow the same schedule as Guiding RAY and be in church to join their families for the Eucharist. Building Faith Brick by Brick, a book by Emily Given, offers a culturally relevant, hands-on way to explore faith stories that we hope will engage our youth while learning the stories of God.

Young Life Club: Monday nights at 7:31 PM!

Every single high school student in the Casco Bay area is INVITED to gather for an amazing Club at Laine Legere’s house (56 Quiet Lane in Portland). This is crazy fun and growing each week. FMI: visit www.younglifecb.com

 

Community Care & Nurture

 

Wisdom Seekers: every Tuesday at 10:30 AM 

This Bible study group meets on Tuesdays in the Guild Room. Nadine Timberlake is the group leader. All are welcome, because there is always room for anyone who wants to study the Bible and discuss its meaning for our lives today. 

Thursday Eucharist: every Thursday in the Chapel at 12 noon

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. It usually lasts about 45 minutes. All are welcome! 

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.

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 but know that email is checked rarely during the weekends or when he’s away.

Prayer Concerns for this week:   David Bates, Charlie Conner, John Delaney, Steve Dunwoody, Dave Fenderson, Bruce Fossett, Sarah Gorman, Talie Harris, Joyce Maranville, Allie Matthews, Dick Miller, Roger Murray, Emily Otte, David & Grace Robinson, Robbie Smith, Stewart Stalnecker, Phoebe Wysor, and Bucky.  

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

 

This Week at Saint Mary’s

Saturday       3      9am-2pm      Sparkles Christmas Fair

Sunday         4      EPISCOPAL VISITATION

                             8:00am     Contemplative Eucharist: using new texts in Advent

                             9:00am     Coffee Hour and the Sparkles Boutique

                             10:00am     Confirmation and Choral Eucharist

                             11:00am    Reception with the Bishop

Monday        5      12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel 

                             5:30pm     BE STILL in the Fr. James Chapel

Tuesday        6      St. Nicholas’ Day   (Sparkles Boutique in Guild Room)

                             9-12:30      Art Group in Auditorium

                             10:30am    Wisdom Seekers Bible Study in White Wool 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

                             7:00pm     AA in auditorium

                             7:30pm     Al-Anon meetingin Guild Rm (Beginner’s at 6:30pm)

Wednesday  7      (Sparkles Boutique in Guild Room)

                                    10-2pm     Mainely Weavers in auditorium

                             10:00am    SM Garden Club workshop in LL Great Rm.

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer in the Chapel 

                             6:00pm    SinG rehearsal in auditorium

                             6:00pm    ORI meeting in chapel

 

Thursday      8      (Sparkles Boutique in Guild Room)

                             12noon     Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel

                             4:00pm    Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals in Chapel and Lower level   

                             610pm    Sebago Trout Unlimited meeting in the auditorium

                             7:00pm     Choir rehearsal

Friday           9      Parish Office is closed on Fridays  -   Sparkles clean-up

                             12noon     Noonday Prayer – wherever you are

                             4:00pm    Christmas Caroling to nursing homes then Souper Supper

                             5 - 7pm     Community Souper Supper – free and open to all!

                             5:30pm     Al-Anon meeting

Saturday       10    9:00am     Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals

                             10-3pm     Jane Austen Society Tea in the Auditorium

                             6:00pm    Private Piano Recital (students of Christina Morrill)

Sunday         11     Third Sunday of Advent

                             8:00am     Contemplative Eucharist: using new texts in Advent                                  9:00am     Coffee hour begins

                             9:30am     Family Chapel – in the Chapel

                             10:00am     Choral Eucharist

                             11:00am    Coffee hour continues

                             3:30pm     Schola pre-concert lecture in Sanctuary

                             4:00pm    Sparkles St. Mary Schola Concert & Gala Reception

 

 

 

Beth Shaw

Parish Administrator

The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary

43 Foreside Road

Falmouth, Maine  04105

207.781.3366

 

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