November 26, 2017 – Christ the King Sunday
Getting Ready for Sunday!
"I want you to be wise in what is good and guileless in what is evil. The God of peace will shortly crush Satan under your feet"
(Romans 16:19-20).
Stewardship 2018: God's Work, Our Hands
"The ability to meet at Saint Mary's has been hugely beneficial to all of us in the Al-Anon groups. We get so much strength out of sharing with the people at our meetings, and to be able to do it in such beautiful warm spaces is a bonus. We are so grateful!"
Thank you for making it possible for us to host Alcoholics' Anonymous meetings in our Parish Hall every week. Everyone who contributes to Saint Mary's enables us to be a safe harbor for those maintaining their sobriety. How? Your support ensures that there is electricity to power the lights and the coffee maker! Your support means the building is warm in the winter and the sidewalks are clear. Please take a moment to complete your pledge form to ensure we can continue hosting AA meetings. Pledge forms are available in the Narthex, at various places in the Parish Hall. Send your completed form, confidentially, to Beth Shaw, Parish Center Manager, by email (admin@smary.org) or in the collection plate in a sealed envelope. Thank you!
Events and Happenings
Advent begins next weekend. How do you make it meaningful?
Be part of the Anglican Communion's Global Advent Calendar. It's an innovative way to engage in the season of Advent with people all over the world. Simply respond to the daily meditation emailed to you with images and prayers that speak to your heart. To learn more, Visit: http://adventword.org/
Sparkles NEWS: The Sparkles Fair is December 2, 9 AM to 2 PM
Wednesday, Nov. 29 (beginning at 12 noon) and Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 (all day) we set up for the Sparkles Fair and Boutique, and we need lots of helpers. PLEASE bring cookies and baked goods BY NOON on Friday, Dec. 1.
Saturday Dec. 2 from 9 am to 2 pm is the Boutique, Cafe, Cookie Walk, Bake Sale and New Children's corner. We need volunteers to gather in the Parish House by 8:00am. YES, there will be coffee and donuts!! Lunch is provided for volunteers. If you didn't sign up but want to help with this wonderful event, we will give you an apron and find you a job! Sparkles is a vital fund-raiser and a friend-maker.
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 raffle ticket to drop in the bowl at Skillins and they will pull a ticket and present to the winner a $25 gift certificate to use there. Skillins has again given us two live Christmas trees, so be sure to thank them when you are there.
Friday, Dec. 8 is the annual Christmas Caroling at a local retirement center followed by Souper Supper. This is perfect for families, all ages and abilities.
Sunday, Dec. 10 is the Sparkles Benefit Schola Concert titled "Christmas Pastorale." The concert is followed by a gala reception which officially ends the Sparkles Season. Tickets may be purchased on-line at www.stmaryschola.org, in the parish office, or at the door if there are seats left.
Be sure to look at SparklesStMarys on Facebook.
For more information on how you can join in the fun, contact chairs: Jana Burke at jana.burke@gmail.com or Kathy Galen kathleendaisy@aol.com
Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols: First Sunday of Advent: Sunday, Dec. 3
Join us as we celebrate the beginning of the advent season on our Faith Family Sunday and hear the story of salvation in word and song with this special liturgy at the 10am service.
Advent Faith Family Formation
Advent is a time of waiting and longing as we anticipate the birth of Jesus in the manger on Christmas. On Sundays during Advent between the 9:00 and 10:00 a.m. hour all are invited to participate in an Advent Faith Family formation. We have purchased large coloring posters and an accompanying devotional guide to help us journey our way through Advent together as a community. The posters explain different parts of scripture and are a wonderful way to educate during Advent because the illustrations show the depth of the story. Please join us during this hour for Faith Family Formation and let's allow art and creativity to be our guide as we make our way through the Advent season of preparation and waiting.
Serving The World
eRed Cross Blood Drive: Saturday, November 25, 9 AM – 2 PM
PLEASE come and share the gift of life with others. With SO many disasters and shootings, the need for blood is greater than ever! The Blood Drive is in our Parish House Auditorium. Sign-up now or walk in that Saturday. 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 – available now!
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 10 with the tag on them to ensure the families receive them in time for Christmas. For more information contact Betsy Stoddard 829-2026 jbstod@myfairpoint.net
Cumberland Woodbank is looking for volunteers to split, pile wood and prep woodlot. FMI and to sign up www.woodbank.org or 747-2868. Event on 11/11 from 8am – noon, but also need volunteers on other days.
Youth Ministry
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)
Our Guiding RAY programs for all young people ages 1 to 14 have begun with exciting plans for the program year! We gather all together beginning at 9:45am with classes beginning at 10am. For more information on Guiding RAY, please visit our website www.smary.org . The Nursery opens at 9:45am for our youngest disciples in the Guiding RAY area every Sunday morning for the later Eucharist.
This week in Guiding RAY
Christ the King Sunday is the last Sunday of our Church year, and since our Church year revolves around the life of Jesus Christ, it is fitting that the church uses its last Sunday in hailing our Lord and Savior as King of all creation. This Sunday in Guiding RAY we will discuss the Circle of the Church Year and the "Three Great Days" (Easter, Pentecost, and Christmas). We will begin to get‐ready, both personally and communally, for Advent by creating our own pocket Advent wreaths that kids and families can use for the entire the Advent season.
It's beginning to look a lot like…
…Pageant time! The Saint Mary's Christmas Pageant will take place during the 10:00 a.m. service on Christmas Eve. Saint Mary's Christmas pageant is in the planning stages and anyone interested in being involved, from narrators to sheep to stage hands, should contact Heather Gale at hpgale@earthlink.net. Pageant practices will be from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on 12/3, 12/10 and 12/17 with a full dress rehearsal on Saturday, 12/23 from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. The retelling the Nativity story in scripture and carols will be presented during the 10:00 a.m. service on Christmas Eve.
Falmouth YOUNG LIFE Club: Mondays at 7:31 PM
Where? 41 Stapleford Dr, Falmouth, ME 04105, USA (map)
Who? Falmouth & area High School Peeps come kick it @ the BEST thing happening on a Monday night GUARANTEED!
Why? New friends! FMI, visit www.younglifecb.com
Community Care & Nurture
Wisdom Seekers: a look at Advent readings
This Bible study group meets on Tuesdays at 10:30 AM in the Guild Room. Everyone is welcome! We will look at our Advent readings in depth.
Chapel Eucharist: every Thursday in the Chapel at 12 noon
This is an informal time (in a beautiful space!) to gather at the Lord's Table with a meditation on the scripture or the saint of the day and prayers for healing.
Noonday Prayer: every other weekday in the Chapel Pause for 10 minutes of prayer together. 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, our bishop, and our own daily life with God.
Communicating with Nathan+
Feel free to contact Fr. 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 on weekends or when he's away on vacation.
Prayer Concerns for this week: Jeffrey, Hannah Russell, John Lund, Nolan Farris, Douglas McCormack, Lee Lamphere, Arthur Markos, Patti Braswell, Richard Harris, Brooke Welch-Frehsee, Ellen Hitchcock, Frank Rheaume, Stewart Stalnecker.
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 26 8:00am Contemplative Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
9:15am RSCM Youth Choirs in the Chapel
9:45am Nursery opens
9:45 am Guiding RAY gathering with classes to begin at 10am
10:00am Choral Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
Sparkles Spirit Appetizer Pick-up #2
Monday 27 10:00am Garden Club in the auditorium
12 noon Noonday Prayer - wherever you find yourself
6:00PM Portland Community Chorus rehearsal in the auditorium
7:31PM Falmouth Young Life Club at 41 Stapleford Drive
Tuesday 28 7:30-9a BNI meeting
9:30am Art Group in the auditorium
10:30am Wisdom Seekers – Advent study in Chapel
10:30am Embroiderer's Guild Cmas Tea
12 noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6:00pm Schola Rehearsal in Sanctuary
7:00pm AA in the auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room (6:30pm Beginner's)
Wednesday 29 Sparkles Fair set-up (12-5)
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6 – 9pm Magic of Christmas rehearsal in sanctuary
6 - 8pm SinG rehearsal in the auditorium
Thursday 30 Sparkles Fair set-up (9-5)
Feast of Saint Andrew the Apostle
12noon Chapel Eucharist – informal, brief, with healing prayers
7:00pm Saint Mary's Choir rehearsal
Friday, Dec. 1 Sparkles Fair set-up (9-5)
Parish Office closed
12noon Noonday Prayer - wherever you find yourself
5:30 pm Al-Anon meeting
Saturday 2 9aM-2PM Sparkles Fair
Sunday 3 8:00am Contemplative Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour with Advent Faith Family Formation for all
9:00am RSCM Youth Choir and Pageant Practice in the Chapel
9:45am Nursery opens
10:00am Guiding RAY classes begin
10:00am Advent Lessons & Carols – Faith Family Sunday
(followed by Coffee Hour)
Beth Shaw
Parish Manager
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
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