3 March 2019 – Last Sunday after the Epiphany
Mardi Gras Pancake Feast
and Variety Show at Saint Mary's: March 3, 4-6 PM
Entertainment at its finest will occur the Sunday before
Mardi Gras – Shrove Sunday! Andrea Myles-Hunkin, the shy,
modest, parishioner will be MC of the Variety Show.
Again this year we'll begin with mask-making, a prayer,
burning last year's palm for this year's ashes, packing up the Alleluia for Lent and taking to the crypt! Then we'll gorge on Pancakes and the entertainment begins!! We want everyone to have fun, relax and laugh away their winter blues right before the Lenten season. For more information or to talk about your act, please contact Megan Akers GuidingRAY@smary.org
Serving the World
Book, Bread, & Soup Sale: March 16, 9 AM to 1 PM
· Please sign up in the auditorium to help with the sale: before, during and after all needed!
· Purchase greeting cards NOW! Many varieties in kitchen area
· Invite your friends to shop!
· FMI, contact, Betsy (jbstod@myfairpoint.net) or Jan (janmordarski@gmail.com).
Youth Ministry
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)
Our Guiding RAY programs for all young people ages 0 to 14. We gather all together beginning at 9:30am for Formation in the lower level of the Parish House with classes beginning at 10am. For more information on Guiding RAY, please visit our website www.smary.org .
The Nursery opens at 9:30am on regular Sundays for our youngest disciples in the Guiding RAY area every Sunday morning for the later Eucharist. Please contact Alison Hayward, ajhmcmonagle@gmail.com, if you are able to assist her with care.
This week in Guiding RAY This week in Guiding RAY we will begin learning all about the Ten Commandments and how we know that they are God's rules. The Ten Commandments are much more than rules people need to follow. The Commandments help us to understand the way in which God already loves us and accepts us, and how we are free to love God and serve one another.
Saint Mary's RSCM Youth Choirs:
The Youth Choir Program has two choirs to adjust to the age groups of the children.
St. Cecilia Choir (open to ages 8-15) rehearse in the choir room, Tuesdays 4:30-5:30pm
Angel Choir (open to ages 4-7) join the St. Cecilia choristers on Sundays from 9:30-10am.
Young Life of Casco Bay
Every Monday night (when school is in session) at 7:31 PM in a cool barn at 41 Stapleford Dr in Falmouth. For ALL area high school students. The BEST thing happening on a Monday night – guaranteed! FMI, visit www.younglifecb.com
Gatherings & Events
March 6 is Ash Wednesday: The Invitation to a Holy Lent
There will be multiple opportunities for everyone to observe this special day of fasting, prayer and self-denial. In addition, if anyone would like ashes brought to a homebound member, please call the Parish Office right away.
Our Ash Wednesday schedule will be:
· 12noon: Ash Wednesday liturgy – in the Sanctuary
· 4pm: Ash Wednesday for Families and Youth – in the Chapel
· 6pm: Ash Wednesday liturgy with music – in the Sanctuary
Common Ground in Lent: Faith and Science in the 21st Century
5 - 7pm Please bring soup, salad or bread to share together. We will keep these meals simple in Lent - except for Pi(e) night on 3.14 when we all bring our favorite savory or sweet pie to share. The food is available throughout the 2 hours; come when you can.
5:45pm The presentation and discussion begins. We will end around 6:45 to clean up.
→Thursday, February 28 - It's the Law! Chief Kilbride and Chief Rumsey (Police chiefs of Falmouth and Cumberland) will talk about a day in the life of a police officer. They'll speak about trends in area crime and how the average citizen can support our first responders. No matter where you live, their comments will be applicable to the Greater Portland area.
→Thursdays in Lent: Faith & Science topics
March 7: How Can Science and Faith Inform Each Other?
March 14: God and the Cosmos (and PI(E) Day)
March 21: Creation and Evolution
March 28: Quantum Physics and Eternity
April 4: The Bible and Genetics
April 11: Life and Death
ADULT Formation groups: 9:30 AM on each regular Sunday
"A Testament of Devotion" concludes today (March 3).
"The Practices of the Desert" begins March 10
Fr. Nathan will share with us the insights he has learned from his in-depth study of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. Each week, we will read a new story and learn a new phrase to carry with us and to use as a tool for our growth in Christ. These teachings challenge all of us, so come ready to explore new ideas. All are welcome!
Guided Meditations in the Chapel: "Be Still"
With centering prayer, we promise that you will leave the chapel with a wonderful sense of peace, calm and renewal. Everyone is welcome.
Lenten Gatherings begin this week!
· Faith and Science: Thursday evenings 5:45-6:45 with potluck at 5pm
Creation and Evolution. Quantum physics and Eternity. The Bible and Genetics. These are some of the topics that we will explore at Common Ground in Lent. We will watch brief videos of experts speaking and then talk among ourselves. All ideas are welcome! Come and join the conversation.
· Be Still: Monday evenings 5:30 – 6:30pm, beginning March 11
There is no more precious season than Lent to search for moments of peaceful communion with God in the Father James Chapel. With centering prayer, we can promise that you will leave the chapel with a sought-for peace, calm and renewal. Please join us!
· Be Still: Sunday mornings 9:30 - 10am beginning March 10
Our Sunday contemplative formation time will continue into Lent. Lent is often thought of as a season of renunciation, denial and penitence. But we'll change that up a bit (Jesus was always changing things up, right?) and concentrate on the theme of gifts. The gifts of Lent might include an opportunity for spiritual rest, the aptitude for humility or the flair for compassion. Lent is also the time to identify the gifts we'd like to cultivate in ourselves all year through. Come and join us for a bit of silence and gentle conversation.
· Lent Madness: beginning March 7
Join in the fun and learning! Lent Madness began in 2010 as the brainchild of the Rev. Tim Schenck. This is a fun, engaging way for people to learn about the men and women comprising the Church's Calendar of Saints. The format is straightforward: 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. Each pairing remains open for a set period of time and people vote for their favorite saint. 16 saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen, and so forth to the Elate Eight, the Faithful Four and finally the Golden Halo is awarded on Holy Wednesday. Brackets are available at http://www.lentmadness.org/ or in the parish house.
· Other Lenten links and resources:
SSJE online reflections: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John
Two Lenten Quiet Day opportunities at Saint Mary's
Saturday, March 23, 9am - 2pm – led by the Society of the Companions of the Holy Cross
Saturday, March 30, 9am - 12noon – led by our own Saint Marians
Exploring Wabanaki History
As a follow-up to the screenings of the powerful documentary, Dawnland, St. Bart's in Yarmouth will be hosting an interactive story-telling experience, "Exploring Wabanaki History" on Saturday, March 2, 12:30pm - 2:30pm. A second exercise has been added for 3:30pm - 5:30pm on the same day. Maine-Wabanaki REACH facilitators will guide us in learning about the events in the colonizing history of Wabanaki people and its impact on Indigenous people. The event is interactive, with participants representing both the Wabanaki people and Europeans and their descendants.
The event is free. Please register by contacting either Ann Donnaghy 846-0736, annbdonaghy@gmail.com or Carla Hunt 206-251-8694, musseit@yahoo.com.
Snowshoe / Hiking Trip, Friday to Saturday, March 29 - 30
All are invited to join our Sr. Warden, Jim Kane and others for a fun and moderately challenging snowshoe hike in the Kingfield Maine area.
We will travel by car from Saint Mary's the early evening (5:30PM or so) on Friday, March 29, to parishioner Mike Edward's winter heated house outside Kingfield Maine (~2 hrs. from Saint Mary's), make a late dinner, select the next day's hike based on weather conditions and ability/desire of the participants, sleep inside, wake, make breakfast, pack snacks and lunch, hit the trail by 8:30 AM, back to Mike's by 5PM, depart home by 7PM, arrive back at Saint Mary's by 9PM.
Please RSVP (call or text) to Jim Kane cell 207-329-1764 … space is limited to +/- 8 folks ages 12+.
Community Care & Nurture
Chapel Eucharist will take a break this week and resume on 3/14
Noonday Prayer: Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays 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: Bruce Fossett, Holly, Mimi Hilton, Clarinda Schmidlapp, Norma Jean Brilliant, Karon Velek, Angelica Barrett, Dawn Peterson, Erin Ferrell, Chandra Lowe, Bucky, Stewart Stalnecker, Nolan Farris, Frank Rheaume.
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, March 3 Last Sunday after Epiphany
8:00am Contemplative Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
9:30am Formation for all ages – Adults and Youth
10:15am Choral Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
4 - 6 pm Mardi Gras Variety Show and Pancake Feast
Monday 4 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
5-6:30 Foreside Common in Kneeler Room (March 3 & 4)
6:30 pm Bell choir rehearsal
7:00pm Portland Community Chorus rehearsal in auditorium
Tuesday 5 7 - 9am BNI in the auditorium
9:30a - 1p Art Group in the Auditorium
10:30am Wisdom Seekers Bible Study – all are welcome
12 noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
12:45pm Staff meeting
4:30 pm St. Cecilia choir rehearsal
7:00 pm AA in the auditorium
7:30 pm Al-Anon in the Chapel (6:30pm Beginner's Al-Anon)
Wednesday 6 Ash Wednesday
12 noon Ash Wednesday liturgy in the Sanctuary
4:00PM Ash Wednesday for families in the Chapel
6:00PM Ash Wednesday liturgy with choir in the Sanctuary
6 – 8 pm SinG rehearsal in the Auditorium
Thursday 7 12noon Noonday Prayer ONLY
1:00PM CARE group meeting
1 - 3 PM Falmouth Knitters
2:00pm Merton Group in the Chapel
5 - 7pm FAITH AND SCIENCE – Lent Potluck & Program
6:00pm Dowsers in the Guild Room
7:00pm SM Choir rehearsal
Friday 8 Parish Offices are closed on Fridays
12noon Noonday Prayer – stop and pray where you are
5:00pm Souper Supper followed by Classic Cinema
5:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Sunday 10 First Sunday in Lent: Great Litany and Rite of Forgiveness
8:00am Contemplative Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
9:30am Formation for all ages – Adults and Youth
10:15am Choral Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
Beth Shaw
Parish Manager
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
