Saint Mary's Weekly News
10 February 2019 – Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany
· Fr. Nathan did not send emails asking for assistance or help; his email contact list was compromised.
· Thursday's Common Ground: Let's de-mystify Acupuncture
o 5pm Potluck, 5:45 presentation & discussion
· Feb. 10: NO 10:15 Sunday service: Mission Morning is our church
· Feb. 17: Bishop visitation - ONE 9:30am service
Annual Meeting News!
If you weren't able to attend the Annual Meeting on January 27, here are a few key points we'd like to share:
· We ended 2018 with a small surplus. Thank you to everyone who helped advance our mission and ministries and allowed us to end the year without a deficit. We are truly blessed and appreciate all our parishioners do to help our community.
· We hope to collect all the pledges in the next few weeks. Please complete your pledge form as soon as possible and send it confidentially to Beth Shaw, admin@smary.org.
· The Vestry meets to plan the year at a Leadership Retreat on Feb. 2. We will be orienting our new Vestry members and reviewing your feedback.
As always, we appreciate hearing from you! Contact Father Nathan or Senior Warden, Jim Kane or Junior Warden, Janet Bowne with your thoughts!
Episcopal Bishop's Visitation: February 17
Bishop Stephen Lane is scheduled to visit Saint Mary's on Sunday, February 17. In accordance with the Canon cited above, this is a regular visit to worship God with us, to listen to our hopes and concerns, and to meet with parish leaders. Please make every effort to be present and to participate in this special time with our Chief Pastor. The schedule for the day will be as follows:
8:30 AM Breakfast with Vestry and Staff
9:30 AM The Holy Eucharist (all-ages, no Guiding RAY classes)
10:30 AM Coffee Hour and discussion for all with the Bishop
Remember that the newly elected Bishop who will replace Bishop Steve is scheduled to begin her or his term on June 22 when that person is ordained and consecrated by the Presiding Bishop Michael Curry.
2019 Class for Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation
Calling everyone who is interested in this opportunity to learn about the Episcopal Church and to reaffirm your faith in Christ. Anyone who might be interested, please contact Fr. Nathan. Meetings will be planned based on the make-up of the class.
Who may be interested in this group? Those who wish:
· To confirm their baptismal identity as followers of Christ
- To be received into the fellowship of The Episcopal Church from another denomination
- To reaffirm publicly their trust in God and their commitment to Christ
2019 Annual Stewardship: Grace Given
Thank you to the 103 households who have sent in pledge intentions totaling $226,481. Now that we are in the calm season of Epiphany, please give pledging some thought and help us reach our pledge goal of $285,000.
So make your gifting to Saint Mary's count, pledge today! Thank you!
Serving the World
Winter 2019 Mission Morning: February 10
Experience God in Others
Join your fellow parishioners at 9:15am for Mission Morning (in lieu of the 10:15 service) this Sunday, following the 8am Eucharist! Once again, we will offer opportunities for parishioners of all ages, abilities and "comfort zones." You are invited to gather in the Auditorium at about 9:15 am (directly following the 8am service) for a short reflection, after which we will disperse in small groups into the community for various projects through which to seek God in Others. Snacks and refreshment will be available throughout and following the activities, so please consider returning to Saint Mary's when you are done for fellowship!
The nursery will be available for our youngest parishioners (up to 3 ½ years) from 9--noon.
9:15am (following 8am service) : Meet in Auditorium for Send-Off
• Tag and Distribute Warm Scarves in Portland-
Hang them on trees and light posts! (All ages!)
• Caring for Neighbors! Help parishioner with indoor projects (adults only)
• Deliver Flowers and Visit with Residents at The Cedars (All ages!)
• In-House Project at Saint Mary's: Following a presentation from Falmouth Food Pantry, make and tag more scarves, to be donated to the Pantry (ages 4 and up)
Throughout until noon: Breakfast and luncheon snacks and beverages available for all!
Calling All Books!! Book, Bread, & Soup Sale:
March 16, 9 AM to 1 PM
We are accepting donated books for the sale. Please NO magazines, text books or encyclopedias, and take your books down to the big store room or the hall way outside the store room. If you would like to help, please let Betsy (jbstod@myfairpoint.net) or Jan (janmordarski@gmail.com). We are sorting now, but will have sign-up sheets later for help with the sale itself.
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 nursery care. Today, because of Mission Morning, we'll be open from 9:00 - 11:30am
This week in Guiding RAY we will join other parishioners in performing
God's work out in the world with Mission Morning beginning at 9:15am. Next week we all join in greeting our Bishop Steven Lane for ONE service at 9:30am
We will continue with our 6th rotation on the Books of the Bible on February 24. This series of lessons will help familiarize children with the Bible, how it came to be, and the importance of it in our lives.
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
Common Ground Potluck & Presentation: 5 - 7 pm on Thursdays
This in how Common Ground works:
5 - 7pm Potluck dinner. Take a break from cooking a whole meal. Bring a dish or just eat what we have. Enjoy fellowship and discussion. Open to everyone!! Food will be available throughout this time.
5:45pm Group presentations and discussion. Topics will vary or be seasonal.
→Thursday, February 7- Acupuncture. Have you wondered about acupuncture and its benefits? Join us to hear from parishioner, Maureen Manetti, to learn about acupuncture. Maureen is an experienced acupuncturist who can demystify this ancient practice and show you how it can help you.
→Thursday, February 14 - Game Night & Comfort Food. Do you love to play board games, card games, trivia games? Bring a game to play and bring some good comfort food to warm the heart.
→Thursday, February 21 -The Story of a New Mainer: David M.: Childhood Trauma, Wartime and its Aftermath, Striving to Live. Come and hear him tell his own life story from Rwanda to Maine.
→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.
Mardi Gras Pancake Feast
and Variety Show at Saint Mary's: March 3, 4-6 PM
Mark this date on your calendar! Start rehearsing!
Entertainment at its finest on the Sunday before Mardi Gras!
Formation groups: 9:30 AM on each regular Sunday (next is 2/24)
1. "A Testament of Devotion"
Each week we will read and discuss key points from this remarkable text. Five chapters will take us to the start of Lent. No advance reading needed. All are welcome to join the spiritual conversation with Nathan+ in the Guild Room
2. Guided Meditations in the Chapel: "The Way of Love"
A regular gathering for prayer and discussion in the beauty of our Chapel. Current topics cover the 7 practices of The Way of Love. Everyone is welcome.
Community Care & Nurture
Pray for our Bishop Electing Convention on Saturday!
God of Grace, we give you thanks for all the blessings of our common life and ministries as the Episcopal Diocese of Maine, and for our leaders who are guiding us through this season of change. Grant to our candidates Kenneth, Thomas, Anne, Rachel and Janet the Holy Spirit's gifts of faith, hope and love. We ask also that you grant discerning hearts, minds, and spirits to the Transition Committee and all the delegates to the Electing Convention. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
Visit the Bishop Quest page of the Diocesan website to learn more and to watch the voting as it takes place in Bangor.
Chapel Eucharist: Thursdays 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: 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: Norma Jean Brilliant, Karon Velek, Angelica Barrett, Pat Mordecai, Priscilla Rigg, Robin Parady, Dawn Peterson, Erin Ferrell, Chandra Lowe, Tristan, 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 – February
Sunday 10 Fifth Sunday after Epiphany
8:00am Contemplative Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
9:15am Mission Morning– ALL ages gather for community projects
11:30am Return to Auditorium to share stories and food
Monday 11 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6:30 pm Bell choir rehearsal
7:00pm Portland Community Chorus rehearsal in auditorium
Tuesday 12 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 13 9a - 2p Mainely Weavers
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6 – 8 pm SinG rehearsal in the Auditorium
Thursday 14 12noon Chapel Eucharist
2:00pm Merton Group in the Chapel
5 - 7pm Common Ground – Game Night & Comfort Food
7:00pm SM Choir rehearsal
Friday 15 Parish Offices are closed on Fridays
12noon Noonday Prayer – stop and pray where you are
5:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Sunday 17 Sixth Sunday after Epiphany – Bishop's Visitation
8:30am Vestry breakfast with Bishop Steve
9:30am Choral Eucharist with the Bishop
10:30am Community Conversation with the Bishop
Beth Shaw
Parish Manager
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
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