24 February 2019 – Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany
We have a new Bishop-Elect to take office in June 2019!
The Rev. Thomas James Brown was elected to become the 10th Bishop of the Diocese of Maine at a Special Electing Convention in Bangor February 9, 2019. One of five nominees, Rev. Brown, is currently serving as Rector of the Parish of the Epiphany in Winchester, MA. He was elected on the 3rd ballot, receiving a majority of clergy and lay delegate votes representing 60 year-round congregations and 20 summer chapels here in Maine.
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 we will begin our 7th rotation on The Ten Commandments. The kids will consider the importance of rules as they watch Veggie Tales video about the Ten Commandments. We still need leaders for this rotation! Please contact Megan Akers, guidingray@smary.org, if you would like to help our kids learn that these laws are an attitude of the heart.
Middlers! Middle schoolers will have a first meeting today with our new leaders, Michelle and Will Chappell. Please join us in the Youth Room at 10 AM. Our group is engaging and Christ-centered, focused on imparting the love and knowledge of God. We use games and discussion-based teaching to serve our students. Our prayerful desire is for our students to then take the Good News of the Gospel and introduce it to their communities. We welcome all middle school youth, from those who are merely curious about God to those who have a full-fledged desire to follow God.
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
Serving the World
Calling All Books!! 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! FMI, contact, Betsy (jbstod@myfairpoint.net) or Jan (janmordarski@gmail.com).
The Falmouth Food Pantry is hoping to win the Community Matters More event of the Bangor Savings Bank and receive $5,000! If not the top winner, the pantry may have a chance to win $1,000!
Please go to the following link, scroll down to Cumberland County, write in Falmouth Food Pantry, and cast your vote, https://www.bangor.com/community/community-matters-more.
ALSO: FFP has a client that is in need of gently -used couch. They are very much in need and have family members with disabilities. Thanks for considering.
Gatherings & Events
Evensong at Saint Mary's: Sunday at 4 PM, featuring three Saint Mary's choirs
The Saint Mary's adult Choir, the St. Cecilia youth choir, and the Handbell choir invite you to savor a special time when you can let the trials and tribulations of this world melt away, as we gather together singing hymns and songs about the close of the day. Come join us for an afternoon of beauty and contemplation!
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 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.
Bring in your old palms for the burning
of this year's ashes at the
Mardi Gras Show & Feast
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! We'll pack up the Alleluia and gorge on pancakes! Be there!
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
Lenten Gatherings Begin soon!
· 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. In seeking a fun, engaging way for people to learn about the men and women comprising the Church's Calendar of Saints, Tim came up with this unique Lenten devotion. 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 outside the Guild Room in the parish house.
· Other Lenten links and resources:
SSJE online reflections: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John
ADULT Formation groups: 9:30 AM on Feb 24 and March 3
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.
Snowshoe / Hiking Overnight Trip: March 29 – 30
ALL are invited to join in a moderately challenging snowshoe hike in the Kingfield area. We will travel by car from St. Mary's the early evening (5:30 PM or so) on Friday, March 29, to the Edward's winter heated house outside Kingfield Maine (‾2 hrs. from S. 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 S. Mary's by 9PM. Please RSVP (call or text) to Jim Kane's cell 207-329-1764. Space is limited to about 8 folks at least 12 years old.
Community Care & Nurture
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: Bruce Fossett, Holly, Mimi Hilton, Clarinda Schmidlapp, Norma Jean Brilliant, Karon Velek, 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, Feb 24 Seventh 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)
4:00pm Evensong in the Sanctuary
Monday 25 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6:30 pm Bell choir rehearsal
7:00pm Portland Community Chorus rehearsal in auditorium
Tuesday 26 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 27 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6 – 8 pm SinG rehearsal in the Auditorium
Thursday 28 12noon Chapel Eucharist
1-3pm Falmouth knitters in the Guild Room
2:00pm Merton Group in the Chapel
5 - 7pm Common Ground – with our local Police Chiefs
6:00pm Dowsers in the Guild Room
7:00pm SM Choir rehearsal
Friday, March 1 Parish Offices are closed on Fridays
12noon Noonday Prayer – stop and pray where you are
5:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Saturday 2 11:00am Memorial Service & Reception for Pat Mordecai
Sunday 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 & Baptisms (followed by Coffee Hour)
4 - 6 pm Mardi Gras Variety Show and Pancake Feast
Beth Shaw
Parish Manager
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
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