The News at Saint Mary’s
14 July 2019: Fifth Sunday after Pentecost
Thanks to Fr. Sam Henderson and to David Clark
Fr. Henderson will be here this Sunday to serve as our Presider and Preacher in Fr. Nathan’s absence. David will be here to play the organ for us in Bruce’s absence. We give thanks to God for their gifts and talents, and we thank them for their willingness to share these with us today in the worship of God.
Third Tuesday of each month: we serve at St. Elizabeth’s
July 16, this coming week! Our service time at St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center (at the Cathedral) has changed to the 3rd Tuesday of every month. With the influx of refugees and asylum seekers in Portland, so your help is very much needed! FMI, contact Betsy Elliman at 400-6871 or betsyelliman@msn.com.
How to Help Our Newest Neighbors
Are you interested in possibly Hosting Newly-Arrived Immigrants
Please consider joining more than two dozen of our Portland neighbors in hosting newly-arrived immigrants as they transition from Portland Expo to permanent housing. Please indicate your interest at www.hosthomes@gpcog.com. Once hosts and families are sufficiently vetted, the matching process will follow. FMI: jenniferanngregg@gmail.com
Over the short term, these asylum seekers still need help.
If you have time: If you are a health care professional, are fluent in French or Portuguese or can serve meals, register your interest with United Way: https://www.unitedwaygp.org . Following a brief background check, you will be contacted as needs for your talents arise.
If you have money to give: Our new neighbors are still being actively served by non-profit organizations who could very much use your tax-deductible donations:
Ø ILAP, the Immigrant Legal Advocacy Project is Maine's only nonprofit provider of free asylum legal representation https://ilapmaine.org/
Ø Greater Portland Health provides culturally competent primary health care to asylum seekers and their children. You can designate your gift to Health Care for Asylum seekers, or support for all their good work by donating here: http://www.greaterportlandhealth.org/donate
Ø Preble Street is providing good to the asylum seekers being sheltered at the Expo. Designate your gift to Feeding Asylum Seekers or make a general donation: https://www.preblestreet.org/donate-now
Ø St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center - is able to accept donations of housewares like sheets and comforters, or some of the essential items we distribute like powdered laundry detergent, and toilet paper.
THANK YOU to all who have donated food and clothing and games, sports equipment, and more to support the asylum seekers currently at Portland Expo. Your generosity has been, quite literally, overwhelming! So we ask that you take a break--a pause, but please don't forget these new neighbors completely! We will be back to you as needs evolve!
Souper Supper: 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month - July 12 & 26
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, jenniferanngregg@gmail.com
New! New!! Garbage to Garden Composting in Saint Mary's Kitchen
In response to our call to be responsible stewards of God's creation, Saint Mary's is now composting. Through a cost-effective contract with Garbage to Garden, we will have two moderately sized tubs delivered each week in which to collect compostable material. These will be picked up and the new tubs delivered on trash day. Special thanks to our recycling crew, Marian McCue, John Henson and Jennifer Gregg for ensuring that the full tubs are put out with the recycling each week. And thanks in advance to ALL parishioners for composting and recycling responsibly at Saint Mary's. Check out the list of compostable items that is displayed in the kitchen next to the tubs--and the list of recyclable items that is taped to the top of the recycling bins. Any questions? Please contact Jennifer Gregg, jenniferanngregg@gmail.com, or any member of the Outreach Committee.
Youth Ministry
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)
Our Guiding RAY programs for all young people ages 0 to 14. During the program year ( Sept – mid-June), we gather all together beginning at 9:30am for Formation in the lower level of the Parish House with classes beginning at 10am. Our classes are designed to both appeal to and offer our children an opportunity to learn key bible stories and to develop their relationship with God. For more information on Guiding RAY, please visit our website www.smary.org
The Nursery opens at 9:15am on summer Sundays for our youngest disciples in the Guiding RAY area every Sunday morning for the later Eucharist. Please contact Megan Akers, GuidingRAY@smary.org, if you are able to assist with care.
Guiding RAY: will be back in the fall. Stay connected this summer on Thursdays for Common Ground Summer, a loosely organized time for fellowship.
Middle School Youth Group: MSY is on summer vacation. All kids in grades 5-8 are welcome to join this growing group that will resume in the fall.
Young Life of Casco Bay Club is on break now. FMI www.younglifecb.com
Bishopswood Summer Finale Week(end): August 22-25
Everyone is invited to gather for this end of camp celebration. Bishopswood is on the shores of Lake Megunticook in the Camden Hills. Multiple lodging options are available, fantastic camp food will be provided, lots of games and campfires and singing. For more information, see www.bishopswood.org
Gatherings & Events
Summer Farm-to-Table Dinner & Contra Dance: Saturday, August 10
A beautiful evening of fellowship and fundraising to be held on the church lawn, weather permitting. Join fellow parishioners, family, and friends for feasting and contra dancing. There will be hors d'oeuvres, locally-sourced steak and chicken, the freshest garden vegetable side dishes, and homemade French country fruit tarts for dessert! Ask anyone who went last year; the food is unbelievable and plentiful!
Accompanying the evening will be a live Bluegrass & Celtic band with well-known Portland caller Dela Murphy, who will teach everyone how to contra dance. No experience is necessary! Even kids can do it! Fun for all ages! We will still be hosting a silent auction at the event as a communal way to raise funds for the church. If you have an item or experience to offer in the auction, contact Emily Rodgers, emilymayrodgers@gmail.com or Janet Bowne, jmitchellbowne@gmail.com.
Thanks to the support of our Sponsors to date:
Molly Felton
Sandra Couch-Kelly, Clinical Therapist, LCSW
COMMON GROUND Summer: starting July 11
As a way to keep us connected during the summer Common Ground Thursdays will continue but with a slight time change. Join us on Thursdays from 9:00 – 11:00am (or later if you wish...bring a picnic to the playground) for fellowship and various activities and programs. Ice coffee, lemonade and snacks will be provided.
A few activities planned are...
- Listen to Presiding Bishop Curry’s podcasts on “The way of Jesus is the Way of Love. And the Way of Love can change the world”
- Weed and water the Saint Mary’s Vegetable Garden
- Play in the nursery (all ages welcome!)
- On July 18 Denise Curry, owner of Bfit Fitness will share her expertise on aging well with exercise and nutrition, emphasizing natural and organic strategies on skincare, weight loss, and stress management. Denise will also conduct private body fat measurements for anyone interested in getting a better understanding of their baselines!
- Sparkles projects
Or just spend some time chatting with each other. All are welcome!!
Saint Mary’s Sparkles is always working.
Thank you soooo much to all those who have already donated items for Sparkles 2019! We appreciate your generosity very much.
Just a reminder that if you’re a knitter, needle worker, sewist, or crafter of any kind, please think of Sparkles as you plan your summer projects. We would love your handmade hats, scarves, bags, baby items, etc. Also, if you’re clearing out your stash of supplies, we would love to take those, too. Your co-chairs, Jana Burke and Kathy Galen
Community Care & Nurture
Weekly Worship at Saint Mary’s during summer months
SUNDAYS: 8 am Contemplative Eucharist,
9:30 am Choral Eucharist (until Kickoff Sunday on September 8)
THURSDAYS: 12 noon Chapel Eucharist is off for the summer months
Mon -Thurs: 10 minute Noonday Prayer in Chapel or wherever
Tuesdays: 10:30 am Wisdom Seekers Bible study in Guild Room (off in July)
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.
Fr. Nathan will be at his Navy training from July 1 to July 28. During that time, we are fortunate to have Deacon Christine Bennett able to cover pastoral concerns. If needed, her cell is 653-2448.
Prayer Concerns for this week: Pat Studley, Harry Duvall, Jack Haney, Karen Mangino, Becca Horton and her baby, Tom Chamberlain, Chandra Lowe, Nolan Farris, Stewart Stalnecker.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD NAMES TO THIS 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 14 Fifth Sunday after Pentecost with Fr. Sam Henderson
8:00am Contemplative Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
9:30am Choral Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
Monday 15 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Tuesday 16 7 - 9am BNI in the auditorium
9-11am Saint Mary’s volunteer day at St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center
9:30-12:30 Art Group in the auditorium
Wisdom Seekers on break during July
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
7:00pm AA in the auditorium (Al-A-Teen in Youth Room)
7:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room (6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon)
Wed. 17 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Thursday 18 9:00am Common Ground Summer
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Friday 19 Parish Office closed
12noon Noonday Prayer – stop and pray where you are
5:00pm Souper Supper
5:30pm Al-Anon meeting
Saturday 20 AVE deadline for August
Memorial Service & Reception
Sunday 21 Sixth Sunday after Pentecost with Rev. Portia Hirschman
8:00am Contemplative Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
9:30 0am Choral Eucharist (followed by Coffee Hour)
Beth Shaw
Parish Manager
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105
207-781-3366, www.smary.org
