Saint Mary’s Weekly News
February 24, 2013: The Second Sunday in Lent
!!!! MOVING DAY - Please, Come one, come all!! This Saturday, Feb 23rd !!!!
Saturday is the day, 9-5pm is the time! Can you spend an hour or more to help? We are hoping for a huge turnout to help get this done! If you can tote or dust, please come! Extra donuts for anyone with a truck and/or "dolly/hand truck." Breakfast and lunch provided! Thank you in advance!
Hey! Let’s see if we can lower the average age of volunteers from the last B & G clean-up day.
Time for those under 60 years of age to come on down too! J
There may be sporadic phone and internet from the parish office for a few days while service is being moved, so be patient if trying to reach us by telephone or email. Thanks!
This Sunday’s Celebrant - The Rev. Laura Peckham
We welcome the Reverend Laura Peckham as our guest celebrant this Sunday morning and we thank her for sharing her many gifts with us. Fr. Nathan and the Ferrell family are away for a few days due to the February school vacation.
Stewardship
By now you should have received the annual request for pledged financial support. Your pledge is the foundation upon which all the ministries and activities at S. Mary’s are built. Remember, the pledge year has now changed – beginning now on April 1 - in order to allow parishioners to prayerfully consider financial stewardship during Lent. However, we still need support for the current period; as we have indicated in the past, please continue your pledge from last year for these 3 months (January thru March). And then starting in April, parishioners will start fulfilling the new pledge. This may be a little confusing, so if you have questions, please contact Greg Unfricht (865-9031). Our collections are behind compared to last year, mostly due to confusion about this change in pledge period. Hopefully this confusion will soon subside and we will be back on track. Thank you so much for your vital support of S. Mary’s, through which God is working to bless our community and the world. Here are our 2013 Pledge results so far:
Acolyte Training: **It's not too late**
The last Training class will be held on March 3 at 11:30 am. Youth 8+ years and adults are welcome. We are in special need of older youth who can carry the cross. This last class will be approximately 1 hour with practice carrying candles and setting the altar for communion. Acolytes generally serve once per month from Sept – June. FMI contact: Tricia Wheeler at tjwheel@maine.rr.com.
Wednesday Evening Lenten Series: February 27, March 6, 13, 20
“How to Pray without Ceasing.” What does this mean? Is it even possible? Join your parish family for a 5-week study opportunity led by Fr. Nathan. See below FMI.
Lenten Conversations with our Deacon: “Resilience”
In our ever changing lives, one thing is certain and that is that God is with us! Nothing is so certain as change and coping with change is very difficult. Our help is in God who teaches us resilience. On Thursdays at noon in Lent, Deacon Christine will guide a conversation about resilience based on a collection of articles from "Weavings: A Journal of the Christian Spiritual Life" Copies of each week's article will be available in the Guild room in advance of each session. Please come!
Are you ready for “Lent Madness”?
Vote for your favorite saint! Who will win “The Golden Halo”? Join this fun parody of “March Madness” throughout the season of Lent to learn about the saints and to support your favorites in this on-line competition. See www.lentmadness.org.
Newcomer's welcome Gathering Next Sunday afternoon - March 3rd
On Sunday, March 3rd, a gathering to welcome all "Newcomers & Old Friends Returning" will be held at the residence of Susan & Bryan Dench, 295 Foreside Rd, Falmouth. This is an entire family event. If you are new or relatively new or returning to S. Mary's, please come so that you enjoy a warm welcome and good fellowship.
If you plan to attend or have any questions, contact Mary Ann McLean (781-4871 or e-mail mmclean3@maine.rr.com.)
Our children in church
The Guiding RAY Leadership Team is developing new quiet baskets for the children in church. Please look through your toy baskets at home and bring in any coloring books (gently used is fine), drawing books, notebooks, pencils, crayons, lacing cards, magna doodles, etc. Any quiet, interactive activities are most appreciated. Please note we cannot use play-doh, moon sand, markers, or any other items that may damage the kneelers. Anything we can't use will be donated to Goodwill or to Guiding RAY.
Safe Church Trainings this Spring
The Diocese of Maine is sponsoring three Safe Church Training programs which include healthy church practices concerning the safety of ministry with adults, protection of children and youth, and elder abuse prevention. Participants will build an awareness and strive to make our churches safer places for all generations. For complete information about Diocesan Policies and Procedures, the schedule of trainings, and links to register for training, visit tinyurl.com/DioMaineSafeChurch
Scheduled trainings: Saturday, March 16 at St. Columba’s in Boothbay Harbor; Saturday, April 13 at St. George’s in Sanford; and Saturday, May 11th at Trinity Church, in Castine.
Calling All BOOKS!
As part of our 2013 Outreach Project, S. Mary's is holding its Book, Bake & Soup Sale on Saturday, March 16th, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. WE NEED YOU to: donate books, videos, games & puzzles; sort books; sell books; BAKE for the bake sale; clean-up.
Please sign up to help in whatever way you are able and willing. There are sign-up sheets in the Guild Room. Any questions about baking call Elizabeth Heinzman; any questions about books, contact Becky Pride. Thanks to Babs Bell for making the soups. Regarding books, games or puzzles: Please leave them in the wool room in the auditorium lobby anytime across from the bathrooms. Please do not donate used textbooks, encyclopedia sets, magazine sets.
Haiti Trip this Fall!!
If you want to help change the world, there will be a week-long HAITI TRIP in November to work in a school across the border from the Dominican Republic. See Becky Pride for details.
Youth Center Ministry needs you!
Jim Stoddard, Marian McCue, Bruce Fithian and Becky Pride had another joy-filled and fun time at the Long Creek Youth Center this past Thursday. Our 17 young men are so appreciative and polite. This is such a safe and rewarding ministry! Please consider joining us as a team member once a month for an hour and a half. We would be so grateful if you did so. We played bucket ball, bean bags, Life, Yahtzee, Connect Four, and just talked ... oh, and we ate lots of cookies and drank soda!! See any of us for more information.
Godspeed
Saturday morning prayer & running & winter sports group! If there is snow, we will gather for snowshoeing and Nordic skiing tours in front of the Parish House on Saturday mornings at 8 am. Watch the E-News for weekly updates.
Communicating with Fr. Nathan
Feel free to contact Fr. Nathan at any time if you wish to speak with him. You can e-mail him directly at nathanferrell@smary.org, or call him on his cell at 609-410-7573. Follow him on Twitter @FatherNate or visit his blog at www.fatherferrell.blogspot.com .
Emergency Fuel Discretionary Assistance
As the winter continues and the temperatures drop, let’s not forget to lend assistance to those that are struggling to stay warm. Requests for help come frequently to our office. Emergency Fuel Fund envelopes can be found in the hymnals in each pew. Thank you on behalf of the Outreach Committee and of those you truly need the help.
We have just learned that the Falmouth Food Pantry is requesting blankets for families who are forced to keep the heating bills as low as possible.
Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion to those unable to worship with us on Sunday morning. The Eucharistic Visitor this week is Ginny Stelk.
Wednesday Evening Lenten Series:
February 27, March 6, 13, 20
“How to Pray without Ceasing”
Join your parish family for a 5-week study opportunity led by Fr. Nathan. Together we will read “The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer That Tunes the Heart to God”, a book by Frederica Mathewes-Green. After a simple meal of soup, salad and bread, we will join in a group discussion of this book and what it means for our daily lives. The books can be purchased for $8 each.
Here’s How it Works:
Each week, two or three people prepare soup or beans. Other participants bring a salad, bread, or beverage. Please sign up in the Guild Room, so we know how much soup to prepare. (You can sign up for every week, or for those that fit your schedule.)
6:00 Simple supper for all
6:45 Group discussion begins
7:30 Closing prayer and clean-up
7:45 Clean-up and out the door!
This Week’s Calendar at Saint Mary’s – February/March 2013
Sunday 24 8:00am The 2nd Sunday in Lent: Traditional Eucharist
9:30am Guiding RAY opens downstairs in Parish House
10:00am The 2nd Sunday in Lent: Contemporary Eucharist
Monday 25 The Move continues – Parish Office closed
6:00pm Stewardship Team meeting
Tuesday 26 8:00am Open Door - Twitter live with Fr. Nathan
8:00am Carpool to St. Elizabeth’s Essentials Pantry
(volunteers serve from 8:30 to 11)
10:00am Order of St. Luke in church
1:00pm Staff meeting
7:00pm AA in Auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Wednesday 27 6:00pm Lenten Soup, Salad & Program - All welcome!
Thursday 28 10:30am Weekday Worship – in the Chapel
6:00pm Men’s Snowshoe Adventure begins in Kingfield!
7:00pm Choir Rehearsal
7:30pm Men’s AA in the Guild Room
Friday Mar. 1 5:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Saturday 2 8:00am Godspeed outdoors group (weather permitting)
Sunday 3 8:00am The 3rd Sunday in Lent: Traditional Eucharist
9:30am Guiding RAY open downstairs in Parish House
10:00am The 3rd Sunday in Lent: Contemporary Eucharist
11:30am Acolyte training – in church
4:00pm Newcomer’s Welcome Gathering – at the Dench’s home
