Saint Mary’s Weekly News
September 27, 2015 – The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Autumn MISSION MORNING: Saturday, October 3 at 9 AM
In place of Sunday morning worship (not taking place due to the ME Marathon), ALL are asked to gather on SATURDAY morning in the Auditorium to be sent out on mission!
FOUR different projects are planned throughout the area:
· Coastal Clean-up on Mackworth Island (wear sturdy shoes and bring garden gloves)
· Food Drive to benefit the Falmouth Food Pantry at one of the local supermarkets
· Singing and visiting at a local Nursing Home
· Home /yard work for select community members in need
PLEASE SIGN-UP TODAY IN THE PARISH HOUSE so that we can plan accordingly.
All ages and abilities can participate. Nursery care will be provided at Saint Mary’s for ages up to 3 ½. We will gather after projects back in the Auditorium for Communion and lunch. We expect to be finished around 12noon. Invite your friends and neighbors!
Prayer Vigil for the earth, our Common Home: Saturday, Oct. 3, 6:30pm
An ecumenical gathering at Foreside Community Church to kick-off our community discussion of Pope Francis’ new teaching, Laudato Sí which calls on all humanity to undergo a “global ecological conversion.”
Maine Marathon: Three Saint Mary’s GODSPEED Relay Teams Oct 4th AM
Join us on Sunday, 10/4 to cheer on the Maine Marathon runners as they pass by Saint Mary’s!! Meet at 7:30 AM and stay as long as you’re able. We’re arranging for parking on Route 1 which will enable you some flexibility. There’s a path from Route 1 to Route 88. Bring drums, noise makers and enthusiasm to give these runners a big Saint Mary’s boost! We’ll have coffee, bagels and fellowship for all who come! Interested and have ideas for celebrating or aiding the runners? Contact Janet Bowne (janetbowne@maine.rr.com).
Celebration of Holy Baptism: Sunday, October 4 at 5 PM
All are welcome as we gather to baptize Hope Duchin and to celebrate Communion.
Thursday Eucharists: every week in the Chapel at 12 noon
This is a beautiful, informal time to gather at the Lord’s Table with a meditation on the scripture or the saint of the day, time for group discussion, and prayers for healing.
Noonday Prayer every other weekday in the Chapel
Pause for 10 minutes of prayer together. Everyone is welcome! 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, for our bishop, and for your own daily life with God.
Autumn Study Groups: it’s never too late to participate!
Look for the sign-up sheets outside the Guild Room to ensure that we have enough room and plenty of books for all to participate. Join us for one or more!
Tuesdays at 10:30 AM (began September 22)
Ø “The Four Vision Quests of Jesus” – a six week study of Bishop Steven Charleston's book led by Deacon Christine. This book offers us a new perspective on four of the key events of Jesus' ministry through the lens of Native American spirituality.
Tuesdays at 4:00PM (began September 23) Note: time and day change starting 9/30
Ø “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home” – a six week study of Richard Foster’s book led by Deacon Christine. The book is a classic on every kind of prayer from adoration to contemplation and everything in between.
Wednesdays at 6:30 PM (beginning October 7) Note the change
Ø “Care for Our Common Home” – at the Maine Audubon Center at Gilsland Farm and Plummer-Motz.
Come together for a community study of Pope Francis’ recent teaching letter which calls on every single human being to understand “just how inseparable the bond is between concern for nature, justice for the poor, commitment to society, and interior peace.” All Falmouth congregations are participating in this study group which will continue for 5 weeks alternatingly at the Maine Audubon Center at Gilsland Farm and Plummer-Motz building. Se AVE.
Open Nominations for Vestry 2016
Serving on the Vestry is fulfilling, challenging and rewarding. It is a significant opportunity to serve and be stewards of our parish family. Complete the inserted form or find one in the narthex of the church or outside the Guild Room, then place in one of the ballot boxes. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Nominating Committee: Anne LaFond (co-chair), Mary Ann McLean (co-chair), Jim Stoddard, and Shelly Maher. Thank you for your prayerful cooperation!
Christian Formation Notes
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth): 9:30 / 9:45 each Sunday
At 9:30 AM, Family Chapel is a special time for families and children with Fr. Nathan in the Chapel. Guiding RAY classes begin immediately afterward at 9:45 AM.
For more information on our Guiding RAY or Godly Play programs, please visit our website www.smary.org . The Nursery opens at 9:30 AM for our youngest disciples and has returned to the Guiding RAY spaces in the lower level of the Parish House.
Youth Ministry
Young Life Club: getting ready to re-launch soon!
Watch for notes of upcoming events and the re-launching of Club soon.
The Middlers: gather at 9:30 AM every Sunday morning
Fresh bagels and cream cheese, ping pong, pool, cool music, and role playing of Bible stories! What’s not to love? For now, ALL middle schoolers AND high schoolers are welcome to join the fun in the Youth Room on the Parish House lower level.
Serving The World
Souper Suppers at Saint Mary’s: every 2nd and 4th Friday – September 25
This is a FREE Friday night dinner for everyone and anyone. Join us for supper for a relaxed evening of fellowship and outreach to the community and each other.
And join the Souper Supper Team! FMI: contact Jennifer, jenniferanngregg@gmail.com.
The 7th annual Harvest Community Supper: Thursday, October 15
4:30 – 7 PM at the Falmouth Congregational Church (267 Falmouth Road). Saint Mary’s, the other Falmouth churches and the Jewish community will again band together to host a free turkey supper to raise funds (donations requested at the door) for the Falmouth Food Pantry, a resource serving the growing need experienced by many of our neighbors. Please come by and enjoy an evening of good food, goodwill and friendship. We need Saint Marians who are willing to donate and cook turkeys, bake squash, and to help with serving and cleanup. Please sign-up to volunteer before October 5 by the Guild Room. FMI, please contact John Brooks (781-2097).
Upcoming Events & Gatherings
Columbus Day All-Parish Hike: Monday, October 12, 9 AM departure
Come out and experience the peak of fall foliage colors in beautiful Evans Notch. We’ll drive up to this part of the White Mountain National Forest that straddles the ME/NH border. Current plans are to climb Speckled Mountain (2,906 ft) and to visit the Bickford Slides waterfalls. All ages and abilities are welcome, as well as all friendly dogs, and we will adjust our hiking goals to suit the group. Afterward, we’ll stop for dinner together on the way back home. Bring your own lunch and water – and camera! Depart from S. Mary’s.
SPARKLES NEWS: Saturday, December 5
GIFT BOXES are in the auditorium and ready for you to take. Theme ideas are on the sign-up sheet. Take a box, fill it with appropriate items and bring it to the office NO LATER than November 12th. We will arrange them, label and wrap them and have them ready to sell at the boutique.
WE NEED BEANS!! Saint Mary's Friendship soup has become a popular item at the boutique. To create it, we need your donations of dried beans (any type or color but no lentils, please) to be placed in the basket outside the Guild Room.
Community Care & Nurture
Communicating with Father Nathan
Feel free to contact 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.
Prayer Concerns for this week: Nancy Casey, Zachary Ferrell, Gay Freeman, Jackie Kopacz, Lisa Gaskin, Sarah Gorman, Lynn Hathaway, Cindy Horton, John Horahan, Shelly Maher, Roger Murray, Becky Pride, Scott Ryan, Cathy Stakel, and Jim Whittemore.
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 27 8:00am The 18th Sunday after Pentecost: Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour begins
9:30am Family Chapel & The Middlers
9:45am Guiding RAY classes begin
10:00am The 18th Sunday after Pentecost Contemporary Eucharist
11:15am Coffee Hour continues
Monday 28 9:00am Budget & Finance Committee meeting
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Tuesday 29 9-12:30 Art Group in Auditorium
10:00am Order of Saint Luke in the Wool Room
10:30am “The Four Vision Quests of Jesus” – Book Study (2) in Guild Room
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
1:00pm Get Stitching in the White Wool Room
1:00pm Staff meeting
2:30pm Kneeler meeting in Ruth White Wool Room
6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon
7:00pm AA in auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon meeting – in Guild Room
Wednesday 30 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6:30pm “Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home”– (#2)
Thursday, Oct.1 8:30am Falmouth Ecumenical Clergy Network meeting
12noon Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel
4:00pm Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals
4-6:15 BSM workshop
7:00pm Choir rehearsal
Friday 2 Parish Office is closed on Fridays
12noon Noonday Prayer – wherever you find yourself
5:30pm Al-Anon meeting
Saturday 3 9:00am MISSION MORNING – Gather for community projects
11:30am Return to Auditorium for Communion and lunch
6:30pm Ecumenical Vigil for the Earth, Our Common Home at Foreside Community Church
Sunday 4 Maine Marathon – no morning services!
8:00am Marathon support and cheerleading – help needed!
5:00pm Holy Baptism and Eucharist
Beth Shaw
Parish Administrator
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366