Saint Mary’s Weekly News
October 30, 2016 – The Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Stewardship 2017: Celebrate, Honor, Serve
What is pledging? A pledge is a promise to give a donation to support our mission and ministries for 2017. Annual pledges, loose offerings and our two major fundraisers are the primary revenue sources supporting all of our program and institutional expenses. We time our stewardship drive to allow us to budget wisely and adequately for the work we do. Pledging supports everything from supplies for Guiding RAY, sheet music for the choir and our Outreach ministries to the plowing service and communion wine – allowing us to fulfill our mission and vision to Celebrate, Honor and Serve God. When you make your confidential pledge, you will have the option to give weekly, quarterly, semiannually and annually. You can set up an automatic transfer from your bank or receive a set of envelopes to use as you pay your pledge via check or cash. We also receive gifts of appreciated stocks and securities. Every pledge we receive supports the work we do and all gifts are celebrated. If you need another pledge form, you’ll find them in the entry to the Church and in the Parish Hall by the Guild Room. Thank you for considering a pledge. Together we will make the difference.
Serving The World
Young Life Banquet: Thursday, October 27 at 6 PM
Want to learn more about Young Life and this growing ecumenical outreach to our area high schools? A few more seats are available at this fundraising banquet to be held at the Falmouth Country Club. FMI: reach out to Nathan+ ASAP.
Souper Supper: 2nd and 4th Fridays of each month (October 28)
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 Gregg (jenniferanngregg@gmail.com or 781-2665).
Falmouth Food Pantry
Serving the needs of citizens in Falmouth and surrounding communities for over 25 years. Food and supplies may be dropped off at Saint Mary’s on Sundays or in the Parish House anytime during the week. FFP is always in need of hot and cold cereals; canned meats and fish; canned soups (especially healthy and low sodium; canned fruit (especially light or in juice.) Thank you for your generosity and compassion!
Youth Ministry
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)
Our children’s programs is in full swing; for more information on our Guiding RAY or Godly Play programs, please visit our website www.smary.org
The Nursery is open for our youngest disciples in the lower level of the Parish House beginning at 9:30 AM every Sunday morning.
Young Life Club: Monday night at 7:31 PM!
Every single high school student in the Casco Bay area is INVITED to gather for an amazing Club at Laine Legere’s house (56 Quiet Lane in Portland). This is crazy fun and growing each week. FMI: visit www.younglifecb.com
Aspiring actors & actresses needed for the 2016 Christmas Pageant!
All ages encouraged to participate in this wonderful annual story of the Nativity!
The Saint Mary’s Christmas Pageant will be Sunday, December 18 during 10 AM Family Service. Sign-ups to participate and help will start this Sunday. Practices will be Sundays after church with the exception of Nov 27 and Dec 4. FMI please contact Julie Otte at 781-2322 or juliemomotter@aol.com .
Roles of all types available – speaking, non-speaking, narrators, and more!
NEW for older Guiding RAY youth
Fourth, Fifth and Sixth graders are invited to a special series of Bible lessons using Legos. The youth will meet during the 10:00 AM service in the Guiding RAY space downstairs and will follow the same schedule as Guiding RAY and be in church to join their families for the Eucharist. Building Faith Brick by Brick, a book by Emily Given, offers a culturally relevant, hands-on way to explore faith stories that I hope will engage our youth while learning the stories of God.
Gatherings & Events
Our Gratitude Dinner! A “Progressive” Dinner for all!
All Saints’ Day: Saturday, November 5, beginning at 6 PM.
If you’re grateful to God, come! If you’re thankful for your many blessings, come! If you’ve worked hard on a project to help others, we are grateful, so come! Together, let’s share and rejoice in our gratitude for this spiritual community! Save the date, and sign up to attend or host! It’s easy and fun.
We’ll gather at the Parish House at 6 PM for appetizers and socializing. At 6:45, we’ll depart to assigned homes for dinner. By 8:30, we’ll return to the Parish House for dessert and more socializing! Daylight Savings time ends, so you get an extra hour’s sleep!
How to sign up: Time is passing, so sign up by Nov. 4!
First of all, decide if you want to host or be hosted. Hosts should be able to accommodate 6 guests. It’s not about the menu! Dinner can be simply spaghetti and sauce with a salad OR soup, salad and bread! If you’d like to be a host, please contact Janet.
If you want to be hosted, sign up on the sheet outside of the Guild Room or email Janet Bowne at janetbowne@maine.rr.com, 781-3844. Indicate on the sign-up sheet if you have a special dietary need that should be accommodated.
Those parishioners not hosting should plan to bring either an appetizer or dessert to the Parish House. If your last name begins with A-L, bring an appetizer. If your last name begins with M-Z, bring a dessert. Consider inviting friends or neighbors to this event (be sure to sign them up and indicate that you’re the contact). This is a great event by which we can introduce new people to our spiritual community.
SPARKLES NEWS: The Fair will be on Saturday, December 3
YOU ARE INVITED to the special SPARKLES Coffee hour next week (November 6th) after both services. There will be tastings and other goodies to eat, and sign-up sheets for your names!! We need LOTS of help -- from baking to decorating to setting up and selling. Many hands make light work so PLEASE give generously of your time and talents.
During that coffee hour, we will also be taking pre-orders for lobster stew, Schola tickets, boxwood trees, greens/poinsettias and new this year--Rick Hirschman's coffee cake. Orders will be taken at coffee hour and for two weeks after that----these must be pre-paid so have your check book or cash with you.
Next drop off day is November 5th from 9am until noon. WE NEED Christmas and holiday decorations and some fine china (we have no full sets of fine china this year and would love to have one donated) and toys/children items. Please no rummage, clothes or books.
First Sunday of Advent: Sunday, November 27
Mark your calendars now for these special events:
8 AM: Contemporary Advent Eucharist
9 AM: Advent Wreath-making at Coffee Hour (for all ages)
10 AM: Advent Lessons & Carols with seasonal anthems and hymns
11 AM: Advent Wreath-making at Coffee Hour (for all ages - continued)
4 PM: Advent Choral Evensong, offered by our Choir who will sing
Pergolesi’s Magnificat with organ and strings
Community Care & Nurture
Wisdom Seekers: every Tuesday at 10:30 AM
This Bible study group meets on Tuesdays in the Guild Room. Nadine Timberlake is the group leader. All are welcome, because there is always room for anyone who wants to study the Bible and discuss its meaning for our lives today.
Thursday Eucharist: every Thursday in the Chapel at 12 noon
This is an 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. It usually lasts about 45 minutes. All are welcome!
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.
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 but know that email is checked rarely during the weekends or when he’s away.
Prayer Concerns for this week: David Bates, Larry Bennett, Peter Blaze, John Delaney, Dave Fenderson, DeeDee & John Fournier, Gay Freeman, Sarah Gorman, Talie Harris, Roger Murray, Emily Otte, Grace Robinson, Robbie Smith, Stewart Stalnecker, Pat Studley, Misty and Bucky.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD NAMES TO THE PRAYER LIST, write them on the Sunday Prayer List in the Narthex or contact the Office (781-3366 or smary@smary.org).
This Week at Saint Mary’s
Sunday 30 Twenty-fourth Sunday after Pentecost & Newcomers Welcome
8:00am Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour
9:30am Family Chapel, Middlers and Nursery
10:00am Contemporary Eucharist
11:00am Coffee Hour
Monday 31 9:00am Budget & Finance Committee meeting
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Tuesday, Nov. 1 All Saints’ Day – Clergy Day with the Bishop in Waterville
9a - 12n Art Group in the Auditorium
10:30am Wisdom Seekers
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
1:00pm Staff Meeting
1:00pm Get Stitching group
6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon
7:00pm AA in the Auditorium
7:0pm Confirmation class meeting
Wednesday 2 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6:00pm SinG rehearsal
6:15pm ORI meets in the Guild Room
Thursday 3 12noon Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel
1:00pm Caring Circle team meeting
4:00pm Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals
6:30pm Sparkles planning meeting in auditorium
7:00pm Saint Mary’s Choir rehearsal
Friday 4 12noon Noonday Prayer – wherever you are
5:30pm Al-Anon to meet in Guild Room
Saturday 5 9:00am Boy Singers of Maine rehearsals
9a-12noon Sparkles Drop-off #4
6:00pm Gratitude Progressive Dinner begins
Sunday 6 The Feast of All Saints’ Day
8:00am Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour
9:30am Family Chapel, Middlers and Nursery
10:00am Contemporary Eucharist
11:00am Coffee Hour
11:30am New Acolyte training
Beth Shaw
Parish Administrator
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
