Saint Mary’s Weekly News
28 June 2020: The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
Picnic Eucharist: Worship together safely outside
This worked beautifully on Sunday and we will continue to gather on our beautiful campus to worship together in small groups of 40 or less two times each Sunday throughout the summer. Registration helps us to plan properly, so please register for one of these gatherings, if you feel ready to gather in this way:
Sunday, June 28 at 10:15 am
Sunday, June 28 at 5:30 pm
Choose a Sunday (please pick only one so all may have an opportunity at attend.) Beginning this week, you can sign up for your preferred service here:
OnRealm.org Event Registration
Remember that this is picnic style! Don't forget to bring your own chair, mask, bread and wine - perhaps also a hat if the sun is shining brightly. We will not share the elements of Communion. Each household group will have their bread and wine consecrated and will distribute Communion among themselves. This is different from our usual practice, but it has been approved by Bishop Brown for this unusual pandemic time in which we are living.
This Sunday at 10:15, we will have a few members of the choir singing Lift Every Voice and Sing as we gather - but masked and at a safe distance from everyone else. At 5:30, John Bennett will play the cello for our gathering. Rain or shine! We have the big tent, in case there are raindrops falling.
If you cannot reserve your spot(s) online, you may contact Beth with your desired service and how many are in your household (admin@smary.org , 781-3366.
Responding to Racial Injustice
Help your parish leadership know how you are thinking and feeling about racism in our society today. Please click the link below and take 5 minutes to complete this survey. Thank you!
https://assessments.gloo.us/a/RGVwbG95bWVudENvbmZpZ3wxNzE1ODU2NTY4MDMxOTA0OTky
Below are some Episcopal resources to help all of us grow in understanding.
Presiding Bishop Stephen Curry
Bishop response to the Killing of George Floyd
Episcopal Call for justice
When the cameras are gone, we will still be here
Maine's Bishop Thomas Brown
Bishop Brown's statement and resources for study and action
Absalom Jones Center for Racial Healing
A ministry of the Episcopal Diocese of Atlanta with many resources for Episcopalians
Center for Racial Healing
Serving Others
Souper Supper To Go has resumed: 2nd & 4th Fridays, 5 – 6 PM June 26!!
Souper Supper has returned for take-home distribution of To-Go meals only, returning to the regular schedule of second and fourth Fridays. In addition, if food insecurity is an issue in your home, Saint Mary’s can help you discreetly. Just call the Parish Office at 781-3366.
Plant 2020 Victory Gardens!
The Outreach Committee is joining forces with Guiding RAY to provide fresh food for local families who are nutritionally vulnerable this summer due to the effects of the pandemic. We invite all parishioners who have a corner or more of available land, or even a container, to grow fresh produce and donate part of their harvest to the Falmouth Food Pantry this growing season. Some already have established vegetable gardens, and we are hoping many others will join in this initiative. We have a couple summer squash, zucchini and tomato plants that needs homes to tend them; any takers? A share of your harvest will mean the world to those for whom fresh vegetables are a very scarce and treasured commodity.
Please let us know if you wish to participate in planting, donating and/or helping with transport to the Food Pantry by contacting Bonny Rodden, brodden1.br@gmail.com or Jennifer Gregg,
St. Elizabeth’s Jubilee Center – open again!
St. Elizabeth's Essential Pantry has reopened on Tuesdays. The plan is to distribute only pre-bagged essential items (soap, detergent, toilet paper, diapers and feminine hygiene products) outside St. Luke's Cathedral. We will eventually need volunteers from Saint Mary's on the 3rd Tuesday of each month, but not in June – stay tuned for July. Volunteers can help with pre-bagging on either Monday or Tuesday mornings. They can help with distribution on Tuesdays. All volunteers as well as neighbors will wear masks and gloves and maintain 6 foot safe distancing. FMI, contact Betsy Elliman at 207-400-6871 or betsyelliman@msn.com
Homemade Face Masks
We currently have a few available outside the Parish Office. They are available to anyone who wants or needs one. Thanks to several parishioners who have been quietly making masks for others. We keep working to maintain a supply, as they are popular and in-demand. If you wish to make one, we have donation material and online patterns that we are happy to share.
Thanks be to God - we had the Book Sale
It was outside on the front lawns; there was no rain and even with masks on buyers were smiling and cooperative with all the rules.
We made over $1800 which will be donated to the Falmouth Food Pantry, and we made some new friends.
Many thanks to all the St. Marians who helped, starting back in January with sorting and those who helped with set-up on Friday, the sale on Saturday and clean up on Sunday.
One last thing that Parishioners can do to help, is to stop by the Parish Hall and take a couple of boxes of books to GoodWill. The books are currently in the Guild Room.
Thanks to all who helped in any way, Book Co-chairs, Betsy and Jan
Caring for Others: Facemask Project
For those who have sewing machines, here is an opportunity to help those who are at greater risk during this difficult time by creating washable fabric face masks. There are many patterns online; here’s a simple one: https://thestitchingscientist.com/2020/03/how-to-sew-a-face-mask.html .
**There is fabric from a Cuddledown grant and donated fabric to make masks outside our parish office, along with aluminum strips for the nose piece. The Outreach Committee (along with gifts from a couple of generous parishioners) is willing to reimburse sewers for the cost of supplies, as needed. Submit your expenses to Beth here: admin@smary.org
Here's a DIY face mask with no sewing
https://www.facebook.com/chicstravel/videos/311403599832193/
Falmouth Food Pantry thanks all and hopes for our continued help
The Pantry is asking for donations of new or used reusable shopping bags. If you can spare a couple, please bring them to the parish house and leave at the door if building not open. (We are in the office on Mondays and Thursdays.)
Families in need of food are invited to come to the Falmouth Food Pantry / Town Hall site on the first and third Friday during June, July and August. Food will be distributed to cars from 9:00-10:30.
Pantry managers will continue packing food cartons for delivery to doorsteps of families in need. It is because of the compassion and generosity of so many in our community that we are able to provide help to so many. In the event of a need please call 632-2687 or 781-2996.
And if in need of the Emergency Pantry services, please call 632-2687 or 781-2996
Christian Formation & Youth Notes
All Children and Youth Programs are temporarily suspended
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth) During normal programing, our Guiding RAY programs, for all young people ages 0 to 14, are designed to both appeal to and offer our children an opportunity to learn key bible stories and to develop their relationship with God. FMI Please contact Megan GuidingRAY@smary.org
We have set up a Guiding RAY Facebook group as a place for parents to connect. Please like https://www.facebook.com/ChurchofSaintMary/ and join the Guiding RAY Group. It is a great way to share resources, stories and a general check-in with each other. Please visit our website (smary.org) for more at home resources.
Community Care & Nurture
OnLine worship
NoonDay Prayer: Monday – Friday 12noon on Facebook Live
Sunday Worship: Sunday 10:15 am on Facebook Live
These services are also linked on our website (www.smary.org on the banner titled “Community & Worship Online: COVID-19 Resources”)
OnLine Spiritual Formation
Be Still: Sundays at 9:30 AM online via ZOOM
Be Still: Mondays at 5 PM online via ZOOM
Merton Group: Thursdays at 3 pm online via ZOOM
These three groups will continue to meet online via ZOOM. If you would like to participate, send an email to Jennifer Gregg (jenniferanngregg@gmail.com) to receive the meeting login information.
Communicating with Nathan+
If you need to connect with someone for encouragement, or if you need advice, guidance or prayer, please text Fr Nathan on his cell phone at 207-310-0268. Share your name and your concern. You can call or e-mail as well (nathanferrell@smary.org ), but texting is the best way to make contact.
Prayer Concerns this week: John Cunningham, Mike Obar, Tom Troeger, Greg Hodgdon, John Fournier, Roxann Gregory, John Lund, Manuel Rivera, Bev, Dave.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD NAMES TO THIS LIST, contact our Parish Office (781-3366 or smary@smary.org).
No Facebook? No worries!
Anyone can watch our Sunday worship live on Facebook – even if you do not have a Facebook account. All you need to do is go to this web address:
Facebook.com/ChurchofSaintMary at the correct time and you will see it.
Also, our webpage ( www.smary.org) has easy links to each Noonday Prayer and the Sunday services after the event with links to the bulletins, the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal, plus lots of other online resources for worship and spiritual growth. There is no reason that this time apart cannot still be a time of important spiritual growth for you.
THIS WEEK at Saint Mary’s
Thursday 25 Parish Office open
12:00 Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
3:00 Merton Group ZOOM meeting
Friday 26 12:00 Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
Sunday 28 The Fourth Sunday after Pentecost
9:30 Be Still ZOOM meeting
10:15 Picnic Eucharist and on Facebook Live
(sign-up above or go to Onrealm.org)
5:30 Picnic Eucharist
(sign-up above or go to Onrealm.org)
Monday 29 Parish Office open
11:00 Jean Wilkinson Committal - private, in New Hampshire
12:00 Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
5:00 Be Still ZOOM meeting
Tuesday 30 12:00 Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
2:00 Staff meeting
JULY
Wednesday 1 12:00 Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
1:00 CARE Team meeting on ZOOM
Thursday 2 Parish Office open
2:00 Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
3:00 Merton Group ZOOM meeting
Friday 3 12:00 Noonday Prayer on Facebook Live
Saturday 4 HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY
Sunday 5 The Celebration of Independence Day
9:30 Be Still ZOOM meeting
10:15 Picnic Eucharist and on Facebook Live
(sign-up above or go to Onrealm.org)
5:30 Picnic Eucharist
(sign-up above or go to Onrealm.org)
Follow us for information on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter
While we await the restoration of regular activities, connecting to our online presence (including our webpage) is the best way to participate in our parish and to keep up on parish news. Click on these links to follow us!
- Website: www.smary.org
- Facebook page: Facebook.com/ChurchofSaintMary
- Twitter: Twitter.com/SMaryFalmouth
- Instagram: Instagram.com/saintmaryfalmouth/
Beth Shaw
Parish Manager
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Rd, Falmouth, ME 04105
207-781-3366 www.smary.org
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