News For This Month
Formation Hour: Sundays at 9:15
In the Auditorium – Coffee and Conversation
- MAR 3, 17, 24: Lenten Discussion Series - Bearing Witness in the Holy Land. Each of the five sessions is grounded in a Gospel passage and accompanied with videos and resources from the American Friends of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.
- MAR 10: Ask the Bishop - join Bishop Brown for coffee and conversation about the health and future of the Church.
In the Chapel
Be Still: a weekly time to reflect on contemplative readings and to discuss them in the Chapel
Making Sandwiches for Milestone at 9:15
If you are not part of a Formation discussion at 9:15, please come to the Guild Room to make sandwiches for the Milestone shelter. This is the only "wet" homeless shelter in Portland (first come, first serve and no one is turned away). They are full every night of the year and they send out their guests each morning with a sandwich for the day. Please come and help us make 60-80 sandwiches for these neighbors of ours in need.
Our March Outreach Partner: Greater Portland Family Promise
The mission of Family Promise is to help families experiencing homelessness and low-income families to achieve sustainable independence through a community-based response. Their model is based on partnering with local faith communities and others to create a community-based system of care for families. The need in the Portland area continues at a crisis level. Opportunities to volunteer with GPFP are numerous! Visit www.gpfamilypromise.org to learn more. On the last Sunday of the month (Resurrection Sunday 31 March), we will take up a collection to support this vital nonprofit.
St Elizabeth's Jubilee Center: serving on Tuesday 19 March
The collection for kitchen & cookware continues, but please do not bring any clothing at this point. Saint Mary's is committed to serving at this vital ministry to new Mainers and those in need on the morning of each third Tuesday from 8:30-11. FMI and to find out how to participate, contact Stan Eaton at stan.eaton@gmail.com
Saint Mary's BOOK SALE: Saturday 16 March, 9 – 12 Noon
Calling ALL Books!! Books are still being received and sorted.
All proceeds will go to support the Outreach ministries of our parish.
To donate books, help sort books, to carry books, or lead a section, or if you have any questions, please email: Vanessa Record at recordvanessa@gmail.com or Jan Mordarski (janmordarski@gmail.com), or Becky Pride (rebeccapride1@gmail.com)
Bring your donated books to the lower-level hallway.
No encyclopedias, magazines or textbooks, please.
Red Cross Blood Drive at Saint Mary's: Wednesday 20 March, 9 - 2
Please consider sharing your blood. The need is constant. Lives depend on it! This Red Cross blood drive will be in our Auditorium from 9 to 2. To register, visit www.redcrossblood.org and enter sponsor code stmary to find this blood drive.
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)
GR is for all young people ages 0 to 12. The doors open in the lower level of the Parish House at 9:15 each Sunday with projects and play, then classes begin at 10:00. GR is a cooperative effort that counts on the participation of many people. Please speak with Meg Hurdman and Melissa Roland about volunteering. There are opportunities for all.
Youth Service Corps: Sunday 17 March
Our March service activity is coming up in two weeks. Keep watching for details. All Middle and High Schoolers are welcome - parents welcome too!
Sunday 10 March: Episcopal Visitation with Bishop Brown
Please make plans to be present next Sunday to worship God with our Chief Pastor, the Tenth Episcopal Bishop of Maine, Thomas Brown. He will preach and preside and will also speak with us at our 9:15 Formation hour.
Sunday 17 March: Newcomers Welcome
We are blessed to have many new members of our Saint Mary's family. If you would like to be recognized and welcomed on this day, be in touch with our Parish Office and we will get you on the list.
Sunday 24 March: Palm Sunday
Sadly, the donkey is unavailable to lead our procession this year, but we will still have a glorious and powerful morning to remember the Lord's triumphant entry and his Passion in Jerusalem. And we get to enjoy some Hot Cross Buns with our coffee or tea. Each liturgy will begin in the Auditorium.
Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Holy Week
Special Holy Week prayers are offered at 12 Noon in the Chapel and livestreamed on Facebook.
Maundy Thursday: March 28
Thursday 12 Noon: Maundy Thursday Eucharist in the Chapel with Footwashing
Thursday evening at 6 PM: Maundy Thursday Agapé Supper, Footwashing, Communion and Prayer Watch.
One of our most special gatherings of the year. We begin with a simple meal of soup, bread, cheese, and fruit. Holy Scripture proclaims the institution of the Lord's Supper and Jesus' act of service by washing the feet of his disciples. We get the privilege to participate in Footwashing.
After the meal, we walk over to the Church for Holy Communion, and the stripping and washing of the Altar.
To help with planning, visit the Guild Room Table to indicate if you are planning to attend this special event. Indicate if you would like to contribute (ahead of time!): juice or wine. Please bring to the kitchen or office by the end of Monday 25 March.
All-Night Watch of Prayer and Adoration
Maundy Thursday 8 PM to Good Friday 12 noon in the Chapel
"Can you not watch with me one hour?" These is the question posed by Jesus to his disciples in the Garden of Gethsemane. We strive to overcome the failure of the Twelve by keeping an all-night watch of prayer and adoration before the Blessed Sacrament in the Chapel. This is an intimate, highly spiritual time to spend in the presence of God. You can sign-up to indicate the time that you would like to keep watch, but this is not necessary. Come at any time to spend an hour with our Savior.
Good Friday 29 March: Day of Fasting, Prayer & Sacrifice
4:00: Family Stations of the Cross An all-age service in which we walk the way Jesus walked together with familiar scripture and songs.
6:00: The Good Friday Liturgy. A quite liturgy in the stripped-bare Sanctuary. The Passion According to Saint John is chanted to an ancient tone; a plain, wooden cross is brought into our midst. All are offered time and space to reflect on Christ's self-offering.
Good Friday Offering: As we do every year, we will join the Episcopal Church in donating our Loose offering from Good Friday to the Diocese of Jerusalem and the Middle East and their efforts toward peace, education, healthcare and evangelism in the Holy Land. Please mark this designated offering in the memo for Good Friday Offering and please be generous.
Holy Saturday 30 March: The Great Vigil at 7:07 PM
This is the hinge of the entire church year. It begins at sunset with the Blessing of the New Fire, the Lighting of the Paschal Candle, and our procession into the darkness of the Church, still waiting for the light of the Lord's resurrection. The story of salvation is told through Hebrew Scripture, all are doused with blessed water, the lights of the church go on as Christ is proclaimed as risen, and we gather for our Paschal feast at the Lord's table! A special treat awaits everyone at the end. Bring a bell from home to proclaim the Lord's resurrection! All are welcome.
Sunday 31 March: Resurrection Sunday
Holy Week ends on the Eighth Day, the Day of Resurrection and of the New Creation. On this special Sunday, we will gather at 9 and 11 AM for two identical and festive celebrations of the Holy Eucharist.
