Saint Mary’s Weekly News
December 16, 2012 – The Third Sunday of Advent
The 2012 Sparkles Concert - “Magnificat” - 4 pm this Sunday afternoon
One of its most celebrated texts of the Advent season is Mary's powerful hymn, the Magnificat. Interspersed throughout the evening will be readings from the King James Bible, and poetry from masters of all ages read by Saint Mary's new rector, the Reverend Nathan Ferrell. If you want to experience the mystery of medieval song, the glory of baroque music, and hear some of Maine's best singers and players celebrate this season, please join us at 4:00pm this afternoon in the Church. After the concert you are invited to an elegant reception to end the Advent Sparkles Season. Tickets are $15.00 for adults, $12 for seniors and students, with a family cap of $40.00, and are available on line at stmaryschola.org, at the parish office, at coffee hours or at the door.
The Advent Giving Tree –There are still a few more ornaments!
There are 17 wished left to be fulfilled!!! We have until Wednesday, the 19th
S. Mary's is once again sponsoring several local families this Christmas. Maureen Merrick Hale has provided us with a "wish list". All "wished for" items are from Woodford’s Family Services case workers and are displayed as ornaments on a special "Giving Tree" in the Parish House, and there are still a few left for the taking! If you intend to make a purchase please TAKE the giving ornament OFF the tree as this will prevent duplicate buying. Then, unwrapped gifts (with the attached ornament) should be brought to the Parish House by Dec.19th. For those who are unable to shop for gifts, gift cards or checks payable to Woodfords Family Services (memo Advent Giving Tree) are also great. The case managers can then take parents shopping to select items for the children. Gift Cards & checks can be given to Beth Shaw or Maureen Hale.
Your generosity will help put joy into the holidays for these special families.
The staff of Woodford’s will distribute your gifts to the families. If you have any questions, please contact Maureen (Merrick) Hale at 781-2209, cell 650-9073 or mmerrick@maine.rr.com.
Next Sunday Soup Kitchen Sunday – December 23rd
SOS this month!! If you’ve always wanted to join in, this is the time!
The Fourth Sunday of each month, Saint Mary’s prepares and serves a hot meal to the clients at the Preble Street Soup Kitchen. We need people to (a) go around 10:30 to help with the cooking and set-up; (b) to arrive about 11:45 to assist with table service; and/or (c) to help with clean-up beginning at 1:00. Bless you. Questions? Please call Marian McCue at 761-1936 or mmccue@maine.rr.com
Videographers and Photographers needed!
Saint Mary’s needs parishioners who will regularly record our events and gatherings in pictures and video, so that we can share these with one another and the world. If you are willing and able to do this, please contact Fr. Nathan (see below).
Legacy Update
The focus of the heavy construction is now in the hallway connecting the auditorium with the administration/chapel wing. For safety, we ask that parishioners avoid the Guild Room entrance until further notice. You can still access the Guild Room by entering the auditorium and proceeding through the kitchen. Thank you!
Tours continue! There is much new progress to see! Please see Dick Miller after the 8am service and George Barrett, Chuck Horton or Jennifer Gregg after the 10am service!
On the campaign front, please check your Legacy statements carefully and if they are in error, please contact the Parish Office. Thank you in advance for ensuring that you are current with your pledge by year's end!
Our Sparkles NEWS
The Sparkles Fair is over for another year but the good will and new friendships will continue. What a wonderful way to celebrate Advent and to welcome the birth of Christ on Christmas Day. I want to thank ALL who helped with donations, decorating, set up, selling, baking and cooking , clean up and all the other chores that needed doing. This is indeed a project that takes many hands and I so appreciate the hard work that so many St. Marians did. The count is not final but it appears that we made close to $12,000---possibly a new record.
May you all have a Merry Christmas and Happy and Healthy New Year, Jan Mordarski
Godspeed – Saturday morning prayer & running group with Fr. Nathan. Gather at the Parish House at 8 AM any Saturday morning for a time of spiritual encouragement and physical exertion! The runs will be tailored to the abilities of those who gather, but be prepared to be pushed a bit – with mutual love and support, of course.
Fr. Nathan Ferrell: 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 .
Open Door – open conversation time with Fr. Nathan (@FatherNate) on Twitter. Every Tuesday morning from 8 to 9 AM, Fr. Nathan will be live on Twitter and ready to answer any questions that you may have. Grab a cup of coffee (or tea), log in to Twitter, and join the group conversation.
Coffee Hour Hosts Needed - Dec. 23rd and Dec. 30th !! Sign up!
Consider hosting a coffee hour in the Guild Room following the service (either by yourself or with another family. A feast is not needed – just a tidbit to enjoy with the coffee that is already made. FMI, contact Betsy Stoddard at 829-2026 by e-mail at jbstod@myfairpoint.net
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth)
Our Sunday morning children's program has classes for Preschool through 6th Grade and Nursery Care for children under 3. The theme for 2012-13 is God’s Covenants. We hope that parents will drop children off at the Guiding RAY beginning at 9:30 AM, leaving plenty of time for them to get over to Church and not interrupt the 10am liturgy. The children join their parents in Church for Communion. Watch for our intergenerational services when we all come to church together and worship as a community - great lessons for our young parishioners as well as our seasoned parishioners.
Pageant Practice Continues
All S. Mary's children (4 years and older) are welcome to be part of our Christmas Pageant. Directed by Heather Gale and Jen Means, the Pageant will be incorporated into our 10:00 am worship service on the 4th Sunday of Advent, December 23rd. Pageant practice will be held after church AND during Guiding RAY on Sunday mornings. ALL rehearsals will be held IN the church building immediately following the 10 o'clock service, except those during Guiding RAY time. Children will be asked to attend 4 (out of 5) after-church rehearsals. December 16th is the last practice date. A mandatory full dress rehearsal will be held on Saturday, December 22nd at 3:00 pm and is a great time to invite grandparents or neighbors to witness this special performance. If you have any questions please contact Julie Morrison, jmorrison500@yahoo.com.
S. Mary's Youth Choir: Under the direction of Betsy Stoddard and the accompaniment of Bruce Fithian, the children (ages 5-13) meet every Sunday immediately following church. Children should meet up front in the pews. We are currently practicing for our Christmas services. If your child doesn't read, we utilize the Suzuki method of listening, listening, listening. CD's are available upon request for families to listen and learn.
Help support the Falmouth/Harrogate UK Exchange Program: Spencer Funk is an acolyte here at Saint Mary’s & an 8th grader at Falmouth Middle School. He was selected for the Falmouth/Harrogate UK Exchange Program and will be spending 2 weeks in England with other selected classmates. To help defer costs, the program is conducting a raffle for an iPad Mini. $3 per ticket, $5 for two tickets. The drawing will be on Dec 18th. Spencer will be selling the raffle tickets at coffee hour on Sunday. The program appreciates any support you can provide!
Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion to those unable to worship with us on Sunday morning. The Eucharistic Visitor this week is Paul Engel.
This Week’s Calendar at Saint Mary’s - December 2012
Sunday 16 8:00am The Third Sunday of Advent: Traditional Eucharist
9:30am Guiding RAY opens downstairs
10:00am The Third Sunday of Advent: Contemporary Eucharist
4:00pm Sparkles SCHOLA Concert - Magnificat
Monday 17 10a - 2p Garden Club Workshop
6:00pm Stewardship Meeting in the Auditorium
Tuesday 18 8:00am Open Door - Twitter live with Fr. Nathan
10:00am Order of St. Luke in church
7/7:30pm AA in auditorium/Al-Anon
Wednesday 19 2:00pm Guiding RAY Teachers meeting
7:00pm Vestry Meeting
Thursday 20 AVE material deadline for January edition
10:30am Weekday Worship in the church
7:30pm Men’s AA in the auditorium
Friday 21 5:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Saturday 22 8:00am Godspeed - Run with Father Nathan
Sunday 23 8:00am The Fourth Sunday of Advent: Traditional Eucharist
10:00am The Fourth Sunday of Advent: Christmas Pageant
** No Guiding RAY workshops - all in church except nursery
Christmas at Saint Mary’s
Monday, December 24th: Christmas Eve
4pm and 6pm - Christmas Eve Eucharist for children & families
A one-hour service with the Blessing of the Crèche,
the Christmas story told in verse & song, and The Holy Eucharist.
Very family and child friendly!
11pm - The Candlelight Service of Holy Eucharist with choir
Tuesday, December 25th: Christmas Day
10am - Christmas Holy Eucharist with Carols
Sunday, December 30th: The First Sunday after Christmas Day
8am - Traditional Eucharist for the First Sunday after Christmas
10am - Contemporary Eucharist for the First Sunday after Christmas
Sunday, January 6, 2013: The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
8am - Traditional Eucharist for the Epiphany
10am - Contemporary Eucharist for the Epiphany
