Saint Mary’s Weekly News
February 23, 2014 – The Seventh Sunday after Epiphany
Our prayer concerns for this week
For healing: Shae Bickerstaff, Michelle Bilodeau, Peter Bramhall, Lynda Conner, Nat Fenollosa, Andrew Leighton, Mary Lygo, Roger Murray, Brian Pettingill, Peg Pierce, Lynne Shepherd, Eileen Shortell, and John Unfricht.
Celebration of the Life of Henry Hilliard
The Memorial Service to remember and honor the life of Henry Hilliard will be held at Saint Mary’s on Wednesday, February 26th at 1pm followed by a reception in the Guild Room. If able to bake, bring food for the reception or able to help before during or after, please contact Jennifer Gregg, 781-2665 jenniferanngregg@gmail.com
God’s Power at Work Within Us!
If you were able to shovel your way to your mailbox this week, you found a stewardship letter waiting for you! We hope you’ll take time to digest the information and prayerfully consider supporting our annual pledge program. All gifts are welcome. By communicating your intentional support, the Vestry and leadership can better plan to meet the needs of our programs. If your mailbox is buried in a snow bank and you’d like another pledge packet, please let Beth Shaw (admin@smary.org; 781-3366) know and we’ll send another by carrier pigeon.
Youth Ministry Notes
“The Middlers” 9:30 to 10:35 AM on Sunday mornings! In order to make the group more accessible to even more of our young people, the Middlers (all those in Middle School) will use the same schedule as our Guiding RAY classes and join their families for Communion.
FUN IS GOD High School group gathers monthly! THIS Sunday afternoon will be:
Sunday, February 23, 2014, new time: 3-5pm: “Don’t be BLUE! Go BOWLING!”
Using Matthew 6:19-21 as a basis, we will bowl at SpareTime Bowling (formerly Yankee Lanes), hang out together and explore the colors within ones personality that are often hidden, AND eat some pizza! Questions? Call Jane Stegemann (797-8422) or Ruth Smith (239-0482). All high schoolers are welcome. Bring your friends!
Serving The World
S. Mary's-Habitat Work Day! Saturday, March 8, 9-4pm - Freeport!
This is a wonderfully fun, local Outreach Mission opportunity! We will be working INDOORS in Freeport! Two 3-hour shifts available, (9-noon; 1-4pm). NO existing skills necessary, as you will be taught on the job! Must be at least 16 years of age (liability requirement). If you would rather not work a shift, we also need lunch for the workers at noon! Sign-up sheet outside of the Guild Room or contact Jennifer Gregg (jenniferanngregg@gmail.com)
Book, Bake and Soup Sale in support of Outreach: March 22
As part of our 2014 Outreach Project, S. Mary's is holding its Book, Bake & Soup Sale on Sat., March 22nd, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. WE NEED YOU to: donate books, videos, games & puzzles; sort books; sell books; BAKE for the bake sale; clean-up. Please sign up to help in whatever way you are able and willing. There are sign-up sheets in the Guild Room. Any questions about baking call Elizabeth Heinzman; any questions about books, contact Becky Pride. Thanks to Babs Bell for making the soups. Regarding books, games or puzzles: Please leave all donations downstairs on the HUGE table in the big storage room. Please, NO used textbooks, encyclopedia sets, or magazine sets.
Recyclers Unite! Help Keep S. Mary's "Green!"
Can you lend ONE hour of your time to S. Mary's in 2014? That's all it will take to help S. Mary's continue our recycling program! You will be assigned one month during the year (or more, if you wish) during which we ask that you gather recyclables to put out for curb-side pick-up each Tuesday of that month. Quick, easy and NO meetings!!
FMI: Jennifer Gregg (jenniferanngregg@gmail.com) or Beth Shaw (admin@smary.org)
Meetings, Gatherings and Events
Newcomers Welcome Gathering: THIS Sunday from 4 - 6 PM
Everyone who is new (and/or newly returning) to Saint Mary’s is invited for an informal gathering for food and conversation with parish leaders and others. We’ll meet at MaryAnn McLean’s home at 22 Falcon Dr. (off of Rt. 1) in Cumberland. Don’t miss it!
NEW! Sunday Afternoon Bible Study in Freeport starts THIS Sunday!
February 23 – April 13: For 8 Sundays at 5 PM, everyone is invited to join Greg & Laura Unfricht at their home in Freeport for a study of the book Christian by Andy Stanley. Using a DVD guide to start the discussion, the group will study this book AND the Bible
in order to understand what it truly means to be a Christian. Sign-up by the Guild Room!
March 5 is Ash Wednesday: The Invitation to a Holy Lent
There will be multiple opportunities for everyone to observe this special day of fasting, prayer and self-denial. In addition, if anyone would like ashes brought to a homebound member, please call the Parish Office right away. Our Ash Wednesday services will be:
· 7 – 9am: Ashes-To-Go in the Pratt-Abbott parking lot (Rt. 1 and Depot Rd)
· 12noon: Ash Wednesday liturgy – in the Chapel
· 4pm: Ash Wednesday for Children and Youth – in the Chapel
· 7pm: Ash Wednesday liturgy with music – in the Church
Couple Check-Up Retreat: Saturday, March 1, 1-4:30 PM
All couples (even those not married) are invited to a brief time apart to talk through their Couple Check-Up assessments and to learn from one another about how to strengthen our relationships. Take the relationship assessment called Couple Check-Up ahead of time and gain some objectivity about your relationship.
1. Go to www.couplecheckup.com and take the assessment.
2. Sign-in with our Group # 14780-2014. All information is confidential. This number gives us information on the health of couples in the parish in general.
3. Come to the Retreat (below) to talk through the results and find proven tools for improving the health of your most important human relationship!
Sign-up NOW in the Parish House. You can stay afterward for our Mardi Gras potluck or make dinner reservations out for a real date night!
Mardi Gras Potluck and Talent Show at Saint Mary’s: March 1, 5-7 PM
Mark this date on your calendar, Saint Marians! Entertainment at its finest will occur the Saturday before Mardi Gras! Andrea Myles-Hunkin, the shy, modest, parishioner we recognize from her choice of wacky legwear will be emceeing the TALENT SHOW. The last time this took place was a couple of years ago, and we had a great turnout of both spectators and talent.
Magic tricks, humor, storytelling, piano playing, singing, dancing and unforgettable moments in time occurred before our very eyes. You may be 8 or you may be 80! No matter your age, please prepare a performance to share in front of our very enthusiastic Saint Mary audience. Remember that this showcase is rated PG (since some parents may be guiding their young ones onto the stage.) We want everyone to have fun, relax and laugh away their winter blues right before the Lenten season.
For more information or to enter your act, please contact Andrea Myles-Hunkin at mylesfromhome@msn.com Remember March 1st -- be there or be square!!
Remember to sign up for the Potluck on the table outside the Guild Room!
Men’s Snowshoe Adventure: March 13-15
ALL men of any age or ability are invited to join us as we journey up into the Carrabassett Valley for yet another snowshoe adventure. “The Edwards Lodge” construction is now complete. We’ll depart after work on Thursday evening, snowshoe to a mountain summit on Friday, and return to Saint Mary’s on Saturday. Bring your Nordic or Telemark skis also, if you have them. Questions? Ready to join the fun? Please speak with Fr. Nathan!
Chanting for All: An Ancient Spiritual Practice for Contemporary Christians
Can you talk? If so, then YOU can chant! Come and learn about the ancient practice of chanting from Fr. Nathan and Bruce Fithian during our Lenten Supper Program which begins on Wednesday, March 12, at 6 PM in the Auditorium. Each week, we will all learn to chant portions of the ancient monastic Compline office, which we will all chant together on April 9 at 7 PM. No musical knowledge or skill is required. If you learn this, then you can begin to chant all of your daily prayers and discover a new way to draw close to God in this ancient practice.
Pastoral Care
Communicating with Fr. Nathan
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 anytime on his cell at 609-410-7573.
Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion to those unable to worship with us on Sunday morning. The Eucharistic Visitor today is Christine Bennett. If you or someone you know would like Communion brought to them, please call the Parish Office. If you wish to learn more about this special ministry, feel free to speak with Deacon Christine.
This Week’s Calendar at Saint Mary’s
Sunday 23 8:00am The 7th Sunday after the Epiphany: Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour in the auditorium
9:15am Family Chapel – for all families and children
9:15am Art and Faith Discussion group
9:30am Guiding RAY begins
10:00am The 7th Sunday after the Epiphany: Contemporary Eucharist
11:00am Coffee Hour in the auditorium
4-6pm Newcomer’s Welcome Gathering
5-7pm Bible Study in Freeport – at the Unfricht’s
Monday 24 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
1:00pm Guiding RAY Leadership Team meeting
Tuesday 25 10:00am Order of St. Luke
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
1:00pm Staff meeting
7:00pm AA in Auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Wednesday 26 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Thursday 27 10:30am Wisdom Seekers Bible Study
12noon Healing Eucharist in the Chapel
4:00pm Boy Singers of Maine
7:00pm Choir rehearsal
Friday 28 Parish Office Closed on Fridays
12noon Noonday Prayer – wherever you find yourself
5-7pm Souper Supper – a free dinner for all who come
5:30pm Al-Anon in the Guild Room
Saturday Mar 1 9:00am Boy Singers of Maine rehearse
1-4:30 Couple Check-Up Retreat
5-7pm Mardi Gras Potluck and Talent Show
Sunday 2 PLEDGE SUNDAY
8:00am The Last Sunday after the Epiphany: Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee Hour in the auditorium
9:15am Family Chapel – for all families and children
9:15am Art and Faith Discussion group
9:30am Guiding RAY begins and the Middlers gather
10:00am The Last Sunday after the Epiphany: Contemporary Eucharist
11:00am Coffee Hour in the auditorium
Beth Shaw
Parish Administrator
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road (Route 88)
Falmouth, ME 04105
207-781-3366
