Saint Mary’s Weekly News
November 22, 2015 – Christ the King Sunday
THANKSGIVING Eve Eucharist: this Wednesday at 6 PM
Before the annual feast of Thanksgiving begins, come and gather together in community in the church to give thanks to God in prayer, in song, and at the Lord’s Table. This is a joyful time when we will share together the things for which we give thanks.
ADVENT Lessons & Carols: next Sunday morning at 10 AM
To kick-off the Church’s New Year, we will gather next Sunday to hear the story of salvation told in readings from Holy Scripture and in the singing of sacred music.
ADVENT Potluck, Workshop & Tree Lighting: next Sunday at 3 PM
How do you observe Advent in your home? Come and gather resources for each family and household to watch, wait and prepare for the birth of Christ throughout the season of Advent. Then we light the Memorial and Celebration Tree which shines until the celebration of the Epiphany.
Celebrate Honor Serve: 2016 Stewardship Campaign
Thank you to everyone who has submitted their 2016 pledge forms. A parishioner recently asked about the mechanics of pledging. On the pledge form, you’ll see that there are several options for fulfilling your pledge. You can set up an online transfer from your bank or you can complete the online donation form and choose the frequency best for your household. For those who prefer, we offer pledge envelopes which allow you to put your pledge payment (check or cash) in a special envelope coded with your donor number. You’ll receive 52 dated envelopes although you don’t need to pay weekly as checks have become expensive in recent years. You can use those envelopes to pay semimonthly, monthly or quarterly. And, we have some parishioners who prefer to pay in one payment, annually. Every year, we receive many gifts from appreciated securities or stock gifts. There are significant tax advantages for you when gifting using stock. Our pledge form includes information on how to make a gift of stock. Please be sure to alert Beth (admin@smary.org) if you are making a stock gift. Typically these transfers come in to us without any name attached to it. It takes quite a bit of sleuthing to try to determine the gift’s origin.
No matter the method you choose or the size of your pledge, all gifts are appreciated and celebrated. Thank you for joining us to celebrate, honor and serve God.
Thursday Eucharist: will not gather this week due to the holiday
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.
Missing your platter or other dishes? Pick them up TODAY
Saint Mary's kitchen has several items that parishioners have left behind, and we would love to return them to you! We will place them on a table in the foyer of the kitchen, so please come by to pick up by November 22. Any remaining items will be thankfully donated to St. Elizabeth’s after that date. Thank you!
Christian Formation Notes
Guiding RAY (Religious Adventures for Youth): 9:30 / 9:45 each Sunday
At 9:30 AM, Family Chapel is a special time for families and children with Fr. Nathan in the Chapel. Guiding RAY classes begin immediately afterward at 9:45 AM.
NOTE: There will be no Guiding RAY classes on November 29 and on December 20. Children will go to church with their families on Nov. 29 to participate in Advent Lessons & Carols and on Dec. 20 for the Christmas pageant.
The Nursery always opens at 9:30 AM for our youngest disciples and has returned to the Guiding RAY rooms in the lower level of the Parish House.
Casting Call! The 2015 Christmas Pageant: December 20 at 10 AM
It’s coming up in only 4 weeks! Practice has begun, but it’s not too late! FMI: please contact Julie Otte at 781-2322 or juliemomotter@aol.com .
Youth Ministry
Young Life Casco Bay: Club on 11/23 at 7:31 PM
You’re crazy to miss it! All area high schoolers are invited to crash the Herdrich’s home at 2 Town Landing Rd in Falmouth (the corner of Foreside Rd and Town Landing). Park in the corner lot across from the Market. Bring ALL of your friends!
The Middlers: gather at 9:30 AM every Sunday – NEW program for Advent
Starting on Nov. 29, Meg and Charlie Hurdman will lead a discussion of Christmas Around the World. ALL middle schoolers AND high schoolers are welcome to gather in the Youth Room on the Parish House lower level for this. And bring a friend!
Serving The World
BLACK FRIDAY Blood Drive: November 27, 8 AM – 1 PM
Come and share the gift of life with others as a way to give thanks for our many blessings. The Blood Drive is here in our Parish House Auditorium. Sign-up now or walk in that Friday. To sign up, go to www.redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code “SMary” to make your donor appointment. FMI: contact our Coordinator, Jana Burke, at 272-4535 or jana.burke@icloud.com or Beth in the Parish Office at admin@smary.org
Join the Souper Supper Team
We offer free community suppers on the second and fourth Friday of each month in the auditorium of Saint Mary’s Parish House. The dinners are served in a family-style setting and consist of a hearty soup or entree, salad or vegetable, bread, homemade desserts and beverages. We’d love to have you join us for a wonderful fellowship dinner or to help out in setup serving or clean-up. Contact Jennifer Gregg jenniferanngregg@gmail.com .
Adoption Congratulations to Darren & Katie Clark!!
The Clark family has doubled in number! We welcome Hope and Lily Clark to the Saint Mary’s family and to America. Katie & Darren just adopted and brought home two-year old twin girls from China and now are adjusting to the abundant change in their lives. Words of wisdom to share with these first-time parents? Cheers to the girls on their new life? Send words of faith and encouragement to the Clark family: 84 Rockaway Road, Falmouth, ME 04105.
Upcoming Events & Gatherings
SPARKLES NEWS: Saturday, December 5
JOIN in the FUN: Advent and Sparkle Events begin one week from today with Lessons and Carols at the 10:00 Service and the family favorite Advent Wreath Workshop and the Lighting of the Memorial Tree in the afternoon. The next weekend of Advent brings the unbelievable Sparkles Fair and Boutique and the third weekend of Advent is the family Christmas Caroling and supper and two days later is the Christmas Concert by the St. Mary Schola Concert with a gala reception. See schedule below for more details and times!!
More SPARKLES NEWS
We hope you are planning to join with all the Saint Marians in these festive celebrations of the season. You can STILL:
--- Purchase Wreaths & Poinsettias to pick up beginning of Dec. (extended deadline is today!)
--- Sign up for the Advent Wreath Workshop and plan to come to the Lighting of the Tree
--- Reserve and purchase your Schola tickets
--- Sign up for Caroling and Souper Supper
--- Bake cookies for the Cookie Walk and goodies for the Bake Sale (needed by Fri. Dec. 4th)
--- Encourage friends and neighbors to come and shop and eat soup at the cafe.
Remember, the more funds we raise, the more GOOD we can do in ministry.
Be sure to LIKE us on Facebook to see some of our fabulous gifts: search for Sparkles-St-Marys-Falmouth
SPECIAL CALL! All Middlers and High Schoolers: we need your help with bagging and greeting and carrying on the day of Sparkles! Please call/email/text Father Nathan or Beth Shaw or Jan Mordarski if you can help. Thank you!
The Advent Season at Saint Mary’s
Advent 1: November 29
10am – Advent Festival of Lessons and Carols
Come and hear the story of salvation told in the Word and in song as we begin the
season of Advent.
3pm – Advent Potluck & Workshop
Come and make your own Advent wreath to use at home. Bring a main dish, side
or dessert to share. Then help us to light the Memorial & Celebration Tree. FMI:
Megan Akers at meganakers@maine.rr.com (NE Patriot’s play at 8:30)
4:30pm – Advent ‘Memorial and Celebration’ Tree Lighting
Please fill out the green insert (by Mon. 11/23) to celebrate your loved ones by
remembering them and giving thanks for them. The Tree Lighting is on Sunday,
November 30 following the Advent Potluck & Workshop which starts at 3 PM (see
above). Also find the insert forms on a table at each door of the parish house.
Advent 2 is the ‘not-to-be-missed’ Sparkles Fair on Saturday, December 5 from 9am – 2pm; and Christmas Caroling at nursing homes and Souper Supper on Fri, Dec 11 at 4pm
Advent 3 is the Sparkles Concert, “Today’s Light” featuring the St. Mary Schola, on Sunday, December 13, 4pm with reception (3:30pm for Early Music lecture)
Advent 4 is the Christmas Pageant at the 10am liturgy on December 20
Christmas Eve: Family Eucharist at 4pm and 6pm; Choral Eucharist at 9pm
Christmas Day: Joyful Eucharist at 10am
Like us on Facebook and Twitter!
Would you like regular updates of what is happening at Saint Mary’s?
Then like us on FaceBook: www.facebook.com/ChurchofSaintMary
Follow us on Twitter: @SMaryFalmouth And visit our website: www.smary.org
Community Care & Nurture
If You Have to Spend Time in a Hospital…
Please make sure that you register yourself as a member of The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary in Falmouth! MMC no longer keeps track of general religious affiliation, but only membership in a specific congregation. And make sure to call the office and let us know!
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.
Prayer Concerns for this week: Rick Bartlett, Tim Blanchette, Janet Dorman, Zachary Ferrell, Gay Freeman, Olive Galen, Sarah Gorman, Lynn Hathaway, Cindy Horton, John Horahan, Chandra Lowe, Mary Lygo, Shelly Maher, Roger Murray, Scott Ryan, and Jim Whittemore.
IF YOU WANT TO ADD NAMES TO THE PRAYER LIST, write them on the Sunday Prayer List found in the Narthex or contact the Office (781-3366 or smary@smary.org).
This Week at Saint Mary’s
Sunday 22 8:00am Traditional Eucharist
9:00am Coffee hour begins - Pick up your Sparkles flyers to hang!
9:30am Family Chapel – The King is Here!
9:45am Guiding RAY begins
10:00am Contemporary Eucharist
11:00am Coffee hour continues - Pick up your Sparkles flyers to hang!
Monday 23 Pine Grove Pre-school fire drill to Saint Mary’s
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
Tuesday 24 9-12:30 Art Group in Auditorium
12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
1:00pm Get Stitching in the White Wool Room
1:00pm Staff meeting
6:30pm Beginner’s Al-Anon
7:00pm AA in auditorium
7:30pm Al-Anon meeting – in Guild Room
Wednesday 25 12noon Noonday Prayer in the Chapel
6:00pm Thanksgiving Eve Eucharist
Thursday 26 Happy Thanksgiving! Parish Office is closed for the holiday
Friday 27 Parish Office is closed on Fridays
8am-1pm BLACK FRIDAY Blood Drive – schedule ahead or drop in
12noon Prayer wherever you are
5 - 7pm Community Souper Supper – All are Welcome!
5:30pm Al-Anon meeting
Saturday 28
Sunday 29 8:00am Holy Eucharist
9:00am Coffee hour begins
9:30am Family Chapel – Welcome to Advent!
10:00am Advent Lessons & Carols – all children in church
11:00am Coffee hour continues
3:00pm Advent Potluck, Wreath Workshop & the lighting of the Memorial & Celebration tree (at approx. 4:30pm)
Beth Shaw
Parish Administrator
The Episcopal Church of Saint Mary
43 Foreside Road
Falmouth, Maine 04105
207.781.3366
