We’re glad you would like to hear more from us!

First, you can try the direct method and sign up yourself  –

If the above method doesn’t do the trick, you can send your contact info to communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org and we’ll add you to the list of those who wish to  receive updates.

We’re glad you’re here! Thanks  for reaching out!

Date Set for April 25, 2021

Rev. Cindi Brickson is providing pastoral care to our community during this time. 

She can be reached at pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org 

Phone: call or text to 612.998.5136

About Rev. Cindi

Rev. Cindi has spent her professional parish ministry in a number of parishes in a variety of positions, including Liturgist, Pastoral Care Minister, Director of Music, and in Sacramental Preparation/ Faith Formation. The parishes in which she served ranged in size from 75 to 2800 family units, and at one point she was responsible for the recruitment, coordination, and training of over 500 concurrent volunteers; ages 3 to 80, in multigenerational groups serving Liturgy or Faith Formation ministries.  Cindi has also served in Chaplaincy positions within Allina Health as well as with the Children’s Hospitals of MN; and as the Director of Chaplaincy and CPE Educator for the Good Samaritan Society –  Specialty Care Community in Robbinsdale MN.  Since 2010, Cindi has been a member of the Episcopal Church. She was ordained in June of 2015.

Cindi and her spouse, Maggie, live in Northeast Minneapolis.  They are raising 5 children, 2 independent young adults and three teens still in high school.  They enjoy spending time together at their cabin on the Chippewa River and being a part of music and dance organizations.

Stewardship, 2021

The warm, humid days of summer have given way to the cool, crisp air of the season change into fall.  All across the country, Episcopal churches are turning to Stewardship and what that means to their communities.

At St Mary’s, it’s a time to reflect on our life here and how that life enters into our act of giving. Our theme for this coming year is Forward, Together. Please view our introductory video here: 

Forward, Together – Stewardship 2021 Introduction

Though we can’t be together and in-person this season, the members of Saint Mary’s Vestry leadership team are recording messages for you with a new video posted each week.

Please take a minute to view our Vestry Reflections stewardship videos!

Caroline Kaker, Warden

Todd Reemtsma, Vestry

Jim Wheeler, Vestry

Jim Deluca, Warden

Paulette Briese, Vestry

Trevor Sannes, Vestry

Cindy James, Stewardship Chair / Vestry

Rex Holzemer, Treasurer / Vestry

We are so grateful for all of the time, talent and treasure that is offered here within our community.

Access our Online Pledge Form for 2021 – Click here

We are a community moving Forward, Together and we celebrate with each other as we abound in grace. The 2021 stewardship campaign is underway and we invite all to learn more about our stewardship and how we handle money at Saint Mary’s.

On-line pledges: We will have online pledging again for 2021.  However, if you are someone who would rather fill out a pledge card, we have that option as well.

Pledge Cards: Printed pledge cards will be mailed out to all members and anyone who might request one. These can be filled out and  mailed into the church office to the attention of the Pledge Clerk.

November 1st – While we appreciate all pledges and gifts whenever received, it would be ideal if we could receive by November 1st. Our finance committee will craft our prospective 2021 budget using pledge projections. 

Cindy James is our stewardship chair for 2021. If you have any questions or would like to discuss our stewardship, please feel free to contact her: james.c.a@comcast.net or (651) 261-4884.

Your pledge donations will help to….

• Nurture our St. Mary’s community: coffee hours, newcomer dinners, men’s group, Thursday dinners, frequent justice work, reading groups, pod ministry, greeters, nametags, outreach visits with our priest, beautiful music, picnics, Sunday blessings etc. These are some of the activities that contribute to the thriving and growing spiritual community that we have built and wish to maintain and grow.
• Invest in our youth: We have a growing and thriving youth community that offers programs for all ages from Sunday school to tweeners and teens. Our youth are also active in our many ministries and are genuinely sought out as contributing valuable members of the community.
• Build and maintain our community outreach: We believe it is our calling to “go out and serve” those who are in need. Sometimes it is easy to lose sight of serving the less fortunate in our greater community when, financially, it is hard enough to just run our church and maintain the grounds. In addition to our current outreach efforts at First Nations Kitchen, Department of Indian Works food shelf, Episcopal Homes, Galtier Elementary, we are being presented with new opportunities to serve—and we want to answer that call.
• Hear relevant sermons: Each Sunday we have the privilege of listening to powerful sermons that are not only proclamations of Christ’s message, but meaningful and relevant to our daily lives. And, those sermons are available on podcast for the broader community. Also, our pastoral staff is always so active and available to support us in times of need.
• Make beautiful music: We are blessed to have such talented and dedicated music directors and volunteers who inspire us and enrich our Sunday services.

In addition to our outreach, we have to keep the day-to-day operating expenses satisfied and make sure we manage our finances and maintain our facilities and assets (as our predecessors have done) to be around for the many generations to follow.   Our stewardship is essential to our church and is a gift we give ourselves as well as to others.

When considering your 2021 Pledge, we ask that you:

• Prayerfully contemplate what you are thankful for in the St. Mary’s community and pledge from your heart.
• Please fill out a pledge card regardless of the amount. We strive for 100% participation.
• Consider increasing your pledge from the previous year, if possible.

Please take the time to review the ways you can give, noting especially the option to participate in auto pay through your bank. This option provides us the ability to manage our budget more predictably. If you have any questions about completing the pledge card, please feel free to contact us.

Update June 29, 2021

To attend in person:

• Reservations are not necessary.
• Download the week’s service bulletin and song book from the Weekly Newsletter (the previous 3 weeks’ newsletters are accessible from the Home page). Plan to print out the bulletin or bring your device (silenced!) to church.
• Plan to arrive early, to give yourself plenty of time for the ushers to seat you.
• Wear a mask (we have extra), unless you are younger than 2.
• Maintain physical distance of 6 feet from non-household members.

• You will be greeted at the door with a cheerful smile and information about any changes to the process (we are learning to be graceful with change).
• Ushers will seat worshippers in every other pew.
• Space is available to either side of the sanctuary for families with young/active children who may want to get up and walk around (or lie on the floor).
• The children’s rug is at the front left of the sanctuary. We are not providing toys or coloring supplies yet.
• Our choir will sing and congregants are encouraged to hum along, clap hands, and stomp feet. Our choir wears special masks constructed for singers.
• On Eucharist Sundays, ushers will direct family groups to the front to receive the bread. We are not yet offering wine.
• You will find the offering plate on a table to the left of the aisle when you enter the sanctuary. We are not passing the plate.
• Announcements are read at the beginning of the service. When you enter the sanctuary you’ll see paper and pens to write your announcement, which the lay leader will read.
• During our beloved community prayers, please come to the front right of the sanctuary and wait to use the microphone. Each person cleans the mic with a wipe after speaking.
• Please enjoy BYOC (bring your own coffee!) social time outdoors following the service.

Contemplative Service on Thursday Evenings

If you would like to try something new, we offer a contemplative service every Thursday at 7:00 p.m. As of June 30, 2021, the contemplative service takes place in the sanctuary, with live Zoom access also available. Read more here.

God is good, all the time!

Dear Members of Saint Mary’s, Visitors, and Friends,

God’s peace with you as we journey through a difficult and anxious time for our nation and our world. As you know, the number of Corona Virus (COVID-19) cases have been increasing, including the number of cases in Minnesota.

Based on recommendations from the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), and communications from Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church USA, and Minnesota Bishop Brian Prior, we have decided to close Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church for at least three weeks beginning Saturday March, 14, 2020.

We made this decision in the Spirit of caring for all God’s people and to assist with controlling the spread of the virus by “social distancing”. “Social distancing” means keeping people out of close proximity with each other.

Beginning Saturday, March 14, all worship, programming, and gatherings of any sort at Saint Mary’s are cancelled until further notice. Please don’t access the building during this time. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation on this as we seek to be responsible citizens and to care for each other as the Body of Christ.

So that we can find ways of being in community, Rev. Ramona, and staff members are working on options for using technology (live streaming, podcasts, accessing material on-line, etc.) for worship, and adult, youth, and children’s education. More information will be coming on this in the next week.

The Saint Mary’s Mornings (thoughts and meditations for the day) will continue to go out each weekday. The Weekly will continue to go out each Tuesday morning. We, (Rev. Ramona and the Wardens Jim DeLuca and Caroline Kaker) will do our best to send timely communications to Saint Mary’s members.

For more resources on COVID-19, please see the following information and web-sites: 

• Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
• Stay home when you are sick.
• Cover your cough.

Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)  

Center for Disease Control (CDC)

While we may be physically apart during this time, God’s love and the love we have for each other as a faith community remain with us throughout. Please continue to hold each other and the world in prayer. Let us walk in love as Christ loves us.

Jim DeLuca, Senior Warden
Caroline Kaker, Junior Warden

You may reach us by email: wardens@saintmarysepiscopal.org