Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to Follow – 10:00 AM
Today’s Service and Christmas Pageant will be led by the Youth of St. Mary‘s.
Lighting of the Advent Wreath Candle – The Welsh Family
Music – Rachel, Elias, Jim May, and Vonda Humburg
Technical Assistance – William Welsh
For the Zoom worship service on December 20, 2020 CLICK HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 330173
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 921 8033 3901
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 921 8033 3901
If asked for a passcode, use 330173
For the service bulletin for the 12/20 service, CLICK HERE
Worship Team
Advent Message
This Sunday, December 20, Advent IV, the Candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love will be lit. The lighter of the candles will say: “Christ, be our light. As we light this candle of love for all God’s people, we remember your commandments. You call us to love God and love our neighbors. Come to us in this time of Advent. May the light of your love be born anew in us.” The response is: “God, fill us with love. Love is patient, love is kind. Love is not envious or boastful or rude. Love does not insist on its own way. Love rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, endures all things. God, bless us with love.”
What can I expect at St. Mary‘s Worship services?
All the worship services in Advent are planned and led by parishioners…there will be no priest presiding and there will be no communion or spiritual communion. During the first three Sundays in Advent we worshipped in the style of each of our Sunday services. This Sunday, Advent IV, we’ll have a Youth led service AND the Christmas pageant. Please join the youth for this very special service.
What’s New?
- Because of concerns about privacy issues, the full worship services will not be shared.
- Sermons will continue to be shared.
- Sermon from the December 13th, 2020 service CLICK HERE
Feedback is welcome!
We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.
Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!
Christmas Eve Worship & Gathering Options
Thursday, December 24
Please join fellow St. Marians via Zoom for a few Christmas Eve Service options. On Thursday, December 24th we will gather as a community to participate in one of the services from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
5:00 PM Family Christmas Eve Service
6:15 PM St. Mary‘s Christmas Eve Community Fellowship
7:00 PM Traditional Christmas Eve Service
For the Zoom Christmas Eve services on December 24, 2020 CLICK HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 458490
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 957 8585 8549
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 957 8585 8549
If asked for a passcode, use 458490
Update from Your Transition Team
We continue meeting weekly to prepare the materials we will use in our priest search: a two-page “letter” to prospective priests; and answers to specific questions from the Office for Transition Ministry of the Episcopal Church. This week we will present the letter, revised after the recent community meeting, to the vestry to get their feedback.
Other info:
- We are on schedule with our general timeline, which you can see HERE
- The information we shared at the community meeting CLICK HERE
- Introductory messages from transition team members CLICK HERE
Pastoral Care
Is there something on your mind?
In your heart?
For confidential prayer requests, reach out to Rev. Cindi at: pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org
The Pastoral Care Team meets (by Zoom) on Mondays at 7:30 PM. All are welcome!
Contact Rev. Cindi for the Zoom link.
How to contact Rev. Cindi:
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org or 612-998-5136
The Pastoral Care Team is looking for your prayerful support.
We are beginning a prayer chain ministry! If you would like to join the chain, or would like more information about how it will work, please reach out to Rev. Cindi. Come pray with us!
Your Christmas Offering?
One of our parishioners asked recently about whether we’ll be taking up a Christmas offering. Absolutely!! However, given COVID-19, Santa won’t be dropping by your home to pick it up! You’ll need to make a special effort to get it to St. Mary‘s. That special effort involves some of your time to make out a check, find an envelope, put on a stamp and get it in the mail. Please put “Christmas Offering” in the note section of your check so we code it appropriately in your individual contribution record. And, yes, the address to send it to is the same as that for your regular contributions that you mail to St. Mary‘s:
St. Mary‘s Episcopal Church
1895 Laurel Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
Of course, for those of you on auto-pay, you can certainly send a Christmas donation via auto-pay, as well, or send a separate check via mail. We check the mail daily, so sending any regular contributions or special Christmas offerings is safe through the mail.
Thanks everyone for your continued financial support!
Rex Holzemer, Treasurer
651-308-4895
Finance Committee Update
November Donations Reduce Deficit!
Pledge income in November was almost $14,000 above the budgeted amount. It was very welcome news after October when pledge income was well below budget. The donations positively impact our projected year-end deficit. The linked chart (CLICK HERE) outlines the key financials as of November 30, 2020.
If donations in December keep pace with the projected levels for December, we could end the year with a deficit around $10,000 less than projected, in other words, a deficit of approximately ($21,000) instead of the projected deficit of ($31,190). Once we apply the $31,700 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan to the 2020 operational budget that we received in April, which should be 100% forgiven, we could actually end the year with a small surplus. We are very fortunate to have received this forgivable loan.
Feel free to contact Rex Holzemer via e-mail (rexaholzemer@gmail.com) or phone (651-308-4895) if you have questions or want additional information.
Solar System is Operational!
The solar panels installed on the church roof this past summer are finally connected and producing electricity! On Thursday, December 10th, Xcel completed testing, commissioning and meter installation for the system and it is now operational. Some final work related to internet monitoring of the system will be completed next week, but that does not affect the ongoing operation of the solar panels.
As has been communicated previously, St. Mary‘s is leasing this system from Monarch Solar, so all costs associated with installation and maintenance of the system are the responsibility of the solar company. We are guaranteed a 20% reduction in our electricity costs during the 25-year lease period. The lease contract allows for St. Mary‘s to purchase the system at fair market value after six years.
Have questions? Want more information? Feel free to contact Rex Holzemer via e-mail (rexaholzemer@gmail.com) or phone (651-308-4895).
St. Mary‘s Music and Food
Did you miss the St. Mary‘s Community and Carols presentation last Sunday?
Or perhaps you enjoyed it so much that you want to watch it over and over again? Please click on the following link to see it again – CLICK HERE
Thank you Vonda, Erika, Jim May, and all the contributors, readers, musicians, and singers!
Did you get a chance to try any of the traditional St. Mary‘s Lessons and Carols recipes?
In case you missed it last week, HERE are the recipes that were shared
and a photo from the Ward/Reemtsma household of Roast Pork with Cherry Sauce,
Apple & Greens Salad, and Wild Rice.
Recipes shared by Julie Thomas.
(Thank you, Julie!)
If you are looking for more music to enjoy during the Christmas season, please check out the schedule of holiday broadcasts on Classical MPR with the option to stream several of the concerts at your convenience. CLICK HERE
Outreach Opportunities:
January 24, 2021
Isaiah’s We Make Minnesota Virtual Launch
Please CLICK HERE for more information on the event and/or contact Ginny DeLuca for more information – ginnydeluca1736@gmail.com
Upcoming Events at Saint Mary‘s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups for the week of 12/18 – 12/24
Sunday, December 20, 2020
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow.
10:00 AM
Monday, December 21, 2020
Pastoral Care Team
7:30 PM
Contact Rev. Cindi for the Zoom link at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org or 612-998-5136
Tuesday, December 22, 2020
Vestry Meeting
7:00 PM
Vestry Meetings are open to all Saint Mary‘s members. The Saint Mary‘s Vestry usually meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month. The meeting begins at 7:00 PM. (Note: If you are a member of Saint Mary‘s and would like to attend this meeting via Zoom, please contact Jim DeLuca or Caroline Kaker for the Zoom access code at wardens@saintmaryepiscopal.org )
Wednesday, December 23, 2020
Adult Ed./Book Study
7:00-8:30 PM
If you would like to join us, or have any questions, please contact
If you would like to join us, or have any questions, please contact
Nina Johnson at nina@jazmn.net or 651-308-8663
Thursday, December 24, 2020
Christmas Eve Services & Community Gathering
5:00 PM Christmas Eve Family Service
6:15 PM St. Mary‘s Community Fellowship
7:00 PM Christmas Eve Service
Sunday School Online:
MiaLisa McFarland Millares will send out an email with readings, activities,
and links for videos and discussions to all on our Constant Contact list.
NO Sunday school December 20th or 27th!
Visit the St. Mary‘s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.
Missed announcements this week? Looking for a link to an online activity? Looking for information about the Transition Team’s work? Here’s your new spot to find all this . . . and more!