1895 Laurel, Saint Paul MN 55104

Saint Mary's Episcopal Church

1895 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104

Saint Mary’s Weekly – May 13, 2022

by

Weekly Worship Services

Sunday, May 15, 2022 – The Fifth Sunday of Easter

  • First Message:  Acts 11: 1-18
  • Gospel:  John 13: 31-35
9:00am – Virtual Family Church Service via Zoom. All are welcome. The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
To join the 9am Family Church Service on May 15, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 860 0920 4974
If asked for a passcode, enter Fun
 
10:00am – Hybrid Eucharist service with The Reverend John Bellaimey as guest celebrant and preacher.

After the service, a Zoom social gathering will be held for those worshipping virtually and a no-beverage/no snacks social gathering will be held in the Sanctuary/St. Mary’s room for in-person worshippers.

To join the 10am worship on May 15, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the May 15 Service Bulletin for the 10am service – Click HERE
For the Easter Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

A Thank You note from The Reverend Susan Moss

Worship Team

St. Mary’s 2022 Annual Meeting Wrap-Up

Welcoming our Next Rector

Children and Youth

Pastoral Care

Outreach

Announcements

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

A Thank You Note from The Reverend Susan Moss

Dear people of St. Mary’s:

It is now my turn to cross a threshold, saying goodbye as your Transition priest while remaining your friendly neighbor and fellow colleague in ministry in the East Metro Mission Area. I join you in your excitement and joy in welcoming The Rev. Lindsey Briggs as your new rector.
 
I invite those that were unable to be present on May 1 for worship and the 2022 Annual meeting, to listen to my final sermon. You’ll find the link HERE.
 
Thank you for the gorgeous basket of flowering bulbs. The volume of lectionary readings is a welcome gift in liturgy planning. And I so appreciate the generous gift card from Highland Nursery. In September, our son and his fiancé will be married in our yard. I will use your gift to create beauty and life for their wedding.
 
May the blessing of God who creates life be upon you as you celebrate life.
May the blessing of God who restores life be upon you as you seek new life.
May the blessing of God who sanctifies life be upon you as you give life to others.
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 

Worship Team

What’s new? 

  • To listen to the meditation given by Jim DeLuca on Sunday, May 8, Click HERE.
  • If you missed the Good Friday Stations of the Cross service on April 15 or would like to experience it again, Click HERE.
  • See Up-dated COVID protocols in “Announcements” section.
  • “Covid Comfort” & DOTS!!…Do you need 6′ spacing to feel safe at church? Do you prefer elbow and fist bumps? Are you hankering for hugs? Well, now we have a new way for you to communicate your level of comfort with physical contact during Covid.
    • There are stickers available for you to put on your name tag or your shirt to let all of us know how close you’re willing to get when we’re greeting each other.
    • A RED • dot will indicate that you’d like to maintain social distance (peace sign, air hug); a YELLOW • dot will tell us that you feel comfortable coming closer and would like a wave or a fist or elbow bump as a greeting; and a GREEN • dot will indicate that you are willing to be close and are potentially open to hugs.
  • Worship Schedule for May 2022 (hybrid—in-person & virtual unless otherwise noted)
    • May 15—
      • 9:00am Family Service (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Eucharist, The Rev John Bellaimey (Guest Preacher & Celebrant)
    • May 22—
      • 8:00am Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship discussion in place of a homily led by Steve Andrews. (virtual only)
      • 9:00am Family Service (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Morning Prayer straight out of the BCP led by Jim DeLuca
    • May 29—
      • 10:00am Gospel Based Discipleship (VIRTUAL ONLY)—Memorial Day Weekend
  • Weekly Worship Services
    • Mondays—Compline 7:30pm (virtual only)
    • Thursdays—Contemplative Service 7:00pm in St Mary’s Chapel.

Feedback is welcome!
Still thinking about giving the Worship Team input about your yearnings/longings around worship at St. Mary’s? It’s never too late to let us know what you’re thinking about. Use the feedback link below.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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St. Mary’s 2022 Annual Meeting Wrap-Up

Thanks to everyone who attended our 2022 Annual meeting on May 1, either in-person or online. Here are the highlights:
  • We expressed our gratitude to our wonderful staff, music director Vonda Humburg, youth minister Mia Lisa Millares and youth group leader Kat Lewis for all that they do.
  • We thanked outgoing vestry members Cindy James, Jim Wheeler and Lisa Stratton for their service.
  • We thanked Rex Holzemer (treasurer) and Jennie Ward (clerk) as they step out of those roles for all of their contributions, and welcomed Catherine Neuschler as our new treasurer and Aimee Sutherland as our new clerk.
  • We offered our appreciation to the search team for all of their work over a year and a half through some difficult challenges so that we can now be on the cusp of our next rector starting in a matter of weeks.
  • Elections:
    • Nina Johnson was elected as our new co-warden
    • Cathy McNaughton, Julie Thomas and Anna Clark were elected to the vestry.
    • Paulette Briese and Nina Johnson will represent St. Mary’s as delegates to the ECMN annual convention, and Julia Nerbonne and Julie Thomas will be alternates.
    • Jim Wheeler was elected to the Endowment Committee.
  • Finally, we expressed our gratitude for all that Rev. Susan Moss has done for St. Mary’s during her time as our transition priest. It was such a gift that Susan was willing to work with us over a much longer stay than we all had planned. Her wise guidance and thoughtful insights were so helpful as St. Mary’s navigated some challenging times. Susan’s last day with St. Mary’s was May 7. Thank you, Susan!
  • If you were unable to attend the 2022 Annual Meeting and would like to watch the Live Stream recording, please email communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org with the subject line “2022 Annual Meeting” and we will share the link with you.

Welcoming our Next Rector

Plans taking shape to welcome Reverend Lindsey Briggs to St. Mary’s

The Welcoming Committee has been working on plans to welcome Lindsey after her official start on June 1. Here’s a list of events that are being planned to provide opportunities to get to know her, and for her to get to know you!
  • Pentecost barbecue and potluck picnic June 5 at 11:00 a.m. following Lindsey’s first Sunday celebrating mass with us.
  • Meetings with various teams at St. Mary’s (e.g., Communications, Buildings and Grounds)
  • Outdoor gatherings with small groups of St. Marians over a meal or snacks/drinks, hosted by volunteer households at their homes or at a local park.
  •  Opportunities to sign up for one-on-one meetings with Lindsey.
We are also making sure Lindsey’s office is ready and welcoming, and working with her to purchase some liturgical materials to help with planning worship services. Lindsey has already been in contact with the Worship planning team to begin dialogue about plans for the first month or two after she starts.
 
Stay tuned for an announcement about how to sign up for the various opportunities to get to know Lindsey. We hope as many people as possible are planning to attend Pentecost service and the June 5th picnic. Hope to see you there!
 
You’ll be seeing items in the Weekly that will include things about Reverend Briggs to help folks get to know some things about her.
 
Worship Planning Committee

 

Getting to Know Our Next Rector

In just a few short weeks we will be meeting our next rector for Saint Mary’s – The Reverend Lindsey Briggs. In June we plan on doing a series of articles in the Weekly to help our community get to know Reverend Lindsey a little bit better. To help Reverend Lindsey with what “inquiring minds want to know”, please feel free to submit your questions to help develop our June articles – Click HERE. In the meantime, you’re invited to follow Reverend Lindsey on Instagram @revlindseybriggs.

 

Pentecost Picnic!

Back by popular demand – a Picnic on Pentecost!

That’s right, we will once again have a picnic following the Pentecost service on June 5th! We will gather to celebrate the ending of the program year and (hooray!) welcome our new rector, Reverend Lindsey Briggs. Burgers, hot dogs, veggie options and beverages will be provided. Please bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share.

If you are interested in helping with the picnic please contact Ginny Deluca or Julie Thomas.

 

St. Mary’s Children, Youth, and Families

Pre-Tweeners Group on Wednesday from 6:30pm – 7pm:
We just started a group for kids who are K-2nd grade.  Any child in that age group is welcome to join.  We will be having a question of the day, talk about our lows and highs and then do a show and tell.  All children K-2 are welcome to join. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm. Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Family Service Update:
We will continue to run a Family Zoom Service in May.
 
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 858 4295 0103
Passcode: Church

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Pastoral Care

Meal Train for The Ebbers Family
Anna and Jaron Ebbers are expecting a baby girl this month! They have a meal train set up for anyone that would like to sign up to bring food after the baby is born:

https://mealtrain.com/7wlken

Thank you!!

Outreach

KIVA Update
On Good Friday, a soup supper was held to support St Mary’s efforts to provide loans to people around the world through the KIVA organization. Delicious soups and bread were enjoyed by all and $560 was collected to add to the $1480 that had been re-paid by those who received loans from St. Mary’s earlier. Totaling these up, $2040 was available to be loaned. Thank you to all who joined us for soups. And thank you to those of you who donated.

New loans were made in 13 different countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Palestine, Kenya, Berkina Faso, Ecuador, Madagascar and Rwanda; and to 16 individuals or groups; for sewing traditional clothing, making ice cream, farming, raising sheep, selling fish and cell phones and beer and candy and for home construction, toilets, pig farms, fertilizer and seeds. Making a difference around the world….

Announcements

Saint Mary’s COVID Protocols as of 4/26/2022

  • Masks covering the nose and mouth are still required indoors.
  • 6’ physical (also known as “social”) distancing will not continue.
  • Lay Leader or Officiant will continue to read important announcements from lectern, including those from the Weekly Email, from the basket at the back of sanctuary and from the chat. Individual parishioners go to floor mic to request prayers. Anti-bacterial wipes will be available to wipe the mic for those who wish to do so.
  • Bread and wine will be distributed for communion. Wine will be served from the “pourable chalice”, so bring your small glasses or take a paper cup from an usher.
  • Communion will take place at the center aisle, either standing or kneeling.
  • Small processions are back.
  • On Sundays when there is Eucharist, there will be a Gospel Procession to middle of center aisle, using either lapel or floor mic.
  • Use Acolytes again (with parental permission) (Note: Penelope, Clare and Caroline are super excited to be able to acolyte again!)
  • Singing with masks in place!
  • Passing the peace with handshakes – yes, can do this. We need to respect that people have different comfort levels. Please check each person’s color dot and/or ask re their preference. (See “Dot” blurb in “What’s New”.)
  • Social time in the Sanctuary and St Mary’s Room returns! No beverages or snacks yet, but time to be together and be social and chat!   (Occasional exceptions re food/drink with windows/doors open, but generally will defer this until we can be outside.

 

Mission Area Gatherings – Saturday, May 14 from 9am – 12pm
Come for a rich day of conversation, learning, and reconnecting at this Spring’s gathering for the East Mission Area. This will be a hybrid event, taking place at St. Clements, 901 Portland Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55104 with an option to attend online. Food and beverages will not be served, but join us after the gathering for an “After party” potluck lunch! Click HERE to register.

 

Discounted Tickets for the Bach Society of Minnesota-At the Summit, B Minor Mass – Saturday, May 14
For the At the Summit, B Minor Mass concert. We would love to offer a discounted price to show our appreciation to your church community. Please use promotional code “Bach18” when you purchase over the phone (Ordway Ticket Office 651-224-4222) or through the website. For this same concert, children under 12 attend for free (with a purchase of student/adult ticket)

Yunyue Liu
Executive Director
BACH SOCIETY of MINNESOTA
 
 

Memorial Service for Nina Johnson’s Mom

All are welcome to join Nina, Mike, Zack and Juno in a celebration of the life of Nina’s mom, Janet Childs. The service will be on

Wednesday, May 18th
5:30pm at St. Mary’s

Food and drink and social time will follow the service. Any questions, please contact Nina at nina@jazmn.net.

 

Episcopal Night with the Minnesota Twins!
Tuesday, June 21, 6:40pm at Target Field. For more information Click HERE. 

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; the Horton family; Amara; the Strande family; Steven; Pat; Lanny & Sandy; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who have had hardships because of Covid; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all those who are in need of some extra love, grace, peace, and good energy; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list or special prayer shared, please email Claire at clairehorton97 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

 

CaringBridge for Don Horton

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation, I will be posting updates on his CaringBridge site.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Thanks,

Claire Horton

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 5/13 – 5/19

Sunday, May 15, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, May 15, 2022
In-person and Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, May 16, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, May 17, 2022
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
Email finance@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Memorial Service for Nina Johnson’s Mom
5:30pm
Contact Nina Johnson for more information – nina at jazmn.net

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Choir Rehearsal
7:00pm
Email musicdirector@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Thursday, May 19, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, May 19, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service returns to In-person and Virtual!)

Thursday, May 19, 2022
Tweeners-Virtual
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, May 19, 2022
Communications Team Meeting
7:00pm
Email communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – April 29, 2022

by

Weekly Worship Services

Sunday, May 1, 2022 

  • First Message:  Acts 9: 1-6
  • Gospel:  John 21: 1-19 Jesus appears to his disciples
9:00am – Virtual Family Church Service via Zoom. All are welcome.  The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
To join the 9am Family Church Service on May 1, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 860 0920 4974
If asked for a passcode, enter Fun
 
10:00am – Eucharist (Virtual and in-person) with The Reverend Susan Moss, celebrant and preacher. This is also the date of the Annual Meeting (immediately following the worship service) and Susan’s last Sunday with us.
To join the 10am worship on May 1, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the May 1 Service Bulletin for the 10am service – Click HERE
For the Easter Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

St. Mary’s Annual Meeting & Celebration for Reverend Moss

Children and Youth

Pastoral Care

Outreach

Announcements

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s new? 

  • This will be Reverend Susan Moss’ last Sunday with us. Also on May 1st, St. Mary’s will hold its Annual Meeting following the worship service, again in person and via Zoom. On the Agenda are reviewing St. Mary’s financials and voting for a new Warden and new Vestry members. We need a minimum of 25% of our adult membership (age 16 and over) for this to be a valid meeting. Please come and join in organizing St. Mary’s for this new phase of our future.
  • Hand Sanitizer… The Altar Guild has noticed that hand sanitizer takes the finish off the pews. Please use hand sanitizer carefully.
  • See Up-dated COVID protocols in “Announcements” section.
  • “Covid Comfort” & DOTS!!…Do you need 6′ spacing to feel safe at church? Do you prefer elbow and fist bumps? Are you hankering for hugs? Well, now we have a new way for you to communicate your level of comfort with physical contact during Covid.
    • There are stickers available for you to put on your name tag or your shirt to let all of us know how close you’re willing to get when we’re greeting each other.
    • A RED • dot will indicate that you’d like to maintain social distance (peace sign, air hug); a YELLOW • dot will tell us that you feel comfortable coming closer and would like a wave or a fist or elbow bump as a greeting; and a GREEN • dot will indicate that you are willing to be close and are potentially open to hugs.
  • Worship Schedule for May 2022 (hybrid—in-person & virtual unless otherwise noted)
    • May 1—
      • 9:00am Family Service (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Eucharist/Annual Meeting/Susan Moss’ last Sunday
    • May 8—
      • 9:00am Family Service (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Morning Prayer straight out of the BCP led by Jim DeLuca
    • May 15—
      • 9:00am Family Service (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Eucharist, The Rev John Bellaimey (Guest Preacher & Celebrant)
    • May 22—
      • 8:00am Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship discussion in place of a homily. (virtual only)
      • 9:00am Family Service (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Morning Prayer straight out of the BCP led by Jim DeLuca
    • May 29—
      • 10:00am Gospel Based Discipleship (VIRTUAL ONLY)—Memorial Day Weekend
  • Weekly Worship Services
    • Mondays—Compline 7:30pm (virtual only)
    • Thursdays—Contemplative Service 7:00pm in St Mary’s Chapel.

Feedback is welcome!
Still thinking about giving the Worship Team input about your yearnings/longings around worship at St. Mary’s? It’s never too late to let us know what you’re thinking about. Use the feedback link below.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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May 1 – St. Mary’s Annual Meeting & Celebration for Reverend Moss

St. Mary’s Staff and Committee Reports
In advance of our St. Mary’s Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, May 1st following the 10am worship service, please review the annual reports presented by staff and committees. Please note that the Treasurer’s Report will be a part of the May 1st meeting:
 
Candidates for St. Mary’s Leadership
The approval of candidates to serve in our open leadership roles will be an order of business during our upcoming annual meeting on May 1, 2022.
 
We have several open positions:  Warden, Vestry, Treasurer, and Clerk. We are so blessed and so thankful to have these members of our community step forward with willingness to volunteer their time to do this work of Saint Mary’s as we move into an exciting new phase of our life in community.
 
Please take a minute to get acquainted with our members who have indicated interest to serve by following this link: (https://saintmarysepiscopal.org/new-members-for-vestry-2022/)
If the full slate of our candidates is approved, the whole of the leadership body (Priest, Wardens, and vestry) could include twelve (12) people! This is such a positive sign indicating the strength
of our community and our combined energy for a bright future.
 
Many thanks to our candidate-members!
 
St. Mary’s Delegates to the 2022 ECMN Convention
At the May 1st St. Mary’s annual meeting we will be voting on delegates to represent St. Mary’s at the 2022 ECMN annual convention, to be held in Rochester on October 27-29. The annual convention is both a way to learn more about what is happening in the wider diocese and to vote on decisions being made there. St. Mary’s is entitled to two delegates, and we generally name an alternate as well. If you are interested in serving as a delegate, please contact warden Brian Nerbonne by Sunday, April 24 either at church or via email.
 
Reverend Susan Moss Celebration
May 1 will be our chance to give The Reverend Susan Moss a St. Mary’s-style send-off and show our deep appreciation for all she has done for us. That Sunday will be her last day preaching with us, and after church we will gather to give her our thanks for celebrating Eucharists, working with the worship team to plan services, giving thought-provoking sermons, helping us to heal and be ready for new beginnings, and for guiding the wardens, vestry and search team through a longer than expected search process. It is standard practice during transitions for a departing priest to leave 3-4 weeks prior to the arrival of a new rector. Susan’s last day will be Saturday May 7. That means – a party to show our thanks after church on May 1!
 
May 1 is also the date of our annual parish meeting, where we will vote on important things like new vestry members and a co-warden. Our bylaws state that we need at least 25% of us in attendance in order for a vote to take place, so this is another reason to join us.
 
For those who are wondering, during the transition time between Susan’s departure and the arrival of our new rector, we will cover pastoral duties in a few ways. Pastoral care emergencies will be handled by The Reverend Cindi Brickson. For worship services we will have a mix of lay-led Morning Prayer services, a Eucharist with a guest celebrant and preacher, and an adapted Morning Prayer Zoom only service with Gospel Based Discipleship. If you have any questions or concerns about this transition, please let me know.
 
Hope to see you there for a fun event on May 1!
Brian Nerbonne
Warden

St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth

Pre-Tweeners Group on Wednesday from 6:30pm – 7pm:
We just started a group for kids who are K-2nd grade.  Any child in that age group is welcome to join.  We will be having a question of the day, talk about our lows and highs and then do a show and tell.  All children K-2 are welcome to join. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm. Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Family Service Update:
We will continue to run a Family Zoom Service in May.
 
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 858 4295 0103
Passcode: Church

Return to Top

Pastoral Care

Meal Train for The Ebbers Family
Anna and Jaron Ebbers are expecting a baby girl in May! They have a meal train set up for anyone that would like to sign up to bring food after the baby is born:

https://mealtrain.com/7wlken

Thank you!!

Outreach

KIVA Update
On Good Friday, a soup supper was held to support St Mary’s efforts to provide loans to people around the world through the KIVA organization. Delicious soups and bread were enjoyed by all and $560 was collected to add to the $1480 that had been re-paid by those who received loans from St. Mary’s earlier. Totaling these up, $2040 was available to be loaned. Thank you to all who joined us for soups. And thank you to those of you who donated.

New loans were made in 13 different countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Palestine, Kenya, Berkina Faso, Ecuador, Madagascar and Rwanda; and to 16 individuals or groups; for sewing traditional clothing, making ice cream, farming, raising sheep, selling fish and cell phones and beer and candy and for home construction, toilets, pig farms, fertilizer and seeds. Making a difference around the world….

Announcements

Saint Mary’s COVID Protocols as of 4/26/2022

  • Masks covering the nose and mouth are still required indoors.
  • 6’ physical (also known as “social”) distancing will not continue.
  • Lay Leader or Officiant will continue to read important announcements from lectern, including those from the Weekly Email, from the basket at the back of sanctuary and from the chat. Individual parishioners go to floor mic to request prayers. Anti-bacterial wipes will be available to wipe the mic for those who wish to do so.
  • Bread and wine will be distributed for communion. Wine will be served from the “pourable chalice”, so bring your small glasses or take a paper cup from an usher.
  • Communion will take place at the center aisle, either standing or kneeling.
  • Small processions are back.
  • On Sundays when there is Eucharist, there will be a Gospel Procession to middle of center aisle, using either lapel or floor mic.
  • Use Acolytes again (with parental permission) (Note: Penelope, Clare and Caroline are super excited to be able to acolyte again!)
  • Singing with masks in place!
  • Passing the peace with handshakes – yes, can do this. We need to respect that people have different comfort levels. Please check each person’s color dot and/or ask re their preference. (See “Dot” blurb in “What’s New”.)
  • Social time in the Sanctuary and St Mary’s Room returns! No beverages or snacks yet, but time to be together and be social and chat!   (Occasional exceptions re food/drink with windows/doors open, but generally will defer this until we can be outside.

 

Violin and Viola Concert – Friday, April 29 at 7pm
The community of St. Mary’s is invited to a violin and viola concert in the sanctuary on Friday, April 29 at 7pm. The performers are mostly students of Mary Taylor Allen, who taught from her St. Mary’s studio for many years before moving to Hawaii. Savannah and Elias, St. Mary’s youth, will perform as well. All are welcome! If you have questions, please contact Erika Scheurer at ecscheurer at stthomas.edu.

 
Mission Area Gatherings – Saturday, May 14 from 9am – 12pm
Come for a rich day of conversation, learning, and reconnecting at this Spring’s gathering for the East Mission Area. This will be a hybrid event, taking place at St. Clements, 901 Portland Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55104 with an option to attend online. Food and beverages will not be served, but join us after the gathering for an “After party” potluck lunch! Click HERE to register.

 

Discounted Tickets for the Bach Society of Minnesota-At the Summit, B Minor Mass – Saturday, May 14
For the At the Summit, B Minor Mass concert. We would love to offer a discounted price to show our appreciation to your church community. Please use promotional code “Bach18” when you purchase over the phone (Ordway Ticket Office 651-224-4222) or through the website. For this same concert, children under 12 attend for free (with a purchase of student/adult ticket)

Yunyue Liu
Executive Director
BACH SOCIETY of MINNESOTA

 

Episcopal Night with the Minnesota Twins!
Tuesday, June 21, 6:40pm at Target Field. For more information Click HERE. 

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; the Horton family; Amara; the Strande family; Steven; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who have had hardships because of Covid; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list or special prayer shared, please email clairehorton97 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

CaringBridge for Don Horton
Hello my dear friends,

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation and don’t use Facebook, I will be posting updates on CaringBridge too.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Much love,

Claire Horton

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 4/29 – 5/5

Sunday, May 1, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, May 1, 2022
In-person and Virtual Worship Service & Annual Meeting
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, May 2, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Worship Team Meeting
5:30pm
Email worship@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Tuesday, May 3, 2022
Men’s Group Meeting
7:00pm
Email smmg@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, May 4, 2022
Choir Rehearsal
7:00pm
Email musicdirector@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Thursday, May 5, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, May 5, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service returns to In-person and Virtual!)

Thursday, May 5, 2022
Tweeners-Virtual
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – April 22, 2022

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Weekly Worship Services

Sunday, April 24, 2022 

  • First Message:  Acts 5: 27-32
  • Gospel:  John 20: 19-31 (Jesus appears to disciples and to Thomas)
8:00am – Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship discussion creating the homily—Virtual only—led by Steve Andrews. After the service a Zoom social gathering will be held.
For the 8am Zoom worship service on April 24, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 171895
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 878 4182 3048
 
For the April 24 Service Bulletin for the 8am service – Click HERE
 
9:00am – Virtual Family Church Service via Zoom. All are welcome.  The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
To join the 9am Family Church Service on April 24, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 860 0920 4974
If asked for a passcode, enter Fun
 
10:00am – Adapted Morning Prayer with favorite hymns and songs of St. Mary’s parishioners. Come and sing with us!! In-person and virtual. After the service, a Zoom social gathering will be held for those worshipping virtually and for in-person worshippers, there will be a social gathering held in the entryway with doors open (and outdoors if weather permits).
To join the 10am worship on April 24, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the April 24 Service Bulletin for the 10am service – Click HERE
For the April 24 Hymn Sing Lyric Sheet – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

St. Mary’s Annual Meeting & Celebration for Reverend Moss

Children and Youth

Outreach

Announcements

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s new? 

  • To listen to the homily given by The Reverend Susan Moss on Easter Sunday, April 17, Click HERE.
  • What a glorious Easter celebration at St. Mary’s! It felt almost like a pre-COVID Sunday with 80 people in the sanctuary! Add to that close to 20 people who joined via Zoom, and we came mighty close to topping 100 people in the St. Mary’s community being together to celebrate the Risen Christ!! Alleluia!!
  • Hand Sanitizer… The Altar Guild has noticed that hand sanitizer takes the finish off the pews. Please use hand sanitizer carefully.
  • What’s so special about April 24, 2022?? Well, first, it’s the 2nd Sunday of the Easter season and that’s worth celebrating!! It’s joyful! The “Alleluias” continue. Second, we’ll be singing and singing and singing…many of our favorite hymns and songs! (All the hymns/songs may not be sung on April 24, but there are several more Sundays in the Easter season! Stay tuned!) Third, see the next bullet point re DOTS!
  • “Covid Comfort” & DOTS!!…Do you need 6′ spacing to feel safe at church? Do you prefer elbow and fist bumps? Are you hankering for hugs? Well, now we have a new way for you to communicate your level of comfort with physical contact during Covid.
    • There are stickers available for you to put on your name tag or your shirt to let all of us know how close you’re willing to get when we’re greeting each other.
    • A RED • dot will indicate that you’d like to maintain social distance (peace sign, air hug); a YELLOW • dot will tell us that you feel comfortable coming closer and would like a wave or a fist or elbow bump as a greeting; and a GREEN • dot will indicate that you are willing to be close and are potentially open to hugs.
  • May 1st is now only one week away.  You’re invited to worship at 10am either in person or via Zoom. This will be Susan Moss’ last Sunday with us. Also on May 1st, St. Mary’s will hold its Annual Meeting following the worship service, again in person and via Zoom. On the Agenda are reviewing St Mary’s financials and voting for a new Warden and new Vestry members. We need a minimum of 25% of our adult membership (age 16 and over) for this to be a valid meeting. Please come and join in organizing St. Mary’s for this new phase of our future.
  • Worship Schedule for April & May 2022 (hybrid—in-person & virtual unless otherwise noted)
    • April 24—
      • 8:00am Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship discussion in place of a sermon. (virtual only)
      • 9:00am Family Service (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Adapted Morning Prayer service with LOTS of St. Marians’ favorite hymns and songs.
    • May 1—
      • (Note: Yet to be determined whether or not the 9am Family Service will continue into May.)
      • 10:00am Eucharist/Annual Meeting/Susan Moss’ last Sunday
    • May 8—
      • 10:00am Morning Prayer straight out of the BCP led by Jim DeLuca
    • May 15—
      • 10:00am Eucharist, The Rev John Bellaimey (Guest Preacher & Celebrant)
    • May 22—
      • 8:00am Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship discussion in place of a homily. (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Morning Prayer straight out of the BCP led by Jim DeLuca
    • May 29—
      • 10:00am Gospel Based Discipleship (VIRTUAL ONLY)—Memorial Day Weekend
  • Weekly Worship Services
    • Mondays—Compline 7:30pm (virtual only)
    • Thursdays—Contemplative Service 7:00pm in St Mary’s Chapel.

Feedback is welcome!
Still thinking about giving the Worship Team input about your yearnings/longings around worship at St. Mary’s? It’s never too late to let us know what you’re thinking about. Use the feedback link below.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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May 1 – St. Mary’s Annual Meeting & Celebration for Reverend Moss

St. Mary’s Staff and Committee Reports
In advance of our St. Mary’s Annual Parish Meeting on Sunday, May 1st following the 10am worship service, please review the annual reports presented by staff and committees. Please note that the Treasurer’s Report will be a part of the May 1st meeting:
 
Candidates for St. Mary’s Leadership
The approval of candidates to serve in our open leadership roles will be an order of business during our upcoming annual meeting on May 1, 2022.
 
We have several open positions:  Warden, Vestry, Treasurer, and Clerk. We are so blessed and so thankful to have these members of our community step forward with willingness to volunteer their time to do this work of Saint Mary’s as we move into an exciting new phase of our life in community.
 
Please take a minute to get acquainted with our members who have indicated interest to serve by following this link: (https://saintmarysepiscopal.org/new-members-for-vestry-2022/)
If the full slate of our candidates is approved, the whole of the leadership body (Priest, Wardens, and vestry) could include twelve (12) people! This is such a positive sign indicating the strength
of our community and our combined energy for a bright future.
 
Many thanks to our candidate-members!
 
St. Mary’s Delegates to the 2022 ECMN Convention
At the May 1st St. Mary’s annual meeting we will be voting on delegates to represent St. Mary’s at the 2022 ECMN annual convention, to be held in Rochester on October 27-29. The annual convention is both a way to learn more about what is happening in the wider diocese and to vote on decisions being made there. St. Mary’s is entitled to two delegates, and we generally name an alternate as well. If you are interested in serving as a delegate, please contact warden Brian Nerbonne by Sunday, April 24 either at church or via email.
 
Reverend Susan Moss Celebration
May 1 will be our chance to give The Reverend Susan Moss a St. Mary’s-style send-off and show our deep appreciation for all she has done for us. That Sunday will be her last day preaching with us, and after church we will gather to give her our thanks for celebrating Eucharists, working with the worship team to plan services, giving thought-provoking sermons, helping us to heal and be ready for new beginnings, and for guiding the wardens, vestry and search team through a longer than expected search process. It is standard practice during transitions for a departing priest to leave 3-4 weeks prior to the arrival of a new rector. Susan’s last day will be Saturday May 7. That means – a party to show our thanks after church on May 1!
 
May 1 is also the date of our annual parish meeting, where we will vote on important things like new vestry members and a co-warden. Our bylaws state that we need at least 25% of us in attendance in order for a vote to take place, so this is another reason to join us.
 
As one way of saying thank you to The Reverend Moss, we are taking donations for a thank you gift through Sunday, April 24. If you would like to make a donation, you have a few options:
 
  • Write a check (or cash in an envelope) and put it in the offering plate at church, indicating “Susan” on the memo line or envelope.
  • Write a check or use your bank’s online bill pay system and send it to St. Mary’s (1895 Laurel Avenue; St Paul, MN 55104), indicating “Susan” on the memo line.
  • Online with our automated payment system through Vanco. To make a special contribution Click HERE and select “Thanks Rev. Moss!”
 
For those who are wondering, during the transition time between Susan’s departure and the arrival of our new rector, we will cover pastoral duties in a few ways. Pastoral care emergencies will be handled by The Reverend Cindi Brickson. For worship services we will have a mix of lay-led Morning Prayer services, a Eucharist with a guest celebrant and preacher, and an adapted Morning Prayer Zoom only service with Gospel Based Discipleship. If you have any questions or concerns about this transition, please let me know.
 
Hope to see you there for a fun event on May 1!
Brian Nerbonne
Warden

St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth

Pre-Tweeners Group on Wednesday from 6:30pm – 7pm:
We just started a group for kids who are K-2nd grade.  Any child in that age group is welcome to join.  We will be having a question of the day, talk about our lows and highs and then do a show and tell.  All children K-2 are welcome to join. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm. Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Family Service Update:
We will continue to run a Family Zoom Service in March and April.
 
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 858 4295 0103
Passcode: Church

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Outreach

Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light Federal Climate Action Event
On Tuesday, April 26, at 11:15 am, join Minnesotans of faith and conscience to raise our collective voices for federal climate action! We will meet virtually with Senator Tina Smith, who has been a champion for the $555 billion climate provisions of the Build Back Better Act. If this legislation passes the Senate, it will be the largest-ever federal investment in clean energy! Register here for the call: Click HERE 

During this event hosted by Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light, we will hear clean energy testimonies from several congregations and have an opportunity to add our own climate stories. The Senator will also share updates and how we can help get these provisions passed. We hope to have at least 10 people from St. Mary’s on the call. Join us by clicking this link: Click HERE

KIVA Update
On Good Friday, a soup supper was held to support St Mary’s efforts to provide loans to people around the world through the KIVA organization. Delicious soups and bread were enjoyed by all and $560 was collected to add to the $1480 that had been re-paid by those who received loans from St. Mary’s earlier. Totaling these up, $2040 was available to be loaned. Thank you to all who joined us for soups. And thank you to those of you who donated.

New loans were made in 13 different countries: El Salvador, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Kyrgyzstan, Philippines, Palestine, Kenya, Berkina Faso, Ecuador, Madagascar and Rwanda; and to 16 individuals or groups; for sewing traditional clothing, making ice cream, farming, raising sheep, selling fish and cell phones and beer and candy and for home construction, toilets, pig farms, fertilizer and seeds. Making a difference around the world….

Announcements

Violin and Viola Concert – Friday, April 29 at 7pm
The community of St. Mary’s is invited to a violin and viola concert in the sanctuary on Friday, April 29 at 7pm. The performers are mostly students of Mary Taylor Allen, who taught from her St. Mary’s studio for many years before moving to Hawaii. Savannah and Elias, St. Mary’s youth, will perform as well. All are welcome! If you have questions, please contact Erika Scheurer at ecscheurer at stthomas.edu.

 
Mission Area Gatherings – Saturday, May 14 from 9am – 12pm
Come for a rich day of conversation, learning, and reconnecting at this Spring’s gathering for the East Mission Area. This will be a hybrid event, taking place at St. Clements, 901 Portland Ave., Saint Paul, MN 55104 with an option to attend online. Food and beverages will not be served, but join us after the gathering for an “After party” potluck lunch! Click HERE to register.

 

Discounted Tickets for the Bach Society of Minnesota-At the Summit, B Minor Mass – Saturday, May 14
For the At the Summit, B Minor Mass concert. We would love to offer a discounted price to show our appreciation to your church community. Please use promotional code “Bach18” when you purchase over the phone (Ordway Ticket Office 651-224-4222) or through the website. For this same concert, children under 12 attend for free (with a purchase of student/adult ticket)

Yunyue Liu
Executive Director
BACH SOCIETY of MINNESOTA

 

Episcopal Night with the Minnesota Twins!
Tuesday, June 21, 6:40pm at Target Field. For more information Click HERE. 

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; the Horton family; Amara; the Strande family; Steven; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who have had hardships because of Covid; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list or special prayer shared, please email clairehorton97 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

CaringBridge for Don Horton
Hello my dear friends,

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation and don’t use Facebook, I will be posting updates on CaringBridge too.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Much love,

Claire Horton

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 4/22 – 4/28

Sunday, April 24, 2022
Virtual Morning Prayer via Zoom
8:00am
Link

Sunday, April 24, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, April 24, 2022
In-person and Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, April 25, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, April 26, 2022
Vestry Meeting
6:30pm
Email wardens@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Wednesday, April 27, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, April 28, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, April 28, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service returns to In-person and Virtual!)

Thursday, April 28, 2022
Tweeners-Virtual
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – February 25, 2022

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IMPORTANT NOTICE: St. Mary’s continues Virtual Services until the end of February

Weekly Worship Services
Sunday, February 27, 2022

  • First Message:  Exodus 34:29-35
  • Gospel:  Luke 9:28-36
9:00am – Virtual Family Church Service via Zoom. All are welcome.  The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
To join the 9am Family Church Service on February 27, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 860 0920 4974
If asked for a passcode, enter Fun
 
For the February 27th Family Sheet – Click HERE
For the February 27th Activity Sheet – Click HERE
 
10:00am – Virtual Eucharist via Zoom. The Reverend Susan Moss will give the homily and be the Celebrant and Steve Andrews will be the Lay Leader. After the service a Zoom social gathering will be held.
No in-person service. Worship is via Zoom only.
To join the 10am worship on February 27, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the February 27th Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Epiphany Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Name Tags

Opportunities to serve St. Mary’s

Search Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach & Education

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

  • New!: The Evening Compline Service has moved from Tuesday nights to Monday nights at 7:30pm.
  • New!: The Thursday evening Contemplative Service will be returning to hybrid in March!

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters in Lent by The Reverend Susan M. Moss
On March 2, Ash Wednesday, we turn the liturgical corner into the observation of the 40 day penitential season of Lent.
 
We will hear again, the invitation to observe a holy Lent, receive ashes as a sign of our mortality and pray together the Litany of Penitence before celebrating the Eucharist.
 
As Lent begins,  my practice is to listen again to the voice of a master teacher: The Rev. John Westerhoff who in his book, A Pilgrim People writes:
 

There comes a time in our human pilgrimage when we come aware of lost innocence.

The naïveté of childhood comes to an end and we face up to the hard  realities about ourselves, others and the world…

…As persons and as the church we examine our interior and exterior lives. 

Aware that God accepts us just as we are and offers us forgiveness for the times we have denied who we really are, we enter a penitential season in the church’s eternal cycle. 

Penance: acts of making whole again and repairing damage done, [and] growing in grace…

…In Lent we face up to the struggle to acknowledge who we really are and the continuing battle with the principalities and powers in our lives and history that prevents us  —

not entirely against our will–from actualizing our true identity.

Lent is that serious, contemplative time when we prepare for the renewal of our baptismal covenant we will make at Easter. 

Easter is the key to the church’s story, but without a holy lent, its power is diminished. The stories told in Lent help us to face up to our temptations and the ever present threat of evil; they help us to face up to the ways in which we need to die and the narrow gate through which we need to pass; they help us to face up to  our blurred visions, misplaced loyalties, and wrongful desire; they help us face up to our blindness and to the healing and nourishment we need; and they help us to face up to the ways in which we are bound and trapped.

May God create in us a clean heart…and renew a right spirit within us these next 40 days of Lent.

Faithfully, Susan

Episcopal 101: For a brief review of  Lent’s history 

What’s New?
  • Back to hybrid worship—in-person and virtual!! Hybrid services return Ash Wednesday, March 2nd .
  • Ash Wednesday service, in-person at St Mary’s and via Zoom, will be at 7pm, straight from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) and will include the imposition of ashes.
    • If you’re joining via Zoom, have your ashes (from a fireplace, candle wicks, matches, BBQ briquettes are some possibilities!) with you. When imposition of ashes is taking place at St. Mary’s, you may make the sign of the cross on others in your household. If you are alone, you can make the sign of the cross on your own forehead.
    • Another option for imposition of ashes: Our neighbor, St. Clements at 901 Portland Avenue in St. Paul, will have imposition of ashes from 4-6pm outdoors.
  • To hear the homily given by Karen Olson, Canon for Ministry at ECMN (Episcopal Church of Minnesota), on February 20, Click HERE.
  • Looking for a new Lent activity? Here are some possibilities…
    • Monday evenings at 7:30pm, join other St. Marians for a Compline service. This is a beautiful way to end your day. Look for the link in the “Upcoming Events at St. Mary’s” section of this Weekly Email. (Virtual only)
    • Thursday evenings at 7:00pm, join other St. Marians for a Contemplative gathering in the St. Mary’s Chapel or via Zoom. This is another beautiful way to end your day.
    • ECMN extends an invitation to observe a Holy Lent by using 5 different spiritual practices, one for each week of Lent. The intent is not to add “one more thing” to your busy life, but to help you slow down so God can fill you spiritually. Join other Episcopalians from all over Minnesota in these spiritual practices. Click HERE to access ECMN info and link.
    • Kate Bowler’s free Reflection Guide, “A Good Enough Lent”. Check out katebowler.com/lent/ to learn more or to sign up for the free guide.
    • Daily Meditations are email reflections featuring Richard Rohr and the Center for Action and Contemplation (CAC) faculty, as well as guest teachers and authors, reflecting on the wisdom and practices of the Christian contemplative tradition. Subscribers receive an emailed meditation every day of the week. Each week builds on previous topics—but you can join at any time. This could be a Lenten practice or an on-going practice. Click HERE to learn more and to sign up.
    • Learn more about saints. For a bit more info, refer back to the 2/11/22 Weekly Email or google www.lentmadness.org to check it out or sign up.
  • Worship Schedule for LENT (hybrid—in-person & virtual unless otherwise shown)
    • March 2—
      • 7:00pm Ash Wednesday service, including imposition of ashes.
    • March 6—
      • 9:00am Family Service led by MiaLisa Millares (virtual)^^
      • 10:00am Adapted Morning Prayer. Buff Grace will give the homily.
    • March 13—
      • 9:00am Family Service led by MiaLisa Millares (virtual)^^
      • 10:00am Eucharist with The Rev Susan Moss as Celebrant. Homily given by Cherry Say from Church of the Messiah in St Paul. **
    • March 20—
      • 8:00am Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship led by Steve Andrews.
      • 9:00am Family Service led by MiaLisa Millares (virtual)^^
      • 10:00am Adapted Morning Prayer. Homily given by The Reverend John Mitchell from St. Andrew’s in Minneapolis.**
    • March 27—
      • 9:00am Family Service led by MiaLisa Millares (virtual)^^
      • 10:00am Eucharist with The Rev Susan Moss as Celebrant. Homily given by The Venerable Rena Turnham, Archdeacon, ECMN. **
    • April 3—
      • 9:00am Family Service led by MiaLisa Millares (virtual)^^
      • 10:00am Adapted Morning Prayer. Homily given by The Reverend Canon Blair Pogue, Canon for Vitality and Innovation, ECMN**
    • Mondays @ 7:30pm — Compline
    • Thursdays @ 7:00pm — Contemplative Service

**Homilies pre-recorded, part of the ECMN Lent Homily Series.
^^Will be assessed to decide whether or not to continue these.

  • Stay tuned for changes in COVID protocols—come back and read about them next Friday!

Feedback is welcome!

Still thinking about giving the Worship Team input about your yearnings/longings around worship at St. Mary’s? It’s never too late to let us know what you’re thinking about. Use the feedback link below.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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Who are we?

Next week we’re back doing hybrid worship, both in-person and virtual!! Yeah!!
 
Let’s be ready!! Let’s all have name badges so in case our eyes showing isn’t enough to let people know who we are, our name badges will do the trick!!! Now I know not everyone will be returning to in-person worship even when it’s available…everyone is assessing risk vs benefit for themselves and their families and making decisions that are right for them. But again, let’s be ready for when each of us comes back to in-person worship and have a name badge waiting for us in the badge rack in the entryway.
 
Unless you’re 100% sure you have a name badge in the rack, let’s get you a new one! Send an email to Paulette Briese or use the “click here” for Worship Feedback and let me know:
  • Your name as you’d like it to appear on your name badge (Include personal pronouns if you’d like them listed)
  • Which style you’d like: pin? clip? lanyard?
  • If you’d like a rainbow pin on your name badge
This also gets us ready for when our new Rector arrives! It will help him/her get to know us easier. Order your new name badge today.
 

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Ask not what St. Mary’s can do for you – ask what you can do for St. Mary’s

What gifts and talents has God given you? How might you be called to share your time and talents to build up the body of Christ at St. Mary’s? Where is the Spirit calling you to serve?
 
If you have been at St. Mary’s awhile, you have certainly heard the phrase, or perhaps more importantly seen the actions – “It takes a village.” In spite of a pandemic there is so much going on at St. Mary’s and many hands are needed to help keep our village thriving. Would you like to get to know St. Marians better and what makes the church “tick”? Below are some of the immediate opportunities to serve at St. Mary’s as well as some of the upcoming opportunities. Please feel free to be curious and ask questions about these positions and step up if one seems right for you or provides an opportunity to grow and to get to know your community better.
 
Immediate opportunities to serve:
Altar Guild – Join the team that helps prepare the Altar and Sanctuary for worship and other services. Kitty McFarland – mcfarlandkitty274 at gmail.com
Saint Mary’s Weekly – If you like communication and have some editorial skills, please join the team in creating the Weekly. Communications Team – communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Stewardship Committee – Are you interested in helping St. Mary’s grow? Are you wondering where our money comes from? If you answered YES to these questions, our community is asking each of you to consider whether participation with the Stewardship committee could be your ministry at St. Mary’s. Cindy James – james.c.a at comcast.net or Jim Wheeler – james.jw.wheeler at gmail.com
Finance Committee – If you have an interest in helping guide the finances of St. Mary’s, please consider joining the Finance Committee. All St. Mary’s members are welcome to sit in on the monthly Finance Committee meetings. finance@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Technology (Worship Assistance) – Join the team that keeps the audio working and Live Stream accessible to those attending worship virtually. Commitment is a Sunday every month or two based on your availability. Todd Reemtsma – todd.reemtsma at gmail.com
Technology (Equipment & Infrastructure) – Someone with knowledge or interest in networks and equipment to work with the Buildings & Grounds Team to improve and maintain our network at St. Mary’s. building@saintmarysepiscopal.org
 
Upcoming opportunities to serve:
Warden(s) – 1 or 2 people to serve a term-limit of no more than 3 years. Elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Vestry Members – 2 or 3 new Vestry members to replace outgoing Vestry members with a 3-year term. Elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Treasurer – Appointed during the first meeting of the 2022-23 Vestry.
Vestry Clerk – Appointed during the first meeting of the 2022-23 Vestry.
 
Please note that most committees – Worship, Communications, Finance, Buildings & Grounds – can be joined at any time that you might be interested.
 

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Search Committee

Update from the Search Committee
We are so excited to share that we will soon be visiting with candidates in person (Covid-cautious) for more mutual discernment! We will complete these in-person interviews by the end of February. God be in our ears and in our listening!
 
Prayers for the Search Committee and Candidates
Dear Saint Marians:
 
As the Rector’s Search continues, let us remain constant in prayer for members of the Search Committee and the candidates who have come forward.
 
Faithfully, 
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
 Let us pray:
 

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!

May your Holy Spirit continue to  guide and illumine the discerning hearts and minds of the Saint Mary’s Search Committee and rector candidates, in the search for a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for ministries in your name.  Amen.
 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

Souper Bowl of Caring
The Youth Group is raising money for the Souper Bowl of Caring this year again! This year they chose Community Bridge as the recipient for the funds. Here is the link to their fundraising page. Please share widely! If you prefer to send a check for this effort, please mark Souper Bowl of Caring in the Memo so we can make sure the funds are added to this effort! 
 
Check out the 2022 Youth Group Souper Bowl of Caring video! Click HERE then donate HERE! https://map.tacklehunger.org/donate/stmarysyouth22
(As of the publication of the Weekly $314 of the $750 goal has been raised.)
 

NEW! Pre-Tweeners Group on Wednesday from 6:30pm – 7pm:
We just started a group for kids who are K-2nd grade.  Any child in that age group is welcome to join.  We will be having a question of the day, talk about our lows and highs and then do a show and tell.  All children K-2 are welcome to join. Please contact Mia for the link! 

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
NEW! Family Service on Sunday at 9:00am:
Thanks for all of your feedback, we will continue doing the Family church service for the month of February and then reassess again.  All are welcome.  The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
 
Topic: Family Church
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 860 0920 4974
Passcode: Fun
 

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Outreach & Education

From MNIPL – Tell our state legislators that Minnesotans want bold climate action this year!

The 2022 session of the Minnesota Legislature has begun, and our lawmakers need to hear from us on climate! Our state has billions of dollars in budget surplus and additional federal dollars to spend. The newly announced MN House Climate Action Plan proposes investing $1 billion of the surplus in climate solutions. We can invest in clean energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, good-paying green jobs, and cleaner air. Click here to send your elected officials a strong message: 2022 is the year to prioritize climate action! 

Why this matters:

Our lawmakers need to hear from us at the start of the legislative session about the importance of bold climate action. Every call, email, and meeting makes a difference! Read more about the MN House Climate Action Plan, which proposes  investing in clean energy, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and climate resilience. Later this spring, you’ll have an opportunity to help your congregation further this message by participating in an in-district meeting with your legislators on Zoom.

Making a difference in the world – KIVA Loans

This is a Report from the Xemuji Group in Guatemala. St Mary’s made a loan to this group and the group is re-paying the loan. Thanks to The Reverend Susan Moss for the translation.

Mayan women, textile weavers, are those who, for the most part, stick to tradition wearing typical traditional clothing. This is why Felipa, 64, stands out. She is an entrepreneur, married and mother of 10 children between the ages of 14 and 41. 

Felipa says because her large family is so large, her children could only attend school for 6 years. To generate her own income while not neglecting her children’s upbringing, Felipa decided to weave belts typical [of the region] to sell in the community market.

Felipa’s children are married, so she needs to generate her own income to defray the cost of her home’s basic services.

That’s why she acquired the third Kiva loan last March.

Thanks to the new financing, Felipa could actually buy a variety of good quality yarns and another back strap loom.

There are nine women that gave life to the Xemuj Community Bank. This group of women are in solidarity with one another and are motivated… investing capital into their textile businesses and
raising animals.

They have little or no formal education so the loan program, informal education and the health service “Microcrédito Plus” gives them monthly education training.

Studying finance allows these women to be able to effectively invest capital into their businesses and to save part of their earnings for an emergency. 

In matters of health, they were visited by nurses from the institution who visited their homes every two months.

They also were able to become familiar with their rights and duties as women, mothers and spouses.

Thanks to all who have given loan to Kiva, these women move forward creating a more prosperous and sustainable future.

 

Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Claire; the Horton family; Anne; Kirby; Amara; the Strande family; Steven; Georgia; the Weber Nelson/Nelson family; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

CaringBridge for Don Horton

Hello my dear friends,

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation and don’t use Facebook, I will be posting updates on CaringBridge too.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Much love,

Claire Horton

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 2/25 – 3/3

Sunday, February 27, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, February 27, 2022
Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, February 28, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, March 1, 2022
Men’s Group
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Pre-Tweeners
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, March 2, 2022
Hybrid Ash Wednesday Service
7:00pm Service (see above for additional information)
Link

Thursday, March 3, 2022
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, March 3, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, March 3, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service returns to In-person and Virtual!)

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – February 11, 2022

by

IMPORTANT NOTICE: St. Mary’s continues Virtual Services until the end of February

Weekly Worship Services
Sunday, February 13, 2022

  • First Message: Jeremiah 17:5-10
  • Gospel: Luke 6: 17-26
9:00am – Virtual Family Church Service via Zoom. Thanks for all of your feedback, we will continue doing the Family church service for the month of February and then reassess again.  All are welcome.  The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
To join the 9am Family Church Service on February 13, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 860 0920 4974
If asked for a passcode, enter Fun
 
For the February 13th Family Sheet – Click HERE
 
10:00am – Virtual Adapted Eucharist Service via Zoom. The Reverend Susan Moss will give the homily. After the service a Zoom social gathering will be held.
No in-person service. Worship is via Zoom only.
To join the 10am worship on February 13, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the February 13th Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Epiphany Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Keeping our community safe and healthy

Opportunities to serve St. Mary’s

Search Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach & Education

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

  • New!: The Evening Compline Service has moved from Tuesday nights to Monday nights at 7:30pm.
  • New!: The Thursday evening Contemplative Service will be Zoom only until the end of February and will then be reassessed.

Worship Team

What’s New?
  • To hear the homily given by Anna Clark, St. Mary’s parishioner, on February 6, Click HERE.
  • Worship Schedule for February
    • February 13—
      • 9:00am Family Service.
      • 10:00am Eucharist. The Reverend Susan Moss is celebrant and preacher.
    • February 20—
      • 8:00am Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship.
      • 9:00am Family Service.
      • 10:00am Adapted Morning Prayer. ECMN Canon for Ministry Karen Olson will preach.
    • February 27—
      • 9:00am Family Service.
      • 10:00am Eucharist. The Reverend Susan Moss is celebrant and preacher.
  • Come to Zoom church and see faces you may not have seen for awhile. Even though it’s been great to have both the Zoom and in-person worship options, it’s also nice to have the community gathered all together.
  • Looking for a new Lenten activity? Lent Madness may be for you…Read on…

Lent Madness began in 2010 as the brainchild of The Rev. Tim Schenck. In seeking a fun, engaging way for people to learn about the men and women comprising the church’s Calendar of Saints, Tim came up with this unique Lenten Devotion. Combining his love of sports with his passion for the lives of saints, Lent Madness was born on his blog, now called “Clergy Confidential”.

The format is straightforward: 32 saints are placed into a tournament-like single elimination bracket. Each pairing remains open for a set period of time and people vote for their favorite saint. 16 saints make it to the Round of the Saintly Sixteen; eight advance to the Round of the Elate Eight; four make it to the Faithful Four; two to the Championship; and the winner is awarded the coveted Golden Halo. The first round consists of basic biographical information about each of the 32 saints. Things get a bit more interesting in the subsequent rounds as we offer quotes and quirks, explore legends, and even move into the area of saintly kitsch. 

As Lent Madness continues to grow and evolve, what won’t change is the essence of Lent Madness: allowing people to get to know some amazing people who have come before us in the faith and reminding one another that there’s no reason for a dreary Lenten discipline. If this helps people connect with the risen Christ during this season of penitence and renewal, and have a bit of fun in the process, then it continues to be worthwhile.

Want to check it out or sign up? Go to www.lentmadness.org

  • Still thinking about giving the Worship Team input about your yearnings/longings around worship at St. Mary’s? It’s never too late to let us know what you’re thinking about. Use the feedback link below.

Feedback is welcome!
Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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St. Mary’s continues Virtual Services through the end of February

The COVID wave may soon be peaking, but we have a ways to go before it dissipates. On Tuesday, January 25, the St. Mary’s vestry discussed whether to resume holding in-person worship services. We have continued to watch the cathedral, which has said they will not return in-person until case rates approach 100. When the Vestry made this decision, Ramsey County case rates were over twice that. With this in mind, the vestry decided to continue with virtual services through the end of February. Our first in-person service is slated to be on Ash Wednesday, March 2, in time for the start of Lent.
 
We recognize that this news may disappoint some people. In-person worship is an important ritual and social function for many of us, and it is hard for virtual services to fully replace that experience. We all hope conditions improve by March so that we can follow through on the plan to return to in-person. Until then, we hope to have you join us online for services.
 
Sincerely,
 
The St. Mary’s Vestry

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Ask not what St. Mary’s can do for you – ask what you can do for St. Mary’s

What gifts and talents has God given you? How might you be called to share your time and talents to build up the body of Christ at St. Mary’s? Where is the Spirit calling you to serve?
 
If you have been at St. Mary’s awhile, you have certainly heard the phrase, or perhaps more importantly seen the actions – “It takes a village.” In spite of a pandemic there is so much going on at St. Mary’s and many hands are needed to help keep our village thriving. Would you like to get to know St. Marians better and what makes the church “tick”? Below are some of the immediate opportunities to serve at St. Mary’s as well as some of the upcoming opportunities. Please feel free to be curious and ask questions about these positions and step up if one seems right for you or provides an opportunity to grow and to get to know your community better.
 
Immediate opportunities to serve:
Altar Guild – Join the team that helps prepare the Altar and Sanctuary for worship and other services. Kitty McFarland – mcfarlandkitty274 at gmail.com
Saint Mary’s Weekly – If you like communication and have some editorial skills, please join the team in creating the Weekly. Communications Team – communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Stewardship Committee – Are you interested in helping St. Mary’s grow? Are you wondering where our money comes from? If you answered YES to these questions, our community is asking each of you to consider whether participation with the Stewardship committee could be your ministry at St. Mary’s. Cindy James – james.c.a at comcast.net or Jim Wheeler – james.jw.wheeler at gmail.com
Finance Committee – If you have an interest in helping guide the finances of St. Mary’s, please consider joining the Finance Committee. All St. Mary’s members are welcome to sit in on the monthly Finance Committee meetings. finance@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Technology (Worship Assistance) – Join the team that keeps the audio working and Live Stream accessible to those attending worship virtually. Commitment is a Sunday every month or two based on your availability. Todd Reemtsma – todd.reemtsma at gmail.com
Technology (Equipment & Infrastructure) – Someone with knowledge or interest in networks and equipment to work with the Buildings & Grounds Team to improve and maintain our network at St. Mary’s. building@saintmarysepiscopal.org
 
Upcoming opportunities to serve:
Warden(s) – 1 or 2 people to serve a term-limit of no more than 3 years. Elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Vestry Members – 2 or 3 new Vestry members to replace outgoing Vestry members with a 3-year term. Elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Treasurer – Appointed during the first meeting of the 2022-23 Vestry.
Vestry Clerk – Appointed during the first meeting of the 2022-23 Vestry.
 
Please note that most committees – Worship, Communications, Finance, Buildings & Grounds – can be joined at any time that you might be interested.
 

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Search Committee

Update from the Search Committee
We’ve finished our first, short interviews (on Zoom) with candidates. We are conducting second interviews, also on Zoom. We’ve also asked each candidate to answer a short essay question, we’ve listened to recordings of their sermons, and we are answering thoughtful questions from the candidates. Each candidate brings different gifts and experiences to the table, and we are excited to have deeper discussions about our community’s needs and their strengths. After the second interviews, finalists will visit with the search committee in person for more mutual discernment. God be in our ears and in our listening!
 
Prayers for the Search Committee and Candidates
Dear Saint Marians:
 
As the Rector’s Search begins anew, let us remain constant in prayer for members of the Search Committee and the candidates who have come forward.
 
Faithfully, 
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
 Let us pray:
 

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!

May your Holy Spirit continue to  guide and illumine the discerning hearts and minds of the Saint Mary’s Search Committee and rector candidates, in the search for a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for ministries in your name.  Amen.
 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

Souper Bowl of Caring
The Youth Group is raising money for the Souper Bowl of Caring this year again! This year they chose Community Bridge as the recipient for the funds. Here is the link to their fundraising page. Please share widely! If you prefer to send a check for this effort, please mark Souper Bowl of Caring in the Memo so we can make sure the funds are added to this effort! 

https://map.tacklehunger.org/donate/stmarysyouth22

NEW! Pre-Tweeners Group on Wednesday from 6:30pm – 7pm:
We just started a group for kids who are K-2nd grade.  Any child in that age group is welcome to join.  We will be having a question of the day, talk about our lows and highs and then do a show and tell.  All children K-2 are welcome to join. Please contact Mia for the link! 

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
NEW! Family Service on Sunday at 9:00am:
Thanks for all of your feedback, we will continue doing the Family church service for the month of February and then reassess again.  All are welcome.  The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
 
Topic: Family Church
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 860 0920 4974
Passcode: Fun
 

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Outreach & Education

From MNIPL – Tell our state legislators that Minnesotans want bold climate action this year!

The 2022 session of the Minnesota Legislature has begun, and our lawmakers need to hear from us on climate! Our state has billions of dollars in budget surplus and additional federal dollars to spend. The newly announced MN House Climate Action Plan proposes investing $1 billion of the surplus in climate solutions. We can invest in clean energy, energy efficiency, clean transportation, good-paying green jobs, and cleaner air. Click here to send your elected officials a strong message: 2022 is the year to prioritize climate action! 

Why this matters:

Our lawmakers need to hear from us at the start of the legislative session about the importance of bold climate action. Every call, email, and meeting makes a difference! Read more about the MN House Climate Action Plan, which proposes  investing in clean energy, clean transportation, energy efficiency, and climate resilience. Later this spring, you’ll have an opportunity to help your congregation further this message by participating in an in-district meeting with your legislators on Zoom. Register for our “How to meet your State Senator” training on February 15, where you’ll learn more about this exciting opportunity!

Making a difference in the world – KIVA Loans

This is a Report from the Xemuji Group in Guatemala. St Mary’s made a loan to this group and the group is re-paying the loan. Thanks to The Reverend Susan Moss for the translation.

Mayan women, textile weavers, are those who, for the most part, stick to tradition wearing typical traditional clothing. This is why Felipa, 64, stands out. She is an entrepreneur, married and mother of 10 children between the ages of 14 and 41. 

Felipa says because her large family is so large, her children could only attend school for 6 years. To generate her own income while not neglecting her children’s upbringing, Felipa decided to weave belts typical [of the region] to sell in the community market.

Felipa’s children are married, so she needs to generate her own income to defray the cost of her home’s basic services.

That’s why she acquired the third Kiva loan last March.

Thanks to the new financing, Felipa could actually buy a variety of good quality yarns and another back strap loom.

There are nine women that gave life to the Xemuj Community Bank. This group of women are in solidarity with one another and are motivated… investing capital into their textile businesses and
raising animals.

They have little or no formal education so the loan program, informal education and the health service “Microcrédito Plus” gives them monthly education training.

Studying finance allows these women to be able to effectively invest capital into their businesses and to save part of their earnings for an emergency. 

In matters of health, they were visited by nurses from the institution who visited their homes every two months.

They also were able to become familiar with their rights and duties as women, mothers and spouses.

Thanks to all who have given loan to Kiva, these women move forward creating a more prosperous and sustainable future.

 

Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Claire; the Horton family; Anne; Kirby; Amara; the Strande family; Steven; Georgia; the Weber Nelson/Nelson family; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

CaringBridge for Don Horton

Hello my dear friends,

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation and don’t use Facebook, I will be posting updates on CaringBridge too.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Much love,

Claire Horton

Return to Top

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 2/11 – 2/17

Sunday, February 13, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, February 13, 2022
Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, February 14, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, February 15, 2022
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
For more information Click HERE

Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Pre-Tweeners
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, February 16, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, February 17, 2022
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, February 17, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, February 17, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service will be Virtual Only until the end of February and then reassessed)

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – February 4, 2022

by

IMPORTANT NOTICE: St. Mary’s continues Virtual Services until the end of February

Weekly Worship Services
Sunday, February 6, 2022

  • First Message: 

Today, like every other day, we wake up empty
and frightened. Don’t open the door to the study
and begin reading. Take down a musical instrument.
Let the beauty we love be what we do.
There are a hundred ways to kneel and kiss the ground.

— Rumi

  • Gospel: Luke 5:1-11
9:00am – Virtual Family Church Service via Zoom. Thanks for all of your feedback, we will continue doing the Family church service for the month of February and then reassess again.  All are welcome.  The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
To join the 9am Family Church Service on February 6, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 860 0920 4974
If asked for a passcode, enter Fun
 
For the February 6th Family Sheet – Click HERE
 
10:00am – Virtual Adapted Morning Prayer Worship Service via Zoom. Anna Clark, a St. Mary’s parishioner, will give the homily. Stick around after the service for a Zoom social gathering.
No in-person service. Worship is via Zoom only.
To join the 10am worship on February 6, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the February 6th Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Epiphany Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Keeping our community safe and healthy

Opportunities to serve St. Mary’s

Search Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach & Education

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

  • New!: The Evening Compline Service has moved from Tuesday nights to Monday nights at 7:30pm.
  • New!: The Thursday evening Contemplative Service will be Zoom only until the end of February and will then be reassessed.

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s from Paulette Briese, Chair of the Worship Team

The Worship Team will soon be looking ahead and planning for worship services during Lent. Over the past 14 or so months, we’ve tried very hard to have elements in every service that would be familiar to each and everyone of you. Knowing our one worship service can’t be “all things to all people”, we still wonder what people are longing for. So, we’re asking you…asking you to let us know what it is you’re yearning for and why this is important to you. Please use the feedback “Click HERE” below and respond by February 8th so we’ll have your thoughts before our next meeting. Thank you for sharing your yearnings with us.

What’s New?
  • To hear The Reverend Susan Moss’ homily given on January 30th, Click HERE.
  • At the January 25th meeting of the Vestry, the decision was made to continue “Zoom Only” services through the month of February, with Ash Wednesday (March 2) tentatively being our first hybrid (In-person & Zoom) service. The COVID numbers in Ramsey County continue to be high and keeping people as safe as possible is our primary concern. The Vestry will review and reassess at the February 22nd meeting.
  • Worship Schedule for February
    • February 6—10:00am Adapted Morning Prayer. Anna Clark will preach.
    • February 13—10:00am Eucharist. The Reverend Susan Moss is celebrant and preacher.
    • February 20—8:00am Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship.
    • February 20—10:00am Adapted Morning Prayer. ECMN Canon for Ministry Karen Olson will preach.
    • February 27—10:00am Eucharist. The Reverend Susan Moss is celebrant and preacher.
  • Come to Zoom church and see faces you may not have seen for awhile. Even though it’s been great to have both the Zoom and in-person worship options, it’s also nice to have the community gathered all together.
  • Do you know about “Lent Madness”?? What’s “Lent Madness” you say? Stay tuned!!

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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St. Mary’s continues Virtual Services through the end of February

The COVID wave may soon be peaking, but we have a ways to go before it dissipates. On Tuesday, January 25, the St. Mary’s vestry discussed whether to resume holding in-person worship services. We have continued to watch the cathedral, which has said they will not return in-person until case rates approach 100. Right now in Ramsey County we are over twice that rate. With this in mind, the vestry has decided to continue with virtual services through the end of February. Our first in-person service is slated to be on Ash Wednesday, March 2, in time for the start of Lent.
 
We recognize that this news may disappoint some people. In-person worship is an important ritual and social function for many of us, and it is hard for virtual services to fully replace that experience. We all hope conditions improve by March so that we can follow through on the plan to return to in-person. Until then, we hope to have you join us online for services.
 
Sincerely,
 
The St. Mary’s Vestry

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Ask not what St. Mary’s can do for you – ask what you can do for St. Mary’s

What gifts and talents has God given you? How might you be called to share your time and talents to build up the body of Christ at St. Mary’s? Where is the Spirit calling you to serve?
 
If you have been at St. Mary’s awhile, you have certainly heard the phrase, or perhaps more importantly seen the actions – “It takes a village.” In spite of a pandemic there is so much going on at St. Mary’s and many hands are needed to help keep our village thriving. Would you like to get to know St. Marians better and what makes the church “tick”? Below are some of the immediate opportunities to serve at St. Mary’s as well as some of the upcoming opportunities. Please feel free to be curious and ask questions about these positions and step up if one seems right for you or provides an opportunity to grow and to get to know your community better.
 
Immediate opportunities to serve:
Altar Guild – Join the team that helps prepare the Altar and Sanctuary for worship and other services. Kitty McFarland – mcfarlandkitty274 at gmail.com
Saint Mary’s Weekly – If you like communication and have some editorial skills, please join the team in creating the Weekly. We’ll be hosting a training session on Thursday, February 10th at 7:30pm if you are interested. We’ll also be recording the training for those interested, but unable to join. Communications Team – communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Stewardship Committee – Are you interested in helping St. Mary’s grow? Are you wondering where our money comes from? If you answered YES to these questions, our community is asking each of you to consider whether participation with the Stewardship committee could be your ministry at St. Mary’s. Cindy James – james.c.a at comcast.net or Jim Wheeler – james.jw.wheeler at gmail.com
Finance Committee – If you have an interest in helping guide the finances of St. Mary’s, please consider joining the Finance Committee. All St. Mary’s members are welcome to sit in on the monthly Finance Committee meetings. finance@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Technology (Worship Assistance) – Join the team that keeps the audio working and Live Stream accessible to those attending worship virtually. Commitment is a Sunday every month or two based on your availability. Todd Reemtsma – todd.reemtsma at gmail.com
Technology (Equipment & Infrastructure) – Someone with knowledge or interest in networks and equipment to work with the Buildings & Grounds Team to improve and maintain our network at St. Mary’s. building@saintmarysepiscopal.org
 
Upcoming opportunities to serve:
Warden(s) – 1 or 2 people to serve a term-limit of no more than 3 years. Elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Vestry Members – 2 or 3 new Vestry members to replace outgoing Vestry members with a 3-year term. Elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Treasurer – Appointed during the first meeting of the 2022-23 Vestry.
Vestry Clerk – Appointed during the first meeting of the 2022-23 Vestry.
 
Please note that most committees – Worship, Communications, Finance, Buildings & Grounds – can be joined at any time that you might be interested.
 

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Search Committee

Update from the Search Committee
We’ve finished our first, short interviews (on Zoom) with candidates. We are conducting second interviews, also on Zoom. We’ve also asked each candidate to answer a short essay question, we’ve listened to recordings of their sermons, and we are answering thoughtful questions from the candidates. Each candidate brings different gifts and experiences to the table, and we are excited to have deeper discussions about our community’s needs and their strengths. After the second interviews, finalists will visit with the search committee in person for more mutual discernment. God be in our ears and in our listening!
 
Prayers for the Search Committee and Candidates
Dear Saint Marians:
 
As the Rector’s Search begins anew, let us remain constant in prayer for members of the Search Committee and the candidates who have come forward.
 
Faithfully, 
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
 Let us pray:
 

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!

May your Holy Spirit continue to  guide and illumine the discerning hearts and minds of the Saint Mary’s Search Committee and rector candidates, in the search for a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for ministries in your name.  Amen.
 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

NEW! Pre-Tweeners Group on Wednesday from 6:30pm – 7pm:
We just started a group for kids who are K-2nd grade.  Any child in that age group is welcome to join.  We will be having a question of the day, talk about our lows and highs and then do a show and tell.  All children K-2 are welcome to join. Please contact Mia for the link! 
 
Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
NEW! Family Service on Sunday at 9:00am:
Thanks for all of your feedback, we will continue doing the Family church service for the month of February and then reassess again.  All are welcome.  The service begins at 9am and lasts about 20 minutes.
 
Topic: Family Church
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 860 0920 4974
Passcode: Fun
 

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Outreach & Education

Making a difference in the world – KIVA Loans

Over the years, St Mary’s parishioners have “put money in a pot” to make loans throughout the world through the KIVA organization. Sometimes money was gathered at home parties; other times money was gathered at a soup supper before the Good Friday service. Loans were then made…and eventually those loans (most of them) are re-paid.

Each time money from loans is re-paid, it goes into St Mary’s KIVA account. About once every 3 months, the accumulated money reaches the $1200-1300 level…and then we know it’s time to make new loans!! We don’t want our dollars sitting in the account! We want it out helping people start new businesses or expand already existing businesses or improve their living situation (toilets!) or pay for education expenses for children.

So, recently 11 KIVA loans were made totaling $1,225.00 (plus an additional donation to the KIVA organization). Loans were made to Thailand, El Salvador, Albania, Guatemala (2), Liberia, Vietnam, Philippines, Congo (DRC) and Kyrgyzstan. What were the loans for? Weaving silk cloth; tortillas/hammocks; potato & onion seeds/pay a tractor driver to ready the soil; ingredients to cook food to sell; toilets (2); West African fabric; pearls/gems/thread to make traditional clothing; a cow for milk to drink and sell. Many of the stories talk about earning money so their
children can attend school.

Since we haven’t been able to host a Soup Supper the last couple of years, that means we’ve had no “new” donations coming in. Our thanks go out to those who came before us and made donations so it would be possible for us to continuing making loans and making a difference in the world.

 

Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

CaringBridge for Don Horton

Hello my dear friends,

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation and don’t use Facebook, I will be posting updates on CaringBridge too.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Much love,

Claire Horton

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 2/4 – 2/10

Sunday, February 6, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, February 6, 2022
Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, February 7, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, February 8, 2022
St. Mary’s Men’s Group (Virtual this month)
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Pre-Tweeners
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, February 9, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, February 10, 2022
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, February 10, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, February 10, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service will be Virtual Only until the end of February and then reassessed)

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – January 28, 2022

by

IMPORTANT NOTICE: St. Mary’s continues Virtual Services until the end of February

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, January 30, 2022

  • First Message: 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
  • Gospel: Luke 4:21-30
10:00am – Virtual Eucharist Worship Service via Zoom. The Reverend Susan Moss will be the celebrant and preacher. Stick around after the service for a Zoom social gathering.
No in-person service. Worship is via Zoom only.
To join the 10am worship on January 30, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the January 30th Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Epiphany Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Keeping our community safe and healthy

Opportunities to serve St. Mary’s

Finance Committee

Search Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach & Education

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

  • New!: The Evening Compline Service has moved from Tuesday nights to Monday nights at 7:30pm.
  • New!: The Thursday evening Contemplative Service will be Zoom only until the end of February and will then be reassessed.

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s from Paulette Briese, Chair of the Worship Team

The Worship Team will soon be looking ahead and planning for worship services during Lent. Over the past 14 or so months, we’ve tried very hard to have elements in every service that would be familiar to each and everyone of you. Knowing our one worship service can’t be “all things to all people”, we still wonder what people are longing for. So, we’re asking you…asking you to let us know what it is you’re yearning for and why this is important to you. Please use the feedback “Click HERE” below and respond by February 8th so we’ll have your thoughts before our next meeting. Thank you for sharing your yearnings with us.

What’s New?
  • To hear The Reverend Debbie Brown’s homily given at St Mary’s on January 23, Click HERE.
  • At the January 25th meeting of the Vestry, the decision was made to continue “Zoom Only” services through the month of February, with Ash Wednesday (March 2) tentatively being our first hybrid (In-person & Zoom) service. The COVID numbers in Ramsey County continue to be high and keeping people as safe as possible is our primary concern. The Vestry will review and reassess at the February 22nd meeting.
  • Come to Zoom church and see faces you may not have seen for awhile. Even though it’s been great to have both the Zoom and in-person worship options, it’s also nice to have the community gathered all together.
  • Do you know about “Lent Madness”?? What’s “Lent Madness” you say? Stay tuned!!

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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St. Mary’s continues Virtual Services through the end of February

The COVID wave may soon be peaking, but we have a ways to go before it dissipates. On Tuesday, January 25, the St. Mary’s vestry discussed whether to resume holding in-person worship services. We have continued to watch the cathedral, which has said they will not return in-person until case rates approach 100. Right now in Ramsey County we are over twice that rate. With this in mind, the vestry has decided to continue with virtual services through the end of February. Our first in-person service is slated to be on Ash Wednesday, March 2, in time for the start of Lent.
 
We recognize that this news may disappoint some people. In-person worship is an important ritual and social function for many of us, and it is hard for virtual services to fully replace that experience. We all hope conditions improve by March so that we can follow through on the plan to return to in-person. Until then, we hope to have you join us online for services.
 
Sincerely,
 
The St. Mary’s Vestry

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Ask not what St. Mary’s can do for you – ask what you can do for St. Mary’s

What gifts and talents has God given you? How might you be called to share your time and talents to build up the body of Christ at St. Mary’s? Where is the Spirit calling you to serve?
 
If you have been at St. Mary’s awhile, you have certainly heard the phrase, or perhaps more importantly seen the actions – “It takes a village.” In spite of a pandemic there is so much going on at St. Mary’s and many hands are needed to help keep our village thriving. Would you like to get to know St. Marians better and what makes the church “tick”? Below are some of the immediate opportunities to serve at St. Mary’s as well as some of the upcoming opportunities. Please feel free to be curious and ask questions about these positions and step up if one seems right for you or provides an opportunity to grow and to get to know your community better.
 
Immediate opportunities to serve:
Altar Guild – Join the team that helps prepare the Altar and Sanctuary for worship and other services. Kitty McFarland – mcfarlandkitty274 at gmail.com
Saint Mary’s Weekly – If you like communication and have some editorial skills, please join the team in creating the Weekly. We’ll be hosting a training session on Thursday, February 10th at 7:30pm if you are interested. We’ll also be recording the training for those interested, but unable to join. Communications Team – communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Stewardship Committee – Are you interested in helping St. Mary’s grow? Are you wondering where our money comes from? If you answered YES to these questions, our community is asking each of you to consider whether participation with the Stewardship committee could be your ministry at St. Mary’s. Cindy James – james.c.a at comcast.net or Jim Wheeler – james.jw.wheeler at gmail.com
Finance Committee – If you have an interest in helping guide the finances of St. Mary’s, please consider joining the Finance Committee. All St. Mary’s members are welcome to sit in on the monthly Finance Committee meetings. finance@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Technology (Worship Assistance) – Join the team that keeps the audio working and Live Stream accessible to those attending worship virtually. Commitment is a Sunday every month or two based on your availability. Todd Reemtsma – todd.reemtsma at gmail.com
Technology (Equipment & Infrastructure) – Someone with knowledge or interest in networks and equipment to work with the Buildings & Grounds Team to improve and maintain our network at St. Mary’s. building@saintmarysepiscopal.org
 
Upcoming opportunities to serve:
Warden(s) – 1 or 2 people to serve a term-limit of no more than 3 years. Elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Vestry Members – 2 or 3 new Vestry members to replace outgoing Vestry members with a 3-year term. Elected at the 2022 Annual Meeting.
Treasurer – Appointed during the first meeting of the 2022-23 Vestry.
Vestry Clerk – Appointed during the first meeting of the 2022-23 Vestry.
 
Please note that most committees – Worship, Communications, Finance, Buildings & Grounds – can be joined at any time that you might be interested.
 

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2021 Annual Contribution Statements

2021 annual contribution statements will be sent out via e-mail by January 28th. If you do not have a current e-mail address on file, please send your current e-mail address to Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at rexaholzemer at gmail.com. If necessary, a hard copy of an annual contribution statement will be mailed to any parishioner without an e-mail address on file.
 
If you think there are any inaccuracies on your statement or you have questions, please feel free to call or e-mail Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 65I-3O8-4895 or rexaholzemer at gmail.com.
 
Thanks to each of you for your generosity and financial support of St. Mary’s in 2021!
 

Saint Mary’s Annual 2022 Finance Report

Greetings St. Mary’s Community,
 
In an attempt to get information out to all parishioners regarding our 2021 and 2022 budgets as soon as possible, the Vestry has decided to send out the Annual Finance report via e-mail immediately rather than wait until an annual meeting can be scheduled. An update on St. Mary’s finances will still be provided at the annual meeting.  
 
We have some good news! Due to pledge income coming in higher than expected in 2021 and significantly lower than expected expenses, as well as excellent gains on our investments, we ended 2021 with a $48,189 surplus. This surplus has been moved to contingency reserves to cover any future budget deficits.
 
The challenging news is that our projected budget deficit for this year is ($84,176). This is due to the fact that the Vestry has committed to hiring a full-time priest to assist in rebuilding our parish community, and we have 9 fewer household pledges in 2022 compared to 2021.
 
We continue to have a very committed parishioner base. With continued commitment and leadership from our parishioners, the Vestry is hopeful and confident we will indeed be a thriving, vital community again in the future. It likely means we will run deficits for the next couple of years or so. However, given our solid reserves thanks to those who came before us, we can manage such deficits during the rebuilding process.  
 
Attached (link below) is a simplified 2-page annual report from our Finance Committee that is a quick read and important for all St. Mary’s members to understand. Please take time to read through it. If you have any questions regarding our budget or finances, please feel free to call or e-mail Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 651-308-4895 or rexaholzemer at gmail.com.  
 
My personal thanks to each of you for your continued financial support of St. Mary’s and for your commitment to this community!
 
Rex Holzemer, The Finance Committee, and The St. Mary’s Vestry
 
 

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Search Committee

Update from the Search Committee
We’ve finished our first, short interviews (on Zoom) with candidates. We are conducting second interviews, also on Zoom. We’ve also asked each candidate to answer a short essay question, we’ve listened to recordings of their sermons, and we are answering thoughtful questions from the candidates. Each candidate brings different gifts and experiences to the table, and we are excited to have deeper discussions about our community’s needs and their strengths. After the second interviews, finalists will visit with the search committee in person for more mutual discernment. God be in our ears and in our listening!
 
Prayers for the Search Committee and Candidates
Dear Saint Marians:
 
As the Rector’s Search begins anew, let us remain constant in prayer for members of the Search Committee and the candidates who have come forward.
 
Faithfully, 
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
 Let us pray:
 

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!

May your Holy Spirit continue to  guide and illumine the discerning hearts and minds of the Saint Mary’s Search Committee and rector candidates, in the search for a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for ministries in your name.  Amen.
 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

NEW! Pre-Tweeners Group on Wednesday from 6:30pm – 7pm:
We just started a group for kids who are K-2nd grade.  Any child in that age group is welcome to join.  We will be having a question of the day, talk about our lows and highs and then do a show and tell.  All children K-2 are welcome to join. Please contact Mia for the link! 
 
Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
NEW! Family Service on Sunday at 9:00am:
We are piloting a family church service on Sunday January 30, 2022 from 9am-9:20am. Anyone is welcome to join the service. The link is below. The service will have:
  • Intros
  • Welcome
  • 3 Breaths
  • Song
  • Story
  • Question for the kids
  • Activity
  • Prayer
  • Call to Action
Topic: Family Church
Time: Jan 30, 2022 09:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 890 7277 9543
Passcode: Fun
 

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Outreach & Education

Making a difference in the world – KIVA Loans

This is a Report from the Xemuji Group in Guatemala. St Mary’s made a loan to this group and the group is re-paying the loan. Thanks to The Reverend Susan Moss for the translation.

Mayan women, textile weavers, are those who, for the most part, stick to tradition wearing typical traditional clothing. This is why Felipa, 64, stands out. She is an entrepreneur, married and mother of 10 children between the ages of 14 and 41. 

Felipa says because her large family is so large, her children could only attend school for 6 years. To generate her own income while not neglecting her children’s upbringing, Felipa decided to weave belts typical [of the region] to sell in the community market.

Felipa’s children are married, so she needs to generate her own income to defray the cost of her home’s basic services.

That’s why she acquired the third Kiva loan last March.

Thanks to the new financing, Felipa could actually buy a variety of good quality yarns and another back strap loom.

There are nine women that gave life to the Xemuj Community Bank. This group of women are in solidarity with one another and are motivated… investing capital into their textile businesses and
raising animals.

They have little or no formal education so the loan program, informal education and the health service “Microcrédito Plus” gives them monthly education training.

Studying finance allows these women to be able to effectively invest capital into their businesses and to save part of their earnings for an emergency. 

In matters of health, they were visited by nurses from the institution who visited their homes every two months.

They also were able to become familiar with their rights and duties as women, mothers and spouses.

Thanks to all who have given loan to Kiva, these women move forward creating a more prosperous and sustainable future.

 

Faith & The Way of Love: Finding Hope in Troubled Times (Part of the Faith & Life Series from St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN)

We have heard from the office of Michael Curry, the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, that he has put his travel plans on hold for the foreseeable future, and therefore will not be with us in person for our Feb. 1 Faith & Life event with him.

We will still hold this event virtually on the same date and the same time—Tuesday, Feb. 1, at 7 p.m., Central time. You can watch Bishop Curry deliver his presentation live at faithandlife.org/livestream.

  • We encourage you to submit written questions in advance, or during the event at the link above, or via email to social@spdlc.org.

Since we recognize that some people may still want to gather to watch this presentation together in a more public space, we will also hold an in-person viewing of the event at St. Philip the Deacon. This will be held on a large screen in our sanctuary, and—as always—attendance is free and open to the public. No tickets are required.

 

Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

CaringBridge for Don Horton

Hello my dear friends,

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation and don’t use Facebook, I will be posting updates on CaringBridge too.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Much love,

Claire Horton

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 1/28 – 2/3

Sunday, January 30, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, January 30, 2022
Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, January 31, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, February 1, 2022
St. Mary’s Men’s Group (Virtual this month)
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Pre-Tweeners
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, February 2, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, February 3, 2022
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, February 3, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, February 3, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service will be Virtual Only until the end of February and then reassessed)

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – January 21, 2022

by

IMPORTANT NOTICE: St. Mary’s moves to Virtual Services for the remainder of January

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, January 23, 2022

  • First Message: Isaiah 60:1-6
  • Gospel: Luke 4:14-21
10:00am – Virtual Eucharist Worship Service via Zoom. The Reverend Debbie Brown will be the celebrant and preacher. Debbie and Ron Brown were previously members of St. Mary’s. After the service a Zoom social gathering will be held.
To join the 10am worship on January 23, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the January 23rd Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Epiphany Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Keeping our community safe and healthy

Finance Committee

Search Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

  • New!: The Evening Compline Service will be moving from Tuesday nights to Monday nights at 7:30pm starting January 17th.
  • New!: The Thursday evening Contemplative Service will be Zoom only until the end of February and will then be reassessed.

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s by The Reverend Susan M. Moss

A reminder that Susan will be on vacation until January 24. Should a pastoral emergency arise at Saint Mary’s during Reverend Susan’s vacation, please contact Brian Nerbonne, warden, at  6I2 8IO 7898.

 

What’s New?

  • St. Mary’s will NOT hold in-person worship service on Sunday, January 23 and 30. Worship will be Zoom ONLY.
  • Come to Zoom church and see faces you may not have seen for awhile. Even though it’s been great to have both the Zoom and in-person worship options, it’s also nice to have the community gathered all together.
  • To hear The Reverend Stephanie Speller’s homily given on January 16, Click HERE.

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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St. Mary’s moves to Virtual Services for the remainder of January

As everyone is likely aware, the omicron variant is creating a large wave of COVID infections, regardless of vaccination status. St. Mark’s Cathedral recently made the decision to move to Virtual only services, and the St. Mary’s vestry has decided to do the same. We view this as a way for us to do our part to minimize the spread of COVID at a time when our health care system is under strain. It is a way to love our neighbor as Jesus calls us to do.
 
One of the few pieces of good news about this wave is that it is anticipated to be relatively short, with the peak happening in the next week to ten days. The vestry will revisit the question of in-person services in advance of the first Sunday of February to see if conditions warrant a return to in-person services. For the remainder of January, all services will be conducted via Zoom. The link to the Virtual Services is available in the Weekly newsletter emailed to subscribers and posted on the St. Mary’s website as well as in the St. Mary’s calendar of events. We hope folks will join us online for these Sundays.
 
Sincerely,
 
The St. Mary’s Vestry

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2021 Annual Contribution Statements

2021 annual contribution statements will be sent out via e-mail by January 28th. If you do not have a current e-mail address on file, please send your current e-mail address to Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at rexaholzemer at gmail.com. If necessary, a hard copy of an annual contribution statement will be mailed to any parishioner without an e-mail address on file.
 
If you think there are any inaccuracies on your statement or you have questions, please feel free to call or e-mail Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 65I-3O8-4895 or rexaholzemer at gmail.com.
 
Thanks to each of you for your generosity and financial support of St. Mary’s in 2021!
 

Saint Mary’s Annual 2022 Finance Report

Greetings St. Mary’s Community,
 
In an attempt to get information out to all parishioners regarding our 2021 and 2022 budgets as soon as possible, the Vestry has decided to send out the Annual Finance report via e-mail immediately rather than wait until an annual meeting can be scheduled. An update on St. Mary’s finances will still be provided at the annual meeting.  
 
We have some good news! Due to pledge income coming in higher than expected in 2021 and significantly lower than expected expenses, as well as excellent gains on our investments, we ended 2021 with a $48,189 surplus. This surplus has been moved to contingency reserves to cover any future budget deficits.
 
The challenging news is that our projected budget deficit for this year is ($84,176). This is due to the fact that the Vestry has committed to hiring a full-time priest to assist in rebuilding our parish community, and we have 9 fewer household pledges in 2022 compared to 2021.
 
We continue to have a very committed parishioner base. With continued commitment and leadership from our parishioners, the Vestry is hopeful and confident we will indeed be a thriving, vital community again in the future. It likely means we will run deficits for the next couple of years or so. However, given our solid reserves thanks to those who came before us, we can manage such deficits during the rebuilding process.  
 
Attached (link below) is a simplified 2-page annual report from our Finance Committee that is a quick read and important for all St. Mary’s members to understand. Please take time to read through it. If you have any questions regarding our budget or finances, please feel free to call or e-mail Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 651-308-4895 or rexaholzemer at gmail.com.  
 
My personal thanks to each of you for your continued financial support of St. Mary’s and for your commitment to this community!
 
Rex Holzemer, The Finance Committee, and The St. Mary’s Vestry
 
 

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Search Committee

Prayers for the Search Committee and Candidates
Dear Saint Marians:
 
As the Rector’s Search begins anew, let us remain constant in prayer for members of the Search Committee and the candidates who have come forward.
 
Faithfully, 
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
 Let us pray:
 

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!

May your Holy Spirit continue to  guide and illumine the discerning hearts and minds of the Saint Mary’s Search Committee and rector candidates, in the search for a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for ministries in your name.  Amen.
 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 

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Outreach

MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Legislative Breakfast on January 26, 2022

Hello!
 
I am writing to invite members of your congregation to the MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Annual [Virtual] Legislative Breakfast taking place on Wednesday, January 26th from 8-9:30am via Zoom.   At the breakfast, we will join with elected officials, city staff, faith leaders, community members, and people who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness and housing crises as we work towards a St. Paul/MN where everyone, without exception, has safe, decent, accessible, and affordable housing!  Let’s work together to make it happen.
 
We hope you will be able to share some version of the invitation with your congregation through your newsletter and/or other communications.  (Click HERE)
  

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at this email (micahbrkfst@comcast.net).  We hope to see members from your community at this important event. 

Looking forward to seeing you in the New Year!
 
Jean Giebenhain
 
MICAH, St. Paul Chapter
 

Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

CaringBridge for Don Horton

Hello my dear friends,

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation and don’t use Facebook, I will be posting updates on CaringBridge too.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Much love,

Claire Horton

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 1/21 – 1/27

Sunday, January 23, 2022
Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, January 24, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, January 25, 2022
Vestry Meeting
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Wednesday, January 26, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, January 27, 2022
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, January 27, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, January 27, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service will be Virtual Only until the end of February and then reassessed)

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – January 14, 2022

by

IMPORTANT NOTICE: St. Mary’s moves to Virtual Services for the remainder of January

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, January 16, 2022

  • First Message: “I Dream a World” a poem by Langston Hughes
  • Gospel: John 2: 1-11 (The wedding in Cana)
8:00am – Virtual Adapted Morning Prayer Service via Zoom led by Steve Andrews.  In place of a homily, there will be a Gospel Based Discipleship discussion. After the service a Zoom social gathering will be held.
For the 8am Zoom worship service on January 16, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 171895
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 878 4182 3048
 
10:00am – Virtual Adapted Morning Prayer Service via Zoom led by Michael Phillips. A pre-recorded homily given by The Reverend Stephanie Spellers will be shown. After the service a Zoom social gathering will be held.
To join the 10am worship on January 16, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the January 16th Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Epiphany Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Keeping our community safe and healthy

Vestry Update

Search Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

  • New!: The Evening Compline Service will be moving from Tuesday nights to Monday nights at 7:30pm starting January 17th.
  • New!: The Thursday evening Contemplative Service will be Zoom only until the end of February and will then be reassessed.

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s by The Reverend Susan M. Moss

Transcript of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Epiphany Address to the Nation from January 6, 2022 – “A Moment of Peril and Promise”

A reminder that Susan will be on vacation until January 24. Should a pastoral emergency arise at Saint Mary’s during Reverend Susan’s vacation, please contact Brian Nerbonne, warden, at  6I2 8IO 7898.
 
 

What’s New?

  • For the rest of the Sundays in January (16, 23, 30), St. Mary’s will NOT hold in-person services.  Worship will be Zoom ONLY.
  • To hear The Reverend Tom Eklo’s homily given on January 9, Click HERE.
  • New for season of Epiphany: Printed song sheets are available for those worshipping in person. These are songs that will be used during the Epiphany season that aren’t in the hymnal. (For those in the hymnal, the hymnal song number will be shown in the bulletin.) This was requested so people in the pews can clearly understand the lyrics. We are not encouraging parishioner singing because of the transmissibility of the Omicron COVID variant…quiet humming or very, very quiet singing are okay.
  • Question from a parishioner: “In light of omicron, why is the choir still allowed to sing in church?” FROM VONDA – Choir members wear special resonance masks that are double layer cloth with a special paper filter. The masks have a rubber like seal on the nose crown an extend below and over the chin, creating a good seal while still allowing movement of lips and opportunity for better diction. Also, all choir members are fully vaccinated, boosted and we are distanced from the congregation over 20’. The choir sound is picked up by microphones as well.

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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St. Mary’s moves to Virtual Services for the remainder of January

As everyone is likely aware, the omicron variant is creating a large wave of COVID infections, regardless of vaccination status. St. Mark’s Cathedral recently made the decision to move to Virtual only services, and the St. Mary’s vestry has decided to do the same. We view this as a way for us to do our part to minimize the spread of COVID at a time when our health care system is under strain. It is a way to love our neighbor as Jesus calls us to do.
 
One of the few pieces of good news about this wave is that it is anticipated to be relatively short, with the peak happening in the next week to ten days. The vestry will revisit the question of in-person services in advance of the first Sunday of February to see if conditions warrant a return to in-person services. For the remainder of January, all services will be conducted via Zoom. The link to the Virtual Services is available in the Weekly newsletter emailed to subscribers and posted on the St. Mary’s website as well as in the St. Mary’s calendar of events. We hope folks will join us online for these Sundays.
 
Sincerely,
 
The St. Mary’s Vestry
 

“Love your neighbor” and COVID Protocols

“Love your neighbor” implies to me that we care about, and for, each other. We care about our neighbors near and far and, right now, part of that care involves having COVID protocols that work to keep us all as safe as we can be. Being vaccinated and boosted is expected…that’s the first step.

KN95 masks provide greater protection than cloth or 3-layer paper masks. If you can find them, buy some/one!

The Vestry again looked at our St. Mary’s protocols at its January 4th meeting and re-affirmed those already in place and added a few more.

**NEW: Given the growing number of Omicron cases, these protocols were added this week.

  • **NEW: At least through the end of January, in-person social time is not being encouraged. Please visit outdoors if you do want to socialize.
  • **NEW: For hymns, quiet humming and very, very quiet singing is still okay.
  • Wear a mask (covering nose and mouth) when in the building. KN95 is best!
  • Practice 6’ physical distancing (also referred to as “social distancing”).
  • Stay home if you’re not feeling well.
  • If you’re scheduled for a Sunday morning lay ministry but are feeling uncomfortable with the idea of being with people, know you have permission NOT to come to church. Please let the Verger or Brian Nerbonne or Paulette Briese know ahead of time if you can.
  • If you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID, consider testing or not coming to church.
  • If you get a positive test result within 72 hours of being at church, let Brian Nerbonne know so others at St. Mary’s can be made aware of their potential exposure.

Yes, in the world we live in today, part of how we show our love for our neighbor is by doing our part to keep not only ourselves, but also those we come in contact with, as safe as we can. Thank you, St. Mary’s, for being concerned about the common good and for loving your neighbors.

Paulette Briese
Worship Team

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Summary of the January 4, 2022 Vestry Meeting

In the interest of more timely communication of happenings at vestry meetings, we are beginning to publish a brief summary in the Weekly email following the meeting, rather than waiting a month to publish the minutes once they are approved. If you have questions about the meeting, please contact warden Brian Nerbonne at michigander_guy at yahoo.com.
 
Finance: The St. Mary’s bylaws call for a finance meeting to be held in January of each year. In lieu of holding a meeting, given our current circumstances due to COVID, the vestry approved a plan to instead distribute the working budget via email.
 
Committee re-shuffle: All of our various teams that handle duties at St. Mary’s (e.g. worship planning, finance, stewardship) have been active for over a year, some for several years. With a new year arriving, we would like to offer the opportunity for current committee members to consider whether they need a break, or if they would like to try a role on a different team. This will also be a chance for people to try out serving on a team if they haven’t previously. Look for an item coming soon in the weekly to kick off this process.
 
Stewardship: Final numbers are 48 pledging households totaling over $153,000. Thanks to everyone who pledged, and much appreciation to Jim Wheeler and Cindy James for leading this year’s campaign. Jim and Cindy also made the proposal to look to adding members to this team, as both are ready to rotate off of this duty to focus on other things. They also propose that we look at making stewardship a more year-round activity, broadening it to include other contributions to the congregation beyond just pledging.
 
Door codes and required Safe Church training: Episcopal Church of MN canons require all people with keys or door access codes to the church to complete Safe Church training once every three years. This is also required of vestry members or those working with youth. Jim Wheeler and Aimee Sutherland worked together to cross reference records on safe church training with those who are currently assigned door codes. Many people are currently in need of the training, or will be some time in 2022. Emails will soon be sent to people in need of the training. They will have the option to give up their code or take the training. If no action is taken by people to rectify this, we may need to deactivate codes after a reasonable time period (i.e. a few months). Please look for an email with information on how to complete the training if this might apply to you. We are also insuring that our building tenants fulfill this requirement.
 
Omicron considerations for in-person services: The vestry discussed whether to consider any shifts to services with the Omicron variant causing a significant spike in COVID cases. The vestry feels that we can continue to do in-person services safely, but also have virtual options for people who do not feel comfortable in-person. We will continue our current protocols, but also begin to encourage KN-95 mask wearing to further reduce the chance of viral spread. Look for an item in the weekly outlining COVID precautions we are asking people to follow.
 
Letter from St. Mary’s to Title IV complainants: As another step toward moving forward from our former rector’s Title IV process, we will be discussing with the bishop the idea of sending a brief letter to the complainants, expressing wishes for healing from any harm that occurred. Based on the bishop’s feedback, we will discern next steps.
 
Member transitions: So that people can have a way to stay informed of births and deaths in our community, new St. Mary’s members, and St. Mary’s members who have moved away or left our congregation, we will begin publishing an item once a month in the Weekly email covering these transitions.

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Search Committee

New Candidates
We are excited to share that we have received a number of applications after re-opening our job posting for a permanent priest. We are reviewing them with great joy, and we will meet with the candidates in early January. As before, we will share our progress as often as possible. You can reach us with questions or comments any time at transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org. 
 
God is good, all the time! 
 
Prayers for the Search Committee and Candidates
Dear Saint Marians:
 
As the Rector’s Search begins anew, let us remain constant in prayer for members of the Search Committee and the candidates who have come forward.
 
Faithfully, 
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
 Let us pray:
 

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!

May your Holy Spirit continue to  guide and illumine the discerning hearts and minds of the Saint Mary’s Search Committee and rector candidates, in the search for a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for ministries in your name.  Amen.
 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade. Stay tuned to our text chain. Kat will inform the group if YG will be virtual or in person. Contact Mia if you need to be added to the group.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 

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Outreach

MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Legislative Breakfast on January 26, 2022

Hello!
 
I am writing to invite members of your congregation to the MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Annual [Virtual] Legislative Breakfast taking place on Wednesday, January 26th from 8-9:30am via Zoom.   At the breakfast, we will join with elected officials, city staff, faith leaders, community members, and people who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness and housing crises as we work towards a St. Paul/MN where everyone, without exception, has safe, decent, accessible, and affordable housing!  Let’s work together to make it happen.
 
We hope you will be able to share some version of the invitation with your congregation through your newsletter and/or other communications.  (Click HERE)
  

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at this email (micahbrkfst@comcast.net).  We hope to see members from your community at this important event. 

Looking forward to seeing you in the New Year!
 
Jean Giebenhain
 
MICAH, St. Paul Chapter
 

Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

CaringBridge for Don Horton

Hello my dear friends,

If you would like to stay updated on my dad’s health situation and don’t use Facebook, I will be posting updates on CaringBridge too.

Website Link: https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/donhorton

Much love,

Claire Horton

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 1/14 – 1/20

Sunday, January 16, 2022
Virtual Morning Prayer via Zoom
8:00am
Link

Sunday, January 16, 2022
Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, January 17, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, January 18, 2022
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
For more information Click HERE

Wednesday, January 19, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, January 20, 2022
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, January 20, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, January 20, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service will be Virtual Only until the end of February and then reassessed)

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – January 7, 2022

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, January 9, 2022

  • First Message: Isaiah 60: 1-6
  • Gospel: Matthew 2: 1-12
10:00am – Eucharist Service In-person and via Zoom. Social time to follow – outside and in the entryway for those worshiping in person and a Zoom gathering for those worshiping virtually. The Reverend Tom Eklo will be the celebrant and preacher. See “What’s New” for more info regarding Epiphany.

For those joining virtually, please join via Zoom in the link below and the Zoom Host will share the Live Stream. This will allow all of those attending virtually to interact during the service.

To join the 10am worship on January 9, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the January 9th Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Epiphany Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Keeping our community safe and healthy

Vestry Update

Search Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s by The Reverend Susan M. Moss

Dear Saint Marians:

January 6th, the 12th Day of Christmas, is the Feast of The Epiphany; the day Christians across the world proclaim with the prophet Isaiah: 
 
Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
 
The Epiphany story teaches that Jesus is the Light that has come; the Light that shines in the darkness and will not be overcome.
 
During this season, listen for the ways in which the Gospel lessons point to the ways in which Jesus is the manifestation of God with us. Epiphany calls us to share the Light of God’s love. How might you answer this call to make real the love of God in your family, your neighborhood, your school, your place of work?
 
I will be on vacation from January 7 to January 24. Please welcome The Rev. Tom Eklo and The Rev. Debbie Brown, guest celebrants on January 9th and 23rd.  
 
Should a pastoral emergency arise at Saint Mary’s during my time away, please contact Brian Nerbonne, warden at  6I2 8Io 7898.
 
Lord Jesus Christ,
You are the Light of the World.
Fill our hearts with your love
And our minds with your peace. Amen
 
Susan
 
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
Transition Priest
 
 

What’s New?

  • To hear Bishop Loya’s Christmas sermon, Click HERE.
  • Heads up: On Sunday, January 16, in addition to the 10am Worship Service, an 8am adapted Morning Prayer will be led by Steve Andrews via Zoom. Gospel Based Discipleship (discussing the readings for the day) will take place instead of a homily.
  • The Epiphany Ring:
    Yes, on Sunday, January 9th, St. Mary’s will celebrate Epiphany in-person and virtually. It’s not yet possible to have a piñata for the kids or a cake to hide the 128 year old ring in, but we will have Epiphany cupcakes and the ring will be hidden in one of them! What’s this about a ring, you might ask? And why is a ring connected with Epiphany? Here’s some information passed from Margaret Neily (a longtime St. Mary’s member) to St. Marian LaVonne Mayer who was the keeper of the ring for many years. The ring was kept in the Mayer safety deposit box and brought out every year before the Epiphany celebration which is held the Sunday after Epiphany.
    ~
    In 1894 some St. Mary’s women donated gold jewelry and a ring was made. Exactly why this was connected with Epiphany isn’t really known, but this became a much loved tradition. In those days, there were only “Vestrymen”…no Vestrywomen…and only the spouse of a Vestryman could get the ring! To be sure that this would happen, a portion of the cake was designated for these spouses! The finder of the ring would be crowned Queen for the year, and apparently the only benefit (??) derived from being Queen was that the Queen made the cake the next year!! This tradition went on for many years but at some point it was discontinued.
    ~
    The ring was kept in a big heavy safe at St. Mary’s. In the 1980’s it was decided that this big safe was obsolete. Jim Jepson “took it off St. Mary’s hands”, and as he was removing everything from the safe, he discovered the ring. He and his wife Kathie decided to bring back the Epiphany ring tradition, but now anyone could find the ring and a Queen or King would be crowned. The Reverend Russ Johnson, St. Mary’s rector at the time, added the piñata for the kids. His daughters put candy in little bags before they were put in the piñata to keep candy clean and to be sure each child could get some candy. No longer was the spouse of a Vestry member responsible for making the cake. For many years the cake was purchased and Kathie would expertly cut into the decorated cake, insert the plastic wrapped ring in the cake and hide all evidence of where the ring was hidden!!
    ~
    St. Mary’s master-baker, Joe McManmon, has baked the cake in recent years (pre-Covid shut down) and this year will bake cupcakes!! Thank you, Joe!!
    (NOTE: The ring is given back so the tradition can continue for years to come!)

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

Return to Top

“Love your neighbor” and COVID Protocols

“Love your neighbor” implies to me that we care about, and for, each other. We care about our neighbors near and far and, right now, part of that care involves having COVID protocols that work to keep us all as safe as we can be. Being vaccinated and boosted is expected…that’s the first step.

KN95 masks provide greater protection than cloth or 3-layer paper masks. If you can find them, buy one! If not, there are some at St. Mary’s you can take.

The Vestry again looked at our St. Mary’s protocols at its January 4th meeting and re-affirmed those already in place and added a few more.

  • Wear a mask (covering nose and mouth) when in the building.
  • Practice 6’ physical distancing (also referred to as “social distancing”).
  • Stay home if you’re not feeling well.
  • If you’re scheduled for a Sunday morning lay ministry but are feeling uncomfortable with the idea of being with people, know you have permission NOT to come to church. Please let the Verger or Brian Nerbonne or Paulette Briese know ahead of time if you can.
  • If you’ve had close contact with someone who has COVID, consider testing or not coming to church.
  • If you get a positive test result within 72 hours of being at church, let Brian Nerbonne know so others at St. Mary’s can be made aware of their potential exposure.

Yes, in the world we live in today, part of how we show our love for our neighbor is by doing our part to keep not only ourselves, but also those we come in contact with, as safe as we can. Thank you, St. Mary’s, for being concerned about the common good and for loving your neighbors.

Paulette Briese
Worship Team

Return to Top

Summary of the January 4, 2022 Vestry Meeting

In the interest of more timely communication of happenings at vestry meetings, we are beginning to publish a brief summary in the Weekly email following the meeting, rather than waiting a month to publish the minutes once they are approved. If you have questions about the meeting, please contact warden Brian Nerbonne at michigander_guy@yahoo.com.
 
Finance: The St. Mary’s bylaws call for a finance meeting to be held in January of each year. In lieu of holding a meeting, given our current circumstances due to COVID, the vestry approved a plan to instead distribute the working budget via email.
 
Committee re-shuffle: All of our various teams that handle duties at St. Mary’s (e.g. worship planning, finance, stewardship) have been active for over a year, some for several years. With a new year arriving, we would like to offer the opportunity for current committee members to consider whether they need a break, or if they would like to try a role on a different team. This will also be a chance for people to try out serving on a team if they haven’t previously. Look for an item coming soon in the weekly to kick off this process.
 
Stewardship: Final numbers are 48 pledging households totaling over $153,000. Thanks to everyone who pledged, and much appreciation to Jim Wheeler and Cindy James for leading this year’s campaign. Jim and Cindy also made the proposal to look to adding members to this team, as both are ready rotate off of this duty to focus on other things. They also propose that we look at making stewardship a more year-round activity, broadening it to include other contributions to the congregation beyond just pledging.
 
Door codes and required Safe Church training: Episcopal Church of MN canons require all people with keys or door access codes to the church to complete Safe Church training once every three years. This is also required of vestry members or those working with youth. Jim Wheeler and Aimee Sutherland worked together to cross reference records on safe church training with those who are currently assigned door codes. Many people are currently in need of the training, or will be some time in 2022. Emails will soon be sent to people in need of the training. They will have the option to give up their code or take the training. If no action is taken by people to rectify this, we may need to deactivate codes after a reasonable time period (i.e. a few months). Please look for an email with information on how to complete the training if this might apply to you. We are also insuring that our building tenants fulfill this requirement.
 
Omicron considerations for in-person services: The vestry discussed whether to consider any shifts to services with the Omicron variant causing a significant spike in COVID cases. The vestry feels that we can continue to do in-person services safely, but also have virtual options for people who do not feel comfortable in-person. We will continue our current protocols, but also begin to encourage KN-95 mask wearing to further reduce the chance of viral spread. Look for an item in the weekly outlining COVID precautions we are asking people to follow.
 
Letter from St. Mary’s to Title IV complainants: As another step toward moving forward from our former rector’s Title IV process, we will be discussing with the bishop the idea of sending a brief letter to the complainants, expressing wishes for healing from any harm that occurred. Based on the bishop’s feedback, we will discern next steps.
 
Member transitions: So that people can have a way to stay informed of births and deaths in our community, new St. Mary’s members, and St. Mary’s members who have moved away or left our congregation, we will begin publishing an item once a month in the Weekly email covering these transitions.

Return to Top

Search Committee

New Candidates
We are excited to share that we have received a number of applications after re-opening our job posting for a permanent priest. We are reviewing them with great joy, and we will meet with the candidates in early January. As before, we will share our progress as often as possible. You can reach us with questions or comments any time at transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org. 
 
God is good, all the time! 
 
Prayers for the Search Committee and Candidates
Dear Saint Marians:
 
As the Rector’s Search begins anew, let us remain constant in prayer for members of the Search Committee and the candidates who have come forward.
 
Faithfully, 
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
 Let us pray:
 

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!

May your Holy Spirit continue to  guide and illumine the discerning hearts and minds of the Saint Mary’s Search Committee and rector candidates, in the search for a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for ministries in your name.  Amen.
 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 

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Outreach

MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Legislative Breakfast on January 26, 2022

Hello!
 
I am writing to invite members of your congregation to the MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Annual [Virtual] Legislative Breakfast taking place on Wednesday, January 26th from 8-9:30am via Zoom.   At the breakfast, we will join with elected officials, city staff, faith leaders, community members, and people who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness and housing crises as we work towards a St. Paul/MN where everyone, without exception, has safe, decent, accessible, and affordable housing!  Let’s work together to make it happen.
 
We hope you will be able to share some version of the invitation with your congregation through your newsletter and/or other communications.  (Click HERE)
  

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at this email (micahbrkfst@comcast.net).  We hope to see members from your community at this important event. 

Looking forward to seeing you in the New Year!
 
Jean Giebenhain
 
MICAH, St. Paul Chapter
 

Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412@gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 1/7 – 1/13

Sunday, January 9, 2022
Hybrid Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Men’s Group Gathering
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesday, January 11, 2022
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Wednesday, January 12, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, January 13, 2022
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, January 13, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, January 13, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the link has been updated for 2022)

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – December 31, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, January 2, 2022

  • Lesson 1: Jeremiah 31:7-14
  • Gospel: Luke 2:41-52
  • Psalm 84: 1-8    
10:00am – Book of Common Prayer (BCP) Morning Prayer Worship Service In-person and via Zoom. Social time to follow outside and in the entryway for those worshiping in person and via Zoom for those worshiping virtually. Jim DeLuca will be the Officiant. We will hear Bishop Loya’s Christmas homily and sing Christmas carols.

For those joining virtually, please join via Zoom in the link below and the Zoom Host will share the Live Stream. This will allow all of those attending virtually to interact during the service.

To join the 10am worship on January 2, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
There is not a Service Bulletin for January 2nd. Please see the “Liturgy Matters” to follow the BCP service.

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Vestry Update

Search Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s by Lay Leader Jim DeLuca

Happy New Year and a Blessed Christmas Season to You!
 
For this coming Sunday at 10:00, we will celebrate with Rite Two Morning Prayer, sprinkled with beautiful carols and other traditional morning prayer opportunities to sing (quietly)! We will be using the Book of Common Prayer and the Hymnal and if you are Zooming you can link directly to Morning Prayer in the Book of Common Prayer here:  https://www.bcponline.org/DailyOffice/mp2.html. Or, if you want the PDF of the entire book and then go to Page 75 for Morning Prayer, link here:
 
Morning Prayer dates back to the earliest Anglican prayer books, and has its roots in the Jewish and then Christian Monastic patterns of prayer. The psalms are important in both of these traditions. Morning Prayer was the dominant Sunday service at many Episcopal churches well into the 1960s with Holy Communion practiced only on the first Sunday of the month and on high holy days. The old St. Mary’s sign in the foyer displays that very schedule! We hope to see you in person or on Zoom for Morning Prayer this Sunday!
 
Peace, 
 
Jim DeLuca
 

What’s New?

  • To see and listen to the virtual Christmas pageant, Click HERE.
  • Worship Schedule for January (All 10am services are both in-person and virtual.)
    • Sun—Jan 2…….10am  Morning Prayer led by Jim DeLuca, Bishop Loya’s Christmas homily and Christmas carols.
    • Sun—Jan 9…….10am Eucharist with The Reverend Tom Eklo, guest celebrant and preacher
    • Sun—Jan 16…….8am adapted Morning Prayer led by Steve Andrews ZOOM only.                      
    • Sun—Jan 16……10am adapted Morning Prayer with homily by Stephanie Spellers
    • Sun—Jan 23…..10am Eucharist with The Reverend Debbie Brown, guest celebrant and preacher
    • Sun—Jan 30……10am Eucharist with The Reverend Susan Moss, celebrant and preacher
  • The Epiphany is actually on Thursday, January 6th, but at St. Mary’s we celebrate it the first Sunday after Epiphany, which this year is January 9th. Epiphany cupcakes will be served, with the St. Mary’s Epiphany ring in one of them. A queen or king will be crowned and reign until Epiphany 2023. More to come about Epiphany in the next Weekly Email.

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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Vestry discussion of COVID rates and in-person services

At our November vestry meeting, we discussed the elevated COVID rates and how that might affect St. Mary’s in-person worship. It is hard to miss the news that COVID rates have spiked to levels not seen since this time last year. Thankfully this year vaccines are available and significantly reduce the risk of serious illness for people who are vaccinated.
 
We have heard questions from some members of the congregation about whether in-person services would or should continue at this time. I reached out to Cindi Brickson, knowing that she was part of the diocese’s development of COVID guidelines. She is also tapped into things happening around the diocese in her new role. I learned there is currently only one congregation in MN that Cindi knows of that has stopped having in-person services. The rest, including the cathedral, have chosen to emphasize their requirements around masking, social distancing and people not coming to church if they are sick or have a recent known exposure.
 
The vestry of St. Mary’s has decided to follow that same approach. We know that for many, in-person worship is very important for both spiritual and social reasons. We feel that by following our requirements, we can minimize the risk of spread at church. We are asking that anyone who attends church services mind those requirements to the letter so that we can continue to keep everyone safe. Our virtual option continues to be available for Sunday services, and we hope people take advantage of that option if they have reason not to attend in person.
 
Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions, or suggestions about how we can make sure our services remain safe.
 
Brian Nerbonne, warden

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Search Committee

New Candidates
We are excited to share that we have received a number of applications after re-opening our job posting for a permanent priest. We are reviewing them with great joy, and we will meet with the candidates in early January. As before, we will share our progress as often as possible. You can reach us with questions or comments any time at transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org. 
 
God is good, all the time! 
 
Prayers for the Search Committee and Candidates
Dear Saint Marians:
 
As the Rector’s Search begins anew, let us remain constant in prayer for members of the Search Committee and the candidates who have come forward.
 
Faithfully, 
 
Susan
The Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
 Let us pray:
 

Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!

May your Holy Spirit continue to  guide and illumine the discerning hearts and minds of the Saint Mary’s Search Committee and rector candidates, in the search for a faithful pastor who will care for your people and equip us for ministries in your name.  Amen.
 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 

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Outreach

MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Legislative Breakfast on January 26, 2022

Hello!
 
I am writing to invite members of your congregation to the MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Annual [Virtual] Legislative Breakfast taking place on Wednesday, January 26th from 8-9:30am via Zoom.   At the breakfast, we will join with elected officials, city staff, faith leaders, community members, and people who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness and housing crises as we work towards a St. Paul/MN where everyone, without exception, has safe, decent, accessible, and affordable housing!  Let’s work together to make it happen.
 
We hope you will be able to share some version of the invitation with your congregation through your newsletter and/or other communications.  (Click HERE)
  

If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at this email (micahbrkfst@comcast.net).  We hope to see members from your community at this important event. 

Looking forward to seeing you in the New Year!
 
Jean Giebenhain
 
MICAH, St. Paul Chapter
 

Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412@gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

Return to Top

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 12/31 – 1/6

Sunday, January 2, 2022
Hybrid Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Vestry Meeting
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesday, January 4, 2022
Men’s Group Gathering
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesdays in 2022
Compline will continue to take place in 2022 on Tuesdays at 7:30pm when there is not a Vestry Meeting.

Wednesday, January 5, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, January 6, 2022
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, January 6, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, January 6, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the link has been updated for 2022)

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – December 24, 2021

by

Christmas Worship Services – December 24 – 26

  • First Message: Isaiah 9: 2-7
  • Gospel: Luke 2: 1-20    

Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021

Please see the “Special Notice for Christmas Eve Service 2021” in the Worship Team section.
3:30pm – Christmas Carols
4:00pm – Eucharist Worship service in-person and via Zoom with social time to follow: for those worshipping in person outside and in entryway and with a Zoom gathering for those worshipping virtually. The Rev. Susan Moss will preside. In place of a homily, the Children’s virtual Christmas Pageant will be shown. (Remember to bring your cup/small glass for communion wine. Paper cups are available if you don’t bring one.)

For those joining virtually, please join via Zoom in the link below and the Zoom Host will share the Live Stream. This will allow all of those attending virtually to interact during the service.

To join the Christmas Eve service on December 24, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the Christmas Eve Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Advent Songbook – Click HERE
 

If you’d like to attend a later Christmas Eve service in-person or virtually, here’s information for services at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis:

10:30pm Music
11:00pm Feast of the Nativity/Holy Eucharist
To join the Christmas Eve service at St. Mark’s Cathedral on December 24, 2021 Click HERE
 

Christmas Day, December 25, 2021

There will not be a Christmas Day service at St. Mary’s. Please check websites for other Episcopal churches if you’d like to attend a Christmas Day worship service. St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis will have a 10am service. If you would like to join the Christmas Day service at St. Mark’s Cathedral on December 25, 2021 Click HERE
 

Sunday, December 26, 2021

There will not be a service at St. Mary’s on Sunday, December 26th. The following is information on services at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis:
 
8:00am Rite I (in-person only)
10:30am Rite II (in-person and virtual)

To join the 10:30am service at St. Mark’s Cathedral on December 26, 2021 Click HERE

5:00pm Choral Evensong (in-person and virtual)
To join the 5:00pm Choral Evensong service at St. Mark’s Cathedral on December 26, 2021 Click HERE
 
Any of the Live Stream services from St. Mark’s Cathedral can also be viewed on their Facebook page – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Vestry Update

Search Committee Announcement

Children and Youth

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Special Notice for Christmas Eve Service 2021

We’ve all been hearing about the Omicron variant, how infectious it is and how fast it’s spreading.  We’re all constantly evaluating risk vs. benefit in how we engage and interact with people.  

Here are some things we’d like you to know about the Christmas Eve service at St Mary’s:

  • The Rev. Susan Moss, our presider and celebrant, is fully vaccinated and boosted.  She will take an at-home test prior to the Christmas Eve service.
  • Everyone inside the church building is required to be masked. Please consider upgrading your mask if it does not fit tightly over your mouth and nose. KN95’s are recommended.
  • Physical distancing will be practiced as much as possible.
  • While we will not be able to sing loudly, we encourage humming! 
  • Please stay home and join us via Zoom if you or a member of your family is not feeling well or if you are not fully vaccinated.

Most importantly do whatever is necessary for you 
and your loved ones to feel comfortable 
and safe during this Christmas season.

Thank you Vonda for all of your contributions to Lessons and Carols at Saint Mary’s!

Photo by Jennifer Wedel
 

What’s New?

  • To listen to The Rev. Lydia Huttar-Brown’s homily about miracles given on December 19, Click HERE.
  • Remember to bring your “cup” to receive wine during communion. Small paper cups will also be available.
  • There is one kneeler available during communion for those who prefer to kneel. To stay physically distant, no more than 3 people kneeling at one time, please…one person at each end and one in the middle.
  • Virtual Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve…you won’t want to miss this one!! Come in person or attend via Zoom and participate in St. Mary’s Christmas Eve worship. One service only at 4:00pm, with Christmas carols starting at 3:30pm.
  • Worship Schedule
    • Fri— Dec 24……3:30pm carol singing; 4pm Eucharist—Christmas Eve with virtual Christmas pageant (The Rev. Susan Moss)
    • Sat— Dec 25…..No service at St. Mary’s. Check Episcopal church websites for Christmas Day services.
    • Sun—Dec 26…. Join the congregation at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis. (See more information in the Worship section above.)                       
    • Sun—Jan 2…….10am Bishop Loya’s Christmas sermon, Christmas carols, and Morning Prayer led by Jim DeLuca

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

Return to Top

Vestry discussion of COVID rates and in-person services

At our November vestry meeting, we discussed the elevated COVID rates and how that might affect St. Mary’s in-person worship. It is hard to miss the news that COVID rates have spiked to levels not seen since this time last year. Thankfully this year vaccines are available and significantly reduce the risk of serious illness for people who are vaccinated.
 
We have heard questions from some members of the congregation about whether in-person services would or should continue at this time. I reached out to Cindi Brickson, knowing that she was part of the diocese’s development of COVID guidelines. She is also tapped into things happening around the diocese in her new role. I learned there is currently only one congregation in MN that Cindi knows of that has stopped having in-person services. The rest, including the cathedral, have chosen to emphasize their requirements around masking, social distancing and people not coming to church if they are sick or have a recent known exposure.
 
The vestry of St. Mary’s has decided to follow that same approach. We know that for many, in-person worship is very important for both spiritual and social reasons. We feel that by following our requirements, we can minimize the risk of spread at church. We are asking that anyone who attends church services mind those requirements to the letter so that we can continue to keep everyone safe. Our virtual option continues to be available for Sunday services, and we hope people take advantage of that option if they have reason not to attend in person.
 
Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions, or suggestions about how we can make sure our services remain safe.
 
Brian Nerbonne, warden

Return to Top

Announcement from the Search Committee

We are excited to share that we have received a number of applications after re-opening our job posting for a permanent priest. We are reviewing them with great joy, and we will meet with the candidates in early January. As before, we will share our progress as often as possible. You can reach us with questions or comments any time at transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org. 
 
God is good, all the time! 

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter

Youth Group:
No Youth Group next week. Youth Group will resume on January 5th, 2022.
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade.
 
Tweeners:
No Tweeners next week. Tweeners will resume on January 6th, 2022.
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412@gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

Return to Top

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 12/24 – 12/30

Friday, December 24, 2021
Hybrid Christmas Eve Worship Service
3:30pm Carols; 4:00pm Service
Link

Saturday, December 25, 2021
Christmas Day Service
No service at St. Mary’s. Please see worship information above.

Sunday, December 26, 2021
Sunday Service
No service at St. Mary’s. Please see worship information above.

Tuesday, December 28, 2021
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Thursday, December 30, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, December 30, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – December 17, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, December 19, 2021

  • First Message: Micah 5: 2-5a
  • Gospel: Luke 1: 39-45    
10:00am – Eucharist Worship Service In-person and via Zoom with social time to follow for those worshipping in person outside and in the entryway and a Zoom social gathering for those worshipping virtually. The Rev. Lydia Huttar-Brown will be the celebrant and preacher.

For those joining virtually, please join via Zoom in the link below and the Zoom Host will share the Live Stream. This will allow all of those attending virtually to interact during the service.

To join the 10am worship on December 19, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the December 19th Service Bulletin – Click HERE
Lighting of Advent Wreath Candles – Click HERE
For the Advent Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Vestry Update

Christmas Greens & Poinsettias

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Thank you Vonda for all of your contributions to Lessons and Carols at Saint Mary’s!

Photo by Jennifer Wedel
 

What’s New?

  • To listen to the Lessons and Carols celebration, Click HERE.
  • Remember to bring your “cup” to receive wine during communion. Small paper cups will also be available.
  • Starting this Sunday, December 19, there will be one kneeler on the main floor to the left of the altar for those who prefer to kneel to receive bread and wine.
  • Virtual Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve…you won’t want to miss this one!! Come in person or attend via Zoom and participate in St. Mary’s Christmas Eve worship. One service only at 4:00pm, with Christmas carols starting at 3:30pm.
  • Worship Schedule (All 10am and 3:30/4:00pm services are both in-person and virtual.)
    • Sun—Dec 19….10am Eucharist—Advent 4 (The Rev. Lydia Huttar Brown)
    • Fri— Dec 24……3:30pm carol singing; 4pm Eucharist—Christmas Eve with virtual Christmas pageant (The Rev. Susan Moss)
    • Sat— Dec 25…..No service
    • Sun—Dec 26…. Let’s Zoom together to St. Mark’s Cathedral in Minneapolis–More info to come                       
    • Sun—Jan 2…….10am Bishop Loya’s Christmas sermon, Christmas carols, & Morning Prayer

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

Return to Top

Vestry discussion of COVID rates and in-person services

At our November vestry meeting, we discussed the elevated COVID rates and how that might affect St. Mary’s in-person worship. It is hard to miss the news that COVID rates have spiked to levels not seen since this time last year. Thankfully this year vaccines are available and significantly reduce the risk of serious illness for people who are vaccinated.
 
We have heard questions from some members of the congregation about whether in-person services would or should continue at this time. I reached out to Cindi Brickson, knowing that she was part of the diocese’s development of COVID guidelines. She is also tapped into things happening around the diocese in her new role. I learned there is currently only one congregation in MN that Cindi knows of that has stopped having in-person services. The rest, including the cathedral, have chosen to emphasize their requirements around masking, social distancing and people not coming to church if they are sick or have a recent known exposure.
 
The vestry of St. Mary’s has decided to follow that same approach. We know that for many, in-person worship is very important for both spiritual and social reasons. We feel that by following our requirements, we can minimize the risk of spread at church. We are asking that anyone who attends church services mind those requirements to the letter so that we can continue to keep everyone safe. Our virtual option continues to be available for Sunday services, and we hope people take advantage of that option if they have reason not to attend in person.
 
Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions, or suggestions about how we can make sure our services remain safe.
 
Brian Nerbonne, warden

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Deck St. Mary’s Halls with Christmas Greens and Poinsettias!

Please fill out the Google form (Click HERE) and leave your donation in the church plate or send it to St. Mary’s by December 19, 2021. (This Sunday!)
 
Thank you.
 
Ginny DeLuca

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Fall

Youth Group:
No Youth Group for the next two weeks. Youth Group will resume on January 5th, 2022.
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade.
 
Tweeners:
No Tweeners for the next two weeks. Tweeners will resume on January 6th, 2022.
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Help Tweeners Raise Money for the Hallie Q Brown Community Center
Tweeners are still trying to raise $300 and we are at $205.  Help the Tweeners meet their goal and combat food insecurity. Donate on this link!
 
Family Advent Resources:
Parents, here are some advent resources that emphasize ideas that can work well for your Family Advent adventures at home. There are some great ideas in the newsletter for each week. Each week emphasizes advent in a different country! Take the time to learn about traditions in the Philippines, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Norway. They also give ideas for creating together (a craft), serving together (family service) and exploring together! Enjoy this time together as a family, bringing church into your home this Advent season. 
 
 

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“All Our Good Holiday Giving” Update

Message from Nina Johnson: 

We’re still collecting donations to the annual holiday event for families in need, called “All Our Good Holiday Giving”.

With all of the generous donations from St Marians so far, I have collected 50 gift cards! Because the need is so great, my goal is to donate 150 gift cards for families and kids who continue to be hit hard by racial injustice and the pandemic.

Many many thanks to those who have helped us get this far!  ~ If you haven’t donated yet and would like to join in this beautiful effort, please do, at any time! 

You may make a cash donation to me and I will make sure it gets to the families!

PayPal: @ninacjohnson
Venmo: Nina-Johnson-115
Check: to Nina Johnson, 418 Macalester St, St Paul, 55105

Feel free to contact me at nina@jazmn.net or 651-308-8663 if you have any questions. Thank you so very much!

Event details: 

“All Our Good Holiday Giving”
Saturday, December 18
11:00am-3:00pm
Zion Baptist Church
621 Elwood Ave N, Minneapolis
Hosted by Zion Baptist Church, We Win Institute, and Racial Justice Network

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412@gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 12/17 – 12/23

Sunday, December 19, 2021
Hybrid Eucharist Worship Service
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesday, December 21, 2021
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Thursday, December 23, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, December 23, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – December 10, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
(NOTE: The 4pm Lessons and Carols will be taking the place of the 10am Worship Service)
Sunday, December 12, 2021

  • First Message: Zephaniah 3:14-20
  • Gospel: Luke 3:7-18    
8:00am – Virtual Adapted Morning Prayer Worship Service via Zoom led by Steve Andrews with social time to follow.
For the 8am Zoom worship service on December 12, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 171895
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 878 4182 3048
 
For the 8am Service Bulletin – Click HERE
 
3:30pm – Come to Lessons and Carols early and enjoy a peaceful time of listening to or humming or quietly singing carols.
4:00pm – Lessons and Carols In-Person and via Zoom.

Please join via Zoom in the link below and the Zoom Host will share the Live Stream. This will allow all of those attending virtually to interact during the service.

For Lessons and Carols Zoom viewing on December 12, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the Lessons and Carols Bulletin – Click HERE
Lighting of Advent Wreath Candles – Click HERE
For the Lessons and Carols Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Vestry Update

Christmas Greens & Poinsettias

Children and Youth

ECMN Missioner for Children, Youth, and Camp

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Lessons and Carols at Saint Mary’s

Come one, come all this Sunday, December 12th at 4pm and fill your holiday season with a time of reflection, song and love. We are anticipating so much this season of Advent…the call for a new rector/priest, renewal and revival of our focus, the opportunity for worship innovation and yes…the birth of a child named Jesus!  
 
Everyone has been working so hard to make this live worship something to remember. As we carefully rise up from the blanket of isolation caused by the COVID pandemic, we get this special night to celebrate and anticipate the birth of Jesus.  
 
Yes, it is true, this will not be the same Lessons and Carols service of the past, it is something similar, yet new. The choir will be your voice, the band will be your joy, the solo instruments will bring you that feeling of home, and our love will surround you! Our elaborate meal must be simplified for safety reasons and instead…a plate full of cookies for each household to take home as you leave the service. A sweet feast to remember why we are all drawn to Saint Mary’s and why we call these walls home.
 
Remember, there is no 10am worship this Sunday, we are asking you to join us later in the day to worship through scripture and song. Come early and join us in singing some carols quietly behind your masks at 3:30pm that day. Then Lessons and Carol’s at 4pm, Sunday, December 12th!!!
 
All are welcome,
Vonda

What’s New?

  • To listen to The Reverend Susan Moss’ December 5th homily, Click HERE.
  • Winter temps are now with us and the Worship Team has discussed how to do Social Time for in-person worshippers in a COVID-safe way. Here’s what we came up with! Some folks may still want to gather outside, and that’s just fine…feel free to gather in front of the entrance as you’ve done in the past or in the “garth” (which would give you some protection from the wind). People can also stay inside and gather in the entryway area with the front doors and doors to the “garth” open for good air flow…even better protection from the wind and hopefully a little warmer than outside. Let’s give it a try…and please give us your feedback and other ideas.
  • Virtual Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve…you won’t want to miss this one!! Come in person or attend via Zoom and participate in St. Mary’s Christmas Eve worship. One service only at 4:00pm, with Christmas carols starting at 3:30pm.
  • Worship Schedule (All 10am and 3:30/4:00pm services are both in-person and virtual.)
    • Sun—Dec 12…..8am adapted Morning Prayer–Advent 3 (Zoom only)
    • Sun—Dec 12….3:30pm carol singing; 4pm Lessons & Carols—Advent 3 (The Rev. Susan Moss, officiant)
    • Sun—Dec 19….10am Eucharist—Advent 4 (The Rev. Lydia Huttar Brown)
    • Fri— Dec 24……3:30pm carol singing; 4pm Eucharist—Christmas Eve with virtual Christmas pageant (The Rev. Susan Moss)
    • Sat— Dec 25…..No service
    • Sun—Dec 26…. Let’s Zoom together to St. Mark’s Cathedral in Mpls–More info to come                       
    • Sun—Jan 2…….10am Bishop Loya’s Christmas sermon, Christmas carols, & Morning Prayer

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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Vestry discussion of COVID rates and in-person services

At our November vestry meeting, we discussed the elevated COVID rates and how that might affect St. Mary’s in-person worship. It is hard to miss the news that COVID rates have spiked to levels not seen since this time last year. Thankfully this year vaccines are available and significantly reduce the risk of serious illness for people who are vaccinated.
 
We have heard questions from some members of the congregation about whether in-person services would or should continue at this time. I reached out to Cindi Brickson, knowing that she was part of the diocese’s development of COVID guidelines. She is also tapped into things happening around the diocese in her new role. I learned there is currently only one congregation in MN that Cindi knows of that has stopped having in-person services. The rest, including the cathedral, have chosen to emphasize their requirements around masking, social distancing and people not coming to church if they are sick or have a recent known exposure.
 
The vestry of St. Mary’s has decided to follow that same approach. We know that for many, in-person worship is very important for both spiritual and social reasons. We feel that by following our requirements, we can minimize the risk of spread at church. We are asking that anyone who attends church services mind those requirements to the letter so that we can continue to keep everyone safe. Our virtual option continues to be available for Sunday services, and we hope people take advantage of that option if they have reason not to attend in person.
 
Feel free to reach out to me if you have questions, or suggestions about how we can make sure our services remain safe.
 
Brian Nerbonne, warden

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Deck St. Mary’s Halls with Christmas Greens and Poinsettias!

Please fill out the Google form (Click HERE) and leave your donation in the church plate or send it to St. Mary’s by December 19, 2021.
 
Thank you.
 
Ginny DeLuca

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Fall

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Help Tweeners Raise Money for the Hallie Q Brown Community Center
Tweeners are still trying to raise $300 and we are at $205.  Help the Tweeners meet their goal and combat food insecurity. Donate on this link!
 
Family Advent Resources:
Parents, here are some advent resources that emphasize ideas that can work well for your Family Advent adventures at home. There are some great ideas in the newsletter for each week. Each week emphasizes advent in a different country! Take the time to learn about traditions in the Philippines, Mexico, the United Kingdom, and Norway. They also give ideas for creating together (a craft), serving together (family service) and exploring together! Enjoy this time together as a family, bringing church into your home this Advent season. 
 
 

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Missioner Job Description Conversation

  • Children’s & Youth Listening Session
  • December 16, 7pm | Online
  • If you are involved in ministry with young people, families, or intergenerational formation in ECMN, you are invited to participate in the process for hiring a new Missioner for Children, Youth, and Camp. On Thursday, December 16, ECMN will be hosting a Zoom listening session to discuss the values that you would like to see reflected in the job description for this missioner. What does ECMN need in a missioner for children, youth, and camp? What does your faith community need from this missioner to in order thrive in the area of children, youth, and intergenerational ministry? Leaders in all aspects of these ministries are welcome, including parents and invested teens. Please be sure to share this invitation with all in your community involved in youth ministry. If you are unable to make this Zoom session, there will be a survey that can be filled out on your own time. 
 

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“All Our Good Holiday Giving” Update

Message from Nina Johnson: 

My organization, the Racial Justice Network, co-sponsors an annual holiday event for families in need, called “All Our Good Holiday Giving”. 

In 2020 we welcomed over 300 adults and children and gave away over 1,600 toys, books, and gift cards in 2 hours. This year, due to the huge demand, we’re doubling the length of the event and hope to double the amount we can give away.  

Last year St Marians donated 100  $10 gift cards, and this year I told the planners that our community could donate 200 gift cards. So far 11 people have made donations, and we have 47 cards to give to families. Many thanks to those who have helped us get this started! 200 cards is an ambitious goal, but I know we can do it, St. Mary’s! Please give as much as you can- the need is great. 

You may give $10 gift cards from Target, Cub or Walmart, or give money and I’ll take care of getting the cards. Please contact me at nina@jazmn.net or 651-308-8663 and let me know how much you’d like to give. Thank you!

Event details: 

“All Our Good Holiday Giving”
Saturday, December 18
11:00am-3:00pm
Zion Baptist Church
621 Elwood Ave N, Minneapolis
Hosted by Zion Baptist Church, We Win Institute, and Racial Justice Network

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The Angel Tree is Back!

Saint Marians, it is time to sign up for the Angel Tree gifts again.  This is an opportunity to purchase a gift for a child at Galtier School.  There are options for giving clothing of a specific size or toys based on the child’s interests. We are doing this a little differently this year. Sign Up on this link below by filling out your Name, Phone number and email and then bring the gift you signed up for in a gift bag to Saint Mary’s by 4pm on December 12.  After Lessons and Carols the Youth Group plans to pack up the gifts to get them ready for distribution.  
 
 
Or if you would like to contribute but simply cannot go shopping you can give a check or a gift card from Target, Walmart or Cub in increments of $10.  Please sign up to give a check or gift card here. 
 

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Steven, Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education, all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are homeless, unemployed, or struggling financially; doctors, nurses, caregivers, and all who care for the sick or dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412@gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 12/10 – 12/16

Sunday, December 12, 2021
Virtual Morning Prayer via Zoom
8:00am
Link

Sunday, December 12, 2021
Lessons and Carols In-Person and via Zoom
3:30pm carols; 4:00pm service
Link

Monday, December 13, 2021
Worship Team Meeting via Zoom
4:45pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesday, December 14, 2021
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, December 16, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, December 16, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, December 16, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – November 5, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, November 7, 2021

Daylight Savings Time Ends Saturday night/Sunday morning! Set your clocks back 1 hour!

  • First Message: Revelation 21: 1-6a
  • Gospel: John 11: 32-44
10:00am – Eucharist Service In-person and via Zoom with outdoor social time to follow for those worshipping in person and Zoom social time for those worshipping virtually. This Sunday Todd Maitland will give the homily, entitled “The Day of the Dead: Creating Sacred Space at Home,” and The Rev. Susan Moss will be the celebrant.

The new format for the 10am service has seemed to work well for those attending virtually. Please join via Zoom in the link below and the Zoom Host will share the Live Stream. This will allow all of those attending virtually to interact during the service.

For the 10am Zoom worship service on November 7, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the 2021 Fall Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

ECMN Convention 2021 (Nov. 5-6)

Update on the October 21st Letter from Bishop Loya

A Message from our Warden

St. Mary’s Stewardship 2022

2021 Pledge Update

Safe Church Training

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s

Marigolds and the Day of the Dead
(from St. Mary’s member Todd Maitland, our lay preacher on All Saints’ Sunday)

On Sunday, November 7, St. Mary’s will celebrate All Saints’ Day. We will learn about the Days of the Dead as it is practiced in Mexico, where the Dias de los Muertos, October 31 to November 2, are a time to welcome the souls of departed loved ones. Families create a home altar, an ofrenda, or offering for the dead, with candles, flowers, fruit, and favorite foods of the deceased. Marigolds, which grow wild in Mexico, are gathered by the truck load, sold in markets and arranged on the ofrenda, where the pungent scent of the flowers will guide the spirits home.

Every culture must deal with the mystery of death. Many have rituals that mark the life/death/life cycle of the seasons, with autumn as a time to honor the dead. For Celtic cultures, the days around November 1 were a “thin time,” when the veil between the living and the dead becomes permeable. While the Spaniards brought Catholicism and its feast days to Mexico, the Aztecs had their own ancient ceremonies honoring the dead around this time. The Days of the Dead are a synthesis of traditions growing out of the emotional and spiritual needs of all humans.

So please bring flowers for our altar, marigolds if you have them, in jars or cans or vases, to brighten our worship. We will learn the simple and beautiful tradition of making an ofrenda in our homes, to expand the joy of this season of remembrance.

What’s New?

  • Let’s start with All Saints’ Day…
    • What is Dia de los Muertos and how does it relate to All Saints’ Day… https://churchofstmartin.org/2019/10/15/what-is-dia-de-los-muertos-and-how-does-it-relate-to-all-saints-day/
    • Remember tying ribbons on our trellis in memory of those who have died? We’ll be doing that again on Sunday. If you worship virtually, you’ll be invited to put names in the chat during the prelude and someone will tie a ribbon to the trellis in memory of those persons; if you worship in person, you’ll be invited to tie ribbons to the trellis.
    • Asperges? What is that? The liturgical practice of sprinkling with holy water as a reminder of baptism. Those worshipping in-person will experience this following the baptismal vows.  For more information: https://www.episcopalchurch.org/glossary/asperges/
    • We’ll have both bread and wine available for Eucharist! Look around and see if you have a little shot glass or cup or “your Grama’s antique sherry glass” to bring with you to church if you’d like wine. We will use the new “pouring chalice” (with a pouring lip!) to pour a bit of wine into glasses that people bring. We’ll also supply small paper “cups” if you want wine but forgot your glass.

  • Next Sunday, November 14th, there will be an 8:00am worship service and Steve Andrews will doing a “double-header”!! He’ll give the homily at both the 8am and 10am services!
  • Sunday, November 14, 8 & 10:30am St. Mark’s Cathedral | Live streamed – Saint Mark’s Cathedral is pleased to announce that The Rev. Canon Dr. Stephanie Spellers, Canon to the Presiding Bishop for Evangelism, Reconciliation and Creation is the preacher for this year’s Fontaine Sermon series. Canon Spellers will be preaching on Sunday November 14th, at the 8am and 10:30am services with opportunity for discussion after each service. The 10:30 worship will be livestreamed, and the link will be available on the Cathedral website, ourcathedral.org. Canon Spellers’ newest book is The Church Cracked Open.

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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ECMN Convention 2021, November 5 – 6 online

AN INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE
Friday evening’s business meeting will be live streamed on Facebook and Vimeo for non-delegates.
 
All Minnesotan Episcopalians are encouraged to join in all Convention activities on Saturday, November 5. In spite of our need to stay distant again this year, it is so important that we gather as a family to pray and learn together.
 
9am: Diocesan-wide Morning Prayer – Register here.
 
10:30am & 12pm: Workshops
 
Session 1:
Post-Pandemic VITALITY: Focusing on the Essentials
with Bishop Loya, Susan Daughtry, and a panel of ECMN clergy 
-or-
DISCIPLESHIP & FAITHFUL INNOVATION: How do congregations hear God’s call to do something new?
with Christine Luna Munger, Director, Episcopal House of Prayer
 
Session 2:
DISCIPLESHIP: Storytelling: Practical Skills to Deepen Your Relationship with God & Others
with Emilia Seay Allen, Missioner for Communications
-or-
DISCIPLESHIP + JUSTICE: Praying Toward God’s Justice
With Heidi Kim
 
 
11:30am: Live stream of Bishop’s Address – on Facebook and Vimeo.
 

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Update on the October 21st Letter from Bishop Loya

In his October 21st pastoral letter to St. Marians Bishop Loya wrote:

… I recognize that given the nature of LeeAnne’s departure, some of you may want to have a conversation with her in order to bring closure to your pastoral relationship with her. If so, please be in touch with my office, and I will work with you and LeeAnne to arrange for you to meet. 

To make an appointment with The Rev. LeeAnne Watkins for the purposes of bringing closure to a pastoral relationship, please contact Karen Olson, Missioner for Ministry at karen.o@episcopalmn.org or call Karen at 612-423-3902 (cell)
 
Available dates for LeeAnne: Beginning November 8-10; after November 22
Available times: Monday 9-4; Wednesday 1-8; Friday 9-4
Place: St John the Evangelist Episcopal Church, 60 Kent Street, St. Paul 55102


The names of those who want to schedule time with LeeAnne are confidential and will not be shared. Conversations are private.

Please contact us if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Brian Nerbonne, Warden michigander_guy@yahoo.com

Susan Moss, Transition Priest susan@saintmarysepiscopal.org

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A Message from our Warden

Dear St. Mary’s community,
 
I want to share some news from the vestry related to our search for a new rector. We heard from members of St. Mary’s during our listening sessions that after 3 years of changing priests, people yearn for the stability and deeper relationships that come from a permanent rector. The vestry has been talking about ways to increase our chances of success in a future call for a rector. One option would be to post a full-time position, rather than a ¾ time position that we advertised in our previous calls.
 
A ¾ time position would require us to use some of our reserves to cover the priest’s salary and benefits A full-time position would put an even bigger draw on our reserves. However, the vestry believes this is the time to make a major investment in St. Mary’s future. We also believe it is important to demonstrate financial support from all members of  the congregation. Pledged income is needed to support a full time call so we do not exhaust our financial reserves. 
 
That is where our annual stewardship campaign comes in. Next week you will receive more information from Cindy James and Jim Wheeler, co chairs of the 2022 stewardship campaign asking you to make a pledge toward our future. I ask that you prayerfully consider how your pledge will enable the support of a full-time rector.
 
This is a crucial time in St. Mary’s history. Those who have been at St. Mary’s for a while know there have been difficult times in the past, and the commitment of the congregation has pulled us through to better times. This is our time to do something similar.
 
I am excited about the potential of calling a full time rector, and I hope you are, too. The vestry and I feel this is our moment to move toward a new beginning for St. Mary’s. When we make our 2022 pledges, let’s be as generous as we can to show our support.  It is going to take all of us making a commitment to making this happen. The vestry and I look forward to traveling this path together with you.
 
If you have questions or concerns about this, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Also don’t forget to pray for discernment and guidance of the Spirit as we all navigate this season!
 
Brian Nerbonne
Warden

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Faithful Belonging: Now and in the Future –  Stewardship 2022

Pledge Goal:  $190,000 – please have all pledges completed by November 14th.

  • 14 pledges received totaling $39,483

Stewardship thought from 1 Peter 4:10 “Based on the gift each one has received, use it to serve others, as good managers of the varied grace of God.”

Click HERE for a Stewardship moment from parishioner Jennifer Wedel.

We have a couple of ways that you can make your pledge:

  • Paper pledge cards are available again this year.  If you would like a paper pledge card, please contact Cindy James at james.c.a@comcast.net or at 651-261-4884.
  • Online pledge by accessing our stewardship page by clicking this link. Click HERE

We have several ways you can pay your pledge:

  • By check made out to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
  • Electronic Funds transfer from your bank. Contact our treasurer, Rex Holzemer (rexaholzemer@gmail.com) for details on how this works.
  • Click the CONTRIBUTE tab at the top of our website (Click HERE) and select “Give Now Online” from the menu to set up a Vanco account to put your pledge on a credit card or have it withdrawn from your bank account. Note: If you choose this option, please check the processing fee box (2.75% for credit cards and 1% for bank accounts) to help cover the processing fee.  This fee will be included in your pledge statement at the end of the year, so you get the tax credit and St. Mary’s won’t have to pay the processing fee.

Not sure how much you are currently pledging?  No problem: simply contact our pledge clerk (Enzo DeLuca) at pledgeclerk@saintmarysepiscopal.org and he will give you the information regarding your current pledge.

Thank you for your contribution and your support.

Cindy James and Jim Wheeler

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2021 Pledge Update

Are you wondering how much you have left to fulfill your pledge for calendar year 2021? Contribution statements for pledge contributions thru October 31, 2021, will be sent via e-mail the first week of November, no later than November 7, 2021. Look for a contribution statement in your inbasket, and if you don’t receive it by November 7th, please contact Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 651-308-4895 or rexaholzemer@gmail.com.

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Safe Church Training

ECMN has now started Zoom Trainings for Safe Church – https://schoolforformation.org/workshops/safe-church/. It has been three years since our last in-person training at St. Mary’s and there are a number in the congregation that are due training (myself included). Those who need safe church training include vestry members, those involved in youth ministry and those with key codes.  Let me know if you have any questions about what you might need.

Aimee Sutherland
612-709-1579

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Fall

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 

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The UN Climate Change Conference

St. Marian Julia Nerbonne along with colleagues Analyah Schlaeger dos Santos and Ruhel Islam from MNIPL are traveling to the 26th UN Climate Change Conference in Glasgow. They join a global community of people of faith and conscience who are bringing a moral voice to these proceedings.

At this webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 9 at 7:00 pm, hear first-hand accounts from the Climate Talks. We’re thrilled to also welcome two amazing co-hosts who are deeply immersed in the issue of climate fair share: 

Climate security is a human right, and it is vital that faith communities in the US hear the stories of people’s climate experience from around the world. With the United States not even close to meeting its climate goals, we also need to create pressure that will give US leaders the political will to pay our fair share and take equitable climate action.

Please join us for a deep conversation on challenging international issues that we are all connected to.

Click HERE to Register

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All Our Good Holiday Giving

Nina Johnson is asking for your help in collecting donations for the annual holiday community event sponsored by Zion Baptist Church, We Win Institute, and the Racial Justice Network. Several St. Marians donated a total of 100 gift cards last year to this cause, and it was a huge success!

Event details: 

“All Our Good Holiday Giving”
Saturday, December 18
11:00am-3:00pm
Zion Baptist Church
621 Elwood Ave N, Minneapolis
Hosted by Zion Baptist Church, We Win Institute, and Racial Justice Network

Last year we welcomed over 300 adults and children and gave away over 1,600 toys, books, and gift cards in 2 hours. This year, we’re doubling the length of the event and we plan to double the amount of inventory.  

What we need–

*2500 gifts (ages birth to 18 years)
*1000 Target, Walmart, Cub Foods gift cards ($10)
*$5,000 to purchase books by Black authors and illustrators

Several other churches, community partners, and corporate partners are also being asked to help make this happen. Since we know there are supply chain issues this season, we’re asking for your help in securing dollars or gifts as soon as possible. 

Please let Nina Johnson know how you can help. Organizers are hoping to have a preliminary total number of gifts, gift cards, and/or dollars by December 5, if possible, so we can plan accordingly.

Please contact Nina Johnson at 651-308-8663 or nina@jazmn.net with any questions.

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; our ECMN convention delegates; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; all who are thinking about getting or waiting to a COVID vaccine or booster; all who are sick, anxious, struggling financially; all who care for the sick and dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.


If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412@gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 11/5 – 11/11

Sunday, November 7, 2021
Hybrid Worship Service
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Worship Team Meeting
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesday, November 9, 2021
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Wednesday, November 10, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, November 11, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, November 11, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, November 11, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – October 29, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, October 31, 2021

  • First Message: Deuteronomy 6:1-9
  • Gospel: Mark 12: 28-34
10:00am – ZOOM ONLY Gospel Based Discipleship Service with social time to follow.

This Sunday will be a ZOOM ONLY worship service. We’ll be doing an adapted version of Gospel Based Discipleship. There’s no sermon today. We’ll be breaking into 3 groups to discuss the First Message and Gospel and create our own sermon! These will be the discussion questions…they’re a little different than usual:

o What is the Holy Spirit doing/saying in the First Message & Gospel?
o Where do you see yourself?
o What do these readings say about this journey you’re on?

For the 10am Zoom worship service on October 31, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the 2021 Fall Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Update on the October 21st Letter from Bishop Loya

A Message from our Warden

St. Mary’s Stewardship 2022

2021 Pledge Update

Finance Committee

Update from the Search Committee

Safe Church Training

Children and Youth

Notice of Death

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s

Marigolds and the Day of the Dead
(from St. Mary’s member Todd Maitland, our lay preacher on All Saints Sunday)

On Sunday, November 7, St. Mary’s will celebrate All Saints’ Day. We will learn about the Days of the Dead as it is practiced in Mexico, where the Dias de los Muertos, October 31 to November 2, are a time to welcome the souls of departed loved ones. Families create a home altar, an ofrenda, or offering for the dead, with candles, flowers, fruit, and favorite foods of the deceased. Marigolds, which grow wild in Mexico, are gathered by the truck load, sold in markets and arranged on the ofrenda, where the pungent scent of the flowers will guide the spirits home.

Every culture must deal with the mystery of death. Many have rituals that mark the life/death/life cycle of the seasons, with autumn as a time to honor the dead. For Celtic cultures, the days around November 1 were a “thin time,” when the veil between the living and the dead becomes permeable. While the Spaniards brought Catholicism and its feast days to Mexico, the Aztecs had their own ancient ceremonies honoring the dead around this time. The Days of the Dead are a synthesis of traditions growing out of the emotional and spiritual needs of all humans.

So please bring flowers for our altar, marigolds if you have them, in jars or cans or vases, to brighten our worship. We will learn the simple and beautiful tradition of making an ofrenda in our homes, to expand the joy of this season of remembrance.

What’s New?

  • To listen to the homily given by The Rev. Susan Moss on October 24th, Click HERE.
  • This Sunday is Halloween. Kids & Adults: Wear your costumes!
  • And, next Sunday, November 7th, All Saints Day and much MORE…
    • There will be a special prayer naming and remembering those who have died in the last year. Please put names in the chat or send an email to susan@saintmarysepiscopal.org by Tuesday, November 2nd.
    • Remember tying ribbons on our trellis in memory of those who have died? We’ll be doing that again on Sunday. If you worship virtually, you’ll be invited to put names in the chat during the prelude and someone will tie a ribbon to the trellis in memory of those persons; if you worship in person, you’ll be invited to tie ribbons to the trellis.
    • And, this will be our first Eucharist with both bread and wine being available since March 2020! You may bring your own little cup/shot glass/Grama’s antique sherry glass with you when you go for communion and a little wine will be poured in it. There will also be small paper cups available if you forget yours or don’t have one.

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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Update on the October 21st Letter from Bishop Loya

In his October 21st pastoral letter to St. Marians Bishop Loya wrote:

… I recognize that given the nature of LeeAnne’s departure, some of you may want to have a conversation with her in order to bring closure to your pastoral relationship with her. If so, please be in touch with my office, and I will work with you and LeeAnne to arrange for you to meet. 

Karen Olson is looking into scheduling tools like Calendly for those who would like to have a conversation with LeeAnne. It looks like these conversations can be at St. John the Evangelist, 60 Kent Street, St. Paul.

We will post more information as it becomes available.

The names of those who want to schedule time with LeeAnne are confidential and will not be shared. Conversations are private.

Please contact us if you have any questions, comments or concerns.

Brian Nerbonne, Warden michigander_guy@yahoo.com

Susan Moss, Transition Priest susan@saintmarysepiscopal.org

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A Message from our Warden

Dear St. Mary’s community,
 
I want to share some news from the vestry related to our search for a new rector. We heard from members of St. Mary’s during our listening sessions that after 3 years of changing priests, people yearn for the stability and deeper relationships that come from a permanent rector. The vestry has been talking about ways to increase our chances of success in a future call for a rector. One option would be to post a full-time position, rather than a ¾ time position that we advertised in our previous calls.
 
A ¾ time position would require us to use some of our reserves to cover the priest’s salary and benefits A full-time position would put an even bigger draw on our reserves. However, the vestry believes this is the time to make a major investment in St. Mary’s future. We also believe it is important to demonstrate financial support from all members of  the congregation. Pledged income is needed to support a full time call so we do not exhaust our financial reserves. 
 
That is where our annual stewardship campaign comes in. Next week you will receive more information from Cindy James and Jim Wheeler, co chairs of the 2022 stewardship campaign asking you to make a pledge toward our future. I ask that you prayerfully consider how your pledge will enable the support of a full-time rector.
 
This is a crucial time in St. Mary’s history. Those who have been at St. Mary’s for a while know there have been difficult times in the past, and the commitment of the congregation has pulled us through to better times. This is our time to do something similar.
 
I am excited about the potential of calling a full time rector, and I hope you are, too. The vestry and I feel this is our moment to move toward a new beginning for St. Mary’s. When we make our 2022 pledges, let’s be as generous as we can to show our support.  It is going to take all of us making a commitment to making this happen. The vestry and I look forward to traveling this path together with you.
 
If you have questions or concerns about this, please don’t hesitate to contact me. Also don’t forget to pray for discernment and guidance of the Spirit as we all navigate this season!
 
Brian Nerbonne
Warden

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Faithful Belonging: Now and in the Future –  Stewardship 2022

Pledge Goal:  $190,000 – please have all pledges completed by November 14th.

  • 6 pledges received totaling $8160

Stewardship thought from Crisis & Care: Meditations on Faith and Philanthropy edited by Dustin D. Benac and Erin Weber-Johnson.  “When exploring faith and philanthropy, we remember we belong to one another.”

Click HERE for a Stewardship moment from parishioners Maura and Fran Roby

We have a couple of ways that you can make your pledge:

  • Paper pledge cards are available again this year.  If you would like a paper pledge card, please contact Cindy James at james.c.a@comcast.net or at 651-261-4884.
  • Online pledge by accessing our stewardship page by clicking this link. Click HERE

We have several ways you can pay your pledge:

  • By check made out to St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
  • Electronic Funds transfer from your bank. Contact our treasurer, Rex Holzemer (rexaholzemer@gmail.com) for details on how this works.
  • Click the CONTRIBUTE tab at the top of our website (Click HERE) and select “Give Now Online” from the menu to set up a Vanco account to put your pledge on a credit card or have it withdrawn from your bank account. Note: If you choose this option, please check the processing fee box (2.75% for credit cards and 1% for bank accounts) to help cover the processing fee.  This fee will be included in your pledge statement at the end of the year, so you get the tax credit and St. Mary’s won’t have to pay the processing fee.

Not sure how much you are currently pledging?  No problem: simply contact our pledge clerk (Enzo DeLuca) at pledgeclerk@saintmarysepiscopal.org and he will give you the information regarding your current pledge.

Thank you for your contribution and your support.

Cindy James and Jim Wheeler

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2021 Pledge Update

Are you wondering how much you have left to fulfill your pledge for calendar year 2021? Contribution statements for pledge contributions thru October 31, 2021, will be sent via e-mail the first week of November, no later than November 7, 2021. Look for a contribution statement in your inbasket, and if you don’t receive it by November 7th, please contact Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 651-308-4895 or rexaholzemer@gmail.com.

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Finance Committee

Contributions were $4,000 over budget in September and are approximately $25,300 over budget for the year. Total income, which includes both pledge and non-pledge income, is $24,200 over budget for the year.

Expenses were $10,300 under budget for September and are $27,500 under budget for the year. As of the end of September, we are running $51,700 better than budget overall. However, that does not mean we have a surplus of $51,700, because our budget is a deficit budget with a projected year-end deficit of ($23,200). It does mean that we are covering our deficit totally and have a $28,400 surplus as of the end of September. As a result, the prospects for at least ending the year with a balanced budget have improved over the last several months.

A major contributing factor to contributions being over budget is that a number of parishioners have paid off their annual pledges in the last 2-3 months. It’s possible we could see lower than expected contributions in the last 2-3 months of the year, as a result. The main contributing factor to lower expenses is our budget projected that a ¾ time priest with benefits would be in place effective July 1, 2021. However, at this point we continue to employ only an interim priest at 15 hours/week, which has reduced our monthly staff salary expenses significantly.

If you have questions or concerns regarding the St. Mary’s budget, please feel free to contact Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 651-308-4895, or at rexaholzemer@gmail.com.

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Update from the Search Committee

On October 28th, we re-published our call for a new permanent priest. Your Search Committee members have genuine, deep confidence in the successful outcome of this process, even if we wish it would move faster. 🙂  Priest searches often take longer than anyone would like, and that’s without considering the impact of the pandemic. Please ask any questions via transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org.

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Safe Church Training

ECMN has now started Zoom Trainings for Safe Church – https://schoolforformation.org/workshops/safe-church/. It has been three years since our last in-person training at St. Mary’s and there are a number in the congregation that are due training (myself included). Those who need safe church training include vestry members, those involved in youth ministry and those with key codes.  Let me know if you have any questions about what you might need.

Aimee Sutherland
612-709-1579

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Fall

Youth Group:
Join Kat for youth group on Wednesday evenings at 6:30pm-8:00pm We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade.
 
Tweeners:
Join Mia and Emily for Tweeners on Thursdays from 7-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
NO Halloween Party and NO Virtual Lego Class this Sunday (October 31st)
 

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Notice of Death

Sylvia Clark, mother of St. Mary’s parishioner, Anna Clark, died at the Episcopal Church Home on Sunday October 24th. A memorial service will be held in the St. Mary’s Chapel on November 5th,  led by The Rev. Aaron Twait, pastoral care deacon at the Church Home. Time TBD.

Receive Sylvia into the arms of your mercy O God, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace, and into the glorious company of the saints in light. 
Surround Anna and her family with your love. May they have confidence in your goodness and strength to meet the days to come. Amen.

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all who are sick, anxious, struggling financially; all frontline workers; all who care for the sick and dying; all who work for new systems of justice and equity; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list, please email claire1412@gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 10/29 – 11/4

Sunday, October 31, 2021
ZOOM ONLY Gospel Based Discipleship Service
10:00am
Link

Monday, November 1, 2021
Worship Team Meeting
7:00pm
For more information. Click HERE

Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Men’s Group
7:00pm
For more information. Click HERE

Tuesday, November 2, 2021
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Wednesday, November 3, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, November 4, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, November 4, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, November 4, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – September 24, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, September 26, 2021

Worship In-Person and via Zoom with Social Time and Talent Show (Information below) to follow.—10:00am

This Sunday The Rev. Carol Arney will be our Preacher and Celebrant, so we’ll have Eucharist.

  • First Message: James 5:13-20
  • Gospel: Mark 9:38-50

We’re going to try a new format for those attending virtually this week. Please join via Zoom in the link below and the Zoom Host will share the Live Stream. This will allow all of those attending virtually to interact during the service.

For the Zoom worship service on September 26, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 277625
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 818 4016 4967
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 818 4016 4967
If asked for a passcode, use 277625
 
For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the 2021 Fall Songbook – Click HERE
 
For the Zoom link to the Talent Show following the worship service Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

September is Rally Month at St. Mary’s!

Gratitude to Cindi Brickson

St. Mary’s COVID contingency planning

St. Mary’s Finance Committee

Stewardship at St. Mary’s

Sunday Morning Lay Ministry

Children and Youth

Pastoral visit to St. Mary’s by Bishop Loya

Communications

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s New?
  • To listen to the sermon given by The Rev. Carol Arney on September 19, Click HERE.
  • What do your Gramma’s antique sherry glass and the shot glass you bought while on vacation have in common???? Your first reaction might be “Lordie, Lordie, I can’t imagine they have anything in common!” But wait just a minute! The Worship Team is looking at ways we might bring wine back into our Eucharist…and the common denominator could be those mis-matched glasses mentioned above! Each person who would like to receive wine along with the bread would bring a small glass of some kind with them to church. When it’s time for communion, that glass would accompany the person and a small amount of wine would be poured from the “pouring chalice” (a chalice with a small pouring lip) into each person’s glass. So, what do you think of this idea? How important is it to you to have both bread and wine? The Worship Team is seeking feedback on this idea…both positive and negative. We look forward to hearing from you! Click on the feedback link below.
  • St. Mary’s will continue to have 8am worship services via zoom in October. These will be adapted Morning Prayer using the same liturgy as the 10am adapted Morning Prayer services. The 8am services will be lay led (no clergy), won’t have music and will use Gospel Based Discipleship discussions in place of a homily. Links to these services will be in the Weekly Email.

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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September is Rally Month at St. Mary’s! (updated for 9/24/21)

Talent Show:
Our Parish talent show will be happening this coming Sunday on September 26, 2021. The show is a HYBRID….that means there are two different ways you can choose to attend. It will be in-person on the big screen in the Sanctuary at church and also streamed via Zoom.
 
If you are planning on attending in-person church, just stick around right afterwards to see the Talent Show. The acts have been recorded and will be shown on a big screen in the sanctuary. Or, if you have attended church via Zoom, just click on the link below to switch over to the talent show! We are looking forward to hosting you either way and have some amazing talents to share!
 
Topic: Talent Show for Saint Mary’s
Time: Sep 26, 2021 11:00 AM Central Time (US and Canada)
 
 
Meeting ID: 841 6139 3391
Passcode: church
 

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Gratitude to Cindi Brickson for her contributions to St. Mary’s

If you can, please join us at church on Sunday, Sept. 26 when we will have a chance to say thank you to Cindi for all of her work at St. Mary’s over the past year-plus. Cindi served as our pastoral care minister during that time, a critical role during COVID when she founded online opportunities for people to connect with one another. Cindi also led our regathering committee, helping to craft our plan for returning to in-person worship. If that weren’t enough, she also located and worked with a contractor to install our fancy new camera system that has been a significant upgrade for virtual worship. Professionally Cindi has moved on to a new role within the diocese that did not leave time for her to continue on staff at St. Mary’s, but she and her family continue to be members of our congregation. Huge thanks to you, Cindi!

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St. Mary’s COVID contingency planning

ECMN guidelines for in-person worship include a threshold in COVID case numbers. If exceeded in the county where we worship, the recommendation is to switch to either outdoor or virtual worship. If you have been watching the news at all recently, you know that the Delta variant has pushed up case numbers to levels similar to what we saw this spring. We have yet to exceed the threshold set by ECMN, but people should pay attention to this email each weekend in case we need to pivot away from in-person services. In the case where we need to make a change, details will be shared in the Friday weekly about the format for that Sunday’s service. Yet another reason to read the Weekly each week!

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St. Mary’s Finance Committee

Total annual income (pledges and non-pledge income) thru August 31, 2021, is approximately $20,700 above budget and total expenses are approximately $17,000 under budget. Income is significantly above budget primarily due to several large pledge donations in August from households that paid off their annual pledges in full. It is expected that pledges will balance out over the next few months and end the year closer to budget.

The projected 2021 budget is a deficit budget, with a projected year-end deficit of ($23,232). However, if we continue to manage expenses as has been the case over the first eight months, and pledges meet budget, we may be able to reduce the projected year-end deficit significantly. Thanks to each of you for your continued financial support of St. Mary’s!

If you have any questions regarding the St. Mary’s budget, please feel free to contact Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 651-308-4895 or rexaholzemer@gmail.com. Please see a summary income vs. expenses chart for exact budget figures for January 1, 2021 thru August 31, 2021, at the following link – Click HERE.

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Stewardship at St. Mary’s

Our season of Stewardship will soon be upon us.

Are you interested in helping St. Mary’s grow? Are you wondering where our money comes from? If you answered YES to these questions, our community is asking each of you to consider whether participation with the Stewardship committee could be your ministry at St. Mary’s. 

We are looking for more people (we’d love to have a committee of 6 – 8 people!) to participate in the Stewardship committee and help us move into the next phase of stewardship at St. Mary’s.  

As so many things are changing in our church (and all churches), we would like to adopt some new models and are looking for people with energy and ideas. We would like to move toward a model of stewardship that is a year-round endeavor and with balanced focuses on time, talent, and treasure. In these past few years, we have shown how much of our church life we can manage and move forward with strong laity; we want to recognize and encourage this as we look to our future.

Our first team meeting will be Sept. 30th at 7:00pm via Zoom. We will discuss this year’s stewardship campaign, the different ways we give to St. Mary’s, and what activities and events will be scheduled to keep stewardship in our minds throughout the year. One resource we recognized through the ECMN diocese that we will study as a possible starting point is Project Resource (https://project-resource.org/annual-giving).

If you are interested in joining the team, please contact Cindy James (james.c.a@comcast.net) or Jim Wheeler (james.jw.wheeler@gmail.com) for the link to the Zoom meeting. 

In faith,

Cindy James
Jim Wheeler
Enzo DeLuca (pledge clerk)
Rex Holzemer (treasurer)

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Lay Ministry: Gearing up for Fall

Yes, fall is right around the corner and St. Mary’s needs YOU!! When we started in-person worship services, many of you signed up to help with Sunday morning lay ministries… Ushers, Greeters, Lay Leaders/Officiants and Vergers. Thanks to all of you who were able to do that!  

Now that summer is nearing an end and we’ll soon be settling into our fall/winter routines, it’s our hope that more of you will be able to help with these lay ministries. The goal is to have enough people assisting with these ministries so that no one will be asked to take on responsibilities more often than once each month. You can get more information or sign up now by contacting mauramccro@gmail.com.

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St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Fall

Youth Group:
Our Youth Group kicked off on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 from 6:30pm to 8:00pm led by Kat Lewis, our new Youth Leader. We are excited that the youth will be back in person again this year! Just a reminder that Youth Group is for young people who are 7th through 12th grade.
 
Tweeners:
Our Tweeners started up on Thursday September 23, 2021 from 7:00pm-7:45pm. Please note that Tweens will be on THURSDAY and not on WEDNESDAY due to the availability of the tweens that expressed interest! The meeting will be virtual. Please contact Mia for the link!
 
Sunday School Updates
 
Basic Info:
We have a Virtual Lego Camp that will be starting up that will be 7 sessions long. Each session will be 45 minutes long and led by Max and Theo Reemtsma (with a little help from Mia and Jennie). Each class will have a short check in, some demonstration and teaching for 10-15 minutes and then some work time.
 
Outcome:
Each kid will animate a different story from the Bible using stop motion. We plan to focus on Advent stories.
 
Needs for Class:
We suggest kids have on hand a few Lego figures, small vehicles, and a general assortment of Lego pieces. It’s ok if they don’t have Legos as they can use clay, pipe cleaners, action figures, animals, etc. – Lego figures are just pretty easy to physically articulate and get good shots of without relying on paid-app-version tricks that can remove hands from the frame, etc.
It is strongly recommended that students have 2 devices for this class– one for zoom and one for the stop motion app.
 
Age Range:
Kids need to be really comfortable reading, or have an adult with them who can help them. This should be kid-led but the whole family can be involved in building, animating, lighting and “special effects” or voiceovers.
 
The dates for this class will be on Sundays in the afternoon (we were thinking 1pm):
 
October 17
October 24
November 7
November 14
November 21
December 5
December 12
 
 
In Person Halloween Party for Children– Come in Costume
October 31
Ghosts of the Bible
Led by Julie Phillips and helpers
More details to come
 

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Pastoral visit to St. Mary’s by Bishop Loya

Bishop Loya is planning a visit to St. Mary’s from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. on October 13. His purpose for this visit is to hear questions and concerns from our congregation surrounding the Title IV process of our former rector, Rev. LeeAnne Watkins. More details about this event will be available soon, but for now we ask any current and former members of St. Mary’s interested in attending to save the date. Expect more information in a future email from St. Mary’s.

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Website Maintenance

Over the next couple of weeks, we’ll be doing some behind-the-scenes maintenance on the St. Mary’s website. It may have some periods of downtime, when you aren’t able to access it. If that happens, please rest assured that it will be up and running again within 24 hours. With questions, please email communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 9/24 – 9/30

Sunday, September 26, 2021
Worship In-Person and via Zoom
10:00am
Link

Sunday, September 26, 2021
St. Mary’s Talent Show
11:00am
Link

Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Vestry Meeting
7:00pm
Contact Warden Brian Nerbonne for details and link Click HERE

Tuesday, September 28, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Wednesday, September 29, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, September 30, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, September 30, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, September 30, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – August 20, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, August 22, 2021
Worship In-person and Live Stream with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday, The Rev. Susan Moss will be our Preacher and Celebrant. This will be a Eucharist service. There will be social time after the service.

  • First Message: Ephesians 6:10-20
  • Gospel: John 6:56-69

NEW! For the Live Stream worship service on August 22, 2021 Click HERE

For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the 2021 Summer Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Sunday Morning Lay Ministry

Children and Youth

Pastoral Care

ECMN Convention

Notice of Death

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at Misión San José Obrero: An invitation to serve on September 12
By The Rev. Susan M. Moss
(repeated from 8/13/2021)

Interested? Here’s the background:
 
Thirty years ago, a new ministry of hospitality was born in Montgomery, MN. Carolyn Schmidt, then the priest in Montgomery, and Vincent Schwahn, Misión Santo Niño’s founding vicar, responded to the Spirit’s call to welcome and thank migrant workers traveling from Texas and Mexico to Montgomery each summer to work in the Seneca Plant during pea and corn pack. Since then, clergy and laity have worked side by side to provide a Spanish language Eucharist as spiritual nourishment for the soul and a healthy warm meal for the body.
 
At the annual diocesan convention in 2008, ECMN officially embraced this Special Mission named after the patron saint of workers – San José Obrero.
 
This summer ministry is now led by the faith communities in ECMN’s Southeast Mission Area (SEMA). For the past 10 years Padre Neptali Rodriguez, Santo Niño’s vicar, has presided at the Eucharist, baptisms, car blessings and even a wedding or two.
 
The Rev. John Sullivan, rector at Christ Church in Austin & SEMA coordinator, and Padre Neptali are looking for a team of 4-5 people to worship with the workers and provide the meal on September 12. 
 
Tell me more…
 
Responsibilities: A team of 4-5 people who will 
 
Worship with Seneca Plant workers for one or two of the “misas”
Purchase or prepare and serve two buffet style meals; one meal for each of two shifts approx.15 workers at each shift. 
 
Typical Menu: rice, beans, chicken, tortilla, cookies (a favorite dessert), bottled water
Also needed: disposable plates, napkins, plastic utensils
 
Cost: Team members would need to raise money for the cost of the meals for 30
 
Time Commitment: Sunday, September 12
 
2:15 Drive to Montgomery (about 1 hour from St Mary’s) 
3:30  Misa #1 en español (eucharist) 
4:30  Cena # 1 (dinner)
6:00  Cena #2  (dinner)
7:00  Misa #2 en español  (optional)
 
Who’s in?
 
I am! So is Paulette Briese. Who wants to join us? 
We need at least 4-5 people to procure and serve the meal.
Children are welcome.
 
Please contact me for further details at: susanmaetzoldmoss@gmail.com
We should decide within the next 10 days to let John Sullivan know if this is a go or not.
 
 
What’s New?
  • To listen to the sermon given by The Rev Susan Moss on August 15, Click HERE.
  • The installation of our new sound and camera equipment is complete!!!!  Yeah!! So you might be wondering, “What will I notice that’s different on Sunday?” The sound and camera work will be much improved. There are 5 camera angles that can be shown with the touch of a button! This will be live streamed, not Zoom-ed, so you won’t be able to see each other. There will be a link to click on to join the live stream, similar to clicking on a link to join Zoom. This is the first step, not the end result!! Patience, prayers and goodwill are still needed as the Tech Team learns how to use this new equipment to its best advantage.
  • On Sunday, August 15th, we tried an experiment…having children around the altar during communion.  Two households, one at each end of the altar, Susan masked the whole time.  The Worship Team would love to hear your thoughts about this!  Please let us know at worship@saintmarysepiscopal.org.

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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Lay Ministry: Gearing up for Fall

Yes, fall is right around the corner and St. Mary’s needs YOU!! When we started in-person worship services, many of you signed up to help with Sunday morning lay ministries… Ushers, Greeters, Lay Leaders/Officiants and Vergers. Thanks to all of you who were able to do that!  

Now that summer is nearing an end and we’ll soon be settling into our fall/winter routines, it’s our hope that more of you will be able to help with these lay ministries. The goal is to have enough people assisting with these ministries so that no one will be asked to take on responsibilities more often than once each month. You can get more information or sign up now by contacting mauramccro@gmail.com. If you contact Maura by Tuesday, August 24,  you will start your assignments in September and October; if you contact her after that date, you may be assigned as a “sub” during that time but will start assigned dates for the next scheduling cycle, November and December.

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Update from Mia on Children’s and Youth for Fall

We have been in brainstorming mode to try to get some appropriate programming that kids and youth will be interested in for the fall (while keeping kids safe!) 
 
Here is what we know so far. 
 
Youth Group:
Youth Group will start up September (date TBD) in person with our Youth Leader, Kat Lewis!  Yay, welcome aboard Kat!  Check the Saint Mary’s Calendar for more up to date details about the Youth Group.  Since most youth group sessions will be indoors, masks are required.  The youth group may choose to do some outdoor gatherings as well!  
*I am still looking for an additional 1-2 adults who are interested in supporting and helping with youth group this year (in person). 
 
Tweeners:
Tweeners will be starting up virtually September 22, 2021 from 6-7pm on Wednesday nights.  I will be reaching out to families to see if they are interested in family led meet up dates for Tweens that are outdoor!  If you are a Tween parent, let me know if this is interesting to you!
 
Sunday School:
I am still not sure what we are going to do with Sunday school this year.  Below is a link to a survey that will help shape what we are going to do.  If you have a child in the 0-11 range, please fill out the survey to help guide my decisions around this for the year.
 

Parent Survey

Sunday Night Bed Time Stories:
As part of the Christian Formation plan for this year, I would like to do a Story time for our little kids.  Any congregation member can help with this idea.  I will be taking pictures of our Spark Story Bible and attaching the stories to a specific day.  Your job (if you so choose to accept it) would be to read the story and video tape yourself doing this. You would also have a chance to say a few words to the kids and let them know that they are missed and we all hope to be back together soon!  I would then distribute this in the weekly email so that our families can have Bible stories read to our littlest children on Sunday nights.  

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Pastoral Care

I am both happy and sad to announce that Rev. Cindi Brickson has a new job that will require her to step down from her role as Pastoral Care Minister. I am so appreciative that she stepped up to take on this role at St. Mary’s with gusto, going above and beyond individual pastoral care to found recurring care groups for LGBTQ+ people and elders, a quarterly healing circle, and curating the St. Mary’s prayer chain, to name a few. All of these efforts happened during a time when face to face interaction was very limited, and people needed virtual venues to connect and help heal one another from all of the trauma that is so present right now.

As we await the results of our search process that we hope will call our new rector this fall, St. Mary’s pastoral care programs will be more limited. Rev. Susan Moss will cover pastoral care emergencies, Eily Marlow has offered to continue to coordinate the LGBTQ+ and elder care groups, and Cindi plans to continue to lead the prayer chain and Tuesday evening Compline gatherings. The members of the pastoral care team look forward to working with a new rector to develop a robust pastoral care program at St. Mary’s once they are in place.

If you have any questions about this transition time for pastoral care, please reach out to Susan or me. Congratulations on your new job with ECMN, Cindi, and thank you for you service to St. Mary’s in this role!

Brian Nerbonne

Warden

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Delegates to the ECMN Convention

The Episcopal Church in Minnesota (ECMN) will hold its annual convention November 5 & 6 (Friday evening and Saturday) in Bemidji this year and the plan is that it will be in-person. This is a gathering of Episcopalians from throughout Minnesota and here’s what’s on the website describing the convention: “After a long and difficult year apart from one another, we are eager to gather again in the flesh in November for our Episcopal Church in Minnesota “family reunion”. During our time together, we’ll take care of canonical business, including electing members to our governing bodies, considering resolutions and reviewing the financial statement of mission. We’ll hear stories from across the diocese and, most importantly, we’ll reacquaint ourselves with who we are as the people of the Episcopal Church in Minnesota.” 

Are you ready to venture outside St Mary’s, learn about ECMN as a whole and take on a role in the wider church? If so, this would be a good opportunity for you! St. Mary’s can have 3 delegates attend the convention. We also elect 1 or 2 alternates in case a delegate is unable to attend at the last minute. If you’re interested in learning more about this or becoming a delegate (or alternate) and attending the convention in Bemidji, please send an email to Brian Nerbonne: Michigander_guy@yahoo.com. Please express your interest by August 23rd.

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Notice of Death: Kathie Jepson

Last Sunday, Kris Danneker Jepson came to worship at St Mary’s.

She shared with us the sad news that her mom Kathie had died the day before at Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
 
Kathie and her husband Jim were active members of St. Mary’s for many years. During the pandemic Kathie often attended our Zoom worship services.
 
Cards and messages of condolence and support may be sent to:
 
Jim Jepson
1095 Felix Street
West St. Paul 55118
 
The family has planned a private ceremony and scattering of ashes.
 
O God we pray to you for Kathie, and for all those whom we love but see no longer. Grant to them eternal rest. Let light perpetual shine upon them. May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen
 
The Rev. Susan M. Moss

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 8/20 – 8/26

Sunday, August 22, 2021
Worship In-person and Live Stream with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Vestry Meeting
7:00pm
Contact for details and a link Click HERE

Tuesday, August 24, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, August 26, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, August 26, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s Weekly – June 18, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, June 20, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday The Rev Carol Arney will be our Preacher and Officiant.  This is a Morning Prayer Sunday so there won’t be Eucharist. Zoom coffee time and outdoor visiting for in-person worshippers will allow us to have social time after the service.

  • First Message: Psalm 107:1-3, 23-32
  • Gospel: Mark 4:35-41

For the Zoom worship service on June 20, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 657179
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 915 5954 9145

To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 915 5954 9145
If asked for a passcode, use 657179

For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the 2021 Summer Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Congratulations to our Graduating High School Seniors!

Search Committee Update

Altar Guild

Pastoral Care

Education

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St. Mary’s by The Rev. Susan Moss

After more than 4 months of worshiping with you on Zoom, and knowing many of you only on a screen, it was so good to be with many of you in person for the first time.

Since February, I have been learning how well you work together to craft robust and Spirit filled worship. Opening and walking through the sanctuary doors at 8:30 Sunday morning I was greeted by Vonda and the  “Borchestra” rehearsing.  Soon many others arrived to be greeters , to lead and welcome, to usher, serve as verger and on altar guild, proclaim the Gospel, broadcast the first hybrid service and more. Prior to this historic day, many more on The Regathering and Worship Teams had worked together to set the stage.
 
Clearly, leading and planning worship is one of St. Mary’s major charisms. A charism is a spiritual gift or talent given by the Holy Spirit for the benefit of others. In Ephesians 4:12 Paul writes that gifts (charisms) are given for the work of ministry in order to build up the body of Christ. In I Corinthians 12:7 Paul teaches  The Spirit’s presence is shown in some way in each person for the good of all.
 
Signs of the Spirit’s gifts and presence show up as you share your gifts in teamwork, your enthusiasm and joy, your shared concerns and blessings in prayer.
 
As we all continue to experiment and  learn in this new hybrid world, we can trust the Spirit will continue to empower St Marian’s with gifts and talents for leading and planning worship.
 

What’s New?

  • If you’d like to listen to the beautiful guided meditation that Erika Scheurer walked us through on June 6th, Click HERE.
  • If you’d like to listen to the sermon given by Brian Nerbonne (Warden) and The Rev. Susan Moss on June 13th (and maybe some photos and additional footage from the recorded service), Click HERE.
  • Not new, but so IMPORTANT:  Before you leave home, download and save the bulletin on your device and bring your device to church. For those with no device (cell phone, iPad, laptop), a few printed bulletins will be available on the left as you enter the sanctuary. The bulletin is shortened from our usual length.
  • An early HEADS UP:  July 4th is on a Sunday this year. The Worship Team scheduled Gospel Based Discipleship (GBD) for that Sunday since the likelihood is that the attendance will be extra low. Given our need to keep in-person worshippers safe, gathering in in-person groups for GBD discussion isn’t realistic. So July 4th will be a ZOOM ONLY worship service.

Feedback is welcome!
Expect changes as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! Your feedback is more important than ever before to help us know what’s working well and what isn’t. Please send your thoughts, ideas, suggestions to the Worship Team.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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Congratulations to Our Saint Mary’s High School Seniors!

 
Each year, we have the opportunity to join our congregation in celebrating some of the biggest milestones in each others’ lives. This has been a particularly challenging year and we want to hold up with special care and love our high school seniors who are graduating this spring!  We are so grateful to have had them in our midst enriching our communities, providing insight to our church and serving through their gifts.  This year we honor: 
 
Bennett Patrick Anderson: Bennett is graduating from Mahtomedi Senior High. His current greatest passion is playing Spikeball; he is participating in a tournament on Saturday to hopefully achieve status as a Premier Player, a nationwide ranking. Next year, Bennett plans to attend college of St. Benedict/St. John’s University and pursuing a major in Exercise Science and Sports Studies. Congratulations to Bennett and his parents Amy and Matt Anderson.
 
Ava McCallister: Ava is graduating from Central High School.  She participated in the life of Saint Mary’s through Sunday School, Tweeners, Youth Group and a variety of other events throughout the years.  She will be attending the University of Denver in the fall. A big congratulations to Ava and to her parents Josh and Cathy McCallister.
 
Lucas Nerbonne: Lucas is graduating from South High School in Minneapolis.  Throughout his time at Saint Mary’s he has been in Sunday school, Tweeners, and Youth Group but has really taken on leadership as a lay leader, song leader and in helping prepare for parish picnics.  He is headed to Middlebury College to study Environmental Science.  Congratulations to Lucas and to his parent Julia and Brian Nerbonne!
 
Max Johnson: Max is graduating from Great River School.  Throughout their time at Saint Mary’s, Max has been connected through Sunday school, Tweeners, Youth Group and a variety of other events throughout the years. They will be taking a gap year, during which they will move out, get a job and learn how to do life. After that, they will be heading to college!  Congratulations to Max and their parents Nina and Mike Johnson
 
God of creation, pour out your Spirit on our high school seniors as they enter a new period of life. Be with them as they begins new ventures knowing you have blessed them with hope and a future of success. Be with us all and help us to be reminded of your guidance in our lives. Amen.
 

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Search Committee Update

 

1. We’ve completed first-round interviews via Zoom. Topics covered in these deep, joyful, and wide-ranging conversations included:

– what drew them to priesthood

– what drew them to the St. Mary’s call

– favorite liturgical resources (aside from BCP)

– full and radical inclusion of all in the sacraments

– the role of young people (birth-18) in the church

– their personal processes and goals that support authentic and inspiring sermons

– administrative management experience

– equity and inclusion experience/education

– discernment and empowerment of lay leadership (skills, experiences, challenges)

– healthy organizational relationships that support a community-wide cycle of discernment/engagement/rest and mutual respect for privacy and autonomy. 

– organizational change management experience

2. We are delighted to be currently scheduling in-person interviews with two marvelous candidates (goal: end of June.) We are excited to build the itinerary for those visits, and to validate/iterate our planned topics for those conversations. 

Next steps: After these second, in-person interviews, the search committee will continue in deep discernment towards whole-hearted endorsement of someone as our next rector.  

We are buoyed by the deep listening, thinking, and sharing that our entire community has engaged in over the past year. We continue to offer and to ask for prayers of patience and grace during this time of intense and tantalizing discernment for our communal future. We all have such fierce faith in and passion for St. Mary’s, and we can’t wait to step into the future with you all.

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Volunteers for Saint Mary’s Altar Guild

As we open for the first time in a very long time, we are looking for new volunteers for Saint Mary’s Altar Guild. Your duties will be to serve on a team for one Sunday a month. Your team will set up for the services that day. Making sure that the wine and bread are ready for each service, the correct linens are placed where needed, candles are replaced occasionally, and various other small chores having to do that Sunday. Then clean up when the services are over. Once in a while there will be a 5th Sunday, those are rotated among the 4 teams. We really, really do need you, please volunteer if you are interested. I will talk you through the process in detail first and answer questions. Finally you will have the backup of other team members.

Also badly needed are folks that like to bake, one month out of the year you would bake the communion bread for that month, the recipe is simple and we have bakers that will give you the recipe and instructions.

Thank you, Kitty McFarland
mcfarlandkitty274@gmail.com or text 651-955-1639

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Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for Summer 2021:

LGBTQ+
Monday, June 21, and each third Monday, ongoing
6:30pm meets monthly for reflective conversation and community building. Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to
join us.

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Each Tuesday at 8:30pm, all are invited to pray Compline in our Zoom prayer room. We will use the
Prayer Book. This is a brief form of the Liturgy of the Hours, prayed before bedtime. All are
welcome. Contact Rev. Cindi for details / the link.
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org 

Healing Circle
Healing Circles help us step out of ordinary time into a safe and accepting environment in which
each of us can explore our own healing. This quiet confidential prayer last about an hour and
support each of us in our personal healing work. Our next circle will be held on June 29. We are
hoping to meet in person at St Mary’s. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more
information / to register and to get the link.

Join our Prayer Chain:
Pray with and for your friends and family at Saint Mary’s 
Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to be included among those praying for 
the needs of St. Marians or if you have a prayer request. (No meeting required)

For confidential prayer requests or to join any of these events: 
Reach out to Reverend Cindi Brickson at 
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org for a Zoom Link

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Book Club

Next iteration of the St. Mary’s Book Club — video edition

Slavery and racism aren’t new – and they aren’t accidental. How were these systems created in the British colonies and woven into the founding of the United States? Join us for a series of “watch parties” in which we will view and discuss the 2005 PBS series “Slavery and the Making of America.”

We will meet Mondays at 7:30, starting on June 14, for 6 sessions (final session on July 12). Feel free to join us even if you can’t make all the meetings. We’ll watch 30 – 40 minutes of the video and then have some time for discussion at each session. Plan for sessions to run 7:30 – 8:30 PM, with the option for people to stay later for further discussion if there is interest.

Please email Beth Varro at beth.varro@gmail.com to sign up and get the Zoom link. Hope you can join us!

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 6/18 – 6/24

Sunday, June 20, 2021
Worship with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Monday, June 21, 2021
LGBTQ+
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Monday, June 21, 2021
Book Club
7:30pm
Please email Beth Varro at beth.varro@gmail.com to sign up and get the Zoom link.

Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Vestry Meeting
7:00pm
Contact for details and a link Click HERE

Tuesday, June 22, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, June 24, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, June 24, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service Via Zoom
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

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Saint Mary’s News from the Wardens and Vestry – Return to In-person Worship

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May 21, 2021

Dear St. Mary’s community,
 
Your vestry and I would like to share some details about planning for a return to in-person worship. It has been a long time since we have been together in person, and we believe it is time to soon regather. This decision comes in consideration of new guidance from the CDC, the state of Minnesota, and the Episcopal Church of Minnesota (ECMN) that all suggest the time is right. We have set the date for our first in-person worship as June 13, 2021.
 
The vestry’s conversation on regathering focused on the values that we want to uphold during this transition. Safety will be a big emphasis; we recognize that we are a multi-generational congregation that includes kids who cannot be vaccinated yet, and we may have adults in the congregation who also cannot for medical reasons. The same values are a part of revised guidance being produced by ECMN that continues to require masking within church buildings, and maintaining 6-foot social distances.
 
Another important value that will be stressed is inclusivity. We recognize that some members of the congregation will not be ready to return to services right now, and for others that may always be the case. A hybrid model for services will allow us to continue to include people at home (or the cabin) in weekly services. We are looking at technology to make this a higher quality production. Though the hybrid services will likely be a different experience from our usual Zoom model for those at home, we are confident that we can continue to offer Zoom access to our services.
 
We have heard from many people that music is an important element of worship. A return to in-person worship will allow for more options for the number of musicians playing together, including at least some singing. That won’t include congregational singing right now, but attendees at services can certainly hum along.
 
Many people desire a return of the sacrament of communion. This will be allowed under ECMN’s guidance, although we may not be able to offer it every service. Our worship planning team has planned a mixture of clergy and lay-led services over the past several months as we await the hiring of our next rector, and that will continue through the summer.
 
Staying within our congregation’s capacity is another important value. We are humbled by how many of you have gifted your time and talents to our community. These gifts speak to the passion we all have for St. Mary’s, however all of our points of engagement have stretched our capacity to take on more. With that in mind, we have chosen to focus on the longer-term approach of planning indoor services rather than planning for outdoor services as an interim step. 
 
It will take more volunteers than our pre-COVID services to fill roles like ushers, greeters and live-stream techies. With many people already busy on committees like Search, Worship Planning and Communications, more people to step up to take on a role on Sundays will be needed. Please consider answering the call for volunteers to fill these roles, which will be coming in the next week or two. If you would like to be a part of the Regathering Committee that is making some of these decisions on how to conduct services, we would also welcome your participation. Reach out to Cindi Brickson or Brian Nerbonne if you are interested.
 
We will approach this change knowing that we are building the road as we walk it. Things may not be perfect, especially at the start, but we will learn from each service and apply those lessons going forward. We appreciate the guidance that Susan is giving, and all of the efforts of volunteers and staff who are working to make our worship services happen
 
The vestry shares the excitement that many are feeling about once again being together. Stay tuned for more details as they become available.
 
Caroline Kaker, outgoing warden
Jim Deluca, outgoing warden

Saint Mary’s Weekly – May 20, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, May 23, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday we’ll hear the story of the first Pentecost, the day that the Holy Spirit first shows herself. The Rev. Susan Moss will lead the service and be the preacher. The color of the day is red, a symbol of tongues of fire and a reminder of an invisible reality that the whole Christian life is fueled by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. In preparation for the Question of the Day discussion, give some thought to “How is the Holy Spirit at work in your life? At Saint Mary’s? In the world?” And…pull out those red clothes, red flowers, red backdrops!!

  • First Reading: Acts 2:1-21…Story of the first Pentecost…A MUST READ!!!
  • Second Message: by Sr Joan Chittister (OSB)
  • Gospel: John 15:26-27; 16:4b-15…The Promise of the Holy Spirit

For the Zoom worship service on May 23, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 657179
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 915 5954 9145

To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 915 5954 9145
If asked for a passcode, use 657179

For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Music Bulletin – Click HERE

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at Saint Mary’s by the Rev. Susan M. Moss

While grateful for time in our gardens, restaurant dinners, baseball games, the voices of children playing outside, the fragrance of lilacs, the lifting of pandemic related restrictions and more, at the same time we continue to live in a betwixt and between world that is disorienting and confusing.

Guided now by values identified by the Saint Mary’s vestry, the Worship Team will enter a time of crafting liturgies for the summer that align with these values. We are energized by the desire for an inclusive and safe regathering for in person worship; a regathering that will include virtual attendance and continued lay leadership.

At the same time we know we are in-between somethings that have ended and a new things that are not yet ready to begin.

In these betwixt and between times, this “journey without maps” we must learn our way through by listening, experimenting, reflecting on what we learn, and moving ahead.

Pentecost Sunday will remind that we are not alone. The Holy Spirit is God’s presence among us. The Spirit’s gifts empower us for the work of ministry. And, for those of us who are overwhelmed by paddling the whitewater rapids of constant change, the Spirit is given to comfort us in betwixt and between times.

Some days I pray—-Holy Spirit empower me with wisdom, strength and new eyes to see! Other days, I pray, Holy Spirit comfort me. Life is hard right now.

Let us hold fast to the promises proclaimed in the Pentecost Sunday Gospel and pray for the Spirit’s guidance in uncertain times. Jesus said: When the Spirit of truth comes, s/he will guide you into all the truth; for s/he will not speak on her/his own, but will speak whatever s/he hears, and s/he will declare to you the things that are to come.

What’s New?

  • To hear the sermon from The Rev. Liza Anderson given on May 16, Click HERE
  • A poem by Pope Francis, entitled “Pentecost People”:

Come, Holy Spirit, and make us Pentecost people.
Let your wisdom and right judgment guide our decisions and temper our impulses.
Let knowledge and understanding increase our capacity for empathy and compassion.
Let reverence and awe fill us with gratitude and respect for all creation.
Give us courage to witness boldly to our faith in word and deed.
Through and with and in Jesus Christ, we pray. Amen.

Feedback is welcome!

We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

Look for a special email from the Wardens and Vestry coming out in the next day or two and Join the Saint Mary’s Re-Gathering Team!

Are you looking forward to a time when we can once again gather in-person? Are you interested in being a part of a Team to help make that happen?

As we work towards approval from ECMN of our Saint Mary’s “Plan for Re-Opening for Physical Worship”, we also need to work out the internal logistics of holding in-person indoor and outdoor gatherings. We are looking to expand our Re-Gathering Team to include:

  • Technology coordinator(s)
  • Volunteer coordinator(s)
  • RSVP coordinator(s)
  • Safety Trainer for all Volunteers and Building Users
  • Cleaning coordinator(s)

We are looking forward to creating a complete and vibrant Team to help make this happen. We would like to assemble this Team as soon as we can to be prepared when the time is right.

If you are interested in joining the Re-Gathering Team or have any questions, please email regathering@saintmarysepiscopal.org.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for May 2021:

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, May 25 and each Tuesday following at 8:30pm, all are invited to pray Compline in our Zoom prayer room. We will use the Prayer Book. This is a brief form of the Liturgy of the Hours, prayed before bedtime. All are welcome. Contact Rev. Cindi for details / the link.
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org

Healing Circle
Healing Circles help us step out of ordinary time into a safe and accepting environment in which each of us can explore our own healing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information and to get the link.

Join our Prayer Chain:
Pray with and for your friends and family at Saint Mary’s
Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to be included among those praying for
the needs of St. Marians or if you have a prayer request. (No meeting required)

For confidential prayer requests or to join any of these events:
Reach out to Reverend Cindi Brickson at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org for a Zoom Link

Healing Our City

Every morning, 8:00am

A diverse group of faith leaders from across Minneapolis have created Healing Our City, a virtual prayer tent. You are invited to join the Zoom call each day at 8am for a 20-minute prayer for healing and reflection. Click HERE to learn more and join people of all faiths, across Minneapolis and beyond, in prayer for healing and solidarity.

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 5/21 – 5/27

Sunday, May 23, 2021
Worship with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Vestry
7:00pm
Contact Wardens for link Click HERE

Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, May 27, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, May 27, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service Via Zoom
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

 

Saint Mary’s Weekly – April 29, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, May 2, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This will be the fifth Sunday of Easter and we’ll be hearing one of the ECMN
Eastertide sermons, given by The Rev. Kerri Meyer. The Rev. Kerri Meyer and her
spouse, Dr. Jennifer Blecha, are cultivating an agrarian ministry on their organic farm in
Hutchinson. The vision of Good Courage Farm called her back home to Minnesota after
having been ordained to the priesthood in the Diocese of California and serving as
Associate Rector of St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church in San Francisco. Everything
that used to be a hobby for her has now become her livelihood, so there’s not much she can say about pastimes any more. Kerri has a fondness for animals that are black and
white, which almost makes up for nothing else in life being that simple. Hospitality is
part of Good Courage’s charism, so Kerri and Jen want you to know that everyone
reading these words is warmly invited to come out for weekday morning prayer with
coffee and pie, a Sunday afternoon nap in a hammock, or a weekend farmstay complete
with chores and fresh eggs.

  • First Reading: Acts 8:26-40 Phillip proclaims the good news of Jesus to the
    Ethiopian Eunuch
  • Second Message: Will be screen shared
  • Gospel: John 15:1-8 I am the true vine and my father is the vine grower

For the Zoom worship service on May 2, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 657179
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 915 5954 9145

To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 915 5954 9145
If asked for a passcode, use 657179

For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Music Bulletin – Click HERE

Worship Team

What’s New?

  • To listen to the “State of St. Mary’s” given by our Wardens, Jim DeLuca & Caroline Kaker, Click HERE.
  • “Up to the Mountain” performed by Maggie Brickson, Click Here.
  • Thank You video presented at the end of the Annual Meeting. Thank you Julie P. & Laura-Lee B. for making this happen! Click HERE.
  • The uncut version of the Thank You videos if you would like to grab a bowl of popcorn or other snack. (unedited version ~30 minutes), Click HERE.

If you have a hankering to put your thoughts about liturgy in the pot (on the Team, that is!), now is a good time to join the Worship Team. We’ll soon be planning Pentecost and then the long “Ordinary Times” season, running from May 30-November 21. All thoughts, all perspectives are welcome. Our next meeting is Saturday, May 8, 5-6pm. We’re meeting about every other week. If you’re interested, Click HERE.

Feedback is welcome!
We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

Join the Saint Mary’s Re-Gathering Team!

Are you looking forward to a time when we can once again gather in-person? Are you interested in being a part of a Team to help make that happen?

As we work towards approval from ECMN of our Saint Mary’s “Plan for Re-Opening for Physical Worship”, we also need to work out the internal logistics of holding in-person indoor and outdoor gatherings. We are looking to expand our Re-Gathering Team to include:

  • Technology coordinator(s)
  • Volunteer coordinator(s)
  • RSVP coordinator(s)
  • Safety Trainer for all Volunteers and Building Users
  • Cleaning coordinator(s)

We are looking forward to creating a complete and vibrant Team to help make this happen. We would like to assemble this Team as soon as we can to be prepared when the time is right.

If you are interested in joining the Re-Gathering Team or have any questions, please email regathering@saintmarysepiscopal.org.

Now Easy Online Giving on Saint Mary’s Website

Now you can quickly and easily donate to Saint Mary’s online via credit or debit card, or by bank account! Our new, secure online e-giving program, established in conjunction with Vanco, is now available on the front page of the St. Mary’s website. Simply go to the website and click on “Contribute” in the heading or scroll down and click on “Give Online 2021 Stewardship” and you will be able to quickly make online donations. You can also use the following link: https://secure.myvanco.com/YNB0.

The Vanco e-giving service allows you to direct your giving to several different funds on either a one-time or recurring basis. One-time gifts involve three easy steps. If you want to establish recurring donations, such as weekly or monthly pledge donations to our general fund, you will need to set up an account through Vanco, which is also easy to do.

Credit and debit cards have a 2.75% administrative fee attached to each transaction, and payments via a bank account include a 1% fee. You can choose to cover these fees with your donation. Of course, you still have the option of mailing in your donations or setting up auto-pay through your bank, options which do not have administrative fees.

Following is a link (Click HERE) to instructions for donating through our new e-giving site, including screen shots and written instructions. Check out our giving site now on the Saint Mary’s website or at https://secure.myvanco.com/YNB0, and thanks for your donations, regardless of how you choose to give!

If you have questions or need more information, feel free to contact Rex Holzemer at rexaholzemer@gmail.com or 651-308-4895.

Annual Meeting Finance Update

Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, presented information at the April 25th Annual meeting regarding the 2020 budget and the budget and household pledge trend lines from 2018 to 2021. The documents shared at the meeting are included in the following link:

Click HERE for the 2021 budget document shared at the meeting.
Click HERE for the document on St. Mary’s UBS Investments shared at the meeting.

The 2021 budget has a projected deficit of ($23,232). As of March 31, 2021, pledge income is approximately $16,000 above budget. However, this is due in large part to parishioners who have paid half or their full annual pledge in the first three months of the year. We expect that the 2021 annual deficit may actually run even higher than projected, possibly closer to $30,000 once a permanent rector is hired and salary and benefits for the position are finalized.

The 2020 deficit was ($29,172). However, we were able to eliminate the deficit with the transfer of the $31,700 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan to the operating budget that St. Mary’s received and which was totally forgiven. The 2019 deficit was ($23,170), but this deficit was also eliminated with the transfer of a $25,000 grant to the operating budget from the GHR Foundation. We are not eligible for a second-round PPP loan, and the 2021 deficit will most likely have to be covered from reserves in the Heritage Fund (Click HERE regarding St. Mary’s UBS Investments for more information).

From a historical perspective, in the early 2000’s, St. Mary’s started to grow gradually, but consistently, both in terms of membership and overall budget. The peak year was 2018 when our total budget was $358,339, and we had 172 household pledges totaling approximately $255,000. Since that year, both our budget and household pledges have decreased significantly. Our 2021 budget is $244,909 and we have only 57 household pledges totaling $165,813.

Fortunately, the generosity of past parishioners has left us with reserves, so that we can sustain deficits, if needed, for several years as we rebuild our parish membership. However, if we go beyond 3 -4 years at the level projected for 2021, we will severely strain our reserves in the Heritage Fund, which has covered deficits in the past, as needed.

If you have questions or need further information regarding St. Mary’s budget, please feel free to contact Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at rexaholzemer@gmail.com or 651-308-4895.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for May 2021:

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, May 4 and each Tuesday following at 8:30pm, all are invited to pray Compline in our Zoom prayer room. We will use the Prayer Book. This is a brief form of the Liturgy of the Hours, prayed before bedtime. All are welcome. Contact Rev. Cindi for details / the link.
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org

Healing Circle
Healing Circles help us step out of ordinary time into a safe and accepting environment in which each of us can explore our own healing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information and to get the link.

Join our Prayer Chain:
Pray with and for your friends and family at Saint Mary’s
Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to be included among those praying for
the needs of St. Marians or if you have a prayer request. (No meeting required)

For confidential prayer requests or to join any of these events:
Reach out to Reverend Cindi Brickson at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org for a Zoom Link

Outreach Opportunity: The Performance Collective

www.cfpampls.com/collective

Bookkeeper needed (volunteer) for an emerging group of local artists who are reimagining sustainable art practice. There are deep, systemic inequities in how and for whom performance is made in our local community. The Collective is an inclusive group of Twin Cities artist-activists, longtime leaders of the local arts community who are connected to each other through an urgent desire to advance our capability to change the world. We hold decades of producing experience, with the artistry, the curiosity, and the commitment to justice that will shape a new creative ecosystem: that sustainably supports artists and their work; where artists share investment, resources, risk, and reward; while dismantling racist, patriarchal, oppressive structures that prevent all artists from exercising full agency. We strive to open any barriers to entry for audiences, so that all can experience new voices, new stories, and build new capacities for understanding and taking action in the world. A more equitable system of performance-making can lead our communities toward equity and justice for all.

In order to take our next steps, we need someone with basic bookkeeping skills to maintain a monthly balance sheet for us and make a brief monthly report. 3-5 hours/month. For more details Click HERE or email jennieward2@gmail.com.

Mission Area Gatherings

You (yes, you) are enthusiastically invited and encouraged to attend your upcoming Mission Area Gathering. One of the recurring themes that came out of the discernment committees is that mission areas are crucial are for conducting experiments in discipleship, innovation, vitality, and story-sharing. We are called to be Christians together, and that means getting outside our faith community’s walls and finding out what our nearest Episcopalian neighbors are up to.

East Metro: Saturday, May 8 at 1pm – Register Click HERE

Healing Our City

Every morning, 8:00am

A diverse group of faith leaders from across Minneapolis have created Healing Our City, a virtual prayer tent. You are invited to join the Zoom call each day at 8am for a 20-minute prayer for healing and reflection. Click HERE to learn more and join people of all faiths, across Minneapolis and beyond, in prayer for healing and solidarity.

Relationships & Common Good

As we move through this Eastertide season, the vestry wanted to share with you, our beloved community, that we are preparing to partner with you on answering the following question: What would church look like that serves the common good for our Saint Mary’s community and strengthens our relationships? Come Easter, the season of rebirth and new growth, we will bring suggestions on how we might start to engage in community conversations around this question. In the meantime, if you have any thoughts or reflections, please share them with any member of the vestry, or email our wardens HERE.

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 4/30 – 5/6

Sunday, May 2, 2021
Worship with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Men’s Group
7:00pm
Click Here for more details on how to join

Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Caring for an aged loved one
7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, May 6, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, May 6, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service Via Zoom
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

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.
If you receive the Weekly email, you are on the list.

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

 

Saint Mary’s Weekly – April 22, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, April 25, 2021
Worship via Zoom —10:00am

This will be the fourth Sunday of Easter. You’ll notice right away that there
are some things missing from this service. There isn’t a First Reading or a Second
Message…there isn’t spiritual communion…there is less music. Yes, all of this is
intentional, just for this Sunday, because it’s Annual Meeting Sunday at St. Mary’s
and there’s so much going on and so, so, so much you’ll want to hear about. The
service has been shortened to allow as much time as possible to hear from Jim
DeLuca and Caroline Kaker, our Wardens (during the sermon time), and from
others during the Annual Meeting.

  • Psalm 23 (sung)—“The Lord is my shepherd…”
  • Gospel: John 10:11-18—I am the Good Shepherd

For the Zoom worship service on April 25, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 657179
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 915 5954 9145

To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 915 5954 9145
If asked for a passcode, use 657179

For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Music Bulletin – Click HERE

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at Saint Mary’s by the Rev. Susan M. Moss

Presiding Bishop Curry was invited to give a message to Minnesota at the ECMN Compline service on Tuesday night, April 20th.

Here’s the link to his powerful words in case you missed it.
https://www.facebook.com/healingourcity/posts/272469991193202

What’s New?

  • To hear The Rev Susan Moss’ sermon from Sunday, April 18 Click HERE.
  • To read the Second Message from last Sunday, Click HERE.
  • If you have a hankering to put your thoughts about liturgy in the pot (on the Team, that is!), now is a good time to join the Worship Team. We’ll soon be planning Pentecost and then the long “Ordinary Times” season, running from May 30-November 21. All thoughts, all perspectives are welcome. We’re meeting about every other week. If you’re interested, Click HERE.

Feedback is welcome!
We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.
Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

Hear Ye, hear ye…Come one, come all…Saint Mary’s Annual Meeting, April 25

What’s going on??? What’s so important?? What’s this all about?? Sunday, April 25, is Saint Mary’s Annual Meeting and this is an Annual Meeting you won’t want to miss! There is so much going on at Saint Mary’s these days that the Wardens will be using the sermon time to give the “State of the Church” message, and after the service the Annual Meeting will start. We’ll hear an up-date on the Search process, information about gathering in person, a report on Saint Mary’s finances, and elections for Vestry members and Wardens. Come at 10am for the worship service and stay for the Annual Meeting. See you Sunday!!! Oh, questions in advance are invited! What do you want to know about Saint Mary’s? About what’s going on? Submit your questions to the Wardens – Click HERE.

Join the Saint Mary’s Re-Gathering Team!

Are you looking forward to a time when we can once again gather in-person? Are you interested in being a part of a Team to help make that happen?

As we work towards approval from ECMN of our Saint Mary’s “Plan for Re-Opening for Physical Worship”, we also need to work out the internal logistics of holding in-person indoor and outdoor gatherings. We are looking to expand our Re-Gathering Team to include:

  • Safety Trainer for all Volunteers and Building Users
  • Volunteer coordinator(s)
  • RSVP coordinator(s)
  • Cleaning coordinator(s)
  • Technology coordinator(s)

We are looking forward to creating a complete and vibrant Team to help make this happen. We would like to assemble this Team as soon as we can to be prepared when the time is right.

If you are interested in joining the Re-Gathering Team or have any questions, please email regathering@saintmarysepiscopal.org.

Now Easy Online Giving on Saint Mary’s Website

Now you can quickly and easily donate to Saint Mary’s online via credit or debit card, or by bank account! Our new, secure online e-giving program, established in conjunction with Vanco, is now available on the front page of the St. Mary’s website. Simply go to the website and click on “Contribute” in the heading or scroll down and click on “Give Online 2021 Stewardship” and you will be able to quickly make online donations. You can also use the following link: https://secure.myvanco.com/YNB0.

The Vanco e-giving service allows you to direct your giving to several different funds on either a one-time or recurring basis. One-time gifts involve three easy steps. If you want to establish recurring donations, such as weekly or monthly pledge donations to our general fund, you will need to set up an account through Vanco, which is also easy to do.

Credit and debit cards have a 2.75% administrative fee attached to each transaction, and payments via a bank account include a 1% fee. You can choose to cover these fees with your donation. Of course, you still have the option of mailing in your donations or setting up auto-pay through your bank, options which do not have administrative fees.

Following is a link (Click HERE) to instructions for donating through our new e-giving site, including screen shots and written instructions. Check out our giving site now on the Saint Mary’s website or at https://secure.myvanco.com/YNB0, and thanks for your donations, regardless of how you choose to give!

If you have questions or need more information, feel free to contact Rex Holzemer at rexaholzemer@gmail.com or 651-308-4895.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for April 2021:

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, April 27 and each Tuesdays following at 8:30pm, all are invited to pray Compline in our Zoom prayer room. We will use the Prayer Book. This is a brief form of the Liturgy of the Hours, prayed before bedtime. All are welcome. Contact Rev. Cindi for details / the link.
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org

Healing Circle
Healing Circles help us step out of ordinary time into a safe and accepting environment in which each of us can explore our own healing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information and to get the link.

Join our Prayer Chain:
Pray with and for your friends and family at Saint Mary’s
Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to be included among those praying for
the needs of St. Marians or if you have a prayer request. (No meeting required)

For confidential prayer requests or to join any of these events:
Reach out to Reverend Cindi Brickson at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org for a Zoom Link

Warden Candidate – Brian Nerbonne

Name: Brian Nerbonne

Position: Warden – 1 year term

My family and I have been coming to church at St. Mary’s for about 11 years. I am grateful for such a wonderful community to help raise our kids, Lucas and Clara, and for the good friends we have made here. I previously served a term on the vestry as Outreach Chair, and am now two years into a second stint on the vestry. I’ve been active in buildings and grounds, on the worship planning team, and I help with tech stuff for Sunday Zoom services. I have offered to spend my final year of my vestry term as warden, finishing Caroline Kaker’s term. I am excited about the future for St. Mary’s as we look to call our new rector and hopefully soon return to in-person worship. I look forward to being a part of shaping our bright future.

Vestry Candidate – Lisa Stratton

1. Name: Lisa Stratton

2. Which position are you interested in filling?  Vestry, 3-year term

3. Are you a member of Saint Mary’s?  Yes

4. Do you attend Saint Mary’s on a regular basis?  Yes

Why are you interested to serve our community by being elected to our warden / vestry?
I’ve been coming to St. Mary’s for about 18 years. St. Mary’s is the only church community where I’ve felt completely at home and I know we’ve been a church home for others who might not easily find such a welcoming church. I believe we have something very special that makes that true and I’d like to be part of our ongoing discernment of what that is and how we can best preserve and build upon it through another major transition.

Since December, I’ve been serving on the Worship Team that has been meeting weekly, and I’ve attended several of the monthly Vestry meetings since last fall, so I feel reasonably informed about the nature of the responsibility.

I hope to add to the mix of skills and talents on the vestry. As we go through a search process and the development of an employment contract, it could prove helpful to have someone with employment law knowledge participating. Service on several government task forces with stakeholders of divergent viewpoints that achieved consensus on policy recommendations gives me confidence that I’ll be able to work productively with the group toward shared outcomes that serve the whole church community.

When St. Mary’s was hosting three services, I attended the 9:00 service.

Which worship styles and liturgies nourish you and do you attend most often (please select / highlight):

– Services with much music drawn from various time-periods, cultures, and traditions.
– Modern and inclusive language.
– A balance of scripture and non-scriptural readings and inspiration.
– Liturgy reflecting the seasons and current events.
– Lay-led services with engaged discussion.
– Focus on justice and community service.
– Contemplative practices.

Vestry Candidate – Joe McManmon

1. Name:  Joe McManmon

2. Which position are you interested in filling?  Vestry, 3-year term

3. Are you a member of Saint Mary’s?  Yes and my family

4. Do you attend Saint Mary’s on a regular basis?  Yes

Why are you interested to serve our community by being elected to our warden / vestry?
In recent months, I have spent a lot of time discovering and verbalizing who we are as St Marians through the Search Committee. My perspectives are strongly influenced by my faith, my husband and our multi-racial child. I hold a strong desire to strengthen our community and help lead us through change, from Covid restrictions; online services; new priest; growing concern for equity, diversity & inclusion. I am excited for our growth while maintaining our history. I bring gifts of an open mind, analytical skills, listening, and organization.

When we were hosting three services, which service did you most frequently attend (7:45, 9:00, or 11:00)? I attended the 9AM.

Which worship styles and liturgies nourish you and do you attend most often (please select / highlight):
– Lay-led services
– Services with much music
– Contemporary

Vestry Candidate – Jennifer Wedel


‌1. Name:  Jennifer Wedel

2. Position?  Vestry, 3-year term

3. Member?  Yes

4. Attend regularly?  Yes

5. Why I am interested

I came to St. Mary’s at the invitation of Paulette Briese, who has been a family friend since forever. Paulette invited me to join the group creating the new 9am service to give the perspective of a “de-churched” person. The irony is — participating in that process “re-churched” me! I attended infrequently for a few years, and now I come almost every week (Zoom lets me come more often). I’ve run the dishwasher as part of the Newcomers group, my daughter and I have opened the door and said “hello” as folks come in, and I’ve been a verger — which I think of as operational support for a spiritual event. Most recently, I was loudly called to serve on our search committee. I live in Roseville with my elderly dad and 3rd grade daughter Caroline, who comes to church with me. She is usually rolling around on the rug with the younger kiddos. Paulette and Bruce are her godparents. A quick personal and professional bio: I grew up in the Twin Cities, then migrated to Northern California, where I spent 20 years before returning. I’m divorced, and most of my family is widely dispersed around the country. My professional path has been a winding and satisfying road: journalist, travel writer, editor, civil rights and economic justice lawyer, marketing writer, and now I am my own boss as a marketing strategist.

The gifts that I hope to bring to the vestry are:

  • Via my service on the search committee, I have developed a deep and intimate understanding of our church community — as a whole.
  • I am plain-spoken and I advocate for transparent communication and decision-making.
  • I am a fan of the “disagree and then commit” framework for group work. This means — engage in healthy and strong debate, then make a decision, and support that decision without undercutting it.
  • I believe that vision is useless without execution. I do have vision, certainly, but I’m prepared to roll up my sleeves and work.
  • I’m at the expert level with regard to project planning and management.
  • My friends say that I am kind, generous, and funny.
  • I am vulnerable in my spirituality, and I am moved to tears even during dry committee meetings — because even dry committee work is to support our beloved community. At in-person church, I am usually the one dripping tears (literally) on the floor.
  • I am loyal. The love and appreciation and protectiveness that I feel for St. Mary’s surprises me sometimes.
  • My daughter and I both speak Spanish and have personal connections to Latinx immigrant communities in the North Metro

Participate in:

  • Whatever needs doing, to be honest. Wherever there’s a need to fill.
  • I feel an affinity with Communications and Newcomers and Families and The Future of Church

I will share perspectives from:

  • the sandwich generation
  • an elementary school parent
  • a lifelong learner of social justice issues, especially racial justice and gender justice
  • a de-churched and re-churched person, with a lot of healthy skepticism woven in with my faith
  • newcomers to Minnesota

I am prepared to lead our community:

  • I prefer to listen and learn and discern where I might best serve as a leader.

6. Services and worship styles

Before COVID, I attended the 9am service. In spirit, I attended the contemplative service, but the timing never worked. 🙂
Which worship styles and liturgies nourish you and do you attend
most often (please select / highlight):
– Morning prayer / noonday prayer / evening prayer / compline
– Contemplative
– Lay-led services
– Services without music
– Services with much music
– Smaller-group chapel, without music, with engaged discussion
– Contemporary
– Traditional, Rite I
– Traditional, Rite II
– High church with smells and bells
– Anything that provides eucharist
– Interfaith worship, or being a guest in another faith’s house of worship

Outreach Opportunity: The Performance Collective

www.cfpampls.com/collective

Bookkeeper needed (volunteer) for an emerging group of local artists who are reimagining sustainable art practice. There are deep, systemic inequities in how and for whom performance is made in our local community. The Collective is an inclusive group of Twin Cities artist-activists, longtime leaders of the local arts community who are connected to each other through an urgent desire to advance our capability to change the world. We hold decades of producing experience, with the artistry, the curiosity, and the commitment to justice that will shape a new creative ecosystem: that sustainably supports artists and their work; where artists share investment, resources, risk, and reward; while dismantling racist, patriarchal, oppressive structures that prevent all artists from exercising full agency. We strive to open any barriers to entry for audiences, so that all can experience new voices, new stories, and build new capacities for understanding and taking action in the world. A more equitable system of performance-making can lead our communities toward equity and justice for all.

In order to take our next steps, we need someone with basic bookkeeping skills to maintain a monthly balance sheet for us and make a brief monthly report. 3-5 hours/month. For more details Click HERE or email jennieward2@gmail.com.

Mission Area Gatherings

You (yes, you) are enthusiastically invited and encouraged to attend your upcoming Mission Area Gathering. One of the recurring themes that came out of the discernment committees is that mission areas are crucial are for conducting experiments in discipleship, innovation, vitality, and story-sharing. We are called to be Christians together, and that means getting outside our faith community’s walls and finding out what our nearest Episcopalian neighbors are up to.

East Metro: Saturday, May 8 at 1pm – Register Click HERE

Healing Our City

Every morning, 8:00am

A diverse group of faith leaders from across Minneapolis have created Healing Our City, a virtual prayer tent. You are invited to join the Zoom call each day at 8am for a 20-minute prayer for healing and reflection. Click HERE to learn more and join people of all faiths, across Minneapolis and beyond, in prayer for healing and solidarity.

Relationships & Common Good

As we move through this Eastertide season of reflection and preparation, the vestry wanted to share with you, our beloved community, that we are preparing to partner with you on answering the following question: What would church look like that serves the common good for our Saint Mary’s community and strengthens our relationships? Come Easter, the season of rebirth and new growth, we will bring suggestions on how we might start to engage in community conversations around this question. In the meantime, if you have any thoughts or reflections, please share them with any member of the vestry, or email our wardens HERE.

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 4/23 – 4/29

Sunday, April 25, 2021
Worship
10:00am
Link

Sunday, April 25, 2021
Saint Mary’s Annual Meeting following Church

Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Vestry Meeting
7:00pm
Contact Wardens for meeting link Click HERE

Tuesday, April 27, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, April 29, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, April 29, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service Via Zoom
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

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.
If you receive this email, you are on the list.

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

 

Saint Mary’s Weekly – April 1, 2021

by

Worship Services this Week

Maundy Thursday – April 1, 2021

There are several options for you to choose from:

  • 7:00pm service at Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church in Sunfish Lake. To learn more Click HERE.
  • 7:00pm service at Christ Church in Woodbury. At home foot washing— Please have basin, pitcher of water and towel on hand. To join Zoom meeting, Click HERE:
    • Meeting ID: 830 9408 6729 Passcode: 027703
  • 7:30pm service at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. Susan will preach. If you would like to worship with Saint Mark’s Cathedral during Holy Week Click HERE for the schedule of services and for online registration.

Good Friday – April 2, 2021

There are several options for you to choose from:

  • 7:00pm Tenebrae* service at Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church in Sunfish Lake. To learn more Click HERE.
  • 7:00pm Tenebrae* service at Christ Church in Woodbury. Click HERE.
    • Meeting ID: 841 6184 8651 Passcode: 666575
  • Noon service at Saint Mark’s Cathedral. If you would like to worship with Saint Mark’s Cathedral during Holy Week Click HERE for the schedule of services and for on line registration.

*Tenebrae: Service of light to dark

Easter Vigil – April 3, 2021

Join the Family Friendly 4:00pm Zoom service from Saint Mary’s. Bring bells to
ring!! Email worship@saintmarysepiscopal.org for information on how to attend.

Easter Sunday – April 4, 2021

Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to Follow – 10:00am

This Sunday is Easter Sunday, and we celebrate Jesus’ resurrection. Get out of
your pj’s and put on your Easter finery!! Wear a bonnet, a hat, bunny ears; hold a
stuffed rabbit; have flowers on your screen with you…whatever makes you think of
Easter! Saint Mary’s will be hearing Bishop Loya’s Easter sermon. Alleluias and
Baptismal Covenant return. Spiritual communion will be celebrated. Join us to
celebrate the resurrection!

  • First Message: Acts 10:34-43
  • Gospel: Mark 16:1-8 Peter proclaims the peace of Jesus is for all.

For the Zoom worship service on April 4, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 657179
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 915 5954 9145

To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 915 5954 9145
If asked for a passcode, use 657179

For the Easter Service Bulletin – Click HERE

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at Saint Mary’s by the Rev. Susan M. Moss

The Easter Triduum is ahead of us now. Beginning at sundown on Maundy Thursday these three days celebrate the newness of life which flows from the the crucified, buried and risen Christ. While we’re beginning to “see the light at the end of the tunnel” and the hope of regathering face to face, Saint Mary’s will gather together virtually on Easter Sunday for the second time. It’s good to remember the encouragement in Presiding Bishop Curry’s Easter 2020 sermon. Acknowledging that we won’t be in church, singing favorite Easter hymns, he said

“ …it may not look like Easter. It may not smell like it. It may not feel like it. But, it’s Easter anyway.” The bishop likened the feeling to the first Easter: Jesus executed; his followers uncertain where God was; then the miracle of resurrection.
“Easter was about a tragedy that was turned into a triumph; about God working behind the scenes, invisibly, in ways that people didn’t know,” Curry said. “And if we work together with our God and together with each other we will find our way forward.”

Dear people of Saint Mary’s: Let us be strong and take heart.
Have courage. Hold fast to that which is good. Easter is coming.

What’s New?

  • To hear the meditation from Palm Sunday given by The Rev. Susan Moss, Click HERE.
  • During the Easter Season:
    • We will celebrate spiritual communion.
    • We will have 3 readings each Sunday: A reading from Acts, a non-Scripture message and the Gospel.
    • We will continue to have a question to talk about in Virtual Coffee Hour #1 on most Sundays, followed by a Social Virtual Coffee Hour.

Feedback is welcome!
We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

Now Easy Online Giving Available!

Now you can quickly and easily donate to Saint Mary’s online via credit or debit card, or by bank account! Our new, secure online e-giving program, established in conjunction with Vanco, is available through the following link: https://secure.myvanco.com/YNB0.

The Vanco e-giving service allows you to direct your giving to several different funds on either a one-time or recurring basis. One-time gifts involve three easy steps. If you want to establish recurring donations, such as weekly or monthly pledge donations to our general fund, you will need to set up an account through Vanco, which is also easy to do.

Credit and debit cards have a 2.75% administrative fee attached to each transaction, and payments via a bank account include a 1% fee. You can choose to cover these fees with your donation. Of course, you still have the option of mailing in your donations or setting up auto-pay through your bank, options which do not have administrative fees.

Following is a link to instructions for donating through our new e-giving site, including screen shots and written instructions. Check out our giving site now at https://secure.myvanco.com/YNB0, and thanks for your donations, regardless of how you choose to give!

If you have questions or need more information, feel free to contact Rex Holzemer at rexaholzemer@gmail.com or 651-308-4895.

A Message from Co-Warden Caroline Kaker:

Hello from your co-warden! Hopefully you read the announcement of Saint Mary’s upcoming Annual Meeting on Sunday, April 25th and have circled the date on your calendars. There is much to discuss and do, including the election our newest vestry members. Please plan to attend! While additional meeting logistics and details will be forthcoming, I would like to communicate now that the election slate will include a one-year warden position covering the third and final year of my 3-year term. I will be stepping down from my role and turning it over to someone new.

Read the whole letter HERE.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for April 2021:

Pastoral Care Team
Monday April 5 at 6:30pm

Lent Book Club: WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE
Monday April 5 at 7:30pm to finish our book.

Healing Circle
Healing Circles help us step out of ordinary time into a safe and accepting environment in which each of us can explore our own healing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information and to get the link.

Caring for an Aging Loved One
Tuesday, April 6, and each first Tuesday at 7:00pm: ongoing

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, April 6 and each Tuesdays following at 8:30pm, all are invited to pray Compline in our Zoom prayer room. We will use the Prayer Book. This is a brief form of the Liturgy of the Hours, prayed before bedtime. All are welcome. Contact Rev. Cindi for details / the link.
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org

Coffee & Conversation
Wed. April 14, and each second Wednesday of the month, ongoing
10am / 7pm reach out to Rev. Cindi to reserve a time and get the link

LGBTQ+ Community
Monday, April 19, and each third Monday, ongoing
6:30pm meets monthly for reflective conversation and community building

Join our Prayer Chain:
Pray with and for your friends and family at Saint Mary’s
Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to be included among those praying for
the needs of St. Marians or if you have a prayer request. (No meeting required)

For confidential prayer requests or to join any of these events:
Reach out to Reverend Cindi Brickson at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org for a Zoom Link

KIVA Loans on International Women’s Day

Saint Mary’s has participated in making loans to people around the world through KIVA for many, many years. As loans are re-paid, we’re able to re-loan that money again. As of March 8, 2021, $1200 from previously made loans had been re-paid. KIVA had a special program for International Women’s Day–loans made to women were matched! So, our $1200 turned into loans for $2400!! Paulette Briese, Mary Hinz and Julie Thomas got together and made loans to 17 women, ranging from $25 to $300. Loans were made to women in 10 different countries for things such as toilets, water pumps, land, school supplies and tuition, smart phones for distance learning, animals to raise and sell, seeds to plant and grow and supplies for traditional handicrafts. Our money is back at work! If you’d like to join the “loaning team”, let Paulette Briese know by Clicking HERE.

Outreach, ISAIAH

ISAIAH In-District (Zoom) Meetings

ISAIAH leaders from multiple locations are hosting In-District meetings with our local legislators during session. Saint Mary’s is in 64, and that In-District meeting with Wards 3 & 4 council members and State Representatives is April 15, 2021, 6:00-8:00pm,
registration: Click HERE.
Senator Erin Murphy (SD 64), House Rep. Dave Pinto (64B), St. Paul Council member Mitra Jalali (ward 4) and St. Paul Council member Chris Tolbert (ward 3) will be attending.

FAQs:
What are In-District meetings?
They are meetings organized and designed by ISAIAH volunteer leaders inviting their representatives into a co-governing conversation.

Why is it important?
It is an opportunity to hear how our representatives will be (or not be) champions of an agenda that honors our values.

Why attend?
It lets our representatives know that we are engaged and looking for their bold leadership and ongoing support of our agenda. It gives our representatives the support and documentation they need from our numbers and narratives as they communicate to colleagues and champion our agenda. It gives us an opportunity to participate more fully in our democracy.

How can I find my Saint Paul ward and MN senate district?
Saint Paul District Council and Ward Lookup Click HERE.

If you reside outside of STP senate district 64 see options below. Please invite friends and neighbors to join you! For more information, contact Ginny DeLuca- ginnydeluca1736@gmail.com

******************************************************************************
Attend an In-District Meeting in Your District/Ward

SD65A + Senator / STP Ward 1
Sun Apr 11 from 3:00pm – 5:00pm: Click HERE.
Confirmed: STP Council member Dai Thao, Senator Sandy Pappas

SD65B / STP Ward 2
Sun Apr 18 from 2:00pm – 4:00pm: Click HERE.
Confirmed: STP Council member Rebecca Noecker

SD66A+B, Senator / STP Ward 5
Sat Apr 17 from 10:00am – 12:00pm: Click HERE.
Confirmed: House Rep. Athena Hollins

SD67 + Ward 6
Fri. Apr 9 from 4:30pm – 6:00pm: Click HERE.
Confirmed: Representative John Thompson, Council member Nelsie Yang

SD38
Sat April 10 10am – 12pm: Click HERE.
Confirmed: None yet!

SD53
Sat Apr 24 from 10:00am – 12:00pm: Click HERE.
Confirmed: Senator Susan Kent

All other ISAIAH events and in district meetings here:
Click HERE.

Relationships & Common Good

As we move through this Lenten season of reflection and preparation, the vestry wanted to share with you, our beloved community, that we are preparing to partner with you on answering the following question: What would church look like that serves the common good for our Saint Mary’s community and strengthens our relationships? Come Easter, the season of rebirth and new growth, we will bring suggestions on how we might start to engage in community conversations around this question. In the meantime, if you have any thoughts or reflections, please share them with any member of the vestry, or email our wardens HERE.

March is Food Share Month

Saint Mary’s has a tradition of donating to our neighborhood food shelf at, Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul (I. A.) for the Department of Indian Works (DIW). If interested, you can go online to I.A. (Click HERE) to the “Donate” tab and select the DIW. You can also mail a check to them with DIW in the note line. You may also call to donate or to drop off food by calling Theresa Halverson-Lee at 651-789-3854. Another option is to donate to the Food Shelf of your choice.

Thanks for considering helping others in this especially hard time!

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups for the week of 4/2 – 4/8

Saturday, April 3, 2021
Children’s Easter Vigil (see additional information in Worship Services This Week above)
4:00pm

Sunday, April 4, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow.
10:00am
Link

Monday, April 5, 2021
Pastoral Care
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi Click HERE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Men’s Group
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Caring for Aging Loved Ones
7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for more information and a link, Click HERE

Tuesday, April 6, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for more information and a link, Click HERE

Thursday, April 8, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, April 8, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service Via Zoom
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link

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.
If you receive this email, you are on the list.

Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

 

St Mary’s Annual Parish and Financial Meeting April 25

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Saint Mary’s Annual Parish & Financial Meeting

Date Set for April 25, 2021
Dear St. Marians, 
 
We hope you are having a spirit-filled and meaningful journey through Lent! As we look toward Easter and the resurrection, signs of rebirth are everywhere. Although it has been a long haul for St. Mary’s, we see those signs of rebirth in the energy of the communications, pastoral care, search and worship committees and in that we are now actively searching for a new rector! A subcommittee is working on a church reopening plan as we also look forward to the COVID virus being quelled. We are blessed by pastoral and spiritual leadership from Susan Moss and Cindi Brickson. 
  
An important date to add to your calendars is Sunday, April 25, when we will conduct the annual parish meeting and the annual financial meeting on Zoom during and after the church service. Several vestry positions will be filled by election during the meeting, so if you are looking for an exciting time to lead, this is your chance! Please pray and discern about this – we really need to continue to have our vestry at full strength and at a high energy level as we start a new chapter and enter uncharted waters of the post-pandemic world. This will be a great opportunity for reimagining how our parish will express God’s love to a hurting world. There will be opportunities for visioning and for collaboration with other churches and entities to realize the Beloved Community. Please stay tuned for more communication on filling vestry positions and on our journey together, and don’t hesitate to contact one of the vestry members if you have questions about vestry service.  
 
We wish you all a blessed Lent and Easter; stay healthy and love one another!
 
St. Mary’s Vestry
 
Jim DeLuca and Caroline Kaker, Wardens

Saint Mary’s Weekly – March 18, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, March 21, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to Follow – 10:00 AM

This Sunday, the last Sunday in Lent, we’ll continue using the Lenten pattern we started on Lent 1. Announcements will happen at the beginning of the service; there will be fewer voices and less music; there will be moments of silence and a question posed for us to reflect on and share thoughts with others during our first breakout time. Julia Nerbonne will be our preacher.

  • First Reading: Jeremiah 31:31-34
  • Psalm 119:9-16
  • Second Reading: Hebrews 5:5-10
  • Gospel: John 12:20-33

For the Zoom worship service on March 21, 2021 CLICK HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 657179
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 915 5954 9145

To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 915 5954 9145
If asked for a passcode, use 657179

For the Lent 5 Service Bulletin – CLICK HERE
For 2021 Lent Music Bulletin – CLICK HERE

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St Mary’s by the Rev. Susan M. Moss

The greater availability of vaccines, the increasing hours of daylight and the loosening of pandemic related restrictions, lift our spirits and increase our hope for more freedoms
and opportunities to re connect with friends and loved ones.

At the same time we grieve, for the second year in a row, unable to observe Holy Week and celebrate Easter face to face in the church. St Marians miss the sound of the organ, the music of the band, gathering around the altar-face to face to share bread and wine, the passing of the peace, and the warmth of a shared cup of coffee in the St Mary’s room amidst the energy of the children.

As we begin to prepare our hearts and minds for the drama of a second virtual Holy Week, I invite you to hold grief and hope together. You may find comfort in using your power of memory and imagination. While at home and on Zoom, close your eyes and picture yourself together with fellow parishioners, climbing the stairs singing All Glory Laud and Honor or Pave the Way with Branches as you process into the nave waving your palms.

Imagine too the little ones gathered around the altar eager to assist and the faces of caring members praying for each other. What do you miss? What do you look forward to when we are able to safely re gather in the church?

Holy One, accompany us in these challenging times. Be near to us in our grief and in our hope, and we prepare to walk in the footsteps of Jesus. Amen.

What’s New?

  • If you’d like to listen to the sermon given by The Rev. Carol Arney on Sunday, March 14, Click HERE.
  • Would you like to participate in the Sunday worship services? Would you like to be the “Welcomer”/Announcement Leader? a Reader? the “People”? Would you like to sing with the choir? If so, send an email to: worship@saintmarysepiscopal.org Your gifts are needed and would be welcomed! All ages invited!!
  • DON’T MISS OUT!!! SIGN UP FOR YOUR HOLY WEEK BAG NOW!! Although we won’t be meeting in person, the Worship Team is planning ways we can walk through Holy Week together. Holy Week bags will help us do that. The bags will contain directions for setting up a prayer altar at home as well as reading material and objects that will bring to mind the events of Holy Week. Bags can be picked up at St Mary’s the afternoon of Saturday, March 27th or they can be delivered to your home that afternoon! If you’d like a Holy Week bag, please send your request to pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org indicating how many palms you want and if you’ll pick up your bag or would like it delivered. (If you’d like delivery, please include your address and phone number.)
  • See Holy Week zoom plans below & watch for more information next week:
    • Palm Sunday (3/28/21) service planned by St Mary’s Worship Team and will include a virtual procession in your home with palms to wave.
    • Maundy Thursday & Good Friday: St Mary’s is invited to join Christ Church in Woodbury or St Anne’s Church in Sunfish Lake or St Mark’s Cathedral
    • Easter Vigil: 4pm Children’s Easter Vigil.
    • Easter morning: one service at 10am, planned by St Mary’s Worship Team.

Feedback is welcome!
We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.

CLICK HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

2021 Sundays in Lent – Images

The Worship Team would like images to screen share during “Moments of Silence” during our 5 Sundays in Lent. If you have images of any kind (drawings, paintings, photos, videos, stained glass, mosaic, etc.) that conjure up thoughts of God’s Promises as indicated below…and you’d like to share them with the St Mary’s community…please send them to Brian Nerbonne at Michigander_guy@yahoo.com by the Friday before the Sunday they would be used. If you’d like to read the lessons to get your creative juices flowing, check lectionarypage.net website.

03/21/2021
God’s Promise – a new covenant with Israel
Jesus as man suffered, through this suffering
and obedience he became salvation.
Jesus must die like the wheat grain in order to
bear much fruit – so we can believe.

Finance Update

Several large, six-month pledge donations were received in February. As a result, pledge donations for the month of February were approximately $15,000 over budget. Expenses in February were approximately $3,700 under budget. Despite the large donations in February, our projected budget deficit for the year is still expected to be approximately ($27,000), as the large donations were for multiple months. See the attached financials for the exact income and expenses as of the end of February CLICK HERE.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for March & April 2021:

Pastoral Care Team
Mondays at 6:30 PM, ongoing

Lent Book Club: WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE on Mondays during Lent at 7:30 PM

Healing Circle
Tuesday, March 30 7:00 PM

Caring for an Aging Loved One
Tuesday, April 6, and each first Tuesday at 7:00 PM: ongoing

Evening Prayer (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday April 13, and each second Tuesday of the month, ongoing
8:00 PM this is a change to a once a month format and an invitation for all to join us.
Evening Prayer Rite 2 from the BCP reach out to Rev Cindi for the Link, or if you need a Book of Common Prayer

Coffee & Conversation
Wed. April 14, and each second Wednesday of the month, ongoing
10 AM / 7 PM reach out to Rev. Cindi to reserve a time and get the link

LGBTQ+ Community
Monday, April 19, and each third Monday, ongoing
6:30 PM meets monthly for reflective conversation and community building

Join our Prayer Chain: pray with and for your friends and family at St. Mary’s.
Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to be included among those praying for
the needs of St. Marians or if you have a prayer request. (No meeting required)

You are invited to join any of these events:
Reach out to Reverend Cindi Brickson at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org for a Zoom link

For confidential prayer requests, reach out to Rev. Cindi at pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org

Getting to Know You!

You have seen the names associated with a number of these committees that are working hard to put together our worship services, music, pastoral care, our search for a new rector, our finances, good communication, as well as our vestry, but you may not necessarily know the faces. For the next couple of weeks we will try to highlight one of those groups and this week we have Family, Children, and Youth Programing!

Top Row: MiaLisa, Trevor
2nd Row: Carmen, Rose

Contact MiaLisa if you have questions about these programs HERE.
 
Thank you for all you do to keep Family, Children, and Youth Programs going!
Easter Vigil Notice to Parents:

Hello Families with kids that are planning to be a part of this year’s Easter Vigil. As you know, it is a digital Easter Vigil which involves videos of the kids. If you have kids that are in Sunday school and Tweeners (and anyone else who joins in our Easter Vigil fun) we are inviting two other churches to participate in the event this year. As such, there will be three Episcopal church congregations in attendance. We do plan to record the Easter Vigil and share the link with the invited churches afterwards. We want to make sure you are aware of this fact and give your consent to allow your child to be a part of this year’s Easter Vigil. We will be sending out consent forms to document your acknowledgement of this fact and your approval to allow your child to be part of this year’s Easter Vigil.

If you have any concerns, please contact MiaLisa to discuss options! HERE

New Form for submissions for Weekly, Website, Calendar, and Social Media:

Moving forward, please give our new Google form a try when submitting information needed for the various platforms of communication St. Mary’s has (Weekly, website, calendar, etc). You can find the form HERE.

If you have any questions with this form please email the Communications Team HERE.

Relationships & Common Good

As we move through this Lenten season of reflection and preparation, the vestry wanted to share with you, our beloved community, that we are preparing to partner with you on answering the following question: What would church look like that serves the common good for our St. Mary’s community and strengthens our relationships? Come Easter, the season of rebirth and new growth, we will bring suggestions on how we might start to engage in community conversations around this question. In the meantime, if you have any thoughts or reflections, please share them with any member of the vestry, or email our wardens HERE.

March is Food Share Month

St. Mary’s has a tradition of donating to our neighborhood food shelf at, Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul (I. A.) for the Department of Indian Works (DIW). If interested, you can go online to I.A. (Click HERE) to the “Donate” tab and select the DIW. You can also mail a check to them with DIW in the note line. You may also call to donate or to drop off food by calling Theresa Halverson-Lee at 651-789-3854. Another option is to donate to the Food Shelf of your choice.

Thanks for considering helping others in this especially hard time!

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 3/19 – 3/25

Sunday, March 21, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow.
10:00 AM
Link

Monday, March 22, 2021
Pastoral Care Team
6:30 PM
Contact Rev. Cindi for the Zoom link at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org or 612-998-5136

Monday, March 22, 2021
Book Club
7:30 PM
The Pastoral Care Team will host the book club during Lent. Please join us in reading and discussing WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and others. We will meet on Mondays of Lent. We invite you to join us for one or any of the weeks, as your schedule and interest allows.
For more information: pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org

Tuesday, March 23, 2021
Vestry
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, March 24, 2021
Adult Choir
7:00 PM
If you would like to join us, or have any questions, please contact
Vonda at musicdirector@saintmarysepiscopal.org

Thursday, March 25, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click here to contact Julie

Thursday, March 25, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service Via Zoom
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00 PM
Link

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.
If you receive this email, you are on the list.

Visit the St. Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

Saint Mary’s Weekly – February 18, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service

Sunday, February 21, 2021

Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to Follow – 10:00 AM

 
This will be the first Sunday in Lent. Can you think back to a year ago when we were in the Sanctuary during Lent? If so, maybe you remember that we put away all the bright, shiny things and brought out wooden crosses and offering plates and pottery for all services. The Worship Team is trying to create that same sense of simplicity in our Lent Zoom services. We hope the flow/pace of the service will feel a bit slower, a bit more thoughtful and contemplative. So, you’ll notice some changes in the service. (See “What’s New” below for more info.)
 
First Reading: Genesis 9:8-17
Psalm 25:1-9
Second Reading: 1 Peter 3:18-22
Gospel: Mark 1:9-15
 
Please note that the Zoom information below is new for the New Year!
For the Zoom worship service on February 21, 2021 CLICK HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 657179
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 915 5954 9145
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 915 5954 9145
If asked for a passcode, use 657179
 
For the Lent 1 Service Bulletin – CLICK HERE
For the Lent 2021 Music Bulletin – CLICK HERE

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at St Mary’s by the Rev. Susan M. Moss
 
Liturgy means “the work of the people.” I have been learning how true this is for you.
 
Your voices on worship and what is important to you, are represented in the St. Mary’s Episcopal Church: Overview carefully composed by your Transition Team.
 
The Worship Team has been working hard to represent these values in this extraordinary time of Covid-19.
 
In matters of Worship: 
What are you seeing now that you were not able to see pre-pandemic? 
What is the Spirit saying to St. Mary’s?
What should be maintained? 
What should change? 
Be left behind? 
What new insights might the Spirit be revealing?
 
What’s New?
  • To listen to the 2-14-21 sermon by Missioner Sarah Barnett, CLICK HERE.
  • HELP!!! Calling all artists, photographers, videographers, “image makers” of all kinds. Please see the “2021 Sundays in Lent – Images” article below.
  • What will be different in our worship services during Lent? Announcements will be at the beginning of the service so they don’t interrupt the flow of the service at the end…so don’t be late! There will be fewer voices in each service. There will be less music. There will be two “Moments of Silence”, one after the sermon and one at the end of the service (like a quiet recessional). Our first coffee time will give us an opportunity to talk with others about a question based on the theme for the day-kind of 7:45am style! There will be a second coffee time for socializing! It’s a lovely service and we hope you’ll join us! 
  • The Big Lenten Prayer Tent: For the season of Lent, Bishop Loya invites each of us in ECMN to practice discipleship through daily prayer: 5 minutes every day, inviting the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Let’s join with other congregations and other people throughout ECMN in prayer during this season of Lent. CLICK HERE for more information.
     
Feedback is welcome!
We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.
 
CLICK HERE  to give feedback. Thanks!

2021 Sundays in Lent – Images

The Worship Team would like images to screen share during “Moments of Silence” during our 5 Sundays in Lent. If you have images of any kind (drawings, paintings, photos, videos, stained glass, mosaic, etc.) that conjure up thoughts of God’s Promises as indicated below…and you’d like to share them with the St Mary’s community…please send them to Brian Nerbonne at Michigander_guy@yahoo.com by the Friday before the Sunday they would be used. If you’d like to read the lessons to get your creative juices flowing, check lectionarypage.net website.
 
02/21/2021
God’s Promise – first trial through water, 
baptism, then promise in rainbow – NOAH
Jesus Baptism and then 40 days in desert
 
02/28/2021
God’s Promise – first barren, then fruitful, 
because faithful
Jesus must suffer, we must trust in the plan, be
faithful.
 
03/07/2021
God’s Promise – through commandments, 
Israelites struggle
God is wiser than our wisest.
Jesus upset with commercial-ness of 
worship/sacrifice – rebuild in 3 days
 
03/14/2021
God’s Promise – whining Israelites, still God 
saves them from the snakes when they turn to
him.  
God’s gift of grace to faithful. God sacrifices 
Jesus (Son), a gift for us.
Light comes to save.  
 
03/21/2021
God’s Promise – a new covenant with Israel
Jesus as man suffered, through this suffering 
and obedience he became salvation.
Jesus must die like the wheat grain in order to 
bear much fruit – so we can believe.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for February 2021
Fridays (ongoing) Feb. 19, 26
Elders & Evening Prayer 6:30 PM
 
Monday Feb. 22
Pastoral Care Team 6:30 PM
 
Mondays (ongoing) Feb. 22 (Mar. 1, 8, 15, 22, 29)
Book Club 7:30 PM
The Pastoral Care Team will host the book club during Lent. Please join us in reading and discussing WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and others. We will meet on Mondays of Lent. We invite you to join us for one or any of the weeks, as your schedule and interest.  
 
Let’s stay in touch! Join Rev. Cindi, St Mary’s Pastoral Care Minister, for Coffee (or tea?) and Conversation with a few other St Marians (via Zoom.)  The next conversations will be on March 10th, at 10 AM and 7 PM.
 
We have launched our new Prayer Chain, a ministry that anyone can support! 
Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to be included among those praying for 
the needs of St. Marians or if you have a prayer request. (No meeting required)
 
You are invited to join any of these events: 
Reach out to Reverend Cindi Brickson at 
 
For confidential prayer requests, reach out to Rev. Cindi at pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org

2021 Budget and Pledge Numbers

The Vestry approved a 2021 working budget for the first six months of 2021 at its January meeting. The budget has a projected annual deficit of ($26,832.40), in spite of the fact that the overall 2021 budget was reduced by almost $47,000 from last year. It was determined that making further reductions would result in unacceptable consequences for staffing and programs.  
 
The Finance Committee recommended only a six-month budget due to the significant budget changes anticipated by the hiring of a permanent rector and likely resumption of in-person services later this year. Another six-month budget covering the last half of 2021 will be forwarded to the Vestry by the Finance Committee in late Spring. 
 
The 2021 Stewardship campaign resulted in a total of 57 households pledging $165,813 for 2021. This is 10 households fewer than 2020, when 67 households pledged $176,542. The 2021 working budget is based on a slightly higher number of $170,000 in pledge income than pledged for 2021 to date, so if total pledge income does not increase to that level by the end of the year, or expenses are higher than projected, we will have a larger deficit than currently projected for 2021. 
 
Pledge income for January was approximately $5,000 under budget, while expenses were right on budget, so we have unfortunately fallen behind our projected budget in the first month of this year. However, pledge income for the first half of February is running a bit higher than expected.

Resources: 

ECMN News
 
If you are interested in hearing from the Bishop, finding out about Education, Events, and Training, and what is happening in the Episcopal Church of Minnesota, please subscribe to the ECMN News weekly email – CLICK HERE
 
 
Hi ECMN Parents, Caregivers, and Ministry Leaders,
Following the Bishop’s Summit in December, we heard a clear ask for more opportunities to gather and support one another as parents and caregivers in ECMN. 
So we’ve pulled together some key professionals who can speak to the intersection of faith formation and home dynamics in the context of this ongoing pandemic. 
Anyone in ECMN who is in a supporting role for young people is invited to the following series of three zoom gatherings. 
 
Bishop’s Series for Parents and Caregivers
Hosted by ECMN, St. Mark’s Cathedral, and St. John in the Wilderness
 
Fostering Coping & Resiliency in Our Homes 
Sunday, February 28 @ 4-5pm
 
Family Trauma and the Pandemic
Sunday, March 28 @ 4-5pm
Home Dynamics: Connection & Conflict 
Sunday, April 25 @ 4-5pm
Speaker TBD
 
Come expecting to:
  • Hear from an expert on the topic
  • Meet other parents and caregivers from other Episcopal faith communities in breakouts 
  • Debrief with a Q&A time with your Bishop and the presenter
  • Learn about more opportunities across ECMN
Nobody can do this alone. We are working really hard to make sure this transformational community across the state is connected and surrounded by support for the long haul. We hope you can join us for one or all of these gatherings. 

Outreach: 

Opportunities for Line 3 Engagement
 
1. Sign this nationwide petition asking President Biden to take action to stop the pipeline. We have thousands of signatures and the list is growing – adding your name shows the power and breath of the Stop Line 3 movement. 
 
2. If you identify as clergy or as a faith leader or spiritual leader, please sign this faith and spiritual leader petition!
 
3. Share the Nationwide Petition and the Faith and Spiritual Leader Petition with your friends and communities. This our moment to show the Biden administration that as people of spirit, faith, and conscience, we expect our elected officials to help us build a world where water is sacred, where Native treaty rights and Native sovereignty are respected, and where rural areas have access to sustainable jobs and community wealth.

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s  

Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups for the week of 2/19 – 2/25 

 

Friday, February 19, 2021
Elders & Evening Prayer
6:30 PM
Contact Rev. Cindi for the Zoom link at 
 
Sunday, February 21, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow.  
10:00 AM
 
Monday, February 22, 2021
Pastoral Care Team
6:30 PM
Contact Rev. Cindi for the Zoom link at 
 
Monday, February 22, 2021
Book Club
7:30 PM
The Pastoral Care Team will host the book club during Lent. Please join us in reading and discussing WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and others. We will meet on Mondays of Lent. We invite you to join us for one or any of the weeks, as your schedule and interest allows.  
 
Tuesday, February 23, 2021
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, February 24, 2021
Adult Choir
7:00 PM
If you would like to join us, or have any questions, please contact
 
Thursday, February 25, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click here to contact Julie
 
Thursday, February 25, 2021 
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service Via Zoom
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark  
7:00 PM 
 
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.  
If you receive this email, you are on the list. 
 
Visit the St. Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.

Saint Mary’s Weekly – December 17th, 2020

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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:
 
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 
 
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 
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.

Welcome to our new online news section!

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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!

If you’re searching for information about something specific, you can type that topic or name into the search bar (in the right side bar) and all posts that concern that topic will be shown to you, in a list starting from most recently published. You may not find much here yet, but week by week, this archive will grow. 

Contact communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org any time with questions, comments, and feedback. We love to hear from you!