1895 Laurel, Saint Paul MN 55104

Saint Mary's Episcopal Church

1895 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104

Saint Mary’s Weekly – June 10, 2022

by

Weekly Worship Service

Sunday, June 12, 2022   Trinity Sunday – First Sunday after Pentecost

  • First Message: Romans 5:1-5
  • Gospel:  John 16:12-15
10:00am – Hybrid (In-Person and Zoom) Eucharist Service

After the service, a Zoom social gathering will be held for those worshiping virtually, and a social gathering will be held in the Sanctuary/St. Mary’s room for in-person worshipers.

To join the 10am worship on June 12, 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 June 12 Service Bulletin for the 10am service – Click HERE

For the Pentecost and Summer service song sheet – Click HERE

To view the June 5 Pentecost sermon video – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Welcoming our Next Rector

Outreach

Announcements

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Hey!  Where’s “What’s New?”

The “What’s New?” section was started when things changed frequently, when we had a different style of service each Sunday… sometimes it was Eucharist, sometimes adapted Morning Prayer, sometimes even a Zoom only Gospel Based Discipleship. Because of the constant changes, it was important to keep parishioners abreast of what worship would look like week to week. Now that we have a consistent priest and will have Eucharist every week, things won’t change weekly.

Also, the Worship Team probably won’t meet until sometime in August so there will be nothing new on that front.

If there are changes in worship that the St Mary’s community needs to know about, you can be certain that you’ll find that information here in the Weekly Email.

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.   Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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Welcoming our Rector

Would you like to know more about Reverend Lindsey? Do you have questions for her – serious or silly – that you’d like to ask? If so, click this link to submit your question. The answer just may be featured in an upcoming “Getting to Know Our New Rector” article.

You’re also invited to follow Reverend Lindsey on Instagram @revlindseybriggs.

Stay tuned for an announcement about how to sign up for opportunities to get to know Reverend Lindsey.

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Outreach

An update on St. Mary’s KIVA loan to Tejedoras De Sajputa Group in Guatemala–Making a Difference in the World

In a rural area of ​​the state of Quiche, the women carefully protect their methods of weaving. Margarita, 26, says that her community’s woven fabrics are their cultural heritage because the methods come from her ancestors. That is why the fabrics and embroideries of the traditional blouses that Margarita weaves and embroiders are unique in her community. She explains that each artisan woman uses her own creativity to give life, style and color to the traditional shirts. She has been running this business for more than four years. Through her ability to weave and embroider traditional blouses, Margarita generates her own income. She continues to capitalize on her business to meet consumer demand. That is why Margarita took out her first loan with Kiva in July 2021. With this financing, she was able to purchase yarn in various colors in bulk. As a result of her efforts, Margarita can send her only child, a nine-year-old daughter, to school.

Margarita is a member of the Communal Bank “Tejedoras De Sajputa” (Weavers of Sajputa). She and six other women in the group communicate in their first language – the Mayan Ixil language. Only with difficulty do they communicate in Spanish. These women are grateful to Kiva and Friendship Bridge lenders for financing their textile businesses. Margarita and her companions also received medical attention from a nurse at the institution. Each of them underwent Pap tests, glucose checks, and height and weight checks. During the loan cycle, they also received monthly educational training through games, drawings, riddles and puzzles. Via these learning strategies, the women are learning about health, nutrition, women’s rights, family planning, budgeting, investing and saving.

There are now more than 32,000 clients who are benefiting from Friendship Bridge’s “Microcredit Plus” program. Thank you Kiva!

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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.

One Voice Mixed Chorus Concert
One Voice Mixed Chorus will perform their Sound Mind concert at the Ordway Concert Hall on June 18 and 19. Sound Mind uplifts Queer voices exploring mental health through song, story, and art. This will be our first in-person One Voice performance in two years. We can’t wait to share this powerful experience with you! You can get tickets and learn more at https://www.onevoicemn.org. Use promo code FAITH for 50% off.

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 6/10 – 6/16

Sunday, June 12, 2022
In-person and Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Men’s Group Meeting
7:00pm
Email smmg@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Thursday, June 16, 2022
Communications Team Meeting
5:30pm

Thursday, June 16, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, June 16, 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 – June 3, 2022

by

Weekly Worship Service

Sunday, June 5, 2022   Day of Pentecost (also known as Easter 8)

  • First Message: Acts 2:1-21
  • Second Message: Romans 8:14-17
  • Gospel:  John 14:8-17
10:00am – Hybrid (In-Person and Zoom) Pentecost Day Eucharist led by our new Rector, The Rev. Lindsey Briggs.

After the service, a Zoom social gathering will be held for those worshiping virtually.  The Pentecost Picnic will be held starting at 11:00am on the St. Mary’s lawn for in-person worshipers and anyone who wants to stop in. 

To join the 10am worship on June 5, 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 June 5 Service Bulletin for the 10am service – Click HERE
For the Pentecost and Summer service song sheet – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Welcoming our Next Rector

Children, Youth, and Families

Outreach

Announcements

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s new? 

  • After a Worship Team meeting on Monday, May 23, we can tell you that starting this Sunday, June 5, we will have Eucharist every Sunday!! This is from our new rector, The Rev. Lindsey Briggs!!!  If you have your own small cup or glass to receive wine, be sure to bring it.  Small paper cups will also be available, if you need one.
  • Heads up!! WEAR RED on Sunday, June 5, Pentecost!! Start looking through the clothes in your closet and in your drawers. There must be something RED! RED is the color of the day for Pentecost. Don’t be left out of sea of RED!! June 5, WEAR RED!!
  • Help our new rector get to know us—wear your name tag!! If you don’t have one (or aren’t sure), send an email to the Worship Team (worship@saintmarysepiscopal.org) or  click this link to send an email.  Paulette will make you a name tag. In the email, include the following information:
    • how you’d like your name to display on your name tag,
    • your preferred pronouns, if any, and
    • if you’d like a rainbow flag on your name tag
  • “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? We have a new way for you to communicate your level of comfort with physical contact during Covid.
    • There are DOT 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 June 2022 (hybrid—in-person & virtual unless otherwise noted)
    • June 5 — 10:00am Eucharist service led by our new rector, The Rev. Lindsey Briggs. This is a celebratory service, both because it’s the Day of Pentecost and because it’s the first Sunday The Rev. Briggs is with us. WEAR RED!!! Bring a food item to share and join other St. Marians for a Pentecost picnic.
    • June 6 — 7:30pm Compline (Zoom only)  – FIRST Monday of each month during the summer)
    • June 12, 19, 26 (All Sundays) —10:00am Eucharist led by The Rev. Lindsey Briggs.
  • Weekly Worship Services
    • 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.   Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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Welcoming our Next Rector

Plans taking shape to welcome The Reverend Lindsey Briggs to St. Mary’s
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.
Stay tuned for an announcement about how to sign up for 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!
 
Welcoming Committee

 

Getting to Know Our Next Rector

Please join us this coming Sunday, June 5th as we welcome our new rector – The Reverend Lindsey Briggs! This will be Reverend Lindsey’s first Sunday with us and we are so pleased she is here. Our hope is to have a church FULL of friendly St. Marians to let her know how glad we are she is joining our community. 

After our 10am Eucharist service for Pentecost (remember to wear RED!) we will gather outside for our first picnic since the pandemic began. Please bring a salad, side dish or dessert to share; hamburgers, hot dogs, a vegetarian option and beverages will be provided. Masks will still need to be worn until you are outside for the picnic.

Would you like to know more about Reverend Lindsey? Do you have questions for her – serious or silly – that you’d like to ask? If so, click this link to submit your question. The answer just may be featured in an upcoming “Getting to Know Our New Rector” article.

You’re also invited to follow Reverend Lindsey on Instagram @revlindseybriggs.

 

 

St. Mary’s Children, Youth, and Families

Our last Family Zoom Service for the school year was May 29.  Thanks to all who participated this year.

Programming
Programming has finished for the school year. Thank you to the families and youth who have participated in our programming! It was a pleasure to connect with you though your talents, Legos, and weekly in these small groups! 
 
A BIG THANK YOU to our children and youth programming co-leaders this year. Carmen Patterson and Emily Topinka have been incredibly steadfast volunteers who have led the group weekly and provided hours of fun, fellowship, service, and church activities for our children! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 
 
Another BIG THANK YOU to Kat Lewis, our beloved youth group leader, who will be re-joining us again next year! We are grateful for their welcoming kindness and connection to our youth!  Thank you Kat, for all you do! 
 

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Outreach

An update on St. Mary’s KIVA loan to Tejedoras De Sajputa Group in Guatemala–Making a Difference in the World
In a rural area of ​​the state of Quiche, the women carefully protect their methods of weaving. Margarita, 26, says that her community’s woven fabrics are their cultural heritage because the methods come from her ancestors. That is why the fabrics and embroideries of the traditional blouses that Margarita weaves and embroiders are unique in her community. She explains that each artisan woman uses her own creativity to give life, style and color to the traditional shirts. She has been running this business for more than four years. Through her ability to weave and embroider traditional blouses, Margarita generates her own income. She continues to capitalize on her business to meet consumer demand. That is why Margarita took out her first loan with Kiva in July 2021. With this financing, she was able to purchase yarn in various colors in bulk. As a result of her efforts, Margarita can send her only child, a nine-year-old daughter, to school.

     
Margarita is a member of the Communal Bank “Tejedoras De Sajputa” (Weavers of Sajputa). She and six other women in the group communicate in their first language – the Mayan Ixil language. Only with difficulty do they communicate in Spanish. These women are grateful to Kiva and Friendship Bridge lenders for financing their textile businesses. Margarita and her companions also received medical attention from a nurse at the institution. Each of them underwent Pap tests, glucose checks, and height and weight checks. During the loan cycle, they also received monthly educational training through games, drawings, riddles and puzzles. Via these learning strategies, the women are learning about health, nutrition, women’s rights, family planning, budgeting, investing and saving.
     
There are now more than 32,000 clients who are benefiting from Friendship Bridge’s “Microcredit Plus” program. Thank you Kiva!
 

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.

 

One Voice Mixed Chorus Concert
One Voice Mixed Chorus will perform their Sound Mind concert at the Ordway Concert Hall on June 18 and 19. Sound Mind uplifts Queer voices exploring mental health through song, story, and art. This will be our first in-person One Voice performance in two years. We can’t wait to share this powerful experience with you! You can get tickets and learn more at https://www.onevoicemn.org. Use promo code FAITH for 50% off.

 

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 6/3 – 6/9

Sunday, June 5, 2022
In-person and Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, June 6, 2022
Compline (First Monday of each month during the summer)
7:30pm
Link

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

Thursday, June 9, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, June 9, 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 – May 27, 2022

by

Weekly Worship Services

Sunday, May 29, 2022 – The Seventh Sunday of Easter

  • First Message:  From “That They All May Be One” a sermon by The Rev. Dr. Michael K. Marsh
  • Gospel:  John 17: 20-26
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 29, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 860 0920 4974
If asked for a passcode, enter Fun
 
10:00am – Virtual (ZOOM ONLY) Adapted Morning Prayer Service led by Erika Scheurer with Gospel Based Discipleship.

After the service, a Zoom social gathering will be held for those worshipping virtually.

To join the 10am worship on May 29, 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 29 Service Bulletin for the 10am service – Click HERE
For the Easter Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Welcoming our Next Rector

Children, Youth, and Families

Finance Committee

Pastoral Care

Outreach

Announcements

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s new? 

  • To listen to the meditation given by Jim DeLuca on Sunday, May 22, Click HERE.
  • Help our new rector get to know us—wear your name tag!! If you don’t have one (or aren’t sure), send an email to the Worship email so Paulette can make one for you. Indicate your name (as you’d like it to appear on your name tag), preferred pronouns if you’d like them to appear on your name tag and if you’d like a rainbow flag on your name tag.
  • Heads up!! WEAR RED on Sunday, June 5, Pentecost!! Start looking through the clothes in your closet and in your drawers. There must be something RED! Red is the color of the day for Pentecost. Don’t be left out of sea of RED!! June 5, WEAR RED!!
  • “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 29—
      • 9:00am Family Service (virtual only)
      • 10:00am Gospel Based Discipleship (VIRTUAL ONLY)—Memorial Day Weekend
    • June 5—
      • 10:00am  Eucharist service led by our new rector, The Reverend Lindsey Briggs. This is a celebratory service, both because it’s the Day of Pentecost and because it’s the first Sunday Reverend Briggs is with us.  (hybrid – in-person and virtual)  WEAR RED!!!
    • June 6—
      • 7:30pm  Compline (FIRST Monday of each month during the summer)  (virtual only) 
  • Weekly Worship Services
    • 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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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 Committee 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.
 
Welcoming 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

Programming
We are winding down programming for the school year. Our last week of Pre-Tweeners, Tweeners, and Youth Group will be the week of May 29-June 3. Thank you to the families and youth who have participated in our programming! It was a pleasure to connect with you though your talents, Legos, and weekly in these small groups! 
 
A BIG THANK YOU to our children and youth programming co-leaders this year. Carmen Patterson and Emily Topinka have been incredibly steadfast volunteers who have led the group weekly and provided hours of fun, fellowship, service, and church activities for our children! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! 
 
Another BIG THANK YOU to Kat Lewis, our beloved youth group leader, who will be re-joining us again next year! We are grateful for their welcoming kindness and connection to our youth!  Thank you Kat, for all you do! 
 
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:
Yes! We are doing our last Family Service on Sunday at 9 am! I know it is Memorial Day weekend– but I figured — why not! It also gives Reverend Lindsey a chance to view what we were doing if she wants to join (I already sent her the information). If no one shows–no problem. But, the last few weeks we have had 4 families– so…yes. Last family Zoom service on Sunday at 9am.
 
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 858 4295 0103
Passcode: Church

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Finance Committee

Update on Saint Mary’s Finances
As of the end of April, pledge income is approximately $5,400 above the projected 2022 annual budget, and total income is approximately $5,900 above the projected budget. Expenses are approximately $1,000 under the projected annual budget. As a result, overall St. Mary’s is running slightly ahead of the projected budget which is positive news given the projected budget is a deficit budget with a projected annual deficit of ($77,309). More detail is available in the linked chart – Click HERE.

Thanks to each of you for your continued financial support of St. Mary’s! If you have any questions, please feel free to e-mail or call Rex Holzemer, Treasurer.

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

An update on St. Mary’s KIVA loan to Tejedoras De Sajputa Group in Guatemala–Making a Difference in the World
In a rural area of ​​the state of Quiche, the women carefully protect their methods of weaving. Margarita, 26, says that her community’s woven fabrics are their cultural heritage because the methods come from her ancestors. That is why the fabrics and embroideries of the traditional blouses that Margarita weaves and embroiders are unique in her community. She explains that each artisan woman uses her own creativity to give life, style and color to the traditional shirts. She has been running this business for more than four years. Through her ability to weave and embroider traditional blouses, Margarita generates her own income. She continues to capitalize on her business to meet consumer demand. That is why Margarita took out her first loan with Kiva in July 2021. With this financing, she was able to purchase yarn in various colors in bulk. As a result of her efforts, Margarita can send her only child, a nine-year-old daughter, to school.

     
Margarita is a member of the Communal Bank “Tejedoras De Sajputa” (Weavers of Sajputa). She and six other women in the group communicate in their first language – the Mayan Ixil language. Only with difficulty do they communicate in Spanish. These women are grateful to Kiva and Friendship Bridge lenders for financing their textile businesses. Margarita and her companions also received medical attention from a nurse at the institution. Each of them underwent Pap tests, glucose checks, and height and weight checks. During the loan cycle, they also received monthly educational training through games, drawings, riddles and puzzles. Via these learning strategies, the women are learning about health, nutrition, women’s rights, family planning, budgeting, investing and saving.
     
There are now more than 32,000 clients who are benefiting from Friendship Bridge’s “Microcredit Plus” program. Thank you Kiva!
 

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.

 

One Voice Mixed Chorus Concert
One Voice Mixed Chorus will perform their Sound Mind concert at the Ordway Concert Hall on June 18 and 19. Sound Mind uplifts Queer voices exploring mental health through song, story, and art. This will be our first in-person One Voice performance in two years. We can’t wait to share this powerful experience with you! You can get tickets and learn more at https://www.onevoicemn.org. Use promo code FAITH for 50% off.

 

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 5/27 – 6/2

Sunday, May 29, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, May 29, 2022
In-person and Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, June 1, 2022
Choir Rehearsal
7:00pm
Email musicdirector@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Thursday, June 2, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, June 2, 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, June 2, 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 – May 6, 2022

by

Weekly Worship Services

Sunday, May 8, 2022 

  • First Message:  Acts 9: 36-43
  • Gospel:  John 10: 22-30 Jesus is rejected…the Father and I are one…
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 8, 2022 Click HERE
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 860 0920 4974
If asked for a passcode, enter Fun
 
10:00am – Hybrid Morning Prayer service from the Book of Common Prayer (BCP) led by Jim DeLuca (Refer to BCP pages 75-102—Morning Prayer Rite Two).

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 8, 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 8 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

Getting to Know 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 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 homily given by The Reverend Susan Moss on Sunday, May 1, Click HERE.
  • 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 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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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 is May 7. Thank you, Susan!

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.

 

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 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.

 

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; Pat; 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 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 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 5/6 – 5/12

Sunday, May 8, 2022
Virtual Family Church Service
9:00am Service
Link

Sunday, May 8, 2022
In-person and Virtual Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, May 9, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, May 10, 2022
Men’s Group Meeting (Rescheduled from last week)
7:00pm
Email smmg@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Wednesday, May 11, 2022
Choir Rehearsal
7:00pm
Email musicdirector@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Thursday, May 12, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, May 12, 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 12, 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 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

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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 15, 2022

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Weekly Worship Services

Friday, April 15, 2022

5:30pm Good Friday KIVA Soup Supper

7:00pm Stations of the Cross (Following KIVA Soup Supper)

To join the 7pm Stations of the Cross on April 15, 2022 Click HERE

If asked for a passcode, enter 929786
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 847 9828 8585

For the April 15 Service Bulletin – Click HERE

 

Saturday, April 16, 2022

 4:00pm 2022 Easter Vigil Family Service (Virtual)
 
To join the 4pm Easter Vigil Family Service on April 16, 2022 Click HERE
 
If asked for a passcode, enter Church
If asked for a meeting ID, enter  858 4295 0103
 

Sunday, April 17, 2022 

  • First Message:  Acts 10:34-43
  • Gospel:  Luke 24: 1-12 
10:00am – “Jesus Christ is risen today, Al-le-lu-ia!”  Yes, the “Alleluias” are back!!  Join the in-person and virtual Eucharist worship celebration with The Reverend Susan Moss giving the homily and celebrating.
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, with beverages and donuts, held in the entryway with doors open (and outdoors if weather permits). The children’s Easter egg hunt will also happen after the worship service, weather permitting.
To join the 10am worship on April 17, 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 17 Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Easter Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Children and Youth

Outreach

Announcement

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Whats new? 

  • To listen to the homily given by The Reverend Susan Moss on Palm Sunday, April 10, Click Here.
  • TODAY!! Good Friday KIVA Soup supper is back! Fresh homemade bread (Julie Thomas) and butter; a few beverages; dessert AND 3 or 4 delicious sounding soups!!
    • Vegetarian Wild Rice Soup (Rainy Morgan)
    • Vegan Spicy Peanut and Pumpkin Soup (Anne Hanson)
    • Chicken & Vegetable Soup with Gnocchi (Aimee Sutherland)
    • Chilli (Aimee Sutherland)
  • Join us at 5:30pm. You’ll hear about the KIVA program and be invited to make a donation to KIVA, the worldwide loaning program Saint Mary’s participates in. No donation required to attend! Stations of the Cross begins at 7:00pm.
  • IMPORTANT: Hand Sanitizer… The Altar Guild has noticed that hand sanitizer takes the finish off the pews. Please use hand sanitizer carefully.
  • What’s happening on Easter Day? The “Alleluias” are back!! Let’s make them resound throughout the sanctuary and on Zoom as well!! After the worship service, there will be the fastest Easter Egg Hunt for children—location to be determined. There will also be beverages and donuts available in the entryway with doors open for air flow and outside if weather permits.
  • 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! (If you didn’t sign up your favorite [one or two per person], send an email to worship@saintmarysepiscopal.org or put the name or hymn number in the chat or use the sign up sheet at the back of the church [ask ushers] and we’ll add them to the list!) 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.
    • Starting Sunday, April 24th, there will be stickers available for you to put on your name tag or on 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 Holy Week & Easter (hybrid—in-person & virtual unless otherwise shown)   Look closely below:  services/activities at different times & in different places

  • April 15—
    • 5:30pm Good Friday KIVA Soup Supper
    • 7:00pm Stations of the Cross (Following KIVA Soup Supper)
      • For the April 15 Service Bulletin – Click HERE
  • April 16—
    • 4:00pm Easter Vigil (virtual) (No Family Service on Easter Day)
  • April 17— Easter
    • 10:00am  Eucharist led by The Reverend Susan Moss, with Easter Egg Hunt for children and with beverages & donuts after the service.  
  • April 24—
    • 8:00am Adapted Morning Prayer with Gospel Based Discipleship discussion in place of a sermon. (virtual only)
    • 10:00am Adapted Morning Prayer service with LOTS of St. Marians’ favorite hymns and songs.

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 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!
 
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. Please note our Easter Vigil will replace the Family Service the week of Easter and be held at 4pm on Saturday, April 16 in lieu of the Family Service that week. 
 
Apr 16, 2022
2022 Easter Vigil Family Service
 4:00pm 
 
Join Zoom Meeting
 
Meeting ID: 858 4295 0103
Passcode: Church

 

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Outreach

Help our new rector get to know us!

Let Paulette Briese know if you’d like a new name badge.  Info needed:  First & Last name; pronouns you prefer; Lanyard, pin or clip style; and if you want a rainbow pin on your name badge.  paulettegb at comcast.net. 

To brighten someone’s day…

Would you like to bring a smile to someone’s face? Brighten their day? This opportunity may be for you! The Worship Team is looking for a couple people who would like to bring an Easter plant to some of the St Mary’s parishioners. Don’t be shy!! If you’d like to deliver plants, let me (paulettegb at comcast.net ) or Susan know!

Spring Food Shelf Drives

My name is Rainy Morgan, and I want to remind everyone that March was usually considered the month for annual food drives. In the past St. Mary’s Outreach had a relationship with the Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul (IAGSP, or ‘IA/Interfaith Action’) with their local food shelf, however, they have now moved to Little Canada. Their business office remains local, on Grand Avenue. Because they recently moved and are getting re-organized, they did not do a big March promotion, but donations can still be made online or by sending in checks. (See addresses below) Interfaith action specializes in programming with the department of Indian Work. If donating online, please donate under that program. Today there are multiple agencies both local, national, and international, to raise funds for food donations. For those of us that are able, it’s easy to go online to donate any time of year. So please remember to support your favorite food shelf if possible! Rainy Morgan, morgan55106 at yahoo.com

Donation for Interfaith Action: Interfaithaction.org

Checks can be mailed to the following address, with food shelf in the notation line:

Interfaith Action

1041 Grand. Ave.

St. Paul. Mn. 55105

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

Announcement
 
Mission Area Gatherings
 
Come for a rich day of conversation, learning, and reconnecting with fellow Episcopalians at your mission area gatherings. These will be hybrid events, taking place in person with an option to attend online. Refreshments and lunch will be provided, and we will close our time with a celebration of Eucharist.
 
Saturday, May 14th, 9am-12pm: East Metro Mission Area. Save the date!
 

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.
 

May 1 – Annual Meeting & The 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 will 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

 

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.

Prayers for Betsy, Karen, and family as they mourn the loss of Betsy’s mother who passed away Monday morning. May Lorraine’s soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

Prayers for Nina, Mike, and family as they mourn the loss of Nina’s mother who passed away Sunday evening. May her soul and the souls of all the departed, through the mercy of God, rest in peace.

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 4/15-21

Friday, April 15, 2022
Good Friday KIVA Soup Supper
5:30pm
St. Mary’s Room 

Friday, April 15, 2022
In-person and Virtual Stations of the Cross
7:00pm Service
Link

Saturday, April 16, 2022
Virtual Easter Vigil
4:00pm Service
Link

Sunday, April 17, 2022
In-person and Virtual Easter Worship Service
10:00am Service
Link

Monday, April 18, 2022
Compline (Now on Mondays!)
7:30pm
Link

Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
Email finance@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Tuesday, April 19, 2022
Rescheduled Men’s Group Gathering
7:00pm
Email smmg@saintmarysepiscopal.org for more information

Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Choir Rehearsal 
7:00pm

Wednesday, April 20, 2022
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, April 21, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net

Thursday, April 21, 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 21, 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.

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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.

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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.

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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 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!

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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. (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 – December 3, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, December 5, 2021

  • First Message: Malachi 3:1-46
  • Gospel: Luke 3:1-6    
10:00am – Eucharist Worship Service In-person and via Zoom with social time to follow for those worshipping in person (see “What’s New” in Worship Team section) and Zoom gathering for those worshipping virtually. The Rev. Susan Moss will be the celebrant and preacher.

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 December 5, 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
Lighting of Advent Wreath Candles – Click HERE
NEW! For the 2021 Advent Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Christmas Greens & Poinsettias

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at Saint Mary’s by Ginny DeLuca, Worship Team member

Nurturing the Roots of Our Community:
An Advent Service of Healing and Renewal 
led by The Rev. Susan M. Moss
Saturday, Dec. 4th at 4pm

Prepare the way for renewal at St Mary’s as we experience Advent this year. Join us in person for a Healing and Renewal Service Saturday Dec. 4, 2021 at 4pm. No zoom option available.

Saint Mary’s has experienced many changes these past few years, some which went smoother than others, to say the least. We enter the season of Advent in preparation for the birth of Jesus as we also prepare to call a new Rector. There have been requests to have a time where all our community may gather together and support each other as we heal; a time to come with our faith and doubts, hopes and fears as we prepare for what that exciting future can be! No matter where we are on our journey, we recognize that the community of Saint Mary’s is important to us.

In her October 24th sermon, Susan Moss reminded us about a gardener’s care when she and her neighbors rescued and transplanted perennials from the backyard of a house on their alley that had been torn down. “Some of the plants were really tattered…we reminded each other– protect the roots!… we need to protect  that which has been entrusted to our care.”  This definitely sums up our community; we’re feeling a bit ragged, some of us more than others. Remember, our roots are good, we need to nurture them, protect and care for them. Let us all create space for a time to be together to offer that care, show support, and pray as we prepare to move forward and thrive. God is Good!

What’s New?

  • To listen to Bishop Loya’s ECMN (Episcopal Church of Minnesota) November 5, 2021, Convention address, 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.
  • Worship Schedule
    • There will be a Christmas Pageant. The date is TBD.
    • Sat— Dec 4……4pm Nurturing the Roots of Our Community: An Advent Service of Healing and Renewal” (The Rev. Susan Moss, officiant)
    • Sun—Dec 5……10am Eucharist—Advent 2 (The Rev. Susan Moss)
    • Sun—Dec 12…..8am adapted Morning Prayer–Advent 3 (Zoom only)
    • Sun—Dec 12….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……4pm Eucharist—Christmas Eve (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 Christmas carols & adapted Morning Prayer
  • On December 4th and Eucharist Sundays in Advent, the sacrament of Laying on of Hands & Annointing will be offered.
  • The Worship Team is looking for new members who would like to help plan the liturgy for one season. Advent is already planned so we’re looking ahead to Epiphany. Epiphany Sundays  include January 9 through February 27 ( 7 Sundays). Planning for these Sundays will start at the Worship Team meeting  on Tuesday, December 7, from 4-6pm at St Mary’s. Click HERE if you’re interested in joining us!

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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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!
 
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: 

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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KIVA Loans – St. Mary’s “Out in the World”

Once again the KIVA loans that were re-paid to St Mary’s totaled over $1000—it takes about 3 months for this to happen!! So, once again this $1000+ was turned into new loans made to people around the world…loans made to Moldova, Kenya, Madagascar (2), Sierra Leone and Guatemala (2)…7 loans in all to enable people to start or expand their small businesses.

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get 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 12/3 – 12/9

Saturday, December 4, 2021
Nurturing the Roots of Our Community: An Advent Service of Healing and Renewal
4:00pm (In-Person)
For more information Click HERE

Sunday, December 5, 2021
Hybrid Worship Service In-Person and via Zoom
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Worship Team Meeting in the Saint Mary’s Room
4:00pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesday, December 7, 2021
Men’s Group Gathering
7:00pm
For more information Click HERE

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

Wednesday, December 8, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, December 9, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, December 9, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, December 9, 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 26, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, November 28, 2021

  • First Message: Jeremiah 33:14-16
  • Gospel: Luke 21:25-36    
10:00am – Adapted Morning Prayer Worship Service In-person and via Zoom with social time to follow for those worshipping in person (see “What’s New” in Worship Team section) and Zoom gathering for those worshipping virtually. Instead of a Homily, we’ll hear Bishop Loya’s Address to the ECMN Convention on November 5, 2021.

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 28, 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
Lighting of Advent Wreath Candles – Click HERE
NEW! For the 2021 Advent Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Update on the October 21st Letter from Bishop Loya

Finance Committee

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at Saint Mary’s by Ginny DeLuca, Worship Team member

Nurturing the Roots of Our Community:
An Advent Service of Healing and Renewal 
led by The Rev. Susan M. Moss
Saturday, Dec. 4th at 4pm

Let us prepare the way for renewal at Saint Mary’s as we experience Advent this year. Join us for a Healing and Renewal Service, Saturday Dec. 4, 2021 at 4pm. 

Saint Mary’s has experienced many changes these past few years, some which went smoother than others, to say the least. On November 28th we enter the season of Advent in preparation for the birth of Jesus as we also prepare to call a new Rector. There have been requests to have a time where all our community may gather together and support each other as we heal; a time to come with our faith and doubts, hopes and fears as we prepare for what that exciting future can be! No matter where we are on our journey, we recognize that the community of Saint Mary’s is important to us.

In her October 24th sermon, Susan Moss reminded us about a gardener’s care when she and her neighbors rescued and transplanted perennials from the backyard of a house on their alley that had been torn down. “Some of the plants were really tattered…we reminded each other– protect the roots!… we need to protect  that which has been entrusted to our care.”  This definitely sums up our community; we’re feeling a bit ragged, some of us more than others. Remember, our roots are good, we need to nurture them, protect and care for them. Let us all create space for a time to be together to offer that care, show support, and pray as we prepare to move forward and thrive. God is Good!

What’s New?

  • To listen to the homily given by The Rev. Susan Moss on November 21st, 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.
  • Worship Schedule
    • There will be a Christmas Pageant. The date is TBD.
    • Sun—Nov 28…10am adapted Morning Prayer—Advent 1 (Bishop Loya’s Convention Address)
    • Sat— Dec 4……4pm Nurturing the Roots of Our Community: An Advent Service of Healing and Renewal” (The Rev. Susan Moss, officiant)
    • Sun—Dec 5……10am Eucharist—Advent 2 (The Rev. Susan Moss)
    • Sun—Dec 12…..8am adapted Morning Prayer–Advent 3 (Zoom only)
    • Sun—Dec 12….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……4pm Eucharist—Christmas Eve (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 Christmas carols & adapted Morning Prayer
  • On December 4th and Eucharist Sundays in Advent, the sacrament of Laying on of Hands & Annointing will be offered.
  • And another free Advent Devotional…this one by Kate Bowler entitled “The Season of Almost: A 4-week Advent Devotional”. Kate says:
    Many of us still feel we are living in uncertainty. We feel exhausted and weary under the weight of this distended anxiety and fear. And yet, the long dawn of Advent is coming. Advent is the season of almost. Almost Christmas. Almost an end to a pandemic. Almost vaccines for everyone. As we learn to sit in the faint glow of a long Advent which begins this Sunday, November 28th , we need gentle reminders to look for hope and beauty and love. My hope and prayer is that this will be a way for us to make the very act of waiting, holy. And as we anticipate Christ’s birth together, may we experience the stubborn hope of Christmas, joy in the midst of sorrow, a love that knows no bounds, and a transcendent peace amid a world on fire. Jesus can’t be born soon enough. 
    Click HERE to download this devotional.
  • Do you know about #AdventWord? 28 daily words, meditations and images will be offered during this holy season beginning Sunday, November 28.  There is also a new Advent devotional published by Forward Movement, Promise & Praise, which corresponds with the daily reflection words of AdventWord, including reflections by Bishop Curry and Lisa Kimball who teaches at VTS (Virginia Theological Seminary) and who some of you know.  Click HERE to learn more and to sign up for AdventWord.
  • The Worship Team is looking for new members who would like to help plan the liturgy for one season. Advent is already planned so we’re looking ahead to Epiphany. Epiphany Sundays  include January 9 through February 27 ( 7 Sundays). Planning for these Sundays will start at the Worship Team meeting  on Tuesday, December 7, from 4-6pm at St Mary’s. Click HERE if you’re interested in joining us!

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

This will be the final posting of this message in the Weekly.

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 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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Updates from the Finance Committee monthly meeting

Due to two large contributions, pledge donations were $7.2K over budget for the month of October. Pledge contributions are now $32,600 over budget for the year. Total income for the year is $31,400 over budget. Expenses were $3,700 under budget for October and are $31,300 under budget for the year. One of the contributing factors to lower expenses is that the approved budget includes a ¾ time priest with benefits effective July 1, 2021, and we continue to employ only an interim priest at 15 hours/week.
 
Year to date, we are running $62,700 ahead of budget based on our deficit budget of ($23,232). In other words, we currently have a $39,500 surplus for the year. We expect lower than monthly pledge income in November and December given a number of parishioners have fulfilled their annual pledges in the last several months through large donations. Regardless, we are now projecting that we may at least end the year with a balanced budget, which is better than expected! Thanks to each of you for your continued financial support of St. Mary’s!
 
If you have any questions regarding our budget or financial status, please feel free to contact Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 651-308-4895 or rexaholzemer@gmail.com.
 

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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!
 
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

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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The Angel Tree is Back!

Starting next week, the weekly will have a link to a student at Galtier School whom the social worker has identified as someone to receive an angel tree gift provided by the generous families of St. Mary’s.

We will be provided the age, gender and sizes of clothing for each child and since we can’t have a real angel tree this year, please open the link and sign up for either an article of clothing or a toy/gift/game.

Then please wrap your gift in a holiday gift bag , put the child’s number very conspicuously on the outside (for later sorting) and bring it to the main church lobby NO LATER THAN Sunday, December 19 where they will be sorted and bagged by child number and loaded into cars for delivery to Galtier school on Monday morning

We will also be collecting $10 gift cards to Walmart, Target or Cub to give to the social worker to use during the year as she becomes aware of needs. If you would prefer to write a check for your gift cards, please put your check in the offering plate or mail it to the church office (1895 Laurel Ave, St Paul, 5104). We will be happy to shop for you. Be sure to write angel tree in memo line of your check.

Thanks in advance for your generosity.

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KIVA Loans – St. Mary’s “Out in the World”

Once again the KIVA loans that were re-paid to St Mary’s totaled over $1000—it takes about 3 months for this to happen!! So, once again this $1000+ was turned into new loans made to people around the world…loans made to Moldova, Kenya, Madagascar (2), Sierra Leone and Guatemala (2)…7 loans in all to enable people to start or expand their small businesses.

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Prayer Requests

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Don; Anne; Kirby; Amara; Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; all frontline workers; all who are thinking about getting or waiting to get 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 11/26 – 12/2

Sunday, November 28, 2021
Hybrid Worship Service In-Person and via Zoom
10:00am
Link

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

Wednesday, December 1, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, December 2, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, December 2, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, December 2, 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 12, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, November 14, 2021

  • First Message: Hebrews 10: 11-25
  • Gospel: Mark 13: 1-8
8:00am – Virtual Adapted Morning Prayer Worship Service via Zoom with social time to follow. Steve Andrews will give the homily, no music, lay led.
For the 8am Zoom worship service on November 14, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 171895
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 878 4182 3048
 
10:00am – Adapted Morning Prayer service in-person and via Zoom with outdoor social time to follow for those worshipping in person and Zoom gathering for those worshipping virtually. This Sunday Steve Andrews will give the homily.

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 14, 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

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

What’s New?

  • To listen to Todd Maitland’s homily given on November 7, Click HERE.
  • 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.
  • Do you know about #AdventWord? 28 daily words, meditations and images will be offered during this holy season beginning Sunday, November 28.  There is also a new Advent devotional published by Forward Movement, Promise & Praise, which corresponds with the daily reflection words of AdventWord, including reflections by Bishop Curry and Lisa Kimball who teaches at VTS (Virginia Theological Seminary) and who some of you know.  Click HERE to learn more and to sign up for AdventWord.
  • The Worship Team is looking for new members who would like to help plan the liturgy for one season. Advent is already planned so we’re looking ahead to Epiphany. Epiphany Sundays  include January 9 through February 27 ( 7 Sundays). Planning for these Sundays will start at the Worship Team meeting  on Tuesday, December 7, from 4-6pm at St Mary’s. Click HERE if you’re interested in joining us!
  • Worship Schedule
    • Sun—Nov 21…10am Eucharist –Last Sunday in Pentecost
    • Sun—Nov 28…10am adapted Morning Prayer—Advent 1
    • Sat—  Dec 4……4pm—Advent Service of Healing and Renewal led by The Rev. Susan M. Moss
    • Sun—Dec 5……10am Eucharist—Advent 2
    • Sun—Dec 12….4pm Lessons & Carols—Advent 3
    • Sun—Dec 19….10am Eucharist—Advent 4
    • Fri—   Dec 24…..4pm Eucharist—Christmas Eve
    • 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 Christmas carols & adapted 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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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: 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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Faithful Belonging: Now and in the Future –  Stewardship 2022

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

  • 22 pledges received totaling $82,287

The finance committee is meeting on Tuesday, November 16th to determine our budget for 2022 and needs an accurate account of our pledge income. If you have not made your pledge
yet, now is the time to do it.

Stewardship thought from Henry Van Dyke (1852-1933) “Use what talents you possess; the woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those who sang best.”

Click HERE for the Stewardship letter from Cindy James and Jim Wheeler.

Steve Andrews will be giving the stewardship sermon this Sunday, November 14th as our 2022 Stewardship campaign draws to a close.

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, were sent via e-mail the first week of November. If you didn’t receive a statement, 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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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 11/12 – 11/19

Sunday, November 14, 2021
Virtual Morning Prayer via Zoom
8:00am
Link

Sunday, November 14, 2021
Hybrid Worship In-Person and via Zoom
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
For more information Click HERE

Tuesday, November 16, 2021
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Wednesday, November 17, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, November 18, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, November 18, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, November 18, 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 22, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, October 24, 2021

  • First Message: 2 Timothy 1:13-14
  • Gospel: Mark 10:46-52
10:00am – Eucharist Service In-person and via Zoom with outdoor social time to follow for those worshipping in person and Zoom gathering for those worshipping virtually. This Sunday The Rev. Susan Moss will be the celebrant and preacher.

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 October 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 Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the 2021 Fall Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

A Message from our Warden

St. Mary’s Stewardship 2022

Children and Youth

Outreach

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s New?

  • To listen to the homily given by Nina Johnson on Sunday, October 17, Click HERE.
  • Next Sunday, Oct 31st, is Halloween. Two things to note:
    • This will be a ZOOM ONLY Gospel Based Discipleship service—no in-person service.
    • Kids & adults: Wear your costumes!!
  • Do you have any marigolds growing in pots or in your garden? St Mary’s will have a need for LOTS of marigolds for the worship service on Sunday, November 7, which is All Saints Day. We’ll be learning about Day of the Dead and how to honor our dead at home by creating an ofrenda or home altar. Marigolds are important to this remembrance. Marigolds can be brought to St. Mary’s that Sunday morning and taken home after the service.
  • And more about All Saints Day, November 7th:
    • There will be a special prayer naming and remembering those who have died in the last year. On Sunday, October 24: If you worship virtually, please put names in the chat; if you worship in person, please put the names in the offering plate at the back of the sanctuary; or send an email to susan@saintmarysepiscopal.org by Tuesday, November 2.
    • Remember tying ribbons on our trellis in memory of those who have died? We’ll be doing that again this year on November 7th . 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.
    • It’s common on All Saints Day to have baptisms and renewal of Baptismal vows. If you’re interested in learning more, please contact The Rev. Susan Moss at susan@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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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.

Stewardship thought from Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer – “Good Communities don’t make themselves,” my dad said. “We’ve got a lot to be grateful for, and we all have to do our part to keep it going.”

Click HERE for a Stewardship moment from parishioner Catherine Neuschler.

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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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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Galtier Elementary Fall Festival

Wednesday, October 27, 3:30pm – 6:00pm, Galtier Elementary, 1317 Charles Ave., St. Paul

Join Love First, Galtier Parents and community partners for free food, fun, and fellowship.

Sneaker Drive – Bring a new or barely used pair of sneakers for students in Galtier’s gym class!

Volunteers Needed: Contact Kristin Howatt at kristinhowatt@gmail.com or 651-341-7124.

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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 10/22 – 10/28

Sunday, October 24, 2021
Eucharist Service In-Person and via Zoom
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Vestry Meeting
7:00pm
For more information. Click HERE

Tuesday, October 26, 2021
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Wednesday, October 27, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, October 28, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, October 28, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, October 28, 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 15, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, October 17, 2021

  • First Message: Job 38: 1-7, 12-13, 16-21
  • Gospel: Mark 10:35-45
There will not be an 8:00am Service this week
10:00am – Adapted Morning Prayer Service In-person & Zoom with outdoor social time to follow for those worshipping in person and Zoom gathering for those worshipping virtually. This Sunday Nina Johnson will provide the homily.

This Sunday, Oct 17, we will have space for anyone interested to gather to discuss the topics raised at the Bishop’s visit. This will be a chance to do the truth-telling work mentioned by Reverend Moss in last week’s sermon, to share what is on our hearts, and to offer support to each other. We will begin 10 minutes after the service ends. We will gather in the sanctuary; the Zoom room will remain open as well for online participation.

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 October 17, 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

St. Mary’s Stewardship 2022

Children and Youth (and Talent!)

Communications

Outreach

Notice of Death

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s New?

  • To listen to the homily given by The Rev Susan Moss on Sunday, October 10, Click HERE.
  • The next 8am worship service will be held on Sunday, November 14.
  • Do you have any marigolds growing in pots or in your garden? St Mary’s will  need LOTS of marigolds for the worship service on Sunday, November 7, when we celebrate All Saints/All Souls Day with elements of the Mexican Day of the Dead.  Please bring marigolds from your garden to decorate our altar. They can be taken home with you after the service. We’ll also be learning how to honor our dead at home by creating an ofrenda or home altar.
  • It’s common on All Saints Day, November 7th this year, to have baptisms and renewal of Baptismal Vows. If you are interested in learning more, please contact The Rev Susan Moss at susan@saintmarysepiscopal.org.
  • Not a lot of responses received regarding adding wine to Eucharist, but all the response received was positive. So starting on All Saints Day (Nov 7), we’ll have both bread and wine available for Eucharist! Look around and see if you have a little glass or cup to bring with you to church if you’d like wine. We will use the “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 forget your glass.
  • This Sunday, October 17, we’ll start ‘turning to face the middle aisle’ when we say our Baptismal promises to each other and to God. We can’t touch each other yet, but we can make eye contact with those across the aisle from us. We hope this will increase the sense of community we feel being together.

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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Faithful Belonging: Now and in the Future –  Stewardship 2022

Our stewardship campaign has started and will run through Nov 14th.  We’d like all pledges to be completed by that time.

Click HERE for a Stewardship moment from our Warden, Brian Nerbonne.

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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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!
 
Sunday School Updates
 
Basic Info:
We have a Virtual Lego Camp (Starts this week!) 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
 
 
Did you miss the Talent Show after church last Sunday or want to see it again?
A big shout out to everyone who contributed to the Talent Show and to Mia for hosting and putting it all together! Click HERE to watch.

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St. Mary’s Website Hosting Going Green!

St. Mary’s website is now hosted by Green Geeks, a move that saves St. Mary’s money while also making a positive environmental impact. Green Geeks purchases wind power credits to replace three times the amount of energy a website uses every year. Didn’t think that websites used energy? From Green Geeks: “The Internet industry consumes enormous amounts of energy. The backbone of the Internet are data centers which hold millions of large servers, stacked on top of each other in racks, which are powered up and running all day every day. These servers consume enormous amounts of energy and to make sure that they do not overheat and fail, they are blasted with arctic temperature air all day every day. … In fact 40% of all of the energy used to power the internet is used to keep those servers from overheating. … Today, data centers account for 2% of the world’s carbon emissions, that is as much as the airline industry! Data Center pollution is expected to grow to 14% of the world’s carbon emissions, as much as the United States of America, by 2040.

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“Faiths 4 Climate Justice”: Multi-Faith Prayer Gathering

Monday, Oct. 18, 12:00 pm – Downtown Minneapolis

On October 18, faith and spiritual communities from around the world are rising up for a global “Faiths 4 Climate Justice” day of action! As part of this, Minnesota Interfaith Power & Light is hosting a multi-faith gathering to call on Biden to make a just transition from fossil fuels. Join St. Mary’s and MNIPL, and Bishop Craig Loya  from 12-12:45 pm outside the Federal Building (212 Third Ave S., Minneapolis), where we will share song, prayer, meditation, and silence. Afterwards, we will cross the Stone Arch Bridge for a picnic lunch and time in community. Masks are required. Click here to register.  

Also, keep your eyes out for a fun prayer square art activity after church during October.  Julia and Lucas Nerbonne are part of a multifaith delegation at the International Climate Talks in Glasgow. We’ll bring our our prayers to the streets of Glasgow.

Why this matters:

The science is clear: We need to stop new fossil fuel projects if we want to limit climate change below 1.5 degrees Celsius. President Biden has the executive power to stop fossil fuel projects, like Line 3, but it won’t happen without public pressure. In November, world leaders will meet in Glasgow for the most important UN Climate Talks since the Paris Accords. This is the time to hold countries accountable—no country is currently on track to meet this 1.5 degree goal. It will only happen if countries like the US, historically the biggest polluters, come to the talks showing we’ve taken real action! That’s why right now, going into the international climate negotiations, is a critical time to pressure President Biden.

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Galtier Elementary Fall Festival

Wednesday, October 27, 3:30pm – 6:00pm, Galtier Elementary, 1317 Charles Ave., St. Paul

Join Love First, Galtier Parents and community partners for free food, fun, and fellowship.

Sneaker Drive – Bring a new or barely used pair of sneakers for students in Galtier’s gym class!

Volunteers Needed: Contact Kristin Howatt at kristinhowatt@gmail.com or 651-341-7124.

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Notice of Death

Billy J. Lackey, father of Billy Lackey and father-in-law of Trevor Sannes died Wednesday morning in Richmond VA. 
 
Please remember Billy and his family in your prayers.
 
Keep watch dear Lord with those who work, or watch, or weep this night and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, shield the joyous; and all for your love’s sake. Amen

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 10/15 – 10/21

Sunday, October 17, 2021
Adapted Morning Prayer Service In-Person and via Zoom
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
For more information. Click HERE

Tuesday, October 19, 2021
Compline
7:30pm
Link

Wednesday, October 20, 2021
Youth Group
6:30pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, October 21, 2021
Tweeners
7:00pm
Contact Mia for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, October 21, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, October 21, 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 1, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, October 3, 2021

  • First Message: Remaining Awake through a Great Revolution by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
  • Gospel: Mark 10:13-16
8:00am – Virtual Morning Prayer Worship Service via Zoom with social time to follow. Gospel Based Discipleship discussion instead of a homily, no music, lay led.
For the 8am Zoom worship service on October 3, 2021 Click HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 171895
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 878 4182 3048
 
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 878 4182 3048
If asked for a passcode, use 171895
 
For the Service Bulletin – Click HERE
 
10:00am – Hybrid Worship Service in-person and via Zoom with social time to follow.

This Sunday a guest preacher will be with us at the 10am service – Vivian Ihekoronye from the Isaiah organization. Please see below in Worship for more information on Vivian.

Last week’s new format for the 10am service 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 October 3, 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

Pastoral visit to St. Mary’s by Bishop Loya

Invitation to register for East Metro Mission Area Gathering – Oct. 2nd

St. Mary’s COVID contingency planning

St. Mary’s Finance Committee

Children and Youth (and Talent!)

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

About our guest preacher Vivian Ihekoronye (introduced by Ginny DeLuca)

This Sunday October 3, 2021 we will welcome Vivian Ihekoronye as our guest preacher. Vivian is Isaiah’s lead organizer for St. Paul and East Metro, working to build a just and abundant Minnesota through faith in action that includes Everyone  with no exceptions. Vivian is a graduate from Central High School and went on to graduate from Macalester College. I’ve had the privilege of working with her for 4 years now and am always inspired and informed by what she has to share. When Vivian previously spoke at St Marys some of us felt called to join the path Isaiah walks, and during these past 4 years I’m happy to say more of us have heard that call. Our faith calls us to action and Isaiah is a vehicle St. Marians can join to help build the Beloved Community within our city and state.

Peace

Ginny DeLuca

What’s New?
  • To listen to The Rev Carol Arney’s sermon on Sunday, September 26, Click HERE.
  • The Worship Team will meet in person on Monday, October 4, 7:00-8:30pm, at St. Mary’s. New members are always welcome for short or long commitments. On our Agenda that night are:
    • planning All Saints Day (November 7) service;
    • will we have bread and wine for communion?
    • what happens when it’s too cold to have social time outdoors?
    • how can worship connect with Stewardship?
    • what works best…speaking in front of the altar or at the lectern;
    • and more!!
      Have ideas about any of these? Join us and let your voice be heard!!!
  • Heads up! In November, Eucharist will be celebrated on November 7th and 21st (the 1st and 3rd Sundays) and adapted Morning Prayer will be on November 14th (2nd Sunday). This is the reverse of our normal schedule because All Saints Day, a high festival day, is on November 7th …AND, believe it or not, Advent starts Nov. 28th.

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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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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East Metro Mission Area Gathering – Oct. 2nd
Conversations around Convention and Ourselves 

Brothers and Sisters of the East Metro Mission Area,

You are all invited to our Fall Mission Area Gathering.

On behalf of your council representatives, ECMN Missioners and Bishop Loya, please plan to attend our MAG in person on October 2nd, 2021 at 1:00pm at St. Anne’s Episcopal Church.

Registration Link

We are excited to be gathering in person for this Metro Area Gathering this fall. Our gathering will give us the opportunity to share stories, have small group discussion, and hear from our Bishop as he presents the FSM budget and narrative that goes along with it. The business portion of the meeting will be from 1:00-3:00pm with a social and round table discussion from 3:00-4:00pm to follow.

Link to the Financial Statement
Link to Financial Statement Narrative
Agenda

Notes:
Please bring your own lawn chairs so we may be able to spread out more; social distance and all.
If your congregation would like to help coordinate a finger food dish for our event, please reach out to one of your mission area team members.

Email us at: eastmetro@episcopalmn.org

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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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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!
 
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
 
 
Did you miss the Talent Show after church last Sunday or want to see it again?
A big shout out to everyone who contributed to the Talent Show and to Mia for hosting and putting it all together! Click HERE to watch.

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 10/1 – 10/7

Sunday, October 3, 2021
Virtual Morning Prayer via Zoom
8:00am
Link

Sunday, October 3, 2021
Hybrid Worship In-Person and via Zoom
10:00am
Link

Monday, October 4, 2021
Worship Team Meeting
7:00pm
For more information on the gathering Click HERE

Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Saint Mary’s Men’s Group
7:00pm
For more information on the gathering Click HERE

Tuesday, October 5, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

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

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

Thursday, October 7, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, October 7, 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 13, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, August 15, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday, August 15, The Rev Susan Moss will be our Preacher & celebrant, and it will be another Eucharist service. Zoom coffee time and outdoor visiting for in-person worshippers will allow us to have social time after the service.

  • First Message: Ephesians 5:15-20
  • Gospel: John 6:51-58

For the Zoom worship service on August 15, 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

Search Committee

Finance Committee

Pastoral Care

ECMN Convention

Outreach

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

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 Rev Susan Daughtry’s sermon from August 8, 2021, Click HERE.
  • During August, we will celebrate the Eucharist three times: August 8, 15 & 22. The Rev Susan Moss will be the preacher and celebrant August 15th as well as August 22nd.
  • An experiment this Sunday approved by the Worship Team: One or two children (with pre-approval by their parents) will be invited to join Susan at the altar during the Eucharistic Prayer, with the children standing at each end of the altar. Susan will remain masked during that time.
  • If everything goes according to plan, installation of our new equipment will begin on August 18. This will improve our Zoom worship experience after our techies learn how to operate this equipment. Patience, prayers and good will are still needed!!

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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Search Committee

We are excited to share that we have received a new slate of candidates from Bishop Loya and the Office of Transition Ministry. We’ll use the same interview process we previously developed, and we plan to conduct first-round interviews during the week of August 16th. We want our whole community to know that Bishop Loya took special time to meet with the search committee to convey his excitement and hopefulness regarding this slate of candidates. Having reviewed the materials, we on the search committee share Bishop Loya’s enthusiasm.  As we proceed, we are taking care to remind ourselves that these processes of mutual discernment can take unexpected turns.

As always, you can also send questions or comments to transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org.

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A Mid-year Update from the Finance Committee

We are approximately $9,500 ahead of budget as of June 30, 2021. A reminder, however, that this is based on our 2021 budget, which has a projected budget deficit of ($23,232). Through June, our year-to-date pledge and plate contributions are approximately $1,400 above budget, our non-pledge income is approximately $2,100 above budget, and our expenses are approximately $6,000 below budget. If we do as well in the second half of the year as we have in the first six months, that is, continue to have income above budget and continue to hold the line on expenses, we could come close to eliminating our projected deficit for the year.

Mid-year contribution statements will be sent out sometime the first week in August via email. If you do not receive a statement via email by August 15th, please contact Rex Holzemer at 651-308-4895 or at rexaholzemer@gmail.com. Thanks to each of you for your continued financial support of our community!

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Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for Summer 2021:

Pastoral Care Team
The Team meets on Zoom on Monday nights at 6:30. Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to join us.

LGBTQ+
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 

Caring for an Aging Loved One
Each first Tuesday at 7:00pm: ongoing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information / to register and to get the link.
 
Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
The second Wednesday of every month at 10:00am & 7:00pm (paused for August)
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE
 
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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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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KIVA is alive and well at St Mary’s!

When we have about $1200 in our KIVA account (payments made on previous loans) we’ve been making KIVA loans via Zoom…and it works VERY well!  If you’d like to join this group, let Paulette Briese know.  Here’s a summary of our most recent loans:

  • 16 loans made to these countries:  Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Philippines (2), Moldova, Guatemala, Palestine, El Salvador, Kenya, Tajikistan, Fiji and Uganda (4)
  • What are the loans for?  Bakery/Coffee Shop, Pharmacy supplies, toilets (3), heat, thread & fabric for sewing/weaving of traditional items (4), school fees, piglets and employees to build a pig pen and “ACE one hybrid energy system” for cooking, lighting and charging, which reduces the need for charcoal (4).  We were quite impressed with the ACE energy system.
  • Over the many years St Mary’s has supported KIVA borrowers, we’ve:
    • Made 280 loans to 57 different countries
    • Deposited $9,145 to our KIVA account (“new” money)
    • Used “new” and re-paid money, to loan a total of $45,425!!!

If you’d like to learn more about KIVA, ask Julie Thomas, Mary Hinz, Terry Alewine or Paulette Briese.

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Update on Current Isaiah work

Isaiah is currently developing a plan to support a Rent Stabilization Referendum which will be on the ballot in St. Paul this November. Having a stable and safe residence is critical for families and individuals to thrive. St. Paul has over 50% renters now, and 60% of those are people of color – so this issue is deeply intertwined with equity also. Come join us to learn more about how you can help ensure that St. Paul families can find stable housing.

Please consider signing up for ONE of the Zoom information/training sessions in August:

  • Saturday August 14 from 9:30am–12pm
  • Tuesday August 17 from 6:30pm–9pm
  • Thursday August 19 from 6:30pm–9pm
  • Tuesday August 31 from 6:30pm–9pm

More questions???… call or talk to: Ginny (651 470 7739) or Jim DeLuca (651 792 6675) or Maura (651 249 4634) or Fran Roby (612 968 2370) or Tom Brown (651 402 0495)

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 8/13 – 8/19

Sunday, August 15, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Monday, August 16, 2021
Pastoral Care
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Monday, August 16, 2021
LGBTQ+
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Tuesday, August 17, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, August 19, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, August 19, 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 6, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, August 8, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday The Rev. Susan Daughtry will be our preacher and celebrant, and since it’s the 2nd Sunday of the month, it will be a Eucharist service. The Rev. Daughtry is the Episcopal Church of Minnesota (ECMN) Missioner for Formation. Zoom coffee time and outdoor visiting for in-person worshippers will allow us to have social time after the service.

  • First Message: Psalm 34:1-8
  • Gospel: John 6:35, 41-51

For the Zoom worship service on August 8, 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

Search Committee

Finance Committee

Technology for Sunday Worship

Altar Guild

  • Volunteers needed – Please review and consider this request as we are in danger of soon NOT having a functioning Altar Guild.

Pastoral Care

ECMN Convention

Outreach

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

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

The Worship, Tech and Regathering Teams learn new things every week to improve our knowledge of how to plan and offer engaging and nourishing  liturgy in a new hybrid world. 

The learning curve is steep but we are undaunted and eager to improve with renewed appreciation for the team work and cooperation. 

Upgraded technology is on its way bringing higher quality sound and visuals to increase virtual participation and connection. 

 More training will be needed  throughout the month of August and into early September as the Tech Team learns to use the upgraded equipment. Thank you for your patience as we navigate this new world.

I love this life lesson from Anne Lamott.  Based on Doctorow’s wisdom for writers, she applies it to those times when, like it or not, we must slow down and accept that we can’t know everything at once.

“E.L. Doctorow once said that ‘Writing a novel is like driving a car at night. You can see only as far as your headlights, but you can make the whole trip that way.’ You don’t have to see where you’re going, you don’t have to see your destination or everything you will pass along the way. You just have to see two or three feet ahead of you. This is right up there with the best advice on writing, or life, I have ever heard.”

 
What’s New?
  • To listen to Vonda Humburg’s homily from August 1, 2021, Click HERE.  (For the printed version to follow along, Click HERE)
  • If everything goes according to plan, installation of our new equipment will begin on August 18. This is the equipment that will improve our Zoom worship experience. As with all our tweaks and improvements, there will be a learning curve for those who will be trained to operate this equipment…so we still ask for your patience, prayers and good will as the techies acquire the skills to bring a better Zoom experience to our on-line worshippers.
  • Next Sunday, August 15th, will be an EXTRA Eucharist…three Eucharist services this month instead of the usual two!!  The Rev. Susan Moss will be the preacher and celebrant on both August 15th & 22nd.

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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Search Committee

We are excited to share that we have received a new slate of candidates from Bishop Loya and the Office of Transition Ministry. We’ll use the same interview process we previously developed, and we plan to conduct first-round interviews during the week of August 16th. We want our whole community to know that Bishop Loya took special time to meet with the search committee to convey his excitement and hopefulness regarding this slate of candidates. Having reviewed the materials, we on the search committee share Bishop Loya’s enthusiasm.  As we proceed, we are taking care to remind ourselves that these processes of mutual discernment can take unexpected turns.

We invite you to join us this Sunday for our monthly “catch-up conversation,” where members of the search team will be available to share information and answer any questions we can, while keeping confidential the Human Resources aspect of this process. 9:15-9:45 in the sanctuary and on Zoom. As always, you can also send questions or comments to transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org.

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A Mid-year Update from the Finance Committee

We are approximately $9,500 ahead of budget as of June 30, 2021. A reminder, however, that this based on our 2021 budget, which has a projected budget deficit of ($23,232). Thru June, our year-to-date pledge and plate contributions are approximately $1,400 above budget, our non-pledge income is approximately $2,100 above budget, and our expenses are approximately $6,000 below budget. If we do as well in the second half of the year as we have in the first six months, that is, continue to have income above budget and continue to hold the line on expenses, we could come close to eliminating our projected deficit for the year.

Mid-year contribution statements will be sent out sometime the first week in August via e-mail. If you do not receive a statement via e-mail by August 15th, please contact Rex Holzemer at 651-308-4895 or at rexaholzemer@gmail.com. Thanks to each of you for your continued financial support of our community!

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Volunteers for Sunday Worship Service Technology

Brian Nerbonne would appreciate some technology volunteers so that we can continue to provide an online option for worship, and so that he can take a few Sundays off. He has a couple people signed up, but not enough yet to provide coverage for when Brian is on vacation. There are two jobs: 

  1.  Audio/Video live stream from church, which requires a laptop and cell phone
  2.  Zoom host, which  can be done from home or even from church if you bring your device. The Zoom host shares the PowerPoint files of song lyrics that Vonda creates for each song. 

Neither job is actually very difficult, and Brian is happy to train people on how to do each. If you can help, please let Brian know.  Click HERE with questions or to volunteer.

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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:

Pastoral Care Team
The Team meets on Zoom on Monday nights at 6:30. 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 

Caring for an Aging Loved One
Each first Tuesday at 7:00pm: ongoing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information / to register and to get the link.
 
Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
The second Wednesday of every month at 10:00am & 7:00pm (paused for August)
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE
 
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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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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KIVA is alive and well at St Mary’s!

When we have about $1200 in our KIVA account (payments made on previous loans) we’ve been making KIVA loans via Zoom…and it works VERY well!  If you’d like to join this group, let Paulette Briese know.  Here’s a summary of our most recent loans:

  • 16 loans made to these countries:  Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Vietnam, Philippines (2), Moldova, Guatemala, Palestine, El Salvador, Kenya, Tajikistan, Fiji and Uganda (4)
  • What are the loans for?  Bakery/Coffee Shop, Pharmacy supplies, toilets (3), heat, thread & fabric for sewing/weaving of traditional items (4), school fees, piglets and employees to build a pig pen and “ACE one hybrid energy system” for cooking, lighting and charging, which reduces the need for charcoal (4).  We were quite impressed with the ACE energy system.
  • Over the many years St Mary’s has supported KIVA borrowers, we’ve:
    • Made 280 loans to 57 different countries
    • Deposited $9,145 to our KIVA account (“new” money)
    • Used “new” and re-paid money, to loan a total of $45,425!!!

If you’d like to learn more about KIVA, ask Julie Thomas, Mary Hinz, Terry Alewine or Paulette Briese.

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Update on Current Isaiah work

Isaiah is currently developing a plan to support a Rent Stabilization Referendum which will be on the ballot in St. Paul this November. Having a stable and safe residence is critical for families and individuals to thrive. St. Paul has over 50% renters now, and 60% of those are people of color – so this issue is deeply intertwined with equity also. Come join us to learn more about how you can help ensure that St. Paul families can find stable housing.

Please consider signing up for ONE of the Zoom information/training sessions in August:

  • Saturday August 14 from 9:30am–12pm
  • Tuesday August 17 from 6:30pm–9pm
  • Thursday August 19 from 6:30pm–9pm
  • Tuesday August 31 from 6:30pm–9pm

More questions???… call or talk to: Ginny (651 470 7739) or Jim DeLuca (651 792 6675) or Maura (651 249 4634) or Fran Roby (612 968 2370) or Tom Brown (651 402 0495)

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 8/6 – 8/12

Sunday, August 8, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Monday, August 9, 2021
Pastoral Care
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Tuesday, August 10, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, August 12, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, August 12, 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 – July 30, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, August 1, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday Vonda Humburg, a Saint Mary’s member and Music Director, will be our Preacher. Worship will be an adapted Morning Prayer service. Zoom coffee time and outdoor visiting for in-person worshippers will allow us to have social time after the service.

  • First Message: Exodus 16:2-4, 9-15
  • Gospel: John 6:24-35 (Jesus is the bread of life, we shall not go hungry.)

For the Zoom worship service on August 1, 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

Technology for Sunday Worship

Altar Guild

  • Volunteers needed – Please review and consider this request as we are in danger of soon NOT having a functioning Altar Guild.

Pastoral Care

Outreach

Beware Phishing Emails!

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s New?
  • To listen to the sermon given by The Rev. Susan Moss on Sunday, July 25, Click HERE.
  • It’s time for quilts! No, certainly not the weather for quilts, but Saint Mary’s will be giving a quilt to each high school graduate!! Our graduates this year are Bennett Anderson, Max Johnson, Ava McCallister and Lucas Nerbonne. For 3 Sundays, August 1, 8 and 15, the quilts will be available for Saint Marians to sign, and then they’ll be given to the grads on Sunday, August 22. Come to church the next 3 Sundays and sign the quilts to let these young people know they will continue in our thoughts!
  • The Worship Team has been looking ahead to fall and brought recommendations to the Vestry on Tuesday, July 27. The Vestry approved the following:
    • Offer those who attended the 7:45am service pre-COVID to have a fully lay led in-person Morning Prayer early Sunday morning worship service. Training of Lay Leaders will be provided; safe church procedures will be followed; housekeeping duties before and after service will be performed; Saint Mary’s COVID guidelines will be followed. This option will soon be discussed with those who attended the 7:45am service.
    • Continue one 10am hybrid (in-person & virtual) blended service with liturgy/music that has “something familiar for everyone”; two or three adapted Morning Prayer services per month and two (sometimes 3) Eucharist services per month. Revisit this decision at the end of September or when ournew priest is called.

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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Volunteers for Sunday Worship Service Technology

Brian Nerbonne would appreciate some technology volunteers so that we can continue to provide an online option for worship, and so that he can take a few Sundays off. He has a couple people signed up, but not enough yet to provide coverage for when Brian is on vacation. There are two jobs: 

  1.  Audio/Video live stream from church, which requires a laptop and cell phone
  2.  Zoom host, which  can be done from home or even from church if you bring your device. The Zoom host shares the PowerPoint files of song lyrics that Vonda creates for each song. 

Neither job is actually very difficult, and Brian is happy to train people on how to do each. If you can help, please let Brian know.  Click HERE with questions or to volunteer.

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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:

Pastoral Care Team
The Team meets on Zoom on Monday nights at 6:30. 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 

Caring for an Aging Loved One
Each first Tuesday at 7:00pm: ongoing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information / to register and to get the link.
 
Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
The second Wednesday of every month at 10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE
 
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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School Tools Drive

We will once again join with Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul (I. A.) and other faith communities, to collect new school tools for low-income families involved  in 10 different programs in Saint Paul.

Supplies Needed

  • Backpacks
  • 3-ring binders, loose-leaf paper and folders
  • Calculators
  • Spiral and composition notebooks
  • Pencils, pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, highlighters, pencil sharpeners
  • Glue sticks & bottles
  • Scissors & rulers
  • Facial tissue
  • School boxes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Reusable masks

The drive will run from July to August 1st. Items can be left downstairs by the entrance to the church. Monetary donations can be done online to I. A., under  “donations” with “school tools” entered into the “other” text field. Checks should be sent to the I. A. with “school tools” in the memo line. More information is available on the I. A. website – Click HERE.

Thanks for considering supporting low-income students with the school supplies they need! If you have questions, contact:
Rainy Morgan at Morgan55105@yahoo.com

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Update on Current Isaiah work

Isaiah is currently developing a plan to support a Rent Stabilization Referendum which will be on the ballot in St. Paul this November. Having a stable and safe residence is critical for families and individuals to thrive. St. Paul has over 50% renters now, and 60% of those are people of color – so this issue is deeply intertwined with equity also. Come join us to learn more about how you can help ensure that St. Paul families can find stable housing.

Please consider signing up for ONE of the Zoom information/training sessions in August:

  • Saturday August 14 from 9:30am–12pm
  • Tuesday August 17 from 6:30pm–9pm
  • Thursday August 19 from 6:30pm–9pm
  • Tuesday August 31 from 6:30pm–9pm

More questions???… call or talk to: Ginny (651 470 7739) or Jim DeLuca (651 792 6675) or Maura (651 249 4634) or Fran Roby (612 968 2370) or Tom Brown (651 402 0495)

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Beware Phishing Emails

(The following is a message that was sent by ECMN in January of this year, but we are sharing again as there has been mention of a resurgence by local church communities)
 
Many of us have received emails that seem to be coming from leaders of our churches or in ECMN that seem off. Maybe they’re asking you to send them money, maybe they’re asking you to reach out to them urgently, but the text in the message is misspelled. These types of emails are called email-based impersonation, and are a form of phishing utilized by cybercriminals to get access to your information, or to influence you to send money.
 
When you look closely, there are telltale indications that these messages aren’t truly from the leaders we think they are, but are examples of Phishing.
 
There is no way to stop these scams from occurring. However, with some vigilance and a list of things to look for, you can keep yourself and your data safe. 
 
Here are a few things to look for to determine if a message is, indeed, fraudulent:
  • The return email address: the email sending the message is often something like bishop@gmail.com or the.rt.rev.craiglowa@gmail.com. They might look semi-plausible, but aren’t the actual email of the individual being impersonated. You can expect any email coming from ECMN to come from an account using the domain @episcopalmn.org or @ecmn.org
  • The message: phishing emails often address the recipient as ‘dear friend’ or ‘hello’ but don’t list you or your name in the message.
  • Grammatical errors: phishing emails often have strange grammatical errors or use language, phrases, and content that seem out of character for the individual being impersonated.
Here’s what to do if you think you’ve received a phishing email:
  • Don’t open any attachments 
  • Don’t click on links
  • If you can, report the email to your provider as phishing or spam (in Gmail, you can click the stop sign with the exclamation point inside to let Google know the email is illegitimate).

Confirm requests with a conversation. Even if the email seems legit, if a request contains an urgent ask for contact, personal information or money, or it seems even remotely “off,” don’t respond to the email or act on it until you confirm it.

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 7/30 – 8/5

Sunday, August 1, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Monday, August 2, 2021
Pastoral Care
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Men’s Group
7:00pm
For details Click HERE

Tuesday, August 3, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, August 5, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, August 5, 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 – July 23, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, July 25, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday The Rev. Susan Moss will be our Celebrant and Preacher, and since it’s the 4th Sunday of the month, it will be a Eucharist service. Zoom coffee time and outdoor visiting for in-person worshippers will allow us to have social time after the service.

  • First Message: As we walk the Christian journey, we discover that what we need to heal the aching in our lives and the crises of our time is here. The gifts we need are here, in the church. In the faith that we carry, in the love we have for one another and in the love we give to the world. The gifts we need are here, and not in a marginal way, but in abundance. God gives abundantly, can’t help it. As we walk the Christian way, in the church and sent by the church, we will see signs of God’s abundant love and grace all around us. Thanks be to God. Amen (The Rev. Todd Smith Lippert, former minister at First United Church of Christ, Northfield, MN.)
  • Gospel: John 6:1-21 (The feeding of the 5000)

For the Zoom worship service on July 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 2021 Summer Songbook – Click HERE

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Technology for Sunday Worship

Altar Guild

  • Volunteers needed – Please review and consider this request as we are in danger of soon NOT having a functioning Altar Guild.

Pastoral Care

Outreach

Beware Phishing Emails!

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Liturgy Matters at Saint Mary’s by the Rev Susan M. Moss
 
The Worship Team is grateful for your feedback, questions and suggestions. We are hearing that many are missing the pre-covid custom of gathering around the altar for communion and understand the yearning to return to this inclusive practice.
 
Please understand that we are not gathering around the altar at this time because of our decision to social distance; decision that, along with mask wearing,  will keep the community safe until these covid restrictions are no longer necessary.
 
We, too are yearning for the return of many worship customs among them: receiving both bread and wine at communion, passing the peace with handshakes and hugs, non family members able to sit next to one another, and full throated congregational singing. We ask for your understanding and patience as we continue to uphold the values of safety and “love thy neighbor”.
 

What’s New?

  • To listen to Colleen Carpenter’s sermon given on Sunday, July 18th , Click HERE.
  • Progress is being made on technology upgrades. These upgrades should make a big
    difference for both in-person and zoom worshippers; they should make a big
    difference on both the audio and visual. The hope is that the new system will be
    rolled out by mid-August. Stay tuned!! And please remember, be patient! Each
    change that is made usually requires “tweaking”…that means we learn as we go and
    make improvements as needed.
  •  A request for people to volunteer for any of our Sunday morning lay ministries…
    techies (Zoom hosts & sanctuary techies), ushers, greeters, Vergers, Lay Leader/
    Officiants, musicians, choir members, Altar Guild members. YOU ARE NEEDED!!!
    Even if you’re not available until fall, please sign up and indicate “fall start”.

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

 

Volunteers for Sunday Worship Service Technology

Brian Nerbonne would appreciate some technology volunteers so that we can continue to provide an online option for worship, and so that he can take a few Sundays off. He has a couple people signed up, but not enough yet to provide coverage for when Brian is on vacation. There are two jobs: 

  1.  Audio/Video live stream from church, which requires a laptop and cell phone
  2. Zoom host, which  can be done from home or even from church if you bring your device. The Zoom host shares the PowerPoint files of song lyrics that Vonda creates for each song. 

Neither job is actually very difficult, and Brian is happy to train people on how to do each. If you can help, please let Brian know.  Click HERE with questions or to volunteer.

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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:

Pastoral Care Team
The Team meets on Zoom on Monday nights at 6:30. 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 

Notice of Death
William Alexander Bierman, Jr., son of Bill and Janice (dec.) and brother of Ann and Dick,  died on July 16 from complications of dementia.
His funeral will be at St. Mary’s on Monday July 26th at 11.00 AM. The Rev. Susan M. Moss will officiate.
Let us pray for the Bierman family in this time of grief:
 
O God of mercies and giver of comfort: Deal graciously, we pray, with the Bierman family and all who mourn; that, casting all their care on you, they may know the consolation of your love: through Jesus Christ. Amen.
 
Caring for an Aging Loved One
Each first Tuesday at 7:00pm: ongoing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information / to register and to get the link.
 
Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
The second Wednesday of every month at 10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE
 
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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School Tools Drive

We will once again join with Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul (I. A.) and other faith communities, to collect new school tools for low-income families involved  in 10 different programs in Saint Paul.

Supplies Needed

  • Backpacks
  • 3-ring binders, loose-leaf paper and folders
  • Calculators
  • Spiral and composition notebooks
  • Pencils, pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, highlighters, pencil sharpeners
  • Glue sticks & bottles
  • Scissors & rulers
  • Facial tissue
  • School boxes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Reusable masks

The drive will run from July to August 1st. Items can be left downstairs by the entrance to the church. Monetary donations can be done online to I. A., under  “donations” with “school tools” entered into the “other” text field. Checks should be sent to the I. A. with “school tools” in the memo line. More information is available on the I. A. website – Click HERE.

Thanks for considering supporting low-income students with the school supplies they need! If you have questions, contact:
Rainy Morgan at Morgan55105@yahoo.com

Return to Top

Beware Phishing Emails

(The following is a message that was sent by ECMN in January of this year, but we are sharing again as there has been mention of a resurgence by local church communities)
 
Many of us have received emails that seem to be coming from leaders of our churches or in ECMN that seem off. Maybe they’re asking you to send them money, maybe they’re asking you to reach out to them urgently, but the text in the message is misspelled. These types of emails are called email-based impersonation, and are a form of phishing utilized by cybercriminals to get access to your information, or to influence you to send money.
 
When you look closely, there are telltale indications that these messages aren’t truly from the leaders we think they are, but are examples of Phishing.
 
There is no way to stop these scams from occurring. However, with some vigilance and a list of things to look for, you can keep yourself and your data safe. 
 
Here are a few things to look for to determine if a message is, indeed, fraudulent:
  • The return email address: the email sending the message is often something like bishop@gmail.com or the.rt.rev.craiglowa@gmail.com. They might look semi-plausible, but aren’t the actual email of the individual being impersonated. You can expect any email coming from ECMN to come from an account using the domain @episcopalmn.org or @ecmn.org
  • The message: phishing emails often address the recipient as ‘dear friend’ or ‘hello’ but don’t list you or your name in the message.
  • Grammatical errors: phishing emails often have strange grammatical errors or use language, phrases, and content that seem out of character for the individual being impersonated.
Here’s what to do if you think you’ve received a phishing email:
  • Don’t open any attachments 
  • Don’t click on links
  • If you can, report the email to your provider as phishing or spam (in Gmail, you can click the stop sign with the exclamation point inside to let Google know the email is illegitimate).

Confirm requests with a conversation. Even if the email seems legit, if a request contains an urgent ask for contact, personal information or money, or it seems even remotely “off,” don’t respond to the email or act on it until you confirm it.

Return to Top

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 7/23 – 7/29

Sunday, July 25, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Monday, July 26, 2021
Pastoral Care
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Vestry Meeting
7:00pm
Contact for details and a link Click HERE

Tuesday, July 27, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, July 29, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, July 29, 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 – July 16, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, July 18, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday Colleen Carpenter, a St. Mary’s member, will be our Preacher. This will be an adapted Morning Prayer service…no Eucharist. Zoom coffee time and outdoor visiting for in-person worshippers will allow us to have social time after the service.

  • First Message: Psalm 23
  • Gospel: Mark 6:30-34, 53-56

For the Zoom worship service on July 18, 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

Technology for Sunday Worship

Altar Guild

  • Volunteers needed – Please review and consider this request as we are in danger of soon NOT having a functioning Altar Guild.

Pastoral Care

Education

Outreach

Beware Phishing Emails!

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s New?

  • To hear The Rev Susan Moss’ sermon from Sunday, July 11, Click HERE.
  • 1 Corinthians 12:14…“For the body is not one member, but many.” The body is not supported by just one person, but by all of us. We’re strongest working together in unity. Teamwork is the key to living life in harmony so we can do God’s work. YOU ARE NEEDED!! If you haven’t signed up to do a Sunday morning lay ministry, now would be a good time to do that…usher,
    greeter, techie, Lay Leader/Officiant, Verger, musician, altar guild member, choir member—ALL ARE NEEDED. Click HERE to learn more and to sign up.
  • In an abundance of caution to keep children and those who can’t be vaccinated safe, masking is still required while in the Saint Mary’s building.

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

 

Volunteers for Sunday Worship Service Technology

Brian Nerbonne would appreciate some technology volunteers so that we can continue to provide an online option for worship, and so that he can take a few Sundays off. He has a couple people signed up, but not enough yet to provide coverage for when Brian is on vacation. There are two jobs: 

  1.  Audio/Video live stream from church, which requires a laptop and cell phone
  2. Zoom host, which  can be done from home or even from church if you bring your device. The Zoom host shares the PowerPoint files of song lyrics that Vonda creates for each song. 

Neither job is actually very difficult, and Brian is happy to train people on how to do each. If you can help, please let Brian know.  Click HERE with questions or to volunteer.

Return to Top

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:

Pastoral Care Team
The Team meets on Zoom on Monday nights at 6:30. Please contact Rev. Cindi if you would like to join us.

LGBTQ+
Monday, July 19th 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 

Caring for an Aging Loved One
Each first Tuesday at 7:00pm: ongoing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information / to register and to get the link.
 
Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
The second Wednesday of every month at 10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE
 
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 19). 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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School Tools Drive

We will once again join with Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul (I. A.) and other faith communities, to collect new school tools for low-income families involved  in 10 different programs in Saint Paul.

Supplies Needed

  • Backpacks
  • 3-ring binders, loose-leaf paper and folders
  • Calculators
  • Spiral and composition notebooks
  • Pencils, pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, highlighters, pencil sharpeners
  • Glue sticks & bottles
  • Scissors & rulers
  • Facial tissue
  • School boxes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Reusable masks

The drive will run from July to August 1st. Items can be left downstairs by the entrance to the church. Monetary donations can be done online to I. A., under  “donations” with “school tools” entered into the “other” text field. Checks should be sent to the I. A. with “school tools” in the memo line. More information is available on the I. A. website – Click HERE.

Thanks for considering supporting low-income students with the school supplies they need! If you have questions, contact:
Rainy Morgan at Morgan55105@yahoo.com

Return to Top

Beware Phishing Emails

(The following is a message that was sent by ECMN in January of this year, but we are sharing again as there has been mention of a resurgence by local church communities)
 
Many of us have received emails that seem to be coming from leaders of our churches or in ECMN that seem off. Maybe they’re asking you to send them money, maybe they’re asking you to reach out to them urgently, but the text in the message is misspelled. These types of emails are called email-based impersonation, and are a form of phishing utilized by cybercriminals to get access to your information, or to influence you to send money.
 
When you look closely, there are telltale indications that these messages aren’t truly from the leaders we think they are, but are examples of Phishing.
 
There is no way to stop these scams from occurring. However, with some vigilance and a list of things to look for, you can keep yourself and your data safe. 
 
Here are a few things to look for to determine if a message is, indeed, fraudulent:
  • The return email address: the email sending the message is often something like bishop@gmail.com or the.rt.rev.craiglowa@gmail.com. They might look semi-plausible, but aren’t the actual email of the individual being impersonated. You can expect any email coming from ECMN to come from an account using the domain @episcopalmn.org or @ecmn.org
  • The message: phishing emails often address the recipient as ‘dear friend’ or ‘hello’ but don’t list you or your name in the message.
  • Grammatical errors: phishing emails often have strange grammatical errors or use language, phrases, and content that seem out of character for the individual being impersonated.
Here’s what to do if you think you’ve received a phishing email:
  • Don’t open any attachments 
  • Don’t click on links
  • If you can, report the email to your provider as phishing or spam (in Gmail, you can click the stop sign with the exclamation point inside to let Google know the email is illegitimate).

Confirm requests with a conversation. Even if the email seems legit, if a request contains an urgent ask for contact, personal information or money, or it seems even remotely “off,” don’t respond to the email or act on it until you confirm it.

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 7/16 – 7/22

Sunday, July 18, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Monday, July 19, 2021
Pastoral Care
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Monday, July 19, 2021
LGBTQ+
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Monday, July 19, 2021
Book Club
7:30pm
Please email Beth Varro at beth.varro@gmail.com to sign up and get the Zoom link.

Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
Contact for details and a link Click HERE

Tuesday, July 20, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, July 22, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, July 22, 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 – July 9, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, July 11, 2021
Worship In-person and via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday the Rev. Susan Moss will be our Preacher, and since it’s the second Sunday of the month, it will be a Eucharist service. Zoom coffee time and outdoor visiting for in-person worshippers will allow us to have social time after the service.

  • First Message: From We Make the Road by Walking: A Year-Long Quest for Spiritual Formation, Reorientation, and Activation by Brian D. McLaren
  • Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

For the Zoom worship service on July 11, 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

Search Committee Update

Technology for Sunday Worship

Altar Guild

  • Volunteers needed – Please review and consider this request as we are in danger of soon NOT having a functioning Altar Guild.

Pastoral Care

Education

Outreach

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

What’s New?

  • Woohoo!!!  At our Eucharist service this Sunday, we’ll have communion bread instead of wafers!!  Yeah!!!
  • Remember, St Mary’s worship services will start at 10am sharp!! Arrive at St Mary’s for in-person worship or join zoom by 10am so you don’t miss anything!!
  • Not new, but oh 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.

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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Search Committee Update

(Reprint of the update that was shared on 6/25/21)
 
We have reposted our call for a permanent rector, with a new closing date of July 31. Bishop Loya and other colleagues will also engage in some active recruitment to bring a permanent priest to our “gem of a community” (the Bishop’s words). Our next monthly check-in will be the second Sunday of July, which is July 11. From 9:15-9:45, members of the search committee will be available on Zoom and in the sanctuary to answer any questions you may have. We believe that the Holy Spirit is at work on behalf of St. Mary’s. God is good. All the time.
 
We invite you to share the job posting widely with your own networks. The description of the job on the ECMN website is here: https://episcopalmn.org/job-openings 
 
Here’s a suggestion for how to describe the job to your network:
 
Are you an INNOVATIVE SPIRITUAL LEADER who is looking for a parish that is dedicated to transform what it means to be a church in the twenty-first century?
Are you a GIFTED PREACHER who is passionate about inspiring others?
If so, we are looking for you!! Come talk with us to learn more about our amazing, one of a kind community.
Opening will be posted until July 31st.
 

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Volunteers for Sunday Worship Service Technology

Brian Nerbonne would appreciate some technology volunteers so that we can continue to provide an online option for worship, and so that he can take a few Sundays off. He has a couple people signed up, but not enough yet to provide coverage for when Brian is on vacation. There are two jobs: 

  1.  Audio/Video live stream from church, which requires a laptop and cell phone
  2. Zoom host, which  can be done from home or even from church if you bring your device. The Zoom host shares the PowerPoint files of song lyrics that Vonda creates for each song. 

Neither job is actually very difficult, and Brian is happy to train people on how to do each. If you can help, please let Brian know.  Click HERE with questions or to volunteer.

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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:

Pastoral Care Team
The Team meets on Zoom on Monday nights at 6:30. 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 

Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
Wednesday, July 14 at 10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE
 
Caring for an Aging Loved One
Each first Tuesday at 7:00pm: ongoing. All are welcome; please contact Rev. Cindi for more information / to register and to get the link.
 
LGBTQ+
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.
 
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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School Tools Drive

We will once again join with Interfaith Action of Greater St. Paul (I. A.) and other faith communities, to collect new school tools for low-income families involved  in 10 different programs in Saint Paul.

Supplies Needed

  • Backpacks
  • 3-ring binders, loose-leaf paper and folders
  • Calculators
  • Spiral and composition notebooks
  • Pencils, pens, markers, colored pencils, crayons, erasers, highlighters, pencil sharpeners
  • Glue sticks & bottles
  • Scissors & rulers
  • Facial tissue
  • School boxes
  • Hand sanitizer
  • Reusable masks

The drive will run from July to August 1st. Items can be left downstairs by the entrance to the church. Monetary donations can be done online to I. A., under  “donations” with “school tools” entered into the “other” text field. Checks should be sent to the I. A. with “school tools” in the memo line. More information is available on the I. A. website – Click HERE.

Thanks for considering supporting low-income students with the school supplies they need! If you have questions, contact:
Rainy Morgan at Morgan55105@yahoo.com

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Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 7/9 – 7/15

Sunday, July 11, 2021
Search Committee Q & A
9:15am
Worship via Zoom with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Monday, July 12, 2021
Pastoral Care
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Monday, July 12, 2021
Book Club
7:30pm
Please email Beth Varro at beth.varro@gmail.com to sign up and get the Zoom link.

Tuesday, July 13, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Wednesday, July 14, 2021
Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, July 15, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, July 15, 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 4, 2021

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Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, June 6, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday Erika Scheurer will lead us through a guided meditation. We are hopeful this will be our last “Zoom only” service…See Brian Nerbonne’s article below regarding our need for volunteers. Please sign up to enable us to worship in person June 13th and throughout the summer!!

  • First Message: TBD
  • Gospel: Mark 3:20-35 Jesus and Beelzebul; Jesus’ Mother & Brothers: Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?

For the Zoom worship service on June 6, 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

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Regathering Team

Altar Guild

Pastoral Care

Education

Outreach

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

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

I will be away the week of June 6 when we gather for worship on Zoom. On June 13, I look forward to seeing many of you face-to-face for the first time at the Regathering Eucharist in St. Mary’s beautiful sanctuary. The Regathering and Worship Teams are working together every day now to prepare for this joyful day.

Let’s talk about what to expect when St. Mary’s regathers after more than a year of pandemic restrictions that have kept us apart:

Expect and allow yourself to experience the range of emotions you will carry with you to worship. It’s been a hard year, and as excited as many are to regather, “back to normal anxiety” is at an all- time high across our country. Being together again after adapting to a year of extreme caution, stress, loss, grief and non stop change can be overwhelming for many.

Respect the choices parents of young unvaccinated children are making for their children’s safety. It takes time to ease back in while learning how to regather after a pandemic and the social isolation we have had to endure.

Expect both familiarity and change. When you come, try to arrive early. Bring not only your mask, prepared to social distance with restrictions on congregational singing, and your pre downloaded service bulletin from The Weekly.

Bring also the attitude and spirit of turning up as a newcomer; the attitude of a new church start up.

Things will look different and feel different. Each one of us is learning how to do something new.

Expect to be graceful and patient with one another as we walk step by step into this new world. We gather to be together to worship, to pray, and to be fed by Word and Sacrament for the work God has given us to do.

Trust the Spirit to help us find the way.
And as Sr. Julian of Norwich reminds us:
All shall be well.
All shall be well.
All manner of things shall be well

What’s New?

  • No “Question of the Day” during the summer! Enjoy the social time during the Break Out group today!

What changes will take place when we worship in person?

  • Come early!! You’ll be seated by an usher so allow plenty of extra time.
  • IMPORTANT: Before you leave home, download & 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.
  • We’ll celebrate Eucharist the 2nd & 4th Sundays of each month, starting June 13th IF WE HAVE ENOUGH VOLUNTEERS! SIGN UP TODAY!!
  • The choir will be back!! We’ll hear choral in-person singing! (No congregational singing yet. Humming allowed!!)
  • We’ll be masked and stay socially distant (6’ apart) in the building.
  • For now, there won’t be an organized Coffee Time. Feel free to go outdoors and visit with people. Bring your own beverages if you’d like!

Feedback is welcome!
Please expect changes…even from week to week…as we try things, see how they work and make improvements! This is a new path we’re on, one we’ve not experienced before. Your feedback is more important than ever 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 In-person Worship Will Be Delayed Without More Volunteers

I know that people are excited about our plan to return to in-person worship on June 13, but I also know people are busy in the summer and may be hesitant to sign up for something when they won’t be around every week. However, at this point we do not have enough volunteers to adequately staff the roles needed for our in-person services. The vestry made the decision at our last meeting that we would not start in-person services if we didn’t have the people to make it happen. This comes from a safety perspective of living up to our responsibilities for our community who attend, and to avoid putting all of that burden on a small group of people.

I am asking that people email regathering@saintmarysepiscopal.org and offer to help out. Most jobs like greeters and ushers are not hard to do, and the greeter shift can even be done with kids! We also need more people to step up be vergers and lay leaders occasionally so that the burden does not fall on the same people. We also need people to help with tech so that we can continue to offer online access for those not able to attend in person. Once we have enough people to fill those positions, we will consider adding coffee hour shifts. If you have questions about different roles, feel free to ask.

If we do not have enough volunteers by June 9, we will make the call to postpone services. This is an all hands on deck moment, and I trust that people will answer the call.

Brian Nerbonne, Warden

Re-Gathering: Saint Mary’s Needs YOU…& YOU…& YOU!!!

As you know from the Brian’s article above, we need “all hands on deck” right now! In order to meet in person in the church building and live stream the service via Zoom, we need enough volunteers to staff our Sunday morning needs for a whole month…9 volunteers per Sunday which translates to a minimum of 36 volunteers per month. This is the number we feel we need to safely worship in person. We also feel this number of volunteers is needed to spread the work around. Each person would be scheduled to volunteer approximately one time each month and hopefully that would avoid burnout. As of right now, we have 12 volunteers signed up…so yes, we need YOU…& YOU…& YOU!!!

So, now you are probably wondering what are the needs each Sunday? Click HERE to see a brief descriptions of duties.

+3 Ushers +2 Greeters +1 Lay Leader +1 Verger +2 Tech-ies

Safety of all worshippers is a high value as we plan our return to in-person worship. If you intend to worship in person, please sign up for one (or more!) of these positions. Training will be provided if needed. The more people who sign up, the fewer times each of us will need to serve. As mentioned in Brian’s article, the Vestry will consider adding Coffee Hour when all of the above positions are filled, so you can also sign up for Coffee Hour Hosts. Sign up by clicking regathering@saintmarysepiscopal.org.

URGENT—PLEASE SIGN UP NOW!

The Regathering Team Needs to Know Who Is Coming on June 13

The Regathering Team needs your help in planning how to configure the church for our June 13 service. We are not requiring an RSVP to attend, but we would like people to respond to a poll on how many people from your household are likely to attend. This will make our jobs much easier if most people planning to come take the survey, rather than need to adjust pews/chairs on the fly on Sunday morning. Please Click HERE and answer a couple quick questions.

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

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for June 2021:

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, June 8 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

Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
Wednesday, June 9 at 10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

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.

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!

Treaty People Gathering

https://www.mnipl.org/event/treaty-people-gathering-virtual-rally/

On June 5-8, thousands of people from all over the world will be at Treaty People Gathering to join Native women at the front lines to stop the Line 3 oil pipeline. If you can’t make it to northern Minnesota, we invite you to join a virtual rally of faith actors on Sunday, June 6, at 6:00 pm CT!

We’ll lift up our collective vision of a world where water is sacred, where Native treaty rights and sovereignty are respected, and where rural communities prosper. You will hear directly from activists at the gathering in northern Minnesota, and from members of MNIPL’s multifaith delegation. You will also have the opportunity to take action, and to share tools, resources, and next steps with your community.

We are so excited for you to join us as part of this movement. All are welcome from wherever you are! RSVP to receive the Zoom link for the event.

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups for the week of 6/4 – 6/10

Sunday, June 6, 2021
Search Committee Q & A
9:15am
Worship with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

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

Wednesday, June 9, 2021
Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, June 10, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, June 10, 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.

 

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 – May 13, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, May 16, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This will be the Seventh Sunday of Easter and we’ll be hearing one of the ECMN Eastertide sermons given by the Rev. Liza Anderson. Liza Anderson, PhD is a historical theologian who currently serves as assistant professor of theology at the College of Saint Scholastica in Duluth, MN. She received her PhD from Yale University in 2016, and also holds degrees in religion and theology from Swarthmore College, Trinity College Dublin, and Harvard Divinity School. She has previously taught at Claremont School of Theology, the Ukrainian Catholic University, Episcopal Divinity School, and Saint Peter’s Seminary in Iraq. Liza specializes in the histories and theologies of ancient and medieval Christianity outside of Europe, and is currently writing a monograph on the experience of bandonment by God in Christian ascetical theology. She is a lay member of the Episcopal Church’s Executive Council and a previous member of the Standing Commission on Liturgy and Music.

  • First Reading: Acts 1:15-17, 21-26 Peter proclaims the scripture has been fulfilled; Matthias is chosen to replace Judas
  • Second Message: Will be screen shared
  • Gospel: John 17:6-19 Jesus prays for his disciples before his betrayal and arrest.

For the Zoom worship service on May 16, 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 reading of “The Runaway Bunny” and the sermon given last Sunday, May 9 by the Rev. Cindi Brickson, Click HERE.
  • In preparation for Ascension Sunday and leading into Pentecost Sunday, read Acts 1.
  • Pentecost is coming…Sunday, May 23, and the color for of the day is red. Pull out those red clothes, red flowers, red backdrops in readiness for Pentecost! Now WHY all this talk about red?? Red is the symbol of tongues of fire and is a tangible reminder of an invisible reality…that the whole Christian life is fueled by the powerful work of the Holy Spirit. This is what the whole season of Pentecost is about!
  • In preparation for the “Question of the Day” on Pentecost, give thought to “How the Holy Spirit is at work in your life, at St. Mary’s and in the world.”

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.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for May 2021:

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, May 18 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.

Info Re: KIVA loans 4-29-21

Our money is out there working around the world!

Less than 2 months ago, Saint Mary’s made over $1000 in KIVA loans around the world and now again we’ve made more loans! As loan payments are received, we’re able to keep those dollars in circulation by making new loans. $1275 was loaned last week…We partially funded a toilet in the Philippines, a water pump in Indonesia, supplies to weave traditional belts in Guatemala, floor looms to make fabric for traditional skirts in Guatemala, piglets and feed in Madagascar, chickens and feed in El Salvador, land and coffee growing supplies in Nicaragua, school tuition for 3 children in Kenya, school fees and data in the Philippines, smartphones needed for schooling in Indonesia, sewing machine, silk thread and fabrics in Palestine and apple trees and feed for goats in Albania! Yes, our money is at work around the world!!

Anyone interested in participating or finding out more Click HERE.

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 5/14 – 5/20

Sunday, May 16, 2021
Worship with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Monday, May 17, 2021
LGBTQ+
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and a link Click HERE

Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30pm
Contact for details and a link Click HERE

Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, May 20, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, May 20, 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 – May 6, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, May 6, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

The Rev. Cindi Brickson will lead the service and be the preacher this Sunday.
Cindi is a member of Saint Mary’s and also leads our Pastoral Care Team. Sunday is
also Mother’s Day…see more below under “What’s New”.

  • First Reading: Acts 10:44-48 Peter is astounded! Holy Spirit falls upon all people; all are baptized; all count…all matter.
  • Second Message: Will be screen shared
  • Gospel: John 15:9-17 This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you….

For the Zoom worship service on May 6, 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

It’s really quite marvelous to think about the many liturgical miles Saint Mary’s has traveled since November 29, traveling together week by week in a manner that has required everyone’s best efforts, calling upon the many and varied gifts of the entire congregation.

Think of where we have been: Advent- the waiting season; the 12 Days of Christmas, Epiphany and it’s call to “Go Tell Its on the Mountain” that Jesus Christ is born; the long 40 days of Lent to examine our souls and confront all to real powers and principalities in the midst of an isolating pandemic winter and the call for racial healing and justice; A creative and collaborative virtual Holy Week; Easter Sunday’s joy and the promise of new life in Risen Christ.

We are still in the midst of The Great Days of Easter proclaiming resurrection, hope, healing, and repair.

Soon the journey to tell the story of our faith lead to The Ascension and The Day of Pentecost, the story of life in the Spirit and the ways in which we are empowered to be courageous Spirit filled people.

It has been said the retelling of God’s story sustains us and moves us on.
I hope this has been true for you in this transition season during a protracted time of isolation, uncertainties and hope. Worshipping with you sustains me and encourages me to move forward. When a Re-Gathering Plan is ready we will see each other face to face in Saint Mary’s beloved worship space, continuing to share the creative and varied gifts to tell God’s life-giving story to sustain us and moves us on.

What’s New?

  • Sunday is Mother’s Day! Thanks to all those who provide mothering in whatever ways that is done and under whatever “titles” that may include…mothers, teachers, friends, coaches, aunts, grandmothers, caregivers, etc.
  • If you’d like to listen to the sermon given last Sunday, May 2, by the Rev. Kerri Meyer, Click HERE.
  • Pentecost is coming…Sunday, May 23! Red is the color of the day…tune in next week for why that is! Start thinking about what you might wear or display that’s red! This is also when the Holy Spirit shows herself…so give some thought to “How the Holy Spirit is at work in your life.”

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.

Search Committee: “We have built it and they will come!”

The Search Committee has built our process and tools. We are ready to evaluate candidates and to discern who to recommend as the next priest for Saint Mary’s. To ensure we’re being clear and equitable to all candidates in our process, we’ve written:
Screening criteria to evaluate the candidates, and A slate of questions that we will ask each person we interview.

To read more on screening criteria and questions to be asked Click HERE.
Questions? Click HERE.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for May 2021:

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, May 11 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

Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
Wednesday, May 12 at 10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

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

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.

Click HERE for additional information on the East Metro Mission Area (EMMA) gathering.
Click HERE for a video from Bishop Loya encouraging everyone to attend.

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.

Info Re: KIVA loans 4-29-21

Our money is out there working around the world!

Less than 2 months ago, Saint Mary’s made over $1000 in KIVA loans around the world and now again we’ve made more loans! As loan payments are received, we’re able to keep those dollars in circulation by making new loans. $1275 was loaned last week…We partially funded a toilet in the Philippines, a water pump in Indonesia, supplies to weave traditional belts in Guatemala, floor looms to make fabric for traditional skirts in Guatemala, piglets and feed in Madagascar, chickens and feed in El Salvador, land and coffee growing supplies in Nicaragua, school tuition for 3 children in Kenya, school fees and data in the Philippines, smartphones needed for schooling in Indonesia, sewing machine, silk thread and fabrics in Palestine and apple trees and feed for goats in Albania! Yes, our money is at work around the world!!

Anyone interested in participating or finding out more Click HERE.

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 5/7 – 5/13

Sunday, May 9, 2021
Worship with coffee hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Coffee and Conversation with Rev. Cindi
10:00am & 7:00pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for details and link Click HERE

Thursday, May 13, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, May 13, 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 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 15, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, April 18, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow—10:00am

This Sunday is the 3rd Sunday in Eastertide. Rev. Susan Moss will be our preacher.

  • First Reading: Acts 3:12-19 Peter confronts people’s action; proclaims the resurrected Christ as the fulfillment of the prophets
  • Second Message: non-biblical, sacred or secular TBD
  • Gospel: Luke 24:36b-48 Jesus appears to his disciples

For the Zoom worship service on April 18, 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 Reverend Susan M. Moss

“Whether we are white, Black or brown, the senseless police killing of another black man, Daunte Wright, is a threat to our shared humanity. It is a complete violation of our faith that calls us to treat each other in the image of God.” writes ISAIAH Metro & One Body Lead Organizer Vivian Ihekoronye in her leadership update this morning.

“Simply Unbelievable”; “How Long O Lord”; “I have no more words” tumble from our lips and our grieving hearts. “My heart, like all of yours, is so heavy today,” writes Bishop Loya, “as a city that is already carrying so much is handed one more dose of sorrow and anger.”

I am among those finding the strength to not lose heart by getting under Healing Our City’s daily 8am interfaith prayer tent and urge you to go here, too when you are able –
www.facebook.com/healingourcity or www.healingourcity.org.

This morning’s reflection was offered by Ruby Sales, social activist, scholar, public theologian, and Founder and Director of the The SpiritHouse Project, who describes herself as a “long distance runner for freedom”. Click HERE.

Let us gather under the St. Mary’s Prayer tent this Sunday for worship, prayer, and fellowship, beseeching Risen Christ to grant us the courage to rise and do all in our power to stand as allies with our Black and brown brothers and sisters in this time of national trauma.

What’s New?

  • If you’d like to listen to last Sunday’s sermon by the Rev. Katie Capurso Ernst from Church of the Transfiguration about doubt and action, Click HERE.
  • Next Sunday, April 25, is our Annual Meeting and our Wardens, Jim DeLuca and Caroline Kaker, will use the sermon time go give the “State of the Church” message. Lots going on at St. Mary’s!

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:

  • 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 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.

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for April 2021:

LGBTQ+ Community
Monday, April 19, and each third Monday, ongoing
6:30pm meets monthly for reflective conversation and community building.

Book Club: WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE
Monday April 19 at 7:30pm to finish our book.

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, April 20 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

Saint Mary’s Annual Meeting
April 25, 2021

Dear St. Marians,

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 Eastertide; stay healthy and love one another!

St. Mary’s Vestry

Jim DeLuca and Caroline Kaker, Wardens

Saint Mary’s Call for Vestry & Warden Candidates
Deadline: Monday, April 19, 2021

If you missed the email sent out on Monday, April 5th, please Click HERE. Please consider, please pray, please discern whether you might be in a place and time to offer your talents, energy, and passion to our church leadership team.

For the application Click HERE

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.

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 (arcgis.com)
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

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

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.

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 4/16 – 4/22

Sunday, April 18, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow.
10:00am
Link

Monday, April 19, 2021
LGBTQ+
6:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi Click HERE

Monday, April 19, 2021
Book Club
7:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi Click HERE

Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Finance Committee Meeting
6:30 PM
Contact finance@saintmarysepiscopal.org for the Zoom link

Tuesday, April 20, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for more information and a link, Click HERE

Thursday, April 22, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE.

Thursday, April 22, 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 8, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, April 11, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hours to follow—10:00am

During the Easter season, we welcome back the Alleluias, the Baptismal Covenant, and the Offertory Sentences (“God be in my head and in my thinking….)! We’ll continue having announcements at the beginning of the service and spiritual communion will be celebrated throughout the Easter season. A “Question of the Day” will be posed and we’ll have the opportunity to share our thoughts with others during our first Virtual Coffee Hour. The Reverend Katie Capurso Ernst will be our guest preacher. She is the founder of Transfiguration Minneapolis, a new worshipping community within the Episcopal Church whose focus is “cultivating a space for BIPOC and LGBTQ+ people to gather and experience healing from the wounds and exhaustion of racism.”

  • First Reading: Acts 4:32-35
  • Second Message: a sacred or secular message TBD
  • Gospel: John 20:19-31

For the Zoom worship service on April 11, 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 in the Great 50 Days of Easter
by The Rev. Susan M. Moss

There is an ancient Easter hymn in which the Risen Christ addresses Adam and Eve
(you and me!) with these powerful words:

Rise up, work of my hands, you who were created in my image, rise!
Let us leave this place [of the dead] for you are in me and I am in you;
together we form only one person and cannot be separated…the banquet is ready…
the treasure houses of all good things lie open…
Rise up from your tombs and live!

I hope you all had a virtual seat at this year’s Children’s Easter Vigil, either while it was occurring or the recording. Such inspiring creativity by the young members of Saint Mary’s! A shout out of thanks and heartfelt appreciation Mia Lisa, the Vigil’s producer, editor, coach and creative director. Among her super powers is the ability to inspire confidence and creativity in children and youth while conveying what it means to be followers of Jesus.

A shout out of gratitude as well to Jim and Vonda for their many creative musical talents that supported our prayers and our worship in the seasons of Lent and Easter, seasons made especially challenging given this pandemic-restricted virtual world.

Jim will be taking an earned mini sabbatical for the next 6 Sunday’s, returning to Sunday worship on Pentecost Sunday May 23.

Onward into the Great 50 Days of Easter! May the Risen Christ continue to transform and renew us and Saint Mary’s with new life.

What’s New?

  • To listen to Bishop Craig Loya’s Easter Day sermon, Click HERE
  • Will you sing out loud? Will it make you laugh? Will it make you cry? Click HERE to find out!
  • We’ll have a mix of sermon types this season: priests at Saint Mary’s, sermons available through the ECMN Easter series and Gospel-based Discipleship.

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

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

Pastoral Care

Pastoral Care Calendar for April 2021:

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.

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Tuesday, April 13 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

Search Committee Available for Q & A

Members of your Search Committee will be available this Sunday, April 11th from 9:15am to 9:45am to answer your questions or talk about the process so far. Join the usual Zoom church link and you will find us there.

Saint Mary’s Call for Vestry & Warden Candidates

If you missed the email sent out on Monday, April 5th, please Click HERE. Please consider, please pray, please discern whether you might be in a place and time to offer your talents, energy, and passion to our church leadership team.

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 Saint 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 to instructions for donating through our new e-giving site, including screen shots and written instructions. Check out our giving site now on the St. 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.

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

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

Now that we’re in the Easter season, the time of rebirth and new growth, the Vestry will soon bring suggestions on how our St. Mary’s family might engage in community conversations around a question important to us: What would church look like that serves our St. Mary’s common good and strengthens our relationships? If you have thoughts or reflections you’d like to share immediately, please talk 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 4/9 – 4/15

Sunday, April 11, 2021
Search Committee available for Q & A before Worship
9:15am
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow
10:00am
Link

Tuesday, April 13, 2021
Compline
8:30pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for more information and a link, Click HERE

Wednesday, April 14, 2021
Coffee and Conversations with Rev. Cindi
10:00am & 7pm
Contact Rev. Cindi for more information and a link, Click HERE

Thursday, April 15, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click HERE

Thursday, April 15, 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.

 

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.

 

Saint Mary’s Weekly – March 25, 2021

by

Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, March 28, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to Follow – 10:00 AM

This Sunday, Palm Sunday, we celebrate the Liturgy of the Palms, waving our palms and joyfully singing All Glory Laud and Honor and Pave the Way with Branches and then we hear the reading of the Passion story. The Rev. Susan Moss will give a short meditation. Please join us as we enter Holy Week.

  • Gospel: Mark 11:1-11a
  • Psalm 22
  • Passion Gospel: Mark 15:1-39

For the Zoom worship service on March 28, 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 Palm Service Bulletin – Click HERE

Worship Team

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

A gentle spring rain is falling today; the grass is turning green almost before my eyes and the trees are beginning to bud. We are so ready for Easter! And yet, before we shout the Easter acclamation Christ is Risen we are invited to walk with Jesus in his final days in Jerusalem.

The Saint Mary’s Worship and Pastoral Care teams have thoughtfully collaborated in this virtual world to bring us a variety of ways in which we can observe Holy Week 2021. Take a look at the options and choose what fits for your household. Let us walk in the footsteps of Jesus next week. He walked the midst of injustice, violence, betrayal and fear with faith and purpose. His message through it all was clear: God desires peace, mercy, compassion and justice for all people. Bring your prayers of lament and sorrow for Colorado and the victims of relentless gun violence. May our lawmakers have the courage pass gun safety legislation to keep us safe. Pray for our city, the jurors and the court as the Chauvin trial continues with opening statements on Monday.

What’s New?

  • Right now, before you get busy and forget!!! ORDER YOUR HOLY WEEK BAG!! Send pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org an email.
  • To hear the sermon from last Sunday given by Julia Nerbonne, Click HERE.
  • Brief information regarding Holy Week services below. More information to follow in a Special Weekly mailing tomorrow—Friday, March 26.
    • Maundy Thursday & Good Friday: Saint Mary’s is invited to join Christ Church in Woodbury or Saint Anne’s Church in Sunfish Lake via zoom—services at 7pm—or Saint Mark’s Cathedral at 7:30pm on Thursday and noon on Friday.
    • Easter Vigil: A “don’t miss service”!!! Family friendly! 4:00pm
    • Easter morning, one service at 10am. Get out of your p.j.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! Celebrate the resurrection!

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

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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.

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 March & April 2021:

Pastoral Care Team
There is no Pastoral Care Team Meeting in Holy Week; See you On Monday April 5 at 6:30 PM

Lent Book Club: WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE
There is no Book Club during Holy Week.
See you on Monday April 5 at 7:30 PM to finish our book.

Healing Circle
The Pastoral Care Team will host a virtual healing circle (prayer) during Holy Week. 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; for planning purposes we ask that you make a reservation. This circle will meet on Tuesday, March 30 at 7:00 PM; 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 7:00 PM: ongoing

Compline (All Are Welcome)
Beginning in the Easter Season (April 6 and Tuesdays following) at 8:30 PM, 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
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 mont