1895 Laurel, Saint Paul MN 55104

Saint Mary's Episcopal Church

1895 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104

Saint Mary’s Weekly – December 24, 2021

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Christmas Worship Services – December 24 – 26

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

Christmas Eve, December 24, 2021

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

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

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

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

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

Christmas Day, December 25, 2021

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

Sunday, December 26, 2021

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

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

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

What’s in this Weekly?

Worship Team

Vestry Update

Search Committee Announcement

Children and Youth

Prayers in the Weekly

Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s

Worship Team

Special Notice for Christmas Eve Service 2021

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

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

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

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

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

Photo by Jennifer Wedel
 

What’s New?

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

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

Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!

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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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Announcement from the Search Committee

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

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

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

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Prayer Requests

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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