CLICK HERE to watch a Christmas message from Bishop Loya and his family and read his letter to the ECMN community below.
Beloved in Christ,
When I was a child, the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas meant that my grandmother would make dozens of tamales, a traditional Mexican dish of meat and spices wrapped in dough and baked inside a corn husk. When the labor-intensive process was complete, it seemed like my family would eat almost nothing else for days. They were the outward and visible sign of the bottomless love my grandmother had for me and my sisters. To this day, when I eat tamales, it’s as if that seven-year old boy and his loving grandmother are with me in the midst of whatever lies in front of me.
Christmas is like that, too. At Christmas, we don’t simply recall past events, we re-member Jesus, love coming among us in its fullness in a way that allows us to fully participate in that love right now.
In the reading from Isaiah appointed for Christmas Eve, the prophet writes, “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” Isaiah was writing to people who were wandering in the deepest imaginable darkness. Their homes had been destroyed, they had been dispersed in a strange and foreign land, and the worship of God as they knew it had been rendered impossible. They felt abandoned, destitute, completely without hope. They had experienced the Ancient Near East’s version of 2020 on steroids.
And yet, Isaiah offers a bold and brazen word of hope. In the face of disaster and destitution, he prophesies in the present perfect tense. “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light.” The seeing that began in the past is not confined there, but continues uninterrupted into the present. He is inviting the people of Israel to remember what God has done, the ways they have seen God’s light, in order that they might call those past deeds into the present to carry them into God’s future.
In the deep darkness of 2020’s winter, we do not have to look to some imagined future to find the light of hope. This Christmas, as ever, we are invited to look back, to God’s unfailing faithfulness to God’s people from the beginning of creation. Through patriarchs, matriarchs, prophets, and apostles. Through the saints of history and the saints who sit next to us in our pews, occupy the square next to us on Zoom, teach in our classrooms, or cook in our grandparents’ kitchens. Through the heroic work of health care workers. Through the weary distance-learning parent who finds a way to carry on. Through the window birthday parties for the aged and lonely in nursing homes. Through weeknight virtual Compline and small groups that allow us to let go of our attempts to keep it all together.
In this year of darkness, I have seen a great light in every single one of you. We have seen a great light in one another. This Christmas, eat your tamales, dearly beloved, and remember. Remember, God is faithful. Remember, we have seen a great light. Remember, a light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not, will not, and cannot overcome it.
Merry Christmas,
The Right Reverend Craig Loya
X Bishop
Episcopal Church in Minnesota
(From ECMN News: The Great Light email of December 22, 2020)
Christmas Eve Worship & Gathering Options
Thursday, December 24
Please join fellow St. Marians via Zoom for a few Christmas Eve Service options. On Thursday, December 24th we will gather as a community to participate in one of the services from the National Cathedral in Washington D.C.
- 5:00 PM Family Service: The Nativity story with a service of carols and prayers featuring a menagerie of live animals.
- 6:15 PM St Mary‘s Coffee hour for everybody & anybody!! Stay for 5 minutes or 45 minutes or any amount of time in between!!
- 7:00 PM Christmas Eve Eucharist, a service of readings from Scripture, favorite hymns, seasonal choral and instrumental music and preaching by The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde, Bishop of Episcopal Diocese of Washington.
For the Zoom Christmas Eve services on December 24, 2020 CLICK HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 458490
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 957 8585 8549
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 957 8585 8549
If asked for a passcode, use 458490
Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to Follow – 10:00 AM
On the first Sunday after Christmas, the Rev Carol Arney will preside and preach. There will be lots of Christmas carols included in this service, so please join other St Marians and give voice (muted, of course!) to many of the beautiful carols that enrich this season.
Music – Vonda Humburg
Technical Assistance – William Welsh & Brian Nerbonne
For the Zoom worship service on December 20, 2020 CLICK HERE
If asked for a passcode, enter 330173
If asked for a meeting ID, enter 921 8033 3901
To join by cell phone only (voice only, no video),
call: 312-626-6799
Enter Meeting ID 921 8033 3901
If asked for a passcode, use 330173
For the Christmas 1 Song Book – CLICK HERE
Worship Team
Christmas Message
“My suggestion is that you separate mystery from history and then enter into and enjoy the mystery of the season. Dream of Peace on Earth and Goodwill among men and women, and then dedicate yourself to bringing that vision into being.” John Shelby Spong
Christmas Eve–December 24
We will “zoom” together to services at the National Cathedral AND have the opportunity to visit with our St Mary‘s friends.
Christmas Day–December 25
No service from St Mary‘s. If you would like to attend a Christmas Day service via zoom, here are a couple choices:
-
- St John the Evangelist–10 am Festival Service with the pageant as the Gospel. Check their website (stjohnsstpaul.org) fo
r further information. - St Mark’s Cathedral–10 am ECMN Festival of Lessons and Carols, featuring faces and voices from across the state, bringing the ECMN family together to celebrate Christmas. Available on Vimeo and Facebook. For the bulletin for the service CLICK HERE.
- St John the Evangelist–10 am Festival Service with the pageant as the Gospel. Check their website (stjohnsstpaul.org) fo
What’s New?
-The Pageant from the December 20th, 2020 service CLICK HERE
Feedback is welcome!
We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.
Click HERE to give feedback. Thanks!
Update from Your Transition Team
Last Sunday we met with the vestry to present the narrative part of the Ministry Portfolio (which we affectionately call the “two-pager”). You can watch a recording of our presentation HERE (video will play in your browser window). We plan to present the complete portfolio to the congregation before sending it to Bishop Loya for final review and posting. Details TBA.
The next meeting of the Transition Team is January 2nd. We would love to hear from you — email us at transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org .
Pastoral Care
Is there something on your mind?
In your heart?
For confidential prayer requests, reach out to Rev. Cindi at: pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org
The Pastoral Care Team meets (by Zoom) on Mondays at 7:30 PM. All are welcome!
Contact Rev. Cindi for the Zoom link.
How to contact Rev. Cindi: pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org or 612-998-5136
The Pastoral Care Team is looking for your prayerful support. We are beginning a prayer chain ministry! If you would like to join the chain, or would like more information about how it will work, please reach out to Rev. Cindi.
Come pray with us!
In a Hurry? Donate by Credit Card!
It’s the end of the year. If there are too many things to do and not enough time, you can make a year-end or Christmas donation to St. Mary‘s quickly by credit card. Just click on the link below and it will take you to the St. Mary‘s site where you can donate using any credit card. Be aware that a fee of 2.9% of your donation will be deducted from your donation.
Have enough time and want your entire donation to go to St. Mary‘s with no fee (that’s our preference too!!)? Mail a check with your year-end or Christmas donation. We check the mail daily, so it’s safe to send in donations via U.S. mail. Send your check to the following address:
St. Mary‘s Episcopal Church
1895 Laurel Ave.
St. Paul, MN 55104
Regardless of how you choose to donate, we appreciate it—-a lot!!
Questions? Contact Rex Holzemer, Treasurer, at 651-308-4895 or rexaholzemer@gmail.com.
Finance Committee Update
November Donations Reduce Deficit!
Pledge income in November was almost $14,000 above the budgeted amount. It was very welcome news after October when pledge income was well below budget. The donations positively impact our projected year-end deficit. The linked chart (CLICK HERE) outlines the key financials as of November 30, 2020.
If donations in December keep pace with the projected levels for December, we could end the year with a deficit around $10,000 less than projected, in other words, a deficit of approximately ($21,000) instead of the projected deficit of ($31,190). Once we apply the $31,700 Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Loan to the 2020 operational budget that we received in April, which should be 100% forgiven, we could actually end the year with a small surplus. We are very fortunate to have received this forgivable loan.
Feel free to contact Rex Holzemer via e-mail (rexaholzemer@gmail.com) or phone (651-308-4895) if you have questions or want additional information.
Outreach Opportunities:
January 24, 2021
Isaiah’s We Make Minnesota Virtual Launch
Please CLICK HERE for more information on the event and/or contact Ginny DeLuca for more information – ginnydeluca1736@gmail.com
Upcoming Events at Saint Mary‘s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups for the week of 12/25 – 12/31
Sunday, December 27, 2020
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow.
10:00 AM
Monday, December 28, 2020
Pastoral Care Team
7:30 PM
Contact Rev. Cindi for the Zoom link at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org or 612-998-5136
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.
NO Sunday school December 20th or 27th!
Visit the St. Mary‘s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.