1895 Laurel, Saint Paul MN 55104

Saint Mary's Episcopal Church

1895 Laurel Avenue, St. Paul, MN 55104

Saint Mary’s Weekly – February 4, 2022

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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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