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.
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.
What’s in this Weekly?
Worship Team
Keeping our community safe and healthy
- St. Mary’s moves to Virtual Services for the remainder of January
- “Love your neighbor” and COVID protocols
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
Transcript of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Epiphany Address to the Nation from January 6, 2022 – “A Moment of Peril and Promise”
- 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!
St. Mary’s moves to Virtual Services for the remainder of January
“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
Summary of the January 4, 2022 Vestry Meeting
Search Committee
Lord Jesus Christ you are the Light of the World!
St. Mary’s Children’s and Youth for Winter
Outreach
MICAH (Metropolitan Interfaith Council on Affordable Housing) Legislative Breakfast on January 26, 2022
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.
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
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.