Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to Follow – 10:00 AM
This Sunday, the fourth Sunday in Lent, we’ll use the Lenten pattern we started on Lent 1. Announcements will continue at the beginning of the service; there will be fewer voices and less music; there will be moments of silence and a question posed for us to reflect on and share thoughts with others during our first breakout time. The Rev. Carol Arney will be our preacher.
- First Reading: Numbers 21:4-9
- Psalm 107:1-3, 17-22
- Second Reading: Ephesians 2:1-10
- Gospel: John 3:14-21
For the Zoom worship service on March 14, 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 Lent 4 Service Bulletin – CLICK HERE
For 2021 Lent Music Bulletin – CLICK HERE
Worship Team
Liturgy Matters at St Mary’s by the Rev. Susan M. Moss
This week, for your consideration, I’m sharing an excerpt from a recent post by The Episcopal Church Foundation called Hybrid Church-A Way Forward for Church Leaders by The Rev. Tim Schenck.
…In reflecting on what a post-pandemic church will look look, I was struck by a comment made during our online clergy conference for the Diocese of Massachusetts this year by Dr. Melissa Perrin, a clinical psychologist from Chicago. She talked about the distinction between resuscitation and resurrection. It’s not a new concept, but it’s one that feels particularly relevant as we begin to look towards the future. To resuscitate someone, or in this case an institution, is to bring it back to what it once once. It’s to revive something and attempt to return it to its former state. Resurrection, however, is different. It acknowledges that after a life-altering experience, things will never be the same. Resurrection by definition implies death. Certain things must die in order for new life to take hold. Following, say, a pandemic in which everything we’ve known and clung to for generations has been flipped over, you can attempt a resuscitation. But even if you’re able to temporarily resuscitate an organization, it will eventually still fade away. That’s simply the nature of resuscitation — it’s not a permanent solution. Resurrection, rather than resuscitation, is the model I believe the church must embrace in order to move forward in a post-pandemic world. As much as we might hope for it to be so, things will never fully return to the way they once were — not fully anyway. And so we must reflect upon that which has died, name it, grieve it, and then embrace new models of being church in the days, months, and years ahead. As disconcerting as this may be, there is hope in resurrection. There’s a reason resurrection is the very bedrock of our faith. Resurrection can be as scary as it is life-giving. Think about those first disciples who came face-to-face with the resurrected Jesus. They were terrified! Indeed, at one point they thought they had seen a ghost. But once they embraced and moved past the fear, a new way of being unfolded before their very eyes; a new freedom rooted in salvation emerged. This is helpful to keep in mind as we enter what may well be a destabilizing period of death and resurrection
The open question of resuscitation vs. resurrection demands that we ask ourselves whether we will seek to return to the model of “the way it’s always been” or whether we will allow the Spirit to break open our hearts to new ways of being church?
What’s New?
- To listen to the Sunday, March 7 sermon by Rev. Susan Moss, CLICK HERE.
- Although we won’t be meeting in person, the Worship Team is planning ways we can walk through Holy Week together. Holy week bags will help us do that. The bags will contain directions for setting up a prayer alter at home, reading material and objects that will bring to mind the events of Holy Week. Bags can be picked up at St. Mary’s the afternoon of Saturday, March 27th or they can be delivered to your home that afternoon! If you’d like a Holy Week bag, please email to pastoral care email address indicating how many palms you want and if you’ll pick up your bag or would like it delivered. (If you’d like delivery, please include your address and phone number.)
- Would you like to safely (masked and practicing social distancing) deliver Holy Week bags to parishioners on Saturday, March 27th? If so, please send an email to the Worship Team using the feedback email shown below.
- Worship plans during Holy Week:
- Palm Sunday (3/28/21) is being planned and will include a virtual procession in your home with palms to wave.
- Maundy Thursday: St. Mary’s is invited to join Christ Church in Woodbury (foot washing at home) or St. Anne’s Church in Sunfish Lake via Zoom at their 7pm services.
- Good Friday: A 7pm service is being discussed, either planned by St. Mary’s or joining another congregation.
- Easter Vigil: Planning for a 4pm Children’s Easter Vigil is underway.
- Easter morning, one service at 10am, planned by St. Mary’s Worship Team.
- As you can tell, there’s lots of planning going on! And right on the heels of Holy Week is Easter season to plan for. If you have an interest in worship and would like to help shape worship during the Easter season, please use the feedback link below to let us know of your interest. There is always room for new voices and fresh perspectives! The Worship Team meets from 4:30-6:00pm on Saturdays.
Feedback is welcome!
We welcome your feedback and recommendations about worship services.
CLICK HERE to give feedback. Thanks!
2021 Sundays in Lent – Images
The Worship Team would like images to screen share during “Moments of Silence” during our 5 Sundays in Lent. If you have images of any kind (drawings, paintings, photos, videos, stained glass, mosaic, etc.) that conjure up thoughts of God’s Promises as indicated below…and you’d like to share them with the St Mary’s community…please send them to Brian Nerbonne at Michigander_guy@yahoo.com by the Friday before the Sunday they would be used. If you’d like to read the lessons to get your creative juices flowing, check lectionarypage.net website.
03/14/2021
God’s Promise – whining Israelites, still God
saves them from the snakes when they turn to
him.
God’s gift of grace to faithful. God sacrifices
Jesus (Son), a gift for us.
Light comes to save.
03/21/2021
God’s Promise – a new covenant with Israel
Jesus as man suffered, through this suffering
and obedience he became salvation.
Jesus must die like the wheat grain in order to
bear much fruit – so we can believe.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral Care Calendar for March & April 2021:
Pastoral Care Team
Mondays at 6:30 PM, ongoing
Lent Book Club: WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE on Mondays during Lent at 7:30 PM
Healing Circle
Tuesday, March 30 7:00 PM
Caring for an Aging Loved One
Tuesday, April 6, and each first Tuesday at 7:00 PM: ongoing
Evening Prayer (Elders or NOT!)
Tuesday April 13, and each second Tuesday of the month, ongoing
8:00 PM this is a change to a once a month format and an invitation for all to join us.
Evening Prayer Rite 2 from the BCP reach out to Rev Cindi for the Link, or if you need a Book of Common Prayer
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 monthly for reflective conversation and community building
We have launched our new Prayer Chain, a ministry that anyone can support!
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)
You are invited to join any of these events:
Reach out to Reverend Cindi Brickson at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org for a Zoom link
For confidential prayer requests, reach out to Rev. Cindi at pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Update From Your Search Committee
1. Curious about our next steps? Questions about this whole process? Thoughts to share about your hopes for the future? Join the Search Committee from 9:15-9:45 am (BEFORE the service) on the first Sunday of every month, for the discernable future. A few of us will be hanging out in zoom, and we’re delighted to chat with you!
2. All materials to be able to post our open Rector position have been submitted to ECMN for publication! Thanks for all the ways you in our community have shared your experiences of our past and hopes for the future, as we prepare to step into that future together!
3. The final version of the “OTM” (the character-limited form that is input into the database of open positions) can be found HERE.
As always, you can send any questions, concerns, or thoughts to transitionteam@saintmarysepiscopal.org. We are so excited to take these next steps in our community journey together!
Emma B., Laura-Lee Brown, Ginny DeLuca, Joe McManmon, Cathy McNaughton, Catherine Neuschler, Joanna Schnedler, Jennie Ward, Jennifer Wedel, Jane Wells
New Online Giving System Coming Soon!
This week, the Vestry approved the recommendation of the Finance Committee to implement a new online giving and payment processing system in conjunction with Vanco. Vanco has been in the business of assisting nonprofits, schools and churches improve their communication and donation systems for 30 years. We intend to have this new system in place within the next several weeks. It will make it easy to give both online and through a mobile application. Look for more information and updates soon!!
New Form for submissions for Weekly, Website, Calendar, and Social Media:
Moving forward, please give our new Google form a try when submitting information needed for the various platforms of communication St. Mary’s has (Weekly, website, calendar, etc). You can find the form HERE.
If you have any questions with this form please email the Communications Team 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 St. 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.
Assistance Requested
Do you have Word Press skills? Would you like to content on the St. Mary’s website updated? If you fit into either or both of these categories, the St. Mary’s Communication Team could use your assistance in the upcoming weeks as we try to make some updates. Please email communications@saintmarysepiscopal.org if you are interested.
Resources:
ECMN News
If you are interested in hearing from the Bishop, finding out about Education, Events, and Training, and what is happening in the Episcopal Church of Minnesota, please subscribe to the ECMN News weekly email – CLICK HERE
Bishop’s Series for Parents and Caregivers
Hi ECMN Parents, Caregivers, and Ministry Leaders,
Following the Bishop’s Summit in December, we heard a clear ask for more opportunities to gather and support one another as parents and caregivers in ECMN.
So we’ve pulled together some key professionals who can speak to the intersection of faith formation and home dynamics in the context of this ongoing pandemic.
Anyone in ECMN who is in a supporting role for young people is invited to the following series of zoom gatherings.
Bishop’s Series for Parents and Caregivers
Hosted by ECMN, St. Mark’s Cathedral, and St. John in the Wilderness
Family Trauma and the Pandemic
Sunday, March 28 @ 4-5pm
The Rev. Sarah McCaslin, MS, MDiv, LCSW
Home Dynamics: Connection & Conflict
Sunday, April 25 @ 4-5pm
Speaker TBD
Come expecting to:
- Hear from an expert on the topic
- Meet other parents and caregivers from other Episcopal faith communities in breakouts
- Debrief with a Q&A time with your Bishop and the presenter
- Learn about more opportunities across ECMN
Nobody can do this alone. We are working really hard to make sure this transformational community across the state is connected and surrounded by support for the long haul. We hope you can join us for one or all of these gatherings.
Outreach:
Opportunities for Line 3 Engagement
As soon as the spring melt comes to the rivers of northern Minnesota, Enbridge is poised to drill their Line 3 pipeline under the headwaters of the Mississippi. This pipeline is a climate disaster, a threat to the drinking water we all depend on, and a direct violation of the treaty rights of the Anishinaabe people.
President Biden can stop Line 3. We need to make clear to this administration that leading on climate means building a world where water is sacred, treaties with Native nations are respected, and where rural communities have access to safe and sustainable jobs. Time is of the essence, and we need communities of faith and spiritual practice to come together now to protect the sacred.
Join us on Thursday, March 11 as we Rise by the Mississippi to Stop Line 3! RSVP here:
Gather at the Scenic Overlook park in St. Paul overlooking the river for rally, songs, and prayers to Stop Line 3. We will then march along the river to make our presence felt. Indigenous Water Protectors and allies are putting their bodies on the line up north to disrupt construction. Let’s show them that they are not alone.
Street parking is available in the St. Paul neighborhoods nearby the overlook park, which is located just north of the Ford Parkway bridge.
Masks and social distancing are expected of all attendees. Bring art and signs. Wear warm clothes and rain boots for whatever weather that March in Minnesota will throw at us. Your RSVP helps us make sure we can fully support everyone who comes. Thanks, and see you there!
WHAT: Rise by the River to Stop Line 3
WHEN: March 11, 2021 at 3pm
WHERE: Scenic Overlook, Mississippi River, St. Paul
615 Mississippi River Blvd S
St. Paul, MN 55116
United States
Google map and directions Click HERE.
For more information please click HERE.
Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, Choir, & Meet Ups
for the week of 3/12 – 3/18
Sunday, March 14, 2021
Worship via Zoom with Coffee Hour to follow
10:00 AM
Link
Monday, March 15, 2021
Pastoral Care Team
6:30 PM
Contact Rev. Cindi for the Zoom link at
pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org or 612-998-5136
Monday, March 15, 2021
Book Club
7:30 PM
The Pastoral Care Team will host the book club during Lent. Please join us in reading and discussing WALKING THE WAY OF LOVE by Presiding Bishop Michael Curry and others. We will meet on Mondays of Lent. We invite you to join us for one or any of the weeks, as your schedule and interest allows.
For more information: pastoralcare@saintmarysepiscopal.org
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
Contact Julie Thomas for more information. Click here to contact Julie
Thursday, March 18, 2021
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service Via Zoom
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00 PM
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 St. Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.