Saint Mary’s Weekly – November 11, 2022

Weekly Worship Service 

Sunday, November 13, 2022 – Twenty-third Sunday of Pentecost

10:00am – Hybrid (In-Person and Zoom) Eucharist Service. 

After the service, a Zoom social gathering will be held for those worshiping virtually, and a social gathering outside (in the entryway in inclement weather) for those worshiping in-person.

To join the 10am service on November 13, 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 Service Bulletin – Click HERE

For the Fall service song sheet – Click HERE

We invite you to view the November 6 sermon video – Click HERE

NOTE: There will be a printed version of the Weekly at church on Sundays if you would like to pick one up for someone who is not receiving it electronically or see someone new who is not yet on our mailing list.

• Anna: St Mary’s has been my spiritual home for eleven years; drawn by the creativity and innovation of its services, I stay for the close community I have found here. We have all gone through great ups and downs in our personal lives, our community lives, and as a church. But we have come together, contributing our love, time, and support, and now we are rebuilding and regrowing with our wonderful new rector Rev. Lindsey Briggs.
• Nina: We’ve been through earthquakes together that have shaken our foundations, personally and collectively. Through all this we continue to show up for each other!! I am so proud of how we show love to each other- this is the foundation on which we are rebuilding and re-energizing. There is so much potential here among us!
• Todd: Why do I pledge? To be invested in something special. Years ago I would roll my eyes and gnash my teeth every time Minnesota Public Radio would have one of their periodic, multi-day fundraising events. “Why doesn’t someone just write them a big check?”, I would think to myself. But in listening to the hosts and their explanation, it became clear that participation and pride in membership was so much more important than a handful of people contributing to keep the radio station on the air. Whether it’s $1, $100, $1,000 or more it’s an indication of a commitment in supporting something you believe in. And just like public radio, Saint Mary’s is available to everyone regardless of their contribution. After all, this is God’s table, not our table, and all are welcome here.
• Cathy: Stewardship is about more than money. It is about giving of yourself in new and varied ways.

As of Sunday, November 6th, 38 pledges have been turned in, totaling the dollar amount of $110,375 with our goal being $185,000. This accounts for 50% of our households…with our goal being 100% of our households. 

If you have already turned in a pledge, THANK YOU for doing so!! We appreciate your commitment to St Mary’s and your pledge helps give us a concrete amount to put in the 2023 budget.

If you are still considering your pledge to St Mary’s, we appreciate your thoughtfulness and consideration. We hope to have pledges “in” by November 14th so we can give the Finance Committee a reliable estimate of the total pledges for 2023. Those we haven’t heard from by Wednesday, November 9th, will be contacted personally by a Vestry member or a Stewardship Co-Chair. Again, thank you for your prayerful consideration in the stewardship season.

• We have set a target of pledges totaling $185,000. This will likely still put us in a deficit budget situation, but it is a decent increase over last year and we feel an obtainable goal. 
• We are looking for 100% of active households to make a pledge. We feel that we have a strong community here, and hope that you all will show your commitment through a financial pledge.
• We are asking that all pledges are received by November 14th. This will allow us to set our budget using true pledge information.

• You can submit a pledge electronically through this link https://forms.gle/HVcrTHfVVrMhrkvF7
• Paper forms are available in the pews at church
• If you would like a paper form mailed to you, contact one of the stewardship chairs.

• You can pay by check, via automatic payments through your bank, electronically through Vanco on the website, even cash in an envelope!
• You can pay on a schedule that best fits you – from weekly to once a year.
• Check the website for all the information on how to give. How to give – Saint Mary’s Episcopal Church (saintmarysepiscopal.org)

Sign Up for Gingerbread Houses and the Christmas Pageant!

Education

Adult Education – The Gospel of Mary
(Tuesdays 6:30pm – 7:30pm)

• November 15th – “Art, Interpretation, Transformation”

If you’ve never heard of the Gospel of Mary, there’s a good reason. No one knew about this early Christian wisdom text until 1896, when it was discovered in a fifth-century papyrus codex in Egypt. Join Rev. Lindsey for a four-week series making meaning with this ancient text, where Mary Magdalen will be the guide on the path of discipleship.

Please sign up by email, revlindseybriggs@gmail.com, or text/call 612-444-1090.

St. Mary’s makes a difference in the world……yes, loans made by St Mary’s to people throughout the world, through the KIVA program, do make a difference in the world!! Because of donations by St Mary’s parishioners, we have been making loans through KIVA for about 15 years. As loans are being re-paid, we’re able to re-loan that money to other folks. Each time approximately $1000 has been re-paid, we re-loan those dollars. This happens four or five times each year…in 2022, over $1000 worth of loans were made in January, April, August and again on November 1st. 

Eleven loans were made to people in nine different countries…Nicaragua, Ruwanda, Samoa, Jordan, Paraguay, Vietnam, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova and El Salvador. These loans were for people on farms and in small businesses: an oven to roast beef and chicken for a growing restaurant business; clay, wood & stones to make African crafts; material and fabric paint to make traditional elei printed fabric; materials for wood painting and mosaics; materials to make ju lace, a traditional Paraguaian fabric; sand, cement and bricks to make a hygenic toilet; water and sewage pipes to bring clean water into the house and dirty water out of the house; materials needed to improve bathroom sanitary conditions; a heater for baby chicks; a calf to raise and ultimately get milk from for the children; and chickens and feed.

Prayer Requests & Pastoral Care

Please pray for those on Saint Mary’s prayer list: Bishop Craig Loya as he leads the ECMN; ECMN; all front-line workers; teachers and those who support children and youth in education; all who have had hardships because of Covid; 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 those who are in need of some extra love, grace, peace, and good energy; all who are in need of prayer.

If you would like a name to be added to Saint Mary’s public prayer list or special prayer shared, please email Claire at clairehorton97@gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.

Meet with Rev. Lindsey

Rev. Lindsey wants to get to know you! Our new priest is continuing to meet with everyone in the congregation. You can meet with her as an individual* or family; at church, on Zoom, or for a home visit. Rev. Lindsey has updated her calendar through November for meetings. Click HERE to find a time that works for you to meet with Rev. Lindsey Briggs.  * If you are a youth, please sign up with an adult.

Little Food Pantry Donations

Please help keep the pantry full! Food Insecurity and the threat of eviction are both on the rise in the Twin Cities. We are needing an increase in donations to match the need. Also, please take food if you need it. This is a project in the spirit of mutual aid. Fill the pantry when you can, receive from the pantry when you need it.