Weekly Worship Service
Sunday, September 4, 2022 – Thirteenth Sunday after 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 worship on September 4, 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
The September 4 Service Bulletin – Click HERE
For the Fall service song sheet – Click HERE
For a supplemental music lyric sheet – Click HERE
We invite you to view the August 28 sermon video – Click HERE
What’s in this Weekly?
Announcements
- Meet with Rev. Lindsey
- Saint Mary’s COVID Protocols updated 6/30/2022
- Saint Mary’s Making a Difference in the World
- “Welcome home, Wanderer. We’ve been saving a place for you at the campfire!”
Prayers & Pastoral Care in the Weekly
Education
Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Announcements
Rev. Lindsey want to get to know you! Our new priest is hoping to have met 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 for September 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.
Saint Mary’s COVID Protocols (updated 6/30/2022)
- Masks covering the nose and mouth are still required indoors.
- 6’ physical (also known as “social”) distancing will not continue.
- Lay Leader or Officiant will continue to read important announcements from lectern, including those from the Weekly Email, from the basket at the back of sanctuary and from the chat. Individual parishioners go to floor mic to request prayers. Anti-bacterial wipes will be available to wipe the mic for those who wish to do so.
- Bread and wine will be distributed for communion. Wine will be served from the “pourable chalice”, so bring your small glasses or take a paper cup from an usher.
- Communion will take place at the center aisle, either standing or kneeling.
- Small processions are back.
- Use Acolytes again (with parental permission)
- Singing with masks in place!
- Passing the peace with handshakes – yes, can do this. We need to respect that people have different comfort levels. Please check each person’s color dot and/or ask re their preference.
- RED • dot – maintain social distance (peace sign, air hug)
- YELLOW • dot – more comfortable coming closer (a wave, or a fist or elbow bump as a greeting)
- GREEN • dot – willing to be close and are potentially open to hugs
Saint Mary’s Making a Difference in the World
About every 3 months, a few Saint Marians gather via zoom to make loans around the
world through the KIVA organization. Saint Mary’s has been making KIVA loans for over 10 years.
As previous loans are re-paid, those re-payments are put in a KIVA account for Saint Mary’s to re-
loan. When the KIVA account has grown to over $1000, it’s time to turn those dollars into
new loans. Recently, Saint Mary’s made 11 new loans to 9 different countries: Honduras, Kenya,
Ecuador, Philippines, Togo, Dominican Republican Tajikistan, El Salvador and Kyrgyzstan. What
do the people who receive these loans do with the money? These 11 loans provide hay for
livestock, cows, a new oven to do baking, a sewing machine to sew women’s clothing, spare
parts to repair vehicles, grocery store stock and vegetables to sell, fertilizer to increase growth
of fruits and veggies, fishing items to catch fish and farm supplies to increase food production.
All of these loans make it possible for people to earn money and provide a better quality of life
for their families and their communities. An exciting aspect of this loaning period is that 9 of
these loans were matched—If we loaned $100 it was matched with another $100!! Yes, Saint
Mary’s is making a difference in the world!
“Welcome home, Wanderer. We’ve been saving a place for you at the campfire!”
This is the tag line for a live virtual conference called “Evolving Faith”. The conference
comes to us from Atlanta, GA, on Friday and Saturday, October 14 and 15. The cost is
$129/person. There will be wonderful, wise speakers, interactive Q&A in real time, breakout
sessions and robust spiritual care.
Three of us have already signed up for this conference and we’d love to have other Saint
Marians join us at one of our homes or at Saint Mary’s, depending on how many sign up. So in
addition to the breakout sessions and Q&A times for all conference attendees, we’ll be able
to discuss the presentations amongst ourselves as well. Contact any one of us if you’d like
more info about this conference or if you’d like to sign up or if you’d like a list of speakers.
Paulette Briese, Nina Johnson and Julie Thomas
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 at gmail.com. The prayer list will be updated weekly, and all prayers will remain on the list for one month unless otherwise requested.
Education
Families with kids 0 through 6th grade
Hello everyone!
It is going to be an amazing fall and winter. Hold onto your hats! We have a wild ride in store for you with so many fun adventures! This email is only for families with kids 0 through 6th grade. If you have a youth grouper, a separate email will be forthcoming.
As summer comes to a close, we have been working hard here at Saint Mary’s to create new relevant plans for the 2022-2023 Faith Formation year! We have a mix of programming this year. Most of our programming for kids has shifted to an in-person format (with masks) however, we do have some zoom programming (by the kids request). For those of you that may not be familiar with the names of our groups and programs– I endeavor to explain them all below. In that way, you can get a good understanding of what might be a good fit for your young person. I hope this email helps to explain all the details for fall. However, if you have a question or concern, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly at mialisamcfarland at gmail.com or text me at 570 – 269 – 9688.
What do I need to do?
Funny you should ask– I do actually need your help with something. Please fill out this VERY SHORT registration form and media release. It registers kids for all activities at church (Sunday School, Pre-Tweeners and Tweeners). Register here.
How will Sunday mornings work for families?
Families will show up for Family Gathering with their children. They wil stay for the short 15 minutes and then the children will depart until 9:50. At that time, we will bring them out to the Saint Marys room so they can connect with you.
What programming is available?
Parent Meeting for Sunday School
Sunday, September 18, 2022
9:00am in the Chapel
For Families with school aged children
- I am holding a parent meeting to answer questions about how we are handling Sunday School classrooms in the midst of COVID and to answer any questions you may have about our curricula.
Family Gathering
Sundays, September 25, 2022- May 31, 2022
9:00-9:15am in the Chapel
For Families with young children
Led by MiaLisa Millares
- Last year we tried a mini family worship service online. It worked pretty well for online with kids. We are doing the same format in- person for families. All are welcome– but the service is geared toward preschool and elementary aged kids. This is for families– not just for kids. Please stay with your kids during this part. This Family Gathering will be in the Chapel. The format includes short intros, breathing, prayer, a story, a question, a song, blessings and a closing.
Sunday School
Sunday, September 25, 2022 through May 31, 2022
9:15-9:50am in the Youth Room
For Kindergarten through sixth grade
Led by MiaLisa Millares, Brian Nerbonne, Trevor Sannes, Billy Lackey (There are two teaching teams. Team 1- MiaLisa, Trevor and Billy and Team 2- MiaLisa and Brian
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- After Family gathering parents will leave and children will stay. The Sunday School teachers will take the children through the old sacristy down the steps to the Youth Room. We are using the Whirl K-5 All Kids Curricula. This is the same curricula we used for zoom Sunday school. The kids liked it a lot. We will have an opening, watch a short (1 minute video from Whirl Kids), answer questions about the video, read a Bible story, discuss the story and do a craft or service project. In the month of December, Sunday School time is used to prepare for the Christmas Pageant.
- The lessons are as follows:
- 9/25: In the Beginning
- 10/2: Noah and the Flood
- 10/9: Abraham and Sarah
- 10/16: Joseph and His Brothers
- 10/23: No Sunday School MEA Weekend
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- 10/30: Joseph in Egypt
- 11/ 6: Deborah
- 11/13: Elijah and Elisha
- 11/20: Esther
- 11/27: Daniel
- 12/4: Annunciation and Christmas Practice
- 12/11:Mary Visits Elizabeth and Christmas Practice
- 12/18: Jesus is Born and Christmas Practice
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- 12/25: No Sunday School, Christmas Day
- 1/1: No Sunday School, New Years Day
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- 1/8: Sunday School resumes
Activities for Elementary Aged Kids
Zoom Programming: I was just as surprised as you are that the kids asked for this zoom programming to continue. But, in short a quote from Penelope sums it up best. “I got to know kids in a way I somehow failed to do during Sundays at church.” And there you have it folks. We will continue this part of the programming by kid request.
PreTweeners
Kindergarten through Fourth Grade
Led by MiaLisa Millares and Carmen Patterson
September 21- May 31 (there will be some weeks off for holidays)
Wednesday Evenings 6:30-7:00pm
- The format is simple. We do introductions and a question of the day. We share the highs and lows of our week. Then we do a show and tell or short game. We close with a prayer. This is all about connection with one another and getting to know each other better.
Tweeners
Third Grade through Sixth Grade
Led by MiaLisa Millares and Emily Topinka
September 21- May 31 (there will be some weeks off for holidays)
Wednesday Evenings 7:00-7:45pm
- This year we are exploring a slightly different format for Tweeners. We will still do introductions, question of the day and highs and lows. Then we will alternate in weeks. We will be using some of the Classroom curricula from Doing Good Together which focuses on gratitude, giving back and social justice. Other weeks we will simply play games! We always end with a prayer.
In-Person Fall/ Winter Activities for Pre Tweeners/ Tweeners –Click HERE
Feed My Starving Children
Saturday, October 8, 2022
2:00-3:45pm
This will be a parent/ child activity as we need a large number of parent chaperones to meet the quota for FMSC.
Big Stone Mini Golf Meet Up
Saturday, October 16, 2022
Time TBD
After church we will meet at Big Stone Mini Gold. It is a bit of a hike– but completely worth it. This family adventure is an ALL PARISH EVENT. You can choose to golf (you must pay cash adults are $12 and kids are $10) or you can choose to just walk around the sculpture garden (free but suggested donation $2). If you haven’t been there– it is a must see for Minnesota.
Hopkins Stages Theater
November, Date TBD
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer
We will be going as a group to see this play. Again, this is a parent/ child activity (not a drop off activity).
Gingerbread Houses
Sunday, December 4, 2022
11:15am
This family event led by Anne and George Green and supported by MiaLisa is a crowd pleaser. Just bring yourself and we will provide the graham crackers, frosting and candy to decorate the most charming Gingerbread House.
Christmas Practive and Pageant
Practice, Saturday, December 17, 2022
10:30am-12:30pm
Pageant, Sunday December 18, 2022
Time TBD
This year the Christmas Pageant will be in person. As we have done in other “in-person” years, we will practice the script and learn the songs during Sunday School. Our songs for the play this year will be Go Tell it On the Mountain, Angels We Have Heard on High and Joy to the World. Our pageant practice is scheduled for December 17, 2022 10:30-12:30pm. The pageant will be on December 18, 2022– the time is TBD. The snow day for the pageant will be January 8, 2023.
Epiphany Party with Pinata
Sunday, January 8, 2022
11:15am
We will rekindle our Epiphany party pinata tradition. As with tradition, we will have a pinate party for Epiphany. The kids always enjoy having a fun party and trying to knock the pinata
Faith Formation at Home
There are 168 hours in a week and church is only one hour of that time. How are you and your family infusing spirituality and faith at home in the little things you do. Are you doing family service, saying prayers in the evening or at meals, practicing gratitude, doing an inspirational reading? There are so many ways to infuse faith into your daily life. I want to inspire families to do more faith formation at home (along with what we offer here at church too!) But, our lives are SO busy– so I am going to make it easy for you! I put out a table in the Saint Mary’s room with some nice Sparkhouse resources for including Faith formation in your family life. There are packets for different seasons. I left out the Fall and Winter packets. Each page is a very short way to have a faithful reflection around your dinner table. I encourage you to give it a try!
Upcoming Events at Saint Mary’s
Opportunities for Worship, Education, & Meet-Ups
for the week of 9/2 – 9/8
Sunday, September 4, 2022
In-person and Virtual Worship Service
10:00am
Link
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Saint Mary’s Dinner Group
6:00pm
Contact Julie Thomas for more information – julieandcats at comcast.net
Thursday, September 8, 2022
Thursday Evening Contemplative Service
Led by Erika Scheurer and Anna Clark
7:00pm
Link (please note that the Contemplative Service returns to In-person and Virtual!)
Visit the Saint Mary’s Calendars page for more information on what is happening.