WEEKLY eNEWS

October 16, 2026



The Twenty-first Sunday

after

Pentecost

Dear Friends,



Last evening fifteen of our leaders met for a training on safety, particularly safety in situations of violence. We were fortunate to have as our presenter, FBI Agent Brian LeBlanc, a public safety and law enforcement leader from Massachusetts. He shared data and safety strategies that are specific to houses of worship. This will impact our preparedness at St. Mary's. Our training was sobering, but vitally important and timely. I appreciate how our leaders will continue to work to keep members and guests safe while they are here.

When I got home, I heard the terrible news of the school shooting in Bend, Oregon. Unlike the ways we often learn of these things, I heard about it in an email thread from my spiritual direction cohort, a group of dear friends. One member of our group, Tambi, is the grandmother of a five year old who attends Silver Rail Elementary School where the shooting happened yesterday. As I read through the thread I was relieved to discover that her grandson is safe. I continue to lament the incredible fear, trauma and grief of this school community - of so many school communities who have suffered unspeakable violence and loss. What a time we are living in.

As Christians we have a role to play in this beautiful and broken world, and that role is to seek the healing presence of God for ourselves and to embody that in whatever ways we can for others. For our leaders last night, we came together to remember that we have a church where God's presence is real and at work as we gather and care for the wellbeing of each person who comes here. For those who are surrounding the community of Silver Rail Elementary School, God's presence is made known as people join them in their sorrow and care for them in material ways - hugs, prayers, tears, food, counseling, financial assistance, flowers.

Presence is healing. Presence does not deny that terrible things happen to people, often at the hands of people. Presence also reminds us that each and every one of us is made in God's image and has God's imprint. God's goodness is within us, all of us, without exception.

Again and again, we forget that we are made in God's image, as is each and every person, those who show up in love and care, those who are in need of love and care and even those who commit terrible offenses and create great harm. We are in God's image and belong to God.

In this week's gospel Jesus is confronted by those who are seeking to discredit and trap him. They want him to get caught in a dualistic argument over paying taxes that would show him to be either at odds with the empire or against God's laws. In his divine wisdom, he reorients the conversation, lifting it to a new perspective. He says, "give to the emperor the things that are the emperor's and to God the things that are God's."

Blessings,

Jennifer

For Reflection

What are the things in your life that remind you that you belong to the world? And what reminds you that you belong to God?

When was the last time you saw God in the image of another human?

In whose face would you find it hard to see the image of God? Pray with this question and the image that arises.

Two Weeks at a Glance

Our Google calendar is updated and now available on our new website.

For a full listing of St. Mary's events, check our Google calendar.

You're Invited

Celtic Spirituality

Greg and Jennifer continue their four- week series on Celtic Spirituality this Sunday at 11:15 in St. George's Chapel in the Parish House.

They will explore the history and sources of Celtic spirituality, the Celtic understanding of sacred place and time, the divine feminine, spiritual practices, and the Celtic vision as a way forward in healing the earth and soul.

No registration is necessary, so please join the circle and learn more about how the sacred and ordinary are intertwined.

Come Worship with Us

WEEKENDS AT ST. MARY'S

5:00 PM, SAT | Holy Eucharist

Historic Church

10:00 AM, SUN | Holy Eucharist

Historic Church

Click on the image above for the service bulletin for this weekend.

4:00 PM, SAT | Christian Meditation

Lower Level | Parish House

Have an announcement?

Please use this form to digitally share information about your ministry. This enables those who are working on the eNews, website, and Facebook (and other social media) to have the information in one place and accessible to everyone who needs it. The deadline for publication in eNews is noon on Wednesday before publication on Friday. If you have questions, please contact website@smcportsmouth.org.

For all other types of communication:

Contact the Rector if you'd like it verbally announced at worship. 

Contact Parish Associate for Administration Karen Laroche to be included in writing in the weekly worship bulletin.

Image credits: Richard Grosvenor, Historic Church, watercolor, used with permission.

Stay Connected:

http://www.smcportsmouth.org/