A Message from the Interim Dean & Upcoming Events!
Brothers and Sisters,
We have a Drive-through! Yes, Drive-through Alleluia to Ashes, Sunday February 14, 2-4 pm in the Cathedral parking lot. St Mary’s is hosting a great event:
• Enter the parking lot with Alleluias and celebrations
• Tune in your car radio to music of St. Mary’s
• Receive a surprise Alleluia packet
• Drive through or park your car
• Stop along the drive and pray the Stations of the Cross outdoors or inside St. Mary’s (all socially distant, with masks)
• Roast a marshmallow and make a s'more!
• Continue your drive through the purple of Lent, honor the Lenten cross
• GET YOUR ASHES for Ash Wednesday
• Receive a Lenten family activity and calendar
• Receive the book “Rediscover Jesus” by Matthew Kelly
• Kids receive a Lenten activity box
February 14th 2-4pm, drive through St Mary’s, all Covid safety precautions are in order, and pick up your Transfiguration and Lenten enrichment materials. During Lent we will read and reflect on the book “Rediscover Jesus”. SUNDAYS at 1 pm I will lead a reflective discussion on the book, and Jerry Harber will join with me.
If you are unable to drive through on 14 February, call the church office, and we will hand deliver your no contact spiritual resources for the season. OR you may pick it up at the first floor office.
PLEASE BRING AN OFFERING of "pop top" canned food. There will be containers to collect your offering as you drive through
Remember the Drive in Movie Theatre?? During Lent, St. Mary’s is hosting a drive in Movie Theatre complete with popcorn and soda and more. Location: church parking lot. Sound : your car radio. Saturdays at first Dark, about 6:30pm we will show the following (movies may change due to availability.)
ADMISSION: canned pop top food for pop top ministries
Feb 20…………….….…Soul. (PG)
Feb 27…………….…….Coco. (PG)
March 6…………………Oh God featuring George Burns. (PG)
March 13…………….….Wonder. (PG)
March 20 …………….…Case for Christ. (PG -13)
March 27……………..…News to the Word featuring Tom Hanks. (PG)
April 2 (Good Friday)….. Risen or a movie on the crucifixion. (PG-13)
TRANSITION: I invite you all to join me at one of the Conversation Café events Sunday at 11:30 am or Wednesdays at 6pm. This is prime time for us to get to know each other, catch up with friends and to share your story and your hopes for St Mary’s. On Sundays we will offer a hybrid Conversation Café: We will be in Martyrs' Hall--socially distant--or you can chime in on Zoom. Important questions will focus on: Who are we? Where are we? And What do we want to be doing?
Conversation Café:
Sundays 11:30 am:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87642838422?pwd=N0NqTU5UdUZubUZjbS9KTFFlb1ZpZz09
Meeting ID: 876 4283 8422
Passcode: 286934
Dial in
312.626.6799
Wednesdays 6:00 pm:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81080559436?pwd=TWFLMDkveS9tT1lFWjBtS3ZFRHhwdz09
Meeting ID: 810 8055 9436
Passcode: 727488
Dial in
312.626.6799
During the initial phases of the transition process, we will engage in sharing history, telling stories and talking about how we want to live out our faith. At the same time, on a different level we will be reviewing and tweaking areas of administration and function to include finances, job descriptions, church record audit, review of documents, and process and procedures. Hopefully we will be able to meet as a parish and participate in a Look Back Look Forward which includes a look at culture, history, significant events and people in the life of St Mary’s as well as a look at dreams and visions for the future. After the Look Back Look Forward there will be a community survey which will identify ways we can better partner with the community. Once we have completed the Conversation Cafes, Look Back Look Forward, and the community survey, we will review the profile and tweak it to make it more current as well as to talk about how Covid has changed the ministry and vision of St Mary’s.
Our over arching goals are to balance the budget in 2022 or 2023, increase attendance, tend to the spiritual discipleship of our people and be transparent in all we do. I will keep you posted on the transition process.
If you would like to join the transition team please let me know. I am looking for process people, big picture thinkers. I anticipate meeting once every 6 to 8 weeks. Our first meeting will be in February, if you are interested, please contact Rev Jean+ at 402-302-5600
I wish you God’s blessings as you continue to be the Light into the world. Be strong and courageous, do not be dismayed or frightened for the Lord our God is with us wherever we go.
Shalom
Rev Jean+
P.S. Invite a friend or neighbor to join in - we have lots going on!
Upcoming Calendar Event Summary:
Saturday children’s time with Mrs. Claire! at 4:51 pm, just before the service.
Saturday Worship. 5pm.
Sunday Worship 10am
Sundays 1pm. Bible Study/Reflective Discussion
February 6 & 7. St Mary’s opens for in person worship!
St Mary’s Cathedral is open for worship Saturdays 5 pm and Sundays 10 am
Covid safety and care of our neighbor are of the utmost importance: please sanitize, wear a mask and social distance in the Cathedral. Seating is 10 to 12 feet apart. May you be blessed by in person or virtual worship.
Click here to read Bishop Phoebe's January 26, 2021 message about return to in-person worship.
February 12 6pm Vestry Social at 5605 Tchulahoma Rd Memphis
February 13 10am-1pm. Vestry Retreat
February 14 2-4pm Get your Ashes at the Drive thru Alleluias to Ashes Event
February 17. 12 pm noon. Ash Wednesday Worship with Ashes and Holy Communion
Sundays in Lent: 1 pm. Rediscover Jesus Reflective Discussion with Rev Jean and Jerry Harber
Saturdays: 6:30. Drive in Movie Theatre
THANK YOU
Thank you for your commitment to St Mary’s and to the mission of Jesus Christ.
A special thanks to all those who have helped to move furniture, sort through papers and books and paint the first floor offices. The Parish staff is moving to the first floor. There we will be able to greet you, welcome you to our spaces and tend to your pastoral needs. We will have the Dean’s office, the Parish Administrator's office and the Commons. The Commons is designed as a living room with soft chairs and sofas, a work table and books to read. It will be used as a place to work, relax, lunch, have staff functions, meet with families and friends of the parish. Again thank you for your assistance in making this move.
Thank you for your generous gifts of time and talents. The offerings you send in to St. Mary’s allows us to offer ministry and programs to you, to the community, and to our neighbors. The ministry allows us to share the gospel and invite others into the grace of God. Thank you for all you do for the people of God.
Rev Jean Vargo+
Interim Dean