Dragon Tales

December 13, 2023

A Note From Jeff Conover

There is so much happening in Youth Group this year! Some of this may be a repeat from my last letter to you, but please bear with me. There is important stuff here!

First, our Christmas Party is fast approaching. It will be during our last meeting of the year (!), December 17th, at 4pm. The wonderful Allison Matthews of AACPS will be there to collect all of the items for the Warm Tree, so if you haven’t gotten you gifts yet, you’ve got about 5 days!

CALLING ALL YOUTH GROUP ALUMS! You are ALWAYS welcome at our party! Come by and see what’s new, what’s stayed the same, and add to our merriment by your presence!

Moving to January, elsewhere in this issue you will find a flyer for the MLK Jr. Lock-in & Day of Service, to be held this year at St. Francis in Timonium. Several youth leaders in the diocese (including me) have designed this important and hopefully impactful event, and I am encouraging ALL of you to participate. (Yes, I will sign off on service hours for this). (Register HERE).

Hard on its heels is our Safe Dating Workshop, Feb 3rd. This is for all teens AND THEIR PARENTS! (You can register HERE). And then it is time for Happening! Happening, Feb 16th-18th at Claggett, is a program for high school students designed, staffed, and run by Episcopal youth from our Diocese (including some from SMC!). Most of this weekend is kept a surprise for those attending so they can fully live into the moment and the community. This is another very worthwhile program (sign up HERE).

And that brings us to March, which will be here sooner than you can imagine. Night Watch is back! This s a hugely impactful overnight event run by St. John’s Cathedral in New York City. Anyone who has ever attended has wanted to go back and do it all over again. It generates powerful memories that stick with you and does some extraordinary things to help you along your faith journey. The dates are March 15th-16th, and cost is $125/person. DO NOT MISS THIS. (As always – I will never let cost stand between you and an event. Let me know if you could use a scholarship). IF YOU ARE INTERESTED – AND YOU OUGHT TO BE – PLEASE REGISTER RIGHT AWAY. SEATS ON OUR ONE BUS ARE GOING QUICKLY!

All of these details and more can be found in the Holy Hotmail. If you don’t receive it, let me know!



Phew! In the meantime, have a wonderful Advent!

Please give weekly if you are choosing not to pledge!

Giving is Easy! Pledge Here:

WeCare and Friends is having a coat-and drive this coming Wednesday and Thursday from 10-2. Drop off your donations at People’s Park, downtown Annapolis at Calvert and Clay Streets. Let’s help our neighbors!

Christmas Flowers Order Form

St. Margaret's offers parishioners a chance to honor and remember loved ones by purchasing a poinsettia or Christmas wreath to beautify the church during the Christmas season. The church will be decorated on December 23 and will stay that way through Epiphany Sunday, January 4. Donations will be listed in Christmas bulletins.

Poinsettias orders are $25 each and wreaths are $35 each.

If you wish to purchase a poinsettia or wreath for the church, you can order them on our website using a credit card or make a check out to "St. Margaret's Church" and put "Christmas flowers" in the memo line. Orders are due Friday, December 15th. If paying by Realm, let Judy know at [email protected].

The Warm Tree Is Here!

The Warm Tree was set up by the Youth Group. It is for collecting hats, scarves, gloves and blankets for Middle School children on the Broadneck Peninsula who are in need of something special this season.

Please return the items by December 17th.

VESTRY- The Vestry of the church, our group of twelve elected lay representatives who help the Rector run the church, meets on the third Tuesday of every month except August. The meetings are hybrid and are open to the congregation to attend. Please let the Rector or the Senior Warden know in advance if you’d like to attend and if you have a matter to bring. You need to be on the agenda to have a voice. The next meeting will be December 19th.

Coffee Hour Chat: Truth, Reconciliation, and Reparations Task Force Update THIS SUNDAY

The members of the TRR Task Force would like to update the congregation on a meeting held on December 3rd between St. Margaret's, Asbury Broadneck United Methodist Church, and the Annual Father's Day Foundation. We want to update the parish on where we are with our contrition project and in building relationships between the two churches. We would also like to hear what you want to see in future coffee chats. Please join us at 10:20 in the Fellowship Hall this Sunday, December 17th.

Register HERE

Grow your spiritual life in community with women from all walks of life. Leaders from the Dioceses of Maryland and Washington will speak on our theme: Passing it On.

Activities include:

● workshops

● service projects

● nature walk

● arts and crafts

● and more!

Join us for the 2024 Women’s Weekend! 

Children, Youth, And Families

Sign up for Animals/Angels/Shepherd parts here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/60B0A4EA5AF23A0F49-46659901-stmargarets

Music

UPDATE!

There is a second rehearsal on Wednesdays at 5:15pm for those in

grades K-5th who cannot attend on Mondays.

Missions

Call for Grant Liaisons/Committee Members

The grants program at St. Margaret's depends on help from parishioners like you! We are looking for committee members and liaisons. Committee members serve a three-year term to review applications, interview finalists and make grant awards. The committee meets virtually twice in January and about 4 times on Tuesday evenings (usually 2 hours) in February-March. We welcome people from a variety of background and provide training. Liaisons are needed to meet with and interview grant applicant finalists. This is a great way to learn about organizations close to home and around the globe helping people and improving our environment. If you are interested in this short-term ministry, please email Christine Feldmann at [email protected]. 

Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations

Task Force Update

UPCOMING MEETINGS, ALL ARE WELCOME! We meet on the first Tuesday of the month. Contact Beth Kopack to join [email protected] or JoEllyn Fountain [email protected]

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT SMC's MISSIONS



Christmas/Winter Gift Card Drive for Local Youth

While out and about this season, consider purchasing gift cards toward our drive for local teens in the Broadneck area who need extra support this Christmas. Gift cards will be distributed via Anne Arundel County Public School Pupil Personnel Worker Allison Matthews to Broadneck teens who are experiencing homelessness, without official guardians, unaccompanied or otherwise in need of extra support. Collections due by January 7th.

Details: 

• Stores/restaurants in the area that teens enjoy are suggested, such as Dunkin, Starbucks, Chipotle, pizza, Subway, Walgreens, Target, fast food, etc.
• Increments of $20-50 preferred so cards can be handed out individually.
• Contact Justyn Kopack to drop off or arrange to meet at church: 443.454.0213 or [email protected]. You may also send me contributions via Venmo, Zelle or PayPal and I will buy cards.

Light House: Ongoing: Light House currently provides dinners year round for 65 community members in need. St. Margaret’s Church parishioners provide and prepare that meal just one night a month. For now, the work involves planning, purchasing, and preparing the meal offsite and delivering it to the Light House. It is a great activity to share with friends, relatives or groups of which you are a part. Preparing a meal for 65 is a big undertaking, but knowing you have been a part of helping others makes it all worthwhile. 

Dinner Cooks Still Needed for 2024: Please consider signing up for one or more dinners in 2024. Please click on the link below for more information and to sign up:

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4AABA62FA7F85-smclight1 

SMC POC: Janet Allen, SMC’s Light House Dinner Coordinator

443-717-4190, [email protected]

Light House:  Ongoing: Donate REQUESTED food and other items to Light House by placing in the designated area under the window in the Narthex. Please see list of needed items here: https://annapolislighthouse.org/get-involved/needs/

We collect for the Lighthouse Shelter all year, and you can leave your donations in the basket in the back corner of the narthex. 

Thanks for your support of this great cause!   - Pam Roth and Helen Patterson

SMC POC: Pam Roth, SMC's Light House Donation Coordinator [email protected]

Sunday Service, December 10th

Sunday's Service Bulletin

Sunday's Announcements

Servers have been added to Realm Connect: check on your profile page under "serving." For more info about how to find your schedule, contact JoEllyn Fountain at [email protected]

Calendar

Dec 17- **, Special Visitor to Sunday School Classes, TRR Coffee Hour Chat, Youth Group 4pm-6pm

Dec 18- Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Faith and Fellowship 6pm, Adult Choir 7pm, Adult Handbells 7pm

Dec 20- Eucharist 9am, Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Adult Handbells 6:30pm

Dec 24- Fourth Sunday of Advent services at 7:30am and 10am (childcare at 10am), Christmas Eve Services: 1pm Family Service (Nursery Provided), 4pm Lessons and Carols, 7pm Traditional Candlelight Service, NO Youth Group

Dec 25- NO services, NO Spirit Singers, NO Faith and Fellowship, NO Adult Choir or Handbells

Dec 25-Dec 26- Office Closed

Dec 27- NO Eucharist 9am, NO Spirit Singers, NO Adult Handbell

Dec 31- **, NO Sunday School or Children/Youth Chapels, NO Youth Group

Jan 1- NO Spirit Singers, NO Faith and Fellowship, NO Adult Choir or Handbells, Office Closed

Jan 3- Eucharist 9am, Women's Guild, NO Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, NO Adult Handbells 6:30pm

Jan 7- **, Epiphany Pageant at 9am service, Youth Group 4pm-6pm

Jan 8- Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Faith and Fellowship 6pm, Adult Choir 7pm, Adult Handbells 7pm

Jan 10- Eucharist 9am, Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Adult Handbells 6:30pm

Jan 14- **, Youth Group 4pm-6pm

Jan 15- NO Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Faith and Fellowship 6pm, NO Adult Choir 7pm, NO Adult Handbells 7pm, Office Closed

Jan 17- Eucharist 9am, Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Adult Handbells 6:30pm

Jan 21- **, Youth Group 4pm-6pm

Jan 22- Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Faith and Fellowship 6pm, Adult Choir 7pm, Adult Handbells 7pm

Jan 24- Eucharist 9am, Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Adult Handbells 6:30pm

Jan 28- **, Annual Meeting and Potluck 12:30pm, Youth Group 4pm-6pm

Jan 29- Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Faith and Fellowship 6pm, Adult Choir 7pm, Adult Handbells 7pm

Jan 31- Eucharist 9am, Spirit Singers all grades 5:15pm, Adult Handbells 6:30pm

**Sunday Service Schedule 7:30am, 9am, and 11:15am, Coffee hour between 9am and 11:15am services in the Parish Hall, Sunday School at 10:15am in the Formation Hall

St. Margaret's Contacts

The Rev. Peter W. Mayer, Rector - [email protected]

The Rev. Patti Sachs, Associate Rector - [email protected]

Elizabeth Radley, Director of Operations - [email protected]

Jim Douglas, Director of Music - [email protected]

Judy Hall, Administrative Assistant - [email protected]

For Churchyard Information- [email protected]

Emily DelSordo, Children's Formation Coordinator - [email protected]

Jeff Conover, Youth Ministries Leader - [email protected]

Teresa McCorkle, Bookkeeper - [email protected]

Christine Feldmann, Grants Administrator - [email protected]

Deadline for Dragon Tales submissions is Monday afternoon.

Deadline for Weekly Announcements is Monday afternoon.

Do you have a prayer request to post in Sunday's announcements? Click HERE to make the request on our website. Deadline to make it in the Sunday's announcements is Monday afternoon.

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