Dragon Tales for Feb. 27, 2019

Dragon Tales

E-News

February 27, 2019

A Note from Jeff

When most of us think of change, we think of big events that in some way shift our lives from the track we have been following. We imagine the differences the change might bring; some longed for, some dreaded. Change occupies a unique point in time and space for us - where we were when ‘the change’ occurred. We refer to the trajectory of our lives by identifying the moments when things changed for us. In our hindsight, change was sudden, definite, identifiable and understood.

Change looms large in our lives. Sometimes this is even true for society as whole. We can collectively point to significant changes – the moon landing, Rosa Parks refusing to surrender her seat, the collapse of the Berlin Wall, the day we all started using e-mail. It is a simple exercise for us. But, is it true? Each of the singular events we look at as “the moment when things changed,” were really the culmination of thousands of nearly invisible moments of change.

Over the past few weeks I was profoundly privileged to witness change. And not just change, but a glimpse of future that will be different from the world in which I came of age.

A chance meeting at a Third Sunday Band concert led to a special Youth Group meeting just before Valentine’s Day. I invited Jeremy Browning of Annapolis Pride to join our group and talk about his organization, and the challenges our local LGBTQA community face. I envisioned a time of sharing stories of intolerance, dissecting how we can and should react as Christians, and leaving even more determined to keep fighting for everyone’s right to the pursuit of happiness unhindered by bigotry. And all that took place.

But as I look back on the evening, I understand I was shown a moment of real, deep-seated change. Most of what Jeremy and I heard that evening was acceptance, love, recognition that things aren’t perfect, but also a certain bewilderment that the adults felt the need to have this discussion. Our children have grown up in environments that have stressed our common humanity. They speak a language of inclusion that those of us over a certain age struggle to comprehend. They are comfortable with difference; they are in no way threatened by “the other.” They have internalized the Christian ideal of Loving Community in a way that constantly astounds me.

It is still an intolerant and ugly world in some places. However, it is a world much changed from the one I entered. I was privileged to get that glimpse of how much better it can and will get.

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Did you receive the Lent Spire? CLICK HERE.

Want to submit something to the Spring Spire newsletter? Deadline is March 12th.

Sunday's Service - February 17, 2019

Service in Motion

Kudos to Ryan Campbell and Hannah Ruegg who served as choristers for the 2019 Sacred Music Festival at Washington National Cathedral this weekend.

Day School Fundraiser Auction on March 2

Our Day School will be holding their major annual fundraiser on Saturday, March 2, 6 p.m. at the Annapolis Maritime Museum.

This year, our award-winning school has a major expense: to replace the playground to bring it up to code for the coming school year. The amount needed for equipment and installation as well as grading is $70,000.

Please consider supporting this effort!

Purchase Tickets/Make a Bid HERE

Annapolis Pride Youth Event

Annapolis area youth are welcome to attend the upcoming Youth Pride Concert for all ages at Union Jacks in Annapolis from 10am to 2pm on Sunday, March 3rd. This is a FREE event open to everyone and all ages! This is a great opportunity to come together and socialize in a welcoming and judgement free environment.

Performers/Bands:

Fast As Lightning, L. Rodgers, School of Rock, Spencer Joyce, Priddy Music Academy, Safety 3rd, Savage Cabbage, Zee Band, Brandon Van Dyke, Spencer LoSchiavo and The Mystics, and 22 Nickels

Contact is Megan Kniffen: [email protected]

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper on March 5

The Brotherhood of St. Margaret's will host their annual Pancake Supper on Tuesday, March 5, 4:30 to 7 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Besides pancakes, the menu also includes sausage and applesauce. Tickets are on sale this Sunday by a Brotherhood member or at the door.

Ash Wednesday on March 6

Ash Wednesday is a Christian holy day of prayer , fasting , and repentance on the first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday derives its name from the placing of repentance ashes on the foreheads of participants to "Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return." The ashes are prepared by burning palm leaves from the previous year's Palm Sunday celebrations.

Services will be held at 7:30 a.m., (Fellowship Hall), and Noon & 7:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary.

Following the noon service, the Women's Guild will host a soup and bread luncheon in the Parish Hall. All are welcome.

Silent Movie Concert on March 10

We are excited to announce that notable organist Michael Britt will return to St. Margaret's on Sunday, March 10 at 4 p.m. to accompany the classic silent comedy Sherlock, Jr. starring Buster Keaton, right in our sanctuary! Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to this annual popular family-friendly event!

Preview of Sherlock Jr.

My Brother's Pantry Volunteers Needed

MARCH is St Margaret's month to help with My Brother's Pantry!

Our church is part of an effort by local churches in the area throughout the year to provide a monthly food supplement to more than 100 local families who could use a little extra help. This requires one evening of packing grocery bags and then one morning of delivering grocery bags. In particular:

1. Packing - 6:30 pm on Thursday March 14 , at the Pantry * (~1.5 hours)

We'll set up a joyful little assembly line in the Pantry to pack the bags for our big monthly distribution.

2. Delivery - 8:45 am on Saturday March 16 , meeting at the Pantry (~2 hours)

We'll send a big group of volunteers loaded with packed bags of groceries to our families at College Parkway Place, while a smaller group stays at the Pantry to help our other families who come to pick up their food.

And... if those two chances aren't enough for you, there are smaller opportunities available all month long : responding to emergency requests on the hotline, checking inventory, collecting the food at our donation bins, helping with the big food runs from Graul's Market and the Anne Arundel County Food Bank. Or... if you're interested, you can even serve all year long as St Margaret's representative (or alternate) on My Brother's Pantry's Board of Directors!

For more information, contact St. Margaret's parishioner Russell Jackson at

[email protected].

Prayer Shawl Ministry Meets March 2

All are welcome to join this dedicated group who knit or crochet prayer shawls to comfort those who are going through difficult physical and emotional circumstances and those who receive the sacrament of baptism. We meet in the Admin Building this Saturday, March 2 at 9 a.m. All skill levels welcome.

March 9th Diocesan Events

Resting in God: The Art of Being

A Centering Prayer Retreat led by the Right Rev. Eugene Taylor Sutton, bishop of Maryland, March 9, St. Martin’s in-the-Field, Severna Park.

Reflect on the nature of prayer as relationship with God, and explore the levels of relationship that you can grow into. Learn and practice centering prayer as a way of contemplation - being guided by the Spirit beyond thoughts, words and emotions. And rest in the interior silence which is the root of all prayer. Learn more and register online here.

The annual Bishop Unplugged event with Bishop Sutton and diocesan youth will be held March 9 at St. Martin's-in-the-Field, Severna Park, 2:00-4:00 p.m. It is a great time for youth to meet their peers, get to know the bishop, and grow their faith.

Cost: $5. Learn more and register online.

Coming This Lent @ St. Margaret's

Compline by Candlelight (Wednesday evenings)

Each Wednesday at 7 p.m. enter the sanctuary for a short, contemplative candlelit service that builds each week from spoken to all liturgy sung. It will be the perfect way to observe the Lenten season and to close your day.

Starting March 13

Sunday Mornings

Join the Rev. Peter W. Mayer on Sunday mornings during Lent from 10:20 to 11:00 a.m. in the Fellowship Hall for discussions from the book "Hanging by a Thread" by Samuel Wells. The book reflects on the challenges of understanding Christ's crucifixion that arise today using contemporary ideas in history, biblical studies, and philosophy. Books are available on Amazon.com here or can be purchased from independent book sellers at www.biblio.com.

Starting March 10

Thursday Mornings

Our Thursday morning study will soon begin a new book just in time for Lent titled "The Last Week" by Borg/Crossan that centers on w hat the Gospels really teach about Jesus's final days in Jerusalem. The study begins at 9:15 a.m. on Thursdays in Classroom E. Childcare in the nursery is provided. All are welcome! There are a few books left that are being sold during coffeehour on Sundays at the winter relief table or you can purchase one online. NOW MEETING!

Monday Evenings

On our Monday night Faith & Fellowship formation nights in Lent, we will provide a study for both the music lover and the biblical seeker exploring the scriptural texts of Handel's Messiah. This study offers careful examination of the texts as we listen to the musical lines. NOW MEETING!

Donations Needed for Dageno Center

DUE DATE: MARCH 3

Dozens of our parishioners will soon be traveling to Africa and visiting our parish grant awardee -- the Dageno Girls Center. Through their travel, they are able to transfer donations needed.

If you would be willing to bring some used items to donate to Dageno Girls Center, the following items are needed:

• Tech equipment: laptops, digital cameras, unlocked cell phones, projectors, SD storage cards

• Science lab supplies: microscopes, beakers, test tubes, magnets, scales, legos

• Art supplies: construction paper, markers, crayons, colored pencils, colored chalk, certificate/award paper, paint pens, fabric scissors

• Gardening supplies: drip irrigation pipes, vegetable seeds

• Games: soccer balls, volley balls, kick balls, whiffle ball set, board games, puzzles

• Camping supplies for the Dageno graduates’ tourism business: tents and sleeping bags

• Bedding and towels for Dageno graduates’ lodge business: double and twin sheet sets, hand towels, bath towels

• Kitchen supplies for Dageno graduates’ restaurant business: coffee presses, mixing bowls, ice cube trays, measuring cups, baking sheets and pans, Tupperware / Rubbermaid plastic containers of all sizes, reusable straws.

Donations that are smaller can be left in the narthex. For larger items or for more information, contact Gail Pelton 301-385-3816 or [email protected] or Janice Roper Graham at [email protected] or 443-569-6051 .

WINTER RELIEF IS COMING!

St. Margaret's will be hosting our local homeless brothers and sisters in March for winter relief. Over a hundred volunteer slots are required! Please begin signing up on Sundays during coffeehour or sign up HERE (or on our website under "Quick Links").

All volunteers -- please mark your calendars to attend training on March 10 & 17 in the Fellowship during formation hour (10:20 to 11 a.m.).