Dragon Tales

Jan 14, 2026

A Note from Allison Wood

January calls for spontaneous belly laughs. That's what I realized at Youth Group this Monday night. We had a huge group show up - 16 middle and high schoolers - which meant every direction we looked was another opportunity for something awesome to happen. There were our regular wonderful moments: people making new friends, sharing about their week, and getting engaged in the activity. But there were also unplanned moments of pure hilarity. My favorite was when we were playing Flashlight Tag and a few of us were sitting in jail together. We watched the tagger try to open a cabinet where someone was hiding, then lift the top straight off. The way we all ERUPTED in laughter has filled my cup in the most unexpected way. 

January can be a tricky month for many of us. Einstein (may have) once said, "There are only two ways to live life. The first is to live it as if miracles didn't exist. The second is to live it as if everything were a miracle." For me, it is miraculous to share moments of full-body laughter with those around us. I hope you too find a moment today or in this week to experience something as a miracle. 

And if you're in Middle or High School, we'd love to have you join us weekly for all the laughter. This upcoming Monday, January 19^th, we are meeting at 4 pm at Annapolis EP to pack donations for the West Annapolis Food Pantry. This is a great opportunity to come to youth group if you have never been before or if you have a schedule conflict on Monday nights. There are more details on that, plus our February Lock-In, below. I hope to see you soon!

Registration for 2026-2027 school year opens on January 19^th

This Sunday in the fellowship hall at coffee hour, Christine Feldmann will talk about how to become a grants liaison. As many of you know, our endowment funds a grants program that over the past twenty years, has given away over $2M. We need parishioners to liaise with applicants to learn about their program, and shepherd them through the process. You will not only better understand our grants process, but will learn about a non-profit that could need your help. 

So grab a cup of coffee and join us at 10:30 am in the fellowship hall!

SERVICES AT 7:30AM AND 10AM ON JANUARY 25TH

Meet the New Vestry Candidates (shown below), Hear a synopsis of 2025 and plans for 2026, and See a financial review of the church at our Annual Meeting:

Vestry Candidates for 2026

Beth Arruda

Ruth Gross

Chris Middendorf

Nicole Marino

Calling all St. Margaret’s Volunteers - Winter Relief is coming up quickly-February 2-9, 2026!

This is a Parish-wide effort and we need every person’s help to make this important Mission a success!

Hosting, Hosting and more Hosting/Meals planning, prep and service/Bagged Lunches prep/Shower Monitors/ Laundry Service/Site Readiness/Site Restoration/U-Haul driver/Transportation of guests/Entertainment and Activities/ and of course Donations if you cannot sign up for a physical role in the effort.

Please sign-up often and early for your preferred service spots!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/5080D4DADA82BA2F85-60807373-smc2026#/

Collection of Baby Products

The Broadneck High School Pantry is requesting baby products--diapers, wipes, formulas for January. There will be a box in the narthex for donations. These collection items will change on a monthly basis.

A Daughters of the King Discernment Class will be starting in February

The Daughters of the King is a lay Order for women in the Episcopal Church. Our local Anne Arundel chapter is preparing to offer a discernment class for those who are interested in joining the Order. The class is held weekly for ten weeks, after which new members take their vow. Members undertake a Rule of Life, incorporating the Rule of Prayer and the Rule of Service. By reaffirmation of the promises made at Confirmation, a Daughter pledges herself to a life-lifelong program of prayer, service, and evangelism.

We find the Order to be a quiet place in a busy world, where we can support each other in our walk with Christ. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Pam Roth at 410-353-6774, or at rothsbythebay@verizon.net.

Qualified Charitable Distribution to St. Margaret's Church

Are you over 70.5 years old? Are you struggling to take your required minimum distribution (RMD) from your traditional IRA? Do you know that you can minimize your taxes by making a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to St. Margaret's Church for as much as $108K a year per person! Call our office today to find out more information, and thank you for your generosity.

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 (peter@st-margarets.org) 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 is January 20th at 7pm.

Coffee Hour Needs You!

Food Shoppers Needed!

We all love a good cup of coffee & snacks on a Sunday, but we need your help to make this happen. We have been relying on the hard work of Kathy Wiernicki to do all the shopping for the last several years, but that’s a lot for one person and we really want to spread that load. It’s really easy- we have a guide on what to buy. You can just pick up extra snacks with your regular shopping & talk to Elizabeth to drop them off to the church before Sunday. Coffee Hour purchases are reimbursable. Please see Jen Thomas (jtchewie@gmail.com) for details or if you’d like to help out. 

St Margaret’s Prayer Shawl Ministry knits (or crochets or quilts) prayer shawls for the Rev Peter and the Rev Patti to give to ill or grieving parishioners who need the warmth and comfort made manifest by yarn turned prayerfully into a symbol of love and care. The Prayer Shawl Ministry also crafts blankets that are given to those baptized at St. Margaret’s. The shawls and blankets are blessed periodically at the 9:00 a.m. and 11:15 a.m. services.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets for knitting and fellowship 9:00-11:00 a.m. on the first Saturday of the month on the lower level of the Formation Building. (Park in the back near the Day School and enter through the backdoor—it is labeled.)

Our next meeting will be on Saturday, February 7th. Join us! Bring a knitting project or start one. We have all the supplies you will need as well as a welcoming group happy to teach knitting and share crafting wisdom. Contact Janet Gellici or Karyn Sproles ksproles002@gmail.com for more information.

Registration for Women's Weekend is open until February 5th. People can also get access to all the information at www.claggettcenter.org. For questions, contact Sarah Hyde smhyde63@gmail.com.

St. Margaret's Day School is seeking enthusiastic and dedicated candidates for part-time Teaching Assistant positions. Interested parties should complete an application here: https://www.stmargaretsdayschool.org/careers.html

Or contact Jennie Feeney, SMDS Director at smdsdirector@outlook.com 

Feel free to shop at St. Margaret's

Food Pantry! (pictured above)

It will be in place until the end of Winter Relief Week

Children, Youth, And Families

Music

Announcing the 2026 Annapolis Opry!

We are thrilled to announce the Annapolis based bluegrass group Black-Eyed Suzies as our 2026 Artists-in-Residence and hosts/performers as part of the 2026 Annapolis Opry concert series, featuring the very best of nationally touring and local bluegrass talent right here at St. Margaret’s!

This carefully curated series brings all flavors of Americana to St. Margaret’s once a month, so come out and discover your new favorite local artist, enjoy award winning Bluegrass music, and connect with your community.

Concert #2: Sunday, February 22 2pm, Parish Hall (doors open at 1:30pm). 

Tickets available at the door or click the link below for tickets. 

https://sarahlarsenmusic.ticketspice.com/the-annapolis-opry

Missions

OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT SMC's ONGOING MISSIONS

Light House: Ongoing: The Light House in Annapolis currently provides dinners year-round for up to 50 community members in need. St. Margaret’s Church parishioners provide that meal once a month. The work involves planning, purchasing, and preparing the meal in the convenience of your home and delivering it to the Light House. Reimbursement is available for your grocery costs.

DINNER COOKS ARE NEEDED for six remaining dinners in 2026: 5/27, 6/24, 8/26, 9/23, 10/28, and 12/08. Gather a few of your friends or family members and sign up for a Light House dinner in 2026. Preparing a meal for 50 is so much easier when the cooking is shared. When the work is done and the food is delivered, the sense of helping is truly wonderful. Please click on the link below to learn more about this volunteer opportunity and to sign up for a dinner in 2026.

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4AABA62FA7F85-58688921-smclight

SMC POC: Janet Allen, SMC’s Light House Dinner Coordinator janettuckerallen@gmail.com

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! 

SMC POC: Jeanne Nardi, SMC's Light House Donation Coordinator nardij@me.com 

Sunday Service- Jan 11, 2026

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 Gwen Davis at gwen@llamaworks.com.

Calendar

Jan 14- Eucharist 9am, Ringers 6:30pm

Jan 15- Book Club/Study 7pm

Jan 18- **,

Jan 19- NO Choristers, Youth Group MLK Day of Service 4pm, NO Adult Choir 7pm

Jan 20- Vestry Meeting 7pm

Jan 21- Eucharist 9am, Ringers 6:30pm

Jan 25- Services at 7:30am and 10am, Annual Meeting at 11am, Sunday School 11:30am-12:15pm

Jan 26- Choristers 5:15pm, Chorister Evensong 5:45pm, Community Dinner 6:15pm, Youth Group 6:15pm, Adult Choir 7pm

Jan 28- Eucharist 9am, Ringers 6:30pm

Feb 1- **,

Feb 2 through Feb 9- Winter Relief at St. Margaret's Church

Feb 2- Choristers 5:15pm, NO Youth Group 6:15pm, Adult Choir 7pm

Feb 4- Eucharist 9am, Ringers 6:30pm

Feb 5- Celtic Service 7pm

Feb 8- **, No Sunday School

Feb 9- Choristers 5:15pm, Youth Group 6:15pm, Adult Choir 7pm

Feb 10- Gospel Sessions 9am

Feb 11- Eucharist 9am, Ringers 6:30pm

Feb 14- Vestry Workday 9am

Feb 15- **

Feb 16- NO Choristers, Youth Group 6:15pm, NO Adult Choir

Feb 17- Pancake Dinner 5pm-7pm, Vestry Meeting 7pm

Feb 18- Ash Wednesday Services at Noon and 7pm, No Ringers

Feb 19- Book Club 7pm

Feb 20- Youth Group Lock-In

Feb 22- **, Black-Eyed Suzies Annapolis Opry 2pm

Feb 23- Choristers 5:15pm, Chorister Evensong 5:45pm, Community Dinner 6:15pm, Youth Group 6:15pm, Adult Choir 7pm

Feb 25- Eucharist 9am, Ringers 6:30pm

**Sunday Service Schedule 7:30am, 9am, and 11:15am, Nursery from 8:45-11:15, Coffee hour between 9am and 11:15am services in the Parish Hall, Sunday School at 10:15am in the Formation Building

St. Margaret's Contacts

The Rev. Peter W. Mayer, Rector - Peter@st-margarets.org

The Rev. Patti Sachs, Associate Rector - Patti@st-margarets.org

Elizabeth Radley, Director of Operations - Elizabeth@st-margarets.org

Jim Douglas, Director of Music - Music@st-margarets.org

Jake Ritmiller, Associate for Contemporary Music - Jake@st-margarets.org

Ginny Joy, Administrative Assistant - Ginny@st-margarets.org

Judy Hall, Churchyard Admin- Churchyard@st-margarets.org

Emily DelSordo, Children's Formation Coordinator - Emily@st-margarets.org

Allison Wood, Youth Ministries Coordinator - Youthministry@st-margarets.org

Teresa McCorkle, Bookkeeper - Office@st-margarets.org

Christine Feldmann, Grants Administrator - Missions@st-margarets.org

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.

Church Calendar

Newcomers

St. Margaret's Day School

Episcopal Diocese of Maryland

The Episcopal Church

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