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Dragon Tales E-News
January 12, 2022
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A Note from Jeff
Happy New Year! Although, I must say, it doesn’t feel very new. It seems like we are where we were a year ago. Schools are open, but so many other things keep getting shut back down.
Well, so far that is not the case with Youth Group! We are meeting in person, Monday evenings from 6:45 until 8:30. We are all vaccinated and all masked, so for the time being we feel safe in meeting. And while Covid always hangs over everything we do; we try to maintain as much “normalcy” as possible. Unfortunately, the MLK Jr. Lock-In scheduled by the Diocese for this weekend is canceled. With luck and with everyone doing their part, hopefully that will be the last thing we need to cancel.
Once again there will be a youth-led service! This year it will be May 15, and we are going to do BOTH the 9 and the 11:15 services. Well, gosh, Jeff, that’s nice, but it’s in May. Why bring it up now? Because a lot of work goes into the preparation, and with only a few hours a week to get together and work on it, the time goes by faster than you can imagine. Last Monday night we got started by looking at the readings appointed for that day and discussing why we think those readings were selected for that particular Sunday. This is merely a starting point. I encourage the students to think unconstrained at this point. The purpose of the youth-led service is not simply to have youth stand-in for adults during the service, but to think deeply about worship. What do we do, and why? How does it affect us? Does it affect us, and if not, could we change something to enhance the experience? The very early followers of Jesus had to figure this out for themselves. In Youth Group we are trying to recreate that experience, and in doing so, gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for what it means to worship God.
That is the big theme for the rest of the semester. I know it sounds heavy but rest assured that it is all leavened with humor, and we still play plenty of games and share what our lives are like.
If you have ever wondered what the Group is like, feel free to volunteer some Monday night. I’ll bet your cheeks hurt from smiling at the end of the meeting!
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Update on Safety Protocols from the Diocese
St. Margaret's will continue to open its doors for Sunday services and Wednesday morning Eucharist at 9:00 a.m.
Mask wearing will continue to be required at all times indoors. Physical distancing with other parishioners is necessary. Hand sanitizers and extra masks are available on campus. Our live-streaming of the service is available on our Facebook page and YouTube channel, so if you aren't feeling well, please watch at home.
There will be no coffee hour between services. Sunday School and Children's Chapel is cancelled through the month with no Faith & Fellowship activities on Mondays.
We will continue to be in contact with the Diocese for guidance on keeping everyone as safe as possible.
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Mark your calendars! Our Annual Meeting will be held on Zoom on Sunday, January 23 at 1 p.m.
Any submissions for the Annual Report are due
THIS Friday, January 14.
Here are the vestry candidates for 2022.
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Vestry member David Allen gives details on the upcoming vote of a change in the church's bylaws that will be held at the annual meeting. Contact David with any questions at [email protected]. | |
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Winter Relief Coming Soon
The St. Margaret's turn for hosting those in our area who are in need of housing assistance from the Arundel House of Hope is February 28 through March 7. We are in need of donations from transporting participants to providing meals to hosting guests at St. Margaret's where people feel welcome on the St. Margaret's campus.
Please note all of our guests will have been vaccinated including given the booster and will be tested before coming to our campus. For questions, contact Judy Hall at [email protected].
Please sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c0e45afa622a4f94-winter7
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Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Update
The St. Margaret's Truth, Reconciliation and Reparations Task Force was pleased to see so many of our fellow parishioners at our first Coffee Hour Chat in November. Thank you to those of you who joined us on this formation journey! For those of you who missed it, we focused our discussion on St. Margaret’s past practices and some of the wording in the current theology of our Episcopal faith. At this time, we cannot continue our January 16th Coffee Hour Chat as planned due to our current COVID restrictions. We hope to resume our Coffee Hour Chat on February 20th following the 9 a.m. service if possible. In the meantime, your TRR Task Force will be posting in Dragon Tales what we hope will be thought provoking quotes and messages. For questions, contact Beth Kopack at [email protected].
"To accept one’s past—one’s history—is not the same thing as drowning in it; it is learning how to use it. An invented past can never be used; it cracks and crumbles under the pressures of life like clay in a season of drought."
-James Baldwin
“Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world.” ― Desmond Tutu
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Grants Program Needs Liaisons
The St. Margaret's Endowment Grants Program has received applications for the 2022 year. Now we need parishioner volunteers to serve as a liaison between the committee and the applicants to evaluate proposals. This process has been very rewarding to volunteers who have supported partnerships between the church and nonprofits across the world. If you believe you could volunteer for this effort that only requires work the next couple of months, contact our Grants Administrator Christine Feldmann at
[email protected].
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Day School News
Our St. Margaret's Day School is following the guidance of state education officials and offering virtual learning this week and next following increasing Covid numbers. Please pray for the SMDS teachers and staff and their students and families as they navigate through this precarious situation.
But they continue to plan for the future with 2022 summer camps and the next school year. Go to www.stmargaretsdayschool.org for registration information.
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Silent Movie Showing on February 6
Our annual silent film organ concert with recognized organist Michael Britt is scheduled at St. Margaret's for Sunday, February 6 at 4:00 p.m. Mark your calendar for this family favorite event!
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Volunteers Needed from July 5-14
(General Convention in Baltimore, MD)
Volunteers recruited from the Diocese of Maryland and neighboring dioceses, who welcome guests and support the logistical work of the General Convention, have an opportunity to learn about the structure and governance of The Episcopal Church. In addition to experiencing the gathering of The Episcopal Church, volunteers who contribute their time have the chance to meet people from around The Episcopal Church and connect with others in the diocese whom they would not have otherwise met.
There are two steps to become a General Convention Volunteer:
Step One — Complete an online form by going to https://bit.ly/3JMHSor and share your contact information (name, congregation, email address, and phone number) with the Diocese of Maryland. If you do not have an email address, you may contact
Caroline Bomgardner at 410-467-1399 ext. 1379 to indicate your desire to volunteer.
Step Two — Those who complete the online form will receive an email in February 2022 providing information about signing up to volunteer for specific days, times, and areas of interest. A link and log-in information to a scheduling application will be included. Once completed, you will receive a confirmation email from the system with your selections.
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Sunday's Children Chapel Lesson | |
Servers on Sunday, January 16 | |
Readers
7:30 - Ben Tolley
9:00 - Mark Torrence
11:15 - Mel Kessler
Acolytes
9:00 - Caroline Viscardi, Charlotte & Clara Berthelotte, Molly Rose Svendsen
11:15 - Sarah and Allen Mayer
Flower Guild
Shelley Hupp
Altar Guild
Charlie Lang, Susie Byrom, Robert Thomas
Ushers
9:00 - Mark Torrence, Kathy Lang
11:15 - Jim Hall, Ray Feldmann
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Servers on Sunday, January 23
Readers
7:30 - Joan Rich
9:00 - Tres Lewis
11:15 - Pat Hall
Acolytes
9:00 - Elizabeth Parker, Matthew Parker, Liz Hollywood
11:15 - Connor and Grace Feldmann
Children's Chapel Leaders
9:00 - Jen Thomas, Ernie Tucker
Flower Guild
Beth Kopack
Altar Guild
Jeanne Nardi, Jan Little, Kim Morrow
Ushers
9:00 - Kathy Lang, Russ Philippi
11:15 - Barbara Friedmann, Steve Brennan
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St. Margaret's Contacts
The Rev. Peter 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]
Laura Tayman, Director of Communications - [email protected]
Emily DelSordo, Children's Formation Coordinator - [email protected]
Jeff Conover, Youth Ministries Leader - [email protected]
Teresa McCorkle, Bookkeeper - [email protected]
Judy Hall, Churchyard Administrator - [email protected]
Christine Feldmann, Grants Administrator - [email protected]
Deadline for Dragon Tales submissions is Monday afternoon.
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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 Wednesday morning.
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