August 2023 Newsletter

Barnstable Harbor

Evening Sail

Blessing the boats

by Lucille Clifton

(at St. Mary's)

may the tide

that is entering even now

the lip of our understanding

carry you out

beyond the face of fear

may you kiss

the wind then turn from it

certain that it will

love your back may you

open your eyes to water

water waving forever

and may you in your innocence

sail through this to that

Coming Events

Grief Support at Saint Mary's

The Pastoral Care Ministry of Saint Mary’s Church invites anyone experiencing a significant loss in your life to consider participating in one of the support opportunities listed below.

“Understanding Your Grief” Bereavement Group is a new offering that will begin on August 16 and will meet weekly for a total of 12 sessions over a 13-week period. It will be facilitated by Hospice Chaplain Kristy Hodson.

Saint Mary’s Grief Support Group, is an ongoing group that has met weekly for several years and can be attended either in-person or remotely via Zoom. This group is facilitated by Saint Mary’s member Cay Hartley.

We are grateful for the gifts of these two skilled professionals who have committed themselves to walking with us on this journey of loss and renewal. Please click here to read more about the individual groups.

Music in The Gardens

Mark your calendars for the following dates to enjoy some lovely concerts in the garden on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 PM Details on the music to follow. Thank you to Jane Martin and Helen Malone who have graciously agreed to host the first of these concerts. Please let Allison know if you are willing to host the following dates.

September 10 - Hosted By Jane Martin and Helen Malone

September 24

October 15

Brian Stauffer - WSJ image

Forums in the Fall

The 1891 Legacy Society is offering a series of Sunday Forums with different guest speakers on the topic, Getting Our Affairs in Order. Each of these sessions will take place in Walden Hall following the 10:00 AM service. Mark your calendar for the following dates.

Sept. 17 - Legal and Financial Affairs

Sept. 24 - Living Options

October 1 - Funeral/Burial Planning

The forums will take place after coffee hour around 11:30 AM. A light lunch will be served and so we will be asking people to register in advance for each session. Sign-up will be forthcoming.

Thank you

Ministry Notes

Search Committee Corner

The Search Committee continues with their excellent work. They appreciate your support, participation and prayers through this journey. Please click here for the latest update from the Search Committee to see what they have been working on this summer.

Pastoral Care

Your Pastoral Care Team is sharing an informative article about Drug Addiction this month. Sadly Addiction is an issue that is always timely and affects so many of us either directly or indirectly.

Drug Addiction from the National Institute of Health

Creation Care Column from Pastor Russ

With the worst flooding on record in many parts of the northeast, it may be hard to comprehend the record heat blanketing much of the globe. The heat index in Iran reached an astounding 152 degrees Fahrenheit. Italy, Greece and Spain are sweltering in temperatures as high as 118 degrees. Almost 80 million people are facing dangerous heat across the United States.

It’s been 17 years since former Vice President Al Gore raised the alarm about climate change with his documentary, “An Inconvenient Truth”. In a recent interview, Gore sounded even more worried: “Everywhere you look in the world, the extremes have reached a new level … Every night on the TV news is like taking a nature hike through the Book of Revelation.”

Despite the apocalyptic weather, Gore continues to be hopeful. Clean energy is cheaper than ever, and electric vehicle sales are surging. But Gore was quick to add that every second counts. The faster we stop burning fossil fuels, the more quickly global temperatures can stabilize. In other words, all hope is not lost. We know what needs to be done. But it will take all of us working together to make it happen.

Faith Communities Environmental Network

We are happy to share that the FCEN's Energy Cafés, will be returning to Saint Mary's this Fall! Be on the lookout for Sundays in October and November when representatives will be available during coffee hours to help educate us all about how to reduce the energy use in our own homes. Additionally they hope to help income-eligible ratepayers learn how to apply for discounts on their energy expenses, as well as how to receive other energy-related cost savings. The program is specifically intended to help people with economic challenges, or who experience cultural or language barriers in the communities. Click here for more information about FCEN, their mission and how YOU can get involved. Click here to sign-up for the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative Newsletter.

Update from The Outreach Committee

Your Outreach Committee met on July 19th to review the grant applications received this quarter and to vote on the allocation of funds. Please click here for the meeting minutes. As always if you know of a charity or non-profit in need of our support please forward the grant application or let someone on the Outreach Committee know of the need.

Thank you!

Helping Refugee Families

We received a request to help another group of refugee families not associated with those settled at Joint Base Cape Cod. There are about 20 families who are in desperate need of diapers and wipes. We will have a collection box in the Parish Hall for your donations this weekend. The children range from 4 months to 2 years old. Thank you so much for your support of these families in crisis.

Amazing Grace Camp - Looking for Volunteers

Saint Mary's has a long history of supporting the good work and the mission of the Amazing Grace Camp. The Camp is currently looking for more mentors and volunteers to help run the best camp experience possible for the children this Summer. Click here to learn more about AG Camp and click here to find out how you can become a volunteer. In particular they are seeking Male volunteers to help with the overnights. Thank you in advance for helping make a difference in the life of these vulnerable children.

Help Support Foster Care on Cape Cod

Covenant to Care for Foster Families, one of the Council's six programs, works to provide needed resources to foster families and to contribute to the retention of foster homes in the community. They are holding a fundraiser on Thursday, August 10, 2023 from 5-8 pm at Ryan's Ten Pins Eatery at the Cape Cod Mall. Ten Pins will donate 20% of its food, beverage and game card sales to Covenant to Care for Foster Families. You must show the voucher in the attached flier. Click on the image to print out the flier.

Thank you!

Tea on the Terrace Time

We invite you to sign up for hosting a Tea on the Terrace after our Sunday 10:00 AM services. We are looking for volunteers to provide the iced tea/lemonade and some nibbles. This is an important ministry to help us build community and create fellowship. There is a paper sign-up on the bulletin board in the sunroom. Thank you!

Garden Committee News

It is sad to say but, we are more than half-way through summer. Our gardens are looking beautiful thanks to the hard work of our volunteers. It is, of course, still peak weed growing season so, we welcome any and all help around campus keeping the weeds at bay In particular we are in need of weekend waterers as our pots, southern facing and patio adjacent beds just get too hot and dry over 2 days. Please let Allison know if you are willing to spend a little time in the gardens watering on Saturday or Sunday.

We were delighted to have another work day from Detailed Landscaping towards the end of July to help us trim hedges and prune back the perimeter of our memorial garden that had been sadly neglected. We will be hosting some Music in the Garden evenings and we need all the help we can get to be the gardens look their best!

The butterfly meadow is looking glorious as all the purple Joe Pye Weed is in bloom. Be sure to take time for a stroll back to the gazebo. It really is a lovely place to sit, pray and watch all the butterflies flitting about.

Ways you can help

Driveway weeding and spraying (with concentrated vinegar)
Weeding the Rock Garden and the Pet Memorial Garden
and..... LOADS more. Just ask :)
Donations directed towards the Garden Budget are always welcome to help us invest in the care and maintenance of these beautiful gardens.

Altar Flower Dedications

Flower arrangements can be donated for so many different reasons whether it is in loving memory of a deceased loved one, in celebration of a joyous event, a wedding, a baptism, a graduation, or in thanksgiving for something important in your life. We are very blessed to have a team of talented flower guild members who always work to create beautiful arrangements holding your intentions in their hearts. We have a paper sign-up on the bulletin board in the sunroom as well as an online sign-up sheet. Please note that dates do need to be shared as we have a large community to honor and celebrate together.

Thank you!

Vestry Meeting Minutes

Your Vestry took a well-deserved break in July but will be conveining again this week. Please click here for the minutes from the last Vestry meeting in June.

Lutheran and Episcopalian Friends

We continue to build our collaboration and friendship with the First Lutheran Parish in West Barnstable. Click here to read the minutes from the "Friends" Meeting in June. And please click here to read First Lutheran's July Newsletter and learn more about what is happening with our friends.

Saint Mary's Summer So Far....

It's been a beautiful and fun Summer at Saint Mary's. Thank you to each and every one of you who joined in with these different events.

Big Nick's Ride for the Fallen

Barnstable West Barnstable 4th of July Parade

Hyannis Harbor Hawks Volunteer Appreciation Night

The 1891 Society - Legacy Giving Seminars

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures but, if anyone else does, please send them my way. We want to express our gratitude to Linda Gadkowski for hosting the Legacy Giving Seminars. The sessions were very well attended. Many parishioners expressed their gratitude at gaining vital knowledge and most importantly, peace of mind.

Barnstable Village Association's

Wednesday Night Jailhouse Jams

A lot of you came out to listen to music on the Jailhouse hill and to support two of our own;

Thorie Jilson of Soul Purpose and Thomas and John Bresette of Nikki and the Barn Boys. Just a reminder that every Wednesday night through the end of the Summer the FREE concerts continue. It is a lovely way to spend an evening and very mutli-generational fun. Click here for the full schedule of concerts.

Ladies Gathering in the Garden

29 ladies gathered in the gardens for a lovely afternoon of appetizers and refreshments. Everyone enjoyed wonderful camaraderie, conversation and a table full of delicious treats on our lovely patio.

We will do it again,( probably a Sunday afternoon in August) and hope more of you will be able to join the fun.

Sundae Sunday

Thank you to the Saint Mary's Vestry and in particular, Helen Malone, Jane Martin, Brad Goodwin, Sally Campbell, Beth and Bill Hearn and many others who helped treating all of us to a decadent ice cream social on the patio. It was a perfect way to celebrate Summer.