November Birthdays

Click here or on the flier below for a list of all our parishioners celebrating a birthday in November. If we have missed yours please reach out and let us know.

Election Day Prayers

The sanctuary will be open on Tuesday November 5 from 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM for individual election day parayers and meditation.

Need a ride to the polls?

Your fellow St. Mary's parishioners are ready and willing to help you get there. Please reach out to Allison Bresette by 3:00 PM on Monday, November 4, 2024 and she will put you in touch with a driver to schedule your ride.

Vestry Retreat

Please keep our Clergy and Vestry members in your prayers as they convene for their annual retreat this weekend.

Children's Church - This Sunday!

This Sunday, November 3, 2024 is the first Sunday of the Month and as such, it is a Children's Church weekend again! All children between the ages of 5 and 12 are encouraged to attend. Families should attend the 10:00 AM service with their children. The children will gather during the hymn prior to the Gospel Reading and head downstairs with Miss Stella Bearse for their Children's Church fun. Please help us spread the word to any families with young children. If you have any questions about Children's Church please contact Barbara Hersey.

Diocesan Convention

The 239th annual Diocesan Convention takes place on Saturday, Nov. 9, 2024, at the Marriott Boston Quincy Hotel in Quincy. This year the convention theme is; "One Body in Christ, Members One of Another: Reconciliation and Belonging in an Age of Division". We will hear back from our delegates about their experiences in the coming months. Our prayers and gratitude go with Fr. Michael and our delegates Cay Hartley and Stephen Whitmore.

Veterans Day Thank You Breakfast

November 11, 2024 at 8:30 AM in Walden Hall

OAT is looking for more volunteers to support our Thank You Breakfast for Veterans in our community. Please help us spread the word and share the invitation below with any Veterans you may know and love. Other ways you can help: bake some muffins, set-up, decorating, clean-up, serving, parking, welcoming, distributing flags. Contact: Beth Hearn or Sarah Nixon.

Getting to Know You - Newcomers' Reception

November 15, 2024 at 4:00 PM at the Parke Residence

Are you new to St. Mary's Church in the last year? If so, let us welcome you at a Newcomers Gathering at Rob and Bev Parke's home. If you feel you are a newcomer or, would like an opportunity to get to know people better please RSVP to Bev Parke.

Movie Theology - November Film

Our next film for our Movie Matinee series will be “Pieces of April” on Sunday, November 17, at 2 PM in Walden Hall. Please note the new start time for these next few months to allow moviegoers to get home before it gets dark. Click here for a description of our November film, Pieces of April Please feel free to bring your favorite beverage and seat cushion. We’ve got the popcorn! See you at the movies!

Celebration and Dedication Sunday

Mark your calendars for Sunday, November 24 as we celebrate the culmination of our pledging season with an In-gathering of all our pledges of time, talent and treasure.

Adventtide Study with Father Michael

Join Fr. Michael for an Adventtide study as we prepare our hearts for the season of anticipation and hope. Beginning on Tuesday, November 26 and continuing on December 3, 10, and 17, we will gather at noon each week to reflect on the names of the Messiah found in Isaiah 9:6: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Together, we will explore the significance of these titles in their historical context and what they might mean for us today. We will use Walter Brueggemann's, "Names for the Messiah" as our study guide. You can order this book on Amazon or let the office know you neeed us to order one on your behalf. the cost is approximately $9.00.

Bring your own lunch and come ready for meaningful conversation and reflection. More details to come - we hope you can join us! Please RSVP to Julie Remie by Monday, November 18th.

Adventtide Dates: Tuesdays - November 26, December 3, 10 and 17

Time: 12:00 pm

Location: TBD

Facilitator: Fr. Michael

Community Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner

Please join us for a special Thanksgiving Day Celebration. We will gather in the church for a special Thanksgiving Worship Service at 11:00 AM. Immediately following the service, you are invited to join us in Walden Hall for our Community Potluck Thanksgiving Dinner. In the spirit of sharing our gifts together, we are asking everyone to contribute something towards the meal. We will provide the Turkey, stuffing, and gravy and ask that everyone else sign-up to bring either an appetizer, a side dish, a dessert or some beverages to share with the group. If cooking is not your thing please know youn are still welcome to join us.

Please click here to sign-up for the dinner and share what you will be contributing. All are welcome! Please share this invitation to anyone you know who may be alone this Thanksgiving.

Vestry News

Please click here to read the Vestry minutes from the September 12, 2024 meeting. Please note the Meeting Minutes are not published until approved at the subsequent Vestry meeting.

Care of Creation By Pastor Russ

A major push to protect Nature is happening now. Representatives from more than 175 countries are gathering to negotiate answers in Cali, Colombia, at what is expected to be the largest United Nations biodiversity conference in history. Please click here to read the full column.

Pastoral Care Column

This month, the Pastoral Care Team is sharing an article from the New York Times on, Recognizing The Lesser Known Signs of Dementia. Please click here to read the full article.

Aging Gracefully By Pastor Russ

People who think positively about getting older often live longer, healthier lives.

A decades-long study of 660 people published in 2002 showed that those with positive beliefs about getting older lived seven and a half years longer than those who felt negatively about it. Since then, research has found that a positive mind-set toward aging is associated with lower blood pressure, a generally longer and healthier life and a reduced risk of developing dementia. Research also shows that people with a more positive perception of aging are more likely to take preventive health measures — like exercising — which, in turn, may help them live longer.

From the crotchety neighbor to the clueless Luddite, negative stereotypes of aging are everywhere. A 2009 study, for example, found that people in their 30s who held negative stereotypes of aging were significantly more likely to experience a cardiovascular event, like a heart attack or stroke, later in life than those with positive ones.

To change your negative age beliefs, you first need to become more aware of them. Try to look at reality honestly, but with optimism. If you’re feeling deflated that your tennis game isn’t as strong in your 70s as it once was, try reminding yourself: “No, I can’t play tennis like I did when I was 50, and I can only play for 10 minutes. But I can still play!”

Lutheran and Episcopalian Friends

We continue to build our collaboration and friendship with the First Lutheran Church in West Barnstable. St. Mary's parishioners are invited to participate in the following regular meetings at First Lutheran Church:

• Tuesdays - Silent Meditation Group meets at 12pm 
• Wednesday Nights - Sacred Journey (Via Sacra) Worship Service. Potluck Supper at 6:00 PM and Worship at 7:00 PM

You can always learn more about everything that is happening at First Lutheran Church by visiting their website.

Outreach Action Team - OAT

The St. Mary's Outreach Action Team has assembled this sheet to highlight some of the Inreach and Outreach Opportunities that exist at St. Mary's. Please check back of the church for more information on how you can get involved. We will continue highlighting seasonal outreach campaigns throughout the year.

In-reach Volunteer Opportunities

Hosts Needed for Coffee and Fellowship

After the 8:00 AM once a month

After the 10:00 AM every Sunday - contact Hub Mathewson for more information and see the sunroom bulletin board to sign-up.

Thank you!

Putting Your Time Where It Matters

Did you Know Angel's Treasure is the single biggest source of revenue for our parish Outreach efforts? It takes a lot of people to make the little shop hum along. Maybe working in retail isn't your thing? Do you enjoydoing dump runs, cleaning out and culling, maybe you are skilled at painting, polishing or refinishing wood? How about making social media posts, videos and reels? There are so very many ways you can help at Angels' Treasures. Just give Janis Umschlag a call and she will find a way for you to volunteer that works for you and for the shop.

St. Mary's Garden Committee -

New Leadership

We are happy to announce new Co-Chairs of the St. Mary's Garden Committee; Rebecca Freedman and Peter Wagenblass generously volunteered to take over the steering of the Garden Committee. We are so grateful for their leadership. All are welcome to join our merry band of gardeners.

Coming Gatherings:

November 18 - Planning Meeting - 4:00 PM in Walden Hall

November 23 - Garden Work Day - 9:00 AM in the Gardens

Plans for this Fall:

• Begin restoration of the St. Fiacre Garden
• Fall Cleanup
• Bulb Planting
• Bulb Sale Distribution (TBD - once they are shipped to us)
• Lambert Rose Garden brickwork

Honoring Our Veterans

Please consider joining in to help with our Annual Veteran's Day Thank You Breakfast on November 11, 2024 from 8:30 to 10:30 AM. The more the merrier! Please reach out to either Beth Hearn or Sarah Nixon if you would like to be a part of the team saying "Thank You!" to Cape Cod's Veterans.

Thanksgiving Dinner Drive

St. Mary's Church & The Community Action Committee are working together to help Cape Cod families in need celebrate Thanksgiving with full and festive tables.

In 2023 we assisted 330 families up 32% from 2022. With the cost of utilities and food skyrocketing we anticipate the need this year will be even greater. With your help, the CAC will provide each family with a frozen turkey and a supermarket gift card so they can purchase all the fixings for their Thanksgiving Dinner. The distribution will take place on November 23 at CAC headquarters in Hyannis.

YOU can support this program with the purchase of a supermarket gift card in ANY amount or a check donation.

Donation Deadline: Monday, November 11, 2024

Please make checks payable to: 

Community Action Committee of Cape & Islands 

Please deliver checks to St Marys office or, mail checks to: 

Judy Walden Scarafile

449 Braggs Ln,

 Barnstable, MA 02630

Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod

Saint Mary's Parishioners have a long tradition of volunteering with Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod (HFH-CC). HFH-CC partners with families in need of an affordable home to help them build one of their own; fostering stability, self-reliance and a strong sense of community. The elevated cost of housing and living on Cape Cod makes this a very needed ministry in our area. There are many different ways to volunteer with Habitat, and they do not all involve swinging a hammer. Some of our parishioners, make quilts, some provide snack and home baked treats for the workers, some help with administrative tasks in the office, some help with site landscaping. Click here to learn more about volunteering with Habitat.

Recognizing Our 1891 Society Members

Why Join the 1891 Society?

"Put your treasure where your heart is"

A few weeks ago we heard Jesus say inthe Gospel of Mark that it is harder for a rich man to enter heaven than a camel to go through the eye of a needle. My deceased partner, Jim Hinkle, was born privileged. Sixteen years ago our financial advisor urged him to set up a trust. The trust would provide for me on his death. Jim immediately named St. Mary's as one of the ultimate beneficiaries. Why? Because St. Mary's has always had for us a warm and supportive clergy and a welcoming congregation. Having been active myself with the Miracle Kitchen and the Outreach Committee, I have witnessed St. Mary's mission extend beyond our congregation. Thus, I too have included St. Mary's in my estate plan. We want to assure that St. Mary's can continue its mission beyond our lifetime.

Roy Hammer