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A Christian community of all ages,
grounded in worship, well-being and service.
December 21, 2023 - January 4, 2024
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From the Associate Rector
Dear Friends,
Advent is not quite over yet - we have just a few days left - but when Murry suggested we put together a brief video of photos from our Advent season I quickly agreed. In these short weeks we have shared many beautiful moments together where we have been bearers of God’s light for one another. This brief video (with our full Advent wreath lighting song at the end) captures some of the shimmering light from the last month.
There is more light to come. This weekend we will celebrate our final week of Advent on Saturday evening then turn our attention to Christ’s birth on Sunday at 4 and 6pm. On Christmas day we will be here at 9am Monday morning. We will continue with our Christmas hymns and story the following week, and then we will enter Epiphany, searching for and tending to the light that God brings to our lives. Light abounds.
We look forward to seeing you here at St. Mary's over the weekend for what I know will be sacred and joyful worship. For those of you traveling to spend Christmas with your friends and loved ones, travel safely and know you will be missed. Wherever you are, I trust you will continue to bear the light!
Faithfully,
Meaghan
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Highlights of the Coming Weeks h | |
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The 4th Week in Advent
Saturday, 12.23 at 5:00
WOW! The 4th week of Advent is only hours long.
We will celebrate the 4th week in Advent in the historic church at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. This service will include music.
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Christmas Eve
Sunday, 12.24 at 4:00 and 6:00
Festive worship will be in the historic church for both services which will include music, Holy Eucharist, and a sermon.
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Christmas Day
Monday, 12.25, at 9:00
Christmas Day worship and Holy Eucharist in the historic church.
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First Sunday after Christmas
Saturday, 12.30 at 5:00 and Sunday, 12.31 at 9:00 -- Worship in the historic church
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Tuesday, 12.26 - Friday, 1.5
Tuesday, 12.26 -- Monday, 1.1, Church office closed
Friday, 12.29 -- no eNews
Sunday, 12.31 -- Last Day to fulfill your St. Mary's 2023 pledge for a tax deduction in 2023. Details are below under administrative.
Tuesday, 1.2 -- Church office reopens
Wednesday, 1.3 -- First round of reports for 2023 Annual Report due
Thursday, 1.4 -- Spring Semester Tuck Fund Scholarship applications due
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The Epiphany and the First Sunday after the Epiphany
Epiphany, Saturday, 1.6 at 5:00 -- Worship in the historic church
- 6:00 -- Festive wine and cheese in the parish house following worship
First Sunday after the Epiphany, Sunday, 1.7 at 9:00 -- Worship in the historic church
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Click on the image above for this Saturday's bulletin which includes the order of service, the collect, scripture readings, and liturgical ministers. Bulletins for all other services can be found above. | |  |
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Worship on Sundays at 9:00 is live-streamed on Facebook. Use the comment section to say hello. We are trying to make better connections between those who are in person and those who are at home.
Lay leaders offer Evening Prayer Sunday through Friday at 5:30 p.m. online via Facebook Live. You do not need to have Facebook in order to participate. If you cannot make it at 5:30, the service will be recorded and remain on the St. Mary's Facebook page until the next Evening Prayer.
Prayer requests for individuals can be added to the prayers of the people on Sunday mornings and in the daily evening prayers by contacting Parish Administrator, Karen Laroche. We typically keep people in the prayers for one month.
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All liturgical leaders are listed in the bulletins. | |
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Altar Flowers
The flowers which beautify our altar may be donated in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving. We will be sure to include your remembrance or thanksgiving in the prayers of the people.
To offer flowers, please be in touch with our parish administrator, Karen Laroche who will share information with you about available dates and donations. You may also call Karen at 401-846-9700 X100.
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To everyone who helped make our Gaudete Sunday coffee hour a "rejoicing" event, thank you.
In no particular order the following people -- Chris Winslow, Claire Hebert, Jerry Culver, Karen Stevenson, Kathleen Geasey, Kim Gentry, Lee Ferreira, Marlo Pratt, Mary Weyhing, Mary Kay Lundberg, Priscilla Cousins, Bill and Judy Hall, Jon and Murry Edwards -- offered their time, talent, and resources to make this a wonderful time of spirited community visiting during Advent.
We were asked to share some of the recipes from the coffee hour. Each of the beverages, Peppermint Nog and St. Mary's Mocktail, is nonalcoholic.
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Tuck Fund Spring 2024 Applications Due
Members or children of members are eligible to apply for the Tuck Fund Scholarship for trade school, technical school, professional certification, or undergraduate or graduate school. A member of the parish means that an applicant has received the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, is registered as a member of the parish, is a regular worshiper in the parish, and that the member or the applicant's family is not in arrears in the fulfillment of the pledge to support the Parish.
Tuck Fund applicants demonstrate a willingness to engage in an ongoing relationship with St. Mary’s as evidenced by their commitment to our mission: worship, well-being and service.
The deadline for this application is July 1 for summer school and the fall semester and January 4 for the spring semester. Please pay close attention to the online application. If you have questions about the scholarship or applying, please contact the scholarship committee.
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Don't forget! The Last Day to fulfill your St. Mary's 2023 pledge for a tax deduction in 2023 is December 31. Check envelopes must be postmarked by USPS on or before December 31, 2023 to be eligible for a U.S. 2023 tax deduction. U.S. credit card donations must be made by midnight on December 31 (your credit card statement must be time-stamped with a 2023 date) to be eligible for a 2023 tax deduction.
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The fiscal well-being of St. Mary's is important as we look ahead to 2024.
Thank you to everyone who has submitted a pledge for our 2024 Annual Campaign.
If you have not made a pledge, you can download a pledge form from our website, complete it, and return it to St. Mary's.
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Communication & Other Announcements | |
Have an announcement?
Please use this form to digitally share information about your ministry. This enables those who are working on the eNews, website, and Facebook (and other social media) to have the information in one place and accessible to everyone who needs it. The deadline for publication in eNews is noon on Wednesday before publication on Friday. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].
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For all other types of communication:
Contact the rector if you'd like it verbally announced at worship.
Contact parish administrator Karen Laroche to be included in writing in the weekly worship bulletin.
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