Staying Connected as a Faith Community

Thursday, March 16, 2023

NOTE: Pledge envelopes for 2023 are currently

in the Narthex for pick-up. Please contact Sandy if you need another means of delivery

Please click on the picture link above to view the Sunday service on YouTube.

***In-Person & Livestreamed***


Holy Eucharist

St. Mary's ~ 9AM


Celebrant: Fr. Shaw Mudge

Coffee Hour Host: Betsy Ibsen



CLICK HERE for the bulletin

Altar Flowers for March 19th



Given by Beth & Lenny Lavalette


In memory of their loved ones

Holy Week Schedule


This year we will share Holy Week services with St. John's Episcopal Church. They are located at 523 Hartford Turnpike Vernon, CT. Please note the location/time of each worship opportunity.


Palm Sunday – 9 AM Holy Eucharist @ St. Mary's


Holy Monday – 7 PM Compline @ St. John's

Holy Tuesday – 7 PM Compline @ St. John's


Spy Wednesday – 7 PM Holy Eucharist @ St. John's


Maundy Thursday – 7 PM Holy Eucharist with the stripping of the altar @ St. Mary’s


Good Friday- 12 PM Stations of the Cross with Communion @ St. John's

 7 PM Proper liturgy of the day with Communion @ St. John's


Easter Day – 10:30 AM Holy Eucharist with organ and guest musicians the Prindle Family @ St. Mary's


Easter Flower Memorials


We are now collecting donations for Easter Flower Memorials. We will be adorning the sanctuary with our traditional Easter Lilies. Donations may be made as a memorial or a thank offering for a family member, friend or event. Please send your donation to Sandy in the office. All donations are due by April 4th to ensure they are included in the Easter bulletin.

  • Donations for both Lenten campaigns can be dropped in the bin on the office porch during the week or in the baptistry on Sunday.


  • Volunteers are needed to help after the Palm Sunday service to break down the wall and prepare for items to be delivered to MACC on Main St.. We will also need a few drivers and helpers to unload at MACC as they are opening special for us on Sunday morning.

Wall Out Hunger


We are still collecting for 'Wall Out Hunger" until April 2nd. Monetary donations are welcome. All donations will benefit MACC's Community Pantry and Bennet Academy's Family Resource Center.

Undie Sunday Continues


Let's fill these laundry baskets! Donations of socks, underwear, bras and undershirts must still have tags attached. The collection benefits Bennet Academy's nurses office and MACC's Community Thread Thrift Store.

St. John's Worship Opportunities

Sundays 8am & 10am

523 Hartford Turnpike

Vernon, CT

Click the picture link above to view this past Sunday's service from St. John's



St. John's livestreams their 10am service each Sunday on Facebook.


You do not need to be a Facebook member to view. If you would like to view live, CLICK HERE to head to the page to the Facebook page on Sunday morning.

 Thursday Lenten Series hosted by St. John’s


Let us join together each week in Lent on Thursday evenings from 6 to 8pm (March 23 and March 30) We will share a simple soup supper, followed by discussion around the meaning of the Lord’s Prayer and will conclude with a short Holy Eucharist service. All are welcome!

Lenten Reflections & Prayer


“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."


There are numerous times of year where there is seemingly a heightened focus on experiencing something new or completely transformational. Each new year begins with several resolutions, commitments, and enhanced hopes. Throughout the year, we mark significant dates and times such as, the coming of spring, the changing of the seasons, birthdays, holidays, and individual moments of revelation. We do this while making claims that may sound akin to, “From this day on, my life will be different”.


We all become very peculiar creatures when personally confronted by change. Change is especially desired and invited when looking around at the challenging aspects in life. However, we overlook change when we are blinded by our need to remain in a condition of comfort. It is easy to welcome change when that change transforms the world around us or confirms the incomplete conclusions we hold within us. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to those who are questioning not only who Jesus is, but they are questioning the change that Jesus’ life had been ushering in. I can only imagine the myriad of thoughts and emotions that were present as they witnessed His life.


Jesus tells the crowd that he has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. Something was missing or had not yet been embraced by the community of faith then and is perhaps still lacking now. Listening to these words today, the change that would make all things truly brand new, is not found outside of us. Real change would be for us to fulfill our commitment to God as followers of Jesus Christ. In this season of Lent, authentic change would be dedicating our lives to practicing and teaching these commands from our Savior. Only then will we be called great in the kingdom of heaven.


Let us pray

Give ear to our prayers, O Lord, and direct the way of your servants in safety under your protection, that, amid all the changes of our earthly pilgrimage, we may be guarded by your mighty aid; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, One God, for ever and ever. Amen.


The Rev. Canon Leonard L. Hamlin, Sr.


If you would like to make a 2023 pledge to support God’s work through St. Mary's Church CLICK HERE

Weeknight Compline on Zoom

@ 7:30pm


Monday: Carol

Wednesday: Andrea


This short service from The Book of Common Prayer can be found in the BCP on page 127 or you may access the prayer book online at www.bcponline.org.


Join Zoom Meeting:

CLICK HERE

or

Dial

1 929 205 6099 


Meeting ID: 856 0827 5573

Passcode: 41Park

Prayers of the People


Please take a moment to lift these names up in your prayers. Send any prayer requests to Andrea Burr at acburr2@cox.net. Andrea will relay the prayer need to the prayer team and will update the Prayers of the People list weekly.


Italicized names are newly added this week

All those suffering in mind, body, or spirit

Geoff Olivier

Jane Bensche

Carol Mallett

Jennifer and Jerry Hrycyszyn

Hrycyszyn Family in Ukraine

Cliff Dubiel

Joseph Longo

Betty Keehner

Ellen Schmedding

Amber Mallett

Edna Hennessey

John Jr.

Shirley McGarry

Stephanie Kwasnicki

Wayne Keith

Lois Johnson

Lynette Wilson

Mikie Cook

Joyce Banks

Andy Zeidler

Sonia Grosvenor

Sylvia, Carlson, and Carlson Rogers, Jr.

Caleb, Meriah, and Tom

Miriam Gustow

Pat Bourret

Denise Donze

R J Wiles

Margaret

Those who have died

Desmond O’Neill

Joan Stauch

Lawrence Cassells

Marv Thon

Rev. Joseph Bourret

Allen Piper, Jr.

Christopher Marvin

Veronica Feragne

The Rev. Beth Hoffmann

Robert “Bob” Taylor

Joan Sheffield

Don Sineti

Bruce Green

Elaine Gillotte

Lea Dubiel

Stephanie Kwasnicki

Dot Garrison

R J Wiles

Bob Newton



Comfort for their families and for all who mourn


Thanksgiving for

Our Priest in Charge, Fr. Shaw Mudge


Our Wardens, Officers & Vestry leadership


For our partner school, Bennet Academy


For the work of the Greater Hartford

Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA)


For our friends at Concordia, Emanuel and

Saint John’s, Vernon

Sunday Altar Flower Donations 



NOTE: For the season of Lent (Feb 22- Apr 6) any donations will go to purchase a subdued plant or arrangement to match the season. Donations may be made as a memorial or a thank offering for a family member, friend or event. Please send donations to Sandy in the office with the desired month and name of the loved one.