Staying Connected

WELCOME HOME!

Worship with us:

Sunday at 9:00 am

in person and Live on Facebook

Third Sunday of Easter

Tuesday - Friday 8:30 am Morning Prayer via Zoom

Healing services are held at St. Barnabas and

St. Mary's on a rotating schedule every third Thursday.

The next service will be at St. Mary's on May 18th at 6 pm.

Rector's Corner

Let us see with the eyes of faith the great and magnificent wonders Jesus works on our behalf.

(John 6:1-15)

Let us see with the eyes of faith the great and magnificent wonders Jesus works on our behalf.

Many of us have had the experience of offering something wonderful to someone only to have it rejected for something less valuable. In The Weight of Glory, C.S. Lewis suggests that often, our desires are not too strong but too weak: “We are half-hearted creatures … far too easily pleased.” We are unaware of how much is offered to us, he says, “like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in a slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea.”

In much of John’s Gospel, Jesus encounters the limitations of his followers. They don’t want too much. No, they are satisfied with too little. A large crowd follows Jesus – not because they recognize him for all he is, but because they saw the signs he was performing. They follow him like an audience attending a magician’s show.

When Jesus asks his disciples where they can buy food for the large crowd, Philip shows his own limited lens: Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for them to have only a little. Andrew is of the same mindset: There is a boy with some food, but what good [is this] for so many?

Christ, however, gives more than others could ever expect. He takes what is available, gives thanks, and offers it to the crowd. Not only does everyone have their fill, but there is much left over.

Yes, Christ is greater than others’ expectations of him and greater than our own. We often have a mental box that constrains Christ to our own limited views. Yet Christ does more, provides more, is more. Perhaps the challenge for us today is to expand our vision of Christ. Like the boy in the Gospel, we can entrust to Jesus all that we have. Like Jesus, we can offer thanks for what we have, even if it is small. And hopefully, we can see with the eyes of faith the great and magnificent wonders Jesus works on our behalf.

Stewardship Minute

Remember to pledge your support!

Pledge Now!

Some ways to support St. Mary's

Become a member
Volunteer
The Sunday collection plate
Send a check payable to St. Mary's to:

St. Mary's Church,

9425 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, NJ 08247

(Your envelope and number is not necessary, only your name.)

Setting up a personal online banking "bill pay" option. The bank will mail the check for you to the church office.
Online giving through our website at https://www.stmarysstoneharbor.org/

Visit our Website

We're having a Painting Party and you and your friends are invited! Join us in St. Mary's parish hall Saturday, May 6th at 6 pm (doors open 5:45) for a fun get together while we show off our creative sides.

No painting experience necessary! The teachers will guide you through the steps to produce a springtime daisy picture on canvas.

$30 at the door. Proceeds benefit The Branches Outreach.

RSVP saintmarysstoneharbor@ gmail.com so we can know how many easels to have on hand, or sign up on the bulletin board in the parish hall.

St. Mary's annual berry delicious Strawberry Festival is still a few weeks away but preparation is underway now! Please think about how you can help with this very successful fundraiser which benefits the church budget. Can you make or serve desserts, set up or clean up? Would you love to create a basket for the raffle? A sign up sheet is posted in the parish hall or contact Dina Ziemba. Please spread the word. Flyers are available. Call the church office if you'd like a few to circulate in your area.

Forward Day by Day

The May, June, July edition of Forward Day by Day daily devotional, both large and small print, is now available in the church narthexes. Please help yourself and take one for someone who would enjoy receiving it. If you would like a copy mailed to you, please let the church office know and we will be glad to send one.

Membership at St. Mary's

Membership at St. Mary's consists of several different groups of "members." Some are Confirmed Communicant Members or who have transferred their membership by Letter of Transfer to St. Mary's. Some are Baptized into St. Mary’s or have requested that their names be entered in the Parish Register. Others are “members” by virtue of the fact that St. Mary’s is their church—the Christian community of which they are a part and where they worship regularly. Still, others are “summer members" or friends of St. Mary's. Many are part of St. Mary’s life, worship at St. Mary’s when in town, and support St. Mary’s financially. Canonically, they are not members in the legal sense, but they are every bit as much members of our parish family as those who are official members.

Please contact the church office if you would like to receive membership forms to be added to our data base.

email: SaintMarysStoneHarbor@gmail.com

You may sign up on our website here.

We welcome you to join us!

Happy Birthday to

Michael Hendee on April 22nd, Andrew Johnston, Ronald Lockhart, Jr. and James Darley on April 26th, Janice Haines and Bethany Hagstette on April 27th!

Happy Anniversary to

Lawrence & Lynne Schmidt on April 29th!

If you would like to be remembered on your birthday or anniversary, please give us your information so we may add you to our data base. Email the church office: jultaylor9425@gmail.com or call 609-368-5922

CAN YOU HELP?

Immediate needs at The Branches

It’s been a very busy time at The Branches Outreach. They are feeding a lot of people/

Branches is in need of BIG containers of soup (crockpot size) or large casseroles they can keep in the freezer - even something as simple as a large Stouffer's lasagna.

You may bring any casseroles or soup over to The Branches at their new location - 201 Hirst Ave., Rio Grande, NJ - daily from 8:30 AM - 1:30 PM,

If you can't get to Rio Grande, please contact Dina Ziemba 609-780-3142.

She will be happy to pick up your food and take it to The Branches.

ALSO The Branches food pantry is in need of the following: bread, hamburger, chicken, coffee, mayo, ketchup, peanut butter, salad dressing, juice, breakfast bars and spam. The Food Pantry is open M-W-F from 9-12 and is located at 1304 Rt. 47 So., Rio Grande, Unit AJ.

Many thanks !!!

St. Mary's This 'n That Thrift Shop

Looking to refresh your summer rental or have a room that could use an updated piece of furniture? Then you might want to check out the new FURNITURE SHOP at St. Mary's This 'n That Thrift Shop!

Gold Winner of the 2022 Best of the Jersey Shore thrift shops, the Furniture Shop is a great addition to the home goods, housewares and clothing shops at This 'n That.

And remember the thrift shop when you're spring cleaning and re-organizing. Household items, furniture and clean usable clothing are welcome!

Store Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

Donation days: Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am - 3 pm

Location: St. Mary's This 'n That

1304 Rt. 47 So., Rio Grande, NJ 08242 609-886-7272

Follow them on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-This-N-That-Thrift-Shop-268676343298636/

John Curtis and Cape Classical Artists

Mark your calendar for the next Cape Classical Artists concert.

On Sunday, May 21, 3:00 pm, enjoy the Beverly Trio, an exciting variety of music of oboe, viola and cello

All concerts are free of charge to the public and are produced in partnership with and held at Cold Spring Presbyterian Church. If you would like to become a sponsor, visit our home page and click on the “Donate” button. 100% of all contributions go directly to the support of our series. The concerts are live-streamed on our YouTube channel.

Visit our website, www.CapeClassicalArtists.com for:

• a link to our YouTube channel

• directions to the church

• a copy of the concert program

• information on becoming a sponsor for yourself or your business

Upcoming Events

Tuesday, April 25th - St. Mary's Hosts Clericus at 3:00 pm

Saturday, May 6th - Jane Carol's Ordination 11:00 am at the Cathedral

Saturday, May 6th - Painting Party at 6 pm

Monday, May 8th - 13th - Mother Allison on Retreat

Wednesday, May 17th - Vestry meeting 6:30 pm via Zoom

Thursday, May 18th - Healing service at St. Mary's 6 pm