St. Mary's Episcopal Church

Stone Harbor, New Jersey

All are welcome. Please join us!

Staying Connected

WELCOME HOME!

Worship with us:

Sunday at 9:00 am in the sanctuary

in person and Live on Facebook

Worship at the Beach Saturdays 5:30 pm July 8 - August 26

Tuesday - Friday 8:30 am Morning Prayer via Zoom

The Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Proper 15

Remember to pledge your support!

Pledge Now!

We are now accepting donations via Venmo!

@StMarysStoneHarbor

http://www.venmo.com/u/StMarysStoneHarbor

Rector's Corner

Dear beloved St. Mary's and friends,

In the spirit of love and unity, I write to you today with a heavy heart, burdened with deep sadness and profound grief. Our brothers and sisters in Maui are grappling with a devastating disaster that has irretrievably altered their lives. The fires that have swept through the land have not only razed property but have also extinguished precious lives, leaving a trail of sorrow that echoes in our hearts.

As I pen down these words, I am reminded of our shared humanity and our collective responsibility to bear each other's burdens. In times like these, the bonds of community are tested, and our strengths revealed. I urge each one of us to remember the teachings of our Lord, who reminds us to "Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another." (John 13:34).

In the spirit of this divine commandment, I invite you all to extend your love, support, and prayers to our brothers and sisters in Maui. The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaii has set up a relief fund to aid in the recovery process. I implore each of you to consider supporting this cause by visiting this link, https://www.episcopalhawaii.org/maui-relief.html

Your contributions, whether financial or prayers, can make a significant difference in the lives of those affected.

Let us take a moment to pray for the Episcopal Church in Hawaii, and the people of Maui:

"Almighty God, we come before you today with heavy hearts, mourning the loss of life in the Maui fires. We pray for the Episcopal Church, that it may be a beacon of hope and a source of comfort for the afflicted. We ask for your strength and guidance as we navigate these trying times. We pray for the people of Maui, that they may find solace in their grief, strength in their despair, and hope in their tribulation. Kindle in us the fire of your love, that we may reach out to them in their time of need. In your holy name, we pray. Amen."

In these challenging times, let us be mindful of our shared humanity, of the love we bear for one another, and of the strength we find in unity. May we remember that even in the face of loss and grief, there is room for compassion, hope, and love.

In Christ's love,

Mo. Allison+

MAUI UPDATE: HOLY INNOCENTS, RELIEF EFFORTS IN FULL SWING, GIVING, DEDICATED WEBPAGE UP

On Saturday, August 12, Bishop Robert Fitzpatrick shared the following on social media:

We received the first on-the-ground photos confirming that Holy Innocents' Church buildings (sanctuary, preschool and vicarage) are gone. The public elementary school, Kamehameha III, next door is also gone.

The Church -- God's people -- abound. Members of Holy Innocents are sheltering throughout Maui and O'ahu.

The Episcopal Diocese of Hawaiʻi is coordinating immediate diocesan relief efforts with state, county and others through the Diocese’s Care-van ministry, A CUP OF COLD WATER (ACCW).

The Bishop flew into Maui today, August 15th, to assess the situation, and will later take part in an ecumenical service with Bishop Larry Silva (Catholic) at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Wailuku.

The Rev. Kerry Holder from the Episcopal Churches on West Kaua'i, formed the Kaua'i Reponse Team that includes a doctor, trauma nurse, vet assistant and others, to hit the ground running.

Updates have been pouring in including the efforts of so many in and around the Diocese. Deb Lynch, a volunteer from Maui's A Cup of Cold Water shared the following update:

ACCW has almost daily Runs - sometimes in the Lahaina area when access is allowed (it varies each day), but also to other parts of Maui, like Central Maui and Kihei, where people are in great need too. We find people needing water, food, blankets and towels as top needs. The Hongwanji Buddhists are making PB&J sandwiches weekly for us - something those we serve truly love receiving. Some of our priests go on the Runs too offering prayers and spiritual compassion.

GIVING OPPORTUNITIES: We are also fielding many inquiries for giving, and the Bishop suggests the following giving opportunities:

A CUP OF COLD WATER - The Diocese's Care-van ministry serving Maui providing immediate relief to those affected
THE BISHOP'S PASTORAL FUND - For pastoral support of individual and congregational needs that unfold as recovery begins
MINISTRY OF HOLY INNOCENTS CHURCH - For the ministering to the dispersed congregation and ongoing ministry needs

All three of these giving opportunities can be accessed through the yellow online donation button further below, or by mailing a check to: The Episcopal Church in Hawai'i, 229 Queen Emma Square, Honolulu, HI 96813, Attention: (specified fund).

Everyone is also encouraged to give to Episcopal Relief & Development as they engage partners in relief and recovery, and have set up the Hawai'i Emergency Response Fund.

Maui officials have set up a comprehensive website called Maui Nui Strong for those seeking assistance and those seeking to provide assistance. Click on the thrid button below to access that site.

BAKE SALE - August 26th

On the morning of the annual Stone Harbor Sidewalk Sale, Saturday, August 26th, St. Mary's will join the fun with a bake sale from 9 am until about 12 noon.

We'll be out on the lawn, weather permitting, and we would greatly appreciate your contributions to baked goods - cookies, cupcakes, brownies, pies, cobblers, OH MY!

Items can be dropped off on Friday, August 25th or after 8 am on Saturday, August 26th.

Come and join us as we celebrate the summer of 2023!

If you have any questions, please ask

Serena Smith or Lillian Armstrong.

Baking Theme Raffle Basket

Along with delicious baked goodies for purchase, we plan to have a baking themed raffle basket at the Bake Sale!

You can help out by donating anything baking related for the basket -cake mixes, icing, baking supplies, for instance, cupcake liners, measuring cups, measuring spoons, or baking pans.

We will need to have your donations at church on or before next Sunday, August 27th. If you need a pick up, email Dina Ziemba at ziels@comcast.net or call her 609-465-0078 and she will gladly pick up your items. Thank you!

Forward Day by Day

The August, September, October issue of Forward Day by Day, large and small print booklets, is now available in the church narthex. Please help yourself. If you would like us to mail you a copy, let the church office know and we will be glad to.

Thank you!

Our Thursdays on the Lawn summer music series concluded with a terrific concert by Three and One. It was a good summer with great weather and a good turnout every Thursday. We're already looking forward to next year!

Thank you to everyone who provided snacks, served and set up chairs. Special thanks to Jack Olthuis for organizing it all!

Worship at the Beach - 5:30 pm

Saturdays through August 26th

Worship at the Beach

"Come as you are" and join Mo. Allison and guitarist Tom Werkheiser on the 101st St. Beach Pavilion at 5:30 pm for a relaxed worship service in a glorious setting!

Bring a beach chair, invite a friend - all are welcome!

In the event of rain, the service moves to St. Mary's.

Worship at the Beach is held every Saturday from July 8th through August 26th.

Stone Harbor Museum

Join us for a wonderful evening on the water at the Reeds at Shelter Haven on Wednesday, August 23rd, as we celebrate Stan and Marlene Casper for their lifelong support of Stone Harbor.

Tickets to the Stone Harbor Museum's 2023 Gala are now available by calling the Reeds at 609-368-0100.

Only a limited number of tickets are available for this event.

We hope to see you there!

Membership at St. Mary's

We often get asked what must happen to “join” our Church.

The short answer is you just need to show up! We welcome anyone and everyone to join us for worship on Sunday mornings or at any of our church activities. For we understand that first and foremost, membership in the Church means being part of a community that is drawn ever more deeply into a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.

However, there can be more to it than that.

For those who are interested in formally committing membership to the Episcopal Church, and St. Mary’s in particular, we have put together a brief summary of how the Episcopal Church defines the terms of membership. If you still have questions after reading this page, please feel free to reach out to Mo. Allison, Lillian Armstrong, Warden, a vestry member, or Julie, our Administrator and we’d be happy to talk to you more about it.

WHO IS A CHRISTIAN?

A Christian is any person who has been baptized in the Episcopal Church or any other Christian church.

WHAT IS BAPTISM?

The sacrament of Baptism is the initiation rite into the Christian Church. To be Baptized, as an infant, child or adult is to become a full member of the Church with access to the sacraments.

WHO MAY RECEIVE COMMUNION?

At St. Mary’s, and throughout the Episcopal Church, all are welcome to the table of our Lord.

WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH?

A person is a member of the Episcopal Church if they have been baptized, whether in an Episcopal church or another Christian church, and the baptism has been recorded in the records of a particular Episcopal parish. A person may also become a member of the Episcopal Church if they are Confirmed or Received by a bishop.

WHAT IS CONFIRMATION?

Confirmation is a sacrament of the Church. It is an informed profession of the faith that may be made by teenagers or adults. To be Confirmed is to outwardly proclaim your choice of the Episcopal faith and tradition. It involves the laying on of hands upon the head of the individual, Confirmand by the bishop.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BE “RECEIVED” INTO THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH?

If you have been Confirmed in another liturgical tradition, you are Received into the Church rather than Confirmed. A person is Received into the Episcopal Church by a bishop.

WHY OFFICIALLY JOIN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH?

We believe that God speaks to people in a variety of ways and that no one particular expression of this faith is “right.” This way of relating to the divine balances scripture, tradition, and reason for Episcopalians. The Episcopal Church is a sacramental and liturgical form of Christianity that respects the ancient nature of the church yet allows room for a prayerful discussion of theology.

WHAT IS A LETTER OF TRANSFER?

If you are a member of another Episcopal parish and would like to transfer your membership to St. Mary’s, please contact the parish office to let us know. We have a special form we send to your former parish that “transfers” your membership to St. Mary’s.

WHO IS A MEMBER OF THE EPISCOPAL PARISH OF ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST?

An “official” member of St. Mary’s is a baptized person who requests to be placed on the membership rolls of this parish. If you are Baptized, Confirmed, or Received at St. Mary’s, you automatically become a member. A person who is a member of another Episcopal church can transfer their membership to St. Mary’s through a Letter of Transfer.

WHAT IF I DON’T WANT TO OFFICIALLY JOIN THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OR ST. JOHN’S?

That’s fine. We consider our parish family to be a wide net of individual beliefs and situations, and while we encourage people to seriously consider official membership, it is not a requirement to partake in the life of the community. According to the canons (governing laws) of the Episcopal Church and the Diocese of New Jersey, the only thing non-members may not do at the parish level is serve on the Vestry, vote at the annual parish meeting, and serve as a chalice bearer.

IS THE PARISH DIRECTORY AN OFFICIAL ROSTER OF PARISH MEMBERS?

No. The Parish Directory is an unofficial list of people who attend St. Mary’s on a regular basis who choose to be on the list. It is never fully complete or up-to-date since people join the community, move, or leave the parish at various times for a variety of reasons. The directory is published annually and updated regularly. If you would like to be included or amend your entry, please contact the parish office.

WHAT ABOUT PLEDGING?

We firmly believe that stewardship of our financial resources is an integral part of being a Christian, and we rely on the generosity of our community to support our common ministry and pay our bills. Episcopal Churches do not receive financial assistance from the Diocese or the National Church. In fact, it’s quite the opposite: we pay a yearly apportionment to the Diocese of New Jersey to support the mission and ministry of the larger church.

WHAT IS EXPECTED OF MEMBERS OF ST. MARY’S?

We expect members of this parish community to strive to lead a life of faith. This means sharing the joy of corporate worship as regularly as possible; recognizing that God is the source of all that we are and all that we do; being hospitable of one another and respecting the dignity of every human being; understanding that we don’t have all the answers about faith but we’re always seeking to learn from God and one another; offering of ourselves to the church through our talents, time, and financial resources; helping to spread the message of Christ’s love in whatever way is possible for you. Upholding our baptismal covenant and loving our neighbors.

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!

Stewardship Minute

Key to the Kingdom

Have you ever lost your key chain? If you’re like me, you have. It’s very frustrating when that happens because there are so many things you can’t do without your keys. You need one to drive your car, to enter your home, and to use your safety deposit box. Some people may need them for work or even to get into their mailbox. Without our keys, we feel powerless.

The church uses our gifts of time, talent, and treasure as keys. When we don't give all we can, it’s as if they are missing. Under those circumstances, the church can do little. If we look harder at what we have, we may find more to donate. The more we give, the more the church can accomplish.

Each gift of talent helps us praise the Lord in a new and meaningful way. It may also help lead others to Christ. Each gift of treasure helps us to provide the materials to feed, educate, and meet other needs of the parish and its community. Each gift of time helps us put talent and treasure to use as we care for each other and our neighbors nearby and elsewhere in the world.

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 have now joined Venmo! If you have Venmo, you can donate to the church -

@StMarysStoneHarbor

http://www.venmo.com/u/StMarysStoneHarbor

Happy Birthday to

W. Halsey Spruance on August 20th, Evelyn Pfaltzgraff on August 21st, Dianne Boldt on August 22nd, Clyde Pettit on August 23rd, Alice Thorn, Julie Taylor and Emma Cleffi on August 24th, and Jacqueline Marranzini on August 27th!

Happy Anniversary to

William and Patti Lehr on August 27th!

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

Altar Flowers

The flowers on the altar

this Sunday are given in loving memory of

William Greiner by Sue Greiner.

Dedicating altar flowers in honor or memory of, or in thanksgiving for a loved one is a wonderful way to remember someone. If you would like to do so, please sign up on the chart on the bulletin board in the parish hall. After the service, you may take the flowers to enjoy or give.

Coffee Hour

Coffee Hour is held after service every Sunday in the parish hall. It is an opportunity to get together for relaxed conversation and fellowship over a cup of coffee. If you would like to provide a snack for coffee hour, please pick a Sunday and sign up on the sheet on the door to the kitchen. Nothing elaborate, just a small snack to enjoy with coffee. Thank you!

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 and 2023 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.

Don't forget the thrift shop when you're fall cleaning and re-organizing. Household items, furniture and clean usable clothing are welcome!

Remember - Upcycling is good for the planet!

Store Hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

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

1st Saturday of the month 10 - 3 pm.

Location: St. Mary's This 'n That, 1304 Rt. 47 So., Rio Grande, NJ 08242 609-886-7272

You can keep up with special sales and featured furniture by following them on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-This-N-That-Thrift-Shop-268676343298636/