Dearest family and friends of St. Mary's,
How wonderful it was to pull up in the driveway on Sunday evening and enter the bustling hall where joy filled every corner of space. I was overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit's presence among you as we gathered for the Strawberry Fest.
Normally, this would be a space for me to thank each individual, one by one, but how can I, when ALL, and I mean ALL, of you, participated with great love and enthusiasm. THANK YOU! It was so good to see many of your family and loved ones jump right in and lend a hand in every way. Thank you Lou for pulling everyone together, making phone calls, and rallying us to the cause. Thank you, Marion, for igniting the firey spirit to get the ball rolling, and thank you Lisa and Dina for reaching out to our local merchants, who were all so willing and supportive of St. Mary's community engagement and enthusiasm. Thank you to each of you who set up, served, donated treats, put baskets together, and even stayed for clean-up.
With all sincerity and with my deepest gratitude, look around you on Sunday and thank the person sitting next to you. Each and every one of you came together to make Strawberry Fest 2022 a huge success! What a blessing! What a CHURCH! Well done!
I am also deeply grateful for all of your love and support as I traveled to Connecticut for the commissioning of the USS Oregon. The time spent with my boys, celebrating Connor's accomplishments, was absolutely priceless. Thank you, Jack, for your leadership in worship and service. I was happily surprised by the pictures in the hall. Thank you, Hilton, for reading and to Jane Carol for your preaching. Dynamite!
And speaking of Jane Carol...
I simply cannot believe that Jane Carol's time with us here at St. Mary's is at completion. I fully support Jane as she moves forward toward ordination. She will be deeply missed.
Being a small church with a large outreach ministry has provided Jane with a diverse hands-on opportunity to serve both within our congregation as well as tend to and promote the needs of the community through outreach.
Within our congregation, Jane began by serving at the altar as an acolyte and Eucharistic Minister. She progressed to proclaiming the gospel, delivering sermons, bidding the confession, and setting the table. Jane was always flexible and adapted well to any time roles needed a split-second change, as often as they happen in small church life. Jane jumped right into her experience here at St. Mary's, partnering with me to offer diverse services through the seasons. She was always prayerful, dedicated, and willing to learn and grow. Jane took part in morning prayer and often led. She also took the initiative to set up and lead morning prayer on those mornings when I was not available. Jane's talent and connection with our congregation also extended to teaching moments, as she devised and delivered a lenten lesson each week to our congregation and to the First United Methodist Church of Avalon, where she was warmly received.
Jane's compassion and capacity for outreach have made her a valuable part of our ministry at the Branches and the Thrift Shop. She has taken a noticeable liking to her work in Rio Grande and has made an impactful difference in the lives she touches. In the time that Jane has spent at the Branches, she has engaged in the food ministry, compassionate care, and advocacy. Jane has even started a prayer group at the center, to which our guests have benefited deeply. It is not an easy task, and they are not an easy crew, but Jane is mastering it well and has earned the trust of our guests and volunteers.
This Sunday is Jane's last with us, here in church, hopefully just for a while. Jane, you are always welcome home!
We will celebrate and thank Jane for all she has done for us, and wish her well with a very special coffee hour.
God bless Jane Carol as she journeys forward in the process of ordination to the Diaconate.
Blessings in Christ,
Mo. Allison+
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Important Dates to Note:
June 3rd - Wedding Rehearsal
June 4th - the wedding of Chelsea Schuster and Andrew Hickman
June 4th: NO Saturday Service.
June 5th - Baptism of Morrighan Aisling Langston
June 11th- 11 AM Celebration of Life Grace and Bill Repp
June 12th - 9 AM Service The Rev. Canon Joann Izzo
June 18th - 11 AM - 75th Anniversary Celebration of St. Barnabas by the Bay, Villas
July - We are looking forward to the Science Explorers returning, Thursday's on the Lawn, and Saturday Evening Beach services.