Staying Connected: March 26, 2021

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Staying Connected

Please join us this weekend for worship in person (church) Saturday at 5:30 pm or Sunday at 9:00 am or online.

https://www.facebook.com / www.stmarysstoneharbor.org

Rector's Corner

March 26, 2021

Dear Family in Christ,

Well, here we are. With Palm Sunday upon us, Holy Week is about to begin. It is not quite what we experienced last year, yet not quite what we hope to return to in the future. It's a transitional year filled with uncertainty yet hopeful for the resurrection of a new day. It's within our reach, but not without hard work, dedication, and the love for worship, community, and one another.

Essential to the human pilgrimage, to the Christian journey, is a self–emptying more or less like Christ’s own emptying; time and again from womb to tomb, we have to let go. And to let go is to die a little. It’s painful, it can be bloody, and so we hang on, we clutch our yesterdays like Linus’ blanket, we sometimes refuse to grow …

But what is it we are growing into? … Believer and unbeliever alike can grow into LOVE. A quieter love, of course, without the passion of yesterday; but surely richer, perhaps deeper, because of mellowed by every fact we've seen, experienced or touched, softened from the anger and fear of yesteryear, grown more understanding of difference and diversity, more tolerant of the sinner in all of us. A LOVE that has learned to listen. A LOVE that at long last “is patient and kind, is not jealous or boastful, is not arrogant or rude, does not insist on its own way, is not irritable or resentful, does not rejoice at wrong but rejoices in the right” (1 Cor. 13:4–6).

Through this pandemic from last Holy Week to this, we've all experienced in some form or another, grief, fear, sorrow, and loss. And on the other side of that, if we allow ourselves to see and feel God's grace, there has been growth, opportunity, and newness in life.

This Holy Week as a parish community, with the grace of God, we have the opportunity to continue growing together in faith, working together in hope, worshiping together in love, bearing one another’s sorrow, forgiving one another’s faults, sharing one another’s joy, supporting one another, looking for God in one another, seeing God in everyone, living as individuals, separate yet one, joined by God’s presence living in each other.

May God's Love be revealed and received by you this Holy Week.

In the peace of Christ,

Mo. Allison+

551-697-6133

If you are unable to attend service on Sunday, Palms will be available in the chapel after service for the taking. If you would like Palms to be brought to you at home, please contact me.

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*** We are collecting a purse to assist David in his journey forward. All envelopes, cards, and donations may be given or sent to the office marked for David Condo. They will be collected, remain sealed, and given to David at his last performance on Easter Sunday.

May God continue to richly bless David in all his endeavors.

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If you would like a pastoral visit or a visit from one of our Eucharistic Ministers, please contact

Mo. Allison or Julie in the office.

MAKE YOUR PLEDGE DONATION HERE

HOLY WEEK

Saturday before Palm Sunday, March 27th, 5:30 pm

Palm Sunday, March 28th, 9:00 AM

Liturgy of the Palms

Maundy Thursday, April 1st, 7:00 PM

Liturgy and Eucharist

Good Friday, April 2nd, 12:00 noon, Solemn Celebration of the

Lord's Passion with Eucharist from the Reserve

Good Friday, April 2nd, 7:00 PM, Stations of the Cross

Easter Sunday, April 4th, 9:00 and 11:00 am

Easter Flowers

At Easter we celebrate the new life of our Risen Lord. Our altar Easter flowers and beautiful music not only enhance our worship services, but also speak of spring, new life, resurrection and the hope that is ours in Christ. If you would like to contribute to our flowers or music as a memorial or thank offering, please fill out the attached form and place it in the collection plate, mail or email it, or just call the parish office. The deadline for inclusion of the names of loved ones or thank offerings in the leaflet is March 31st!

Coming to St. Mary's this summer...

Summertime will be exploding with fun, fun fun!

IN-PERSON SUMMER CAMPS 2021 AT ST. MARY'S

July 6 - July 30th

Download the flyer here!

Middle Matters Award to The Branches

A gathering to remember those lost, recognize those who helped

Middle Township officials acknowledged both the residents who were lost to COVID and the community members who courageously stepped up as essential workers and volunteers.

The Branches received a Middle Matters Award honoring the dedication of Sandra Lockhart and Terri Mascione, and their amazing team of volunteers to serving our neighbors in need this past year during the pandemic.

The event was held at Ockie Wisting Recreation Complex, Rio Grande on Saturday, March 20th.

The news article printed in The Herald can be accessed here.

DIOCESE of NJ VACCINATION MINISTRY

A new Task Force from the Diocese of New Jersey is assisting at-risk people in the community to get access to Covid-19 vaccines. Follow this link

https://dioceseofnj.org/vaccinehelp/ to fill out the form and their team of volunteers will begin working to find you an appointment.

from the Music Director

Dear Friends,

For this weekend’s communion voluntary, I will play Elévation by French composer and organist Louis Lefébure-Wély (1817 - 1869).

Lefébure-Wély was trained as an organist by his father, and showed extraordinary skill from an early age. At age eight, he accompanied a mass his father wrote; at age fourteen, he assumed his father’s post as organist at Saint-Roch. His improvisations were legendary, often drawing on themes from popular operas. A virtuoso organist, his style of playing greatly influenced the emerging symphonic school.

Enjoy the music - and until we meet again, take care and stay well!

David

Happy Birthday to

Elizabeth Merrill on March 28th, Lisa LaGreca on March 29th, Robyn Taylor & Thayer Noble on March 30th, and Kate Rodriguez on April 2nd!!

Forward Day by Day

Day by Day devotional booklets for February, March and April 2021 are available in large print and small. Copies are in the church narthex and Chapel. Please help yourself, or we would be happy to mail one to you. Contact the church office.