WELCOME HOME!

Worship with us:

Sunday at 9:00 am in person and Live on Facebook

Dear St. Mary's family and friends,

Saturday evening services at the Beach went extraordinarily well this year. There was a lot of enthusiasm, and the Holy Spirit led many new friends to join along in worship and song. Last year we continued our Saturday evening services in the chapel through fall, winter and spring; however, we could not sustain the enthusiasm throughout the year. After speaking with many and looking ahead at our calendar, I have continued to pray and discern the addition of other services. At this time, I am considering a Healing Eucharist on the last Sunday of the month at 5:30 pm or the last Wednesday of the month at the same time. If an evening service interests you, please reach out to me.

Blessings in Christ,

Mo. Allison+

551-697-6133

___________________________________

God the compassionate one, whose loving care extends to all the world, we remember this day your children of many nations and many faiths whose lives were cut short by the fierce flames of anger and hatred. Console those who continue to suffer and grieve and give them comfort and hope as they look to the future. Out of what we have endured, give us the grace to examine our relationships with those who perceive us as the enemy and show our leaders the way to use our power to serve the good of all for the healing of the nations. This we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord who, in reconciling love, was lifted up from the earth that he might draw all things to himself. Amen.

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus Christ your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our lord. Amen. – Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815

Merciful God, be with us and all the people of the world as we remember those who died 21 years ago because of the attacks. We remember their lives and give thanks for the time that they lived among us and we pray that you will continue to comfort their families and friends who still miss them so much.

Sherrie is a regular summer member of St. Mary’s, but her childhood history is here in Stone Harbor, having grown up on 97th Street on one side of her

family property, and her grandparents’ home across the back yard on 98th Street. Her grandfather had boat slips at 82nd Street and the bay. She attended Stone Harbor Elementary, transferred to a local Catholic school in 1959, before attending and graduating from Middle Township High School.

St. Mary’s has been an integral part of Sherrie’s life beginning in the 50’s. . . she was baptized here, received her confirmation, sang in the choir and was a member of the youth group. She has a very profound recollection of her “first encounter with the Holy Spirit” at 8 years old during a service at St. Mary’s.

Sherrie’s full-time residence is in Pleasant Hill, CA where she lived with her

husband until he passed away in 2010 due to Agent Orange exposure in Viet Nam. Benny met his life-long friend James in Viet Nam and when they returned to the US, Benny met his friend’s sister, Sherrie. They married in 1968, had two children, a son and a daughter, producing 7 grandchildren and 4 great grandchildren. Sherrie continues to share a home in Stone Harbor Manor with her brother, James, and enjoys being here for the summer.

Our Vestry was privileged to have her share her experiences, ideas and

perspectives as a member of the Vestry at Holy Spirit Church in Concord, CA, the Bishop’s Committee, and currently on their Search Committee.

What does Sherrie love about St. Mary’s? Her answer . . . “what’s not to

like? It’s home to me." She also feels Mother Allison’s sermons “ground” her.

It’s good that she likes to read, along with enjoying all kinds of music, because she is an enthusiastic participant in our Adult Forum Book Study on Sundays after our service.

We are invited to participate in Safe Church Safe Communities Training at St. Barnabas By-the-Bay on Saturday, October 22, 2022.

This training is grounded in our call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being. It offers an opportunity to increase and enhance our ability to live out our Baptismal Covenant within our faith communities and in the world beyond.

It is offered to anyone who currently has oversight responsibilities for events, programs, or others engaged in ministry and ministerial roles

Please Register: https://tinyurl.com/SafeChurch10222022Villas

If you need a ride, please contact Mo. Allison

Lost Christianities: The Battles of Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew 

by Bart D. Ehrman, Matthew Kugler, et al.

Available in Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle or Audiobook

Let's get together with an end of summer Parish Potluck to be held on Thursday, September 15th at 6 pm. A sign up sheet is posted on the parish hall bulletin board if you can volunteer to set up before and/or clean up after. Also please note what you plan to bring.

Hope to see you there!

Interested in what the Altar Guild does?

Come join us at 5:40 - Only 20 minutes before our Pot Luck to learn and ask questions. 

Come and learn how we prepare.

All in the community are invited to our annual Blessing of the Animals and celebration of the Feast of St. Francis on Sunday, October 2 at 9 AM on the front lawn of the church. Invite a friend and their pet and join us for this annual celebration.  Whether they slither, purr, bark, neigh, or make no sound at all, all pets are welcome to be blessed. In the case of rain, please join us in the parish hall.

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 become a member of St. Mary's and be added to our data base.



We welcome you to join us!

Give What You Have



Give what you have, be it little or much. If you can’t write a book, you can still keep in touch with someone “out there” who is eager to hear from a friend. So send them a message of cheer!

If you can’t preach a sermon, no doubt you can smile and perhaps make somebody’s life worth the while. Or just a small touch in the hour of despair on someone’s faint arm will show that you care.

Some other ways to support St. Mary's

• Become a member

• 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/

Please note: Offering envelopes have been discontinued. Only your name is needed in order for the counters to record your giving.

This fall, St. Mary's must address two important issues requiring large expenditures. First, the air conditioning unit at the rectory is on its last legs, and must be replaced at a cost of approximately $7,000. Second, it is necessary to eradicate the pigeon population that has taken up residence under our solar panels. After exploring all available options, the most effective and humane method is to shoo away the pigeons and simultaneously clean the surface of the roof, immediately followed by placing netting around the gap under the solar panels to prevent their return. This is a labor intensive process that will cost over $11,000, and will save our roofing from any further damage.

St. Mary's has many blessings and we are able to proceed. However, these costs were unforeseen and will put a significant dent in our savings. If you are able, please consider a special financial gift to help St. Mary's offset these costs as we work toward our future together. 

If you have any questions, please contact Lillian Armstrong, Treasurer at 609-425-1582. 

Come check out the GOLD Winner of the 2022 Best of the Jersey Shore thrift shops - St. Mary's This 'n That Thrift Shop!

When you're doing your fall cleaning, remember This 'n That. Household items and clean usable clothing are welcome!

And while you're there, you may find a bargain you can't resist!

Store Hours:

Monday - 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/

Vanessa Gumm, a new member of St. Mary's, and realtor at Sotheby's in NJ and FL, will donate 10% of her commission to St. Mary's for anyone who is a member or attends St. Mary's who refers her for a sale.

Branches is supplying 80 back packs a week for 40 weeks to some local schools. The back packs will contain two nourishing weekend meals.

If you would like to help with this project, we are collecting the items in the picture. The milk should be in individual sized servings.

Children have always been a priority at Branches. This project is our way of helping to make sure that they are properly nourished. The need is great and growing. Thank you in advance for your help!

Donations may be dropped off to The Branches Food Pantry Monday, Wednesday, or Fridays from 9 AM to 12 noon, at 1304 Rt. 47 So., Unit AJ, Rio Grande. Or you many bring things to St. Mary’s and they will be taken to the Food Pantry for you.

Sundays after worship (except on Vestry Sunday)- Adult Forum Book Study - Lost Christianities

• September 8th Clergy Day in Trenton

• September 15th Altar Guild Meeting: 5:40 pm

• September 15th Parish Pot Luck: 6:00 pm

• September 17th-23rd – Mo. Allison and Lisa will be on Vacation

• September 22nd - Blood Drive 10 am - 3 pm

• October 2nd - 9 AM on the front lawn The Feast of St. Francis and the Blessing of the Animals

• October 6th-10th – Mo. Allison is away for the Bishop's Discernment Retreat

• October 20th - Branches Grand Opening Celebration

• October 22nd - Safe Church Training

• October 29th – Fall Family Fun Day

• November (Date TBD) Thanksgiving service/breakfast

• November 25th-26th (Women’s Club Festival of Trees Donation)

• December 17th – 7:30 pm at Cold Spring Presbyterian Production of Handel's Messiah with John Curtis, and Mo. Allison as Narrator

• December 21st – Blue Christmas

12 Step Meetings in the Church Hall

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Monday at 8:00 pm

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Tuesday at 8:00 pm

Alanon Friday at 10:00 am

Exodus 32:7-14

Psalm 51:1-11

1 Timothy 1:12-17

Luke 15:1-10

Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 am Morning Prayer via Zoom

Sunday 9:00 AM in person (church)