Our mission is to be a Christian community of all ages,
grounded in worship, well-being and service.
June 3 - June 9, 2023
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From the Associate Rector
Dear Friends,
On Thursday morning I woke up full of joyful anticipation for my first day here at St. Mary’s as the Associate Rector. Needing to center myself before starting the day, I reached for the book “The Artist’s Way”, written by Julia Cameron. I’ve been slowly making my way through this book for some time but, if I’m being honest, hadn’t picked it up in several months.
Flipping to the page where my bookmark had been abandoned, I started reading where I had left off. I immediately read the following:
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Over any extended period of time, being an artist requires enthusiasm more than discipline. Enthusiasm is not an emotional state. It is a spiritual commitment, a loving surrender to our creative process, a loving recognition of all the creativity around us.
Enthusiasm (from the Greek, “filled with God”) is an on-going energy supply tapped into the flow of life itself.
Enthusiasm is grounded in play, not work.
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So often we associate our Christianity with discipline. I understand why this happens. There are some very specific passages (“Take up your cross and follow me”, for example) that indicate that following Jesus requires serious work. But Cameron’s words affirmed the idea that following Jesus also requires play. And as our rector has recently reminded us, we learn in scripture that following Jesus also requires rest.
Rest and play - as we will soon learn - don’t always come as easily as might think. Often when we try to rest we feel guilty for what’s not getting done around us. When we are getting through long to-do lists in the office it’s hard to set that work aside to go outside and try out the new cornhole set. But these small moments and adjustments in our daily lives help us feel more alive, more connected, more “filled with God”. It is well worth the effort to make space for rest and play, and these spiritual practices are an integral part of our life with God.
I am enthusiastically looking forward to our summer here together, and feel so very honored to be a part of it as your Associate Rector.
Faithfully,
Meaghan
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God created us in his own image
Then God said, "Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; and let them rule over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the sky and over the cattle and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth."
Read more
www.smcportsmouth.org
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.Sunday, June 4 - 9:00 - Outdoor worship on the lawn.
Sunday, June 11 - 9:00 -- Worship on the lawn.
Sunday, June 18 - 9:00 -- Worship on the lawn.
10:15 -- Games on the lawn.
Sunday, June 25 - 9:00 -- Worship on the lawn.
10:15 -- noon. Strawberry Sunday and games on the lawn.
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Thanks to the great planning of the picnic committee and worship team, we are prepared for the weather this Sunday. Worship will be in the St. George's Chapel at 9:00 on Sunday, June 4. The potluck will follow downstairs immediately after the service. |
Sunday Potluck Picnic Checklist
Don't forget to bring --
- a dish to share with others and a utensil for serving it.
- plates and silverware for you and your family.
- a desire for fun, food, and fellowship.
St. Mary's will provide beverages and cups.
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Click on the image above for this week's bulletin which includes the order of service, the collect, scripture readings, and liturgical ministers.
Worship on Sundays at 9:00 will be live-streamed on Facebook.
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Use the comment section to say hello. We are trying to make better connections between those who are in person and those who are at home.
Daily Evening Prayer, led by lay leaders, is offered 5:30 p.m. online via Facebook Live. You do not need to have Facebook in order to participate in these daily prayers. If you cannot make it at 5:30, the service will be recorded and remain on the St. Mary's Facebook page.
Prayer requests for individuals can be added to the prayers of the people on Sunday mornings and in the daily evening prayers by contacting Parish Administrator, Karen Laroche. We typically keep people in the prayers for one month.
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Tuck Fund Scholarships
St. Mary's offers a scholarship to members or children of members for trade school, technical school, professional certification, or undergraduate or graduate school.
For the history of the Tuck Fund and details about the requirements to apply for this $2000 per semester scholarship, visit our website.
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Tuck Fund 2023 Graduates!
"Now is the time to free your heart, ...
And awaken to the wonder of your heart."
"For Celebration," John O'Donohue
Congratulations and best wishes to Jane Kaull, Northeastern University;
Connor Pratt, Gettysburg College; and Claire Williams, Connecticut College.
As they transition to the next phase of their lives, they will remain in the hearts and prayers of St. Mary's.
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Strawberry Sunday
On Sunday, June 25, we will host a Strawberry Sunday after the 9:00 service. We will be serving strawberry shortcakes to our St. Mary's community as well as inviting guests to join us.
Many skills are needed at different times to make this a great St. Mary's event. Be sure to offer your gifts in ministry by volunteering online.
If you have questions about the event, please contact Cory Thurston. |
Check out a friendly game of corn hole between Jennifer and Meaghan. Click the picture above. |
A Rest and Play Thank-You
Many of the items on our Amazon wish list have been purchased through the generosity of our members.
We still have some items that need purchasing as well as several new items that will add to our time together. We do realize that one of the items is a large-ticket item. If you'd like to donate funds towards it, it would be greatly appreciated.
Contact Marlo Pratt via email or at 813-957-1511 with questions. |
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Old Choice - Better Choice for a Healthy Planet
On June 11th after worship, the Community Outreach Team invites you to visit their display tables, "Old Choice - Better Choice for a Healthy Planet".
You will see familiar products and eco-friendly alternatives along with instructions on where and how to purchase these better choices. They hope that you will be inspired to make at least one new choice to benefit our planet. Lemonade, baked goods and the new St. Mary's Nalgene water bottles will be available.
Finally, St. Mary's will be kicking off a GotSneakers initiative that morning. Do you know that millions of pairs of shoes end up in landfills each year? We will be collecting old athletic shoes (pairs only) and will send them off to GotSneakers for you. They will send us some cash in return, which we will use to fund sneakers for needy youth. Everyone wins! This will be an ongoing project and we will continue to have a bin available throughout the year to collect your used sneakers.
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June Soup Kitchen
The second Thursday in June (the 8th) is just around the corner. As is the case every month, your ministry of hospitality to those in our community is greatly needed.
If you can shop, make meatloaf or desserts, welcome people, serve dinner, cook, or clean-up, you have a skill that is greatly needed.
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Volunteers Needed!
From the MLKCC:
Are you an early riser with a love of cooking hearty, healthy meals?
Come share your culinary talents as a volunteer cook in the MLK's breakfast program!
Your 3.5 hour, weekly commitment on Tuesdays or Thursdays will help feed our neighbors in need of a good meal to start their day.
If you are interested, please complete our volunteer application, here, or on our website.
Please mention in the skills section that you are interested in cooking for our breakfast program.
Have questions? Please contact Nancy Harten, Director of Volunteers and Community Programs via email or at 401-846-4828x103.
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Communication & Other Announcements |
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Streamlining Digital Communications
In an effort to connect St. Mary's digital communications, we are moving to an online form for eNews, website, and Facebook announcements. Please use this form to share information about your ministry. This enables those who are working on the eNews, website, and Facebook to have the information in one place and accessible to everyone who needs it. The form is available online. The deadline for publication in eNews is noon on Wednesday before publication on Friday. If you have questions, please contact [email protected].
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For all other types of communication:
Contact the rector if you'd like it verbally announced at worship.
Contact parish administrator Karen Laroche to be included in writing in the weekly worship bulletin.
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St. Mary's Staff
St. Mary's Officers
To contact an officer of the vestry, please see our website.
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Image credits: Richard Grosvenor, Historic Church, watercolor, used with permission.
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