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A Christian community of all ages
grounded in
worship, well-being, and service.
| November 30- December 6, 2024 | |
From the Associate Rector | |
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Dear Friends,
It’s hard to think past the holiday tomorrow, but this weekend we will find ourselves in the first week of Advent, preparing ourselves for Christ’s coming at the end of next month!
Jennifer will return from her sabbatical Saturday, and on Sunday we will have a festive coffee hour hosted by the vestry to welcome her back and to mark the beginning of this Advent season! During the coffee hour, Advent wreath supplies will be set up in St. George’s Chapel. While some greens have been provided, we ask that you bring some of your own from home to help create our beautiful wreaths. I hope you will join us!
I am looking forward to welcoming Advent with all of you this weekend. As I share my Thanksgiving meal with my family tomorrow, I will include St. Mary’s on the list of things for which I am deeply grateful. It is such a privilege and joy to serve in this community.
With gratitude,
Meaghan
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Highlights
in the
Coming Weeks
Events in blue are special Advent events.
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Weekly worship services in the
Historic Church:
Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and
Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
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Sunday, 12.1 --
- 10:00, Gift card collection for MLKCC (see below)
- 11:00, Advent wreath making and coffee hour, Gathering Space, Parish House
Saturday, 12.7 -- 6:00 p.m.. Parish House Beverages and Bites
Sunday, 12.8 -- 10:00 a.m.
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Gift card collection for MLKCC (see below). Last day of collection.
Thursday, 12.12– Soup Kitchen, St. Paul’s UMC, Newport. Details below.
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Click on the image above for the weekly bulletin. | | |
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Liturgical Ministers for Saturday at 5:00 and Sunday at 10:00 are listed in the bulletin.
Worship on Sundays at 10:00 is live-streamed on Facebook and YouTube. Use the comment section to say hello if you use Facebook. We are trying to make better connections between those who are in person and those who are at home.
If you miss worship on Sunday and just want to hear the sermon, you can listen to it online.
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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Releasing our Stumbling Blocks
In a sermon she preached in September, Meaghan invited the congregation to write down their spiritual stumbling blocks on rocks. A couple of weeks ago, Meaghan and Brian prayed over those stumbling blocks and released them. This video shows some of that process, and you can listen to Brian recite the prayer he wrote with and for St. Mary's.
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Soup Kitchen Ministry
St. Mary's will host the Soup Kitchen at St. Paul's UMC in Newport on Thursday, December 12.
Please share in this ministry by making meatloaf, baking a dessert, offering to cook or serve, or helping with buying and transporting the food to St. Paul's.
As we shared a Soup Kitchen meal at the Family Dinner in November, we understood how this is a perfect opportunity to "love our neighbors."
Signup to help online or contact Dave Ferkinhoff with questions.
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1200! -- Number of children anticipated to be served for the Santa's Workshop
Supporting the MLK Community Center Santa’s Workshop is one of St. Mary’s signature community outreach programs. Many families on Aquidneck Island are struggling, and we seek to bring the spirit of Christmas to them by providing gifts for their children.
Once again, the Christmas Giving Tree recipients will be from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport. The Center is encouraging us to support their families in several ways.
- Donate gift cards in $25.00 increments for the 'teens and 'tweens. Please buy gift cards from the following stores:
- Walmart
- TJ Maxx/Marshalls
- Old Navy
- GameStop
- Amazon
- Ulta Beauty
- Purchase gift cards in the amount of $10.00 to Stop and Shop and Shaw’s to help support families in need of holiday food.
I hope that the response from our community will be as overwhelming as it has been in the past. A member of the outreach committee will be at each service collecting gift cards starting Sunday, November 17 through Sunday, December 8. Toys can be left in the Parish House. The deadline to donate new, unwrapped toys and gift cards is Sunday, December 8.
Thank you in advance for your love and generosity. If you have any questions, please reach out to me at 401-924-4252 or email me.
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With gratitude,
Judy Hall
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Communication & Other Announcements | |
Have an announcement?
Please use this form to digitally share information about your ministry. This enables those who are working on the eNews, website, and Facebook (and other social media) to have the information in one place and accessible to everyone who needs it. The deadline for publication in eNews is noon on Wednesday before publication on Friday. If you have questions, please contact website@smcportsmouth.org.
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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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