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A Christian community of all ages
grounded in
worship, well-being, and service.
| September 28 - October 4, 2024 | |
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Dear Friends,
I don’t really know what it is about me but I am always surprised by the arrival of a new season. I anticipate it. I know it’s coming. And yet, the arrival of crisp fall air, the withering of the tomato plants, the way the earth smells differently as leaves begin to turn, these things always catch me off guard.
Three weeks into our relationship with each other and I am beginning to get to know you. It is a great pleasure. You have bowled me over with your sense of welcome and the ways that you live into your faith. You make space for each other and you make space for God. I’m excited about our time together that lies ahead.
Last weekend, I had the pleasure of spending time with Meaghan, going for a walk and thinking about the adult ed/formation classes that we will be sharing with you. Starting on Sunday October 27, after church, we will have time together to explore the theme for this fall: Walk in Love. Fun to be thinking about you and walking in love as we were walking at what felt like the beginning of fall.
In these four sessions, we hope to explore the many ways that we walk in love, the ways that we already walk, the ways that we can grow to walk further. One of the gifts that we have for each other is our diversity. The
paths I have walked are different from those you have. By sharing our stories we can offer space to deepen our
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connection to each other and to God. We hope to create space where this can happen.
Part of the walk that Meaghan and I took crossed the track field at a high school. I noticed a tuft of grass that was growing up through a crack in the pavement. I know that it’s the result of the paving material cracking and grass seed landing and water and sun but it’s also hard not to experience it as the grass pushing its way through – the fragile, random burst of life breaking through paving and into my awareness. And maybe that is exactly what’s happening. Maybe that’s how God works. As we, limited by our senses and the needs of our complicated lives, can miss how God is reaching out to us, always. God is breaking through.
I look forward to learning how God is breaking through in you.
In Christ and with Gratitude,
Brian
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Parish Meeting
Please join the wardens and the vestry after coffee hour this Sunday, September 29 for a parish meeting to discuss the rectory renovation project. The meeting will take place in St. George's Chapel at approximately 11:20 a.m.
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Highlights
in the
Coming Weeks
Weekly worship services:
Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and
Sunday at 10:00 a.m. in
St. George's Chapel, Parish House
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Mondays through 10.28, 5:00 -- Pickup pickleball, Upper Parking Lot
Sunday, 9.29, -- Apple Sunday and Parish meeting following 10:00 Worship, Gathering Space, Parish House
Saturday, 10.5 -- Bites and Beverages following 5:00 Worship, Gathering Space, Parish House
Sunday, 10.6 -- Outdoor worship on the lawn and Blessing of the Animals. Be sure to bring your chair and pets!
Thursday, 10.10 -- Soup Kitchen, St. Paul's Newport. Details below. Sign up to help.
Saturday and Sunday, 10.11 and 10.12 -- Worship moves to the Historic Church
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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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Apple Sunday
We are simplifying our Apple Sunday! Apple cider donuts will be provided by the coffee hour host. If you have an apple treat you want to bring and share it will also be welcomed and enjoyed!
Immediately following coffee hour we will have a Parish Meeting in St. George's Chapel. Feel free to bring your treats to the meeting!
Please signup to help clean up afterwards!
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Support St. Mary's Community Garden
Celebrate the return to a fall schedule and support the Community Garden with a floral bouquet!
Throughout September 2024, the Community Garden will receive $1 for every specially marked $10.99 Bloomin' 4 Good bouquet purchased at:
1360 West Main Road, Middletown RI
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Pet Food and Treats
for the
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center
Food Pantry
Clients who visit the MLKCC Food Pantry also get to select food and treats for their pets.
As we celebrate and bless our pets, let's also support the MLKCC clients' pets. Through Sunday, October 6, please bring dog or cat food, chews, or dog treats to add to our MLKCC food drive.
Just leave your contribution in the MLK food baskets!
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Soup Kitchen
The Soup Kitchen will continue to offer meatloaf sandwiches for dinner this month on Thursday, October 10.
Please consider volunteering if you have ever felt like helping those less fortunate. It is a truly rewarding
experience, and the guests are always super-appreciative of our work.
We routinely get comments
about how our meal is their favorite one of the month. You can sign up online to make or serve food.
If you have questions, contact Dave Ferkinhoff.
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This year the Community Outreach Team will highlight the needs of the immigrant community. Our kick-off event will be a book group discussion and coffee hour on Sunday, October 20 after 10:00 worship.
We will be discussing the book Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora, which was the selection for "Read Across Rhode Island" this year.
The memoir chronicles Zamora's journey as an unaccompanied minor from El Salvador when he was nine years old.
The book is available at your local library, bookstore, or on ebooks. The audiobook version also translates Spanish phrases as you listen.
Order it soon and start reading!
If you have questions, please contact Lynn Carlson.
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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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