Our mission is to be a Christian community of all ages,

grounded in worship, well-being and service.

Dear Friends,

This Sunday we will hear a powerful story from the Gospel of John. It is the story of the Samaritan woman who encounters Jesus at the well. He meets her, he knows her, and he promises her living water. You can read the story here.

This year as I read this story, I am struck by the depth at which Jesus encounters this woman, an outsider. He seems to know this Samaritan woman, including her flaws and past errors in judgement, and still he engages her with unconditional love and respect. Culturally and religiously there were many reasons why this encounter and the conversations that follow would not make sense. And yet, the living water Jesus offers flows right across the divides. The woman is excited by this encounter with Jesus. She ends up sharing her story with other outsiders, other Samaritans. They too come to experience Jesus as the Savior of the world. Their lives are transformed.

So often our ability to let ourselves be seen and loved by God, and other people, especially in a faith community, leads us to changes we may not have anticipated, or even welcomed. We have surely experienced many such changes here at St. Mary's in recent years, and there are surely more to come. Stay tuned - you might hear some exciting news along with the Good News this week at church!

Our vestry has been telling stories and processing what we have learned here at St. Mary's recently. We have been naming the blessings, incredible generosity, failures, accomplishments, challenges, and the mysteries of what God has taught us. We want to hear more from you, our community, about what you have experienced and what you hope for in our future. We are continuing to move forward in hope and faith and we want to know what matters to you.

As I said in my sermon last week, there are some questions to ponder.

1) What have you received at St. Mary's in recent years?

2) Who else needs what you have found here?

We will be together at a coffee and conversation on Sunday, March 19 at 10:15 so that leaders can listen to the community's stories, questions, and ideas. May we, like the Samaritan woman, be excited about sharing unconditional love and respect for one another in Christ Jesus.

Faithfully, Jennifer+

Expand your child's understanding of the readings today by using illustrated books. Checkout these books through your Ocean State Library.

Sunday, March 12 - 10:15 -- Bible Study Resumes. St. George's Chapel. Details below.

Sunday, March 19 - 10:15 -- Coffee and Conversation. St. George's Chapel. Details below.

Sunday, March 26 - 10:15 -- Bible Study Concludes. St. George's Chapel.

For a calendar of all of the activities visit the church's website.

Jason DeFalco will lead us in a conversation that focuses on what St. Mary's has meant to us in recent years and what we hope to share in the future.

Set aside Sunday, March 19th at 10:15 in St. George's Chapel for this important community gathering.

Join us on Sunday, April 16, 2023 at 10:15 in the St. George's Chapel as we celebrate Michael Templeton's ministry as pastoral musician. More details will follow about how we will thank Michael for his music leadership.

If you are joining us online, please 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. Please direct feedback to David Brierley regarding your online connection.

You may watch our service online on Facebook.

We now have a Creation Care blog on the website. Please share your ways of taking on the challenge. Any content -- book or movie reviews, recipes, meals, actions -- about creation care is welcomed. And with your permission, it'll be added to the blog.

Please email your input and ideas to website@smcportsmouth.org.

Come walk with us as we journey through the Book of Exodus. All are welcome!

40:34-38 blessed by God

After an international pandemic and endless zoom meetings, the Congregational Development Commission (CDC) welcomes you to an in-person event. This year's Learn and Lead will be on March 18th, 9-3pm (8:30 registration start) at St. John's in Barrington. We will have workshops ranging from Finance to How to be a Welcoming Community, from Churches as Community Spaces to Vestry 101. If you are long-involved in your church or just starting out, this is the place for you! 

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 5:00 on Wednesday before publication on Friday. If you have questions, please contact website@smcportsmouth.org.

For all other types of communication:

The Rector  if you'd like it verbally announced at worship. 

Parish Administrator Karen Laroche to be included in writing in

Image credits: Murry Edwards, Children in church, photographs, used with permission. Richard Grosvenor, Historic Church, watercolor, used with permission.