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A Christian community of all ages
grounded in
worship, well-being, and service.
| October 26 - November 1, 2024 | |
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Dear Friends,
We are at the midway point of my time with you and I am reflecting on what I have come to know about you and turning to look ahead to the time we have left.
You stay with me throughout the week. There’s something profound about that. I find myself singing something from the service, or revisiting a conversation or interaction. This week I kept singing “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Last Sunday, as we sang together, I turned toward the altar. As I stood there, singing these acclamations, two things happened. I felt the wave of your presence singing behind me and, at that very moment, beams of light were shooting straight through the stained glass into my face, right though the heart of Jesus. In this moment, experiencing the gift of your praise and the shining sun, I had the simple thought: focus on the words.
The words we have been given, the words we say to God and to each other in our worship, matter. Some matter so much that we say them every week. He took the bread, broke it and gave it to his disciples. The peace of the Lord… Our Father…
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These words matter because they tether us to God and to each other, reminding us of the call we received at our baptism: Walk in Love.
This November, for four Sundays, I will be leading a series of workshops about what it means to walk in love. We will be meeting after the 10am service on November 3, 10, 17, 24. Our journey will be guided by the Lord’s Prayer. We will ask the question: How do we hear this and make it true for us now? We will explore what it means to pray and, collectively, we will write our own Lord’s Prayer for St. Mary’s. I hope you will find the space and the grace to join us with your gifts, love, and wisdom.
With love, gratitude, and anticipation,
Brian
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Highlights
in the
Coming Weeks
Weekly worship services in the
Historic Church:
Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and
Sunday at 10:00 a.m.
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Saturday, 10.26 -- 7:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m, Diocesan Convention, Crowne Plaza, Warwick.
Monday, 10.28 -- Church office closed
Saturday, 11.2 --
Sunday, 11.3 -- 11:00, Walk in Love led by Brian Litzenberger, Southside Classroom
Sunday, 11.11 -- 11:00, Walk in Love led by Brian Litzenberger, Southside Classroom
Thursday, 11.14 -- Soup Kitchen, St. Paul's UMC, Newport
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Click on the image above for the weekly bulletin. Note: This bulletin is for Sunday, October 27 only, not Saturday, October 26. | | |
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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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Walk in Love
Brian will offer a series of workshops following the 10am service on November 3, 10, 17, and 24. The class will take place in the Southside Classroom on the lower level of the Parish House. You are welcome to attend any session - participation does not depend on having been the previous week.
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Bites and Beverages
A highlight of being in community together is joining in social moments after worship.
On the first Saturday of each month, St. Mary's has Bites and Beverages following the 5:00 service.
If you'd like to host this event, please signup online to do so. And if you have questions about offering hospitality for Bites and Beverages, contact Lisa Lyons or Sheila Collins.
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About 30 people joined in the the Community Outreach Team's discussion of Solito on Sunday, October 19.
Solito was the starting point for an emphasis on immigration in the coming year.
Many thanks to Lynn Carlson-LeBlanc and Jenny Williams for leading the discussion and to members of the Outreach Team for hosting coffee hour.
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Click on the invitation to RSVP if you'd like to watch the investiture in Providence.
You can also watch the investiture on Facebook.
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For details about Learn and Lead, click on the image above. | |
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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