The Way of Love

Faith | Community | Education | Family | Service

St. Mary's mission is to be the heart & hands of Christ,

so all may know Christ and make Him known.

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost | September 13^th

Saints Serving this

Sunday, September 13^th

Sixteenth Sunday after Pentecost

Altar Guild: St. Martha

Eucharistic Minister 8 a.m.:

Sherry Hood

10 a.m.: Yemi Owi

Reader:

Brian Albritton

Greeter:

Meg Longoria

Ushers:

Newton Owi & Reed Russell

Vestry Counters:

Jordan Schrader & Bill Kerr

Altar Flowers:

John & Bev Menard in Thanksgiving for Marissa

Altar Candles:

Lindsey Hardee

Coffee Hour Snacks:

Meg Longoria

Sunday School:

Jody Kerr, Natalie Rhinehart & Laura Hummel

Saints Serving next

Sunday, September 20^th

Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost

Altar Guild: St. Agnes

Eucharistic Minister 8 a.m.:

John Menard

Eucharistic Minister 10 a.m.:

Pam Baines

Reader:

Sally Wiley

Sunday School:

Laura Hummel

Greeter:

Kacy Zagorc

Ushers:

Randy & Robin Willis

Vestry Counters:

Hal Wiley & Derrick Dampier

Altar Flowers:

Lindsey Hardee

The Owi Family in Honor of Their Daughter Tori's Birthday

Check out this week's Service Bulletin here!

Celebrating the Life of Reverend Rick Fellows

The service for Reverend Rick Fellows is this Saturday, September 12th at 11a.m, at St. Mary's Episcopal Church, in the sanctuary. All are welcome. Please continue to keep his family in your prayers.

You can read Rev. Rick Fellows' Obituary

Alive at 5! Resumes Sept. 20

When: Sundays at 5:00 PM
Where: Sanctuary
What to expect: A shorter, casual, and come as you are service. Father Hiers will be presiding using an interactive format with more contemporary language. There will be singing, videos, and perhaps a puppet or two. Our Eucharistic liturgies may come from a variety of Anglican prayer books and will be short. Youth present will be welcome to help lead the service.

St. Mary’s Senior Lunches Are Back!

The first lunch is September 23^rd at 12:00 PM with a communion service in the chapel followed by a delicious lunch inside St. Mary's Hall. RSVP to Meg Longoria: margueritelongoria@gmail.com | 813-431-8786.

We joyfully welcome drink and dessert donations to share with the group. Thanks to our coordinators: Yemi Owi, Meg Longoria, and Joo Hooi Albritton. Please reserve these future dates: November 4, February 3, and April 28.

Diocesan Convention Service Project

Faith into Action - Diocesan-wide Pantry Drive!

As part of the upcoming Convention theme, "One Witness," the Diocese is holding a diocesan-wide food drive supporting Episcopal Food Ministries. St. Mary's is participating by collecting canned goods, shelf-stable foods, and other needed items. From now through this Sunday, September 13th, please bring items and put them in the boxes in the narthex. The donations will be delivered to our closest Episcopal Food Ministry location by September 15th. We will be taking photos of the collection and delivery of the donations to be included in a special video presentation at Convention in October. Let's all give generously to answer the call from Bishop Scharf: "Fill the shelves. Feed our neighbors. Be One Diocese."

Sunday School Kickoff

this Sunday, September 13th!

We have an exciting year ahead for Sunday School! The fall curriculum will focus on getting to know the Bible through Old Testament stories and in December, the birth of Jesus. The spring curriculum will focus on New Testament stories of the life and teaching of Jesus and the letters of the Apostles. We look forward to seeing your kids there! Please contact Jody Kerr at jody.z.kerr@gmail.com if you have questions.

Our rector search profile is currently in the draft stage. The Vestry has completed all required documentation, which is now under review by the Canon to the Ordinary. We anticipate launching the search in mid-September.

Search Committee Members

Brian Albritton (Chair), Elizabeth Byrd, Scott Cagle, Katie Dampier, Charles Davis,

Nicole Eldridge, Renee Garcia, Sara Ingebretsen, Davis James and Kacy Zagorc

Prayer

Join us in prayer for God's guidance in finding our new rector with our search committee and the St. Mary's vestry:
Almighty God, giver of every good gift, look graciously upon St. Mary’s Church and School, and guide the minds of the search committee and Vestry, who will choose a new rector. Bless us with a faithful priest who will care for our parish and school. May we be strengthened to be the heart and hands of Christ. All this, we pray in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Mark your Calendar for these Important Dates:

September 12^th – Service for Reverend Rick Fellows, 11 a.m.

September 13^th – Sunday School Kick-off

September 13^th – Diocesan Convention Food Pantry Drive ends

September 20^th – 5 Alive! Services Resume at 5p.m.

September 23^th – Senior Lunch with Communion Service

October 9^th & 10^th – 58^th Annual Diocesan Convention

October 18^th – Blessing of the Pets Service

CHRISTIAN FORMATION OPPORTUNITIES

Women's Wednesday Morning Bible Study

The Saint Mary’s Women’s Morning Bible Class will start this coming Wednesday, September 16th, at 10:30 a.m. in the library/conference room. This is a rich Bible Study with a combination of meaningful personal application and practical group interaction. All are welcome and we hope to see some new faces. We will be studying the book of HEBREWS. In Hebrews we learn that the Christian life is not always easy but Christ is worth the cost. He is better than anything this world can offer – a better redeemer, a better shepherd, a better ruler. In Hebrews we delve into the rich character of God and the profound truths of the gospel, encouraging us to trust in the unshakable hope we have in Christ. We will use a study guide by N.T. Wright which can be ordered through Amazon (see picture above.) In preparation for the first class please read the first two chapters. If you have any questions about the book or meetings, please contact Renee Garcia (renee12garcia@gmail.com).

Adult Christian Education

Adult Christian Education resumes this Sunday, September 13th, meeting in the conference room/library at 9 a.m. on Sundays.

You can buy the book on Amazon. Please read the prologue and chapter 1 before the first class.

We will be studying the book Prayer in the Night by Tish Harrison Warren. This book explores our human frailties, fear, and doubt using the prayer of Compline, the final service at the end of the day before sleep. It begins with how Harrison Warren, an Anglican priest, and her husband found comfort in the words of this prayer during a time of great loss. She then interprets the rich language of each part of the prayer to the experiences in our daily life. Prayer in the Night will open our minds to contemplate the beauty of the prayer of Compline and is an invitation to rest in God's grace at all times.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Albritton (813-334-2448; balbritt2@msn.com) or Joo Hooi Albritton (813-416-0540; joohooialbritton@hotmail.com).

Please continue to join us in prayer for

all of God's people in the Land of the Holy One

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and glory, now and forever. Amen. BCP p. 815

O God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh; and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. BCP p. 257

Altar Candles &

Altar Flowers:

Please look for the large paper easel to sign up!

Suggested donation for candles is $25 and for flowers is $80.

Donations can be made online through our Realm here.

Church Fellowship:

Sunday Coffee Hour

Please join us in St. Mary's hall lobby for coffee hour and fellowship following the 10 a.m. service. If you are interested in providing coffee hour snacks to the parish, please see the sign-up sheet on the clipboard at the snacks table or contact the church office.

Do you need a

Name Tag?

If you don't see your name tag on the magnetic board in the narthex, and would like one, please send an email to the church office (churchoffice@stmarystampa.org) so we can make you one!

St. Mary's Prayer List

In the Cycle of Prayer

William Harrington; Ryan, Carly, Cole & Alex Harris; Miranda Harrison-Quillin & Corey Lentini; Harold Holder, Sara Ingebretsen, Bert & Walter Holder

For Those in Need of Healing

Heavenly Father, watch with us over your children: Cal & Melissa, Jackie, Daniel, Laine, Grace, Matt, Helene, Del, Sally, Kent, Andressa, Billy, Maya, Justin, Dawn, Christopher, Ali, Brad, Matt, David, Robert, Ansley, Tana, Stacey and Jim and grant that they may be restored to perfect health and wholeness which are yours alone to give; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

The prayer list is refreshed every quarter. If you would like to add or retain someone for intercessory prayer, please email their name (individual or family) t0 churchoffice@stmarystampa.org.

Please notify us when a name should be removed. All prayer requests are kept confidential.

If you would like a call, a home visit, or a hospital visit from the rector, please email Fr. John at rector@stmarystampa.org or call the church office at (813) 251-1660 ext. 1. In an emergency, you can reach Fr. John at (727) 460-3030. Please note that hospitals do not inform clergy when their parishioners are in the hospital and we depend on family members or friends to inform the church.