Week of December 1, 2024

"The people walking in darkness have seen a great light;

on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned

Isaiah 9: 2-6

Tuesday December 3

8:30 AM Men's Fellowship, Walden Hall

9:00 AM Rector Warden's Meeting, Rector's Office

12:00 PM Adventtide Study, Walden Hall

2:00 PM Stewardship Meeting, St. James

6:00 PM Lutheran Episcopal Friends, St. James Room

Wednesday December 4

Staff Lock in Day - offices closed

10:00 AM Staff Meeting, St. James Room

10:00 AM On hiatus till 2025 - Wednesday Spirituality Discussions 

1:00 PM Monthly Eucharist, Heatherwood

6:00 PM Barnstable Village Christmas Stroll, Post Office Plaza

6:15 PM Parish Choir Rehearsal, Walden Hall

Thursday December 5

Staff Lock in Day - offices closed

8:30 AM Books & Breakfast, Walden Hall

10:30 AM Pastoral Care Team, Library

6:30 PM Zen Meditation, St. James Room

Friday December 6

1:00 PM Grief Group, Library

Saturday December 7

5:00 PM Taize with Holy Eucharist, Church

6:15 PM Taize Reception, Walden Hall

Sunday December 8

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Church

10:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Church

11:15 AM Coffee and Fellowship - Walden Hall

11:30 AM Vestry Nominating Committee, St. James Room

Monday December 9

3:30 PM EfM Group, St. James Room

6:45 PM Cape Cod Chorale Rehearsal, Walden Hall

Tuesday December 10

12:00 PM Adventtide Study, Walden Hall

1:00 PM Newcomer Committee Meeting, Walden Hall

3:00 PM Finance Budget Meeting, St. James Room

The reports are in that St. Mary's Thanksgiving Dinner was a delicious success and an all around "good day". We were joined by a few of our Lutheran brothers and sisters and many of our parishioners brought along friends and family. A true potluck, everyone contributed to the delicious meal. A special thanks to the always amazing Janis Umschlag for over-seeing the main dishes and hosting the event, and all those (too many to name) who contributed with set-up and decorations, food and clean-up.

Upcoming Events

Save the Dates!

Thursday afternoon, December 5, Movie Theology is going on a holiday field trip to Regal Cinema at the Cape Cod Mall to see the new film, Bonhoeffer: Pastor. Spy. Assassin. The group will have their discussion over dinner at "Not Your Average Joe's Restaurant". Please click here for the invitation and more details. Time TBD.

St. Mary's Formation & Education

Join Fr. Michael for an Adventtide study as we prepare our hearts for the season of anticipation and hope. Beginning this Tuesday, November 26 and continuing each Tuesday in Advent on December 3, 10, and 17 at noon in Walden Hall. Bring your own lunch and come ready for meaningful conversation and reflection.

Together, we will reflect on the names of the Messiah found in Isaiah 9:6: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Together, we will explore the significance of these titles in their historical context and what they might mean for us today. We will use Walter Brueggemann's, "Names for the Messiah" as our study guide.

Dates: December 3, 10 and 17

Time: 12:00 pm

Location: Walden Hall

Facilitator: Fr. Michael

Education for Ministry (EfM) theme for this year is Living into the Journey with God. EfM meets each week for 3 hours from September through June. Year 1 participants study the Old Testament, Year 2 studies the New Testament, Year 3 studies Christian History, and Year 4 puts everything together in Theology. In addition each Year reads the same two texts, one around Christmas, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman and the second around Easter,The Four Vision Quests of Jesus by Steven Charleston. The discussions are lively and engaging and the community that is developed is well worth your time. Speak with Amy Crocker if you are interested or have questions about the program.

This group will be on hiatus through the Holiday Season. They hope to meet again in early 2025, every Wednesday at 10:00 AM at the home of Deacon Elizabeth Whitmore - 1391 Hyannis-Barnstable Rd, Barnstable Village. All are welcome! Any questions? Contact Deacon Elizabeth

Please consider joining our weekly gathering on Thursday mornings in Walden Hall at 8:30 AM. Each week different participants take turns facilitating the discussion and contributing tasty breakfast treats. All are welcome!

This is a perfect time to join in if you have been considering participating. The group is beginning, a new book, The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis.

The Problem of Pain is a 1940 book on the problem of evil by C. S. Lewis, in which Lewis argues that human pain, animal pain, and hell are not sufficient reasons to reject belief in a good and powerful God.

Lewis states that his writing is "not primarily arguing the truth of Christianity but describing its origin, a task necessary if we are to put the problem of pain in its right setting". He begins by addressing the flaws in common arguments against the belief in a just, loving, and all-powerful God such as: "If God were good, He would make His creatures perfectly happy, and if He were almighty He would be able to do what he wished. But the creatures are not happy. Therefore God lacks either goodness, or power, or both."  



Topics include human suffering and sinfulness, animal suffering, and the problem of hell, and seeks to reconcile these with an omnipotent force beyond ourselves.

Supporting Our Church

Thank you all for your faithful support of St. Mary's.

You can see our progress in the charts below.

Cape Community News and Events

Rob and Bev Parke are sharing an invitation with St. Mary's:

"It will be a fun concert with a wide variety of pieces, including a soaring Gloria by Michael Trotta, Grieg's beautiful Ave Maris Stella, and Herrick's Carol, by Brian Holmes. Our amazing Director, Danica Buckley, has challenged us with some truly unique versions of Angels We have Heard on High, Go Tell it on the Mountain, and God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen. There are also a trio of Spanish/Catalan Christmas tunes called Tres Villancicos Espanoles and some very familiar Christmas songs (indeed, the actual Christmas Song that Nat King Cole made famous, along with Sleigh Ride and a medley entitled It's the Holiday Season. And you won't want to miss a tongue-in-cheek millennial holiday song, I Want to Stare at my Phone with You. We would love to see your happy faces out there in the audience at one of these three concerts! - Rob (and Bev) "

Tickets are $25 (free for those 18 and under) and can be purchased on line at capecodchorale.org or directly from the Parkes.

colparke@hotmail.com

This much-anticipated holiday event features trees decorated by local non-profits – with not just tinsel and ornaments, but fantastic gifts! These trees feature incredible items like TV’s, sports tickets, gift cards, artwork, and even vacations. When you visit or check out the event online, you’ll have the chance to donate “Tree Bucks.” Each Tree Buck you drop into an organization’s box earns that non-profit $10. If you’re one of the lucky winners at the end, you’ll take home the beautifully adorned tree along with its treasures. And the best part? Even if you don’t win, your support ensures that the non-profit receives 100% of your donation! For more details, and to view online, click here.

Episcopal Church News

Get Involved With Volunteer Opportunities

Each year we gather toys and treats for all our furry friends who are living in shelters awaiting their forever home. There is a collection box in the sunroom. Amy Crocker will collect all of the toys and have them delivered to the animal shelter on Christmas Eve so all the animals will have a merry Christmas morning. Any questions? please contact Amy Crocker

The St. Mary's Outreach Action Team has assembled an flier to highlight some of the Inreach and Outreach opportunities that exist at St. Mary's. On one side we highlight current volunteer needs and on the other, we list some of the ongoing outreach ministries you may be interested in joining. The contact information for the ministry heads is included. We will continue updating this flier as outreach campaigns and needs change throughout the year. These fliers are always available at the back of the church and in the sunroom. Click here for the latest OAT flier.

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Jingle and Mingle Committee Team email the office

Village Christmas Stroll Greeters email the office

 Saint Mary's Episcopal Church

P.O. Box 395

3055 Main Street

Barnstable, MA 02630

508-362-3977

www.stmarys-church.org