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Sunday at 9:00 am in person and Live on Facebook

Jesus is the source of our hope and strength.

“Hope is the ‘sure and steadfast anchor of the soul … that enters … where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf.’ Hope is also a weapon that protects us in the struggle for salvation: ‘Let us then put on the breastplate of faith and charity, and a helmet for the hope of salvation.’ It affords us joy even under trial: ‘Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation.”

These words are a theological virtue of Hope, and they give us a nice framework for this day. As the Church year winds to a close, our Scriptures bring us a message of hope – even amid great travail. 

In the book of Revelation, 5:1-10, John shed many tears because no one was found worthy to open the scroll in God’s right hand. Yet his sorrow turns to joy as an elder says to him, Do not weep. The lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has triumphed, enabling him to open the scroll with its seven seals. John sees the Lamb who was slain, who conquered sin and death, opening the scroll revealing God’s plan to redeem and liberate the world from sin and death.

That Lamb who brings hope and freedom, of course, is Jesus. Jesus, who walks the streets of Jerusalem but is not recognized by the people for who he is. Jesus, who warns them of the days to come and weeps over the coming destruction of Jerusalem. Jesus, who as Hope personified, is slain for our salvation.

Jesus, who gave hope to John and brought hope to the city of Jerusalem, wants to walk with us today. Whether we can see clearly, or our future appears uncertain, Jesus Christ is beside us and among us – living within us – as our hope and our salvation.

As we prepare to meet Jesus in the Eucharist this Sunday, let us pray to be open to his presence and the hope he has for each of us today, no matter our circumstances. 

Prayer for Christ the King

O God who has set before us the great hope that your kingdom shall be established on earth, so rule our lives by your Spirit that all our thoughts, desires, and acts are made obedient unto you, your power, your glory and the mightiness of your kingdom may be made known unto men. Grant this O merciful Father for Jesus Christ’s sake, your son, our Lord. Amen.

This year's 7 Mile Island Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Sunday, November 20th at 7 pm and will take place at

Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 9212 3rd Ave., Stone Harbor.  

Mother Allison will be the preacher this year.

Clergy from the island churches will participate, and all choirs will sing the anthem. -

If you would like to sing please come to the office for the music.

On this special day of thanks, we often remember the pleasures and good memories from recent months. Yet this day should also remind us to “give thanks to God for all things,” not just the good. Priscilla Maurice said, “This is indeed a very difficult duty; for it includes giving thanks for trials of all kinds; for suffering and pain; for langour and weariness; for the crossing of our wills, for contradiction; for reproaches; for loneliness; for privations. Yet they who have learned submission will not find it a hard duty, for they will so entirely love all that God wills that they will see it is the very best thing for them. This belief enables them to praise him and give thanks now for each thing, assured that as it has been, so it will be, that the God of love will do all things well.”

Charlene Snyder is leading Episcopal 101

Sunday's thru Advent following service.

We Episcopalians believe in a loving, liberating, and life-giving God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

As constituent members of the Anglican Communion in the United States, we are descendants of and partners with the Church of England and the Scottish Episcopal Church and are part of the third largest group of Christians worldwide.

We believe in following the teachings of Jesus Christ, whose life, death, and resurrection saved the world. We have a legacy of inclusion, aspiring to tell and exemplify God’s love for every human being; women and men serve as bishops, priests, and deacons in our church.

Laypeople and clergy cooperate as leaders at all levels of our church. Leadership is a gift from God and can be expressed by all people in our church, regardless of sexual identity or orientation.

We believe that God loves you – no exceptions.

Come and learn more about who we are in our Faith.



St. Mary's is interested in hearing from any parishioner who may be interested in running for the positions of Senior Warden, Vestry Member, delegate to Diocesan Convention, or delegate to Atlantic Convocation in 2023. To learn more about these positions, please contact Mo. Allison or a member of the vestry.

A brief overview of the responsibilities of each position is listed below:

Senior Warden: The Senior Warden is the lay leader of the parish. He or she, together with the Rector and Junior Warden, form the Executive Leadership team and should be visible to the parish.

Vestry Member: There is typically one vestry meeting monthly, on the third Sunday, after the 9 am Eucharist. Vestry members will be expected to take on leadership roles for the various goals and objectives that the Vestry sets. The Vestry members are the financial stewards of the parish, and as such, they need to review the financial reports provided by the Treasurer and ensure the parish's resources are used wisely. 

Delegates to Diocesan Convention: The Diocesan Convention is a day-long meeting where Deputies represent their parishes by voting on amendments to the Diocesan Constitution and Canon Law, Diocesan resolutions, and for delegates to represent the diocese at the General Convention of the Episcopal Church of America. Before the convention, the diocesan staff holds several preview meetings throughout the diocese and online to review the proposed amendments to the canons and proposed resolutions that will be voted on at the convention. 

Delegates to the Atlantic Convocation: The Atlantic Convocation is a single 2-3 hour meeting once a year where the Bishop and diocesan staff share information about diocesan programs and initiatives. Delegates may be asked to vote for Atlantic Convocation officers in the years when elections are held. Delegates may be asked to share information about diocesan programs with our parishioners.

The Diocesan Nominating Committee requests that all the baptized people of our Diocese review the lists of offices to be filled by election, and recommend candidates appropriate for those offices. 

The completed Nomination Recommendation Form

is due by December 31, 2022.

The slate of nominees for the 13th Bishop of the Diocese of New Jersey are:

• The Rev. Canon Dr. Dena Cleaver-Bartholomew, Canon to the Ordinary, Diocese of Rhode Island

• The Rev. Canon Dr. Sally French, Canon for Regional Ministry and Collaborative Innovation, Diocese of North Carolina

• The Very Rev. Troy Mendez, Dean, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, Phoenix, Arizona

• The Rev. Dr. Janine Schenone, Rector, Good Samaritan Episcopal Church, San Diego, California

• The Rev. Dr. Mauricio Jose Wilson, Rector, St. Paul's Episcopal Church Oakland, California

Information on the nominees including a minute video introduction, resumes and sermons are found at www.bishopsearchnj.org

Candidates will visit locations around the Diocese in early January for meet and greet sessions that will allow clergy and congregants to engage directly with them before the Electing Convention.

The Electing Convention will be held on January 28, 2023, starting at 10 AM at Trinity Cathedral and via Zoom. More information on both the meet and greets and the convention will be available in mid-November.

The release of the slate also marks the beginning of the 30-day petition process, details of which can be found on the NJ Bishop Search Web site. That process will close at 5:00 p.m. on Nov. 29.

It is an old Chinese custom that near the end of the year, a man would make every effort to pay all of his past debts so that he might begin the New Year with a clean slate, owing no one.

To us, “near the end of the year” means the Christmas season, and it is more often than not a time of running up new bills rather than paying old ones. We buy toys for the children; gifts for friends and relatives. We often invest in a major purchase for the family, a flat-screen TV or a larger refrigerator, and take on new payments for another 24 to 36 months. This is our custom in the season of giving.

We give to those we love to express our love, on the birthday of the one who taught us what love is all about. But, too often, gift giving becomes an end in itself, a custom without meaning, a distraction, a Santa Claus thing, and we lose sight of Love with a capital L. We forget about God! The end of the year is an excellent time to re-appraise our giving to God.

Why not adopt the old Chinese custom? Let us assume our obligation to re-pay God, in light of all that God has given us. And, in the spirit of our Lord’s birthday, let us see what gift of self we can give out of our love. We know by now what our annual income is or will be, as well as how much we have given to God, both through the church and through worthy charities.

Ask if the amount I have given truly represents what I think of Almighty God? Does it represent my love, my gratitude, my repentance, my acts of self-denial, my crosses and joys?

In this season of giving, we should take time to re-appraise what we have offered God this year. Let’s use tithing as a measure, an acceptable standard, and determine now if our gift of love is worthy of us.

PLEASE NOTE: If you are using the paper form you received in the mail to pledge, please return the letter size copy you received. The small slip of paper is for you to keep for your records.

Some ways to support St. Mary's

• Become a member

• The Sunday collection plate

• Send a check payable to St. Mary's to:

St. Mary's Church,

9425 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, NJ 08247

(Your envelope and number is not necessary, only your name.)

• Setting up a personal online banking "bill pay" option. The bank will mail the check for you to the church office.

• Online giving through our website at https://www.stmarysstoneharbor.org/

Please note: Offering envelopes have been discontinued. Only your name is needed in order for the counters to record your giving.

This year's 7 Mile Island Ecumenical Service of Thanksgiving will be held on Sunday, November 20th at 7 pm and will take place at Our Saviour Lutheran Church, 9212 3rd Ave., Stone Harbor.  

Mother Allison will be the preacher this year.

Clergy from the island churches will participate, and their choirs will sing the anthem.

Large print editions of the November, December, January Forward Day by Day, Daily Devotion booklets, are now available in the church narthex. Please help yourself and take one for a friend who might enjoy receiving a copy.

If you would like a copy mailed to you, please let the church office know and we'll be glad to send one.

The ministry of ushering is a crucial part of worship because it is one of the most visible ministries in the church. In Christ, you have received God’s unconditional love, and in Christ, you are called to extend that same unconditional love to others. Although an usher’s love is no stronger than the love found in the whole congregation of the body of Christ, nevertheless, the usher performs a major role in ensuring that people see and experience that love.

The ushers distribute bulletins and greet worshipers, making every attempt to make them feel welcome and at ease. The ushers are also available to answer questions of anyone needing assistance.

Please contact Mo. Allison or Julie if you are interested.

Membership at St. Mary's consists of several different groups of "members." Some are Confirmed Communicant Members or who have transferred their membership by Letter of Transfer to St. Mary's. Some are Baptized into St. Mary’s or have requested that their names be entered in the Parish Register. Others are “members” by virtue of the fact that St. Mary’s is their church—the Christian community of which they are a part and where they worship regularly. Still, others are “summer members" or friends of St. Mary's. Many are part of St. Mary’s life, worship at St. Mary’s when in town, and support St. Mary’s financially. Canonically, they are not members in the legal sense, but they are every bit as much members of our parish family as those who are official members.

Please contact the church office if you would like to receive membership forms to be added to our data base.

email: SaintMarysStoneHarbor@gmail.com

OR

You may sign up on our website here.

We welcome you to join us!

New Church Directories have been printed and are available in the parish hall. Please help yourself to a copy.

If you are not in the Directory and would like to be, please let the church office know. If your information needs correction, please also let us know.

Happy Birthday to

Stanley Casper on November 20th!

Happy Anniversary to

Bill & Janice Haines celebrating their 69th Wedding

Anniversary on November 26th!

If you would like to be remembered on your birthday or anniversary, please let the church office know so we can add you to our data base.

If you would like to honor a loved one on their birthday or anniversary with altar flowers, please sign up on the altar flower chart in the parish hall. The flowers can be taken from the altar after worship. 

Come check out the GOLD Winner of the 2022 Best of the Jersey Shore thrift shops - St. Mary's This 'n That Thrift Shop!

When you're doing your fall cleaning, please remember This 'n That. Household items and clean usable clothing are welcome!

And while you're there, look around. You may find a bargain you can't resist!

Store Hours:

Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

Donation days: Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am - 3 pm

Location: St. Mary's This 'n That

1304 Rt. 47 So., Rio Grande, NJ 08242    609-886-7272

Follow them on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-This-N-That-Thrift-Shop-268676343298636/

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. We at Branches have much to be grateful for. However, there are those who are struggling to feed their families. Our Food Pantry is working hard to meet the needs of these folks. If you have a turkey, ham, or chicken that you have received as a bonus from your super market, we would appreciate it if you would donate it to our Food Pantry. You can leave your donation at Branches Food Pantry M-W-F from 9-12. Or, you can bring it to our new Branches building at 201 Hirst Ave. from 8:30-1:30, M-F and Sat. from 10-12.

Thank you in advance if you are able to help us meet the needs of so many who are struggling during these difficult times. As we always say at Branches, “We could not do what we do without you.”

Sundays after worship (except on Vestry Sunday)- Adult Forum Book Study - Lost Christianities

• November (Date TBD) Thanksgiving service/breakfast
• November 20th - 7 PM - 7 Mile Island Service of Thanksgiving to be held at our Saviour Lutheran Church
• November 25th-26th (Women’s Club Festival of Trees Donation)
• December 17th – 7:30 pm at Cold Spring Presbyterian, Production of Handel's Messiah with John Curtis, and Mo. Allison as Narrator
• December 21st – Blue Christmas

12 Step Meetings in the Church Hall

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Monday at 8:00 pm

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Tuesday at 8:00 pm

Alanon Friday at 10:00 am

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Psalm 46

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 am Morning Prayer via Zoom

Sunday 9:00 AM in person (church)