WEEKLY eNEWS

November 7, 2026



The Twenty-Fourth Sunday

after

Pentecost

Dear Friends,

What a beautiful, joy-filled week we have shared! Our All Saints' Day worship service was truly special as we celebrated the holy addition of two new members to our community through Baptism: Thomas David and Sora May. On Wednesday, we gathered again for a lovely Thanksgiving family dinner that nourished both body and spirit. Thank you to everyone who brought delicious side dishes, and a special shout-out to our wonderful hosts, Murry Edwards and Marlo Pratt, as well as our brilliant Bible Charades host, Greg. It was an evening filled with laughter and fun, witnessing our community of all ages at play together. We are deeply filled when we come together for worship, meals and this kind of rich fellowship.

Yet, as a community of faith, our joy is never isolated from the world around us. This week, Heather Hole Strout, Exective Director of the the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center in Newport issued an urgent, sobering report in their newsletter: “October 2026 was the busiest month in MLK Hunger Relief history. Yes, you read that right. We provided more meals last month than during any month during the Covid-19 pandemic and even the SNAP Crisis of November 2025.” The reality of unprecedented food insecurity is pressing hard against families right here on our island.

This stark contrast brings us directly to this week’s Gospel passage, Matthew 25:1-13—the parable of the ten bridesmaids. While five were wise and prepared, five were caught without enough oil to keep their lamps burning. Jesus uses this story to urge us to stay awake, to be prepared, and to keep our lamps full.

"October 2026 was the busiest month in MLK Hunger Relief History. Yes, you read that right. We provided more meals last month than during any month during the Covid-19 pandemic and even the SNAP Crisis of November 2025"

Today, keeping our lamps full means ensuring our faith is active and ready to meet the immediate needs of our world. The oil that fuels our collective light is our compassion, our generosity, and our willingness to act.

At the baptism last week, we renewed our vows to seek and serve Christ in all people, loving our neighbors as ourselves. Let us channel the immense joy and gratitude from our fellowship into generosity for our island. By supporting our neighbors and feeding the hungry, we share the love of Christ we experience at St. Mary’s and keep our lamps burning brightly.

In Christ, 

Jennifer

To support their crisis hunger relief efforts directly, you can make a financial contribution through the MLK Community Center Donation Page.

For Reflection

1. In Matthew 25, the wise bridesmaids brought extra oil to ensure their lamps wouldn't go out. What spiritual practices or community experiences—like our recent baptisms and family dinner—help keep your personal "lamp" full of oil? How do you intentionally make space to replenish that spiritual fuel?
2. The MLK Center is experiencing a historic crisis of hunger on our island right now, outstripping even the heights of the pandemic. When you hear about this level of deep, immediate need right in our neighborhood, what emotions or movements of the heart surface for you? How might God be speaking to you through those feelings?
3. We recently renewed our baptismal covenant to "seek and serve Christ in all people, loving your neighbor as yourself." Looking ahead at your week, what is one concrete, practical way you can carry the light and joy of St. Mary's outward to serve a neighbor who is currently experiencing hardship or hunger?

Because You Give

REAL PEOPLE, REAL IMPACT

Our 2027 annual giving campaign, “Step into the Circle,” invites each of us to reflect on the gifts we receive through St. Mary’s and how our own giving helps sustain this community.

Every gift, large or small, helps make the work of St. Mary’s possible.

Make your pledge online.

Two Weeks at a Glance

Our Google calendar is updated and now available on our new website.

For a full listing of St. Mary's events, check our Google calendar.

Come Worship with Us

WEEKENDS AT ST. MARY'S

5:00 PM, SAT | Holy Eucharist

Historic Church

10:00 AM, SUN | Holy Eucharist

Historic Church

Click on the image above for the weekend service bulletin.

4:00 PM, SAT | Christian Meditation

Lower Level | Parish House

Come Explore Well-Being with Us

Honoring Our Veterans: A Special Youth Gathering

Sunday, November 15

11:00 AM - 1:00 PM

St. Mary’s youth will recognize Veterans Day with a special opportunity hear firsthand about military service from two members of our parish, Trish Culver and Paul Westrom.

Over pizza and conversation, our young people will learn about Paul and Trish's experiences, reflect on the meaning of service and sacrifice, and explore the importance of gratitude. Their time together promises to be a meaningful time of intergenerational fellowship, learning, and connection within our St. Mary’s community.

Our gathering will include

• pizza and conversation with our veteran guests in the lower-level classroom of the Parish House;
• scripture and reflection on gratitude;
• outdoor games, weather permitting, including banana baseball or manhunt; and
• compline to close our time together in prayer.

We look forward to bringing generations together as we honor our veterans and discover what Veterans Day means to each of us.

Come Serve with Us

Help Make Christmas Brighter for Newport County Families

St. Mary’s Christmas Giving Tree | November 14 – December 6

Christmas is a season of giving, and once again, St. Mary’s Christmas Giving Tree offers us an opportunity to share the joy of the season with children and families in our community.

This year, our Giving Tree will support families served by the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center in Newport, helping bring Christmas gifts to children and holiday food to families in need. Last year St. Mary's friends and members donated over over 170 toys and $3,150 in gift cards to the MLKCC's Santa's Workshop.

There are three ways to share the joy of Christmas:

• Give a Toy — Bring Joy to a Child

Purchase a new, unwrapped toy for a child. The MLK Community Center has provided a 2026 Toy Shopping List with suggested gifts.

• Give a Gift Card — Remember Teens and Tweens

Purchase a $25 gift card from Walmart, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, Old Navy, or Ulta Beauty. These cards allow older children to choose something special for themselves.

• Give the Gift of a Holiday Meal

Purchase $10 gift cards from Stop & Shop or Shaw’s to help families put food on their tables during the Christmas season.

Thank you for helping St. Mary’s share the love, generosity, and joy of Christmas with our neighbors.

With gratitude,

Judy Hall and the Outreach Committee

Questions? Contact Judy at 401.924.4252 or woofer64@yahoo.com.

When and Where to Give New, Unwrapped Gifts

Collection Dates: November 14 – December 6

Members of the Outreach Committee will collect toys and gift cards at weekend services or toys also may be left in the Adult Ed Room in the Parish House.

All donations must be received by Sunday, December 6.

Ministry Opportunities

HELP WANTED

Sign Writer

The St. Mary's sign on East Main Rd. is a primary way that we communicate with the wider community about what we are doing here. 

For three years Sara Barker has had a ministry of inserting the changing messages. Thank you Sara for your care in sharing the good news on the sign!

We need a new sign writer.  The staff comes up with the wording and the sign writer inserts the letters, typically once or twice a month. If you are able to offer this monthly ministry, please be in touch with our Pastoral Administrator, Karen Laroche.

Holiday Lighting Ministry

Since Advent of 2020 we have been lighting our St. Mary's campus as a ministry to our local community as well as adding beauty for all who enter our grounds. 

Marlo Pratt had the original vision for this ministry during COVID and for six years she and her family have continued the tradition. We thank her for her ministry of lighting the way and for passing the torch!  



We need a new coordinator and team to light up St. Mary's. If you are willing to coordinate or help out with the decorating, we have supplies and support for you. Either way, please be in touch with Jr. Warden, John Corbishley. 

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.

For all other types of communication:

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

Contact Parish Associate for Administration Karen Laroche to be included in writing in the weekly worship bulletin.

Image credits: Richard Grosvenor, Historic Church, watercolor, used with permission.

Stay Connected:

http://www.smcportsmouth.org/