Think about some of the people you know and then consider where you land:

There are people who are shocked every time something good happens, and those who walk through life simply expecting good things to happen. There are those who are unsure at every step and those who march forward with confidence. There are some who seem to be always seeking and those who know their purpose. I think most of us live in both of these realities from time to time and there is a connection between those views and how we receive God's call. 

I am choosing to speak about God's call from our human experience of living with the desire for more alongside the fear of stepping out. This Sunday, I'm going to share my meditation with you about how we might move from anxious seeking and endless waiting for God's movement into a confident declaration to God and to the world, "Here I am!" I believe that God is telling each of us, in this moment, to disregard our sins, failures, and neglects. I believe that God is asking us to no longer be afraid and to stop defining ourselves by what we lack. I believe that God's call will resound when we are able to trade "Who me?" for "Here I am."

Peace, Gabe

For your generous contributions of food, paper and personal items to the MLK Center.  For those who dismantled the trees of light and organized the items, especially Judy Hall, Murry Edwards, Kim Bakoledis and others. Today we filled a van with your love for our neighbors. The staff from MLK told us that holiday contributions had been down so this would make a great difference in feeding people.

 

Thank you to our regular Friday folders, Marilyn Hambly, Bev Hall and Phyllis Rutherford who come each week to fold the bulletins for our weekend worship. If you would like to join this lively group, please let Kim know.

 

Thank you to everyone who supported and participated in ministry over the Christmas season.  The altar guild, the staff, the musicians, the readers, greeters, acolytes and Eucharistic ministers.  We hosted over three hundred people who gathered to celebrate the Savior's birth. It was a wonderfully shared ministry of worship and hospitality.

The Historic Church Renewal Team (HCRT) has continued to meet weekly and is making great progress on assessing needs, prioritizing the work and getting professional input and bids. 

The HCRT recommended the Executive Committee (Rector, Wardens, Treasurer and Clerk) that the vestry consider a plan to renew the church in phases, beginning with raising the money for water and mold remediation and completing these projects first. This would allow us to get back to the church for worship sooner rather than later.  The second phase will be to repair the roof and exterior masonry. The third phase will be to renew the interior.

 

Please consider offering your time and talent in worship. We need and welcome lectors (they read the holy scriptures), greeters (offer welcome and bulletins at the door, collect the offering and bring up the gifts), acolytes (carry the cross and torches and assist at the altar), and Eucharistic ministers (offer the chalice at Holy Communion). We will train you and support you. The schedule can be adjusted to your availability. Please contact the rector if interested at Jennifer@smcportsmouth.org.

 

This week's Collect

Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Link to  This Week's Reading

Sunday School & Formation Opportunities for All Ages:

 

Godly Play for children has resumed during the Sunday School hour, downstairs in the Parish House in classroom 1.

Confirmation: If you are an adult who would like to be received into the Episcopal Church, or be confirmed, or re-affirm your baptismal vows, the bishop will be here on February 18th to celebrate with us. Please contact Gabe as soon as possible if you have interest. 

Winter Sunday School classes:  The Animate Bible series continues this Sunday with Session Two, Parchment to Pixel. In this session we will view a video by famous biblical scholar, Phyllis Tickle, as she talks about electronic access to the Bible (Bible apps, anyone??) and how that changes how we read or relate to the Bible.

What's a Canon, Anyway? in St. Mary's Blog, Further Up and Further In, is a review of Session One and also contains links to some additional resources about how the biblical canon came to be.

The Blog can be found on St. Mary's website - scroll down toward the bottom of the page!  Link to blog article Link to blog article -http://www.smcportsmouth.org/further-up-and-further-in/whats-a-canon-anyway-animate-bible-1/

Bring your Bible - or we'll supply one - and come Animate with us!

Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman's Soul. Sunday Jan. 21 will kick off the first of seven consecutive Sunday evening sessions from 6-730 for women looking to deepen their level of intimacy with Christ and tap into their truest desires. This is a book-based series that touches on some very deep and necessary areas of reflection for adult women of all ages. Not to be missed! Contact Michelle Freitas msfreitas02@cox.net to reserve your spot. Class will be in the Adult Ed. Room upstairs in the Parish House.

Men's Bible Study: the next Men's Bible Study will be on Saturday,January 20th at 8:30am in the adult ed room.  Meetings will also take place on 2/3, 2/17, 3/3, 3/17 and 3/31.  Please email Paul Westrom for more details pwestromjwtb@gmail.com.

St. Mary's in partnership with The Sacred Center: 

Family Yoga Class, Thursdays 4:30-5:30pm. Join qualified instructor and SMC member, Jenny Williams, for this charming and engaging class where caregivers and kids do yoga together! 6 week session $75 per family of any size.  Drop in class is $15 per class.  Starts Jan 11 and run to Feb 15 with Feb 22 as make up class if class gets cancelled due to snow.  

 

Visit www.sacred-center.org  for a yoga schedule and to learn more about our partnership.

Director: Reverend Shelley Dungan, yogishelley@gmail.com  ~ 860-965-9995

The Nominating Committee is looking for members of the parish, who have good leadership skills, to serve as members of the Vestry. It is a commitment to assist with the work of the Vestry, moving this community forward over the next  few years. You will receive back twice what you will give. 

Please contact Linda Drummond at lcdrummond1@verizon.net. 

Do you need a name tag? 

If so, please fill out a name tag card available at worship services and drop in the offering basket or deliver to the office.  You may also submit names via email to kim@smcportsmouth.org. 

Name tags are free to new members but the cost will be $5 to replace a name tag that has been lost.

EXTENSION

Tuck Fund Scholarship Deadline is extended to 1/14/18. Please see Kim in the Parish Office to pick up an application. 

Any questions, email Linda Drummond at lcdrummond1@verizon.net. 

Evensong (Evening Prayer Service with music)
February 25 at 4 pm
St. John the Evangelist, 61 Poplar Street, Newport
Commemorating Black History Month and two historical black figures, Absalom Jones, and Peter Quire, the founder of St. John's

Let's Be Healthy Together!