This Sunday at St. Margaret's - Dec. 18, 2016


Remembering Your Loved Ones This Christmas
Last Chance to Order Christmas Flowers

Sunday is the deadline for purchasing poinsettias or wreaths to decorate the church for Christmas. Use the form in the church announcements on Sunday or email [email protected] with that information.  Poinsettias are $25 and wreaths are $45.  You can purchase online here or write a check out to "St. Margaret's Church" with "Christmas Flowers" in the memo line and drop by the church office or put in the collection plate.

Warm Tree - Rector's Reward

Every ornament on the Youth Group's "Warm Tree" has been taken! Donations have been arriving almost daily to help twenty-five students at Severn River Middle School stay a bit warmer this winter.  All donations must be collected on Sunday. If you took an ornament and have not yet gotten that special gift, please remember we need you to bring it in no later than this Sunday!  You can place it in the bin beneath the Warm Tree in the Narthex. The Youth Group will be packaging all of your gifts at our meeting on the 19th in order to get them to the students before Christmas break, so please don't be late.  And don't forget - when we meet our goal the Rev. Peter will assume the guise of Elsa from Disney's Frozen and regale us all with a song from that film!  It is our way of thanking you for your support and generosity.

Family Christmas Caroling

All are welcome to join us as we head outside the church walls to bring holiday joy to those parishioners that are homebound. We will leave in groups after Sunday School. We are looking to sing and visit for about 90 minutes. Afterwards our middle and high school students are welcome back to the church for a pizza party. Please let Jenelle or Jeff know if you would like to participate and if you can drive. 

Christmas Baskets Pickup

Volunteers who have signed up to provide Christmas meal baskets for a local family are reminded to pick up their hams -or turkeys for any who abstain from pork - in the parish hall kitchen on Sunday. If you have questions, contact coordinator Barbara Marder at 410-518-9978 or  [email protected] . 

Bible Women Monthly Session

Our monthly Bible Women study session will be held this Sunday at 10:15 a.m. in the conference room. All are welcome to come and explore the amazing women of Advent. 
A Blue Christmas
Today - 3 p.m.
Tea reception follows

Blue? Yes, blue as in the blues. As in "I am feeling blue." Not everyone is up and cheery for the Christmas holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce or separation, coping with the loss of a job, living with cancer or some other disease that puts a question mark over the future, and a number of other human situations make parties and joviality painful for many people in our congregation and community. We are providing a sacred space for people living through dark times. Please join us and invite someone in your life who is "blue" this season.
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A Quiet Christmas
Wednesday, Dec. 21 - 7 p.m.

A meditative, reflective service for those needing a quiet setting away from the hectic schedule of this season to celebrate Christ's birth.
Children's Epiphany Pageant
Sunday, Jan. 8, 10:20 am--Performance
Saturday, Jan. 7, 9 am--Costumed Rehearsal

Parent help is needed with costumes and with pageant preparation and performance. If you plan to help, please let Jenelle know.
Bible Women Study-Advent

This week we cover one of the most important women in the bible -- the mother Mary. Our Thursday morning class will meet tomorrow and then we will have a winter break, meeting next on Jan. 5. We continue our next monthly session this Sunday at 10:15 a.m. in the conference room.  It's never too late to join us!  Click here for more info.

Mary
Mary
REMINDER -- We will again need Christmas greens (pine, holly, magnolia leaves, etc.) for decorating the sanctuary and parish hall for Christmas. Please plan to leave your clipping donations on the steps by the annex building doors by Dec. 23rd.


  Christmas Eve

4 p.m. service in Sanctuary & Parish Hall (Childcare provided)
Children's Prelude -- Contact James Fitzpatrick ([email protected]) 
if a child wishes to perform

7:30 & 10:30 p.m. -- Choral Prelude & Service
(Childcare provided at 7:30 p.m.)

Christmas Day

10 a.m.

New Year's Day

7:30, 9:00, 11:15 a.m.
Breakfast Potluck at 10:15 a.m. -- Bring a breakfast casserole to share!

         Remembrance - Reflection - Celebration 
325 Days to 325 Years

*A short daily posting about the history of St. Margaret's
starting 325 days until the church's 325th anniversary*
Posted on our Facebook Public Page
Here is a sample from today:
 
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Email [email protected] to get on a special email list!
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 Important Notes about End-of-Year Giving

*Stock or bond giving for 2016 is now closed. All gifts received will now go towards 2017.

*Please alert Elizabeth Radley ( [email protected]) if you plan to gift any stock to the church ahead of time. We need to have your name and the name of the stock that is gifted ahead of time.

*Automatic drafts from your bank need to be scheduled by you no later than Monday, Dec. 19 if you want it credited to 2016. (It can take 6 to 7 business days to process and be mailed to our office.)

*All checks must be in the church office by 2 p.m. on Dec. 28 to be credited for the 2016 fiscal year. Any financial donations of any kind that are received after that time will have to be credited to fiscal year 2017.
St. Margaret's Church | 410-974-0200 | i [email protected] | www.st-margarets.org