 |
Dragon Tales E-News August 30, 2017
|
|
|
The Fall 2017 Spire is now available online!
|
A Note from Jeff
Jeff@st-margarets.org
This is a scary world we live in. As much as I tried to stay away from media this summer, the radio still provided more than the daily recommended dose of things to be scared about. Neo-nazis and white supremacists, North Korean missiles, and killer hurricanes, to name just a few. And to bring it all home even more, our own Jenelle Mejia and her Texas family are stuck in Houston (where true to form Jenelle is trying to find a way to feed hospital workers while stuck in raging flood waters). Keep them, and everyone else on the Gulf Coast in your prayers
-
it ain
'
t over yet.
All of this bad news is shouted at us every day, all day. The world we thought we knew is collapsing before our very eyes, without us having any clear sense of what we can do, or how it will all end. But, I always knew that, no matter how bad things sounded, I would soon be back among St. Margaret
'
s youth. I
'
ve said it hundreds of times, and I will keep saying it because it is true; no matter how tired or dispirited I may be on a given Monday evening, by five minutes into Youth Group I
'
ve forgotten my fatigue and I
'
m filled with joy! As wonderful as my summer has been, I
'
ve missed interacting with them, and being ignited by their energy.
When you spend a little time with our young ladies and gentlemen, you find the hope you need to combat the scariness of the rest of the world
-
even if only for a few hours.
For everyone involved in in the service of educating, coaching, tutoring, and mentoring our children, I hope you are looking forward to a new school year. We often talk about service in terms of what we give. Of course, that is true. But, the truth about God's love is that we receive so much in retun.
If you would be willing to be a volunteer for our youth program, please contact me. These awesome kids need dependable adults (not their parents) who they can talk and share with, who they can trust, who can lend a non-judgmental and sympathetic ear, and who can teach by example how to live a productive and faithful life.
|
|
The Rev. Jane Hague has announced she will be leaving St. Margaret's for St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Hanover, NH. Her last Sunday will be Sept. 10. Mark your calendar for a special going away reception that day at coffeehour.
it is customary that if parishioners wish to give a gift to a departing clergy person, a "purse" is taken up by the office. If you wish to donate, you may make checks written out to "St. Margaret's Church" with "Jane's Purse" in the memo line and bring to the office or put in the collection plate. Deadline is September 5th.
|
Memorial Service for Lanny Ridout Scheduled
The memorial service for longtime parishioner Lanny Ridout has been scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 9th, 11 a.m. at St. Margaret's. A reception in the parish hall will follow. You can view his obituary here.
|
|
Help Wanted
Because of the departure of the Rev. Jane and Jenelle,
we are in the process of hiring for these two positions:
For more information on the skills and duties required, click on t
he links above.
Please share this announcement with friends and in any community groups to which you belong.
|
|
Stewardship for 2018
Look for a letter from the Stewardship Committee next week!
|
|
Pick up your folder (one per family) on Sunday, Sept. 10!
|
Social Justice Meeting Tonight
Our Social Justice Group for Refugees and Immigrants will hold a meeting about current issues and plans for the Fall tonight at 7 p.m. in Formation Building.
For details, contact Joanna
Tillman
at
joannatillman@gmail.com.
|
Children Youth Programs 2017-2018 Registration
We now offer registration for Sunday School for the 2017-18 school year. As a reminder, we offer:
-
Godly Play for ages 3-4 and grades k-1;
-
SPARK classes for grades 2-3 and 4-5;
-
Re:form classes for middle school students; and
-
Collaborate classes for high school students.
Visit your classroom and teachers
at our Sunday School Open House on Sept. 10.
First Sunday School class begins Sept. 17.
First Youth Group meets Monday, Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in the youth room.
If you are a teacher and have not received your curriculum,
please contact the church office.
|
NEW-Senior Sessions Begin Sept. 5
We will begin a new program for seniors on the first Tuesday of the month at 10 a.m. in classroom E of the Formation building (CHANGE). All parishioners 65 and older are welcome to meet with clergy to review the week's Gospel lesson, share joys and concerns, and offer special prayers in support of each other.
|
September 11 Service of Hope
St. Margaret's will join together as a community to remember and reflect on Sept. 11, at 7 p.m., in the church. Holy Eucharist will be included. If you need some peace, faith, and hope in these turbulent times, please join us.
|
 |
|
Faith & Formation Adult Formation
6:45 p.m. in the Form. building starting Sept. 18
To mark the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther's "Ninety-Five Theses" (1517-2017) and St. Margaret's 325th anniversary (1692-2017),
Adult Education on Monday evenings will begin this fall with a journey through the history of Christianity and the Episcopal Church. On Sept. 18th, Jim Hall will closely examine a key part of our weekly worship: the Nicene Creed. The week after that, Valery Weekley will introduce "
lectio divina
": a
traditional practice of scriptural reading, meditation and prayer to promote communion with God. Then five weeks of discussion on the history and legacy of the Reformation will follow, led by Ernie Tucker, Paul O'Donnell, and John Freymann--an expert on the history of Christianity who teaches at the Naval Academy. The series will conclude on November 13th with a discussion by
Mary Klein, archivist of the Diocese of Maryland, about the history of the Episcopal Church in our region. All are welcome! And please join us for a Fellowship Meal before the programs at 6 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall.
|
Thursday AM Bible Study Begins 9/14
Our Thursday morning bible study will resume on Sept. 14, from 9:15-10:30 a.m. in Formation Classroom E. Childcare is available in the church nursery. All are welcome! This year's study will center on Forward Movement's publication "The Path" - the story of the Bible, excerpted from the New Revised Standard Version so that it is clear and easy to read. Participants will follow the path of God's love all the way from the beginning to the end, from Adam's creation to John's revelation.
|
Sign up for Foyers
Foyers is a small group opportunity for the people of St Margaret's to get to know each other in an informal setting. We form groups of 6, 7, or 8 and then meet outside of the church often sharing a meal. The traditional format has been for people to gather in each other's homes for a meal; but we have seen many other ways of getting together such as going out for a meal, attending a local play together or attending a concert. Additionally, we have 3 large gatherings throughout the year to connect with the larger group.
The committee will be meeting to make the groups in late August. If you have been a past member, you don't have to do anything. If you would like to join, let one of the committee members know.
Please mark your calendar for September 24, 3-5:00 pm, so you can join us for our Fall Kick Off. The groupings will be provided at that time. More information will be provide about this gathering.
Foyer Organizers are:
|
Women's Guild Meeting on Sept. 6
The St. Margaret's women's Guild will begin the new program year on Wednesday, Sept. 6 in the Fellowship Hall with lunch starting at noon and the program starting at 1 p.m. September's presentation will be on the mission trips to Uganda by Jeff Wubbenhorst. All are welcome! For questions, contact Pat Hall at
pshall1@verizon.net.
|
|
|
Sept.16 - 7pm - Daughters of the King Social
Sept. 17 -10:15am - Long Term Planning Committee Forum
Sept. 24 -10:15am - Stewardship Forum
Oct. 1 - 10:15am - Missions Fair
Oct. 1 - 4pm - Blessing of the Animals
Oct. 8 - 10:15am -Refugee Assistance Forum
|
|
Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed Fridays
|
Mark your calendar!
Anniversary Weekend on Oct. 20-22
Friday, Oct. 20 - 7 p.m. - A Service of Remembrance
in the Fellowship Hall
Saturday, Oct 21 - 7 p.m. - An Evening of Reflection
with Third Sunday Band in the Parish Hall
Sunday, Oct. 22 - Sunday Services
with a special reception during coffeehour
Sunday, Oct. 22 - 5 p.m. - Evensong with SMC Choirs
in the church, followed by reception in the Parish Hall
to receive a daily post about
St. Margaret's history.
|
St. Margaret's Church
410-974-0200 | 1601 Pleasant Plains Rd, Annapolis, MD 21409 | info@st-margarets.org
|
|
|
|
|
|
