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Please note: As part of our current phone system evaluation, we have to take the phone system on and offline throughout the day. The best way to reach staff is through email (see below). The pastoral emergency line is not affected, so if you have an emergency, please contact clergy at 443-837-5463.
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Dragon Tales E-News - Feb. 1, 2017
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The recent Executive Ban on Refugees is a very personal issue for my family. Late last year, my gentle and sweet daughter-in-law was detained at the Ontario Airport for hours. She was returning to Los Angeles after visiting with her family in Kingston. As she waited for the flight, she was confronted in the boarding area and escorted to the immigration holding room. She was asked to wait until her name was called by an Immigration officer.
She was terrified. There had been not explanation of why she was detained. She anxiously watched as the time for her flight came and went. She was not allowed to use her cell phone and so could not alert my son as he waited for her in Los Angeles. He panicked as he watched her scheduled flight arrive and she was not on it. He called her mother in Kingston, Canada and she raced back to the airport to search for her daughter.
My daughter-in-law described the holding room as 'soul-less' with dirty beige walls and well used carpet. It was full of people from multiple nations, all with worried and frightened faces of many colors.
Finally she was summoned in to an office. It was explained to her that she did not have the proper visa to enter the United States. Even though she was legally married to my son, an American citizen, she as a Canadian needed a visa to re-enter the United States. It is ironic that her grandfather was a decorated US Navy veteran.
She was finally allowed to board a flight to Los Angeles with a temporary visa. As she waited for her flight she tearfully called my son and her mother and there was much relief. My son and his wife hired a lawyer (with a loan from their parents) and the proper papers were filed. We all celebrated when she was finally granted a green card last November, and I sent her a small American flag in congratulations.
My daughter-in-law returned to Canada a few weeks ago to care for an ailing aunt. After watching the chaos at the international airports this past weekend, she is very hesitant to return to the USA. Her frightening experience before has her very suspicious and scared of what the future will bring. What can I tell her? How can I assure her that she will not be detained again and again? It breaks my heart to hear my son who teaches school in Arizona consider moving to Canada.
Two things concern me deeply about the Executive Order to Ban Refugees. It is clear from the chaos at the airports that Immigration, Homeland Security and the Justice Departments had no idea that this was coming and were no consulted. Was the Constitution disregarded? Was the Bill of Rights totally ignored? How can I justify to my daughter-in-law and my son that the rule of law still exists in the United States of America?
I am also affronted as a Christian. I believe that all peoples regardless of their religion are beloved of God. To limit God's love to one faith above another is to claim to be more powerful than our God. To discriminate against one faith, in this case against our Muslim sisters and brothers, is wrong. To ignore the dignity of all humanity is contrary to our Baptismal vows.
How can I react as a mother, mother-in-law, an American and as Christian? I am studying the Constitution and the Bill of Rights and reviewing my American history courses. I have written to my Senators and my Congressman. I am praying hard. But in the meantime, my daughter-in-law remains in Canada and my son is planning to move to join her this Summer. America, what have we done?
The Episcopal Church Welcomes Refugees
offers a free, one-hour webinar this afternoon at 4:00 PM EST
. It's co-sponsored by EMM and the Episcopal Church Office of Government Relations.
Here's a short promo video
in advance of this important webinar. Registration is required.
Wednesday, Feb. 8, 7 p.m.
Fellowship Hall
As a follow up to our recent Sunday forum on assisting refugee families, we will hold an informational meeting next Wednesday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall focused on training in and learning about the refugee vetting process, the lives of refugees, and the organization World Relief. We pray for those fleeing war zones, who have lost everything, and who did not get to choose where they would begin their new lives. For more information, go to their website:
https://www.worldrelief.org/
A Message from Bishop Sutton --
Saturday March for Refugees in Baltimore
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Scout Sunday THIS Sunday, Feb. 5
St. Margaret's will join other churches across the country to celebrate Scout Sunday that recognizes the contributions of young people and adults in scouting. Current and former scouts are invited to wear their scout uniforms and can take leadership roles in the worship service. We will also have a special prayer for all. Boy and Girl Scouts welcome! Come early to assist our ushers.
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Reminder
-- Grant Liaison training will take place THIS Sunday, Feb. 5, after the 9 a.m. church service in the sanctuary. For questions, contact Grants Administrator Izzy Winn at ewinn421@verizon.net.
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Winter Relief Volunteers Needed
Winter relief (offering warm meals and a safe place to sleep in the cold winter) is coming to St. Margaret's the week of Feb. 13. We are in need of many volunteers to run this program smoothly, particularly:
From cooking to chaperoning to transporting, we have many roles to fill, especially
*Hosts -- greeting and visiting with guests;
*Laundry helpers to collect guest laundry in the morning and return in the afternoon;
*Shower monitors in the evenings from 7 to 10 p.m.
Drop by the winter relief table on Sunday morning, sign up on our automated site through a link on our website's homepage, or contact volunteer coordinator Judy Hall at judy.hall404@gmail.com.
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Lunches of Love on Feb. 12
Once again the children and youth Sunday School classes will make lunches for our Winter Relief guests. Because this was a popular activity last year, we have decided to make 100 lunches.
In order to make this a successful event, we will need the help of ALL Sunday School classes and welcome participation from all parishioners as well. Each class will have a donation box outside their classroom.
Please plan on donating the following items:
Godly Play Preschool-boxes of granola bars
Godly Play Kindergarten-loaves of whole or honey wheat bread
Sparks 2nd and 3rd Grade-lunch size packages of fruit cups
4th and 5th Grade-lunch size packages of chips
Youth (Middle School and High School)-packages of lunchmeat (WE ARE LOW ON LUNCH MEAT. PLEASE CONSIDER HELPING OUR YOUTH AND BRINGING IN A DONATION OF LUNCHMEAT FOR SANDWICH MAKING).
This is the last Sunday for collection-so don't forget!
Lunches will be made immediately following Sunday School in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, February 12th. Jenelle is in need of adult volunteers to set up, monitor and clean up the lunch making. More information will be given out to each Sunday School Class.
For questions or to volunteer to help, please email
jenelle@st-margarets. org.
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We met with our friends from Asbury Broadneck UMC this Monday night to get started on our combined Black History Month project. We will continue to meet during the month of February. All youth, parents, families or any interested parties are invited to join us on Sunday, February 26th for the 10am service at ABUMC-- 657 Broadneck Rd, Annapolis, MD 21409. We are excited for this opportunity to worship and celebrate with our brothers and sisters in Christ. If you are interested in participating in this project or joining us on Sunday, February 26th, please contact
Jeff@st-margarets.org or
Jenelle@st-margarets.org. There will be NO YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL (middle or high) on Sunday February 26th. We are encouraging all youth to attend ABUMC that morning. Carpooling is available with advanced notice.
Other upcoming events are:
Feb. 10 & 11 - Night Watch in New York City
Feb. 12 - Lunches for Winter Relief (see above)
Feb. 18 - Serving dinner for winter relief
Feb. 25 - Bishop's Bash for youth at St. John's
February 26 -
Middle school youth serve Light House dinner
REMINDER: There is no Sunday School on Sunday, Feb. 19th (PreK-Gr 12) and
no Sunday School on Feb. 26th for middle and high school students (who will be traveling to Asbury Broadneck that day).
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Episcopal Advocacy Day in Maryland is next Wednesday,
February 8, 2017.
Learn about our legislative priorities, meet your legislators and network with your peers. Breakfast and lunch will be provided. You must register to attend.
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Upcoming Music Events
Sunday, March 5, 7:30 p.m.
Shenandoah Run
Tickets $20
at the door with cash or check/online credit card
here .
Shenandoah Run is a folk ensemble from the Washington, DC area. Formed in 2011, the band blends traditional and contemporary folk music in a manner that appeals to a diverse audience. Their performances delight music lovers of all ages and they consistently play to large, enthusiastic crowds.
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Heretics Reboot
Starts Feb. 19
The Rev. Peter Mayer and parishioner Spencer Johnson invite you to participate in a new Sunday morning book study. Titled Seekers (formerly Heretics), the group will read and discuss thought provoking, contemporary religious books during the formation hour (10:25-11 a.m.). The first book is "What Did Jesus Ask?" a collection of reflections by a variety of writers that
can be purchased at Amazon.com. All participants must acquire their own books. The group will have its first class on Feb. 19 in the administrative conference room. Please join them!
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Bible Women Study
We continue our book study on the book "Bible Women: All Their Words and Why They Matter" by Episcopal priest Lindsay Freeman. So far, we have learned of daring, devoted, determined, and, yes, even domineering females who lived exciting and meaningful lives. Please join us! It is never too late! We meet on:
*Thursday mornings at 9:15 a.m. in the formation building (childcare provided in the nursery); and the third Sunday of every month during the formation hour.
We also have a weekly video on the characters of study with a parishioner and the Rev. Jane Hague. Here is this week's video:
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Faith & Fellowship
Monday
Join us Monday! All are welcome!
There will be no Faith & Fellowship on Feb. 13th.
5 p.m. - Spirit Singers rehearsal, Choir Room
5:00 p.m. - Arts & Crafts, Parish Hall
5:30 p.m. - St. Margaret's Chorale rehearsal, Choir Room
5:30 p.m. - Acolyte practice, Church
6:00 p.m. - Fellowship Meal, Parish Hall
6:30 p.m. - Youth Group (middle/high school), Youth Room
6:45 p.m. - Adult Forum (child care provided)
6:45 p.m. - Motet Ensemble rehearsal, Choir Room
Fellowship Meal Suggested Donations:
$5 Adults
$3 Children
$15 Max per
Family
Pay for the remainder
of the year and save!
$100 per
family (Jan-June)
$50 per adult (Jan-June)
$30 per youth (Jan-June)
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Get Involved - Find Your Niche at SMC
This Week's Opportunity
We have had some vacancies open up on some of our coffee hour teams. This is a great opportunity to support a very important ministry to St Margaret's. New team members will be placed with experienced hosts. Each team serves just six times a year. Duties include putting out food that is already provided, making coffee and cleaning up. No experience is necessary and no baking is required! Please contact coordinator Kathy Lang at
kathy.lang@verizon.net
or 410-956-9008 if you are interested.
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#325to325 -- Daily Look at St. Margaret's History
in celebration of our 325th anniversary
Seen on our Facebook & Twitter pages daily
To receive an email, contact info@st-margarets.org.
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St. Margaret's Church | 1601 Pleasant Plains Road | Annapolis, MD 21409
410-974-0200 | info@st-margarets.org | www.st-margarets.org
Pastoral Emergency # 443-837-5463
Staff
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