 |
|
Dragon Tales E-News - Feb. 22, 2017
|
|
The Lent/Easter 2017 edition of The Spire is now available!
|
|
Thank you winter relief volunteers!
We housed, fed, and visited with our 30 special guests all week. It was an inspirational journey, and your commitment to Jesus' teachings will hopefully bless your heart as much as you blessed the spirits of others.
There will be a post-briefing session for all winter relief volunteers during the pancake supper next Tuesday in the Fellowship Hall at 6 p.m. We will discuss how the week went and what we can do better next year.
|
"I don't expect that our two churches will change the course of Sunday morning racial relations in history, but I know our two churches can do something."
--
This was my final plea in January to the leadership of Asbury Broadneck United Methodist Church, but let me back up a bit and explain.
Nine months ago we were in the midst of another shooting of a black man in Annapolis. Black Lives Matter signs were being vandalized at churches. As a staff, we were feeling helpless and disconnected in this fight, and it did not feel right. Over the next few weeks, we decided it would take many steps and happen over a period of time, but we were ready to step up and live out our baptismal covenant -"Will you strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being?"
The process began by ordering a new sign displaying this covenant. That was followed by both Peter and I, reaching out to Asbury Broadneck United Methodist Church, the closest black church in our area. I remember not really knowing how to initiate this conversation with Pastor Tillett, so I decided to be honest--"I may say all the wrong things. I will continue to apologize. I have no idea where to start, I just know we need to quit doing nothing." Pastor T immediately emailed back and agreed he was on board with working together. We were invited to their Harvest Festival in October. A group of adults, children and youth attended and it was a very positive experience. Peter then worked with Pastor T and invited him to come and preach at our church in November. During his sermon, he reminded us that our children go to school together, we mingle in our neighborhoods, grocery stores and sporting fields together, but on Sunday mornings we retreat to our own churches. It gave us more to think about.
Through the winter, things started to percolate. February was Black History Month and one of their students was writing the church service around the Civil Rights Movement. They wanted us to participate. This was exciting, but this was also scary. I wondered if we could pull it off. It was a big project, and I knew we needed to do it. So here we are. We've worked over the last month with ABUMC's youth group. We've invited our new friends to three Monday night dinners to organize our presentation. We have met several times on Sundays at ABUMC. We've made new friends and took the steps to familiarize ourselves with things that are outside of our norm. It has been a huge commitment for our youth, and I am proud of them for following through. This past Monday night, we viewed a documentary on The Freedom Riders. Our students saw first hand the black and white leaders that stood up together for change. It's an important message even for today's youth. This entire process has been new, it's been challenging, it has at times been uncomfortable, but it has also been one of the greatest experiences we've had as Christians.
We invite you all to come celebrate, support our youth, and worship with them and our new friends at Asbury Broadneck UMC this Sunday at 10 am. Help us desegregate one Sunday morning. It has to start somewhere.
Reminder: Sunday School resumes for children up to grade 5 this Sunday. All middle and high school youth, friends, interested parishioners and families are encouraged to come support us in our joint service at 10 am at Asbury Broadneck United Methodist Church--
657 Broadneck Rd, Annapolis, MD 21409. High school and middle school Sunday school teachers will meet in the parking lot of SMC at 9:30 am. Please contact
[email protected]
or
[email protected]
if you need a ride.
Reminder: Students who have speaking or backstage parts, meet at ABUMC on Saturday from 12-4 pm for a costume rehearsal and at 9:15 am Sunday dressed and ready to go!
If you are not receiving the youth weekly newsletter, please contact
[email protected] to get on the email list.
Volunteer Help
Help is needed at our Faith & Fellowship Monday night on Feb. 27 for the "Lent in a Bag" assembly. Help is also needed for a Good Friday Children's Station of the Cross activity at 10am. If you can help prepare beforehand or on Good Friday, April 14th please contact
[email protected]
.
Watch Jenelle's sermon this past Sunday:
|
|
Please join us next Monday
5:00-6:00 Lent in a Bag assembly
5:00-5:30 Spirit Singers
5:30-6:00 Youth Chorale
6:00 Dinner
6:45-8:00 Youth Group
6:45-8:00 Adult Formation -- see below
Monday Night, February 27th -Join us from 5-6 pm to assemble a "Lent in a Bag" for families or pick up an already assembled bag on Sunday, March 5th.
Adult Formation on Mondays -- "Waking Up White: And Finding Myself in the Story
of Race"
book study --
a
sometimes cringe-worthy struggle to understand racism and racial tensions; a fresh perspective on bias, stereotypes, manners, and tolerance.
The study is from 6:45pm-8:00 p.m. This is a Lenten Series co-lead by Valery Weekley, Maggie Beth Arruda and Ernie Tucker. Child care will be provided.
|
Green Team Meeting Tonight
There will be a Green Team meeting tonight at 7 p.m. in Classroom E of the Formation Building. All who are interested in planning environmental friendly efforts here at SMC are welcome! For questions, email
[email protected].
|
|
Chase away those winter blues and join the Third Sunday Band and friends for some social time with live music in the Parish Hall on February 25. Doors open at 6:30 PM, Music begins at 7. Coffee and snacks provided.. Show your talents at the open mic. Contact Al Todd at
[email protected] if you want to perform. Otherwise, just come relax, listen, and sing along.
|
Lenten Meditation Booklet from SMC
Pick up your copy of St. Margaret's new book of Lenten meditations this Sunday, Feb. 26 in the church narthex or the church office (one per family). There will be a small color booklet and then a larger sized black and white. The booklet will also be available online at
www.
st-margarets.org. The meditations are based on the national Episcopal Church's Lenten meditations of 2016 based on scriptures with the word "go." Parishioners, clergy, and staff have shared some wonderful reflections to bless your Lenten season.
|
|
Adults are welcome to join a new Sunday morning formation class from 10:20 to 11 a.m. in the adminsitrative conference room. Titled "Seekers," participants will discuss readings from new, thought provoking books on faith and religion. This month, we focus on "What Did Jesus Ask?" a collection of reflections from modern Christian leaders.
You can purchase a copy of the book here.
|
Newcomers Dinner on Feb. 26
New to St. Margaret's? All newcomers are welcome to our next Newcomers Dinner this Sunday, 5 p.m., (NEW TIME) in the parish hall. You will meet and hear from church leaders and see how you can best fit in with our many program opportunities. Childcare can be provided.
Please RSVP with our Newcomers Committee Chair Jane Piche at
[email protected] or 410-349-0961.
|
Pancake Supper on Feb. 28
|
Pancake Supper tickets will be sold in the Parish Hall or in front of the church this Sunday. SAVE ON COSTS BY BUYING EARLY!
|
|
Ash Wednesday services will be held next
Weds., March 1 at 7:30 a.m., noon, and 7:30 p.m.
Ash Wednesday is the start of the Lenten season and derives its name from the practice of blessing ashes made from
palm branches
blessed on the previous year's
Palm Sunday
, and placing them on the heads of participants.
There will be Lenten soup luncheon sponsored by the St. Margaret's Guild on March 1 after the Ash Wednesday noon service in the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome!
|
|
Our next concert series performance is on Sunday, March 5 at 7:30 p.m. The popular Shenandoah Run returns to St.Margaret's playing both vintage Americana and contemporary folk, with some originals and some from the worlds of bluegrass, country or foreign lands. Expect top-notch musicianship and multi-part harmonies that lures audiences in for an irresistible sing-along. Tickets are $20 and can be purchased at the door with cash or check or online by credit card by clicking here.
|
Lenten Compline on Wednesdays
St. Margaret's will hold weekly compline services during Lent on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. Dates are March 8, 15, 22, 29, April 5, 12. The service includes a
simple office including a confession of sins, one or more psalms, a short reading from scripture, versicles and responses, the Lord's Prayer, collects which ask for God's protection during the night to come, and special music.
|
|
This annual tournament to benefit the Light House will be held on Thursday, June 15, at the Renditions Golf Course in Davidsonville. Parishioner Mike Winn is putting teams of four together. If you wish to participate, please write a check for $137.50 (per player), payable to Friends of the Light House, with "Golf Tournament 2017" in the memo line and either give to Mike on Sunday or place it in the History & Archives box in the church office. For questions, contact Mike at
[email protected].
|
|
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.
|
|
|
#325to325 -- Daily Look at St. Margaret's History
in celebration of our 325th anniversary
Seen on our Facebook & Twitter pages daily
NEW--emailed in Dragon Tales weekly
|
|
St. Margaret's Church | 1601 Pleasant Plains Road | Annapolis, MD 21409
Pastoral Emergency # 443-837-5463
Staff
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
