Dragon Tales E-News -March 22, 2017

Order Easter Flowers
A Note from Peter

I love the characters in our Lenten readings from the Gospel of John. I know they are long readings to stand for, and even to follow sometimes, but I guarantee that if you open up to these stories, your heart and soul will thank you. Some of them have names: Nicodemus and Lazarus. The Samaritan woman at the well and the man born blind are not named but each story is rich with symbolism and grace. The readings are long, because you can't just tell part of the story. And John doesn't skimp on details, but they are all important. So read, listen and you will be inwardly rewarded.

Want more rewards? Come to our Holy Week services. I know I can't require you to do anything, I can only ask really politely. But I implore you with everything I have as your rector to make it a priority to attend the liturgies of the Triduum: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and the Easter Vigil on Saturday night. These are moving times of prayer and meditation that are meant for YOU to live out YOUR faith in the living God. I will be pressing you on this during Sunday announcements, so put these services on your calendar now!
Coming this Sunday -- March 26
Seekers Class on Sunday

Adults are welcome to join a new Sunday morning formation class from 10:20 to 11 a.m. in the administrative conference room. Titled "Seekers," participants will discuss readings from new, thought provoking books on faith and religion. 

Starting this Sunday, March 26, the class will discuss "Did God Kill Jesus" by Tony Jones. 

In it, the author focuses on how Christians can restore the cross to the center of Christian faith as an inspiring message of how much God loves us and uses it as an inspiration to love others.  You can order the book on Amazon.com HERE.
Visit the Relay for Life Table this Sunday
Relay for Life 2017 - April 22-23
AA Co. Fairgrounds

During the month of March, our team is challenged with getting the most financial support of any other team. If we are successful, we will get an additional $1,000 toward our goal!

We now need support by:
*signing up to be a SMC team member
*financially supporting a SMC team member.

A fundraising night is planned for Thursday, April 6, at Chevy's in Annapolis from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Our team will receive 15% of the profits (no alcohol included).  Click here for the flyer you will need to take with you.


Please stop by our Relay table on Sundays or go to our team page
HERE.

You can also contact team coordinator Judy Hall at [email protected] .
Popup Concert this Sunday
at 4 p.m.

New York musicians Tony Romato, guitarist, and Lenny Sendersky, saxophonist, return for an afternoon of exciting jazz at 4 p.m. this Sunday, March 26, in the sanctuary. This is a pay at the door concert and not part of the concert series, but no jazz lover will want to miss this. Suggested donation is $20, but pay what you can.
Green Team Cleaning on April 1

The Green Team of St. Margaret's Church would like to invite parishioners  to participate in a stream clean up. The Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay runs Project Clean Stream, which enables groups to organize a stream clean up event.  On Saturday,  April 1 , from 10am-12pm, we will be collecting trash that has found its way into Cat Branch of Little Magothy River. If you would like to participate, please volunteer through Project Clean Stream  
https://pg-cloud.com/ACB/, email Lindsey  ( [email protected] ) , or just show up! Meeting point is the end of OLD Cape St. Claire Road.  Gloves and trash bags will be provided.  Wear your boots/wellies!
Guild Meeting with Day School

St. Margaret's Guild will hold their next monthly meeting on Wednesday, April 5 at 1 p.m. in the parish hall. They will host students from the Day School with storytelling and an art project. All are welcome to come and enjoy this intergenerational activity.
Compassionate Handcrafting 4/29

Please join members of our Prayer Shawl Ministry on Saturday, April 29 from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. at St. Margaret's for a day of connecting with fellow Broadneck crafters and the nonprofit groups who need them.   Our day will include speakers, workshops, a swap table, a nonprofit fair, crafting time, catered lunch, and morning coffee & tea.  Cost is $20.   Additionally, breakfast baked goods will be available to purchase from our Youth Group.  This event is for fiber artists (knitters, crocheters, quilters, spinners, sewers primarily) but all are welcome!

Addiction Forum on 4/20

Our Day School will be sponsoring the 'Not My Child' program from Anne Arundel County on Thursday, April 20, at 7 p.m. in the Fellowship Hall. The program brings awareness and a community conversation regarding today's prevalent use of prescription drugs and heroin addiction. All are welcome to attend.
Family News for the Week

Summer Bible Camp Registration Now Available!

Our LEGO "Bricks 4 God" summer bible camp will be held June 26-30, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at St. Margaret's for children entering Kindergarten through completion of 5th grade. There will be a $25 fee which includes a camp t-shirt. 
The camp is already 50% full - space is limited. Registration is done on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Participants will discover God's unconditional love for all of us by delving into a handful of cherished Bible stories and will practice engineering as they use building skills to create models of baby Moses, strong Samson, Moses parting the Red Sea, a horse-drawn chariot, and Jacob's vision of the stairway to heaven. These engaging model builds and other fun activities in Bricks 4 God Camp will strengthen campers' spiritual self-image, as well as provide hands-on experiences to share with peers. 

Parent and youth volunteers needed! Parents who volunteer will get free tuition (and childcare) for their children.

Space is limited so register soon!

For more information, email [email protected].

NEW-Two by Two
(Parent/Child Music Ministry)
Parents and child(ren) up to age 6 are invited to sing, dance, play and learn bible stories together during a new family style music and movement class at St. Margaret's. Classes begin at 9 am in the Children's Chapel room of the downstairs Annex and will last approximately 45 minutes. After class, parents are free to stay for fellowship time in the nursery while their children enjoy free play under their guidance. Our first class yesterday was filled with little ones and their parents! Our next c lass will take place the following Tuesdays this spring :
April 18th
May 16th
Space is limited so please email  [email protected] to confirm your slot. 
 
Children's Stations of the Cross
Good Friday, April 14th at 10am
(Preparation help is needed before the event)
DEADLINE to RSVP is April 7.
An important part of Holy Week is remembering the sad part of the story. Sadness is holy, just as joy is holy. Without one we could never understand the other. Join us as we journey through interactive stations of the cross liturgy that will be meaningful to children. Adults are asked to stay with their children and participate. For planning purposes, we need to know of your participation. Please email  [email protected]  to let us know you will attend or if you have any questions.
 
Easter Egg Hunt -- Easter Candy and Small Toys Are Needed
We are asking for donations of individually wrapped, peanut- free candy for our Alleluia Egg Hunt.  We are also in need of some dairy free and gluten free options as well as fun toys such as pencils, stickers, etc.  There will be donation bins in the narthex and formation building. 

Sunday School Teachers Needed for THIS Year and Next
We are in immediate need of a Godly Play (preschool) Sunday School teacher as well as multiple door greeters. Please prayerfully consider performing this service for our youngest students. A full curriculum and training are provided.

Godly Play Teacher (4 needed)
Godly Play Door greeters (8 needed)
4th and 5th Grade Teacher   (3-4 needed)
Middle School Teacher 6th-8th (1-2 needed) 
High School Teacher 9th-12th grade (1-2 needed) 

For more information or to volunteer, contact [email protected] .

Cell Phone Info Needed
When we are participating in off campus outings or if we have a last minute change of plans, the easiest way for us to contact our youth is through their cell phones. We would like to begin to collect cell phone numbers with permission from parents to contact their students.  Please email your cell phone number and your student's number to Jeff and Jenelle
Day School News

Tickets for the Day School's annual silent auction fundraiser on May 6 are now on sale on the school's website. The event has a "red carpet" theme and will be held from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. in the church's parish hall. A wide variety of upscale prizes will be available for bidding. This is the school's top fundraiser of the year. All are encouraged to come out and support their efforts!

The Day School is offering two-week, themed summer camps starting in June through August for children aged 2-9. For more information or to register, click here.

Enrollment for the 2017-2018 school year is ongoing. Click here for registration info.
Social Justice Interest Group

The new Social Justice Interest Group made up of St. Margaret's parishioners will meet on Sunday, March 26 at 12:30 pm in Classroom E of the formation building.   The Rev. Kathy Shahinian, Deacon and Diocesan Public Policy Advocate will speak on SOCIAL JUSTICE ADVOCACY.  All parishioners are invited to attend this meeting. Inspired by Bishop Sutton's statement and actions, members of the Interest Group are committed to human rights advocacy for refugees and immigrants.
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! And yes, this week we are reading about a woman who ate her son this week!

We meet on  Thursday mornings at 9:15 a.m. in the formation building (childcare provided in the nursery).

Here is a video of the readings for this week 
focusing on Esther and Job's wife:
Office Volunteers Needed

We are in need of office volunteers for the following times:
*Tuesday afternoons
*Thursday mornings.

We are also in need of substitutes in case a volunteer is not able to make their assigned time and will need more volunteers in the summer months.

Volunteers answer the phone and do light clerical work to support the staff. It's a great way to meet other parishioners and learn of all the opportunities in this parish.

Contact Elizabeth Radley at [email protected] for more information.

Please join us next Monday

5:00-6:00 Arts & Crafts
5:00-5:30 Spirit Singers
5:30-6:00 Youth Chorale
5:30-6:00 Acolyte Practice
6:00-Dinner 
6:45-8:00 Youth Group
6:45-8:00 Adult Formation -- see below

Adult Formation on Mondays -- "Waking Up White:  And Finding Myself in the Story
of Race"
  book study -- 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.

#325to325 -- 
Daily Look at St. Margaret's History
in celebration of our 325th anniversary
Seen on our Facebook & Twitter pages daily
emailed in Dragon Tales weekly






Quick Links

St. Margaret's Church | 1601 Pleasant Plains Road | Annapolis, MD  21409
410-974-0200 | [email protected] | www.st-margarets.org
Pastoral Emergency # 443-837-5463

Staff