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Dragon Tales E-News July 5, 2017
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A Note from Jenelle
One thing you never want to see at Summer Bible Camp is tears during morning drop off. Unless of course those tears are because of peanut butter.
Last week, St Margaret's hosted 51 students and 17 youth leaders for our Summer Lego Bible Camp. It was a week filled with teamwork, Lego building, learning and growing. Summer bible camp is one of the most time consuming and intensive programs for children that we plan here at St. Margaret's Church, and also one of our biggest children's outreach events. It's an important time because beyond the crafts, music and Lego builds, some important work is being done in the lives of those children who attend.
Every day the children were reminded how important they are to us, to each other, and to God. For campers who do not regularly attend church, this is often their introduction to what it means to be a Christian. In order to explain this to children, we provided a space to worship in a fun and meaningful way, used entertaining videos to teach lessons, provided extension activities to help them better understand those lessons and introduced them to the work they can do in the world during missions time.
We talked to the children about My Brother's Pantry and its importance in our community. Every day we collected items and counted them and got excited about the work we were doing for others. Sometimes it's hard to really know if kids are listening, but on Tuesday when one child boldly exclaimed to their parent, "We have to bring jelly tomorrow because Ms. Jenelle's brother is starting a pantry!" I knew I had some details to work out, but I also knew that they were listening. When one sweet camper arrived in tears because she had forgotten her donation of peanut butter, I knew we were getting through to their hearts. Children are naturally compassionate, and it is our job as Christian leaders to channel that compassion into this world.
I couldn't be more pleased with the work we did last week in the hearts and minds of our campers. I am grateful that 17 youth stood up to be true leaders who showed up every day with a positive attitude to be an important role model to our young students. And finally, thank you to our decorating crew and handful of faithful adult volunteers who saw value in the important work we did with our children. In the future, I hope more adults could see the value in this work. Perhaps it just takes some "peanut butter tears" moments for them to truly understand how one week can create ripples in this world, made by 51 compassionate hearts.
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Light House Pantry Food Drive in July
Each July St. Margaret's is responsible for a special drive to stock the Light House food pantry that provides needy community members with non-perishable goods such as canned fruits & vegetables; dried products such as mashed potatoes, pasta, rice, cereal; soup, spaghetti sauce (plastic bottles or cans, please), peanut butter, dry milk, and tuna fish, and personal care items such as small soaps, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. (not "junk foods such as chips & cookies). We hope everyone at St. Margaret's will contribute at least one bag of the above items between now and the end of July. There are bags, kindly provided by Safeway and Giant supermarkets, and a list of especially needed items in the narthex. Please place donations in the container in the church narthex (which is always open). Thanks to all who continue to donate throughout the year!
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1 Ticket Available for Godspell
We have over 30 people who will be attending Infinity Theatre's upcoming production of Godspell! We have ONE extra ticket. If you would like to purchase them ($30 each) please email [email protected].
For those who have signed up, we will have the tickets at the theater waiting for you on July 13.
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Episcopal Baseball Night on Aug. 4
Join fellow parishioners for a great night of baseball and fellowship as Episcopalians across the diocese attend an Orioles game on Friday, August 4, starting at 7:05 p.m. Discounted tickets can be purchased by check ($14 a seat made out to "St. Margaret's Church" with "Orioles in the memo line) or
by credit card for $15 here. Tickets will be distributed after that date by the church office. No reservations by email or by phone call will be accepted.
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Summer Lunches for Light House
PLEASE NOTE: We have extended providing lunches through August. Please continue to sign up throughout the summer for those in need. St. Margaret's will once again be providing bagged lunches for families in need through the Light House in Annapolis this summer. The need is greater than ever, especially with children who are out of local schools which provide free and reduced price lunches to Annapolis area families during the school year.
Click here for more information and to provide bagged lunches during the summer for this mission effort.
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Camp Allen - Volunteer Sign Up Now!
The 17th annual Camp Allen will be held on July 31-August 4 at the Allen Apartments in the Parole area of Annapolis. It is a half-day camp for an urban housing complex in the city. This project was begun by Rev. Wes Wubbenhorst and Arvilla Wubbenhorst as an outgrowth of Wes' mission work in Honduras. The children look forward to Camp Allen as a highlight of their summer.
To put on this very successful program, we are seeking volunteers for a wide variety of jobs at the camp. We need youth counselors, Spanish speakers to help with registration on Monday and Tuesday, other volunteers to help with purchasing, preparing and serving snacks and lunches, people with large vehicles to help with transportation of tables and supplies, people to help with crafts and games on Monday or Tuesday or to help chaperone field trips on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. We always also need extra hands to do whatever needs to be done. Any amount of time you would like to devote to the program, we can put you to work!
Please contact Sarah Hyde at 410 280-6737 (home), at 410 562-9904 (cell), or by e-mail at
[email protected].
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Adults, youth, and children are encouraged to join us for a night of fellowship and joy as we hear the talents of fellow parishioners! The event is free. Bring your family and friends! If you would like to perform a number, please contact Tom Wenz at [email protected] to make sure we have the music ready for you.
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Upcoming Youth Group Summer Activities
(Middle & High School Students)
ATTN Youth-We have some upcoming fun days scheduled to keep the momentum of the youth group moving during the summer months. If you are in town, make plans to attend, hang out with your youth group friends and maybe make some new ones. You must let the individuals planning the events know if you are interested in attending. If you are interested in hosting an additional date/activity, please email
[email protected] to get on our schedule.
Coming Up:
July 9th: Bowling! The Tomko Family is hosting a bowling night for youth and they want you to join them from 1-3 pm on Sunday, July 9th at Severna Park Lanes. Contact Laurie Tomko at
[email protected] if you plan to attend. Alternatively, you can call her at 804-363-1432.
July 21st: Pool party! Dana Timmer and Stacy Mulder are opening their pool (232 Wiltshire Lane, Severna Park 21146) to the Youth Group on July 21st from 4-7pm . You KNOW it will be hot -- a perfect time for a dip and a chance to see some friends you might not have seen over the summer. Pizza & salad dinner with ice cream for dessert will be provided. Contact Dana at
[email protected] if you plan to attend and if you have any dietary restrictions.
NEW- August 13th -- Cooking Outdoors -
4:00 to 8:00 pm, behind the Formation Building on the St. Margaret's campus.
Come experience
cooking in the outdoors
with parishioner Len Morgan, Boy Scout leader. Learn how to safely use a variety of camp cooking equipment, prepare and eat dinner and dessert, and finish off the evening by roasting marshmallows over the fire. Just want to watch and eat? That's OK, too. RSVP if you can to [email protected] by August 11th.
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Join the Seekers
THE SEEKERS are a discussion group that are the descendants of the Heretics adult formation group that explored scripture, books and articles and other literature that enlighten our spiritual pilgrimage. The Seekers meet at 10:15 to 11:00 every Sunday morning. during the summer with one or two page readings that are handed out to spark the discussion theme for the day. Recent topics of discussion include: Unconditional Love. Forgiveness, Justice, Christianity, Buddhism, and how we understand it. Come join us. No preparation needed, just a willingness to add your voice and views.
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Help Us Update at SMC
We are updating our database this summer and are looking for:
*Any changes in email addresses or other contact info
*Cell phone numbers if you wish to receive last minute info in texts
*Any new photos for an updated photo directory (submission needs to be digital)
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Education For Ministry - Sign up now
Want to know more about Christianity? About how the Church became what it is today? About the Bible? About your personal ministry?
The EfM program invites you to join small, mentored communities that help us understand our lives and share our actions as we deepen our Christian faith. Through readings and discussions, we shape and define our personal ministry and spiritual growth. The setting is more "sharing" and discovery than "teaching". We learn and reflect through each other while having the advantage of texts to guide us. It is a safe, compassionate, and non-judgmental environment.
EFM is a four year study program through the School of Theology at the University of the South, Sewanee, Tennessee. We look at the Bible historically, literally, metaphorically, theologically, and "scientifically" (using science now known, we can apply dates, ascribe authorship, have political background, etc.). We refer back to historical things - which certainly set the pace - but also look at social and political ramifications. Consideration is directed at social justice movements that have impacted our world community.
Part of our class time is sharing what we have read that week, not a book report, but how the reading touched us in some way. The chapter lessons have a common theme that crosses the four-year study. Another part of our discussion is called "Theological Reflections" in which we discuss sometimes words, sometimes issues, sometimes concepts.
St. Margaret's EfM meets on Wednesdays from 9 am until 11:30 weekly September through May in the Formation Building. Please contact Karen Engelke (
[email protected]
or 410-562-3624) or Jim Hall (
[email protected]
or 410-956-5120). The cost is $375 and includes all texts. Scholarship help is available. Students who have completed a year or more previously are encouraged to rejoin the program; or if you want to explore EfM through the new texts, you are very welcome.
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Weed Warriors Needed!
Can you sacrifice one hour sometime over the next few months? Just one?
We are looking for some volunteers to help us with keeping our native plant landscaping looking good. We need some Weed Warriors! All we ask is that you consider choosing a week between now and October and volunteer to stop by the church and pull some weeds for one hour. You can do it any time of day, any day of the week you choose. Weeding can be meditative, a good time for prayer, and give you a sense of accomplishment! Many hands will make light work!
Just sign up through the sign up genius at the following web link:
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Monday - Thursday 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Closed Fridays
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Mark your calendar --
Anniversary Weekend on Oct. 20-22
to receive a daily post about
St. Margaret's history.
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St. Margaret's Church
410-974-0200 | 1601 Pleasant Plains Rd, Annapolis, MD 21409 | [email protected]
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