Get ready for cooler weather
What's Happening at St. Mary's                                                   September 2017
                                                                                                       Bill Haines, Editor
A Celebration of the Life of The Reverend Ronald W. Lockhart, Sr., will be held at
St. Mary's on Saturday, September 30 at 11 AM. Internment will follow in St. Mary's Columbarium. A light luncheon will be held in the parish hall after the service. The family has requested that memorial contributions be made to The Branches, in care of St. Mary's Church. Please remember Fr. Ron, Sandra, and his family in your prayers.
CAPE MAY PAR 3 GOLF DAY
Jack Olthuis organized a Cape May Par 3 Golf outing as a fundraiser for The Branches on Saturday, September 23rd. The fun day began with a shotgun start at 9:30 AM. The weather was perfect for the 44 golfers who signed up to play. All 18 holes were sponsored. Sandra Lockhart sold chances for a "Cape May Getaway at a Bed and Breakfast along with a Gift Certificate for Dinner." The day concluded with a delicious lunch. Everyone had a great time!

Thanks to our golfers, sponsors, and Jack and his team, $3684.52 was realized for the benefit of The Branches!   
Abundant Joy
Our Estimate of Giving, previously known as the Pledge Campaign, is underway. Our theme this year is Abundant Joy. Three congregants, Janice Haines, Tim Noble, and Cynthia Schweickhardt are sharing with us their stewardship journey on Sept. 17, 24, and Oct. 1 respectively.  
 
Pot Luck Brunch October 8th 
There will be one service at 9 AM on Sunday, October 8, followed by a pot luck brunch and a congregational "Cottage Meeting" where we will discuss and share our thoughts.

Help Wanted:  Nursery Care
Time and Talent are the other two legs in Stewardship. Nursery Care during the 10 o'clock service is essential in attracting young families to St. Mary's. I believe most of us can look back to when our children were young and the people at the church where we attended offered nursery care and Church School so we could attend the church service. It's time to give back!
Fall Dinner Get Together
Parish Life is sponsoring a dinner at Alfe's Restaurant, 3401 New Jersey Ave,, Wildwood on Tuesday Oct. 10 at 5 PM. The menu is Chicken Pastine Soup, House Salad, Entree, Ice Cream Parfait for dessert and coffee or tea. The choice of entree is Veal Parmigiana, Chicken Picante, or Stuffed Shells The cost is $22 per person, gratuity included. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the parish hall.  Checks should be payable to St. Mary's and given to either Lou Schweickhardt or Bill Haines. We plan to carpool so if you need a ride, let us know. Please RSVP by October 3rd so we can let Alfe's know how many to expect. Thank You! 
Confirmation, Affirmation of Faith, Re-Affirmation
will be celebrated by our Bishop, The Rt. Rev. William Stokes at St. Mary's on Sunday, Oct. 29, at 3 PM.  After the service, a congregational meeting with Bishop Stokes will be held. Please plan to attend.
Adult Forum
Fr. Peter and Fr. Gorman continue to offer what I call, "Continuing Education;" Peter on Tuesdays at 10 AM where we are receiving an education on the Book of Acts followed by a Healing Service, and Ken, between Sunday services, where we are reading and discussing, "The Altars Where We Worship." We're never too old to learn!
FAMILY PROMISE WEEK
St. Mary's was host church to Family Promise from Sept. 17 thru 24. Heartfelt thanks, again, to Joan Langston and her dedicated volunteers who provided dinner, spent time with our guest family, or slept over. Our thanks are extended to the member churches who supplied the same services as well.
Do you know Susan Mayfair?
Susan was born, raised and educated in Media, Pennsylvania. In fact, her family still lives there.
She married Philip Mayfair, a real estate broker in 1984 and they had six children. Philip's family had a home in Stone Harbor on 106th Street so they knew the area. In 1986 they decided to move permanently to Stone Harbor where Philip could benefit from the rising cost of homes. Susan's New Year's resolution of 1987 was for her family to become members of a faith community. Since the family was Episcopalian where else would they go but to St. Mary's. So begins Susan's attachment to St. Mary's. Some of the children were baptized at St. Mary's. The children attended Sunday School and served as acolytes. Unfortunately for Susan and the children, Philip was diagnosed with cancer and succumbed to the disease in 1994.
Although devastated, Susan continued her career as a nurse at Burdette Tomlin, now known as Cape Regional Hospital, for thirteen years. Her nursing career spanned thirty-five years. Susan retired in 2015. She now has six grandchildren.
Instead of asking what have you done for St. Mary's, I should have asked what haven't you done for St. Mary's. Even when serving as Eucharist Minister, Susan joins her beloved choir to sing the anthem. For many years she volunteered to take the children into the chapel at 9:45 am for a short service before they went to Church School. Susan served three terms on the vestry. (Once is enough for most of us.) She volunteered at The Branches and in 2015 became the Director, which she describes as "a labor of love"
What has St. Mary's done for Susan? Susan replied, "Support and love for my entire family."