Dragon Tales E-News
November 28, 2018
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A Note from Jim
As you make your way to and from the church campus this week and weekend, you will notice the Advent Lessons and Carols banner posted up at the corner of St Margaret’s and Pleasant Plains. It is hard to imagine that December is just about here!
Our Chancel Choir, Motet Ensemble and Youth Chorale have all been hard at work preparing the music for our annual service of
Advent Lessons and Carols.
This service (and our upcoming Christmas Lessons and Carols) are two of the most well-known liturgies in the Western world. Through Scripture and song, we celebrate the upcoming birth of the Christ child by telling the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus. The theme of darkness to light (literally using the lights in the sanctuary) truly sets the tone of what the season of Advent is all about, and it also happens to be one of my favorite services of the year! And it appears I am not the only one. Numerous parishioners and choir members have told me it is their favorite service of the year.
As a reminder the
service starts at 5 p.m. this Sunday, and childcare is provided in the nursery.
I hope you will join us and bring a friend!
Another exciting musical event this weekend
(Saturday at 6 p.m.) is the CD release concert and reception for our own Third Sunday Band.
They are releasing a new collection of Christmas music just in time for the holiday season. I hope you all plan to support our St. Margaret's-based band who offers so much for us during the program year. Tickets are $10 to help support the financial commitment it has taken to produce the new album.
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Schedule Reminder -- The church office will now be open on Fridays by appointment only. This will allow staff to be able to be flexible with their schedule if they need to work on Sundays. You will still be able to communicate through email and voicemail.
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Sunday's Service
November 25, 2018
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Service Schedule for Jan.-Easter
Our new service schedule for January through Easter Sunday on April 21 is now available on the new online scheduling system. This means you can now begin swapping or asking for subs if you know you cannot complete the duty assigned.
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Guild Nets $3,000 from Holiday Bazaar
St. Margaret's Guild raised $3,000 with their recent Holiday Bazaar last weekend. The money will used for their mission projects, including working with the guidance counselor at Cape St. Claire Elementary to provide eight students with Christmas gifts who might otherwise not have any. We thank the guild for their hard work, especially coordinator Judy Hall!
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To help our homeless brothers and sisters, the Missions Commission is once again collecting
small value gift cards ($5 or $10)
for area restaurants and convenience stores. The gift cards will allow homeless men and women to purchase food or a hot cup of coffee and in some cases get out of the cold for a while. Suggested gift card venues include fast food restaurants, coffee houses, and Wawa. Gift cards can be given to parishioner Christine Feldmann, placed in her mailbox in the church office, or given to clergy on Sunday.
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As the St. Margaret’s Youth Group did last year, they will be
collecting hats, scarves, gloves (or mittens) and fleece blankets, to local secondary public school students
– all neighbors of ours - to stay warmer this year. Their giving tree will be located in the narthex and loaded with ornaments made by the Youth Group. The ornaments will list what the requested item is, and whether it is for a boy or a girl, and what grade they are in.
Please take an ornament (or several!) home with you and when you go out to do your family Christmas shopping pick up the requested item. We ask that you bring the UNWRAPPED donations – with the ornaments attached– to the narthex by Sunday, December 16.
The gifts will be delivered to the schools and students will receive their gifts on the last day of school before the Christmas break. Thank you in advance for your generosity.
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Members of our parish are asked to provide holiday meals to local families and seniors this Christmas. We have received names from our partner schools and the A.A. County Dept. of Social Services of those needing help in purchasing their holiday dinners. The Mission Commission will provide the hams: parishioners are asked to provide the side ingredients for the rest of the meal and deliver the food basket to the recipient a few days BEFORE Christmas. No cooking is involved!
Baskets will be available for pick-up in the Parish Hall on Sunday, Dec. 16
or by separate arrangement. In advance, you will receive the name of your recipient and delivery instructions. To participate, contact Barbara Marder at 410-518-9978 or
scubaesc@aol.com
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LONGEST NIGHT”HOMELESS PERSONS MEMORIAL SERVICE
for Annapolis and Anne Arundel County
Friday, December 21, 4:30pm
Sunset at 4:47pm
WHITMORE PARK
37 Clay St., Annapolis
just off Calvert St.
Sponsored by
Arundel House of Hope, Sarah’s House - Catholic Charities,
and Light House Annapolis
A 40-minute somber service to remember the lives of homeless sisters and brothers who have died in Anne Arundel County in the previous year.
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Anne Arundel Connecting Together (ACT), an affiliate of the Industrial Areas Foundation, is having a one-on-one relational meeting introduction
on
Thursday, November 29, at 7 pm
at St. Margaret's.
Interested in ACT or becoming more involved? Want to learn why ACT does one-on-one’s? There will be an overview about one-on-one relational meetings followed by a sample demonstration. Smaller Break-out sessions will allow everyone a chance to practice. This is an opportunity to share with others and listen, to what issues are taken to heart by those in our community.
Relational Action Teams focus on Mental Health/Addictions, Effective Education, Affordable Housing/Safe Neighborhoods, Connected and Useful Transportation, and Gun Violence and have ongoing meetings. If you have any questions, please contact Dalyn Huntley
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St. Margaret's Guild's annual Christmas Luncheon will be held on
Wednesday, Dec. 5 at Donelly's Dockside (formerly Deep Creek restaurant) starting at 11:30 a.m.
Tickets are $30. To attend, please contact Judy Hall at
judy.hall0404@gmail.com
to place your order.
Orders due TODAY.
The Guild will hold its annual poinsettia sale in the Fellowship Hall on Sunday, Dec. 9 and 16. Prices are $15, $20, and $25 for different sizes. Proceeds go to the Guild's missions efforts.
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Newcomers' Classes on Dec. 3 and 17
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In December, we will offer two nights of classes for newcomers, on
Mondays December 3 and 17 from 6:30-8 pm. Join us for our Fellowship Dinner at 6 p.m.
Participants will talk about religion, spirituality, God, the Bible, the Episcopal Church, and St. Margaret’s. You’ll have a chance to ask questions, and meet other newcomers to St. Margaret’s. You’ll hear about ways to get involved with our community and in your community, whether it’s on Sunday morning here or during the week outside our walls. If you wish to participate, email the Rev. Peter Mayer at
peter@st-margarets.org
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Decorate for Christmas for Loved Ones
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Parishioners are invited to make a donation to
decorate the church for Christmas in honor of or in loving memory of a loved a loved one
. Poinsettias are $25 and wreaths are $40.
Fill out this form to print
and pay by check (put in offertory plate or drop by church office) or pay by credit card online.
Orders due by December 16.
The Flower Guild makes its annual request for parishioners to kindly
bring in fresh greens, including holly or magnolia, to help decorate the church for Christmas.
Please leave outside the Annex building (next to the church)
on Dec. 22-Dec. 23 in the am.
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St. Nicholas Day on Dec. 16
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Mark your calendars for
Dec. 16
as we await a
special visitor in the parish hall during coffeehour (10:15 to 11 a.m.) for a St. Nicholas Day celebration.
There will be children's activities before a very special guest arrives.
No Sunday School that day!
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A Quiet Christmas on Dec. 19
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The Christmas season can be overwhelming, especially for those who are experiencing sadness, loss, or illness. Join us for a special service that allows participants to remember loved ones in a calm and reflective way.
Our Quiet Christmas services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 19 at noon and 7 p.m.
Childcare can be provided by emailing elizabeth@st-margaerts.org.
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Year End Giving from the Church Office
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Deadlines for contributions to be recorded for 2018 taxes are as follows:
Stock or bond sales need to be initiated by Monday, December 3.
This is because it may take 2-3 weeks for the transaction to be processed and for our bank to receive the proceeds from the sale. Please remember to alert the church office of your gift in advance so you can be properly credited.
Automatic drafts from your bank need to be scheduled by you no later than Monday, December 14.
It can take six to seven business days to process and then mail the checks to our office.
Please mail your final 2018 contributions so that the office receives them by Thursday, December 27
.
Did you know the IRS requires those over age 70.5 to withdraw a certain amount from their IRAs each year? Talk to your financial planner about possibly giving to St. Margaret’s. You might avoid paying income taxes on the distribution!
NOTE: We will not be mailing pledge giving statements until after the new year. If you would like to request a statement be emailed or mailed to you, please email Elizabeth Radley at
Elizabeth@st-margarets.org before Dec. 20th.
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Children's Epiphany Pageant
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After the Christmas week is over, the children of St. Margaret's will be offering the story of the Magi in a
pageant on Epiphany Sunday, Jan. 6
. There will be no Sunday School that day. Dress rehearsal will be on Saturday, Jan. 5 in the parish hall at 9 a.m.
We are in need of volunteers to help with costume mending (before Christmas) and rehearsal help. Please let parishioner Julie Svendsen know if you can assist with this favorite parish event. Her email is
julesannap@yahoo.com
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Upcoming Diocesan Retreats
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The Diocese of Maryland is offering upcoming retreats for men and women at its Claggett Center located near Frederick, Maryland.
Participants across Maryland
join together to study and discuss scripture, pray, and celebrate the love of God in a peaceful setting.
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Contacts
Jim Bowersox, Facility Operations Assistant
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