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Dragon Tales E-News
November 27, 2019
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A Thanksgiving Prayer
For health and strength and daily food;
for all the joys that make life worth living;
for the opportunity to help those who need us so very much,
we give you thanks, O God. In Jesus’ name.
Amen.
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A Note from Jeff
I love doubt. For a youth leader, doubt is an essential tool. “What don't you understand?” or “Tell me what seems completely crazy.” These are favorite questions of mine. I don’t need to focus on what a student already believes; there is no work to do there. Doubt becomes my lesson plan.
But, if you ask any of the students in Youth Group, they will also tell you that another one of my favorite questions is, “What is the context?” In the context of planning lessons, doubt is my friend and co-worker. In the context of our relationships with friends and family, doubt can become a poison. “Am I being told the truth?” The closer the relationship, the faster acting and more lethal the doubt/poison becomes. Things outside of the bounds of the relationship get called into question, too. Our faith in our own ability to discern truth from unreality erodes, and we can find ourselves adrift from a once-trusted community.
For the fifth time this school year, the ugly side of doubt has pushed its way into all of our lives. When anyone, but especially a child, takes their own life, they leave us with doubt and questions. As students, our children thankfully have access to a lot of caring people and resources focused on helping them during these times when they lose a classmate. As adults, our focus is rightly on guiding our children and students through their fear and doubt and grief. We comfort ourselves through action for others. We are experienced; it is sad, but we all know we will get through it. There must have been drugs involved. A bad home life. Mental illness. On-line bullying. We know how these things work. Right?
But when none of the tried and true answers work, the poison spreads farther and deeper. Is my child okay? Can I trust my child? Can I trust myself as parent? Am I asking the right questions? Am I alone?
Over the next weeks, we are going to put together a series of discussions or forums focused on youth suicide awareness for adults. These will be occasional – as schedules permit – over the rest of the year. We will bring in resources from our County and local organizations to speak to us. But most importantly, we can be together, sharing our fears and our concerns. I will be reaching out to some of you to help coordinate things, and if you are interested in helping set this up, I’d love to talk with you.
You are not alone.
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Youth News and Events
The Youth Group's
annual Giving Tree
will go up in the Narthex before the 1st of December. The Tree helps serve students in need at Magothy & Severn River Middle Schools. There will be tags for scarves, hats, gloves/mittens, and blankets, and each will specify boy or girl, and the grade. They will be distributed before the last day of vacation before Christmas so
ALL donations must go to Jeff Conover, Youth Ministries Leader, no later than December 17th.
Children and Youth's
annual caroling
will be held on Sunday Dec 15
th
. As in the past, all who are interested will meet in the Parish Hall following the 11:15 Service. We will have a quick lunch of cold cuts, and then off for about 90 minutes of visiting/singing.
The youth program is planning
a visit to one of the Bello Machre
homes in the area on
Thursday, Dec. 5
. They provide semi-independent living for developmentally challenged adults. It is a Thursday, but there is a two hour early school dismissal for AA County Schools. The idea is that a small (10) group will meet and decorate the house with the residents, and maybe bake cookies, etc. The event would be from 3-5pm that afternoon. Contact Jeff if your child wants to participate.
The Youth Group will have its
Christmas Party on the 16
th
.
Youth-led Sunday service at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday, January 12th.
A MLK Day youth event
through the Diocese will take place on January 19-20th. More details to follow.
Youth Happening #13
will take place for students in
grades 9-12 at the Claggett Center
near Frederick, MD. Participants should arrive Friday at 7 p.m. with parent pickup on Sunday at 3 p.m. Cost is $95 due by Jan. 23. Scholarships available.
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Current Pledge Information (11/25/19)
$369
Current # of Pledges: 187 (72%)
Current Amount of Pledges: $847,566 (92%)
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If you have not yet pledged for next year, please pledge online
HERE, or fill out a pledge card and return to the church office or place in the offertory plate.
What’s is your 2019 pledge progress?
To find out if you have completed your 2019 pledge amount simply log onto REALM (www.onrealm.org/smcannapolis) and check your giving. If you need help, email Elizabeth or Teresa in the office and your progress will be be emailed to you.
(Elizabeth@st-margarets.org or office@st-margarets.org)
Please pray for our vestry as they make financial decisions on the 2020 budget based on pledging amounts.
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Thank you to all who attended, shopped, and contributed to the Women's Guild Holiday Bazaar this past weekend. Proceeds from the event will go to support a variety of church and missions efforts.
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We thank the Feldmann family and the Rev. Patti Sachs for attending the Broadneck ecumenical "Thanks and Giving" food packaging effort on Sunday at Gloria Dei! for the Maryland Food Bank.
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Endowment Grants Program for 2020
The 2020 St. Margaret's Church Endowment Grants application is
now available on the church website
. New this year: the committee will award one multi-year grant to a deserving organization.
Applications are due by November 30, 2019.
Pass this along to your favorite non profit!
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Faith & Fellowship Mondays
Faith & Fellowship will resume next Monday, Dec. 2.
On
Monday, Dec. 2, the adult formation study will center on Rowan Williams' "Ponder These Things: Praying with Icons of the Virgin."
The Rev. Patti Sachs
invites participants to explore and reflect on the depths of meaning in three classic icons from the Eastern Christian tradition. Icons have been described as "theology in line and color." Tracing the movement within them, the Archbishop of Canterbury discovers the pattern of love that they reveal. This love invites and embraces us so that we find ourselves caught up in the drama of the love of God. The study will be held on Dec. 2 and Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. A small number of the books can be purchased from the Rev. Patti Sachs.
On Dec. 9, parishioners are invited to a presentation by the Light House's BEST
(Building Employment Success Training) Program
which provides training to prepare students to work in the high demand fields of culinary arts and building trades. The two distinctive tracks prepare students by providing classroom training and a paid work experience with employers. Join us for a dinner prepared by the students at 6:15 p.m. and then the program begins at 7 p.m.
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Advent Class & the Advent Wreath
Please attend our Sunday morning Advent class in the Fellowship Hall on Sundays, December 8, 15 and 22. On Dec. 1st, we’ll be learning about the practice of the Advent Wreath and making our own in the parish hall.
Donations of greens are needed (evergreen, holly, magnolia, etc.). Leave green donations at the doors of the Parish Hall by 8:30 a.m. on Sunday
. Freewill donations for wreath kits are $20.
On
Dec. 8 & 15 at 10:15 a.m.
, the Rev. Peter will lead discussions on
"Redeemed: the Promises of Advent through the Lens of Isaiah
in the Fellowship Hall.
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St. Margaret's Women's Guild
Christmas Luncheon
The Guild will hold their annual Christmas luncheon on Wed., Dec. 4, Noon, at Carrol's Creek in Annapolis. Tickets are $30. Make checks available to "St. Margaret's Church" with "Guild Luncheon" in the memo line.
Deadline is Dec.1.
Also mark your calendars and bring your checkbooks for the Guild's annual poinsettia sale coming soon on Sundays in the parish hall.
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Third Sunday Band Christmas Concert
Join the Third Sunday Band as they perform a joyful, holiday concert for the parish and community on
Saturday, Dec. 7, 6:00 p.m. in the sanctuary. Light refreshments follow. Tickets sold at the door for $5. All are welcome!
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Advent Lessons & Carols on Dec. 8
The choirs of St. Margaret's will offer
Advent Lessons & Carols on Sunday, Dec. 8 at 5:00 p.m.
in the sanctuary. This service is intended to be a time of spiritual preparation, as we watch and wait for the coming of the birth of Jesus Christ. Nursery care is provided.
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Christmas Day Meals for Local Families
Our parishioners are asked to help now with providing a Christmas dinner for identified local families that we helped for Thanksgiving. The Mission Commission will provide the hams: we need volunteers to provide the ingredients for the rest of the meal and deliver it to the recipient a few days BEFORE Christmas Day. No cooking involved.
Hams will be available at the church on Sunday, Dec. 22
or by separate arrangement. Volunteers will receive the name of the recipient and complete delivery instructions. To volunteer or ask any questions, call Barbara Marder at 410-518-9978 or email:
scubaesc@aol.com
.
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Quiet Christmas Services on Dec. 18
Christmas is not as happy or joyful for many who have experienced some kind of loss. Our annual Quiet Christmas service will be held on
Wednesday, Dec. 18 at
noon and 7 p.m. and offers scripture, hymns, and prayers of comfort.
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Honor a Loved One this Christmas
Honor a loved one with a donation of poinsettias or wreaths to decorate St. Margaret's sanctuary this Christmas. Donations and dedications will be notated on Christmas bulletins. Prices are $25 for a poinsettia and $40 for a wreath.
Deadline is Dec 15.
To pay by check: Make it out to "St. Margaret's Church" with "Christmas Flowers" in the memo line. Write down who you wish to honor/remember. Put in the offertory plate on Sunday or bring it by the office.
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Greens Needed for Christmas
The St. Margaret's Flower Guild is in need of donated greens (evergreen, magnolia, pine cones, etc.) to help decorate the church. Please leave donations by the church doors on Dec. 22 after 2pm.
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Christmas Eve Services
3:00 p.m.
Holy Eucharist with traditional congregational Christmas carols
5:00 p.m.
Holy Eucharist with traditional Christmas carols
Sung by the Spirit Singers and Youth Chorale
7:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.
Music Prelude and Holy Eucharist with traditional Christmas carols
Music for choir, organ, strings, harp and trumpet
Sung by members of the Chancel Choir and Motet Ensemble
Christmas Day
10:00 a.m.
Christmas Lessons & Carols
Sunday, December 29
9:00 and 11:15 a.m.
New Year's Brunch
Sunday December 29
10:15 a.m. in the Parish Hall
Bring a breakfast casserole to share!
Children's Epiphany Pageant
Rehearsal on Jan. 4, 9:00 a.m. in Parish Hall
Performance on Jan. 5, 10:15 a.m., in Parish Hall
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Realm: Get Connected.
We are asking all parishioners to join Realm to foster efficiency and communication at SMC. You need to be invited by us which will take you to a sign-in site. To ask for an invite (or another one), just email laura@st-margarets.org. If you need help getting started, call the church office and we will schedule a time you can come in with your laptop.
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PLEASE NOTE:
Due to unexpected circumstances, staff may not have the ability to set up for coffee hour or other events for a few months. Anyone that can show up a bit early and help set-up please do so. Coffee hour takes 5-6 round tables and chairs.
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Church Clergy/Staff
The Rev. Peter W. Mayer, Rector
peter@st-margarets.org
The Rev. Patti Sachs, Asst. Rector
patti@st-margarets.org
Elizabeth Radley, Director of Operations
elizabeth@st-margarets.org
Jim Douglas, Director of Music
music@st-margarets.org
Laura Tayman, Director of Communications
laura@st-margarets.org
Jeff Conover, Youth Ministries Leader
jeff@st-margarets.org
Teresa McCorkle, Bookkeeper
office@st-margarets.org
Tricia McVeigh, Day School Director
tricia@st-margarets.org
Judy Hall, Churchyard Adm.
churchyard@st-margarets.org
Christine Feldmann, Grants Adm.
missions@st-margarets.org
Jim Bowersox, Facilities/Operations Asst.
Quick Links
To give to St. Margaret's online, click here:
To give on your phone,
text GIVESMC to 73256
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Church Office Hours
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. - Mon - Thurs
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Service Participants
THIS Sunday, Dec 1
EM @ 7:30: Joan Rich
Lector @ 7:30: Joan Rich
EM @ 9:00: David Allen, Janet Allen
Lectors @ 9:00: Phil Meeder, Barbara Marder
Acolytes @ 9:00: Molly Rose Svendsen, Sarah Mayer, Allen Mayer, Katherine Parker, Matthew Parker
Children's Chapel: Emily Delsordo, Ernie Tucker, Ella Tomko
EM@11:15: Sue Snyder, Peg Overton
Lectors@ 11:!5: Mel Kessler, Valery Weekley
Acolytes@ 11:15: Greta Lunsford-Poe, Dylan Lunsford-McBride, Caroline VanArsdall
Altar Guild: Elizabeth Parker, Susan Roberts, Lyn Sloan, Betsy Dobbs
Flower Guild: Cindy Lynch
Coffeehour Hosts: Sarah Hyde, Teresa Todd, Carole Bracken, Bill Saur, Milko Rospigliosi
NEXT Sunday, Dec. 8
EM @ 7:30: Fran Becker
Lector @ 7:30: Alice Gillis
EM @ 9:00: Katy Strother, Jim Barnett
Lectors @ 9:00: Charlie Lang, Karyn Sproles
Acolytes @ 9:00: Ella Tomko, Molly Rose Svendsen, Caroline Viscardi, Hannah Ruegg, Kaden Huntley
Children's Chapel: Kristen Berthelotte, Arvilla Wubbenhorst
EM@11:15: George Saroch, Jim Reising
Lectors@ 11:15: Rex Pingle, Sarah Hyde
Acolytes@ 11:15: Wes Reising, Grace Feldmann, Caroline VanArsdall
Altar Guild: Nancy Saroch, Stephanie Ceruolo, Lisa Body, Lynn Goff
Flower Guild: Stacy Canuel
Coffeehour Hosts: Elizabeth Kopack, Justyn Kopack, Heidi Ruegg, Web Chamberlain
ALL servers on Sundays now have a Winter/Spring Schedule.
Any changes or swaps should be made the scheduling system. Bulletin listings are taken from the scheduling system.
Go to our scheduling system to request a replacement or sign up where needed.
(Bulletins are usually printed
on Wednesdays each week.)
A Christmas services sign up
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St. Margaret's Church
Office Phone: 410-974-0200
Emergency Pastoral #: 443-837-5463
info@st-margarets.org
www.st-margarets.org
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