Our mission is to be a community of Christian
worship, well-being and service
The week of June 19 - June 26
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Gardens of Life
In 1988, PBS journalist Bill Moyers produced an 11-part documentary, “The Power of Myth”, in which he and renowned anthropologist Joseph Campbell spent time delving into the great spiritual mythologies from all over the world. Campbell made it clear from the start that there was nothing untrue about these mythic spiritual traditions and narratives. He made a strong case that they were all true; each one rich in revelation. As an anthropologist he came to love these storied discoveries and was comfortable participating in their rituals; all of them. Tibet today, Assisi tomorrow, Chartres Cathedral (a spiritual touchstone for him) the next. Much of his work had to do with gardens, God, and all aspects of growth. The following excerpt expresses some very important questions many ask about the spiritual journey.
From “The Power of Myth”, Joseph Campbell with Bill Moyers:
MOYERS: "Have all people at all times felt some sense of exclusion from an ultimate reality, from bliss, from delight, from perfection, from God?"
CAMPBELL: "Yes, but then you also have moments of ecstasy. The difference between everyday living and living in those moments of ecstasy is the difference between being outside and inside the Garden."
We rarely experience such moments as a result of our own deliberate efforts to seize them. They seem rather to apprehend us. On my deck on Tuesday, finishing a delicious macaroni salad, I was suddenly apprehended by the fluttering of wings in a nearby berry tree. The creature was hidden by the leaves; out of sight. I went in to fetch my camera "just in case" it might show itself. Well it sure did, with acrobatic grace, and a long enough performance to allow the taking of ten exposures.
Looking quickly at my view finder to see the results, I realized that the act of having lunch on the deck was over. I was now experiencing a “moment of ecstasy”, inside a Garden, sharing it with a Cedar Waxwing ("Birds of N. America"). “The belly is pale yellow, the tail gray with a bright yellow tip. Face has a narrow black mask neatly outlined in white. The red waxy tips to the wing feathers are not always easy to see.” There it all was. Seeing all that displayed in a single image was for me a privileged, totally unexpected true moment of garden grace.
Commonly seen in berry laden trees, to an average person like myself who's never gotten up close to such a beautiful creature, the experience is stunning. I The encounter was long lasting as I transferred and edited. This was a moment of ecstasy, and I will never again refer to the space around that deck as a back yard. It is a Garden in the truest, and dare I say Eden-like sense, inhabited by flora, winged beauty, and fauna. It has also become a place of awe, love, prayer, and quiet thanksgiving. A small flock has been feasting in that tree this week, all remaining hidden within its foliage except for the one that briefly emerged on Tuesday.
Moyers was right; at times we can feel "excluded from bliss, from delight, from God”. Campbell's response was also true; that we do have moments of ecstasy, “. . . outside of everyday living and inside the Garden”. May this season of green, growth, and gardens be a blessing for all of us.
Ray Edler
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Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
June 20
Sunday worship is at 9 a.m. and will be celebrated in person, outdoors, weather permitting. See below for more information.
Sunday Worship Links
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This Week's Leaders:
Eucharistic Minister
Steve Downing
Lector/ Intercessor
Laura Palmer
Altar Guild
Ann Gizzi & Joanne Gracia
Livestream Videographer:
Marlo Pratt
Audio
David Brierley
Musicians
Julie Zecher
Michael Templeton
Celebrant & Preacher
The Rev. Meaghan Brower
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"He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm." Mark 4:35-41
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Collect For The Week
O Lord, make us have perpetual love and reverence for your holy Name, for you never fail to help and govern those whom you have set upon the sure foundation of your loving-kindness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
https://www.lectionarypage.net/YearB_RCL/Pentecost/BProp6_RCL.html
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June Worship Notes
- Worship will be outside, weather permitting, Sundays at 9:00 a.m.
- If the weather is not suitable for outdoor worship, we will gather in the chapel with anyone who is comfortable doing so.
- All will maintain 3 feet of social distancing between households.
- Those who are not vaccinated will please wear masks.
- If we worship inside the chapel, drive - through Holy Communion will be offered outside the historic church from 10:15 - 10:45 for those who are unable to be inside.
- We will continue to offer a livestream of worship on Facebook live whether we are inside or out.
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Plans for Worship and Gathering |
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Daily Evening Prayer on Facebook live
Lay leaders are praying the evening office at 5:30 p.m. daily online via Facebook Live. You do not need to have Facebook in order to participate in these daily prayers. If you can not make it at 5:30, the service will be recorded and remain on the St. Mary's Facebook page.
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If you would like to add someone to the prayers of the people, to be included in the Sunday morning prayers and in the daily evening prayers, please contact Parish Administrator, Karen Laroche. We typically keep people in the prayers for one month.
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Calling all Teens, College Students
and Parishioners
We are looking for some volunteers to help with filming our Church services on Sunday mornings. If you can volunteer in the months of June, July, and August, please contact Marlo Pratt. You will be trained and supported. Your help would be greatly appreciated.
or text @ 813-957-1511
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Reminder
Last week to get free tickets to an historical reenactment by Trinity Rep. actor Joe Wilson, Jr. shown here in the role of MLK, Jr. in “The Mountaintop”. It will be a community reading of Frederick Douglass' famous July 5th, 1852 speech on the grounds of Linden Place in Bristol next Sunday June 27th at 4pm. Use the link below to acquire free tickets to this event.
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Plan Your Vaccination
The more people who are fully vaccinated the sooner the pandemic will end. Our commitment to vaccination is not only for ourselves and our loved ones, it is for the greater good. Getting vaccinated is a way of loving your neighbor as yourself.
The CDC has clearly outlined how much more is possible and safe when we are vaccinated. Please take a look at this guidance which is so encouraging as we seek to regather with fewer restrictions.
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Safe Church Training
As we begin to serve more in person, it is the perfect time to resume and renew our Safe Church Training process. Safe church training promotes safe ways of interacting with children, youth and adults in the church.
Safe Church Training is a required certification program for clergy, all licensed lay ministers, including Licensed Eucharistic Visitors, vestry members, worship leaders, pastoral care ministers, employees, and those who volunteer in programs for children and youth. The new guidelines include many lay people in leadership positions who may not have been previously required to participate in this training. If you are someone who offers ministry at St. Mary's, you may soon hear from Karen Laroche, our Parish Administrator who is coordinating our training. In light of the audit we will need to do, please complete your training by June 24.
Please know that this process is important for at least two reasons. The first is that it is required of our parish that we comply with The Episcopal Church and diocesan requirements. The second is that as we regather, the safety and well-being of our members, leaders, and those whom we serve is a priority.
Thank you in advance for your participation. Jennifer+
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Rhodeside Revival Coming Soon |
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Rhodeside Revival will be a way to make a difference! Rhodeside Revival is Rhode Island's curbside composting program that brings your home's food scraps away from the landfill and into the garden. This organization is local and committed to helping the environment and community in preventing landfill waste and related harm to the environment. St. Mary's will soon be a drop off hub offering St. Mary's and the local community a convenient drop off location. Learn more about this great organization at https://rhodesiderevival.com/about-us/
Stay tuned for more information.
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Forward Day By Day
The new Day by Day books are in and will be available at the Welcome Table Sunday Mornings. Please pick one up!
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Update Message From The Soup Kitchen |
Soup Kitchen News For June
Hello fellow Soup Kitchen volunteers. Just a note that we will again be doing two distribution days. Some
of the organizations that were offline due to COVID restrictions are coming back, and some places are
starting to do hot meals again. St. Paul’s is not allowing us to do that yet so we are still in bagged meal
mode this month. But change is coming so please be prepared to jump in to help when we get back into full hot meal mode. I’ll let you know when that is, as soon as I hear we can.
If you have any other thoughts or concerns, please email me at SK@smcportsmouth.org.
Here is the link to sign up genius link to volunteer:
In peace and with love for all you do,
Dave Ferkinhoff
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MLK Food Collections
Results and Looking Forward Announcement
Thanks to the generous food donations left at our services and at the Parish House, St. Mary's has contributed 914 pounds of nourishing food and sundries to the Martin Luther King Center Food Pantry from January through May of this year. Donations for May increased by a third over those the previous month! Please continue to generously bring non-perishable foods to donate as you come for Sunday worship, or leave them in the baskets in the entry to the Parish House. Salt-free or low salt canned goods are especially needed, but all foods are both much needed and welcome! A team of St. Mary's member volunteers continues to make weekly deliveries of donations collected to the food pantry.
Thank you for all your generous contributions.
Jonathan Edwards
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Do you need groceries, errands or help with something else?
Contact the head of our Pastoral Care Team, Pauline Davis. There are many people who can help. Her email address is here. You may also phone her at 401-871-1453, but she would prefer an email if you are able.
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Communication & Other Announcements
If you lead a ministry and wish to share information, please send the content (which should include relevant information, time, date, place, and contact person with email) to:
The Rector if you'd like it verbally announced at worship,
the weekly worship bulletin
Your copy should address 3 key questions: Who am I writing for? (Audience) Why should they care? (Benefit) What do I want them to do here? (Call-to-Action) If you have a photo or image that is always welcome.
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St. Mary's Leadership and Staff |
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Watercolor: Richard Grosvenor. |
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