 Letter from the Rector
Annual Address 2019/20
Dear Friends:
For this edition of the Bell I wanted to share with you my address to the recent annual meeting:
"We are called to be a holy people who witness God's love to the world and serve others. Our Mission is to provide an environment for worship, learning, and service."
Saint Mary's Mission statement, opening sentences
"Dear Child of God, I write these words because we all experience sadness, we all come at times to despair, and we all lose hope that suffering in our lives and in our world will never end. I want to share with you my faith and my understanding that this suffering can be transformed and redeemed......Indeed God is transforming the world now - through us - because God loves us"
"God has a dream, a vision of hope for our time," Desmond Tutu
Three years ago, I had planned a residential weekend parish retreat at the Holy Cross monastery. The retreat was based on Archbishop Desmond's book, "God has a dream."
This is my fourth annual meeting as your Rector, and I have been reflecting on how we are called to engage purposefully on God's call for us to exercise our mission and ministry.
Our mission statement is indeed succinct and clear......we are called to be a Holy people, for worship service and learning!
Given that the retreat was cancelled as a result of too few sign ups, it seemed prudent therefore for me to reference and reflect on three chapters (which I had prepared then) as we commence this new era of 2020.
1. "God believes in us"
"Dear child of God, it is often difficult for us to recognize the presence of God in our lives and in our world. In the clamor of the tragedy that fills the headlines we forget about the majesty that is present all around us. It is true that all of us are vulnerable, for vulnerability is the essence of creature-hood. But we are not helpless and with God's love we are ultimately invincible."
- Recall occasions when you felt closest to God
- What are the feelings that conjured up within you at the time?
- Collectively as a faith community, despite our challenges, we ought to celebrate the gift that God Really does believe in us
- Practically it demands that we live out our mission
2. "God's dream/your dream"
Dear child of God, before we can become God's partners, we must know what God wants for us. 'I have a dream,' God says. 'please help Me realize it. It is a dream of a world whose ugliness and squalor and poverty, it is war and hostility, it is greed and harsh competitiveness, it is alienation and disharmony are changed into their glorious counterparts."
- Describe your dream for the world
- Describe your dream for Saint Mary's
- What are the two actions we can take as a faith community to realize these dreams?
3. "God only has us"
"Dear child of God, do you realize that God needs you? Do you realize that you are God's partner?
When there is someone hungry, God wants to perform the miracle of feeding that person. Normally, more usually, God can do nothing until we provide God with the means, the bread and the fish, to feed. When a person is naked, God wants to perform the miracle of clothing that person. It will be because you and I, all of us, have agreed, have agreed to be God's fellow workers."
- How does it make you feel to know that God depends on you/us for Gods plan to be realized?
- What is your interpretation that God 'only has you,' for God's work and mission?
- What is the one thing you would like to do, as Gods partner here at Saint Mary's?
The Archbishop concludes: "Dear Child of God, as I hope is now clear, you are God's partner and you matter. Only you can fulfill your part of Gods dream."
I pray that as we enter this new era, we may want to partner with the Holy One in such a manner that through our mission and ministry, we may draw others to Jesus!
On a personal note: This year, on December 15, I celebrated my 40th Anniversary, of ordination as a priest. Bishop Dietsche, the Bishop of New York, was the celebrant and preacher, during a festive liturgy, followed by a Gala reception in the Parish hall.
In conclusion, I continue to be ever so grateful to the staff (Deacon Shiane, Laurane, Coleen and Peter), the Church wardens, John and Andrew, the treasurer Dave, and the members of the vestry for their hard work, care and support, and to all our very many dedicated volunteers.
Thank you one and all!!
I am blessed that my wife Jenny, who has journeyed with me over so many years, continues her loving and unselfish support of my ministry here.
God's blessings of Peace,
The Reverend Canon G. Dennis ~ Rector
Sermons are available on our website under the worship tab. Click
HERE.
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OUR REGULAR SERVICE SCHEDULE
SUNDAY WORSHIP:
- Holy Eucharist Rite I at 8:00 am
- Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10:00 am
WEEKDAY WORSHIP:
- Monday: Morning Prayer at 9:30am
- Wednesday: Holy Eucharist at noon
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Click HERE for Link for Ash Wednesday thru Easter Schedule
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| Lenten Teaching
Holy Week and Easter
The Liturgy Explained
Please join
Fr. Alan & Deacon Shiane
on Sunday March 22 after the 10.00 am Mass
The purpose of the presentation is to explain the meaning of the historical liturgy in which the Church celebrates the story of what St John Chrysostom calls "the Great Week" of the Christian year.
The word "explained" in the subtitle requires definition. There are three essential questions which will be discussed:
- First: "what is the meaning of the rites and ceremonies in precise relation to the events celebrated?"
- Secondly: "what should be the "soul" response on the part of those participating?"
- To these a third may well be added: "how did the Church come to adopt these forms?"
- Reflecting on: Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter
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Wardens Corner
News from the Church
Warden,
John Priscantelli
As Stewards of the church we have to strived to build a strong church. In retrospect I believe we are doing that and we continue to do so. We are fortunate to have strong leadership from Father Alan and Deacon Shiane as well as from our Vestry and staff.
Our clergy delivers us meaning to our sacraments that help to guide us every day. They are there for us on Sundays or any other day of the week you may need them. Father Alan remains our steady guide, someone we all respect and can call a friend. He lets us know our faith is an ongoing process. Sometimes it is there without question, sometimes we have to search for it. But it is always there. We are also so lucky to have Deacon Shiane. She is also a steady guide and friend. Her memorable
"Saint Mary the Virgin Church, let us go forth the in the name of Christ, Allelulia, Allelulia" prayer at the end of a service has become a cherished part of the service. Both Father Alan and Deacon Shiane's attitude, friendliness and being themselves are a treasure to all of us. We are lucky to have them as our spiritual leaders.
We should be thankful for our staff, our loyal parishioners, the choir, our wonderful faith community, and our dedicated Vestry. I apologize if I have left anyone out. Some people subscribe to the warm body theory of Vestry positions, all we need is a warm body to be a Vestry member but everyone on the Vestry has taken their job seriously. We are lucky to have such a strong team. We are challenged in our meetings as we try to do our best job for the church. But this really doesn't tell the whole story of how much work we do and how much thought everyone puts into the roles. Please, if you can, take the time to read each members Vestry report.
We have accomplished much this year. We have changed the auction dinner model, we keep the proceeds from the dinner for our operations and now hold the dinner at the parish hall. We challenged the Diocese on our assessment and we will have a $45,000 savings over three years. This helped us this year to narrow our deficit. We have a youth group led by Cindy Forrest and Anne Dreyer! We are raising money to refurbish the parish hall which we have begun and we made a connection with our sister church in the UK. It has been an active year.
We also need to look forward. These past years have not been easy but we have not been afraid to change how we operate. We still need to evolve in this new world where much of the population doesn't identify with any religion.
We need to challenge how we do things, we need to come up with new ideas and most of all we need everyone's help. A new idea for this year has been to upgrade our parish hall. Make it a destination spot for perhaps a reception following a marriage at our church. We are also looking at ways we can further market the grounds and the parish hall. Father Alan is developing a brochure to market our property in this manner. I am attempting to somehow incorporate the community event of Art around Town into the Strawberry Festival. We are thinking about having a Pumpkin Patch the same day as the Annual Town Book Fair.
New ideas ? Old ideas ? Most importantly they are ideas !
MOST OF ALL- WE NEED YOU TO HELP US
COME UP WITH NEW IDEAS AND HELP US EXECUTE THEM !
I encourage young parishioners to get involved. Become a Vestry member. Is it demanding? Sometimes yes. Is it Rewarding? Always Yes! You are getting a chance to help build and sustain our faith based community. You have a chance to build lifelong friendships over many different age groups. You are getting a chance to build your family's spiritual life. We have to prepare for the next generation of church leaders.
Lastly, I encourage all of you and challenge you to do more. It is our church, we are only as good as the sum of the parts.
Respectfully,
John Priscantelli,
Stewardship Warden
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Meet the Parish
PROFILE
Coleen MacGreevey was raised outside of Philadelphia in Berwyn, PA. She attended Christian schools through high school and earned a degree in Leadership Studies from the University of Richmond. She moved to New York City after graduation to begin a career in technology consulting for Arthur Andersen. Following the birth of her first child, Coleen decided to leave the corporate world and stay home full-time with her children.
Coleen's family relocated to Chappaqua in 2005 seeking more space, fresh air and other benefits of a suburban lifestyle. Coleen quickly became involved in her parish, first as a lector at Sunday services and then assumed additional responsibility as a Religious Education teacher and Women's Association board member. Over the years, she also has become an active volunteer assuming leadership roles for the Chappaqua PTA and youth sport organizations, as well as various community service initiatives. In her free time, Coleen enjoys reading, tennis, biking, traveling and spending time with her friends and family, including her two children, Gavin and Schuyler, a junior and freshman at Greeley, respectively.
Five years ago, as her younger child entered middle school, Coleen began to consider her return to the work force. The opportunity as Church School Director was a perfect combination of Coleen's interest in sharing her faith with others, working with children and supporting teachers in their important role of educating children about God's Good Word. The St. Mary the Virgin community was so welcoming from the beginning, which has made the years fly by.
An early goal, along with Reverend Gwyneth, was to choose a curriculum for the Church School program - "Weaving God's Promises" has been an excellent tool in providing quality religious lessons to the children each week. One of her highlights each year is the annual Christmas pageant - the joy on the faces of the children and congregation as we celebrate Jesus' birth is the true spirit of the season. With the arrival of Father Alan, she has enjoyed his support in continuing to focus on sharing our faith and Bible lessons with the children, along with the encouragement and engagement of the families, because faith really begins at home. Together, St. Mary's has developed a great sense of intergenerational inclusivity, from roles as lectors, classroom teachers and community service participants; she hopes to continue to grow opportunities like this in the future. The Church School community is very close-knit and supportive, and she hopes it can extend to embrace more young families in the years to come.
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Annual Meeting Report
The Annual Meeting was held last Sunday, Feb 2.
Click HERE for the full report of the Commissions.
Annual Super Bowl of Caring
The Youth presented a wonderful offering of soup and treats to raise more than $500 to contribute to our local food pantry. MANY thanks to your generous contributions!
In Memory:
For the 7th Year, our youth hosted the Souper Bowl in Memory of Penny Vane who cared deeply about local hunger and worked passionately with "Empty Bowls," another grassroots organization with a mission to fight hunger. The donation to the Interfaith Emergency Food Pantry will be in her honor.
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 Monken Hadley Presentation
Sunday March 29, after the 10 am Mass
Please join Durrie, Chris and Mary, for a presentation, on their recent visit to our sister parish in Monken Hadley, London. (This is a new date.)
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Newsletter Editor Needed
Part of the Communications Commission of SMTV
We continue our search for someone to continue creating our monthly newsletter. Do you want to expand your skill set? Are you familiar with computers, have an eye for graphic design, and want to learn to create and edit The Bell online?
MaryAnn Bayer brought this newsletter to the e-format in 2014 and has been creating it monthly for over 5 years. She would be thrilled to educate someone to assist with this fun, at-home task. Beginning in March, she can work with you to understand the program and responsibilities. No previous experience needed. It is fun and easy with the Constant Contact program, format and templates! (Summers off!)
Feel free to contact MaryAnn to discuss! maryannbayer@yahoo.com
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Vestry Meeting Minutes
Meeting Minutes are available on bulletin board outside of Parish Hall office or by contacting Rich at juzumas@verizon.net. |
Calendar Notes/Special Events:
February 16 -
Reminder: No Church School - Presidents Weekend
February 29 & March 1 - Emergency Shelter Partnership Event - See Outreach Section
March 22 - Lenten Teaching with Father Alan and Deacon Shiane after 10AM service
March 29 - (new date) Monken Hadley Presentation after 10AM service
June 7 - Confirmation 10AM
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Church School News
Grades PreK-7th
Meets 9:45am, Sundays
Joins Worship Service at approx. 10:45am for communion with parents.
FROM COLEEN MACGREEVEY, Director, Church School
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REMINDER:
There will be no Church School on Sunday, February 16th
(President's Day weekend).
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The Church School children have been focusing on the New Testament, hearing about Jesus' Baptism, the calling of His apostles and the performance of miracles. They also learned the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-12):
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the Earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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Class meets in the Library at 3.30 pm
Below is the schedule for the rest of the program
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Session 5 - February 9 - CHRISTIAN ETHICS /behavior for teens
led by
Lisa Fitzgerald
Conversation regarding ethics, attitudes, behavior
Session 6 - March 29-The REALITY OF LIVING - PAIN, SUFFERING & DEATH
led by Sandy Dammann
Discussion about the reality of life and living
Session 7 - April 26 - Sacraments in Action
led by
Fr. Alan
A teaching about worship in the episcopal church and the sacraments
Session 8 - May 31 - Christian responsibility and social action
led by
Lisa Fitzgerald
Discussion regarding the implication to having a Christian witness ethic
Confirmation rehearsal date: TBD
CONFIRMATION DAY
~
June 7 with Bishop Shin at 10.00 am
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St. Mary's embraces Outreach. It is an integral component in the mission of our church family. We provide financial support, services and donated goods to those in need close to home and on the other side of the world.
In fulfilling our outreach mission, we enhance the sense of community within our church family - and we enrich ourselves. We make connections not just with each other, but also with those we help.
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SMTV Outreach Organization of the Month*
Emergency Shelter Partnership
SMTV Liaison: Eileen Herbert and Ludovica Douglas
SMTV is partnering with First Congregational Church as they host members of our community in alliance with Emergency Shelter Partnership for the last week of February.
The Emergency Shelter Partnership is a coalition of interfaith congregation that offer overnight shelter and warm nutritious meals to homeless adults during the coldest
months of the winter. ESP provides shelter to our homeless neighbors from November thorough March, congregations take turns hosting the shelter for one or two weeks.
SMTV has supported FCC as they have hosted the ESP for years. This year
SMTV will supply and serve dinner on February 29th and on March 1st we will work together to provide lunches.
We hope you are able to help during one of these events.
Opportunities include providing food for dinner, serving dinner, kitchen prep and clean up, providing supplies for lunch and participating in an intergenerational opportunity to make lunches during Coffee Hour with our Sunday School Children. We hope you are able to volunteer or contribute to help our members of our community.
Link for the FCC/ESP Dinner Sign Up:
If you sign up for volunteering or supplying food for the dinner you will receive a follow up email from Ludovica.
Link for Contributing to lunch for the FCC/ESP:
For the lunch supplies please bring them to the parish hall kitchen prior to the 10am service. This will allow us to take inventory and have everything ready for the coffee hour lunch making.
If you have any questions please contact Ludovica Douglas (203)-448-0831 or
LudovicaDouglas@gmail.com
or Eileen Herbert (914)-261-7637.
Thank you all very much.
*SMTV Organization of the Month is designed to raise awareness
of the Outreach Organizations that SMTV supports.
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St. Mary's Recycles
Thanks goes to Father Alan for purchasing the bins with signs to clarify what goes where with recycling, and to Cindy Forrest for the wall sign.
Please bring in your used batteries and ink cartridges! (see details below) The kitchen also has bins with clear signs regarding disposal.
Thanks all for participating!
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Support St. Mary's Operating Budget
Recycle Ink Cartridges at SMTV
 Help us Earn $$
Please contribute your used
inkjet or laser printer cartridges
from home or work!
(CANON , HP, BROTHER, KONICA MINOLTA, LEXMARK, SAMSUNG)
We will
$$ RECYCLE FOR CASH $$
Follow these simple steps:
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Place cartridges in the box in the Parish Hall.
-Be sure the cartridge # is visible on the cartridge.
-Careful! No damaged cartridges can be used.
All proceeds will support St. Mary's operating budget!
(If you have any questions contact Janet Priscantelli at jprism@aol.com)
Thanks for your support!
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Sunday Lay Ministers
Lectors, Prayers of the People, Acolytes,
'Chalice Bearers' or 'LEMs'
We are in great need of parishioners to serve at both 8:00am & 10:00am Sunday worship services.
ATTENTION SUNDAY SERVICE ASSISTANTS: If you plan to sign up as LECTOR, please do so before the end of the day on Wednesday, so that Laurane can send you your Sunday readings and print your name in the Sunday bulletin.
LECTORS and LAY EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS
('Chalice Bearers' or 'LEMs')
If you are interested in serving as Lector or Eucharistic Minister during Sunday mass please talk to Durrie Golding or contact her at ddgolding@gmail.comThe SignUp Genius for Service Assistants below.
SIGN UP HERE for SERVICE ASSISTANTS
Please take a moment to see where you or your family members might be able to help out.
Thank you to those who have already signed up. If you have any questions, please email Durrie Golding at ddgolding@gmail.com or call at (914) 589-3864.
Lectors are lay persons appointed to read the scriptures (Old Testament or New Testament reading) each Sunday from the lectern. They can also lead the Prayers of the People in the midst of the congregation during the service. The term "lector" is from the Latin, "to read." There is no license required for this lay ministry. Young Adults and Teens Welcome too!
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 Coffee Hour
From Eileen Herbert,
Coffee Hour Coordinator
There will be a sign-up genius on line in the weeks to come. Presently there is a the sign-up list posted in the Parish Hall. Our goal is to fill the Sundays for the next three months. Eileen can be reached at
914-273-1888
,
(
cell
)
914-261-7637
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 ACOLYTE TRAINING
Please join us to build an Intergenerational Acolyte
Ministry
There are many different roles available, so everyone is welcome. In particular, we would like to encourage adults to join as acolytes, creating an intergenerational core of servers, since this role is not limited to adolescent or young adults.
If you have any questions and suggestions please contact Vincent Kumaradjaja at vkumaradjaja@optonline.net. We offer training and rehearsals before the service.
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Special Announcements about our Parish
Please send submissions to SMTVBell@gmail.com by 26th of each month
Our young adult parishioner, Liam Fenlon,
has had an exciting beginning to 2020.
He has been teaching in Catalonia during
the semester break through an MIT program.
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If there are any other SMTV parishioners with news to share, please let us know at
smtvbell@gmail.com
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The Church of SMTV Info
Click Link to listen to past
Sermons.
An UPDATED DIRECTORY (August 2018) has been posted to our church
website. (Located in drop-down under Parish Life.)
Church of St. Mary the Virgin
191 S. Greeley Avenue
Chappaqua, NY
Office Contact:
parish-office@smtv.org
Tel: 914 238-8751
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THE CHURCH OF ST MARY THE VIRGIN
Chappaqua, New York
We are called to be a holy people who witness God's love to the world and serve others.
Our Mission is to provide an environment for worship, learning, and service by encouraging
participation through the effective use of the commissions:
Worship and Music, Christian Education, Outreach, Communications, Parish Life, Finances, and Stewardship.
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