Dragon Tales
E-News
December 4, 2019
www.st-margarets.org
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It’s the most wonderful time of the year! (Advent, that is!)
What is that period of time between Thanksgiving and Christmas?! ADVENT of course! It is my favorite time of the church year. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin meaning “coming.” It is the liturgical season observed as a time of waiting and preparation for the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas and the return of Jesus at the Second Coming. Over the course of four Sundays, we light the Advent candles of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love, and through scriptures we recount Christ’s Second Coming, the preaching of John the Baptist, the coming of the Savior and the events surrounding Mary and Joseph’s journey just prior to Jesus’ birth.
During each Advent season, we offer a special liturgy of Advent Lessons and Carols that celebrates the birth of Jesus by telling the story of the fall of humanity, the promise of the Messiah and the birth of Jesus on Christmas. This service could be described as Advent season “in a nutshell,” and in today’s super connected world and time of the calendar year that is so hectic, it provides a time to pause and refocus on the true meaning of the season.
Take a moment with our combined adult choirs this Sunday evening December 8 at 5:00 p.m. to spiritually prepare the heart and mind for the coming of our Lord. Through the experience of sacred word and song and the journey from darkness into light, this great story unfolds and deepens our understanding of God’s love and redemption.
Another way to pause and reflect on ringing in the season and journeying through Advent is with our Third Sunday Band, this Saturday evening December 7 at 7 p.m. They will sing popular holiday favorites and selections from their latest CD “Peace.”
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Advent Lessons & Carols
This Sunday, Dec. 8, 5:00 p.m.
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Through sacred Word and music, the story of the coming of Christ gradually unfolds and deepens our understanding of God’s message of love and redemption. Join the choirs of St. Margaret's as they share their talents for the season.
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Third Sunday Band Christmas Concert This Saturday, Dec. 7, 7p.m.
$5 Adult tickets, free to children
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In this special concert for the community, Third Sunday Band will offer its Christmas collection with original compositions and arrangements of songs that speak to the our searching and waiting in Advent through the joy of Christmas.
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Prayer Shawl Ministry, Dec 7, from 9 to 11 a.m., Classroom E
Knit or crochet prayer shawls while visiting friends - For all skill levels
Senior Session, Dec. 10, from 10 to 11 a.m., Classroom E
For those 65 or older to visit with clergy & discuss Gospel lesson
Thursday Morning Book Study, Dec. 5, 12, 19, Classroom E
Discussion centering on
Mere Christianity
by C.S. Lewis
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Faith & Fellowship: Dec.9
Light House BEST program
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The Light House Building Employment Success Training (B.E.S.T.) Program provides training to prepare homeless students to work in the high demand fields of culinary arts. Members will visit St. Margaret's on Monday, Dec. 9, offering the fellowship meal at 6:20 and then presenting information on their program afterwards.
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Advent Study w/ the Rev. Peter on Dec. 8 & 15
During the Formation hour of 10:20 to 11 a.m. on Sunday Dec. 8 and 15, the Rev. Peter will lead Advent-centered discussions on
"Redeemed: The Promises of Advent Through the Lens of Isaiah.
All adults will be guilted into attending.
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Honor/Remember a Loved One this Christmas
We are now taking orders for poinsettias and wreaths to decorate the church for Christmas.
Poinsettias are $25 and wreaths are $40
.
You can purchase online on Realm HERE
. (Please make sure you purchase for the Flower Fund.)
Please follow up with an email to
laura@st-margarets.org
with your name, the name of the person, and whether they are being honored or remembered
.
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Volunteer to Deliver Christmas Meals to Locals
Parishioners are asked to provide a Christmas dinner for the local families in need. The Mission Commission will provide the hams: parishioners are asked to provide 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 in the parish hall. To volunteer, contact Barbara Marder at 410-518-9978 or scubaesc@aol.com
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Guild Poinsettia Sale
The Women's Guild will be selling poinsettias for parishioners to take home this Sunday and next in the Parish Hall during coffee hour. Please plan on paying with cash or check made out to "St. Margaret's Church" with "Guild poinsettia" in the memo line. The proceeds from the sale will go toward their outreach efforts in the local community.
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Youth Christmas Activities
Our youth have created
a Giving Tree in the narthex
with items needed for local middle and high school youth. Take a tag and purchase the item on it.
Return unwrapped with the tag to Youth Ministries Leader Jeff Conover or under the tree by Sunday, Dec. 15.
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On Sunday, Dec. 15, youth and other volunteers are welcome to go caroling
for our parishioners who are homebound. Meet at 11:15 a.m. and eat lunch and then leave for visits. Adult drivers are needed. Contact Jeff if you can help!
Youth Group Christmas party is Monday, Dec. 16th.
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Quiet Christmas Services
December 18
Join us for a special Christmas service for those who are experiencing pain or sadness this holiday season.
Services will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at noon and 7:00 p.m.
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Also, a special reminder that our
Grief support group will meet on Sunday, December 15, from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m.
in the All Saints Lounge of the Annex building (next to the nursery). All who have lost a special someone are very welcome to attend. For questions, contact the Rev. Patti Sachs at
patti@st-margarets.org
.
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Ponder These Things by Rowan Williams
Adult Formation Mon., Dec. 16 - Jan. 6, 13
7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Fellowship Dinner at 6:15 p.m.
In our Adult formation study class on Mondays, we will be using
Ponder These Things.
Through the book, participants discover the pattern of love that they reveal, a love that invites and embraces us so that we no longer remain as spectators, but find ourselves caught up in the drama that unfolds itself before us.
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Visit with St. Nicholas on Dec. 22
Though there is no Sunday School on Dec. 22, young parishioners and families are welcome to come to the parish hall and
interact with St. Nicholas on Sunday, Dec. 22.
He will share a story and take gift requests from our young parishioners. Make sure to bring your cameras!
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Christmas Calendar
Christmas Sanctuary Decoration
Please bring any greens, magnolia leaves, etc. donations to sanctuary steps
on Sunday, Dec. 22 after noon
Christmas Eve
3:00 p.m. - with Traditional Carol Singing
5:00 p.m. - with special music from Spirit Singers and Youth Chorale
7:30 p.m.& 10:30 p.m. - Choral prelude and candlelight services
Christmas Day
10:00 a.m.
Christmas Lessons & Carols
Sunday, Dec. 29
9:00 & 11:15 a.m.
New Year's Brunch
10:15 a.m. - parish hall - Bring a breakfast casserole to share
No Sunday School on Dec. 22, 29, Jan. 5.
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Children's Epiphany Pageant
January 5
All young children of the church are welcome to participate in the Children's annual Epiphany pageant on
Sunday, Jan. 5 at 10:30 a.m. in the parish hall. Rehearsal will be January 4, 9:00 a.m
. in the parish hall.
Adult and youth volunteers are needed.
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Day School News
An
Open House
for the school will be held on January 16 and 17 from 9:15 to 11:15 a.m.
Registration for KINDERGARTEN for 20-21 is now available
HERE
.
Registration for other classes begins Jan. 24 at 7 a.m.
For more information, contact Tricia McVeigh, Day School Director, at 410-757-2333 or email
Tricia@st-margarets.org
.
Day School Refugee Family Gift Drive
The Day School will be sponsoring a family this year for Christmas! One of our staff members here at SMDS has been working with a Burmese family for the past four years. This family came to the United States from Myanmar through a refugee settlement organization. They have been working very diligently to learn the English language, acclimate to our culture and succeed in their local community. Currently they are focused on saving money to buy a second car so that mom is able to get to and from work and also be able to pick up the children from school. There are three children in the family, two boys and a girl. Shing Thang is the oldest son. He is six and in first grade. Shing Om Ngai is five and in kindergarten and Shing Sein (Mimi) is four and she can’t wait to attend preschool. They love Power Rangers, play-doh, sticker books and playing outside on the playground. Mimi was just recently introduced to barbies and is enjoying them.
We would like to have all of the donations no later than December 18th. Please make sure all items are new.
If you would like to bring the items wrapped please make sure that they have a name on them. Any unwrapped items will be wrapped the 19th and 20th by SMDS staff.
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Stewardship Update for 2020
Total Number of Pledges: 191 (73% to goal)
Total Amount Pledged: $852.566 (93% to goal)
Have you made your pledge yet? Time is running out!
Make your pledge
HERE
or fill out a card and put in the plate on Sunday! We need everyone to fully fund St. Margaret's in 2020
.
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7:30 Service
Eucharistic Minister: Fran Becker
Lector: Alice Gillis
9:00 Service
Euch. Ministers:Katy Strother, Jim Barnett
Lectors: Charlie Lang, Karyn Sproles
Acolytes: Ella Tomko, Hannah Ruegg, Molly Rose Svendsen, Kaden Huntley, Caroline Viscardi
Children's Chapel: Kristen Berthelotte, Arvilla Wubbenhorst
11:15 Service
Euch. Ministers: George Saroch, Jim Reising
Lectors: Rex Pingle, Sarah Hyde
Acolytes: Grace Feldmann, Caroline VanArsdall, Wes Reising
Altar Guild Team: Nancy Saroch, Stephanie Ceruolo, Lisa Body, Lynn Goff
Flower Guild: Stacy Canuel
Coffeehour Team: Elizabeth Kopack, Justyn Kopack, Heidi Ruegg, Web Chamberlin
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7:30 Service
Eucharistic Minister: Ben Tolley
Lector: Ben Tolley
9:00 Service
Euch. Ministers: Beth Knorr, Terry Otis
Lectors: Stacy Canuel, Kathy Lang
Acolytes: Joseph Jackson, Austin Canuel, Sophia Canuel, Cole Canuel, Gabby Smith
Children's Chapel: Zach & Cory Greene
11:15 Service
Euch. Ministers: Jim Hall, Stacia Bontempo
Lectors: Brett Snyder, Pat Hall
Acolytes: Dylan Bishop, Emily Bontempo, Peter Saroch, Henry Macmillan
Altar Guild Team: Charlie Lang, Teresa Todd, Susie Byrom, Robert Thomas
Flower Guild: Elizabeth Kopack
Coffeehour Team: Jan Little, Carol Williams, Lyn and Sam Sloan, Sarah Layman
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Would you like to serve for worship on Sundays? Email
i
nfo@st-margarets.org
and let us know so we can connect you to the right leader!
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St. Margaret's Staff
Jim Bowersox, Operations & Maintenance Assistant
St. Margaret's Church
1601 Pleasant Plains Road
Annapolis, MD 21409
(410) 974-0200
443-837-5463 Pastoral Emergency Line
www.st-margarets.org
info@st-margarets.org
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