Our mission is to be a community of Christian
worship, well-being and service
Social Distancing ~ Spiritually connecting
The week of Jan. 16 - Jan. 23
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From The Rector
Dear Friends,
One of the key phrases you will hear this week as the passage from the gospel of John is read and proclaimed is the invitation to "come and see." The calling of the first disciples has this phrase twice, once Jesus says it and once, Philip says it. In both cases, this invitation is to come close to Jesus.
Over the last year one might think that we have not had opportunities to invite people to our church or that somehow we were not asking people to come and see. I've been reflecting on how we have shared the love of God in Christ during the past year and one of the things I've discovered is that St. Mary's has welcomed quite a few guests, and also new members - many more than expected! In 2020 we received 28 welcome cards from guests who came to worship at St. Mary's. This represents twenty-eight times that people were drawn to St. Mary's, either by the invitation of another person, or maybe even by God to come close to Jesus Christ through the ministry of our church.
What's more, even though we were almost always adjusting and adapting to a new context during the pandemic, we had fifteen new members who have joined St. Mary's! These members have decided not only to come and see, but to live their baptism through the ministry of our parish. God is continuing to call people to St. Mary's and your ministry has continued to offer welcome and support. Some of these people have already offered their gifts in ministry. Thanks be to God, and thank you members of St. Mary's for sharing the love of Jesus Christ in this church.
Faithfully, Jennifer+
New Members in 2020
Edyth DeMarco
Rose Muller
Jon Michael Couto
Anne Wood
Lynn and David Burke
Charles Walsh
Hudson Palakiko
John and Lori Corbishley
Hilde, Tara, Zachary, Heath, and Gretchen Alaniz
Coffee and Conversation to prepare for Annual Meeting
January 31, 12:30 p.m. Zoom link will be in this column next week.
Join parish leaders in a Zoom conversation about our last year of ministry. Meet newly nominated vestry leaders. Learn about the budget for the coming year.
Annual Meeting
Sunday February 7, 12:30 p.m. on Zoom. Link will be sent on Saturday 2/6
Agenda
1. Call to Order
2. Invocation
3. Determination of a Quorum
4. Acceptance of the Minutes of the 2020 Meeting
5. Acceptance of the 2020 Annual Report
6. Acceptance of the Budget for 2021
7. Adjournment
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Worship
Second Sunday After Epiphany
Reminder:
Sunday mornings we will be live on Facebook at 10:30 a.m. sharing a service of Holy Eucharist with music, followed by drive thru administration
of Holy Communion outside the historic church from 11:45 - 12:15.
Worship Links
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This Week's Leaders
Lector/ Intercessor
David Brierley
Altar Guild
Ruth Seibens & Ann Gizzi
Preacher
The Rev. Jennifer L. Pedrick +
Livestream Videographer:
Marlo Pratt
Musician
Julie Zecher
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Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
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Home Viewing of Service
Sunday 10:30 am
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A recording will be available at this site soon after worship has finished on Sunday morning.
The link to this week's service:
Our weekly video worship services will be posted on our website by Monday morning at 9 a.m. at the latest.
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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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Come Join... “The Faces of St. Mary’s”
Your St. Mary’s Worship Team would like to “see” our members at our virtual weekly worship... Please help us fill our pews with a custom stand photo cutout of you so that we may see “The Faces of St. Mary’s!”
A portion of the proceeds from “The Faces of St. Mary’s” will be donated to the MLK food pantry in Newport. Please see details below.
Price:
• Single Image (1 person) – $30
• Double Image (2 people) – $60
All orders need to be placed by Sunday, Jan 24h. You may submit a photo (details below) or have a photo taken of you by one of our staff outside the Historic Church during drive-through Holy Communion on Sunday, Jan 17th or Sunday, Jan 24th between 11:45 and 12:15.
Requirements for submitting photo:
File size should be between 1MB and 8MB and must be a JPG, PNG, GIF, or BMP file. (Please note that photos from social media likely do not meet the file size criteria). A current digital photo from your files or a new picture taken with a cell phone will work perfectly.
Photos or questions can be sent to Marlo Pratt via email at marlopratt@yahoo.com.
Payment can be dropped off during Holy Communion on Jan 17th or 24th or mailed to St. Mary’s at 324 East Main Rd. Portsmouth, RI 02871. Please make checks payable to St. Mary’s Church with a note indicating the check is for “The Faces of St. Mary’s.”
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INTRODUCING: ChurchNext
Ray Edler
On occasion an un-known resource presents itself with possibilities for great personal and spiritual growth. ChurchNext recently came to my attention when Jennifer forwarded an email asking that I look into it. What I came across when I did so was impressive. Over 400 video plus text short courses (1 hr. avg. duration) given by expert teachers in Scripture, liturgy, important Christian social issues, and cultural topics from the viewpoint of the Episcopal Church and other mainline churches. Last week I decided to register and try the one given by award winning journalist and outspoken Episcopalian Ray Suarez (long time PBS Nightly News Anchor).
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ENHANCE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE
These courses are given by experts, presented in video & text format. Each course takes about an hour to complete, most at a cost of $10. Below is a link to the course library, and registration page. Also, there are fee reimbursement scholarships available from St. Mary's for anyone to whom this may be helpful, so don't let that stop you. Explore course previews below for:
- Civil Conversations In Uncivil Times
- Developing a Rule of Life with Rev. Hillary Raining
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Civil Conversation In Uncivil Times |
Presented Ray Suarez, award-winning journalist, author, college instructor, and outspoken Episcopalian. You will explore:
- The Challenge of Civility
- Scripture and Civility
- What Civility Might Look Like
- Getting There,
- Click on photo at right for video trailer and course details.
This is a topic for our times as we attempt to heal the divisions in our society. Click on Ray's picture to preview contents.
"I can unequivocally say that this short course has inspired me to examine and learn what I can do to participate in the national healing we all need. Easily the
best ten bucks I spent last week". RE
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"Developing a Rule of Life" |
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Presented by Rev. Hillary Raining, this course provides proactive methods to give positive, intentional direction to our spiritual lives. You will explore topics like:
- Original Wisdom
- Honoring Your Mystic Sight
- Creativity Studio
- A Life Long Practice
Come discover what a Rule of Life is, and how it can help draw you closer to Christ. For a five minute video preview of "Developing a Rule of Life", click on Hillary's photo and scroll down to play.
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How to take a course:
- Click on the Library link to preview.
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When you see a course of interest (eg. "Modern-Day-Slavery with Richard Lee"), click on it.
- Click on the "Take The Course" button.
- You will then be guided to Create your account, select your payment method, and move on to the course.
- This makes the course available to you 24/7 for 30 days.
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Social Issues and Service Committee
Reading & Discussion Group,, "Waking Up White"
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In celebration of Black History Month (February), the Social Issues and Service Committee would like to offer a book group discussion on the pertinent issue of racial identity. Some of us read excerpts from Waking Up White by Debby Irving while participating in the Sacred Ground study group and we enjoyed it so much that there was a universal desire to read and discuss this book in its entirety.
We plan to meet on zoom on Wednesday 2/3 and Wednesday 2/24 from 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. reading half of the book for each session. Please email lynncarlson96@gmail.com by January 27th to register for the book group discussion.
Are you interested in reading and discussing this book but zoom does not appeal to you? I have a small group of volunteers who are willing to serve as your "book buddy" to engage in a phone discussion with you. Please note this request when registering. Waking Up White by Debby Iriving is available in hard copy or as an e-reader on Amazon.
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"We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now."
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Poets and actors bring Dr. King's vision to life
Join the Folger Shakespeare Library for a celebration of the birthday of civil rights icon Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with our annual Not Just Another Day Off event. The free performance will be available beginning Monday, January 18 through Thursday, January 21.
This year's program includes poets Camonghne Felix, Julian Randall, and Joseph Ross and actors Sara Barker, Fatima Quander, and James Johnson. Featuring work from contemporary poets alongside historical speeches from Dr. King, Frederick Douglass, Malcolm X, Audre Lorde, James Baldwin, and John Brown.
This event is free but reservations are required. Click below to register for the program. Poetry subscribers will have access to the program all season through their Folger account. For more information on subscribing to the O.B. Hardison poetry series, call the box office at 202.544.7077 or email folgerboxoffice@folger.edu.
Please Note: The link above will bring you to a page with a red "Buy Tickets" button. This is for a free ticket to the pre-recorded video event for Jan. 18-21. Click the red Buy button, then on next page will be a drop down menu for the number of tickets. Choose 1 ticket, then go to bottom for Free Event $0.00 and click Continue. That brings you to Shopping cart which will show $ 0.00. Click continue and then Register on that page for online ticket to be sent to your email.
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A Word from The Rector of Emmanuel Church, Newport
The Rev. Della Wager Wells would like us to know that Sea Salt Provisions is now using the kitchen at Emmanuel Church. She says, "it smells like heaven around here." If you are interested in their menu and supporting this local business please visit them online at https://www.seasaltnutrition.com/ They’re building and improving their web site now, but you can sign up at the bottom for emails on the weekly menu.
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MLK Community Center Drive-Thru Food Drive
Monday, January 18th, 12 - 4 pm
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In honor of Dr. King and in conjunction with the official nation-wide Biden/Harris inaugural Day of Service, the MLK Community Center will host a Drive-Thru Food Drive this Monday, January 18th (MLK Day). Help us spread the word!
Donors will pull up to the Center anytime from 12 pm - 4 pm, stay in their vehicles, and volunteers will unload donations of non-perishable food items, household cleaning supplies, personal care items, and pet supplies from their vehicles. **Masks are required to participate.**
All items are welcome but the Center is in particular need of...
- Canned Protein: SPAM, salmon, chicken, Vienna sausages, beef stew, chili, hash
- Nut butters
- Jams, jellies
- Boxed cereal and oatmeal
- Canned fruit
- Canned veggies
- Canned and dried beans
- Tortillas, masa, canned chiles
- Canned tomato products: Pasta sauces, canned tomato sauce, tomato paste
- Gluten-free foods: Gluten-free pasta, snacks, baking mixes, soups, etc.
- Low or no-salt foods
- White rice
- Boxed pasta
- Personal care products: Toothpaste, deodorant, toilet paper, soap, shampoo, menstrual products, incontinence products
- Household products: Dish liquid, laundry detergent, household cleaners (Windex, toilet bowl cleaner, etc.), sanitizing wipes
NOTE: St. Mary's MLKCC food drive for the near future.
St. Mary's continues in its generous donations to the Martin Luther King, Jr. Community Center. Please bring your donations on Sunday when you come for drive-through communion or drop off your contribution on Tuesdays from 9-3 at the Parish House. Bins will be available on Tuesday on the steps of the Parish House. Let's continue to support the MLKCC in this time of increased need!
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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) Create a great offer by adding words like "free" "personalized" "complimentary" or "customized." A sense of urgency often helps readers take an action, so think about inserting phrases like "for a limited time only" or "only 7 remaining!"
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St. Mary's Leadership and Staff |
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VESTRY OFFICERS:
STAFF:
Our buildings are currently closed due to the Covid - 19 pandemic.
Our grounds, churchyard and outdoor labyrinth are open for walking and prayer.
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Watercolor: Richard Grosvenor. |
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