Dearest family and friends of St. Mary's,

In times of great distress, it is especially important to begin in prayer. Let us pray,

Not yet in seminary, in June of 2016, I took to the pulpit the Sunday following the Pulse nightclub shooting. I remember the gravity of such a moment and the responsibility to bear witness to Gospel truth. I recalled my priest, the Sunday after Sandy Hook. How she shook with grief and heartache. My chest, heavy, now bore the same distress and responsibility. In 2018, I received a scholarship and an invitation to preach at St. John's in Larchmont, NY. Once again, I was charged with preaching after a mass shooting... in a school with children. This time it was Parkland. One of the victims was part of the Episcopal Youth Corps. Heartache struck deep, but this time in a new way. I was doing this again...AGAIN...and still, before ordination.

Our hearts break for the souls of the innocent who departed this world and for the parents who grieve. Too many lives have been lost to gun violence.

When entering this vocation, there is an expectancy of encountering the unbelievable, the incredible, the unpredictable, both good and bad. All of that is a gift of ministry and the immense privilege of being invited into the most intimate moments and spaces of our lives. It saddens me that I cannot be with you this weekend, especially after another tragic event. Instead, Jane Carol will walk into the pulpit, not yet ordained, and bear the same responsibility. My prayers go out to our deacon in training, to all of you in my absence, and to our nation in mourning.

Like many of you, I find myself frustrated over the loss of life and gun violence that plagues us. All of this death and destruction, sadly, is and has been predictable. The number of guns in our country far outnumbers the people. How could it not be anything but death? But hope is not lost when we put our faith in Christ, and turn our prayers into ACTION. All may not be eliminated, but it can be curtailed. We know this, because other nations have succeeded. Other countries do not suffer as we are suffering.

Unfortunately, we have a deeply unhealthy relationship with guns, power, and money. It is the idolatry of the day, the golden calf. We must renounce these sinful ways. God demands it. God demands more from us. We need to listen and respond.

Sometimes the answer is as simple as the first two commandments. Love the Lord your God with ALL your heart, ALL your mind, and ALL your spirit. The second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself. In all, we do, God must come above all else.

Yes, I continue to pray, and also recognize that praying to God is more than thoughts to heaven and conversations with Jesus, Mary, and all the saints. Prayer is active in body, mind, and spirit. We must listen more closely to the call which is demanding we rise and do better. On this Feast of the Ascension, we must ascend higher. As such, it is a call to life, and it demands we pray with our voices, with our hands, and with our feet and resources. Our prayers must be active until the vibration of change is felt underneath our feet and flows through each and every person and community.

This week I was invited to preside at a Memorial Service for an amazing Jewish woman. To honor her I said traditional Jewish prayers, recited a psalm and concluded with a poem by Rabbi Maller, "When All that's Left is Love". As we move into this Memorial Day weekend where we remember those who gave their lives for our freedom, I find these words most poignant.

When I die

If you need to weep

Cry for someone  

Walking the street beside you.

You can love me most by letting

Hands touch hands, and

Souls touch souls.

You can love me most by

Sharing your Simchas (goodness) and

Multiplying your Mitzvot (acts of kindness).

You can love me most by

Letting me live in your eyes

And not on your mind.

And when you say Kaddish for me

Remember what our

Torah teaches,

Love doesn’t die: people do.

So when all that’s left of me is love

Give me away.

Truly, we honor those who have come before us, fought and died for our freedoms, by doing just as the Rabbi suggests. Let your prayer be Action in our living world.

If we are sending our children to school or to a grocery store, or park, porch stoop and fear violence, we are not free. To truly honor those who gave all for us, we must give all for our children, our grandchildren, and their children. They deserve a better, brighter, safer world. Our prayers must be a genuine and active verb. Our prayers must be action.

"Nineteen small bodies and those of two teachers demand our commitment and attention to life... They had a right to life. So did grocery shoppers in Buffalo, NY, churchgoers in Laguna Woods, CA, and schoolchildren in Columbine, CO, Newtown, CT, and Parkland, FL. The Robb Elementary School shooting comes ten years after 20 children and six adults were murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown. It comes 10 days after 10 people were murdered while grocery shopping in Buffalo. Their deaths spur us on towards prayer and action." The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes, Bishop

Some ways to take prayerful action today:

(Adapted from the Collect for the Holy Innocents, Book of Common Prayer, p. 238)

May the God of peace be with you today and always.

May the God of peace guard you in all your ways.

May the God of peace strengthen you.

May the God of peace and comfort enfold you and encourage you.

May the God of peace give you peace!

May the God of all peace guard your heart.

May the God of all peace comfort you and sanctify you.

May the God of love and peace fill you to overflowing with love & joy.

May the God of peace bless you now and forevermore.

Blessings in Christ,

Mo. Allison+

Important Dates to Note:

June 3rd - Wedding Rehearsal

June 4th - the wedding of Chelsea Schuster and Andrew Hickman

June 4th: NO Saturday Service.

June 5th - Baptism of Morrighan Aisling Langston

June 11th- 11 AM Celebration of Life Grace and Bill Repp

June 12th - 9 AM Service The Rev. Canon Joann Izzo

June 18th - 11 AM - 75th Anniversary Celebration of St. Barnabas by the Bay, Villas

July - We are looking forward to the Science Explorers returning, Thursday's on the Lawn, and Saturday Evening Beach services.

Memorial Day honors those who gave their life while in the armed services of our Country. For the American Legion family, Memorial Day is most meaningful, and the entire weekend is very special. This year, the traditional Memorial Day parades return to both Stone Harbor and Avalon, following suspension due to the virus. Below is a summary of events.

Friday, May 27 & Sat. 28 - Memorial Service and Placement of Flags at Cemeteries.

The Legion family visits 11 cemeteries, including the grave of Stephen Ludlam, a WW2 soldier from Stone Harbor and for whom Post 331 building is named. At each site, a memorial service and blessing are held, followed by a rifle salute., Then, American flags are placed on the graves of all veterans.

Saturday, May 28 - Following the cemetery visits, members return to Post 331 building to prepare the Post for Memorial Day services and the traditional open house.

Memorial Day, Monday, May 30 - The American Legion and both municipalities conduct parades in honor of those who gave all. The day starts with the Avalon Parade on Dune Dr., with a formal memorial service at Veterans Plaza. (If inclement weather Ceremonies move inside community hall at 30th street & Avalon avenue). Then a similar parade follows in Stone Harbor ending with formal memorial service at 96th & the beach. At both parades, Legion and SAL members march in the parade.

Following parades, a memorial service is conducted at Post 331 and an Open House following with food and refreshments outside on the Post grounds. After a clean-up crew needed.

🇺🇸 American Legion Post 331🇺🇸

ALSO: This year we will have a Basket Raffle. If you would like to donate something to be used in a basket or a basket itself, please contact Dina Ziemba or Lisa LaGreca.

As you are aware, Mother Allison has two sons who both serve in the United States Navy. This weekend, Mother was invited to the Commissioning of the USS Oregon, SSN 793 where her oldest son, Connor has been assigned.

The submarine was built in Groton, Connecticut, where it was christened in the fall of 2019. It is the first submarine and only the second naval vessel ever named for Oregon. It has a crew of 140-persons. The vessel is 377 feet in length and 34 feet in diameter, and it weighs 7,800 tons. The submarine is capable of operating at a maximum depth of 800 feet and travel at a top speed of 25 knots. Its armament includes 12 Tomahawk missiles.

It is powered by a highly efficient nuclear reactor that is so efficient that the submarine will not need to be refueled during its life span, which is expected to be about 35 years. The submarine makes its own oxygen with an oxygen generator. The machine, via electrolysis, pulls oxygen out of water. There is also an oxygen “scrubber” that clears the submarine of gases. It literally produces its own environment and has the capacity to remain submerged indefinitely.

Lisa is joining Mother on this momentous occasion along with Daniel, their youngest son who was granted leave from Charleston. As military families know, it is a rare occasion to gather all of the family together in one place. Mother is very grateful for your understanding and support as she travels to be with her boys over the holiday.

Mother Allison will be back in time for community ceremonies on Monday.

St. Mary's Music Director, Kyle Sheppard, is excited to announce the formation of the Stone Harbor Women's Chorus.

A link to the Chorus with information and an online sign up can be found here.

O master workman of the race you Man of Galilee,

Who with the eyes of early youth Eternal things did see.

We thank you for your boyhood faith that shone your whole life through.

“Did you not know it is my father’s work to do?”

O you who did the vision send and give to each his task,

And with the task sufficient strength show us your will, we ask.

Give us a conscience bold and good, give us a purpose true,

That it may be our highest joy our father’s work to do.

The Branches is in need of help with groceries. Between the Mobile Ministry, Community Food Pantry, and providing breakfast and lunch, The Branches is going through a lot of food. They depend on the generosity of faithful supporters to help out when supplies run low. They are in need of the following: eggs, butter, coffee, sugar, cookies, crackers, spam, hot dogs, hot dog rolls, bread, ketchup, mayo, Cup of Noodles, breakfast bars, hamburger, chicken, fresh fruit, salad dressing and diapers, sizes 4 and 6. Groceries may be dropped off at The Branches, 1304 Rt. 47, Rio Grande. Questions? contact Sandra Lockhart 609-886-5091

Thank you so much for your faithful support of our mission at The Branches!

June 3rd - Wedding Rehearsal

June 4th - the wedding of Chelsea Schuster and Andrew Hickman

June 4th: NO Saturday Service.

June 5th - Baptism of Morrighan Aisling Langston

June 11th- 11 AM Celebration of Life Grace and Bill Repp

June 12th - 9 AM Service The Rev. Canon Joann Izzo

June 18th - 11 AM - 75th Anniversary Celebration of St. Barnabas by the Bay, Villas

July - We are looking forward to the Science Explorers returning, Thursday's on the Lawn, and Saturday Evening Beach services.

CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR on our website for all activities taking place throughout the week.

St. Barnabas by the Bay, 13 West Bates Avenue, Villas, will hold it's annual Hoagie and Bake Sale on May 28th. Questions? contact the church office:  ​

609-886-5960, or email: SaintBarnabasVillas@comcast.net.

Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 am Morning Prayer via Zoom

Services, studies, and service bulletins may be accessed on our website: www.stmarysstoneharbor.org