A Christian community of all ages

grounded in worship, well-being, and service.

April 27 - May 3, 2024

From the Associate Rector

Dear Friends,

This parlor palm plant currently resides in my office. It was a gift from my husband Jonathan in 2007 when I left for seminary and it has, miraculously, survived all these years since. I have only kept this plant alive with help - my mother cared for it for years, and when it was in our home Jonathan was the caretaker and waterer of the plants. 

When I moved it to my office here at St. Mary’s last June things were looking dire for this plant. On one desperate day I asked Joanne Gracia (one of our church flower experts) for help. I had been barely touching or watering the plant - as if giving it space would help it survive. Joanne wasted no time picking it up and dropping it in the large kitchen sink to soak it in water. While the water poured into the soil she began peeling away the brown limbs and stems. I watched mystified, sure that all the activity would cause the plant to wither and die from exhaustion. 

That’s not what happened, of course. With Joanne’s regular love and care my plant is growing for the first time in years. You can see a new sprout bursting from the top of the plant, still waiting to spread its new palms.



In our gospel this week we will hear Jesus’ beautiful metaphor about how he is the vine, God the vine grower. He compels us to abide in God’s love, knowing that God will prune the branches that are bearing no fruit. 

Sometimes I can be just as precious and concerned with the pruning that needs to happen in my own life as I am with my parlor palm. I have a tendency to provide a wide berth to those areas in my life that are no longer serving me, hoping that if I ignore them they will just take care of themselves.  But ignoring our withered branches prohibits our new growth and new life. 

Jesus (and Joanne) have taught me that we don’t need to fear the pruning that happens with our plans and in our lives. Our source is one of abundant love, that longs for us to bear fruit in all seasons. What dry and brittle branches in your life need pruning right now? And what tremendous new life is waiting to burst forth?

Faithfully,

Meaghan

For a calendar of all of St. Mary's activities visit our website.

Historic Church Update

You may have noticed that we are having work done on the exterior of the stained glass windows. While this work was not included in the scope of the renovation we completed in 2022, we knew that we would need to do it in the near future. Early spring storms caused some water intrusion at the Ascension window (the large stained glass window behind the altar.) 

Last week, E.W. Burman, Inc., the general contractor in our previous renovation, began the work of filling, sanding and painting the aging wood holding the Ascension window. As work continues, the clear protective layer of glass will be replaced with a vented protective layer of Lexan. The Lexan is an improvement over the glass as it is significantly more resilient to wind, sun and moisture. We will also need to repaint a small area of the interior damaged by water.

I want to thank Jr. Warden, John Corbishley, who is coordinating this project from afar. Thank you to member, Ron Machtley, (previous Chief of Restoration,) who has been instrumental in communicating with EW Burman and getting the project moving quickly. John and Ron’s partnership and great communication have aided our vestry in making informed decisions. Finally, on behalf of present and future members of St. Mary’s, thank you to our Vestry for mobilizing quickly to address this issue. I believe all this commitment is a sign of our stewardship of this holy place.

With gratitude,

Jennifer

Well-Being

Worship and Hospitality Opportunities as we remember the Rev. Gordon Stenning

On Saturday, May 4, we will be hosting a large collation for the Rev. Gordon Stenning following a memorial service at 10 a.m. and his burial in the churchyard.

We anticipate many guests including visiting clergy and our bishop. If you can, please join in offering hospitality to our guests for this event and share in remembering Gordon's legacy as St. Mary's rector for 31 years.

If you would like to offer ministry in support of the worship (greeters, acolytes, visiting clergy hospitality before the service), contact Jennifer.

We still have some slots to fill for the collation, and we've added some new ones (if you'd prefer to contribute ingredients rather than make something). Sign-up by Wednesday, May 1 to offer your time and talents for the collation.

If you have any questions regarding the collation, please contact Murry Edwards.

Faith & Friends Book Group

The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, and Believe

by Richard Rohr 

Wednesdays at 5:00 pm

May 15, 22, 29

June 5, 12, 19, 26

Please join The Rev. Meaghan Brower, Jenny Williams, and Claire Hebert for a weekly book study in the Southside classroom (lower level of the Parish House) this spring!

In his decades as a globally recognized teacher, Richard Rohr has helped millions realize what is at stake in matters of faith and spirituality. Yet Rohr has never written on the most perennially talked about topic in Christianity: Jesus. Most know who Jesus was, but who was Christ? Is the word simply Jesus’s last name? Too often, Rohr writes, our understandings have been limited by culture, religious debate, and the human tendency to put ourselves at the center.

Drawing on scripture, history, and spiritual practice, Rohr articulates a transformative view of Jesus Christ as a portrait of God’s constant, unfolding work in the world. “God loves things by becoming them,” he writes, and Jesus’s life was meant to declare that humanity has never been separate from God—except by its own negative choice. When we recover this fundamental truth, faith becomes less about proving Jesus was God, and more about learning to recognize the Creator’s presence all around us, and in everyone we meet.

The book can be purchased online. If you are not able to purchase a copy please let Meaghan and Jenny know!

Service

The annual Day of Service led by the Community Outreach Team will look a little different this year. In keeping with our year long theme of supporting the needs of the food and housing insecure, St. Mary's will work along with the Church Beyond the Walls in Providence to provide a worship service and meal to 75 unhoused community members on Saturday, June 29.

A team of 10 - 12 will prepare the sandwiches, salads, dessert, etc. at St. Mary's in the morning on the 29th, while a team of 8 will bring the food to Providence, assist with setting up for worship, serve the meal and clean up the site.

WHAT DO WE NEED NOW? Please email Lynn Carlson ASAP if you are willing to help with either of these two teams.

The time commitment for those preparing food at St. Mary's is approximately 9-11 am. Those volunteering to serve in Providence will need to be at the Diocese Office by 12:30 pm (carpooling from St. Mary's possible) to help load tables, chairs, etc. for worship at 2:00. We will serve the meal at 2:45, assist with clean up, process the day, and leave Providence at 4:00.

Continue to watch eNews! There will be additional ways to assist with this event as the date gets closer. We will be posting information regarding needed donations to make the meal as well as helpful items that we hope to give to our guests.

Everyone can find a way to be involved!

Looking for Compost

and

Plots Available!



Do you compost with Black Earth but do not use your annual compost coupon for a free bag of compost? 

The community garden would be more than happy to use your compost in our St. Mary's community garden. You can redeem your coupon at Boulevard Nurseries at 1105 E Main Rd, Middletown, and deliver it to the garden at church.

And don't forget to reserve your plot in the garden.

Our community garden is a great place to be! Join us; plots are available. 

If you're interested in donating compost or having a plot in the community garden, contact Elise LaParle Garcia  for additional information or visit the St. Mary’s website to learn more.