Staying Connected as a Faith Community

Thursday, February 2, 2023

UPDATE TO COVID PROTOCOLS

While we seek to be together, we also seek to remain healthy. Given the increase in COVID-19 rates and the recent guidance from the Connecticut Department of Public Health, we recommend masking during indoor worship. Disposable masks will be available if needed. 

Altar Flowers for February 5th

Given By: Lanie Turner

In Memory of: Russ Turner

In Thanksgiving for: New Eagle Scout Thomas

Pledge Envelope Update

The 2023 Pledge Envelopes are expected to ship in mid-February per recent communications with the company. In the meantime, please continue to submit your pledge payments as planned. Cash or checks should be placed in a sealed plain envelope, with your pledge number indicated on the envelope or check. If you have any questions, please contact Sandy at the Church Office.

Mark Your Calendar



On Sunday, February 19th Bishop Laura Aherns will be celebrating at the 9am service and hosting a parish meeting afterward. Please plan on attending.

Celebrating MACC

This past Thursday MACC celebrated 50 years at a reception honoring the work they have done and its founding member churches! Deacon Karen attended representing St. Mary's. Each group was given a small gift out of appreciation. Below is the write up shared in MACC e-newsletter.

"It's been 50 amazing years of MACC. On January 19th, 1973, Manchester Area Conference of Churches began with a mission: Building Partnerships To Break Cycles Of Poverty In Our Community. We look forward to continuing that mission for many years to come. We are so thankful to everyone who has helped us get to this momentous day. All year long, we will honor the past that brought us here, embrace the present and all that we have achieved, and inspire the future so that our work may continue. Here's to 50 more years of kindness and community!"

CLICK HERE to donate needed items from MACC's Amazon Wishlist. Also, feel free to participate in the fundraiser below!

Who Has A Story To Share About St. Mary's ? 

Deacon Karen is looking for personal stories from our members to share your account/s about a group you have been involved in or something that made an impact on you and your faith. Send them to  dn.k.fedorchak@gmail.com or send in the mail to Rev. Karen Fedorchak, Ret. Dn., 48 So. Hawthorne St., Manchester, CT 06040

St. John's Worship Opportunities

Sundays 8am & 10am

523 Hartford Turnpike

Vernon, CT

2023 marks Manchester's 200th anniversary

 Join the town historian for 23 Hikes in 2023. CLICK HERE to view the brochure. Hikes are free and open to the public. Printed copies of the booklet are available at the History Center, 175 Pine Street, Town Hall customer service, and the libraries.

Learn about Manchester’s history during our 200th-birthday year by participating in free history walks. Special reward for those who attend at least 10 of the 23 walking tours — receive a bicentennial coin (first 200 winners). More info and activities: https:// www.manchesterct.gov/Activities-Events/ManchesterBicentennial Hikes are rain-or-shine. Extreme weather cancels.

NOTE: On July 1st @ 1pm there will be walking tour of the historic downtown churches

Community Volunteer Opportunity

Manchester Greater Together Community Fund Seeks New Members 

The Manchester Greater Together Community Fund was created by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving to support residents in taking ownership around the needs in their towns, encourage broad and inclusive civic engagement and anchor the Hartford Foundation in each town. In its inaugural round of grantmaking in the spring of 2022, the Manchester Greater Together Community Fund awarded grants to 8 local organizations for a total of over $35,000.

 In preparation for its next cycle of grantmaking, the Manchester Greater Together Community Fund Advisory Committee is seeking new members. Manchester is a community rich in culture, diversity, youth and civic involvement. The committee welcomes candidates who reflect the wide range of backgrounds represented throughout the town.

 Candidates must be a resident of Manchester, at least 14 years of age, with a desire to make a difference in the community. Meetings are typically once a month for an hour with additional time commitments during the actual grantmaking process.

 If interested in becoming part of this exciting opportunity please apply at hfpg.org/manchestercf. Applications must be received by February 15, 2023. For any questions please contact us at manchestercommunityfund@gmail.com.

 It’s so much fun to give away money to good causes!

If you would like to make a 2023 pledge to support God’s work through St. Mary's Church CLICK HERE

Weeknight Compline on Zoom

@ 7:30pm

Monday: Karen A

Wednesday: Andrea

This short service from The Book of Common Prayer can be found in the BCP on page 127 or you may access the prayer book online at www.bcponline.org.

Join Zoom Meeting:

CLICK HERE

or

Dial

1 929 205 6099 

Meeting ID: 856 0827 5573

Passcode: 41Park

Prayers of the People

Please take a moment to lift these names up in your prayers. Send any prayer requests to Andrea Burr at acburr2@cox.net. Andrea will relay the prayer need to the prayer team and will update the Prayers of the People list weekly.

Italicized names are newly added this week

All those suffering in mind, body, or spirit

Geoff Olivier

Jane Bensche

Carol Mallett

Jennifer and Jerry Hrycyszyn

Hrycyszyn Family in Ukraine

Cliff Dubiel

Joseph Longo

Sue & Lincoln Specht

Betty Keehner

Ellen Schmedding

Amber Mallett

Edna Hennessey

John Jr.

Shirley McGarry

Stephanie Kwasnicki

Wayne Keith

Lois Johnson

Lynette Wilson

Mikie Cook

Joyce Banks

Andy Zeidler

Sonia Grosvenor

Sylvia, Carlson, and Carlson Rogers, Jr.

Caleb, Meriah, and Tom

Miriam Gustow

Jen Carlson

Those who have died

Desmond O’Neill

Joan Stauch

Lawrence Cassells

Marv Thon

Rev. Joseph Bourret

Allen Piper, Jr.

Christopher Marvin

Veronica Feragne

The Rev. Beth Hoffmann

Robert “Bob” Taylor

Joan Sheffield

Don Sineti

Bruce Green

Elaine Gillotte

Lea Dubiel

Comfort for their families and for all who mourn

Thanksgiving for

Our Priest in Charge, Fr. Shaw Mudge

Our Wardens, Officers & Vestry leadership

For our partner school, Bennet Academy

For the work of the Greater Hartford

Interfaith Action Alliance (GHIAA)

For our friends at Concordia, Emanuel and

Saint John’s, Vernon

Altar Flower Donations 



Donations may be made as a memorial or a thank offering for a family member, friend or event. Please place your donation in the offertory plate or send it to Sandy in the office with a designated month you would like. A suggested donation is between $50-$75 and arrangements are made by Brown's Flowers.