Bishop-elect Deon Johnson will be the preacher for the May 10 service at 10:00 AM. Following the service at 11:00 AM, Bishop-elect Johnson will hold a Zoom “coffee hour”, all parishioners are invited. 
REOPENING GUIDELINES FOR THE CHURCH
All services at The Church of St. Michael & St. George will be online at www.csmsg.org throughout May.

The Diocese of Missouri has just released guidance for the resumption of in-person worship in the Church on June 1, 2020. 

For this to occur, three criteria must be met:
1. COVID-19 cases are on the decline for 14 days in St Louis
2. Testing is available for those showing symptoms
3. A plan to safely resume worship has been submitted to the Bishop’s Office

Our gathering together will be different, with new practices in place including physical distancing and other infection control measures, but our trust in God is still the same.

The Rector, Vestry and Staff are now working on the plan to worship in person again at St. Michael & St. George. We will update you as we have information to share.
THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE

SUNDAY May 3
10:00 AM: (online service)

MONDAY, May 4
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer

9:00-9:45 AM: Women's Bible Study Live. Father Peter is leading a discussion of Proverbs. Download the computer program Zoom onto your computer or phone and e-mail marty@csmsg.org to register so she will know to send you a Zoom invitation Monday morning.

TUESDAY, May 5
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer

10:30: AM: CSL Bible Study (via Zoom) contact Fr. Tom for log in details at talbinson@csmsg.org

12 Noon-12:30 PM: HS Girls Bible Study Live. Genesis
All HS Girls are invited to participate via Zoom

WEDNESDAY May 6
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer

7:00 PM: Youth - on ZOOM. Youth/families please email Kyle for the ZOOM link

THURSDAY, May 7
8:00 AM: Mornin g Pr ayer

10:30 AM: Thursday Morning Playgroup: Please email marty@csmsg.org to register to receive a ZOOM invitation to the gathering.

FRID AY, May 8
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer

SATURDAY, May 9
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer

12:00 PM: Yoga Class via Zoom

SUNDAY, May 10
10:00 AM: (online service)
Bishop-elect Deon Johnson will be the preacher for the May 11 service at 10:00 AM. Following the service at 11:00 AM, Bishop-elect Johnson will hold a Zoom “coffee hour”, all parishioners are invited. 

Many of you have received the Zoom "coffee hour" information by a card in the mail. To join the “coffee hour” open your Zoom app, enter the meeting number and passcode on the card.

Please contact Laurie at Laurie@csmsg.org or Fr. Tom at Tablbinson@csmsg.org   with questions or for the Zoom "coffee hour" information.
Michelle Gurrola Burks
SATURDAY YOGA CLASS
Parishioner Michelle Gurrola Burks will be teaching a 55-minute class to be held online at noon on Saturdays through May 23 at 12:00 PM.

Michelle has attended the 8 AM service at CSMSG for 18 years. She and her husband Jack were married at the church 3 1/2 years ago. She has taught yoga for 20 years and can be found at IMAYOGAGIRL on Instagram where she leads yoga challenges. Michelle is a LuLulemon ambassador. 

A yoga mat is helpful, but not necessary, a non slippery spot with no socks will work fine too. We look forward to seeing you all this Saturday!

Benefits of Yoga, Supported by Science:
Can Decrease Stress.
Relieves Anxiety.
May Reduce Inflammation.
Could Improve Heart Health.
Improves Quality of Life.
May Fight Depression.
Could Reduce Chronic Pain.
Could Promote Sleep Quality.
Will provide fun with fellow parishioners!

Email Laurie at Laurie@csmsg.org for the Zoom information.
For those of you who joined us last Saturday, the Zoom information remains the same. 
The classes are free!
STEWARDSHIP
Would you like an easy, secure and quick way to support CSMSG? Introducing text to give on your mobile device! If you know how to send a text message, you can make a gift. Click here for a few quick steps. Thanks for your generosity as we continue to serve and care for each other.
FAITH IN ACTION
HUNGER MINISTRY donations were used to send financial assistance to the following: Holy Cross Episcopal Church, Ascension Food Pantry, Trinity Episcopal Church and St. Peter & Paul Community Services
 
In addition you can help in the following ways:

  • Take food to Trinity Episcopal Church. Please only bring the following items: Canned chicken, Canned fruit in 100% juice, Chili with beans, Vienna sausages, Tuna in vacuum packs, Creamy Peanut butter in regular size jars and in individual packs, Saltine crackers, Powdered milk and Boxed cereal, regular or individual size on Tuesdays from 10 AM-1 PM or Thursdays 2-3:30 PM at 600 N. Euclid, St. Louis MO 63108. Contact: Rev. Barbi Click at barbi@trinitycwe.org or 817.312.4430.

  • Send a monetary contribution to the Trinity Food Ministry at Trinity Episcopal Church (600 N. Euclid Ave., St. Louis MO 63108).

  • Send a monetary contribution to Operation Food Search (Online or send a check to Operation Food Search 1644 Lotsie Blvd., St. Louis MO 63132).

  • Send a monetary contribution to Gateway 180 (1000 19th Street, St. Louis, MO  63104)

  • Give gift cards to families who are in need.
CAN YOU HELP MAKE MASKS?
The women of St. Francis in Eureka, MO have received a request to sew COVID-19 masks for St. Luke’s Hospital in Chesterfield, MO and are asking for help in meeting this request. The need is great and we know we can count on the good people of the Episcopal Diocese to help. The volunteer coordinator at St. Luke’s stated they will need 5,000 masks per day within the next couple of weeks.  More info

Mary Beth Tipton is working with the Transition Center of St. Louis also in need of masks. To help, email her at mtipton@csmsg.org.

THE CHURCH SERVICE LEAGUE thanks those both in and out of CSMSG for their support of our Christmas Bazaar last December. This week the profits were dispersed to the following: Youth Ministry, Hunger Ministry, Children’s Choir, our kitchen, the new TV monitor, Meals on Wheels, the Episcopal City Mission and the Nicaragua Student Scholarship. Thank you for your support and thanks to those who worked so diligently to make it all happen including James Leaks, Theresa Griffin, and Charles Davis. Thanks, too, to the continuing support of Fr. Archie, Eileen Klamer, and Debbie Fenner. 
From the Choir Room
I would be labeled a liar, especially in my own mind, if I said that every day since the pandemic affected our daily lives and routines, that I have been in positive place. 

In my line of work (I am a voice teacher) it is crucial to collaborate in the same space and time as my collaborators. I, like many others, have moved to online instruction with my voice and piano lessons. The lag prevents us from making music together and being truly interactive. It has now switched to solo presentation followed by a response. It is slow and frustrating. It drains my eyes from the intense scrutiny I am using to analyze my students’ performance. It drains my ears from trying to find the true sound from amongst the hiccups and cutoffs provided by imperfect technology and unstable wifi connections. This, in turn, drains my mind and soul and leaves me in a place of wanting, searching for something to reinvigorate me. 

Church, and more specifically, singing in church, and making music with a collective body, has always been what has recharged my mind and soul. The act of singing and worshipping together in the same space and time provides such a powerful and soothing bond between us as humans, it cannot be replicated with our advanced technology, as hard as we may try as a society. Easter morning, I started to stream the morning service. “Ye choirs of new Jerusalem” opened the service, with a lovely photo montage of floral Easter beauty against the backdrop of our beloved building. Both of my children are choristers and had been preparing music for this service. Suddenly, my daughter perked up and said, with worry in her voice, “Hey! They are singing without us!” I explained that it was a recording and that no one was at church that morning, but we could indeed join in and sing together. So we did. 

It was a bittersweet moment. It certainly was nowhere near the glory and splendor we are used to enjoying at The Church of St. Michael & St. George. But it did provide an intimate moment of connection between my family and me. In the back of my mind, I thought about all of you who were isolated, yet connected by the extraordinary efforts of the clergy and staff on that Sunday morning. And I felt gratitude and a hopefulness for the future. A future in which we will not take for granted the gift we had always had in each other’s company and the gift of being able to share our voices and souls every Sunday morning. 

Peace be with you until we meet again.

Darcie Johnson
Choir member since 2008
Help Bring More SMILEs to The Church of St. Michael & St. George

You can support CSMSG every time you shop at Amazon.com by using AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know and use…low prices, vast selection, and convenience, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to CSMSG!

Here’s the scoop: To shop at AmazonSmile, simply go to smile.amazon.com . On your first visit to AmazonSmile select Church of St. Michael & St. George as your charitable organization to support. Do this before you begin shopping, and then every eligible purchase you make at smile.amazon.com will result in a donation to CSMSG.

To sign up and get started go to smile.amazon.com .

Thanks for getting your Smile on with CSMSG!
FORWARD DAY-BY-DAY
The Day by Day daily devotion for disciples booklets are in! Please contact Laurie Brown at Laurie@csmsg.org if you would like a booklet sent to you. Please include your mailing address in your email. The Day by Day daily devotions can also be found online at https://prayer.forwardmovement.org/forward_day_by_day.php
CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
This week Church School students continued learning about the days following Christ’s resurrection. Church School parent Krista Jarvis created a video telling the story of the Road to Emmaus, Children’s Chapel leader Brett Rutledge provided talking points, and Children’s Education Director Mary Beth Tipton shared how to make a Memory Map. View the videos and more in the Church School email .
YOUTH MINISTRY
Looking for ways to connect while we’re apart? Join us for a Youth Group as we live stream every Wednesday night at 7 PM on ZOOM. Email Kyle: ktallman@csmsg.org for the zoom link. 

Sunday School at 11:15 AM Sunday mornings on Instagram Live!

High School Senior Round Up: High School seniors are invited to the 2020 Senior Round Up on May 8th, from 7–8 PM. This will be a time for our students to reflect, ask questions and discuss what transitions they will be facing over the next year with Kyle and Jess. We will send out zoom instructions closer to the night. Please encourage your child to attend.

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to Kyle - ktallman@csmsg.org .
FIND US ON INSTAGRAM
Sunday School - Sunday mornings @ 11:15 am
HS Girls Bible Study Tuesdays NOON
Youth Group - Wednesday nights @ 7:00 pm
Find us on Instagram:
Find us on Instagram: @csmsgyouthministry
PARENT LINK
COVID PARENT RESOURCE webpage - Check out this webpage for current information for parents and families under Parent Link on CSMSG website.

THURSDAY MORNING PLAYGROUP: Zoom to the rescue! Parents of newborns to preschoolers Next “gathering” via Zoom will be at 10:30 AM on Thursday, May 7. Please email marty@csmsg.org to receive a ZOOM invitation for this gathering.

FAITHFUL GENERATIONS: Join this class TODAY at 2 PM via Zoom for a discussion of Barking to the Choir by Gregory Boyle. We will discuss Chapter 4 and 5. Please email marty@csmsg.org if you would like a Zoom invitation!
BE ON THE LOOKOUT!
Be on the lookout for a phone call from Church Receptionist Becky Arthur and other staff members as we update our Realm directory. Now, more than ever we need up-to-date email addresses and phone numbers. Thank you in advance for your help!