St. Mary of the Hills
Episcopal Church

May 27, 2021
Words to Ponder


In the Beginning, not in time or space,
But in the quick before both space and time,
In Life, in Love, in co-inherent Grace,
In three in one and one in three, in rhyme,
In music, in the whole creation story,
In His own image, His imagination,
The Triune Poet makes us for His glory,
And makes us each the other’s inspiration.
He calls us out of darkness, chaos, chance,
To improvise a music of our own,
To sing the chord that calls us to the dance,
Three notes resounding from a single tone,
To sing the End in whom we all begin;
Our God beyond, beside us and within.
---
Trinity Sunday: A Sonnet
Malcolm Guite


Latest News from St. Mary of the Hills



Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Holy Eucharist will be offered at 9:00AM on Monday, May 31, in observance of the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary. All are welcome!

Parish Office Closed

The Parish Office will be closed on Monday, May 31st, in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. Our offices will reopen on Tuesday, June 1st, at 9:00AM.

Bishop’s Visit

The Right Reverend Jose McLoughlin will be with us next Sunday, June 6th for his annual visitation to St. Mary of the Hills. 
 
Altar Guild Volunteers

The Altar Guild continues to welcome new members, in a ministry of hospitality and preparation for worship each week. If you are interested in learning more or volunteering (summer, winter or full-time), please contact Sue Sweeting - sweetingsue75@yahoo.com or 828-406-9376.
All are welcome to join in this ministry!
Upcoming Services with Incense
Please note that incense will be used at the following 11:00 services in the weeks ahead - Trinity Sunday (May 30), and Bishop McLouglin's Annual Visitation (June 6). 
Daily Morning Prayer

Morning Prayer is once again being offered each weekday, Monday-Friday, at 8:30AM in the Church. 

No registration is necessary. Masks and distancing continue to be required. All are welcome!
Memorial Day Observance
The American Legion is hosting a Memorial Day Service on Saturday, May 29 at 11:00am in the Blowing Rock Memorial Park. Fr. Andrew will be offering the invocation. All are welcome. 
Flower Offering Opportunities

Is there an important person or a significant event happening in your life? Is there an upcoming birthday or anniversary you would like to honor? Sponsoring the flowers placed at the altar each week is a great way to offer thanks for life’s many gifts. Many dates are available for 2021. Please contact Greta Wilson, parish administrator, for more information and available dates.
Take the Heges a Meal
We are trying to help Amanda, Andrew and Eleanor out as they adjust to life with a newborn baby. Use the link below to sign-up to take them a meal over the next two weeks.

Sorrow in our Parish

+Stephen Rice, father of St. Mary's parishioner Paige Rice, died on Monday, May 24th in Minneapolis, MN. An obituary is available online - HERE. We pray for Paige and Jeff, and for the extended Rice family.

+ Cindy Butner died on Thursday, May 20 in Greensboro at Moses Cone Memorial Hospital, where she spent many hours volunteering as a volunteer chaplain. Cindy, along with her late husband Jim, attended St. Mary's when in Blowing Rock. An obituary is available online - HERE. A private burial will be held at St. Francis Episcopal Church in Greensboro.

+ Graeme Justice died on Thursday, May 20 in Blowing Rock. An obituary is available online - HERE. Burial services will be held at a later date. We continue to pray for Maureen and the extended Justice family.

This Sunday - Join us Online

Click the image above to view Sunday's bulletin.

The First Sunday after Pentecost:
Trinity Sunday

May 30, 2021

Holy Eucharist
Livestream 11:00AM

Sunday Coffee Minute


Join us at 10:00AM each Sunday morning for a Coffee Minute via Zoom. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and cultivate new relationships. All are welcome! Use the button below to connect. The password is 'coffee'.
A Story from Godly Play

Online Giving to St. Mary of the Hills

Thank you for your continued generous support of St. Mary of the Hills!

Even as we practice social distancing and refrain from gathering for the health and safety of one another, the mission and ministry of the Church is ongoing - Worship, Christian Formation, and Outreach to our community continue in this season.

Please continue to remember us with your generous financial support.
Gifts can also be received via mail at P.O. Box 14 Blowing Rock, NC 28605.

Joe Raulerson, Financial Secretary, can speak with you about setting up recurring payments to fulfill your pledge. You may reach him via e-mail at financial@stmaryofthehills.org.
Worship Update

5/17/2021

Masks continue to be required for indoor services at St. Mary of the Hills.

As we adapt to new developments, there are two significant changes we are making at St. Mary of the Hills in the days ahead -

  • Registration is no longer required for any service of worship.
  • Seating will no longer be marked in the Church for services of worship. Please continue to sit with members of your own household and maintain three feet of distance between households while seated in the pews.

Live-streaming of Sunday services will continue via Zoom and YouTube. Links are included below and in a weekly e-mail each Sunday morning.