Dragon Tales E-News
October 21, 2020
www.st-margarets.org
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What keeps you up at night? Your kids? The cats outside? The silence? If you’re like me, it’s a tinge of anxiety and worry about what the coming weeks and months will mean for us. I wonder what will happen and how it will affect me, my family, my church and my country. I can think big-picture, like ending the environment as we know it—that’s enough to keep me up for a while. Or I can get granular and worry about my church community: I meant to call that person today! We haven’t heard from that person in a while. I wonder if anyone is going to pledge this year, and what will that mean for this ministry or that ministry….
What gets me back in a place of piece is remembering that surely as we are all made in God’s image, we are still resting in God’s bosom. God has me and you in the palm of his hand, and that hand has not turned over. We are not falling. That image of comfort and settledness reminds to be grateful.
Nadia Bolz-Weber reminds us that “gratitude isn’t a thank-you-note-to-Grandma obligation, but the gift that doubles a gift.” Gratitude begets gratitude; in God’s weird economy, we find our fears relieved and proportionalized by giving thanks for what we already have.
Think on this when you consider making a pledge to St. Margaret’s Church for this coming year. Consider how your gift is a gift of gratitude for what you’ve been given, and a mark of the path of discipleship which you walk. Consider how your gratitude is then used by our church to bless others and minister to their needs. Giving out of gratitude is as much an obligation as breathing is; it’s just something we do to stay alive.
Thank you for all you give to this world.
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Submissions for the upcoming Advent/Christmas Spire newsletter are due on November 6. |
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Pledge Today!
on Realm!
(1) Log into your Realm account at onrealm.org
(look for the Realm logo at the bottom of this e-news)
(2) Check your giving for this year.
(3) Check your pledge for 2020.
(4) Enter your pledge for 2021.
Please check to make sure your new pledge is correct.
Did you pledge by week, by month, or by year?
It's so easy!
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A Note from Our Stewardship Team
As we mentioned last week, we are excited to have raised $57,000 for our annual matching campaign. Let’s make sure we take full advantage of these dollars. Any pledges from parishioners who did not pledge last year or have an increase in their pledge compared to last year, will be matched as part of the campaign.
We have also decided to spice up this year’s campaign with a little fun. As we exceed different pledge targets, Peter and Patti will be participating in virtual challenges. We will be releasing more information about the challenges in the coming week!
We thank you all for taking the time to prayerfully think about not only how you can share your financial means, but also your time and your talents to support our community and connect with those in need.
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St. Margaret's has offered a Wednesday evening service every other week. Our last fall gathering will be held next Wednesday, Oct. 28. Weather permitting, we will meet in the lovely outdoor garden area by the admin building at 5:30 p.m. Bring your own seating, wear a mask, and remember to socially distance with fellow parishioners. But most of all enjoy God's creation and our beautiful campus. |
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All Saints Day on Nov. 1
We are now accepting names of your friends and family who have died this year for our annual necrology list - to be remembered in our All Saints service on November 1. Deadline is Oct. 26. Send to Laura@st-margarets.org.
Our liturgy for the day will include the immense loss of over 200,000 Americans from the Coronavirus. We will have postcards with the names, ages, photos, and other information on victims from across the country, across all ages, across all races, and across all socio-economic levels. Parishioners will be asked to take one (or more) of the cards and pray for the person's family as they heal from their loss. The cards will remain in the sanctuary that week so parishioners can stop by anytime and view the display and take a card.
This year, we will also be offering parishioners a chance to bring a photo or small belonging of someone they have lost (in previous years) to the sanctuary before the service. You can either bring them in to the church office Mon-Weds, October 26-28 or bring it with you that Sunday morning. We will have a table at the altar during church services. Note that you are responsible for collecting the item at the end of the service.
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We are now gathering together for worship in the sanctuary on Sundays, but attendance is limited and there are safety precautions that must be adhered to.
NOTE: Please do NOT call the office to save a seat for you. You can email
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Music Ministry Update
Though Diocesan COVID guidelines currently prevent us from singing in church and indoors, we hope to take advantage of the fall season and our on campus outdoor space to have weather permitting limited in-person, physically distanced and masked gatherings for our adult and youth choristers beginning this week.
These gatherings for adults (Wednesdays @ 5:30pm) and youth (Sundays @ 12:30pm) will be a great time for fellowship and some music making to prepare for some December virtual choral offerings.
All returning members and new are welcome to join,
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Sunday, October 25
Lectors:
7:30 - Kathy Polk
9:00 - Allison Mayer
11:15 - Stacia Bontempo
Cantor: Trish Schilling
Flower Guild - Mary Kirkeby
Altar Guild - Jeanne Nardi, Jan Little, Mary Kirkeby, Kim Morrow
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Sunday, Nov. 1
Lectors:
7:30 - Joan Rich
9:00 - Jeff Conover
11:15 - Izzy Winn
Cantor: Alice Conover
Flower Guild - Ann Lallande
Altar Guild - Elizbeth Parker, Lyn Sloan, Betsy Dobbs, Susan Roberts
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Annual Missions Fair THIS Sunday
The Missions Commission is busily planning its annual Missions Fair, but this year, the program will be virtual, shared on our Facebook public page and our YouTube channel THIS Sunday, Oct. 25.
The Missions Commission wishes to communicate the importance of missions/ outreach efforts at St. Margaret's and to inspire and encourage parishioners to get involved and offer resources for how they can plug in. For questions, contact Missions Commissions Chair Joanna Tillman at joanna.tillman@gmail.com.
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Grants Program Deadline Nov. 30
Our endowment grants program is welcoming applicants for the 2021 fiscal year. If you have a worthy nonprofit either local, regional, or across the world, send them to our Grants website page with online applications. The deadline is Nov. 30th. If you would like to participate in the grants award process, contact our Grants Administrator Christine Feldman at cduray@comcast.net.
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Light House Pumpkin Sales
The Light House (shelter) is now holding their regular Pumpkin Patch fundraiser (with covid precautions, of course).
2020 Pumpkin Patch Location, Dates and Times
- St. Martin’s Lutheran Church at 1120 Spa Rd, Annapolis, MD 21403
- 2020 Dates: thru Oct. 31st
- Every Weekend in October: Saturday – Sunday 10:00 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
- Weekdays Starting: Monday – Friday 1:00 p.m.-6:30 p.m.
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Thursday Morning Book Study
The group will begin studying "Jesus and the Disinherited" by Howard Thurman starting tomorrow.
Howard Washington Thurman played a leading role in many social justice movements and organizations of the twentieth century. He was one of the principal architects of the modern, nonviolent civil rights movement and a key mentor to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The book explores what Jesus offers to a people who live with their backs against the wall. The work became an intellectual pillar for the burgeoning civil rights movement in the 1950s.
All are welcome to join at 9:00 a.m. each Thursday! Email the Rev. Patti Sachs at patti@st-margarets.org to let her know you wish to be added.
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Senior Session on Oct. 27
Senior Sessions for parishioners aged 65+ continue to meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays online. Our next Zoom meeting will be held next Tuesday, Oct. 27. To participate with clergy, discussing the Gospel reading of the week and sharing joys and challenges, contact the Rev. Patti Sachs at patti@st-margarets.org.
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Monday Night Study
We are now conducting our Adult study with Diana Butler Bass' popular book titled Grateful on Monday evenings at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom.
"With honest stories and heartrending examples from history and her own life, Bass reclaims gratitude as a path to greater connection with God, with others, with the world, and even with our own souls. It’s time to embrace a more radical practice of gratitude—the virtue that heals us and helps us thrive."
The Rev. Patti Sachs is leading the study. If you would like to participate, simply email her at patti@st-margarets.org and let her know so you will get the link to participate.
You can order a copy HERE or on Amazon.com.
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Drive-thru
Trick or Treating
Sponsored by
St. Margaret's Youth Group
Saturday, October 31
from 2 pm until 4 pm.
Rain Date: Sunday, November 1
Where: St. Margaret’s parking lot
For children up to 10
Everyone should wear a mask!
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All youth are invited!
Mondays at 7:00 p.m. - Fellowship Night with middle & high school students
Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. - Middle School students
Thursdays at 7:00 p.m. - High School students
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Our youth are also invited to join the Diocesan commissioner, Kate Riley, and youth from around our diocese for games, check-ins, and prayers on Tuesdays from 4:30 - 6:00 PM. Wednesdays are for our young adults to gather for fun and prayers from 5:30 - 6:00 PM. Join the Online Youth Leadership Program on Thursdays from 4:00 - 6:00 PM for Bible study, church history, self care tips, and leadership tools. Contact Kate Riley, kriley@episcopalmaryland.org.
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Sample lesson for Grades 2-3 |
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Sunday School for Children
Sunday School has begun! Yes, it's online, but our leaders have worked hard to make meaningful, age appropriate lessons that will be shared online weekly.
We ask for parents to check their Realm account (and their kids') to sign up for participation in the correct formation classes for the 20-21 school year. please email Gwen Davis at gwen@llamaworks.com so we can figure out why not.
If you are new to St. Margaret's, email info@st-margarets.org so we can get you connected with the right teachers.
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Give to St. Margaret's
By texting GiveSMC to 73256
By giving online
By mailing checks to:
St. Margaret's Church, 1601 Pleasant Plains Road
Annapolis, MD 21409
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If you plan to stop by the office, please call in advance (410-974-0200) to see if a staff member is available on campus. Email is the best way to communicate with staff members.
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