WELCOME HOME!

Worship with us:

Sunday at 9:00 am in person and Live on Facebook

The weather forecast is looking quite rainy. If it does indeed rain we will move the service indoors and into the hall for the most comfortable experience for our larger pets. Please do spread the word that our service is taking place rain or shine.

September 29, 2022

Episcopal Relief & Development is in close contact with Episcopal dioceses in the southern United States and Cuba in response to Hurricane Ian, which made landfall in Cuba on Tuesday and in southwest Florida on Wednesday.

In Cuba, the category 3 storm killed two people and knocked out power to the entire country. 

“The Episcopal Church in Cuba has mobilized its local disaster committees who are assessing the damage, and potential responses, in their communities,” said Kellie McDaniel, Senior Facilitator, Training & International Development, Episcopal Relief & Development. “We pray for the people of Cuba who are living through several recent disasters.”

Hurricane Ian intensified to a category 4 storm before making landfall again on Wednesday near Port Charlotte, Florida, with winds of 150 m.p.h. As of Thursday morning, more than two million people were without power, and a storm surge of up to 12 feet caused severe flooding. The storm also caused flooding in the Florida Keys after heavy rain on Tuesday night. It is expected to reach Georgia and South Carolina by Friday. 

Dioceses in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina have been preparing this week by checking in with communities in the storm’s path, testing emergency communications systems, and coordinating with area agencies. 

“Our partners in the southern United States have deep roots in the community and are using their relationships to assess the needs caused by Hurricane Ian,” said Lura Steele, Program Officer, US Disaster Program, Episcopal Relief & Development. “We stand ready to assist in the coming days and weeks.”

Please pray for the people impacted by the storm. Donations to the Hurricane Relief Fund will support Episcopal Relief & Development and its partners as they respond.

For over 80 years, Episcopal Relief & Development has been working together with supporters and partners for lasting change around the world. Each year the organization facilitates healthier, more fulfilling lives for more than 3 million people struggling with hunger, poverty, disaster and disease. Inspired by Jesus’ words in Matthew 25, Episcopal Relief & Development leverages the expertise and resources of Anglican and other partners to deliver measurable and sustainable change in three signature program areas: Women, Children and Climate.

Lost Christianities: The Battles of Scripture and the Faiths We Never Knew 

by Bart D. Ehrman, Matthew Kugler, et al.

Available in Paperback, Hardcover, Kindle or Audiobook

ANNUAL ATLANTIC CONVOCATION MEETING

DATE -  Thurs., October 27

TIME -   7:00 PM

LOCATION - Holy Trinity in Ocean City

PROGRAM - provided by Dio NJ (Information on the Bishop Search)

Bring your knitted items for the Seamen's Ministry and Deacon Rich Wisniewski (richnewski@hotmail.com ) will deliver!

The ministry of ushering is a crucial part of worship because it is one of the most visible ministries in the church. In Christ, you have received God’s unconditional love, and in Christ, you are called to extend that same unconditional love to others. Although an usher’s love is no stronger than the love found in the whole congregation of the body of Christ, nevertheless, the usher performs a major role in ensuring that people see and experience that love.

The ushers distribute bulletins and greet worshipers, making every attempt to make them feel welcome and at ease. The ushers are also available to answer questions of anyone needing assistance.

Please contact Mo. Allison or Julie if you are interested.

We are invited to participate in Safe Church Safe Communities Training at St. Barnabas By-the-Bay on Saturday, October 22, 2022.

This training is grounded in our call to seek and serve Christ in all persons and respect the dignity of every human being. It offers an opportunity to increase and enhance our ability to live out our Baptismal Covenant within our faith communities and in the world beyond.

It is offered to anyone who currently has oversight responsibilities for events, programs, or others engaged in ministry and ministerial roles

Please Register: https://tinyurl.com/SafeChurch10222022Villas

If you need a ride, please contact Mo. Allison

Membership at St. Mary's consists of several different groups of "members." Some are Confirmed Communicant Members or who have transferred their membership by Letter of Transfer to St. Mary's. Some are Baptized into St. Mary’s or have requested that their names be entered in the Parish Register. Others are “members” by virtue of the fact that St. Mary’s is their church—the Christian community of which they are a part and where they worship regularly. Still, others are “summer members" or friends of St. Mary's. Many are part of St. Mary’s life, worship at St. Mary’s when in town, and support St. Mary’s financially. Canonically, they are not members in the legal sense, but they are every bit as much members of our parish family as those who are official members.

Please contact the church office if you would like to receive membership forms to be added to our data base.

email: SaintMarysStoneHarbor@gmail.com



We welcome you to join us!

Perhaps we do not think enough about what an effective service prayer is. We do not believe as we should how it might help those we would serve, penetrating the hearts we cannot open, shielding those we cannot guard, teaching where we cannot speak, comforting where our words have no power to soothe; following the steps of our beloved through the toils and perplexities of the day, lifting off their burdens with an unseen hand at nights. No ministry is so like that of an angel is this — silent, invisible, known but to God.

Placing flowers on the altar is a wonderful way to remember a loved one. If you would like to do so, simply choose a date on the flower chart in the parish hall and note who the flowers are in memory or honor of, and your name. A donation may be placed in the plate or sent to the church office. After the Sunday service, you may take the flowers home. Thank you for helping to support our altar guild ministry!

Organize your time for God!



How we use time is always a challenge. Some people are always busy but complain they never get anything done. These people jump from one task to another, start one thing and really never finish anything. Others are busy, they organize their time, finish one task at a time, and are always ready to do more because they know how to use their time wisely.

In order to use our time wisely, the first priority of our day should be to spend it with God. Begin the day with prayer. “In all your ways acknowledge him and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:6) Let God lead you in what you have to do.

Each person has a different agenda. Each one of us must decide what is important. List your priorities: Job, family, keeping your home in good order, church work, visiting with friends, hobby or recreation. Begin to make lists and as you finish a task cross it off the list. Always finish one thing before starting another.

God has given us our life and each day. Each day has 24 hours, each hour has 60 minutes, and each minute has 60 seconds. Make the most of your time and when there is no time left it will be time to go home to God.

Some ways to support St. Mary's

• Become a member

• The Sunday collection plate

• Send a check payable to St. Mary's to:

St. Mary's Church,

9425 Third Ave., Stone Harbor, NJ 08247

(Your envelope and number is not necessary, only your name.)

• Setting up a personal online banking "bill pay" option. The bank will mail the check for you to the church office.

• Online giving through our website at https://www.stmarysstoneharbor.org/

Please note: Offering envelopes have been discontinued. Only your name is needed in order for the counters to record your giving.

Come check out the GOLD Winner of the 2022 Best of the Jersey Shore thrift shops - St. Mary's This 'n That Thrift Shop!

When you're doing your fall cleaning, please remember This 'n That. Household items and clean usable clothing are welcome!

And while you're there, look around. You may find a bargain you can't resist!

Store Hours:

Monday - Saturday 10 am - 4 pm

Donation days: Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am - 3 pm

Location: St. Mary's This 'n That

1304 Rt. 47 So., Rio Grande, NJ 08242    609-886-7272

Follow them on facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/St-Marys-This-N-That-Thrift-Shop-268676343298636/

Vanessa Gumm, a new member of St. Mary's, and realtor at Sotheby's in NJ and FL, will donate 10% of her commission to St. Mary's for anyone who is a member or attends St. Mary's who refers her for a sale.

Branches is supplying 80 back packs a week for 40 weeks to some local schools. The back packs will contain two nourishing weekend meals.

If you would like to help with this project, we are collecting the items in the picture. The milk should be in individual sized servings.

Children have always been a priority at Branches. This project is our way of helping to make sure that they are properly nourished. The need is great and growing. Thank you in advance for your help!

Donations may be dropped off to The Branches Food Pantry Monday, Wednesday, or Fridays from 9 AM to 12 noon, at 1304 Rt. 47 So., Unit AJ, Rio Grande. Or you many bring things to St. Mary’s and they will be taken to the Food Pantry for you.

Sundays after worship (except on Vestry Sunday)- Adult Forum Book Study - Lost Christianities



• October 2nd - 9 AM on the front lawn The Feast of St. Francis and the Blessing of the Animals (If it rains it will be moved indoors)

• October 6th-10th – Mo. Allison is away for the Bishop's Discernment Retreat

• October 20th - Branches Grand Opening Celebration

• October 22nd - Safe Church Training

  October 27th - Annual Atlantic Convocation Meeting 7:00 pm Holy Trinity  Ocean City

• October 29th – Fall Family Fun Day

• November (Date TBD) Thanksgiving service/breakfast

• November 25th-26th (Women’s Club Festival of Trees Donation)

• December 17th – 7:30 pm at Cold Spring Presbyterian Production of Handel's Messiah with John Curtis, and Mo. Allison as Narrator

• December 21st – Blue Christmas

12 Step Meetings in the Church Hall

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) Monday at 8:00 pm

Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) Tuesday at 8:00 pm

Alanon Friday at 10:00 am

Genesis 9:8-17

Psalm 104:1,10-15, 25

Romans 8:18-25

Matthew 11:25-30

Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 am Morning Prayer via Zoom

Sunday 9:00 AM in person (church)