Staying Connected

Weekday Morning Prayer (Tues. - Fri.) 8:30 AM via Zoom

WELCOME HOME!

Worship with us:

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

Saturday 5:30 pm, July 9 to August 27- 101st St. Beach Pavilion

Rector's Corner

Dear St. Mary's family and friends,

"Life is short, and we have too little time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us. So, be swift to love and make haste to be kind….and may the blessing of God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you now and always."

This is the blessing I choose to use on most Sunday mornings, and its words are the first to come to mind as I read this Sunday's lectionary. While Hebrews speaks to mutual love, compassion, and empathy, Ecclesiasticus confronts our sin of pride, which destructively stands in the way of giving our love freely. Yes, life is very short, and the older we get, the shorter our days and years appear more real.

In our Gospel this Sunday, Jesus speaks about our need for humility. He reminds us, "all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.” What a great reminder for us all to look within ourselves and ask, "What prevents me from loving freely? What are my obstacles to love? Could it be pride, hurt, anger, resentment? Could it be ego or expectation or maybe something else?

A few months back, I was asked to preside at a friend's mother's Celebration of Life. In preparation for this Jewish service, family, and community, I came across the following:

When all that's left is Love by Rabbi Allen S. Maller

When I die

If you need to weep

Cry for someone

Walking the street beside you.

You can love me most by letting

Hands touch hands, and

Souls touch souls.

You can love me most by

Sharing your Simchas (goodness) and

Multiplying your Mitzvot (acts of kindness).

You can love me most by

Letting me live in your eyes

And not on your mind.

And when you say Kaddish for me

Remember what our

Torah teaches,

Love doesn’t die: people do.

So when all that’s left of me is love

Give me away.

Reflection: Humbly ask yourself, "Is there anything preventing you from giving away the love entrusted to you?"

Blessings in Christ,

Mo. Allison+

551-697-6133

___________________________________

*** Please read to the bottom to see ALL the Events and Activities happening through the Fall. ***

Safe Church Training in October

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

Adult Forum Book Study -

This Sunday 10:30 am

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

PARISH POTLUCK - September 15th - 6 pm

Let's get together with an end of summer Parish Potluck to be held on Thursday, September 15th at 6 pm. A sign up sheet is posted on the parish hall bulletin board if you can volunteer to set up before and/or clean up after. Also please note what you plan to bring.

Hope to see you there!

Congratulations to

St. Mary's This 'n That Thrift Shop!

This 'n That was the GOLD Winner of the 2022 Best of the Jersey Shore for the category thrift shops.

Congratulations to Manager Debbie Smith, Assistant Manager Debra Conn, and their dedicated team of employees!

You have made This 'n That more than a thrift shop but a ministry serving our neighbors in the community. Thank you!

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/

Join us for one last Beach Service for the season on

Saturday, August 27th

As Summer 2022 concludes, so do our Saturday beach services. It was a great summer; the evening services were beautiful, and well attended, and we met new friends.

Thank you to Hilton Rodriguez, who served as Eucharistic Minister, Reader, and all-around set up/take down person.

Meet John Smith

Who is that man behind the Foster Grants? None other than our own John Smith from Bucks County, PA. John has been a summer resident of Avalon for the past 38 years, a cradle Episcopalian and a regular Sunday parishioner at St. Mary’s during the summer months. In fact, four of his six grandchildren were baptized at St. Mary’s.

As an avid fisherman, John has had several boats moored at the Avalon Yacht Club over the years, fishing having been one of his favorite things to do. He’s now back to playing golf and enjoying retirement from his business . . . Smith Construction in Philadelphia. He recently (2 weeks ago) celebrated a “milestone” birthday with friends and family.

Coming to the shore for John as a teenager, like most of us from PA, meant coming to Atlantic City. There was Steel Pier, the “diving horse” and Starlight Ballroom. John remembers doing all of the latest dances here at the shore and introducing them to friends back home. I’m sure that’s how he got on the original “Bandstand” with Dick Clark. He also loved nights at Jack’s Place in Avalon when Jerry Blavat was in the house.

When John and his wife of now 50 years decided to be summer residents at the shore, they looked at homes in Wildwood. Fortunately, he was presented with the opportunity to purchase a home in Avalon.

What does John love about St. Mary’s? He says our coffee hour and the conversations he has with everyone, and he loves “Mother Allison’s great sermons”.

John is a member of the Union League, Avalon Yacht Club and St. Luke’s in Newtown, PA.

School Supplies Drive

Thank you to all who donated to our School Supplies Drive. Local students will have a good start to the school year. Thank you to Dina Ziemba and her helpers, Jenette and our Deacon Intern Charlene!

Join us!

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 become a member of St. Mary's and be added to our data base.

We welcome you to join us!

Stewardship

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.

Upcoming Expenditures at St. Mary's

This fall, St. Mary's must address two important issues requiring large expenditures. First, the air conditioning unit at the rectory is on its last legs, and must be replaced at a cost of approximately $7,000. Second, it is necessary to eradicate the pigeon population that has taken up residence under our solar panels. After exploring all available options, the most effective and humane method is to shoo away the pigeons and simultaneously clean the surface of the roof, immediately followed by placing netting around the gap under the solar panels to prevent their return. This is a labor intensive process that will cost over $11,000, and will save our roofing from any further damage.

St. Mary's has many blessings and we are able to proceed. However, these costs were unforeseen and will put a significant dent in our savings. If you are able, please consider a special financial gift to help St. Mary's offset these costs as we work toward our future together.

If you have any questions, please contact Lillian Armstrong, Treasurer at 609-425-1582.

Thank you Vanessa Gumm

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.