Dragon Tales E-News
May 27, 2020
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A Word about SMC Re-Gathering
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from the Rev. Peter W. Mayer, Rector
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View our live-stream Sunday service
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A Note from Jeff
After service this Sunday, Alice and I had the rare chance to take a beautiful drive. It was so nice to get out of the few rooms we find ourselves living in, and see some sights that, if not new, were at least a refreshing change for the eyeballs.
This was a drive with a purpose, though. We try very hard to avoid leaving the house except for necessary provisions, but for this Sunday drive we had a higher calling. We drove to each of the four St. Margaret’s high school seniors’ homes - Sydney Davis, Julia Surrick, Aeven O’Donnell, and Devin Guagliardo - and planted signs from the Church signed by the clergy and staff in their yards. We had struggled with how to appropriately mark this milestone in their lives. With all of the restrictions under which we live, we felt this was the best way to publicly - and safely – congratulate them on their achievement. They may have lost many of the ceremonies and parties, but at least we can always remind them they are loved by the entire congregations and that we are proud of them.
This is the way celebrations look these days. It may be this way for the foreseeable future. None of us can read the future with any degree of certainty. However, it is probably fair to say that many of the ways we marked events and seasons and celebrations pre-pandemic will look different going forward. I don’t anticipate massive shifts in our social norms. These sorts of things tend to move on a more subtle time scale. One day we wake up and we realize the many ways things are different from a few years ago.
Ultimately though, the things that are different are just…
details
. Graduation moments are just that, but the education and the friends made along the way last a lifetime. Things always change; some we notice right away, others over time. But what does not change is how we feel about each other, and care for one another. We will find new traditions, but they will still express pride, joy, and love.
Congratulations Class of 2020! We’ve always known you are exceptional – now you’ve got graduations to match!
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This Sunday, May 31 -- Pentecost Sunday
Wear Red and post your photo during our service!
Sunday, June 7 -- Trinity Sunday
BLUEGRASS MASS
live-streamed
w/Third Sunday Band
A live-streamed service only - parishioners worship virtually
Summer, June 14 -- Summer Church Begins
Summer Bingo cards available by email
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Silent Auction Turns Virtual THIS WEEK
With guidance from the state, St. Margaret's Day School will cancel all summer camps for the year 2020.
Because of COVID-19 and physical distancing requirements, St. Margaret's Day School had to alter its major fundraiser of the year -- the Silent Auction. But their creative team of parent volunteers has now
arranged for a virtual event with items open for bidding starting Tuesday, May 26th through the grand finale on Saturday, May 30th. The PTO will host a live virtual event from 7:30 to 8:00 p.m. on the 30th.
In response to the impact COVID-19 has had on SMDS families, the school is designating 10% of revenue raised for a scholarship fund to help those experiencing financial hardship. Another portion will go towards the refurbishing of the classrooms and other spaces in response to changing health and safety standards for the students' return in the Fall.
The virtual auction is open for everyone to participate! Please feel free to share with grandparents, family, and friends. Each participant will need to create a free OneCause account to see items and bid. We will send out details about registering early next week.
For those who already purchased tickets to the March 25th event, the PTO would like to buy your dinner on May 30th
to say thank you for your support and make the virtual event a little more special. Details will follow about the restaurant, menu options, and pick up. Ticket holders will also be eligible to win one of the four raffle prizes, which will be drawn over the course of the live event on May 30th.
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VBS Online Coming This Summer
Can you guess our theme?
Coming this July, St. Margaret's is offering an
online
VBS program. Components of the program include a Bible story, craft, activity, snack, and music. Families can just follow along during a time that is convenient to them. Stay tuned!
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Senior Sessions Begins Bi-monthly
Clergy will now be offering senior sessions for parishioners 60+ via Zoom on the
SECOND AND FOURTH Tuesdays of the month throughout the summer
. The next session will be on Tuesday, June 9 at 10 a.m. The hour includes a discussion of the upcoming Gospel lesson, special prayers and the sharing of joys and concerns. To participate, email
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Book Study -- by Zoom on Thurs. AM
Our Thursday morning book study continues with a new book titled
V
intage Saints and Sinners
by Karen Wright Marsh via Zoom. All are welcome! We'll begin around 9:00 a.m. If you would like to join, contact
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Send us Your Prayers
Please send your special prayer requests to the Rev. Patti at
patti@st-margarets.org
. She leads a live-streaming prayer service on Friday evenings at 8:00 p.m.on our
Facebook public page
. As a reminder, if you have a pastoral EMERGENCY, you can reach clergy at 443-837-5463.
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Support New SMC Sewing Mission
Parishioners are ready to produce much-needed masks, surgical caps and gowns for Anne Arundel Medical Center. You can help in 2 ways - join this fun group and sew these medical supplies or donate to defray the costs of the supplies.
To outfit a health care worker with a mask, cap and gown for cost is $40 or contribute $5 for a mask, $10 for a surgical cap or $25 for a surgical gown. The more that is contributed, the more we help our medical heroes on the front line! To volunteer to sew, contact Beth Kopack at
esolchamp@icloud.com
.
Click here to volunteer.
To donate by credit card, please go to
https://onrealm.org/smcannapolis/Give
, choose missions, and then notate it is for the
sewing mission
or you can send a check to St. Margaret's,1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis, MD 21409.
Please note Sewing Mission on memo line
. Thank you for your generosity to our neighbors!
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Light House Dinners/Support Status
Per a request from Light House, in lieu of SMC providing the 4th Sunday night dinner meal or grocery donations for that meal right now, SMC (through the Missions Commission) is now making a monthly monetary donation to Light House for that meal. The Light House shelter asked us to make this change because The Bistro is now providing meals to Light House residents both on-site and off-site. This allows Bistro employees to remain employed and provide continued, valuable training to The Bistro staff.
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Domestic Violence Incidents Increase
During this time of enforced isolation, the incidence of intimate partner violence is, inevitably, on the rise. Domestic violence response programs report an uptick in calls and are facing unprecedented complications in response, both in their programs as well as their shelters. Check in on those you think might be vulnerable. Try to provide a safe way for them to talk. Make sure you know about your local providers:
https://mnadv.org
/
Call and ask them what they need and offer to be of assistance. If you have completed the domestic violence training required by our diocese, pull out your notes and look them over again. Resources are available from the
World Health Organization (WHO)
and
Breaking the Silence, the Church Responds to Domestic Violence
, by the Rev. Anne O. Weatherholt.
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A Quick Stewardship Note from Zack Greene
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Regular giving:
Text GIVESMC to 73256
or
or
Checks mailed to:
1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis, MD 21409
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A Prayer by Thomas Merton
My Lord God,
I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me.
I cannot know for certain where it will end,
nor do I really know myself,
and the fact that I think I am following your will
does not mean that I am actually doing so.
But I believe that my desire to please you
does in fact please you.
And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing.
I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road,
though I may know nothing about it.
Therefore will I trust you always though
I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death.
I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
I have kept the Thomas Merton Prayer handy for many years now. I’ve leaned on it and found comfort in the words in the times of my life when I feel like I am wandering. When I first was introduced to this prayer, I was in my twenties and my fears and uncertainties looked different than they do today, but they were real and this prayer gave me relief. I feel like each day during this pandemic, there have been different feelings and emotions that have surfaced. Some are optimistic but others are filled with questions and uncertainty.
I pray that you find comfort in the words of this prayer, like I have. I pray that you find comfort in the SMC community. My wife, Cory, reached out to a friend recently who is going through a challenging time right now and for over an hour, all she did is just listened to her friend. One of the most valuable gifts you can give someone is your time. Don’t hesitate to reach out to members of our congregation and those outside of our congregation, to see how they are doing and lend an open ear to those who are carrying a heavy load. It is the little things, like this, that can accumulate and make a big impact in our world.
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This Past Sunday
May 24 - 9:00 a.m. live-stream
with patriotic hymn sing following
Watch every Sunday at
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What Happened this Week?
Bookmark this on your browser (and if you don't know what that means, ask a young person)!
*Sunday morning worship - 9:00 a.m. - Sundays (see below)
You will be emailed the bulletin & announcements on Saturday evening.
*Evening Compline - 8:00 p.m. - Tuesdays
*Stewardship Story - 8:00 a.m. - Wednesdays (see below)
*Dragon Tales Distribution - 8:00 p.m. - Wednesdays
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Campus Closure
The SMC campus is now closed.
We ask all parishioners to not enter any of the buildings, even if you have keys. This is for the health and safety of both parishioners and staff. Though staff will be checking phone messages remotely, the best way to contact staff is through email. Checks should be mailed in. The mailbox at the staff door in the admin. building is not secure but the locked US postal mailboxes are.
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