St. Mary's e-newsletter Thursday, June 11th

Staying Connected as a Faith Community

"Open Mic: We are Listening"

The Vestry has held 2 Zoom Open Mic sessions so far and today from 1-2:30 will be the last. We hope you can make time in your schedule to join either by phone or Zoom App. It has been great to chat with everyone and comforting to see or hear from each other. Wow, have we missed you! Feel free to drop in whenever you can!

Thursday, June 11, 1-2:30 pm

CLICK HERE to join

Meeting ID 864 4050 2091

or dial 1 929 205 6099

CONNECTING with COFFEE

Stop by Rev Ann's Zoom Coffee Shop on Fridays at 1pm

Join Zoom Meeting

CLICK HERE

or Dial +1 929 205 6099

Meeting ID: 873 0224 9184

Password: 958202

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“ Coffee On The Curb”

This new way of connecting has been fun and you don't even have to tidy the house! Feel free to call Rev Ann at 304-951-7122 or email her at revalovejoy@gmail.com and she will swing by your home and chat outside (at a safe distance).

“SHOUTOUT” for Worship!

Last Sunday, Laura Hart told the Godly Play creation story to a live audience, our congregation gathered live on Zoom! Thank you, Laura. Godly Play is a captivating way of telling the stories of our faith and of wondering together about their meanings for us. “I wonder where you are in this story?”

We also had the pleasure of hearing Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, ELCA, as our guest preacher. She asked us to be “color amazed” by the diversity of God’s people and to let the Holy Spirit “kindle in us the fire of justice” as we wrestle with feeling disquieted and discerning our local calls to action.

If you have not yet “tried on” our zoom worship, St. Mary’s and Concordia, on Sundays at 10 am, you are missing out on a joyful opportunity to be together. We don’t want anyone to miss out! In fact, you can simply dial your phone and join worship. If you feel uncertain about how to “do this zoom thing” we are happy to help you. We can get on a conference call at a separate time (without a large group) and try it out. After that first step, it gets easier. I promise! Let me know if you would like some help email me at revalovejoy@gmail.com .

Blessings,

Rev Ann

Sunday, June 14th at 10AM

CLICK HERE for the bulletin

New Permanent Meeting Code

Meeting ID: 823 2447 0555

Password: 0000

Join Zoom Meeting:

CLICK HERE

Dial

1 646 876 9923

Join Ann for

COMPLINE at 7:30pm

FRIDAY Compline

Meeting ID: 741 202 531

CLICK HERE or Dial:

1-929-205-6099

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WEDNESDAY Compline

Meeting ID: 173 966 797

CLICK HERE or DIAL

1-929-205-6099

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CLICK HERE for the Compline bulletin

June 7, 2020: Sunday Sermon by The Right Reverend Mariann Edgar Budde

The Rt. Rev Mariann Edgar Budde preaching last Sunday from Washington National Cathedral. Take a moment to listen to these profound words.

Anti-Racism Information

Thousands filled the streets of Manchester on Saturday and Sunday to March for Justice. A group of about 20 parishioners from St. Mary's showed up to put our faith into action.

The daily rallies held by "Power Up -Manchester" at the corner of Main and Center St. have been moved from the afternoon to 7pm due to the heat and to allow for those who are working to join. If you would like more information about the newly formed activist group Power Up- Manchester CLICK HERE

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While many may be "high risk" as we live into Phase One of the reopening of the state , and thus not participating in large gatherings, we can all commit to be part of the rising movement to face the systemic racism in our country. This is a time of listening, learning and taking action. Here are some opportunites:

Take Time to Learn

CLICK HERE to view the Award winning documentary "13th" Combining archival footage with testimony from activists and scholars, director Ava DuVernay's examination of the U.S. prison system looks at how the country's history of racial inequality drives the high rate of incarceration in America.

CLICK HERE to find a channel to view "Just Mercy" a film based on the powerful and thought-provoking true story of young lawyer Bryan Stevenson (Jordan) and his history-making battle for justice.

CLICK HERE for a children's anti-racism book list

CLICK HERE for an adult anti-racism book list compiled by ECCT (which highlights a few books we have already read as part of our anti-racism book initative)

THANK YOU

A big thanks to all who have been keeping out grounds beautiful over the last few weeks. There has been mowing, weeding, trimming, mulching, planting and painting happening just about everyday!

Taking Care of Yourself & Others

Diaper Drive Tonight

The mission of Gentle Love Diaper Pantry is to showcase the heart of the Manchester community by connecting families who face economic barriers with diapers. The pantry will be holding its first contactless diaper drive tonight from 4-6pm at Manchester High School’s Summit Street parking lot. Members of the community are encouraged to place the diapers in the trunk of their vehicle, and volunteers will safely remove them upon arrival. All the diapers collected will be brought to MACC, who will help distribute the diapers to families in need.

Manchester Public Library Reopens

Your wait is over! The Manchester Public Library will reopen to the public on Monday June 22nd, 2020 for grab and go library services. We have missed our patrons and are excited to be able to welcome you back in to the buildings . CLICK HERE to visit their website for new protocols.

Census 2020

Your response matters to the members of your community. CLICK HERE if you have not filled out the Census.

Important Links:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Website

State of Connecticut's Official COVID-19 Response Page

Town of Manchester's COVID-19 Informational Page

Virtual Prayers of the People

CLICK HERE to view the list and to take a moment to lift these names up in your prayers. If you have people you wish to add or if you have a desire to join a newly invigorated Prayer Team please contact Rev. Ann.

A Prayer for the Power of the Spirit Among the People of God

God of all power and love,

we give thanks for your unfailing presence

and the hope you provide in times of uncertainty and loss.

Send your Holy Spirit to enkindle in us your holy fire.

Revive us to live as Christ’s body in the world:

a people who pray, worship, learn,

break bread, share life, heal neighbors,

bear good news, seek justice, rest and grow in the Spirit.

Wherever and however we gather,

unite us in common prayer and send us in common mission,

that we and the whole creation might be restored and renewed,

through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

NOTE: This new collect has been composed by a national team of Lutherans and Episcopalians. Written “to unite us in common prayer and revive us for common mission” during this crisis. In the spirit of Pentecost, Presiding Bishop Curry and his Lutheran counterpart, Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton, invite congregations to pray the new collect from Pentecost through the first Sunday in September. In addition to expressing a shared desire for renewal in a troubling time, the collect also commemorates nearly 20 years of full communion between The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

Some Final Words from Presiding Bishop Michael Curry:

"What America has seen in the past several days may leave us wondering what we can possibly do in this moment to be good Samaritans — to help heal our country, even the parts we don’t know or like. But we have the answer. Now is the time for a national renewal of the ideals of human equality, liberty, and justice for all. Now is the time to commit to cherishing and respecting all lives, and to honoring the dignity and infinite worth of every child of God. Now is the time for all of us to show — in our words, our actions, and our lives — what love really looks like."