A Note from Patti
Alleluia! Christ is risen and all creation is singing! Isn’t it beautiful out? I am so grateful for this wonderful respite from dark days, seclusion and... no singing! (We were really over that!) If you haven’t been to one of our outdoor services, please know that there is plenty of room for distancing; there is hand sanitizer at the entry points and everyone is masked. We have been blessed with just glorious weather these first two Sundays. (Thank you, Lord!) Being able to worship together in community, in such a beautiful setting and with everything blooming around us....how could we not praise the Lord and give thanks for one another and ALL of creation?
Some Sunday school classes are taking advantage of the nice weather to meet outside. (Be in touch with your teacher, as schedules are still “hybrid”, and vary.) AND...we will have Vacation Bible School this year! We will meet on three consecutive days, June 28, 29 and 30. Each age group (pre-k and K, grades 1-2, and grades 3-5) will meet each on their own day. We will meet from 9 – 2. (We ask each child to bring their own lunch.) Each class will look to “Discover God in Creation.” We are looking forward to this and I thank those of you who have offered to help out. We need more adult and youth volunteers. Please shoot me an email when you can help out.
We have turned another corner, navigated another bend in this pandemic road and are looking ahead. But I can’t help but look back. Trials, troubles, great sadness and fear come flooding back to my memory. But, there is more. There is a great deal more. We have always had each other. We have reached out with helping hands. We have prayed for each other. We have called and sent cards. We have prayed sometimes because it was all we could do. And it was enough. We were enough. God was with us. Jesus walked with us the whole way and walks with us still. For all of this, I am profoundly grateful. Our community is strong and we continue to reach out, to pray, to help. Bless you.
While we must still be diligent and cautious, we can rejoice in many things as we move forward. So let’s do that! Let’s rejoice and be glad! Let’s get outside as we can; let’s stay in touch and continue to be grateful to God for all of the many blessings we are receiving each and every day.
We sure look forward to worshipping with you soon!
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The 7:30 a.m. service will be held in the sanctuary (limit to 30 people).
The 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services will be held outdoors (weather permitting) in the area close to the playground.
HERE is a drawing of the layout:
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Children's Chapel will be held at the regular time at the 9:00 a.m. service, between the Gospel reading and the passing of the Peace.
The playground will be closed 15 minutes before both services.
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*Masks are required on the church campus.
*Attendees must be socially distanced.
(Try to refrain from handshakes or hugs.)
*Outdoor participants will need to bring their own seating.
*A call will be made by Saturday at 6 p.m. if the outdoor services are cancelled due to weather with a notice emailed in Realm
and posted on the website.
Please register to attend HERE:
If you cannot use the internet, call the office, and we will put you in. Be sure and leave the number of persons in your party.
ACOLYTES are needed for our outdoor worship services. All student volunteers are welcome, even if you've never before served. Past acolytes will be sent a sign-up link. Once you have signed up, please report to the Acolyte room in the church by the requested time (8:30 for the 9:00 service and 10:45 for the 11:15 service). We will need every extra minute for robing and discussing worship roles. For more information, contact coordinator Julie Svendsen at julesannap@gmail.com.
Special 4-5 Grade Sunday School Class
Get ready for our 'All God's Creatures' class on May 9th. Be prepared to find out about all kinds of strange and beautiful creatures in God's creation that are commonly found in Maryland streams. Be prepared to put your skills of observation and discovery to work! Meet in the playground area at 10:15 a.m. and dress appropriately.
Online Worship Continues
There will also be a Virtual Coffee Hour starting at 10 a.m. on Zoom. Here is the info to join:
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 867 1846 4358
Passcode: 023911
Music Rehearsals for Spring 2021
Choir regatherings and rehearsals
(outdoors, weather permitting, masked & physically distant)
Combined Chancel Choir and Motet Ensemble (college age & above)
Mondays @ 7:30-8:30pm online Zoom meetings
Wednesdays @ 6:30pm until sunset SMC parking lot.
If you have been considering joining one of our choirs or having your child participate in our chorister program, please reach out to Director of Music Jim Douglas at music@st-margarets.org. Please attend a rehearsal at one of the above mentioned times to try us out! As always, all of our ensembles are open to anyone, regardless of musical ability or background. All that is required is a love of music and a willingness to lend your voice in the praise of God!
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THANK YOU to our parishioners who have already donated or pledged funding for our new organ. It is truly heartening to realize how much our music program means to our parish!
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Remaining amount needed to reach our goal: $92,000
23.6% of the way to go!
We hope everyone who enjoys attending worship and enjoys the music program will give what they can to this effort. We would like to end the campaign and declare success by the end of May.
How to pledge--
Fill out the online form.
Payments can be made by:
- Making a check out to "St. Margaret's Church" and putting "New Organ Fund" in the memo line.
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Using a credit card by going into Realm and choosing the organ fund (www.onrealm.org/smcannapolis/giving).
- Gifting of stock. (Please contact Teresa or Elizabeth in the office to let them know.)
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SMC Truth, Reconcilation and Reparations Task Force
Bishop Sutton has asked all Maryland churches to participate in the Diocese's Trust and Reparations efforts. SMC has formed a task force of interested congregants that has begun this important work. We especially need more representation from our younger adults age group. The task force meets once a month on the first Wednesday evening of the month at 6:45 p.m. through Zoom. To learn more about the topic, visit our diocesan website at https://episcopalmaryland.org/social-justice-and-reconciliation/. If you are ready to begin this journey, please contact parishioner Beth Kopack @ 410-279-5136 or at esolchamp@icloud.com.
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Monday Evening Study
Our Monday evening book study this spring is focused on the latest book from noted American novelist Anne Lamott titled "Dusk, Night, Dawn." In it, Lamott attempts to answer the tough questions that many of us grapple with. Drawing from her own experiences, Lamott shows how we can adapt to move toward places of light and hope.
Copies are available on Amazon.com. The group meets on Mondays at 7:00 p.m. on Zoom. If you would like to participate, contact the Rev. Patti Sachs at patti@st-margarets.org.
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Join our Thurs AM Book Study
All are welcome to join our Thursday morning book study. The group meets at 9:00 a.m. every Thursday via Zoom. At this time, the group is discussing ""The Good Book: Reading the Bible with Mind and Heart" by Peter J. Gomes. The book centers on the Bible and the social and moral consequences that derive from its interpretation. It offers a crash course in biblical literacy in a nuanced but easy-to-understand style.
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VBS Planning in 2021
This year's VBS will be a little different than in past years due to safety protocols. We will offer ONE DAY of VBS for different aged groups.
Monday, June 28 - Students PreK through going into Kindergarten
Tuesday, June 29 - Students going into grades 1 & 2
Wednesday, June 30 - Students going into grades 3 to 5
We will plan age appropriate activities in art, music, and playtime as well as offer a lesson from clergy and a snack. We want to make this FREE FOR EVERY CHILD.
To offer this program, we need adult and youth volunteers. If you are willing to volunteer for one, two or three days, please contact the Rev. Patti Sachs at Patti@st-margarets.org.
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Youth News
Our youth continue to meet
on Mondays together at 7 p.m.
Middle School on Wednesdays at 7 p.m.
High School on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
New Beginnings Preview Day (Grades 5-9), May 15, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Camp Wright, Stevensville, MD. Join the diocesan youth design team for a preview day of our annual middle school retreat, New Beginnings! Their youth staff will run a COVID-19 safe day that will highlight chosen aspects of the weekend retreat.
Claggett Summer Camps are on for 2021
Summer camp is back in 2021! With enhanced safety measures in place, the Center's youth camps will be providing a summer full of new adventures.
- Senior High Camp: June 20-25 [Grades completed: 9-12]
- Middle School Session 1: June 27-July 2 [Grades completed: 6-8]
- Middle School Session 2: July 5-10 [Grades completed: 6-8]
- Youth Camp: July 11-16 [Grades completed: 2-5]
- Adventure Camp: July 25-30 [Grades completed 4-8, special focus on outdoor skills and activities]
- Family Camp: July 25-30 [For families of all shapes, sizes, and ages!]
- Camp Spirit Song: August 1-6 [For youth grades 4-8 impacted by a family member’s opioid substance abuse]
For more information, go to
https://www.claggettcenter.org/youth-programs.
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Registration for the 2021-22 school year and
2021 summer camps are now open!
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St. Margaret's Women's Guild meets the first Wednesday of the month at 1 p.m. via Zoom. Next meeting is May 5th. The Guild is open to all women of the church. Contact Janis Brewer at brewerjanis@gmail.com for more information.
Bring your checkbooks or some cash to church on SundayThe Guild will be holding their annual Flower Sale on the campus between services this Sunday, May 2nd. Profits will help to fund the various missions projects the Guild supports throughout the year.
Last year, the Guild purchased a tree planted in the front area of the church in honor of all of the SMC military parishioners past and present. There will be a ceremony to recognize the gift with parishioners representing all armed forces on Sunday, May 16, between the 9:00 and 11:15 a.m. services.
The Guild will be holding their annual spring luncheon at Carroll's Creek in Eastport on Wednesday, June 2nd. If you are interested in attending, please contact Judy Hall at judy.hall0404@gmail.com.
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Missions Commission Grants News
From a staff member at the Claggett Center on a program that our SMC Missions Commission has supported with a few small grants during the pandemic.
A quick update about ZM and how she's doing at C.A.M.P. Last week we reached the end of the marking period for Frederick County Public Schools. Her C.A.M.P. tutor shared this report:
ZM has loved having other kids her age to play with. In school, she is excited to learn more and developed more reading skills, and has even started trying to read classroom books aloud to her C.A.M.P. staff! Outside of academics, she has become quite the jump-rope expert. I am always excited to see the wonderful ways that she plays with others.
FCPS is expected to start a hybrid learning schedule in the next few weeks that pairs virtual and onsite learning. Families will have the option to choose to adopt the hybrid model for their children or stay 100% virtual. We're adjusting the C.A.M.P. schedule to accommodate students who choose hybrid or virtual learning. If ZM remains enrolled in C.A.M.P. this spring, we hope you will continue sponsoring her participation, which has proven to be incredibly worthwhile.
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My Brother's Pantry - New Program
My Brother's Pantry, a food program for the Broadneck peninsula, is excited to announce the start of their new “Family Choice Pantry” operation!
Beginning in May, residents can come to the Pantry, located at College Parkway Baptist Church, choose the menu items that work best for their family, and have everything delivered right to their car. Selections will change monthly as the organization works to stock more fresh and healthy food, as well as personal care items. Please help spread the word! And if you would like to volunteer, please contact parishioner Russell Jackson at russelljackson@alumni.duke.edu or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/mybrotherspantry.
Light House Volunteer Opportunities
*Provide dinners for the shelter residents the fourth Sunday of the month.
To participate with St. Margaret's or for more information, contact the Rev. Peter W. Mayer at
*Join the Annapolis Run for The Light House on the scenic trails of Quiet Waters Park. The race options are virtual and include a Half Marathon, the Joggin’ Joe Shafran Memorial 5k Run, and a 1.25 Mile Walk. For more information, go to https://www.annapolisrunforthelighthouse.org/.
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Have a prayer request to put in our weekly announcements?
Click HERE to use our automated request form or contact clergy.
As staff becomes fully vaccinated, we will begin to offer official office hours. Until then, if you need to stop by, please call the church office first at 410-974-0200 to see if someone will be in. Email is the best way to to contact staff.
Jim Bowersox, Operations & Facilities Asst.
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St. Margaret's Church
1601 Pleasant Plains Road, Annapolis, MD 21409
(410) 974-0200 Office (443) 837-5463 Pastoral Emergency
www.st-margarets.org
info@st-margarets.org
Connect on Realm: www.onrealm.org/smcannapolis
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