Staying Connected as a Faith Community |
Thursday, December 17, 2020 |
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CHRISTMAS SEASONAL SHARING
We collected 96 gifts cards totalling $2,210.00 for our partner school, Bennet Academy! Thank you to all who donated! What a tremendous success!
Drive-Thru Food & Toy Collection
***THIS*** Saturday, December 19th 9-10am
St. Mary's Parking Lot
We will be accepting all non-perishable food items, new unwrapped toys and shut-in stocking stuffers to be delivered to MACC later that morning. Please share what you can with our neighbors!
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Christmas Memorials Due THIS Friday
For our Christmas memorials, the Altar Guild has placed Christmas plants in the Nativity Chapel where Morning Devotions are held and live streamed each Thursday. Wreaths are hung on the church doors. And a Tree of Lights is lit in the Memorial Garden each evening from dusk until 9 pm. >>>>>>>
If you would like to have your loved ones remembered this Christmas, please send their names to Sandy at the church office by 12/18 (sandy@stmarysct.org or 860-649-4583). A memorial contribution is appreciated and not necessary.
‘Tis the season of hope, love, joy, peace, and light!
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Morning Devotions
Due to the snowstorm we recorded and livestreamed yesterday.
Subscribe to St. Mary's YouTube page
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Christmas Worship Services
Christmas Eve: 4pm on Zoom
Christmas Morining: 10am on Zoom
Next week's e-newsletter will be distributed on Wed. Dec. 23rd and include the bulletin and links for these services
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Contemplative Prayer for Advent: Watch, Wait, Wonder, and Worship
Sundays @4pm
Meeting ID: 845 4337 8082
Passcode: 0000
Dial in:
1 646 876 9923
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Sunday, December 20th 10AM
Permanent Meeting Code
Meeting ID: 823 2447 0555
Password: 0000
Join Zoom Meeting:
or
Dial
1 646 876 9923
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WEEK NIGHT COMPLINE
Join fellow parishioners:
Monday: Karen A
Tuesday: Andrea
Wednesday: HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER ( see different link below)
Friday: Sharon
This short service from The Book of Common Prayer can be found in the BCP on page 127 or you may access the prayer book online at www.bcponline.org.
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 856 0827 5573
Passcode: 41Park
To dial by telephone call +1 929 205 6099
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HOLDEN EVENING PRAYER
Wednesdays in Advent @ 7pm
We will join with our friends from Concordia on Zoom to celebrate this service in a lovely musical setting of vespers.
Meeting ID: 824 9334 8865
Password: 0000
Use your telephone to call this number and enter the ID and Password.
1 646 876 9923
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Please Ponder and Pray
We are seeking to fill the following positions for Vestry:
Vestry member 2 year term
Vestry member 3 year term
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“For nothing will be impossible with God.”– Luke 1:37
This Sunday we celebrate Mary’s faithfulness and willingness to do God’s will. This brave young woman hears the angel’s words and believes. As a faithful steward, what possibilities do you see for our community and congregation?
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God equips us for ‘new things’
“I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”–Isaiah 43:19
Advent and Christmas are all about celebrating that most amazing “new thing” God brought about for our sake – incarnating God’s divine essence in the human form of Jesus, our Savior and Lord.
We prayerfully ask at the beginning of every church year, “To what ‘new things’ is God calling us?” But this Advent the question holds special significance.
With its racial unrest, political divisiveness, riots, wildfires, hurricanes and COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 will be remembered as one of the most troubled years in recent history. And everybody is bracing for a “new normal” that is still unknown.
The pandemic has caused us to cancel many of our cherished Advent and Christmas observances. We pray the Holy Spirit will give us the creativity and wisdom to find new ways faithfully to steward the mystery of the incarnation and tell God’s story.
More broadly, we also pray for guidance to steward our lives that we may be, as Jesus directed, the salt of the earth and light to a world that needs us more than ever.
As we listen for God’s direction, preparing us for “new things,” the four traditional Advent themes may offer a path. We cultivate these themes in our hearts and congregations and share them with the world:
· Hope as an antidote to the culture of despair.
· Peace in our hearts to bring to an angry world.
· Love for our friends and enemies alike.
· Joy in Christ, who makes all things new.
God, who promises to make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert, will prepare us and equip us to do “new things” to steward our lives and congregations to meet the challenges ahead.
–Rob Blezard
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Stewardship Reflections
THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU
to those who have returned their pledge certificates.
If you have not already, please return your completed pledge certificate as soon as possible. CLICK HERE to download a form.
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TAKING CARE OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS
ECHN COVID-19 Vaccine: Frequently Asked Questions
Please visit the ECHN COVID-19 FAQ resource for answers to vaccine related questions: CLICK HERE
Self Care Resources
The Episcopal Church in Connecticut has created a self-care page with various links for all interests. To take a look CLICK HERE
Wonderous Winter Wreath & Window Competition!
Downtown businesses have decorated for the winter holidays and we want you to vote on your favorite. CLICK HERE to vote and read more info. Even better take a stroll and patronize some of these small businesses!
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Ann's Zoom Coffee Shop on Fridays at 1pm
Join Zoom Meeting
or
Dial +1 929 205 6099
Meeting ID: 873 0224 9184
Password: 958202
While we miss gathering in-person at Silk City Coffee, we do love seeing each other and connecting on zoom. You can still "pop in" as if you're strolling on Main Street and stay as long or short as you want. We're on zoom from 1-2 pm- call in from home or use a smart device to 'swing by'.
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Let's Take a Winter Walk!
Rev. Ann has been busy connecting while walking with parishioners! Pictured is Lenny and Beth L. Email Ann to find a time to share a Winter Walk: revalovejoy@gmail.com
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Virtual Prayers of the People
CLCK 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 please contact Rev. Ann.
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Presiding Bishop Michael Curry delivers a message of hope for this Christmas
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CLICK HERE to view the December Happenings- with a complete list of Advent & Christmas services
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Mark Your Calendars
St. Mary’s & Concordia, we all want 2020 to be over. So, let’s have some fun and bring the New Year in with style.
Ladies & Gents wear your best, brightest, most fashionable scala, fascinator, fedora, cloche, Homburg, … to our first service of the New Year, January 3rd
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FYI Doors Project:
Some may have noticed our God's Doors Are Open To All have been taken down. We did this so that the extreme weather over the next few months won't damage them. The small signs have been put up for the winter and a weather proof St. Mary's banner will be attached to the frame.
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Beautiful alternative words to "Mary, did you know... |
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Mary did you know,
that your ancient words
would still leap off our pages?
Mary did you know,
that your spirit song
would echo through the ages?
Did you know that your holy cry
would be subversive word,
that the tyrants would be trembling
when they know your truth is heard?
Mary did you know,
that your lullaby
would stir your own Child’s passion?
Mary did you know,
that your song inspires
the work of liberation?
Did you know that your Jubilee
is hope within the heart
of all who dream of justice,
who yearn for it to start?
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The truth will teach, the drum will sound, healing for the pain
The poor will rise, the rich will fall. Hope will live again
Mary did you know,
that we hear your voice
for the healing of the nations?
Mary did you know,
your unsettling cry
can help renew creation?
Do you know, that we need your faith,
the confidence of you,
May the God that you believe in,
be so true.
Lyrics by Jennifer Henry (inspired by the popular song of the same name)
Artwork by Anthony VanArsdale for the National Black Catholic Congress
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