St. Mary of the Hills
Episcopal Church
December 3, 2020
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Observing Advent Together
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Advent Lessons and Carols
Though we are unable to gather for our annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at St. Mary of the Hills, our friends at The University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee will premiere a recorded service from All Saints Chapel on Sunday evening, December 6th, at 8:00PM. The service will be available online using the button below.
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Advent Prophetic Voices
Beginning Monday, November 30, and continuing for the following Mondays before Christmas, there will be a Zoom discussion group using the Episcopal Church podcast series, Prophetic Voices: Preaching & Teaching Beloved Community. Each week, the preparation expected will be a one hour podcast available by computer, tablet, or phone that focuses on each Sunday's Old Testament & Gospel readings through the lens of social justice. The prophetic voices on the podcasts come from all over our church, voices from many perspectives that share our Christian values and our Anglican/Episcopal heritage. Each session, facilitated by a different St. Mary's parishioner, will engage the scripture readings of Advent with our time of needing to heal our deep divisions. Sessions will be from 3:30-4:45 and available by Zoom, whether in-person or asynchronously by recording. Please let Fr. Sam (sam@stmaryofthehills.org) know of your interest and especially whether you wish to participate by receiving the recording link each week.
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This Sunday - Join us Online
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Click the image above to view Sunday's bulletin. |
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The Second Sunday of Advent
December 6, 2020
Morning Prayer
Online at 10:00AM
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Sunday Coffee Minute
After worship on Sunday mornings, join us at 10:45AM for an online Coffee Minute on Zoom. This is a great opportunity to reconnect with old friends and cultivate new relationships. All are welcome! Use the button below to connect. The password is 'coffee'.
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Rector's Forum
During the season of Advent, Fr. Andrew will offer reflections and invite conversation using the appointed Sunday Gospel texts and familiar hymns of the season.
This Sunday the Gospel text is Mark 1:1-8 and the hymn we'll consider is, 'On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry.’
We meet via Zoom on Sunday mornings, 9:00-9:30AM. Use the button below to connect (password: forum). All are welcome!
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Reverse Advent Calendar
to support
Blowing Rock CARES
This has been an unprecedented year for food instability in our area. During the month of December we are asking all members of St. Mary’s to donate to our local Blowing Rock CARES Food Pantry. In years past we have collected bags at the back of the Church with some suggested items to collect for our Reverse Advent Calendar. Due to pandemic restrictions oo Church gatherings, you can bring bags directly to BR CARES, located across the street at Rumple Memorial Presbyterian Church or simply make a $25 donation to Rumple Church(marked Xmas for BR Cares) toward purchasing food items during Christmas Season.
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Heifer Fair
This year, in lieu of our annual in-person Advent Heifer Fair, we invite you to remember Heifer International as a part of your holiday shopping. A contribution to the work of Heifer International makes a great gift for friends and family.
Learn more about the work of Heifer International by clicking the image of their logo above to visit their website. Wondering how much to give or how your dollars are used? Check out Heifer's Shopping List - HERE.
To contribute, you may use our online giving portal - HERE - select 'Other' in the drop-down menu and type 'Heifer' in the text box. Alternatively, you may place a check in the mail, addressed to St. Mary of the Hills, with 'Heifer' in the memo line.
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Online Giving to St. Mary of the Hills
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Thank you for your continued generous support of St. Mary of the Hills!
Even as we practice social distancing and refrain from gathering for the health and safety of one another, the mission and ministry of the Church is ongoing - Worship, Christian Formation, and Outreach to our community continue in this season.
Please continue to remember us with your generous financial support.
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Gifts can also be received via mail at P.O. Box 14 Blowing Rock, NC 28605.
Joe Raulerson, Financial Secretary, can speak with you about setting up recurring payments to fulfill your pledge. You may reach him via e-mail at financial@stmaryofthehills.org.
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Christmas
Greenery & Flower
Offerings
Though we will not be able to gather in large groups, as is our custom, the Church will continue to proclaim the beauty of Christ among us. For many, it is a tradition to make a gift toward flowers and greenery in honor or memory of a loved one, to be acknowledged in the Christmas bulletin.
If you’d like to make an offering toward this, contact Parish Administrator, Greta Wilson (office@stmaryofthehills.org or 828.295.7323) by December 15th.
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Use the button above to confidentially submit your 2021 pledge online. |
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