Dearest family and friends of St. Mary's,

How wonderful it was to pull up in the driveway on Sunday evening and enter the bustling hall where joy filled every corner of space. I was overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit's presence among you as we gathered for the Strawberry Fest.

Normally, this would be a space for me to thank each individual, one by one, but how can I, when ALL, and I mean ALL, of you, participated with great love and enthusiasm. THANK YOU! It was so good to see many of your family and loved ones jump right in and lend a hand in every way. Thank you Lou for pulling everyone together, making phone calls, and rallying us to the cause. Thank you, Marion, for igniting the firey spirit to get the ball rolling, and thank you Lisa and Dina for reaching out to our local merchants, who were all so willing and supportive of St. Mary's community engagement and enthusiasm. Thank you to each of you who set up, served, donated treats, put baskets together, and even stayed for clean-up.

With all sincerity and with my deepest gratitude, look around you on Sunday and thank the person sitting next to you. Each and every one of you came together to make Strawberry Fest 2022 a huge success! What a blessing! What a CHURCH! Well done!

I am also deeply grateful for all of your love and support as I traveled to Connecticut for the commissioning of the USS Oregon. The time spent with my boys, celebrating Connor's accomplishments, was absolutely priceless. Thank you, Jack, for your leadership in worship and service. I was happily surprised by the pictures in the hall. Thank you, Hilton, for reading and to Jane Carol for your preaching. Dynamite!

I simply cannot believe that Jane Carol's time with us here at St. Mary's is at completion. I fully support Jane as she moves forward toward ordination. She will be deeply missed.

Being a small church with a large outreach ministry has provided Jane with a diverse hands-on opportunity to serve both within our congregation as well as tend to and promote the needs of the community through outreach.

Within our congregation, Jane began by serving at the altar as an acolyte and Eucharistic Minister. She progressed to proclaiming the gospel, delivering sermons, bidding the confession, and setting the table. Jane was always flexible and adapted well to any time roles needed a split-second change, as often as they happen in small church life. Jane jumped right into her experience here at St. Mary's, partnering with me to offer diverse services through the seasons. She was always prayerful, dedicated, and willing to learn and grow. Jane took part in morning prayer and often led. She also took the initiative to set up and lead morning prayer on those mornings when I was not available. Jane's talent and connection with our congregation also extended to teaching moments, as she devised and delivered a lenten lesson each week to our congregation and to the First United Methodist Church of Avalon, where she was warmly received.

Jane's compassion and capacity for outreach have made her a valuable part of our ministry at the Branches and the Thrift Shop. She has taken a noticeable liking to her work in Rio Grande and has made an impactful difference in the lives she touches. In the time that Jane has spent at the Branches, she has engaged in the food ministry, compassionate care, and advocacy. Jane has even started a prayer group at the center, to which our guests have benefited deeply. It is not an easy task, and they are not an easy crew, but Jane is mastering it well and has earned the trust of our guests and volunteers.

This Sunday is Jane's last with us, here in church, hopefully just for a while. Jane, you are always welcome home!

God bless Jane Carol as she journeys forward in the process of ordination to the Diaconate.

Blessings in Christ,

Mo. Allison+

Important Dates to Note:

June 3rd - Wedding Rehearsal

June 4th - the wedding of Chelsea Schuster and Andrew Hickman

June 4th: NO Saturday Service.

June 5th - Baptism of Morrighan Aisling Langston

June 11th- 11 AM Celebration of Life Grace and Bill Repp

June 12th - 9 AM Service The Rev. Canon Joann Izzo

June 18th - 11 AM - 75th Anniversary Celebration of St. Barnabas by the Bay, Villas

July - We are looking forward to the Science Explorers returning, Thursday's on the Lawn, and Saturday Evening Beach services.

Many thanks to Dina Ziemba, Lisa LaGreca, and Lou & Cynthia Schweickhardt for chairing the event. You and our many volunteers made Strawberry Fest possible and provided the community with a fun time at St. Mary's.

St. Mary's Music Director, Kyle Sheppard, is excited to announce the formation of the Stone Harbor Women's Chorus.

A link to the Chorus with information and an online sign up can be found here.

are given in loving memory of

James M. Hill, Jr. by his children,

Joyce H. Ruterman, Heather Hill-Holmes,

and James M. Hill, III.

My question is for everyone who reads this. The ministry of Christ is performed by every baptized member of the church. Think about that for a few moments! My question is not “Are you a minister?” Rather, “What kind of a minister are you?”

The word “minister” means a servant; one who serves others because of Christ, in God’s name, and for God’s sake. Clergy are called to be shepherds; pastors who care for their people, who visit the sick, who preach the word of God, who celebrate God’s sacraments, and who pronounce God’s blessing. To what ministry are you being called?

You are called to serve the world that God loves, in the ways that only you, because of your gifts, can serve. Only you, under God’s guidance, can determine how your ministry is to be performed.

The laity has been given a precious ministry too often ignored and rejected. I call you to seek your unique, necessary task of making God in Christ known to those who need you. Your ministry is not just to strengthen the church. We exist as a congregation not only to give glory to God in true and life–changing worship, but we exist to draw others and to serve them, as they need to be served.

When you are spring/summer cleaning, please remember St. Mary's Thrift Shop. Your donation of clothing and household items in good useable condition is welcome!

St. Mary's This 'n That has become a valuable presence in the Rio Grande community. As an outreach of St. Mary's, it provides assistance in vital ministry and mission by offering quality clothing and household goods at affordable prices to the community, along with jobs and work experience to those in need. Proceeds help to support The Branches, and other ministries and outreach of St. Mary's.

June 3rd - Wedding Rehearsal

June 4th - the wedding of Chelsea Schuster and Andrew Hickman

June 4th: NO Saturday Service.

June 5th - Baptism of Morrighan Aisling Langston

June 11th- 11 AM Celebration of Life Grace and Bill Repp

June 12th - 9 AM Service The Rev. Canon Joann Izzo

June 18th - 11 AM - 75th Anniversary Celebration of St. Barnabas by the Bay, Villas

July - We are looking forward to the Science Explorers returning, Thursday's on the Lawn, and Saturday Evening Beach services.

CHECK OUT OUR CALENDAR on our website for all activities taking place throughout the week.

This summer, St. Mary's will again host Science Explorers - Science Clubs and Camps for Children ages 4 to 11. The camps are a ton of fun. Spots are still available but they are filling up, so don't delay, Call 877-870-9517 or go to www.ScienceExplorers.com to find out more.

Tuesday - Thursday 8:30 am Morning Prayer via Zoom

Services, studies, and service bulletins may be accessed on our website: www.stmarysstoneharbor.org