Church Office Hours:

Monday - Wednesday - 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Thursday and Friday - By appointment only

A Note from Jeff

Jeff@st-margarets.org

YOUTH GROUP IS IN PERSON!

That’s right, we have been meeting in person on Monday evenings (6:45 - 8p.m.) for two weeks now. We are masked when we are indoors and not when outside – which if the weather holds, we will be a lot! Attendance has been very good, and it has been wonderful to be with so many who were only faces on Zoom for so long.

We are continuing with our Zoom meetings on Wednesday and Thursday evenings, too. Because many activities are reopening, there are students with conflicts on Mondays. This allows more youth to participate. But wait! That’s not all!

Next Friday (29 October) is our first real Lock-In since October of 2019! All are welcome, but I ask that only those students who are fully vaccinated spend the entire night. We will be pretty spread out as we sleep, but I’d rather err on the side of caution. Nor will we be serving dinner at this Lock-In, so I ask that you eat beforehand. I will have prepackaged snacks on hand, of course. And games. Oh yes, we will be playing some good and messy Halloween games.

During our Lock-In we will also be working on our booth for the Fall Festival which takes place on Sunday, October 31 at the church between the 9 and 11:15 services.  We will host a little game of skill and we plan to have plenty of prizes on hand! (Plus, this s a great excuse to wear your costume to church on Sunday!)

Looking out beyond October, we will be hosting the Warm Tree again. This is a vital event, providing warm gloves, hats and blankets to Middle School students in need. We partner with the school system and each year we manage to collect everything they ask for. I doubt this year will be any different, so be on the look-out for the tree after Thanksgiving. There are some more special events percolating for the second semester and I will update everyone as they come together.

For those who may not know, I put out a newsletter highlighting Youth events called the Holy Hotmail. It comes out as needed and contains a comprehensive calendar of all parish and Diocesan youth events. If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please let me know!



And as always, please consider volunteering for a Monday night or maybe even a Lock-In. Youth Group events are painless, funny, sometimes moving, and always leave you feeling more hopeful for our futures!

Wednesday Worship

9:00 a.m. - Rite II - Holy Eucharist

Sunday Worship

7:30 a.m. - Rite 1- No Music

9:00 and 11:15 a.m. - Rite II with Music

Note: Please sign our attendance sheet when you enter the church.

Update:

Congregational singing (with masks) now approved by the Diocese!

 Additionally, there are still some rules we will follow for the safety of us all.

·        Hand sanitizer will still be available in the narthex and at the front of the sanctuary.

·        We will continue to share an elbow or a wave at the Peace.

·        Please be conscious of physical distancing. Four feet is the recommended distance now.

Thanks to all for continuing patience and adherence to all safety rules.

See you Sunday!

AS A REMINDER --

We will offer a live-stream of the service at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/smcannapolis) and our YouTube channel (www.youtube.com/c/saintmargaret).

Children's Formation Coordinator

Emily Delsordo, emily@st-margarets.org

Youth Ministries Leader

Jeff Conover, Jeff@st-margarets.org

Professional, loving nursery care open

Sundays from 8:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. and

Mondays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

STEWARDSHIP REMINDER

This week’s Stewardship Reminder is a continued discussion about this year’s Stewardship campaign theme of “Grateful.”

We have had a great start to this year’s Stewardship campaign, and we are so thankful to all of those that have made a pledge thus far. 

Currently we have 67 pledgers (individuals/families) participating with a total of $451,662, 46% toward our 2022 goal amount.

Please remember that if you are unsure as to how much to pledge, you can always make a pledge now and change it whenever you want so don’t hesitate to log into Realm or email Elizabeth Radley in the office at elizabeth@st-margarets.org and make a pledge now. For all of those that make a pledge that are either new to SMC, returning after a hiatus, or pledge an increase over last year, your pledge will be matched dollar for dollar. 

Thank you again. We are so grateful for your support of SMC.  

Zack Greene, Member

Stewardship Committee

What are YOU

grateful for?

Send

laura@

st-margarets.org

a short video of what is important to you here at St. Margaret's!

We thank Beth Kopack for sharing her gratitude with us.

MONDAY NIGHT ACTIVITIES

RETURNED - IN-PERSON

MASKS ARE REQUIRED

Schedule

5:30 to 6:15 p.m. - Choristers Rehearsals (grades K-2, 3-5)

Contact: Jim Douglas, Director of Music, music@st-margarets.org

6:15 to 7:00 p.m. - Dinner (All should be masked except when eating.)

(Cooking and serving will be done with safety protocols in place.)

NEW -- 6:30 to 7:00 p.m. - Sparks Kids Fun - Ages 3-10

(Fun activities centering on the Gospel story of the week.)

Contact: Emily DelSordo, Children's Formation Coordinator,

emily@st-margarets.org

6:45 to 8:00 p.m. - Youth Group for Middle & High School ages

Contact: Jeff Conover, Youth Ministries Leader, jeff@st-margarets.org

7:00 p.m. - Adult Formation Study led by the Rev. Patti Sachs

"Destructuring Prayer"

Questions? Contact patti@st-margarets.org

7:00 p.m. - Adult Choir Rehearsal

Limited numbers for safety protocols

Contact Jim Douglas at music@st-margarets.org to participate.

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Nursery Care is Available!

RSVP to emily@st-margarets.org

All Saints' Mass - November 7

Only one service at 11:15 a.m.

Outdoors - weather permitting

with special guest members of the

Peabody Ragtime Ensemble!

Join us in one of our favorite annual events! Using the New Orleans Dixieland style funeral, we will celebrate our loved ones who have passed to the other side with rousing jazz melodies and beautiful soulful songs.

Remember to bring your own seating and masks!

REMEMBER: Daylight Savings Time begins on Nov. 7 - Fall back your clocks!

Remembering those lost at the All Saints' Mass

If you wish to have the name of a loved one lost during the Nov-Oct program year at this year's All Saints' Mass, please provide their name to

Laura@st-margarets.org by Sunday, October 31st.

Senior Sessions with Clergy

on Zoom

2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 9:00 a.m.

A discussion with clergy on the week's Gospel lesson and a sharing of joys and challenges. Contact

Patti@st-margarets.org to participate.

Next Meeting: October 26

Thursdays at 9:00 a.m. on Zoom

This Fall's Thursday online study is based on Strength for the Journey: Biblical Wisdom for Daily Living by Peter J. Gomes.

To participate, contact Pat Hall at pshall1@verizon.net.

MONDAY EVENINGS FOR MIDDLE/HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS

6:45 tp 8:15 p.m.

In-Person in the Youth Room

Masks are mandatory

Mondays are Fellowship and Fun youth meetings led by Youth Ministries Leader Jeff Conover. All meetings start with a bit of sharing what is happening in everyone's lives. That is followed by games and then prayer.

Please remember --no adult volunteers for in-person events means no in-person event. If you can help out, contact Jeff (Jeff@st-margarets.org).

WEDNESDAY NIGHTS (MIDDLE SCHOOL) -On Zoom at 7:00 p.m. Discussions surround some important and foundational Bible and Church knowledge. Participants explore what faith means and looks like and start to demystify church services.

THURSDAY NIGHTS (HIGH SCHOOL) - On Zoom at 7:30 p.m. Discussions often have a more topical flavor as participants look at what is happening in our world through Christian eyes.

To participate, contact Youth Ministries Leader Jeff Conover at

Jeff@st-margarets.org.

HALLOWEEN LOCK-IN ON OCT. 29

from 7 p.m. until Saturday, October 30 at 8 a.m.

Those who spend the entire night must be fully vaccinated. Participants can still come if not fully vaccinated and participate in events (masks inside). For safety's sake, participants should eat before coming. There WILL be snacks! ? Costumes are optional. NO weapons, faux or otherwise.

For more information, contact Jeff@st-margarets.org.

ACOLYTES NEEDED FOR WORSHIP SERVICES

Calling all 3rd-12th graders! St. Margaret's needs volunteers to serve as acolytes during church. It is a great way to contribute to the parish, to earn some leadership skills, and to get a front row seat. Are you interested but worried you won’t know what to do? No problem! We provide training for you and go over everything you need to know beforehand. Contact Julie Svendsen at julesannap@gmail.com.

United Thank Offering begins this Sunday

Is it beautiful weather, a comfortable home, a special friendship? What is your blessing from God on a certain day? The Episcopal Church's United Thanks Offering (UTO) program fosters focusing on daily blessings and giving thanks. Courtesy of St. Margaret's Women's Guild, parishioners will be offered a blue envelope this Sunday in which to store spare change for a daily blessing every day until November 7. On that day, parishioners will be asked to submit their envelopes in the offertory plate. Children are also being invited to be active participants and will receive their envelopes (with blessing ideas) during children's chapel and/or Sunday School this Sunday. If you don't receive one, any envelope will do.

The total of St. Margaret's offerings will be totaled and given to the Diocese during the clergy conference in November. That will then be forwarded to UTO where collected totals from around the country will be used for missions efforts around the world.

Afghan Refugee Tiger Team

The Afghan Refugee Tiger Team, under the leadership of SMC’s Mission Commission, is seeking volunteers to offer their talents, time and/or treasure to address the desperate needs of Afghan families and refugees who are (a) either still in Afghanistan and attempting to leave the country or (b) who have already arrived in the United States and will resettle in our community.

The Tiger Team has been working diligently researching, discussing and discerning St. Margaret's future steps to assist Afghans presently living on US military bases, those resettled in Maryland and those still trying to leave Afghanistan. The team will make recommendations to the Missions Commission in early November. We anticipate soon dispersing funding received from generous parishioners to parishioner-led requests that will help our Afghan neighbors. Thank you for your prayers, thoughts, time, and funds.

Weekly Prayer for the Afghan Crisis

Weekly Prayer for the Afghan Crisis

Women and girls in Afghanistan face fear and uncertainty with enforcement of recent restrictions on attending school, going to work, and conforming to severe discriminatory laws.

We pray for the women and girls of Afghanistan, that they are not harmed, their human rights are protected, and that their dreams can be fulfilled.

Sewing Volunteers Needed

Our sewing masks mission is back and looking for more sewers! Anne Arundel County Public Schools has mandated mask wear for all students, teachers, staff and visitors for the beginning of school year 2021-22. We have confirmed a need for reusable cloth masks for some of the more diverse, largely populated schools in Annapolis. As one Guidance Counselor said, "Children often arrive at school without their masks. The county is providing disposable masks but reusable, cloth masks are a welcome donation!" If you can produce some youth sized masks please contact Beth Kopack at 410-279-5136 or esolchamp@icloud.com.

We can supply new sewers with the patterns, materials and notions needed to create youth masks. Have you noticed how disposable masks have become the new litter? Please join us in this effort to protect our community's children while teaching the Earth friendly concept of reusability.  

Chores and More Volunteers Needed

Our church has a history of supporting Chores and More, a local nonprofit that connects volunteers with seniors who need some kind of assistance, whether it means shopping, driving, or doing yardwork.If you can give any amount of time for the cause, contact Frank Curran, Coordinator for Chores and More at choresandmore3@gmail.com.

Provide dinners for the Light House shelter residents the third and fourth Sunday of the month. At present, volunteers buy the food, prepare the dinner, and take it to the shelter for distribution. Volunteers are reimbursed for the food purchased. For more information, contact MartiEngstrom@gmail.com.

Donate food to the Light House. Use this list of needed items and place in the Narthex. Donations are picked up every two weeks. Contact Pam Roth for more information.

Donate food or volunteer for distribution at the Broadneck area food pantry My Brother's Pantry. Contact: Russell Jackson.

Volunteer with the West Annapolis Pop-up Pantry - feeding hungry families in the Annapolis area two Thursdays a month- Contact: Barbara Marder

Endowment Grants Program 2021-22

In the 1990's, St. Margaret's parishioners Ed and Zoe Hall left a financial gift to the church to do with what the parish decided. It was voted to create an endowment fund that would be used to fund nonprofit projects each year that followed the priorities of St. Margaret's. Since that time, over $2 million has been awarded to nonprofits locally, regionally, and around the world.

Go here for the 2022 grants application:

https://www.st-margarets.org/endowment-grants-program.html

Sunday's Service

Sunday's Service Hymn

Sunday's Announcements

Sunday, October 24

Lectors

7:30 - Joan Rich

9:00 - Tres Lewis

11:15 - Pat Hall

Altar Guild

Jeanne Nardi, Jan Little, Kim Morrow

Flower Guild

Cindy Lynch

Children's Chapel

Jen Thomas, Ernie Tucker

Coffeehour Hosts

Heidi Ruegg, Janice John



Greeters

9:00 - Web Chamberlin

11:15 - Teresa Todd

Ushers

9:00-*Jim Barnett, Gail Pelton, Russ Phillipi

11:15 - Steve Brennan, Judy Hall, Robin and Mary Ellen Bosworth

Sunday, October 31

Lectors

7:30 - Alice Gillis

9:00 - Karyn Sproles

11:15 - Allison Mayer

Altar Guild

Charlie Lang, Susie Byrom, Robert Thomas

Flower Guild

Stacy Canuel

Children's Chapel

Emily Delsordo, Christy Hollywood

Greeters

9:00 - Web Chamberlin

11:15 - Carroll Morgan

Ushers

9:00 -*Randy Goff, Gail Pelton, Mark Torrence

11:15 - *George Saroch, Jim Hall, Stacia Bontempo

ALL USHERS AND GREETERS

Remember that anyone can show up to serve even though their name is not listed on a specific date. It's just that the assigned people are committed to being there that particular day so we have enough numbers to serve.

Altar Flower Dedications Available

The beautiful flowers offered on our altar each Sunday can be dedicated to honor loved ones marking special life events such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries, baptisms, confirmations, and in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for life’s blessings. The dedication fee is $50. Both Oct. 31 and Nov. 7 dates are already taken.

To reserve a Sunday date, email laura@st-margarets.org. Once reserved, you can make the payment by logging on to Realm and choosing "Flower Fund" or sending in a check (or placing it in the Sunday offertory plate) made out to "St. Margaret's Church" with "Flower Fund" in the memo line. Your dedication will be posted in the service bulletins.

Dear Friends in Christ,

The deadline for the submission of nominees to serve as members of the Bishop Coadjutor Search Committee was October 13, 2021. Thank you to all those who self-nominated and nominated others. The Standing Committee is very pleased with the quality of the nominees; however, the pool is small and does not represent the rich diversity of our diocese. 

Below are some statistics about the 26 nominations that we have received:

• Five congregations nominated 12 individuals, and it is important that we have no more than one person on the Search Committee from a single congregation. This would mean that 7 people could not be nominated and that the total pool is 19.
• Clergy Nominations – 2 women and 8 men, only one of whom is a deacon
• Lay Nominations – 11 women and 5 men
• Western and Southern Maryland – 2 nominees from each of these regions
• Persons of Color – 8 (One congregation had 2 nominees, and another had 3 nominees, which would bring the total down to 5 persons of color.)

In order to diversify the pool of nominees, the Standing Committee is extending the nomination deadline to October 27, 2021.

Please consider nominating yourself or someone else, keeping in mind the list of the desired skills/characteristics of potential Search Committee members and the Search Committee Charge found on the Bishop Search page on our diocesan website. Serving on this committee requires a significant time commitment, but it is a special opportunity to help shape the future of the Community of Love that is the Episcopal Diocese of Maryland. Contact the Standing Committee with any questions at standingcommittee@episcopalmaryland.org.



Also, Mary DeKuyper, President of the Standing Committee, will give an update and answer questions as part of the Clergy and Senior Wardens Zoom Gathering on October 20, 2021. Please keep the Standing Committee, Search Committee Co-Chairs, nominees, and our bishops in your prayers, as we continue on this journey of discernment.

Faithfully,

Mary DeKuyper, President

Adrien Dawson+, Vice President

Mark Gatza+, Secretary

David Boyce

Kari-Ann Lynne

Kathy Shahinian+

John Henderson

Have a prayer request to put in our weekly announcements?

Go to https://www.st-margarets.org/prayer-request.html to use our automated request form or contact clergy.