See what's happening with St. Mary's this week!
This Sunday's Offerings, January 27
Fourth Sunday of Epiphany
10 a.m. Sunday Worship Service via Pre-Recorded Video
on Facebook & YouTube
Happenings at St. Mary's
Women's Spiritual Practice Beginning
Wednesdays beginning February 3 at 8 a.m. via Zoom
What are you longing for? A bit of quiet in the chaos? A way to draw closer to God? Starting Wednesday, February 3 at 8 a.m., the women (of all ages) of St. Mary’s are invited to come together for a time of prayer through the meditative reading of scripture (Lectio Divina), silence, and sharing. Each woman will have the opportunity to voice her thoughts on a meaningful word in the Gospel reading and also how the passage itself speaks to her. Led by Fran Jones and St. Mary's seminarian Denise Bennett, the group will meet via Zoom. To join, email Fran Jones at fjones9074@aol.com for the Zoom information.

Women give so much of themselves but in this ancient Christian spiritual practice: “the text is seen as a gift to be received, not a problem to be dissected...let the text come to you.” (from Finding Sanctuary, by Christopher Jamison)  
Coffee and Conversation with the Rector
Sign up for a twenty minute time slot to chat with David via Zoom
One of the things I have missed so much has been connecting with parishioners, one-on-one, in all the small ways we normally have around church. It could be a conversation after a committee meeting in the parking lot or with an altar guild member setting up for Sunday or with a cup of coffee at Starbucks with someone new to St. Mary’s. So, I’d like to offer times to just catch up. It will be a Zoom call which isn’t nearly as much fun as standing around in the parking lot! If you would like to have a chat by Zoom, follow this sign up genius link to sign up for a twenty minutes time slot. The dates are Friday, February 5 and February 12 with time slots from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Your Brother in Christ, David May+
Youth Mission Trip Information Coming Soon!
Stay Tuned on Monday, February 1
Emily Bruch has been gathering all the necessary information for planning Middle and High School Mission Trips for Summer 2021. Be on the lookout this Monday, February 1 for all the essential information!
Virtual Annual Parish Meeting
Sunday, February 28 at 10 a.m. via Zoom
Our parish Vestry has approved on a motion that enables us to hold a virtual Annual Parish Meeting and Vestry Election on Sunday, February 28, at 10 a.m. The Chancellor of the Diocese, J. P. Causey of St. John’s, West Point, has approved of a set of guidelines and instruction for holding virtual parish meetings in this most unusual time consistent with our diocesan canons. Normally, our Annual Parish Meeting would be held the last Sunday in January or the first Sunday in February. The Vestry motion recognizes the significant preparations we will need to make to prepare the technical aspects to support this meeting and to communicate with and educate our congregation for a successful virtual meeting. Please make a note in your calendars for our Annual Parish Meeting, Sunday, February 28 at 10 a.m. We anticipate the meeting will take 30 minutes.
Accepting Vestry Nominations
Invite you to nominate someone for the Vestry Class of 2024
It is the practice of St. Mary’s Church to nominate four persons for election to the Vestry each year at the Annual Parish Meeting. The four nominees when elected by the parish succeed the four current Vestry members who are completing their three-year term of ministry. The Nominating Committee is charged with prayerfully discerning who may be called to serve on the Vestry. Typically, this includes a member of the Nominating Committee contacting parishioners and asking them to take time to think and especially pray about whether they may be called to this ministry. Election of new Vestry members is a process anchored in prayer.

This year, the Nominating Committee includes the four out-going Vestry members: Anne McCoy, Seth Schaeffer, Patsy Simril and Scott Stephens. If you have a name to suggest for consideration, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee or David May. All nominees need to qualify first to stand for election. According to the Diocesan Canons of the Church (our formal rules for ordering our common life in Christ) those who qualify are confirmed adult (16 years or older) communicants in good standing of this church. ‘In good standing’ is defined by our National Church Canons in this way, “All communicants of this Church who for the previous year have been faithful in corporate worship, unless for good cause prevented, and have been faithful in working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God, are to be considered communicants in good standing.”
It's not too late to get a St. Mary's Calendar!
Order a St. Mary's 2021 Wall Calendar and support Outreach Ministries
To support our outreach partners, we've created a beautiful 2021 St. Mary's Church Wall Calendar. Without our typical annual fundraisers, the Outreach Committee is re-imagining how to support St. Mary's Outreach Partners in this coming year. The price of the calendar is completely donation based. Thanks to the generosity of an anonymous donor, 100% of the proceeds go toward St. Mary's Outreach Ministries. Order today because we have a limit of 200 copies!

Follow this link to the Order Form on St. Mary's website. You will be able to choose to donate by check or by credit card. Once you order, you can come pick up your calendar at St. Mary’s Church Office. If you have any questions, please contact the Church Office via email or call (804) 784-5678.
Weekly Offerings at St. Mary's
Virtual Sunday Services continue via Facebook & YouTube in January
Sunday, January 31, 8 a.m. on YouTube and 10 a.m. on Facebook
St. Mary's continues to offer Virtual Sunday Services in 2021 as we stay connected even though we are obligated to stay apart. Each week, a pre-recorded worship video featuring different Clergy and lay leaders that consists of prayers, readings, a homily, and some music will post on Facebook at 10 a.m. and YouTube at 8 a.m. on Sunday mornings. And a weekly email with links to the service bulletin and videos will be sent. We believe this is an important offering for the spiritual health of our church family.
Online Children's Chapel Continues
Tune in to YouTube this Saturday, January 30
Amelia and others continue to bring Online Children's Chapel into your home on Saturday mornings. We hope you enjoyed watching Amelia share the story of the Jonah through reading "The Hard to Swallow Tale of Jonah and the Whale."

From now until Lent, we are reintroducing Storytime for Children's Chapel. Amelia will read a wonderful illustrated children's book and talk about how the story relates to that Sunday's Bible readings.

Also, if you and your family would like to participate in the future, email Amelia McDaniel. Check out all the previous videos on St. Mary's YouTube channel.
Live-Streaming Noonday Prayer Today
Wednesday, January 27, 12 p.m., Facebook Live Stream
Today, Amelia McDaniel leads Noonday Prayer via Facebook Live Stream from Little St. Mary's. Please follow along with the service on page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or visit BCPonline.org.
 
We understand that not everyone is connected to Facebook but even if you don't have an account, go to www.facebook.com/St.MarysGoochland to watch.