Living Christ in this World
July 12-18, 2020
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THE BANNER:
Join us on Friday, July 17 for a socially-distant movie night at CSMSG. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for a movie under the stars. The movie will start at dusk (roughly 8:00 PM) and will be family-friendly and FREE! Register
here.
This event is co-sponsored by the Children’s, Youth, and Parent’s Ministries at CSMSG.
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THIS WEEK'S SCHEDULE
SUNDAY, July 12
8:00 AM: Holy Eucharist I (In-Person Worship)
10:00 AM: Holy Eucharist I (In-Person Worship)
10:00 AM: Online Service
11:15 AM: Youth
Sunday School via Instagram
5:00 PM: Holy Eucharist II
(In-Person Worship)
8:00 PM: Compline:
Fr. Peter and his family have been saying Compline over Zoom at 8 PM. Compline is the last of the four Daily Offices and includes prayers that are always timely, but even more so given this season of uncertainty. Compline takes about ten minutes to pray, and its focus is on resting in the peace of Christ. If you are interested in joining Fr. Peter for Compline over Zoom, please email him at
psperopulos@csmsg.org
,
or
Laurie Brown at
laurie@csmsg.org
and they will send you the link.
MONDAY, July 13
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer
9:00-9:45 AM: Women's Bible Study Live. Download the computer program Zoom onto your computer or phone and e-mail
marty@csmsg.org
to register so she will know to send you a Zoom invitation Monday morning.
TUESDAY, July 14
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer
12 Noon-12:30 PM: HS Girls Bible Study Live.
All High School Girls and CSMSG Alums are invited to join on Tuesdays from 12 noon - 12:30 pm via Zoom. Please e-mail Marty at
marty@csmsg.org
for a Zoom invitation.
WEDNESDAY, July 15
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer
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5:00 PM:
JUST MERCY
discussion will continue! Back by popular demand, a second Zoom gathering has been scheduled for Wednesday, July 15 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM to continue the conversation about the discussion questions for
JUST MERCY
. Register on Realm to receive a Zoom invitation on July 15 for the discussion that afternoon.
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FRIDAY, July 16
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer
8:00 PM:
CSMSG Outdoor Family Movie Night
Join us on July 17th for a socially distant movie night at CSMSG. Bring your lawn chairs and blankets for a movie under the stars. The movie will start at dusk (roughly 8 pm) and will be family-friendly and FREE! Register
here
.
This event is co-sponsored by the Children’s, Youth, and Parent’s Ministries at CSMSG.
SATURDAY, July 17
8:00 AM: Morning Prayer
12:00 PM: Yoga Class via Zoom
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OUTDOOR WORSHIP BEGINS JULY 19
This Sunday, July 12, we will worship in church as we have done the past three Sundays. But,
beginning on Sunday, July 19 we will worship outdoors
at "the point" where Wydown and Ellenwood meet. Worship will continue in person outdoors at 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM every Sunday. After July 12, we will not offer a 5:00 PM liturgy.
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STEWARDSHIP
Quarterly Stewardship Pledge Statement Update:
On Monday, July 6, CSMSG EMAILED
quarterly pledge statements to parishioners who had an email address listed in REALM, the Church’s database. The email came from The Church of St. Michael & St. George, with the specific address
notifications@onrealmmail.org
. Please check your spam folder.
The subject line read: Your pledge statement from The Church of St. Michael & St. George.
After opening the email, click on the link “View your pledge statement.” Do not be surprised if it takes a few minutes to load the statement. Once the statement appears on the screen, there will be a link on the bottom of the page to make a payment online for a quick and secure way to pay your pledge. Or mailing a check to CSMSG is always an option as well.
Emailing pledge statements will save CSMSG printing and postage costs, thus ensuring the Church is acting as responsible stewards of our resources.
If an email is not on record, a quarterly statement will be mailed to the address on file. If you have any questions or need assistance with your quarterly pledge statement, please contact Alexis Posnanski, Director of Stewardship and Giving at
aposnanski@csmsg.org
or at 314.518.1478.
THANK YOU! Thank you for honoring your 2020 pledge. Thank you for continuing to mail in checks, scheduling your pledge payments online or texting to give. Thank you for paying off your pledge early to avoid cash-flow contraction. Thank you for paying more of your pledge in the first half of the year than in years prior. Thank you for making additional contributions to CSMSG above and beyond your pledge. Thank you for generously contributing to the Pat Johnson (Patricia Mary Johnson) Assistance Fund. Thank you for EVERY SINGLE penny that has been deposited into the Church’s bank account so we can continue to care and serve each other. Thank you for your Stewardship. Our Stewardship is one part of our response to Jesus’ proclamation that God’s kingdom is near.
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FROM THE CHOIR ROOM
"I can't do this. I don't want to. What's the point?"
What can one do when these internal whisperings taunt them into a state of paralysis? We look outside of ourselves for inspiration, motivation, encouragement. I find my inspiration, motivation, and encouragement more often than not through musical experiences, but I have found that the strict limitations to these experiences have left me despondent and depressed. As many other choir members have already stated, I must reiterate the value I find from collaborative music making. The best music I've ever had the pleasure to sing has been of a sacred nature. There's no better feeling to me than singing sonorously in a group, after the same goal, and achieving pure spiritual and emotional bliss in a shared space to the glory of God. Now it has become a distant memory. Will I ever get to have this experience again?
The old adage "Absence makes the heart grow fonder" absolutely applies in this situation. Nevertheless, I do marvel at and appreciate the hard work that has gone into offering an alternative to having live choral music during services. But listening to the finished product makes me feel "removed" from the music. Even though I can hear my voice, my "presence" is missing. It is an eerie feeling that I'm sure many have felt at times during the last four months of online work. This great loss from my life experience can, at times, be overwhelming. This is when I must remind myself, "one step at a time".
One bright spot during all this has been the increased interaction between my mother, myself, and my children over a conference platform (messenger kids). Before the pandemic took over our daily lives, we did not communicate very often, I was too busy with my life. When everything around me was cancelled, I found myself at home with two upset and confused children. All of our lives were upended. Tensions ran high. My mother, a retired art teacher, must have sensed our need for outside structure, and reached out to me to suggest a daily art lesson to give the kids something to do with someone other than their stressed-out mom. The kids started off great, but then they started to rebel as they faced new challenges that came with the limitations that the platform presented. Sometimes they couldn't understand the instruction and would get upset and frustrated that their Mema couldn't physically help them with one of their steps. "I can't do this!" my daughter would scream. "I don't want to. What's the point?" my teenage son would mutter, sulking. Their Mema would start talking to them slowly, "Let's take a moment, slow down, and do one step at a time."
Eventually, they learned the importance of patience, and have since then produced many wonderful art pieces and, something they won't realize until much later in life when they have time to reflect, priceless memories of their time collaborating with their grandmother during a difficult time in their young lives. They have since moved onto twice weekly art lessons. Even through the summer, they are still going strong and bringing purpose, color, and creativity to our home and lives. All this came from practicing patience and taking one step at a time.
Darcie Johnson
Soprano in the CSMSG Choir
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FAITH IN ACTION
MASKS Urgently Needed - Handmade or Purchased
Church Service League (ECW) is organizing a collection of masks to be distributed from the Last Days Apostolic Church distribution center to 65 North City and North County African-American churches.
How You Can Help:
Order masks online and send to parishioner Becky Zaccarello (24 Carrswold Dr., Clayton, MO 63105) OR
Make masks (Google "DIY Face Mask Erica Made") for a Youtube video or "How to sew a face mask - Confesssions of a Homeschooler" for suggested directions. Elastic strips or cloth ties ok. Contact Alison Wiedle when completed for pickup (Call or text 314.307. 8300) or email
arwiedle@sbcglobal.net
.
Questions
????: Contact Alison
HUNGER MINISTRY
-
HOW YOU CAN HELP
1. Trinity Episcopal Church (600 N. Euclid, St. Louis MO 63108):
*DONATE on Tuesdays (10 -1) or Thursdays (2-3:30).
*DONATE MONEY OR FOOD (canned chicken, canned fruit in 100% juice, chili with beans, vienna sausages, tuna in vacuum packs, creamy peanut butter in regular size jars and in individual packs, saltine crackers, powdered milk, cereal, regular or individual size).
2. The Last Days Apostolic Church
*FOOD AND DONATIONS ACCEPTED
-on Sunday morning at CSMSG on carts inside the Wydown entrance or
-on Sunday from 4:00-4:30 PM on the Ellenwood side or
-at Becky Zaccarello’s house (24 Carrswold Dr. Clayton, MO Call 314.494.0788) or
-by ordering online and sending to Becky’s house.
*ITEMS NEEDED: masks (purchased or handmade), peanut butter, jelly, stews, canned meats/fish, soup, mayonnaise, mustard, ketchup, ramen noodles, rice mixes, pasta, pasta sauce, canned vegetables, tomato products, toilet paper, paper towels, sanitizing items, plastic wrap, soap, dish & laundry soap, plastic bags, fruit cups, cereal protein bars (no chocolate coating), beef jerky, tuna pouches, individual snacks, lotion, bottled water, individual juices, manual can openers, body wipes, deodorants, travel toothbrushes & toothpaste, orange juice, lunch meat, cheese, cereal for adults (no peanut butter), half- gallon milk
*VEHICLES & DRIVERS NEEDED: Wish to be a driver? Contact Alison Wiedle (
arwiedle@sbcglobal.net
; call 314.307.8300 or text same number)
3. Gateway 180:
Send a monetary donation.
(1000 19th Street, St. Louis, MO 63104)
4. Make a monetary donation to CSMSG Hunger Ministry.
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CAN YOU HELP MAKE MASKS?
The Transition Center of St. Louis is in need of masks if you can help, please contact Laurie Brown at
laurie@csmsg.org
.
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CHILDREN'S MINISTRY
For the next several weeks, Children’s Ministry is providing families with an At-Home/Virtual Vacation Bible School program from Illustrated Ministry called Compassion Camp. This program is designed to help families explore what it means to have compassion for ourselves, for others, and for the world.
Each family registered for Church School should have received a package containing a Family Pack of short readings and reflections along with simple activities using basic materials found in your home as well as some we provided. If you did not receive a packet or need additional materials, please email
Mary Beth Tipton
. View the Children’s Ministry E-news for
Compassion Week Session 1, At the Table
.
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YOUTH MINISTRY
Looking for ways to connect while we’re apart?
Tuesday Girls Bible Study: All High School Girls and CSMSG Alums are invited to join on Tuesdays from 12 Noon - 12:30 PM via Zoom. Please e-mail Marty at
marty@csmsg.org
for a Zoom invitation.
Sunday School
at 11:15 AM Sunday mornings on Instagram Live!
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FIND US ON INSTAGRAM
Sunday School - Sunday mornings @ 11:15 AM
HS Girls Bible Study Tuesdays NOON
Find us on Instagram:
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PARENT LINK
THURSDAY MORNING PLAYGROUP: Parents of newborns to preschoolers met will meet again at 10:30 AM THIS Thursday, July 16
via Zoom
! Please email
marty@csmsg.org
to receive a ZOOM invitation for this gathering.
FAITHFUL GENERATIONS: Join this class SUNDAY, July 5
at 1 PM via Zoom.
There will be no formal agenda
during July, and ALL are invited to join for fellowship.
ALL are invited to join.
Please email
marty@csmsg.org
if you would like a Zoom invitation!
Just Mercy
-
Due to popular demand a second discussion session has been set up for Wednesday, July 15 from 5-6 PM. Please register
HERE.
CSMSG MOVIE NIGHT: Toy Story 4 -Friday, July 17 from 8-10 PM outside at CSMSG. RSVP
HERE
Please join us for Nicole and Irene Franklin presenting
Ella’s Song
book reading on Wednesday, July 29 at 5:30 PM. Contact
Mary Beth Tipton
for a Zoom invitation.
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SATURDAY YOGA CLASS
Saturdays at 12:00 PM
Parishioner Michelle Gurrola Burks teaches a free, 55-minute class via Zoom at noon.
Michelle has attended the 8 AM service at CSMSG for 18 years. She and her husband Jack were married at the church 3 1/2 years ago. She has taught yoga for 20 years and can be found at IMAYOGAGIRL on Instagram where she leads yoga challenges. Michelle is a Lululemon ambassador.
Yoga has many health benefits including decreasing stress, relieving anxiety, improving sleep quality and more. A yoga mat is helpful, but not necessary. A non-slippery spot and bare feet will work fine, too.
If you are a new participant, email
laurie@csmsg.org for the Zoom invitation. For those of you who joined us last Saturday, the Zoom information remains the same.
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ISOLATION MEMORY BOX
The pandemic has turned out to be a defining moment for CSMSG, and once the dust begins to settle the church will have a key role to play as the shock of the disease and isolation wears off and parishioners begin to process their experiences. Bringing those two pieces together, we would like to start collecting "journal moments" (for lack of a better term) from the congregation to compile as a time capsule of sorts for future generations. Perhaps a photo and/or 200(?) words from each family to capture a specific memory/experience -- loneliness, homeschooling, empty shelves, exercise routines, etc.
The idea behind soliciting moments from parishioners is to reflect the day to day realities of individuals and families in isolation, and to provide another way to bring the congregation together by using these challenging times to inform future generations.
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HELP BRING MORE SMILEs TO CSMSG
You can support CSMSG every time you shop at
Amazon.com
by using AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is the same Amazon you know and use…low prices, vast selection, and convenience, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase to CSMSG!
Here’s the scoop: To shop at AmazonSmile, simply go to
smile.amazon.com
. On your first visit to AmazonSmile select Church of St. Michael & St. George as your charitable organization to support. Do this before you begin shopping, and then every eligible purchase you make at
smile.amazon.com
will result in a donation to CSMSG.
Thanks for getting your Smile on with CSMSG!
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Be on the lookout for a phone call from Church Receptionist Becky Arthur and other staff members as we update our Realm directory. Now, more than ever we need up-to-date email addresses and phone numbers. Thank you in advance for your help!
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