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Week of January 12, 2025

How priceless is your love, O God! *

your people take refuge under the shadow of your wings.


Psalm 36:7



Weekly Calendar



Tuesday January 14

10:00 AM Miracle Kitchen Work, Kitchen

2:30 PM Welcome Committee Meeting, St. James Room

4:45 PM Barnstable Historical Society Event, Parking Lot Use

5:00 PM Private Meeting, Library



Wednesday January 15

9:00 AM Executive Committee Meeting, Rector's Office

10:00 AM Spirituality Discussions Group, zoom

10:00 AM Staff Meeting, St. James Room

2:00 PM Holy Eucharist, Cape Regency

3:00 PM Bereavement Group, Library

3:30 PM Strategic Planning Committee, St. James Room

6:15 PM Parish Choir Rehearsal, Walden Hall


Thursday January 16

8:30 AM Books & Breakfast, Walden Hall, zoom

10:15 AM 1891 Legacy Committee Meeting, St. James Room

1:00 PM FCEN Meeting, St. James Room

6:30 PM Zen Meditation, Walden Hall


Friday January 17

11:00 AM Private Event Event Set-Up, Walden Hall

1:00 PM Grief Group, Library and zoom


Saturday January 18

1:30 PM Private Funeral Repast, Walden Hall

5:00 PM Holy Eucharist, Church

6:15 PM Third Saturday Potluck Reception, Walden Hall


Sunday January 19

8:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Church

10:00 AM Holy Eucharist, Church

11:15 AM Coffee & Fellowship - Walden Hall

11:30 AM PATH Meeting, Library

2:00 PM Movie Theology, The Light Between Oceans, Walden Hall


Monday January 20

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Day Observed

~ Parish Offices Closed

12:00 PM Social Committee Brainstorming Meeting - BYOL, St. James Room

3:30 PM FAIR Project Meeting, Library

6:45 PM Cape Cod Chorale Rehearsal, Walden Hall


Tuesday January 21

8:00 AM Men's Fellowship, Walden Hall

2:30 PM Welcome Committee Meeting, St. James Room

5:00 PM Private Meeting, Library

7:00 PM NAMI Meeting, St. James Room




Life Lately

Full Wolf Moon Low Tide

Millway Beach



Photo by Jeannie Crowell Willis



Upcoming Events

Save the Dates!

Movie Theology

January 19, 2025

2:00 PM Matinee


The Movie Theology program will begin the New Year at 2 pm on January 19 with a film from down under. The Light Between Oceans focuses on a young couple, Tom and Isabel, who operate a lighthouse off the southwest coast of Australia, between the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean. A few years after World War I, they find a small boat floating in the ocean that contains a dead man and a baby girl. Desperate for a child after Isabel suffered two miscarriages, they decide not to report the find, but rather to claim that the baby, whom they name Lucy, is their own. But on land a few years later, they learn of the baby’s mother, Hannah, who still seeks to find her daughter. Tom anonymously sends Hannah a silver rattle that they found with the child. That act has devastating consequences, for Tom, Isabel, Lucy, and Hannah.

 

Bring your favorite adult beverage, and a seat cushion if you’d like. We’ve got the popcorn! Any questions, feel free to reach out to Kinnet Ehring, Bill Babcock, or Peter Gwynne.

 

Thank you and we’ll see you at the movies!



The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Annual Service of Celebration

First Baptist Church,

486 Main St. Hyannis

Sunday, January 19

3:00 PM


All are invited to gather in person to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Sunday, January 19, 2025. This special ecumenical service will begin at 3:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Hyannis, located at 486 Main Street, Hyannis. The service may also be accessed via livestreaming on the website: www.FBCHyannis.org

 

The service will feature Roberto Mighty as our Keynote Speaker. Mr. Mighty is the creator of the WGBH documentary, “Legacy of Love,” that explores the early years of the Rev. Dr. King’s and Coretta Scott King’s relationship while they were graduate students living in Boston. He will speak about their mutual dedication to advancing racial and economic equity.  


Principal Sunday at the National Cathedral

Holy Eucharist Celebrating MLK Day

January 19, 2025

11:15 AM


This week’s Principal Holy Eucharist honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Cathedral welcomes guest preacher the Rev. Dr. Lawrence Edward Carter, Sr., founding Dean of the Martin Luther King Jr. International Chapel at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. The service includes music and prayers honoring Dr. King’s life and legacy.


You can view the livestream here.


Events Committee Meeting

Monday, January 20

Noon - Bring your own bag lunch


We need your help to plan a Spring Event for St. Mary’s. Last year was Janis’s last Daffodil Tea. What can replace it? Do you have any ideas? Help us to imagine an event that will attract people to St. Mary’s, bring us together in a common endeavor to celebrate spring, and possibly raise funds. How can we build on the success of the tea?


Come help us brainstorm, Monday Jan 20th in the St. James room at 12 noon. (Bring a sandwich…)

SMART Launch Informational Meeting

Sunday January 26

11:15 AM

St. James Room


Hopefully, you received the letter from Fr. Michael, outlining an exciting new initiative at St. Mary's, SMART or St. Mary's Resource Advocacy Team's mission is to empower our faith community to transform the world by advocating for the pursuit of justice, peace, and the flourishing of humanity and the environment. Through meaningful partnerships, we strive to question and reform systemic and structural barriers that deny dignity, equity, and sustainability for all. Our faith calls us not only to live Christ-like lives but also to seek structural and systemic change for the good of our communities. Guided by the Learn, Pray, Act Model, SMART strives to move us closer to God’s kingdom and build God’s Beloved Community.


Please join us as we launch SMART for an Informational Meeting on Sunday, January 26 after the 10:00 AM service. Come hear from parishioners already involved in groups working on Racial Reconciliation, Creation Care, Housing & Homelessness Prevention, and Food Insecurity. SMART hopes to build on this foundation, deepening our commitment to these causes as well as broadening our focus to include LGBTQIA+, economic disparity and many others. Each of these focus areas offers opportunities to learn, pray, and act. Whether you’re passionate about a particular issue or want to explore where you feel called to make a difference, SMART will provide resources, education, and pathways to action.

Interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation

The Washington National Cathedral

Tuesday January 21, 2025

11:00 AM


Washington National Cathedral will host an Interfaith Service of Prayer for the Nation on Tuesday, January 21, the day after the Presidential Inauguration. In this special service, the Cathedral will gather with our interfaith and ecumenical partners to offer prayers of thanksgiving for our democracy and to seek God’s guidance in the years ahead.


Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde will preach, and music will be offered by the Cathedral Choir, the Cathedral Contemporary Ensemble, and special guest musicians as we gather to seek healing, unity and wisdom in the months to come.


Due to security concerns and the large number of expected guests and dignitaries, this service is not open to the public. All are welcome to watch the livestream below, or on the Cathedral’s Youtube Channel.


Staff Retreat

January 23 and 24, 2025


Saint Mary's parish offices will be closed all day on January 23 and 24 for their annual planning retreat days. The staff will be gathering off site these two days as they to focus on setting goals and planning for 2025.


2025 Ministry Discernment Conference -Resources for Vocations of All Kinds

Saturday February 1, 9:00 AM



The annual Diocesan Ministry Discernment Conference is widening its embrace in 2025 to include anyone looking for resources for discerning God's call in their life. In 2025, all who are interested in discerning calls to ministry in the church and in the world, both lay and ordained, are warmly invited. This has been something that's been on the heart's of the Commission on Ministry for several years. They are delighted to be able to expand the focus of the conversation to discernment of all kinds. "Our hope is that this is one step in a much longer process," said the Rev. Richard Burden of All Saints Parish in Brookline. "This is something we hope to iterate over the course of the next several years as we figure out ways that work best for everyone to do discernment towards vocation, whatever that vocation is."


The conference takes place at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston on Saturday, Feb. 1, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM Registration is open through Jan. 29. Click here for further information.



St. Mary's Formation & Education

Book & Breakfast Group Update


Starting Thursday, January 16th, the Books & Breakfast Group will begin discussing A Pilgrimage to Eternity: From Canterbury to Rome in Search of a Faith by Timothy Egan. 

Sacred Ground Returns


Sacred Ground is a film and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith and sponsored by the National Episcopal Church:

(https://www.episcopalchurch.org/sacred-ground/).



During the summer of 2020, nearly 100 St. Mary’s parishioners participated in ten online Sacred Ground groups. We are pleased to offer Sacred Ground again.


The 11 Session program will be provided via zoom on Saturday mornings from 9:00 to 11:00 AM, beginning February 8.



The first ten sessions will meet weekly through April 12, and session 11 will be held on April 26, the Saturday following Easter Sunday.


If you could not complete the program when it was initially presented, or you are new to the parish since then, we invite you to participate in Sacred Ground this spring. You are also welcome to repeat Sacred Ground, as the curriculum has been updated since 2020. We will limit the group size to 6-12 people, plus facilitators. Sacred Ground graduates Susanne Bennett and Karen Morgan will co-facilitate.


To register or discuss further program details, please get in touch with Susanne by email at:

 csusanne.bennett@gmail.com

or by phone at 508-789-6048.


Education for Ministry

Education for Ministry (EfM) theme for this year is Living into the Journey with God. EfM meets each week for 3 hours from September through June. Year 1 participants study the Old Testament, Year 2 studies the New Testament, Year 3 studies Christian History, and Year 4 puts everything together in Theology. In addition each Year reads the same two texts, one around Christmas, Jesus and the Disinherited by Howard Thurman and the second around Easter,The Four Vision Quests of Jesus by Steven Charleston. The discussions are lively and engaging and the community that is developed is well worth your time. Speak with Amy Crocker if you are interested or have questions about the program.

Wednesday Spirituality Discussions

ALL ARE WELCOME! Please consider joining. The group is led by our own Deacon Elizabeth Whitmore. They meet every Wednesday at 10:00 AM via zoom. Click here for the zoom link. Any questions? Please contact Deacon Elizabeth


Supporting Our Church

Walk in LOVE - Stewardship Update

Pledging Report - December 2024


We did it! Our pledging dollar goal was met! We are very happy to report:

As of this morning, January 14, 2025:

139 pledging units have pledged a total of $372,456.

We are still short of the goal of 155 pledging units but, we are so thankful to all of you who have already pledged your support! It is never too late to make a pledge. If you need more information or a pledge form please contact Julie Remie in the parish office.


A Note about Offering Envelopes:

For those who prefer using offering envelopes, the envelopes have been ordered and should arrive shortly. We will notify you when the envelopes arrive and per usual we will make them available for pick-up in the sunroom.


1891 SOCIETY


Tax Time: If you have highly appreciated stock you can donate it to St. Mary’s and pay no tax on the gains. You and our church win! Try it!


If you are interested in learning more about how you can join the 1891Society, please contact Linda Gadkowski at lgadkows@capecod.net or 508-292-5500. The 1891 Society is scheduled to meet on Thursday January 16



Get Involved With Volunteer Opportunities

OAT's Updated Volunteer Opportunities


OAT met last week to begin work on Outreach ideas and initiatives for 2025. They encourage everyone to consider joining in the volunteering efforts St. Mary's sponsors.


This week, Oat is sharing an article from The Guardian on, How Volunteering Can Help Older Adults.


Looking for ways to get involved in Outreach and Service at St. Mary's? Click here for the updated O.A.T. flier listing current and ongoing volunteer opportunities.


Cape Community News and Events

Music and More Winter Concert Series,

Cape Cod Museum of Art –

1/12 thru 4/6, Sundays, 3:30PM


The winter outlook just got a little warmer – the Cape Cod Museum of Art has announced their Music and More Winter Concert Series for 2025! Spend Sunday afternoons enjoying some of your favorite local performers entertaining with a wide variety of genres. Tickets are $24 for non-members;

get your tickets here.



Sun, 1/12 – Peking and the Mystics – Vintage vocals from a talented quintet

● Sun, 1/19 – “Another Lady Sings The Blues” – Songs of Billie Holiday with Tish Adams

● Sun, 1/26 – Elizabeth Miya Jones – Cello

● Sun, 2/2 – Monica Rizzio with Brian Miller

● Sun, 2/9 – Lighthouse Jazz Quintet – Quintessential Jazz

● Sun, 2/16 – Dennis Flaherty & Friends in Dennis – Jazz from the Great American Songbook

● Sun, 2/23 – Fred Clayton Band – Blues

● Sun, 3/2 – Rose Clancy & Max Cohen – Music from the Celtic World

● Sun, 3/16 – The Kingfish – A Musical Mix that touches your soul

● Sun, 3/23 – “Music of the High Winds” – Chamber Music for Flute, Oboe & Clarinet

● Sun, 3/30 – 440 Gypsy Jazz – Toe-tappy, Snappy Hot Jazz

● Sun, 4/6 – The Songbirds of Cape Cod – Quartet of singer-songwriters

Wildlife on Tap, Sip 'n Learn Event

January 29 - March 26

to Benefit Long Pasture Audubon Preserve


Meet us at Cape Cod Beer in Hyannis to learn about wildlife – from threatened terrapins to river herring – over delicious local beverages. This three-part event offers engaging presentations by experts, highlighting recent discoveries and local insights in a warm and welcoming setting. 


Wednesday January 29 -

Terrapins: A Unique Salt Marsh Turtle


Wednesday February 26 -

Wildlife in Winter


Wednesday March 26 -

Fascinating Fishes: River Herring


Registration is required for each session.


Location: Cape Cod Beer,

1336 Phinney’s Lane, Hyannis

Cost: $15 per person, per event*


Episcopal Church News

10 Episcopal bishops visit Diocese of Jerusalem on "Solidarity Pilgrimage" to the Holy Land

Outpouring of Episcopal support felt amid fires in Pacific Palisades, San Gabriel Valley foothills, Hollywood Hills

Episcopalians commit to protecting immigrants as incoming Trump administration eyes crackdowns

Western Massachusetts church’s Celtic services offer meditative worship through nature, storytelling


Parish Communications


St. Mary's Social Media


Please be sure you are following us on both of our public Instagram and Facebook pages in order to stay on top of what is happening at St. Mary's. We want our social media to represent who we are and your contributions are most welcome. We need your pictures, videos, and voices. Please send Allison your pictures and posts for sharing.


Notes and news must be submitted by the prior Thursday morning to be included in the This Week at St. Mary's - Weekly News (mailed on Tuesdays).



  • The This Weekend At St. Mary's will go out on Fridays. Please submit your content for this no later than Tuesday mornings.
  • A reminder that all events and space usage must be scheduled in advance with our Parish Administrator, Julie Remie. St. Mary's is a busy place and adhering to these policies helps us avoid conflicts.
  • The deadline for submissions for our Monthly E-Newsletter is the 25th of the prior month.
  • For your convenience, the Monthly Newsletter (printed out) will be available in the sunroom and in the parish office for those who would like a paper copy.
  Give to St. Mary's  
Visit our Website

 Saint Mary's Episcopal Church

P.O. Box 395

3055 Main Street

Barnstable, MA 02630

508-362-3977

www.stmarys-church.org