Update for Sunday, October 5

Please see below for Church School Schedule
Sunday, October 5
8:00am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase: Celebrant and Preacher
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase: Celebrant and Preacher
11:00am Coffee Hour
11:00am Vestry Retreat
See insert for Church school
Monday, October 6
8:00pm AA (6:30 newcomers)
Tuesday, October 7
9:30am Holy Eucharist
10:00am WSM Meeting
7:00pm Stitch’n Chat at Peggy Scott's Home
Thursday, October 9
6:30pm Junior Choir
7:30pm Adult Choir
Friday, October 10
4:00pm Wedding Rehearsal
followed by Rehearsal dinner
Saturday, October 11
4:00pm Wedding

Saint Mary's Church School 2008-2009

Infants, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers
Childcare is provided for all infants, toddlers and preschoolers for the10:00 a.m. service each Sunday. Parents may use their own discretion in bringing their young children to the 10:00 a.m. service, knowing that childcare is available if they need it or prefer it.

Children in Kindergarten - 3rd Grade - New routine!
Sunday School for this age group will continue to be held during the 10:00 a.m. service; however, these children will now start in church sitting with their families every Sunday. At the second hymn, K-3 children proceed to the front of the church to go downstairs for a snack and their respective Sunday School classes with Susan Walko and Joanne Flatley. Peter Chase will briefly announce this for the first few Sundays until a pattern is established. Please bear with us as this new routine gets under way.

On "Junior Choir Sundays," On "Junior Choir Sundays", the children's anthem will occur prior to the second hymn. In this way, children K-3 in the choir can also exit at the front of the church to go downstairs for snack and class with their same age classmates. "

Children in 4th - 8th Grades - New - earlier time!
Sunday School for older children in grades 4- 6 and those in grades 7-8 will be held prior to the 10:00 a.m. service from 9:00- 10:00 a.m. All are invited to attend at this earlier time. Volunteers in grades 7-8 will be invited to be "children's greeters" in the vestibule before church, greeting all children and giving out children's Gospel Grams with crayons as they enter the church sanctuary.

Coffee Hour will continue to be held immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service. All are welcome!

Some Contributed Photos...

The following photos were sent to us by a visitor to our parish, including pictures from May 2008 on Junior Choir "Step-Up Sunday". Feel free to email us (denise@st-marys-episcopal.org) any photos you would be willing to share with the parish. Enjoy!

Outreach in La Hondonada, Ecuador

Over the past six months St. Mary's has hosted a Diocesan Mission Team preparing for a trip to Ecuador. The participants, led by the Rev. Ted Gaiser [who has spoken at St. Mary's], recently returned from La Hondonada, an indigenous community in the Andes Mountains. Working with the local community, the church floor was replaced (wood to cement) and the entire church (inside and out) was repainted. At the end of their stay, the mission team gave the community a chalice and paten and has subsequently committed to raising the necessary funds to tile the church floor.

Ted sent us a thank you note, saying "St. Mary's has been an important part of making it all possible. So, thank you for all your support in helping us prepare and for enabling the team to acquire the skills to lead mission in their respective parishes."



"The church when we arrived"


"The church when we left"


"A work crew of community and gringos (us)"


Confirmation class dancing (10 children, ages 10 - 15)

St. Mary's Update for Sunday, September 28

Sunday, September 28
8:00am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Morning Prayer - Peter Chase
11:00am Coffee Hour
* Church School Info *(see below)
Monday, September 29
8:00pm AA (6:30pm newcomers)
Thursday, October 2
6:30pm Junior Choir
7:30pm Adult Choir
Friday, October 4
4:00pm Wedding Rehearsal
Saturday, October 5
4:00pm Wedding
Sunday, October 5
8:00am & 10:00am Holy Eucharist
Preacher & Celebrant: Peter Chase
Church School info *(see below)
11:00am Coffee
11:00am Vestry Retreat

PICTURES FROM RECENT STITCH'N CHAT VISIT TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD

Calendar for the Upcoming Week

Sunday, September 21
8 & 10am Holy Eucharist
Celebrant & Preacher: The Reverend Peter Chase
Youth Sunday
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Installation WSM
Monday, September 22
8:00pm AA (6:30 newcomers)
Tuesday, September 23
7:00pm Deanery at St. Mary’s
Thursday, September 25
6:30pm Junior Choir
7:30pm Adult Choir
Sunday, September 28
8:00am Holy Eucharist
Peter Chase
10:00am Morning Prayer
Peter Chase


For upcoming events please check out our
website: www.st-marys-episcopal.org.

Reminder: Welcome Back BBQ on September 21

On Sunday, September 21 following the 10:00am service is our second annual “Welcome Back BBQ” for all St. Mary’s members and especially our new members. Like last year, this will feature a catered lunch from Blue Ribbon BBQ Restaurant, and games and activities for youth and their families.

Photos: Dinner with Father Julio at St. Mary's

Photos: Father Julio at St. Mary's on Sunday, September 14

Photos: El Salvador Reception with Father Julio

Thank you to Tim and Mary Green for hosting a reception at their house Saturday night for the people from St. Mary's and also from St. Paul's in Natick who were part of our May 2008 trip to El Salvador.

Middle School Age Youth Programs with Other Local Parishes

The Episcopal churches in our local area have planned a series of joint youth events for this coming year. As the following letter explains:

Dear Friends,

Attached is a poster featuring the five events planned by the Charles River Deanery Youth Collaborative for Middle School aged kids, for the 2008-2009 program year. The theme is world hunger and the title is Jesus said “Feed My Sheep.” The first event is a Hunger Banquet at Christ Church in Needham on Friday evening, September 26th from 6pm to 8pm. Your youth ministers and liaisons should already have received this poster, but please pass it along to anyone and everyone whom you think might be interested in participating. We are hoping for a whopping big turnout!
Please let me know if you have any questions or comments.
Thanks.
Peace,

If you have an interest in participating through St. Mary's, please contact Jeff Hughes, our middle school class lead teacher.

New Sunday School Class Times and Routines to Begin September 21!

Sunday School Schedule for September
September 14 Holy Eucharist - Registration for Church School continues - Everyone in Church
September 21 Holy Eucharist with Junior Choir - K-3 Children Start in Church; Welcome Back Barbeque
September 28 Solemn Morning Prayer - K-3 Children Downstairs for Entire Service

Infants, Toddlers and Pre-Schoolers
Childcare is provided for all infants, toddlers and preschoolers for the 10:00 a.m. service each Sunday. Parents may use their own discretion in bringing their young children to the 10:00 a.m. service, knowing that childcare is available if they need it or prefer it.

Children in Kindergarten - 3rd grade - New Routine!
Sunday School for this age group will continue to be held during the 10:00 a.m. service. Several Sundays per month children K-3 will first come into church and sit with their families, and then leave at the second hymn to go downstairs for a snack and their respective Sunday school classes with Susan Waldo and Joanne Flatley. Peter Chase will briefly announce this for the first few Sundays until a pattern is established. Please bear with us as this new routine gets under way!

On "Junior Choir Sundays," those K-3rd graders in the choir will exit to go downstairs for snack and class with their same age classmates at the second hymn. The children's anthem will occur prior to the second hymn.

The acolytes will assist the K-3 children by leading the way; they will proceed down the aisles inviting them all downstairs for snack and class.

Children in 4th - 8th Grades - New - earlier time!
Sunday School for older children in grades 4- 6 and those in grades 7-8 will be held prior to the 10:00 a.m. service from 9- 10 a.m. All are invited toattend at this earlier time. Volunteers in grades 7-8 will be invited to be "children's greeters" in the vestibule before church, greeting all children and giving out children's Gospel Grams with crayons as they enter the church sanctuary.

Coffee Hour will continue to be held immediately after the 10:00 a.m. service. All are welcome!

Thanks for all your help!

Good News: September 9, 2008

The Good News from September 9 is available for download:

Good_News_2008_Sept_08.pdf


The following is an excerpt from the lead article written by our pastor:

"On Wednesday morning I visited Saint Luke’s – San Lucas in Chelsea (MA). Their vestry changed the name to a hyphen from a slash because Saint Luke’s/San Lucas gave the impression the two churches were separate. The congregation is English and Spanish speaking so the service was conducted in both languages. I went with Padre Julio Rivera, who is visiting from our sister parish Santa Maria Virgen in San Salvador, and my daughter Gaelan for Morning Prayer at 8:30 a.m. It was good to be with a weekday worshipping community again. The sun showed through the stained glass windows, reflecting a spiritual presence in the sanctuary. There was room for silence and contemplation before the service, creating a prayerful atmosphere. The opening words, canticles, psalm and lessons flowed together, moving us closer to God. Over the summer I had missed the sense of awe and praise that can come from going to church. It was Peter/church and not Peter – church.

"This year we hope to have services which can bring all of us closer to God. We are working on changes in the services of Holy Eucharist with the junior choir and younger children that will encourage more youth participation. All younger children will attend the beginning of the Eucharist services with their family and will leave for Church School during a sequence hymn. September 21 will mark our first youth Sunday as we begin a new church school year. On September 28, we will have a more reflective service of Morning Prayer with choral music and more time for prayerfulness. Our church calendar will mark these occasions for you...

"We have also planned special services for the fall with Padre Julio Rivera from our sister parish in El Salvador being the preacher and concelebrant on September 14. The Reverend John Finley IV from Epiphany School will be our preacher on October 12. On October 19 we will have Peter Lea-Cox return for special music during Morning Prayer. The Reverend Richard Downes, the retired pastor of The Church of the Redeemer in Brookline and a longtime friend, will be our preacher on December 7.

"Worship is meant to be a part of our life together and not separated by a slash. When we come together in worship, we enrich not only our lives, but the life of the community as well."

—Peter Chase

Father Rivera at September Vestry Meeting

Father Julio Rivera was our guest at the September Vestry meeting last night, along with Sonia, a Salvadorian now living in Stoneham that joined us to help with translation.

Father Julio briefly talked about the wonderful experiences of the past week in Massachusetts. He also provided an update on the construction of the new Santa Maria Virgen church building, which will be completed in October, and his dream for building a 300-person high school on the land adjacent to the new church building.

Peter Chase reviewed the places that he and Father Julio have visited over the past week, including two Episcopal parishes with Latin immigrant communities and the Miracle Kitchen.

Father Julio will be celebrating at the 10AM service this Sunday, and at 4PM will lead an Educational Forum followed by dinner in the Parish Hall.

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Sunday, September 14: Special Adult Forum and Salvadorian Dinner

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 6: Pedro Perez-Maldonado, a bilingual seminary student at Episcopal Divinity School, will be joining us to help with translation. Please register for this event by Saturday September 13 so we can plan how much food we need.

UPDATE: Even though titled at "Adult Forum", middle and high school age youth are welcome, and babysitting for younger children will be provided.

Please mark your calendar for a special Adult Forum at St. Mary's on Sunday, September 14, at 4:00PM. Father Julio Rivera, rector of our sister parish Santa Maria Virgen in El Salvador, will lead a forum titled The Culture of Peace and Positive Thinking. This adult forum will be followed by a sit-down dinner of authentic Salvadorian food.



Advanced sign-up is required (to make sure we have enough food.) A sign-up sheet will be available on the church bulletin board after September 1, or you can either call the parish office (617-527-4769) or send an email to denise@st-marys-episcopal.org.

Saint Mary's Update - September 7 & Upcoming Events

Sunday, September 7
8 & 10am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
11:00am Coffee Hour
Monday, September 8
8:00pm AA (6:30 newcomers)
Tuesday, September 9
9:30am Holy Eucharist
10:00am WSM Board Meeting
7:30pm Vestry Meeting
Thursday, September 11
6:30pm Junior Choir
7:30pm Adult Choir
Sunday, September 14
8 & 10am Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: Peter Chase
Preacher: Father Julio Rivera
Installation WSM
9:45am Childcare
4:00pm Adult Forum & Dinner

NEW CHOIR MEMBERS WELCOME!
The Adult and Junior Choirs resume their regular schedule in September. The Adult Choir rehearses on Thursday evenings from 7:30pm to 9pm in the Choir Room. The Junior Choir will begin rehearsals this Thursday, September 11 at 6:30pm. The Junior Choir is a great opportunity to sing with others, learn about music, and participate in our church worship. Young people in grades 2 and older are invited. Please join us on Thursday from 6:30 pm to 7:15pm in the choir room, or speak to Kirsten Johnson if your child is interested.

Recruiting for Congregational Resource Day on September 27

The Episcopal Diocese Congregational Resource Day is coming up on Saturday, September 27. Both our current wardens have attended in previous years, and many of the new ideas we are implementing this year on stewardship and international outreach came directly from this program.

If you would be interested in attending this year on behalf of St. Mary's, please contact either Peter or one of the wardens, or email/call Denise at the office.

This year all three bishops will be attending, with "workshops, reflection, and to share stories of vitality, growth, and mission from around the diocese."

More information at: http://www.diomass.org/event/diocesan/resource-day-clergy-and-lay-leaders

Construction Begins on the New Santa Maria Virgen (continued)

See the previous post for information on the construction of a new building for Santa Maria Virgen.

Construction Begins on the New Santa Maria Virgen

Father Julio shared with me this morning some wonderful news - construction of the new church building for Santa Maria Virgen has started, and is expected to be completed in October!

Santa Maria Virgen is located in San Bartolo, a very densely populated urban area in San Salvador. On my two trips to El Salvador I visited ten Episcopal parishes, and can say that Santa Maria Virgen had the worst physical building. Back in the 1990s, a piece of property about 100 meters away was purchased for a new building, but the land has been vacant since then. (Our mission team visited and worked on this property on our trip this past May.)

Our sister parish has saved funds over the years, and also received a very generous grant from the Episcopal United Thank Offering (along with some donations from St. Mary's.) Finally, construction on this much needed new church building has begun.

Below are some pictures Father Julio shared with me, we will post more of them over the next few days.

Father Julio in Massachusetts

Father Julio Rivera, rector of our sister parish Santa Maria Virgen in El Salvador, arrived late last night into Boston. He will be staying in Massachusetts for two weeks, and will be staying for at least part of his trip at our rector's house. Please say "hi" if you see him.

During his stay Father Julio will be attending several diocesan events and visiting several parishes besides St. Mary's, including St. Paul's in Natick on Sunday September 7. He will also be participating in our own Vestry meeting on September 9, as well as celebrating the 10:00AM service on September 14.

Autumn Schedule Resumes this Week

Just a reminder that starting this Sunday (September 7) that the 8:00AM Sunday service resumes (in addition to the main service at 10:00AM).

And don't forget that Father Julio Rivera from San Salvador will be celebrating at the Sunday September 14 10:00AM service, and that our Welcome Back BBQ follows the Sunday September 21 10:00AM service.

El Salvador Mission Trip Update

The St. Mary's and St. Paul's Mission Team to El Salvador recently sent an additional $565 to the Diocese of El Salvador to further the construction of the road to San Marcos. This is the community where our mission teams in 2007 and 2008 visited and worked with the community to pave roads so that they still have access to health care in the rainy season. This $565 is the balance of funds that were generously donated in support of this trip.

Update from Biloxi, Mississippi

The Rev. Jane Bearden, the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts priest in residence in Biloxi, has sent along the link to her blog which she is updating daily. Below is the link as well as an excerpt from this weekend's post.

http://gulfcoastpartnership.blogspot.com/

"What will I pray tonight… I wonder about those who are homebound and who have no access to news. I am sure there are some even with the door to door warning. I pray that they will be safe. But you know I mostly pray that they will not be afraid. Life is hard sometimes and right now it seems especially hard. I pray that we will all feel the warmth and the strength of God’s presence and that we will act as Christ to those with whom we work and wait. I pray for patience as I help people into the shelter and I pray for the safety of those who are traveling. I give thanks that I am doing exactly what I want to be doing right now. I am serving and loving those to whom I have come as priest. I give thanks for Bishop Bud’s phone call. It lifted my spirits. I give thanks for Helen and her technology and for all those who have emailed and called and expressed concern. I know that God will watch over us in the coming hours. “Comfort every sufferer watching late in pain, those who plan some evil from their sin restrain. Through the long night watches may thine angels spread, their white wings above me watching round my bed. When the morning wakens, then may I arise Pure and fresh and sinless in thy holy eyes...”