St. Mary’s Announcements March 6, 2016 – The Fourth Sunday of Lent
“Connected in the Kingdom” was the theme of the 221st Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia, which was held yesterday, March 5, at Epiphany Episcopal Church in Herndon after being postponed by the January snowstorm. Interim Rector Weezie Blanchard, Priest Associate Bob Hetherington, and lay delegates Cabell Jones and Robin Lind represented St. Mary’s. One of the courtesy resolutions adopted by the Council honored the 38-year St. Mary’s ministry of the Rev. Dr. John E. Miller, who retired December 31, 2015.
The St. Mary’s delegation will recap Council in this morning’s Adult Forum at 10:10 a.m. in the New Parish Hall.
Welcome, Amelia! We are delighted and very fortunate to welcome Amelia McDaniel as St. Mary’s new Director of Children’s Ministries. Amelia has over 20 years experience in ministry to children and families, including serving at St. James’s, Richmond, and St. Paul’s, Alexandria, as well as parishes and schools in Louisiana, North Carolina, and her native Tennessee. She is the mother of a 14-year old daughter and a 10-year old son.
Please welcome Amelia and learn more about her next Sunday, March 13 in the Adult Forum at 10:10 a.m. in the New Parish Hall.
Lent at St. Mary’s…the journey toward Easter continues to be a rich season of individual and collective self-examination, discernment, and spiritual renewal at St. Mary’s. Here’s what’s next:
The Mudhouse Sabbath book study (books available online or in the parish office), led this morning by Priest Associate Bob Hetherington, meets at 10:10 a.m. in the Old Parish Hall.
The discussion based on the Society of Saint John the Evangelist’sGrowing a Rule of Life led by Interim Rector Weezie Blanchard focuses this week on our relationship with others and follows the report on Annual Council in the New Parish Hall at 10:10 a.m. Find out more at ssje.org/growrule.
Lenten reflections from clergy, parishioners, and staff are available via email several times a week during Lent. Sign up by visiting ly/1nCXYGt.
Noonday Prayer at noon (or 11:45 a.m. to enjoy a few moments of silence beforehand) and Evening Prayer at 5:45 p.m. continue each Wednesday in Little St. Mary’s.
Delicious but simple Wednesday night supper with activities and classes for all ages, including Stations of the Cross and Lenten activities for children, informal middle school youth gatherings, and a series about ways to pray for adults resumes next Wednesday, March 16.
…and around Richmond. The Community Lenten Series at St. Paul’s, a Richmond tradition with origins as far back as 1897, continues every weekday during Lent. View the full preaching schedule and daily lunch menu at stpaulsrva.org/lent.
This Wednesday, March 9, at 11:10 a.m., St. Mary’s Seniors will carpool from St. Mary’s to St. Paul’s to hear the Rev. Dr. Amy K. Butler, the first female Senior Minister of The Riverside Church in New York, NY.
Journey to Easter. We still have three more weeks of Lent, but please note the following dates:
- Maundy Thursday
- Children’s Stations of the Cross Shadow Play, 5 p.m., New St. Mary’s
- Simple soup supper, 5:30 p.m., New Parish Hall
- Maundy Thursday Holy Eucharist, Little St. Mary’s
- Good Friday
- Good Friday Service, 5:30 p.m., Little St. Mary’s
- Holy Saturday
- Flowering of the Church, 9 a.m., New St. Mary’s: Please bring your clippers and every blooming thing from your garden and join us as we flower the church for Easter. Fun for all ages! Refreshments will be provided.
- Easter Sunday
- Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist: Rite Two, 9 a.m., New St. Mary’s
- Easter Egg Hunt, 10 a.m., St. Mary’s Churchyard
Holy Eucharist: Rite Two, 11 a.m., New St. Mary’s
Could you give an hour or two? Are you available to help in the St. Mary’s office by answering phones and receiving visitors? We would welcome volunteers to take occasional shifts and provide extra support for our office staff, especially on Tuesdays from 2-3 p.m. during staff meeting, during lunch, and on Friday mornings when we assemble the bulletins. If interested, please contact Emily Rowell Brown at ebrown@stmarysgoochland.org.
The Vestry of St. Mary’s. The following members of St. Mary’s serve on the Vestry: Scott Barton, Jane duFrane, Junior Warden, Steve Guza, Brantley Holmes, Fay Lohr, Tracey Ragsdale, Betsy Rawles, Bruin Richardson, Al Rider, Senior Warden, David Rose, Tom Slater, and Charmaine Trice, Register. Bill Gooch serves as Treasurer.
- At their February 23 meeting, the Vestry welcomed Mary Thorpe, the diocesan Director of Transition Ministry, who spoke about the process of self-study on which St. Mary’s will soon embark to discern what and where God is calling us. Senior Warden Al Rider has asked Tim O’Shea to lead the self-study process. Stay tuned for further information.
Julie Simonton, the diocesan Officer for Congregational Development and Stewardship will speak at the Vestry’s March 29 meeting.
For questions and comments, contact Al Rider or any other Vestry member.