Author: ccs

Service in Community Speaker Series Begins

ccs Adult Education & Fellowship, Homepage Announcement, Outreach
Service in Community Speaker Series Begins

Wally Stettinius and Fay Lohr kicked off the Service in Community Speaker Series on March 3 with an overview what’s coming and why.  Fay reminded us of the Baptismal Covenant, in which we promise to “seek and serve Christ in all persons.”  One way in which we at St. Mary’s and those in the greater community fulfill that promise is through service organizations.  Wally went through some statistics about the number of service organizations–most of them faith based–and the revenues that they raise and distribute.  He noted that we in Richmond are particularly blessed to have a great many organizations that provide opportunities to serve others, organizations that are led, as Wally pointed out, by some of the best managers in the country.

The program continues on the first and third Sundays of March, April and May with these impressive speakers and topics, all at 10:00 am in the New Parish Hall:

March 17–Homelessness: Why it is a Problem and What We Can Do to Help, presented by Karen Stanley, Executive Director of C.A.R.I.T.A.S.

April 7–Healthcare: What are Free Clinics and How They Help Our Community, presented by Sally Graham, Executive Director of the Goochland Free Clinic & Family Services

April 21–Education: Issues Publice Schools are Facint and the Impact of Povverty on Education, presented by Harold Fitrer, President and CEO of Communities in Schools

May 6–Hunger: The Size of the Problem, What is Being Done About It and What More Could Be Done, presented by Fay Lohr, CEO Emeritus of FeedMore

May 19–Community Partnerships; Putting Christian Principles into Practice Through Programs to Build Healthy Minds, Bodies and Spirits, presented by T.J. Joyce, CEO of the YMCA of Greater Richmond

This series is a joint production of the Outreach and Adult Ministries Committees.

Vestry Elects New Leaders

ccs Homepage Announcement, Newsletter, Other

At its February meeting, the Vestry elected Chris Spencer as the new Senior Warden, Jeff Allende as the new Junior Warden, Kemper Wharton as our new Register and Howard Cobb as Treasurer.  Chris, Jeff and Kemper replace Eddie Goode, Molly Snow and Margaret Mickel, who left enormous and finely made shoes that one can only hope to fill.

Al Rider also rotated off the Vestry after outstanding service as the Finance Committee’s representative.  St. Mary’s is a very well-run parish, thanks in no small measure to the work of Al and his committee.

The Vestry’s Nominating Committee (comprised of the outgoing class) recommends a slate of officers each year, chosen from the current Vestry.  The same committee nominates candidates to replace outgoing Vestry members.  Candidates at St. Mary’s tend to “self-nominate” by giving conspicuous service on church committees.  Vestry members and others notice good service to the community, and propose good candidates for service on the Vestry itself.  Although the Vestry is charged with specific duties under Episcopal Canon Law, this is not, at St. Mary’s, some secret and exclusive club.  The real work of the church is done by the parish as a whole, by committee members and by volunteers.  The Vestry coordinates, counsels and supports their efforts.

St. Mary’s Returns to Fall Schedule September 9

ccs Homepage Announcement

With the official (if not the astronomical) end of summer, we resume our fall schedule, with 9:00 am services in Little St. Mary’s and 11: oo am services in New St. Mary’s.  On September 9, we will also have our annual Ministries Fair in the Parish Hall from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.  This is the perfect chance to learn more about our many amazing ministries and to sign up to help.  We look forward to seeing everyone–old friends and new–on September 9.