St. Mary’s hopes that this page can be a resource for links to online worship and other resources being provided during this time of COVID-19. Please note that under the direction of the Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia and the Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church, we will worship online until the Governor’s order is lifted. Certain formation and other programming will be made available online and we will communicate these opportunities on our website and through social media.
Update on COVID-19 Pulse Survey Results & Working Group of the Vestry
Thank you so much for participating in the COVID-19 Survey from May 11-May 17! We received 253 completed surveys from households in our parish. We also received 135 responses in the ‘additional comments’ section of the survey. We are glad to report back to you the ‘pulse of our parish’ as you reported it through the survey. The first section includes pie charts for the various questions of the survey. For the ‘additional comments’ section four major themes stood out and we provide those for your review below. Read the results of the survey here.
In addition, David and the Vestry would like to announce the formation of a working-group of the Vestry. It consists of two Vestry members, three staff members, and three members of the parish. The group will use the Diocesan guidelines and checklist to formulate a plan for regathering for in-person worship. And they are charged with regularly communicating updates on this process to the congregation. Here are the links to the Diocesan guidelines and checklist.
Online Sunday Worship
Please join us on Sundays at 10 a.m. on St. Mary’s Facebook Page.
Sunday, June 21 | Third Sunday after Pentecost | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, June 14 | Second Sunday after Pentecost | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, June 7 | First Sunday after Pentecost: Trinity Sunday | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, May 31 | Day of Pentecost: Whitsunday | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, May 24 | Seventh Sunday of Easter | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, May 17 | Sixth Sunday of Easter | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, May 10 | Fifth Sunday of Easter | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, May 3 | Fourth Sunday of Easter | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, April 26 | Third Sunday of Easter | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here | Link to Sermon
Sunday, April 19 | Second Sunday of Easter | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here. | Link to Sermon
Sunday, April 12 | Easter Sunday | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here. | Link to Sermon
Click here for information on how to use Facebook Live without a Facebook account.
Saturday, April 11 | The Great Easter Vigil | 6 p.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here. | Link to Sermon
Friday, April 10 | Good Friday | 12 p.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here.
Thursday, April 9 | Maundy Thursday | 6 p.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here. | Link to Sermon
Sunday, April 5 | Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here.
Sunday, March 29 | Fifth Sunday in Lent | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here.
Sermon Audio Recording
Click here for information on how to use Facebook Live without a Facebook account.
Sunday, March 22 | Fourth Sunday in Lent | 10 a.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Service Bulletin Here.
Sermon Audio Recording and Text Here.
Click here for information on how to use Facebook Live without a Facebook account.
Sunday, March 15 | Third Sunday in Lent | 10 a.m.
Service Bulletin Here.
Sermon Text Here.
Click here for information on how to use Facebook Live without a Facebook account.
Online Wednesday Noonday Prayer
Please join us for Noonday Prayer on Wednesdays at 12 p.m. on St. Mary’s Facebook Page.
Wednesday, April 15 | 12 p.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Noonday Prayer can be found page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or on BCPonline.org under “The Daily Offices” or Download the Service Leaflet here.
Wednesday, April 8 | 12 p.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Noonday Prayer can be found page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or on BCPonline.org under “The Daily Offices” or Download the Service Leaflet here.
Wednesday, April 1 | 12 p.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Noonday Prayer can be found page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or on BCPonline.org under “The Daily Offices” or Download the Service Leaflet here.
Wednesday, March 25 | 12 p.m.
Video of Service on Facebook | YouTube
Noonday Prayer can be found page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or on BCPonline.org under “The Daily Offices” or Download the Service Leaflet here.
Reflection Text Here
Wednesday, March 18 | 12 p.m.
Video of Service on Facebook
Noonday Prayer can be found page 103 of the Book of Common Prayer or on BCPonline.org under “The Daily Offices” or Download the Service Leaflet here.
Sunday Children’s Chapel for 4 years-old to 5th Graders
Each Saturday, parents should receive an email with a link to that Sunday’s Children’s Chapel video.
Sunday, May 31 | The Holy Spirit – Pentecost
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Family Sunday School by Sparkhouse, The Holy Spirit
Sparkhouse Life Application Story
Sparkhouse Activity Page | Sparkhouse Coloring Page
Sunday, May 17 | The Ascension
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Family Sunday School by Sparkhouse, The Ascension
Sparkhouse Life Application Story
Sparkhouse Activity Page | Sparkhouse Coloring Page
Sunday, May 17 | The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Family Sunday School by Sparkhouse, The Promise of the Holy Spirit
Sparkhouse Life Application Story
Sparkhouse Activity Page | Sparkhouse Coloring Page
Sunday, May 10 | God’s House
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Family Sunday School by Sparkhouse, God’s House
Sparkhouse Life Application Story
Sparkhouse Activity Page | Sparkhouse Coloring Page
Sunday, May 3 | Early Believers
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Family Sunday School by Sparkhouse, Early Believers
Sparkhouse Life Application Story
Sparkhouse Activity Page | Sparkhouse Coloring Page
Sunday, April 26 | Road to Emmaus
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Family Sunday School by Sparkhouse, Road to Emmaus
Sparkhouse Life Application Story
Sparkhouse Activity Page | Sparkhouse Coloring Page
Sunday, April 19 | Doubting Thomas
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Family Sunday School by Sparkhouse, Doubting Thomas,
Sparkhouse Life Application Story
Sparkhouse Activity Page | Sparkhouse Coloring Page
Sunday, April 12 | Easter Sunday
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Sunday, April 5 | Palm Sunday
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Sunday, March 29 | Lazarus
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Sunday, March 22 | The Pool of Siloam
Email Link with Information and Instructions
Video of Children’s Chapel on YouTube
Download the Shepherd’s Guide
Thursday Youth Worship for ALL Youth (6th to 12th Graders)
Emily Bruch is hosting virtual Youth Worship every Thursday at 8 p.m. via Zoom
Link to Zoom Meeting
Using the Book of Common Prayer, page 127 or on BCPonline.org or Download the Compline Service Bulletin
More Information and Resources from the wider Episcopal Church
Learn more about how the Episcopal Church is coping with the coronavirus:
The Episcopal Church and PB Curry’s Response
Episcopal Diocese of Virginia’s Response
Episcopal Church News Service COVID-19 Coverage
An Update from the Rector on Re-Gathering
May 11, 2020
A week ago on Monday, May 4, our Bishop, the Rt. Re. Susan Goff, communicated with a joint statement with the Bishops of the Dioceses of Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, D.C. and then with a follow-up letter detailing a process for regathering for in-person worship. I highly encourage you to go read these two documents.
Today, I want to offer some brief observations and expectations about how we go forward in our Diocese and at St. Mary’s.
The truth is, we’re all trying to figure out how we come back together and resume public life in some form over these next months. Honestly, you know as well as I do that it’s a very fluid and changeable time so we’re all doing our best to make educated guesses.
The first expectation in all of our decision making is we are going to be muddling our way along for a while. There will probably be starts and stops and starts, again. There will probably be protocols for the safety and health of all of us that will feel strange and uncomfortable. I hope that we can be patient and generous-hearted with one another and with ourselves, honestly. Be kind to yourself when you don’t know what to do or even how to think very clearly.
The second expectation is that we have every reason to remain hopeful. The reality is this will end. It’s probably going to be frustrating getting to that ending, but we will come out on the other side of this. At the core of the Christian faith is the unshakeable reality that God intends to give us a future.
Finally, it’s important for us to ‘take a pulse’ of where we all are as a parish family. We are sending a survey out today via email and will be linked on our COVID-19 resource page on St. Mary’s website. We ask you to take five minutes to complete this brief survey. I’ve found that there are a variety of ways that people are experiencing this pandemic. I and the parish leadership of St. Mary’s do not want to make any assumptions about what the people of St. Mary’s think or how they feel about this or that. We would rather hear directly from you and this survey is a good next step for that.
The more I think about it, the more I feel a special kinship with the children of Israel making their forty-year journey through the wilderness on the way to the Promised Land. That time for them was so that God could teach them that they could trust God with everything in their lives. In that journey there was muttering and murmuring and general complaining from everyone, including the thought that they would been better off as slaves back in Egypt. And there were also times of revelation and rejoicing in God’s providence. That journey shaped them as God’s own special treasure out of all the world. I guess it’s our turn.
I thank God for this parish, for God’s Church throughout the world, and our continuing mission to bear forward the light of Christ that the darkness cannot overcome.
Your brother in Christ,
The Reverend David May, Rector
A Letter from the Wardens on Behalf of the Vestry of St. Mary’s
May 7, 2020
Dear St. Mary’s Family,
We miss you greatly, and we hope that you are doing well under these circumstances. Several weeks of adjusting to a new way of life has passed since our last service on March 8, but it nevertheless is evident that God is with us and keeping watch over us.
So too is it evident that the St. Mary’s community continues to be vibrant, strong, and dedicated to our ministries in these unprecedented times. Examples abound. When some of the most vulnerable in our community needed us most, St. Mary’s parishioners answered the call by providing food, shelter, and safety to the homeless women of CARITAS. Similarly, St. Mary’s currently is loaning its beautiful facilities to the Underground Kitchen, a group of prominent area chefs cooking meals to be distributed to first responders, food banks, and the like. To be sure, we are continuing to honor our mission to love and serve others.
When we wrote to you last month on behalf of the Vestry, we asked for your prayers and support by fulfilling your 2020 pledge payments. Well, we are delighted to report that our St. Mary’s family responded—and then some! Your financial support will allow us to fully maintain our dedicated clergy and staff; the backbone of our church. As you know, the clergy and staff have been working tirelessly, under difficult circumstances, to connect with you and your family through prayers, personal notes, virtual services, and more. Simply put, in large part due to your love and devotion to St. Mary’s, the pastoral needs of the parish, young and older alike, are being met.
While none of us knows what the next several weeks or months will bring, we can find solace in knowing that our St. Mary’s family is a constant in our lives. It is clear that our congregation is strong and will remain strong by rolling up our sleeves and “leaning in”—to each other and to God. The Vestry asks you for your continued prayers as we navigate these unchartered waters. Most importantly, we ask that you take care of yourselves and take care of one another.
The day of celebration will come when we can worship together again in Little and New St. Mary’s. In the interim, please know we are here for you. As wardens, we thank you, and we pray for your continued well-being. As always, please be in touch if there is anything we can do for you in your time of need.
With peace and love,
Seth Schaeffer and Harry Baldwin
Senior and Junior Wardens on behalf of St. Mary’s Vestry
A Letter from the Wardens on Behalf of the Vestry of St. Mary’s
March 18, 2020
Dear St. Mary’s Family,
We write to you during these uncertain times and hope that our letter finds you doing well, or at least doing as well as you can. COVID-19 has upended many of our lives and has created what some would call a “new normal.” We sincerely hope, however, that it is just the “new right now” at St. Mary’s and that we once again will fill the pews and share God’s peace with one another in person real soon. In the meantime, after consultation with David and the St. Mary’s staff, we wanted to communicate a few important points to you on behalf of the Vestry.
First, please know that, regardless of what happens over the coming weeks, our St. Mary’s community is compassionate, capable, and resilient. We will get through this. But, as with any challenge, we position ourselves best when we work together. Time, and time again, our St. Mary’s community has shown that we are there for one another. Now is no different. St. Mary’s is here for you, and we hope that you will find ways to be there for one another. Please think about, and pray on, ways that you can help your St. Mary’s family. For example, a quarantined friend might need someone to grab groceries for them, might really appreciate a good book or a puzzle left on their front porch, or may need—now more than ever—a phone call to assuage their loneliness.
And while many of us are loath to ask for help ourselves, we need to remember to do that. Please do not hesitate to reach out to your St. Mary’s family if you are in need of something. Know that you are not imposing—you are gifting to someone else the joy of service and the opportunity to fulfill their commitment to help those in need.
Next, it is critically important for us all to remember that St. Mary’s viability depends on the generosity of its members. It is only through our gifts that our lights are kept on, our clergy and staff are compensated, and our community of faith is allowed to thrive through worship and outreach. So, during these uncertain days, when no plates will be passed on Sundays, we encourage all of you to keep up your pledge payments, and even consider increasing or pre-paying your pledges. St. Mary’s belongs to each one of us and, as a result, St. Mary’s care is our collective responsibility. For your convenience, we have included a self-addressed envelope with this letter.
In the end, we want to assure you that we are aware of your questions and concerns, because we have those same questions and concerns. The Vestry, however, is committed to making sure that our St. Mary’s community stays just that, a community, by finding ways—large and small—to stay spiritually connected while keeping physically distant. Please check your emails and St. Mary’s webpage regularly over the coming days to learn the different ways that we will be offering our community to connect.
With peace and love,
Seth Schaeffer and Harry Baldwin
Senior and Junior Wardens on behalf of St. Mary’s Vestry
An Important Message from the Rector on Coronavirus
March 11, 2020
Dear Friends in Christ,
Today, in light of the growing coronavirus outbreak, our Bishop Suffragan and Ecclesial Authority, the Rt. Rev. Susan Goff, held a Zoom call with some 185 clergy of the diocese. In the call, the Bishop announced that all public worship services of the churches of the diocese should be cancelled for the next two weeks, specifically for Sundays, March 15 and 22. This is a highly unusual decision and, in my opinion, the right decision to make. We have all been trying to find the right place to land between healthy and unhealthy fear. I think this decision provides time to consider with some thoughtfulness how we will be a worshiping community together going forward.
The principal concern is the risk of the spread of the virus in gatherings of people. So, for these next two weeks any gatherings larger than 10-15 people or so will also be cancelled. Our staff gathered this afternoon to brainstorm these different gatherings at the church and to make plans for communicating directly with each group or committee. The staff has also begun to think about how we might gather virtually for worship. I hope to be able to let you know more about this over the next two days. I also want to make clear that the church office is opened. The staff will continue to come to work and you are certainly welcomed to come by if you like. I am also making plans for a called meeting of the vestry over these next days to discuss and pray about how God is calling us to be the church in the midst of current uncertainties. We are all committed to communicating clearly and perhaps frequently with you over these next days and weeks.
Please be assured that you are in my prayers, and I urge you to keep one another in your own prayers. Please pray as well for all those affected by this outbreak wherever they may be, for those who are sick and for all those caring for them. Please pray for all those who hold the public trust of elected office that they may be given wisdom to make decisions for the welfare of all people.
Though we may not be meeting for worship together, we are still God’s Church in this world and with and for one another. Remember that Jesus said, ‘in this world there will be tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world’. And so, we always live in hope.
Your brother in Christ,
The Reverend David May
Rector