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Email: office@stmarysucc.org
Page last updated: November 4, 2006
T H E P A R I S H N E W S
St. Mary’s United Church of Christ
Silver Run, Maryland
Volume XXVII November 2006 No 10- modified for the Web.
(Previous issues available: 2004, 2005, January '06, February '06, March '06, April '06, June '06, July/Aug '06)
All Saint's Communion - November 5th
Advent Communion - December 3rd
Poinsettias - Deadline November 12th
Family Bonfire - November 12th
Advent Workshops - December 2nd
Family Bingo - November 18th
Mother's Class Banquet - November 11th
In her book, Memories of God, Roberta Bondi writes that "humility is the key virtue that is both the starting point and the enabler of the whole Christian experience." Unfortunately, as she notes, our world has replaced a healthy understanding of humility with a sense of "groveling before God and other human beings" that equates humility with passivity and having a poor image of ourselves. If instead we think of humility as acceptance of ourselves and of others as we are, both in our strengths and in our weaknesses, our virtues and our vices, we are at that place where our lives can begin to be transformed by the power of God's Holy Spirit. I believe that such a positive sense of humility is at the heart of a life of gratitude and makes true thanksgiving a real possibility.
Thanksgiving is the time of year when we are reminded that the Christian life is a life of gratitude. In the spirit of humility, we thank God for this marvelous creation of which we are a part. We thank God that in Jesus Christ we are shown God's love and compassion for us and offered the promise of life in all of its fullness, life that is meaningful and everlasting. We thank God that through the church we are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to lives of purpose and possibility so that as worthy stewards of all God's gifts we might help to realize God's will for our lives and for our world.
This month when we think of the saints, we do so in humble gratitude for the legacy they have passed on to us. When we offer our pledges to support our common life together at St. Mary's United Church of Christ, we do so in humble gratitude for the gifts which are ours to share. When we come to a time of thanksgiving as both the beginning and ending of the circle of our Christian experience, we do so in humble gratitude that God is God and has seen fit to share with us this miracle which we call life. May this time of thanksgiving be our time to come to God in a true and healthy humility, offering to God the praise and gratitude due the One from whom all blessings flow.
Grace and peace, Dick
We will celebrate All Saints Sunday on November 5th at our 10:00 AM worship service which will include the Sacrament of Holy Communion served in the pews. This service will also offer us an opportunity to remember the names of those whose passing we continue to mourn. All are invited to participate with us and join us at Christ's table. Hope to see you there!
The season of Advent begins on Sunday December 3rd. We will begin our celebration of this time of joyous expectation with a traditional worship service including Holy Communion served at stations in the front of the sanctuary during our 10:00 AM worship hour. This Sunday will also be observed as White Gift Sunday. All are welcome!
Poinsettias to beautify the sanctuary for the Advent and Christmas Season will be available through the Worship Committee. Price @8.00, deadline to order is November 12. Order sheets will be in the bulletins, or call the church office.
BE A GOOD STEWARD!
FROM THE STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
We are again in the middle of our annual stewardship campaign. This is a time to reflect on how far we have come and to look forward in the direction we want our church to grow. Over the next few weeks, we are asking you to prayerfully search your should and make a commitment tot the ministry of our church and our witness to the gospel of Jesus Christ. This year's theme is entitled Loving God Back. It encourages us to consider how we respond in love to the God who first loved us and loves us still, and how we express that love in the life that we lead together as the people of St. Mary's United Church of Christ.
You will soon receive this year's mailing from The Stewardship and Enlistment Committee. Please read over the materials, pray about our church's future, and fill out the enclosed commitment card. These cards can be mailed to the church office or placed in the Treasure Box at our worship service on Sunday, November 12th , when they will be consecrated to the glory of God and to the future of Christ's church her at St. Mary's. Thanks you for your continuing support of this ministry that we share together.
STEPHEN MINISTRY CORNER
Our Stephen Leader Team is continuing to recruit men and women of our congregation who are willing to answer Christ's call to serve as Stephen Ministers. Before being commissioned as a Stephen Minister, one must complete 50 hours of useful training in Christian caring skills. This training will be led by trained Stephen Leaders and is distinctively Christian and focuses on God as the one who cures as we care.
While being a Stephen minister requires commitment of time and effort, it also brings joy and fulfillment. You will grow spiritually when you serve as a Stephen Minister. When God calls you to serve, he also gives you the faith and the gifts that you need to do His will. It may be one of the most rewarding challenges that you will ever embrace.
Please thank and pray about this opportunity to serve. If you decide that you would like to become a Stephen Minister, please pick up a Stephen Minister application form from the church office and return the completed form to the church office by Sunday, November 19th.
If you have any questions or want more specific information, please feel free to contact any of the Stephen Leaders: Pastor Scott, Steve or Dorothy Ellen.
We are excited to see what God is going to do in the lives of those who undertake this ministry at St. Mary's and in the lives of those who will receive care from our Stephen Ministers.
All are welcome to join us on Sunday, November 12th, for Family Fun by the Fire. We will be gathering at the Hartman's starting at 4:30 PM for an evening of food and outdoor fun for the whole family. Hope to see you there! For more information check with the church office.
Join us Saturday, December 2nd at 9:30 AM to trim the tree. We will be making bird friendly decorations to hand on the pine tree outback. Wear play clothes, this will get messy! Parents are encouraged to stay and help. The fellowship committee will be providing a light lunch. Donations of peanut butter, cranberries, raisins, birdseed and pinecones are needed. See Sherry, Lisa, or Michele for more information.
Plan now to attend this year's Advent Workshop which will be held on Saturday, December 2nd, starting at 9:00 AM. This will be our opportunity to join together for decorating our church for the Advent and Christmas season. The Fellowship Committee will provide a light lunch for all who would like to join with us. Hope to see you there!
FAMILY BINGO
Come join us Saturday, November 18, for a fun filled Bingo Night. We will begin at 6:30 PM and there will be tables for children and adults. Snacks and drinks will be provided. Donations of prizes are needed for both children and adults. For more information see Nancy or Stacy.
The Mother's Class Banquet will be held again this year at the Taneytown Firemen's Activity Building on November 11th.
Fried oysters and roast turkey will be the menu and we will eat at 6 PM sharp. Tickets are $14 for adults, $7 for children ages 5-10 and under 5 free. A special program is being planned so come and enjoy a night of good food and fellowship. Reservations are required and must be made by November 5th. Contact Betty or sign the sheet at the back of the Sanctuary.
During the month of November, the children's department will be collection donations for supplies to put in the Christmas stockings for Shepard's Staff. We need: Gloves, hats, crayons, markers, pencils, gel pens, highlighters, things for teenagers as well as younger children. There will be a box in the basement to put these items in. The Sunday School children will put them in the stockings at the beginning of December. Thank you for you generous support.
Again this year, the Concern for Others Committee is encouraging the congregation to bring in canned and boxed food items as well as paper goods to donate to Carroll County Food Sunday. We call this effort Stocking God's Shelves with Goods for God's People. Beginning with the first Sunday in November and continuing through Thanksgiving Sunday we invite the congregation to bring forward their donations to the front of the Sanctuary during the first hymn. Let's see how high we can stack God's shelves as we remember the needs of others. Monetary gifts will also be received during our offering of Thanksgiving Sunday for the work of Carroll County Food Sunday. Checks should be made payable to St. Mary's UCC and thank you for your generous support.
On Sunday, October 22nd, we dedicated our new play area and swing-set which are now available to our children in the church backyard. The equipment was purchased from our Memorial Fund and the other items needed were paid for by Special Items Fund contributions. Our thanks go to the committee and to all who helped to bring this project to reality with their efforts and their gifts.
Thank You for sharing our Parish News! If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please contact the church office.
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Email: office@stmarysucc.org Page last updated: November 4, 2006 |
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