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Email: office@stmarysucc.org
Page last updated: December 25, 2008
T H E P A R I S H N E W S
St. Mary’s United Church of Christ
Silver Run, Maryland
Volume XXX January 2009 No 1 modified for the Web.
(Previous issues available: 2006, 2007, 2008)
Attention! - Sunday school cancelled December 28th
Undecorating Party - January 3rd
New Consistory to be Installed - January 4th
Annual Meeting - January 25th
A new year is upon us; and we look forward to the new
challenges and opportunities that await us in 2009 at St. Mary's United Church
of Christ. As January begins we can
think back on our accomplishments in the year gone by as we bask in the glow of
the Christmas message. Christ the
Savior is born and he lives and dwells in the hearts of each one of us who have
allowed him room to enter into our lives. Whatever
the struggles and discouragement that have been ours to experience, there is new
hope and joy in our hearts because we have experienced the love of Christ born
in us. The year ahead becomes for us
a time of possibility to help make the love of Christ real in our lives and in
the lives of all whom we touch.
The month of January will offer us a time to take a
last look at the year behind us and catch a glimpse of the year before us.
We begin the month by ordaining and installing our new Consistory during
our 10:30 AM Communion service on Sunday, January 4th.
We end the month celebrating our common life together during our Annual
Meeting after worship and Table Fellowship on Sunday, January 25th.
These are significant events in the life of our congregation.
In these gatherings we live out our identity as a church with a Reformed
heritage in the United Church of Christ where each congregation is responsible
for the governing of its own affairs. Gathering
together gives meaning to our membership and binds us together as the people of
St. Mary’s United Church of Christ serving in Christ’s name.
This month we also begin the Christian season of
Epiphany. As the star appeared over
Bethlehem illuminating the way for all to the Christ Child, may this be our
season to have the light of Christ shine in us that we may find our way to the
holy Child and light the way for others to come and worship him.
This can be our season of illumination.
We can use the light of the star to reflect on the journey through which
we have come; we can be guided by the light of the star to lead us into the
unknown of the year which lies before us. May
the light of Christ shine in us and illumine our pathway as we continue on our
journey together serving in the name of our Lord and Savior.
Grace and peace, Dick
The Annual Meeting of St. Mary’s United Church of Christ is scheduled for Sunday, January 25th, at 12 Noon following our morning worship service and a Table Fellowship provided by the Fellowship Committee. On the agenda will be an action to restate our corporate charter with the State of Maryland with necessary wording that will allow us to apply for sales tax exemption in the State of Pennsylvania. All members of the church are urged to be present and participate at this annual event that is so important in the life of our congregation. Copies of the Annual Report will be available on the prior Sunday.
NEW CONSISTORY TO BE INSTALLED
The new members of Consistory for the year 2009 will be ordained and installed during our morning worship on Sunday, January 4th at 10:30 AM. Our service will also include the Sacrament of Holy Communion as we begin the church season of Epiphany. Worship of God is the first duty and responsibility of all of us as the members of Christ’s body. As we start our new year together, let us all resolve to be present for worship at every opportunity.
Volunteers are needed on Saturday, January 3rd, to help take down and store the decorations that have adorned our church for the holiday season. We will be gathering at 9:00 AM and expect to be finished before noon. All help is greatly appreciated.
Congregations: More than 9,000 congregations are enrolled in the Stephen Series. These congregations represent more than 100 Christian denominations and come from all 50 states, 9 Canadian provinces, and 21 other countries.
People: More than 50,000 individuals (pastors, church staff, and laypersons) have been trained as Stephen Leaders at Leaders’ Training Courses. These Stephen Leasers have returned to their congregations to train more than 450,000 laypersons to be Stephen Ministers. It is estimated that since 1975 Stephen Ministers have provided distinctively Christian care to more than a million people through formalized one-to-one caring relationships and have used their caregiving skills to touch the lives of millions of others in an informal way.
For more
information about
The Worship Support Committee is looking for volunteers to help in its ongoing work of altar and sacrament preparation and coordinating worship service personnel.
Volunteers are also needed for greeters, scripture readers and ushers.
Persons interested should contact the church office.
Children's Sunday school will be cancelled on Sunday, December 28th. Classes will resume on Sunday, January 3rd.
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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