T H E P A R I S H N E W S
St. Mary’s United Church of Christ
Silver Run, Maryland
Volume XXIX November 2008 No 8 modified for the Web.
(Previous issues available: 2006, 2007, 2008)
All Saint's Communion - November 2nd
Time Change - November 2nd
Mother's Class Banquet - November 8th
From the Stewardship Committee - Pledge November 9th
Special Table Fellowship - November 9th
Veteran's Day - November 9th
Blended Thanksgiving Service - November 23rd
Thanksgiving Donations - November 23rd
Homewood Auxiliary Membership Drive - November only
Kids Night Out - November 23rd
Advent Communion - November 30th
Advent Workshop - December 6th
Children's Advent Workshop - December 6th
After the death of Moses, the task fell to Joshua,
son of Nun, to lead the ancient Israelites across the Jordan River to enter the
Promised Land. It was an exciting
time yet an anxious time. It was a
time to yet once more reflect upon their past and how far they had come.
It was a time to remember those like Moses who would be with them only in
spirit as they crossed into the new land. It
was also a time to anticipate their future in this new land and plan for the
tasks that would need to be accomplished upon their arrival.
But most importantly, this was their time to experience the crossing
itself, to know what it felt like to follow God and venture forth into the
excitement of the unknown.
As we enter these closing months of 2008, we
recognize that these are anxious times. We
await the outcome of hotly contested elections and we live with the uncertainty
caused by a struggling national and world economy.
Still, as we prepare to leave behind that which is past, we must be ready
to embrace that which lies before us. As
the people of St. Mary's UCC we continue to acknowledge with thanksgiving all
that God continues to accomplish among us. In
this month of November, we have the opportunity once again to remember with
gratitude the lives of those who will journey with us into the future only in
spirit. At our annual observance of
All Saints Communion on Sunday, November 2nd, we will gather at the
Lord’s Table to speak the names and treasure the remembrances of those who
continue to travel with us in our hearts only.
On Sunday, November 9th, we will anticipate our future in the
coming year with the receiving of our pledges and gifts of support as we
celebrate Stewardship Sunday. On
Sunday, November 16th, we will welcome New Members who have chosen to
make this journey with us into the years ahead.
At our Thanksgiving Worship on Sunday November 23rd, we will
gather to praise and give thanks to God at our Blended service of worship at
10:30 AM. And at the end of the
Thanksgiving weekend, we begin this year’s Advent season and anticipate the
coming of Christmas with a communion service on Sunday, November 30th.
As we prepare to enter a new year together, as we prepare to meet the
Child of Promise, we do so with hearts filled with gratitude for all that is
past and all that awaits us in the new land into which God is leading us.
As we make the crossing together may our spirits be united in the
excitement and joy of all that awaits us.
Grace and peace, Dick
From the STEWARDSHIP COMMITTEE
The harvest season is the time of year for 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 heart and make a
commitment to the ministry of our church and our witness to the gospel of Jesus
Christ. This year’s theme is
entitled Sharing
a Larger World. It reminds
us that our generosity allows us to share in a larger world than we could have
possibly imagined.
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 services on Sunday, November 9th.
The service of consecration will take place at our traditional service at
10:30 AM. Thank you for your
continuing support of this ministry that we share together.
We will celebrate All Saints
Sunday on November 2nd at our 10:30 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 your there!
The season of Advent begins on Sunday November 30th at the end of the Thanksgiving weekend. 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 10:30 AM worship hour. All are welcome!
With
the completion of our new kitchen facilities, the Fellowship Committee is
planning to make our November Table Fellowship an opportunity to make good use
of this new facility. Our November
Table Fellowship will on Sunday, November 9th, following our 10:30 AM
service and all are welcome to attend. There
is no cost for the meal but any donations over expenses for the food will be
given to the Capital Improvement Fund to help with the costs of our basement
renovation projects.
At
our worship services on Sunday, November 9th, we will be receiving a
special offering in honor of Veterans’ Day.
This year’s offering will go to help support the work of “Holy
Joe’s Café”. This is a mission
of the USO that provides a gathering place for our military personnel in Iraq.
It provides a touch of home for those who are serving far away from home.
We will be using pew envelopes for this offering and as always checks
should be made payable to St. Mary’s UCC.
Thanks for your support for those who continue to serve our nation.
Our church will be observing
Thanksgiving Sunday on November 23rd with a special Blended service
of worship at our 10:30 AM worship hour. This
service will include both traditional and praise style music lead by our
organist, choir, and praise band and will include a traditional liturgy as we
anticipate the Thanksgiving holiday. All
are welcome. Hope to see you there.
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 will be
receiving these items at our Thanksgiving service on Sunday November 23rd
at 10:30 AM. We invite the
congregation to bring forward their donations to the front of the Sanctuary
during the first hymn. Monetary
gifts will also be received during our offering on 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.
Plan
now to attend this year’s Advent Workshop which will be held on Saturday,
December 6th, starting at 9:00 AM.
This will be our opportunity to join together for decorating our church
for the Advent and Christmas season. A
sign-up sheet will be available in the Vestry to allow everyone to choose the
tasks they would like to help with. The
Fellowship Committee will provide a light lunch for us at the end of the
morning. Hope to see you there!
Please
join us Saturday, December 6th at 9:30 am to decorate Christmas
trees. During this time we will be
making ornaments for our tree in the fellowship room and also bird friendly
ornaments to decorate the pine tree outside.
Parents are encouraged to stay and help with the morning’s activities.
Our projects could get a little messy, so wear play clothes.
Donations of peanut butter, raisins, cranberries, birdseed and pinecones
would be appreciated. The fellowship
committee is providing a light lunch. Please
plan to attend this morning of fun, crafts and decorating.
All children are welcome. For
further information see Lisa or Linda.
On the Sunday mornings during November, persons are invited to join the Auxiliary of Homewood at Plum Creek. The dues are $2 per person and you will receive a Pocket Calendar for 2009. To join, please see our Auxiliary representative, Molly , during our Fellowship time following our November Worship Services.
The Church and Ministry Committee announces that it is
receiving applications for two staff openings at our church.
The Bell Choir Director position is currently vacant and we will be
hiring a new Housekeeper for next year beginning January 1st of 2009.
Anyone who has an interest in these positions should contact the church
office for an application.
Kid’s Night Out will be held Sunday, November 23rd, from 6-7:30 pm. All kids in Grades K through high school are welcome. This will be a time for the children to get together and have fun. Bring a friend! A light snack will be provided. Contact Brian or Lisa for more information.
The
Mother’s Class will hold their annual Family Banquet again this year on
November 8th at the Taneytown Auxiliary Building.
The
usual fried oysters and roast turkey meal will be served by the Aux.
We will eat promptly at 6pm. Cost
will be $14.50.
Special entertainment is being planned along with door prizes. Sign up sheet is on the back windowsill of the church or see Betty Harman.
Come and
enjoy a delicious meal and great fellowship.
Deadline to sign up is November 2nd.
Remember that Daylight Savings Time ends on Sunday, November 2nd. Set your clocks back one hour the night before and enjoy the extra hour’s sleep.
History of Stephen Ministry: Stephen Ministry began in 1975 when the Rev. Kenneth C. Haugk, Ph.D., a pastor and clinical psychologist, trained nine laypersons at his congregation in St. Louis to be Stephen Ministers. They assisted him in providing distinctively Christian care to members of the congregation and community. These trained caregivers were so enthused about their ministry that they encouraged Dr. Haugk to offer Stephen Ministry to more congregations. (the name Stephen comes from St. Stephen, who was the first layperson commissioned by the Apostles to provide caring ministry to those in need – Acts 6.)
Over the next few years, Dr. Haugk traveled to congregations and trained Stephen Ministers. This quickly proved to be inefficient, since he could visit only a limited number of congregations, and these congregations were then dependent on hime to train additional caregivers. There also was little organizational structure to supervise Stephen Ministers after they were trained. So in 1978, Dr. Haugk held the first Stephen Series Leaders’ Training Course and trained the first Stephen Leaders --- representatives of various churches who then returned home to train and supervise their congregation’s Stephen Ministers. Since that time, Stephen Ministries St. Louis has specialized in “equipping the Equippers” through the Stephen Series ministry system.
For more information about Stephen Ministry at St. Mary’s, please contact one of its Stephen Leaders, Pastor Scott, Steve or Dorothy Ellen.
Poinsettias
to beautify the sanctuary for the Advent and Christmas Season will be available
through the Worship Committee. Order
sheets will be available the beginning of November in your church bulletin or
contact Bonnie or the church office.
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 9, 2008 |
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