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Email: office@stmarysucc.org
Page last updated: October 2, 2009
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 October 2009 No 9 modified for the Web.
(Previous issues available: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009)
World Communion Sunday - October 4th
Neighbors in Need Offering - October 4th
Benefit Concert - October 4th
Pledge Campaign for 2010 - October 18th
Laity Sunday - October 18th
Mothers Class to be Honored - November 15th
Fall Retreat - October 17th
Catoctin Fall Assembly - October 25th
Clothing Drive - October
Food and Faith - October 18th
Who are our neighbors?
Who is my neighbor? This was
the question of the young teacher of the law that we read about in Luke 10.
His original question to Jesus was: “What must I do to inherit eternal
life?” Jesus responds by quoting
from the books of the law a simple summary of faithfulness: Love God and love
your neighbor as yourself. When
asked, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus tells the story of a man who fell victim
to robbers along the Jericho road, and who was helped not by his own people, but
by the kindly foreigner from Samaria. This
was the man who although he was despised by our unfortunate traveler’s own
people, proved to be the person who showed caring, compassion, and mercy.
This is the person whose action out of concern for another has made the
term, “Good Samaritan,” synonymous with our highest ideals about being a
true friend and neighbor.
This is our season of caring.
This is our time to remember what it means to be a good neighbor and to
act out our concern through our sharing with those who need our prayers and our
assistance. This is our time to be
reminded of our need for reconciliation with those whom we may regard as
enemies. In the busyness of our life
together, in the midst of a world of hate and violence, we need this constant
reminder of our duty and responsibility to care for our neighbors in need.
Who are our neighbors? Those
who suffer. Those who have been
victimized. Those who live in fear
and in want. Those who have only the
hope that God will touch our hearts with the spirit of caring, the spirit of
acting, the spirit of being good neighbors.
Near and far, our neighbors are those of whom we have become aware and
whom we are called upon to assist. Jesus
calls upon us to act as good neighbors, not just as fulfillment of the ancient
law, but as a sign that our hearts have truly been transformed by the gospel.
Contributing to this year’s Neighbor’s In Need offering is one way we
can all participate in this transforming process.
As the people of St. Mary’s United Church of Christ may we continue
along our journey to be the loving, caring, compassionate people that God calls
us to be. May God bless us all in
our caring and in our sharing.
Grace and peace,
World Communion Sunday is October 4th. We will observe this expression of our unity with Christians around the world as we gather to celebrate with a service of Word and Sacrament at our normal 10:30 AM service. Communion will be served in the pews. All are reminded that this is also the Sunday to receive this year’s Neighbors In Need offering.
On Sunday, October 4th, we will be receiving the Neighbors In Need special mission offering as part of our observance of World Communion Sunday. Your gifts to the Neighbors In Need offering will support the ongoing work of the United Church of Christ in alleviating poverty, improving education for children everywhere, and addressing injustice in all its forms. Please think about how your own generosity can help in coming to the aid of our neighbors in God’s neighborhood. Your continuing support is greatly needed and appreciated!
Our
Fall Stewardship Campaign will begin on Sunday, October 18th.
Pledge cards for next year will be mailed out at the beginning of
November. Watch for your letter from
the Stewardship Committee and please give your
Our annual Laity Sunday worship service will be held on Sunday, October 18th, during our worship hour at 10:30 AM. Rachel Hutchison will be the featured speaker for the morning. She will be joined by other members of our congregation who will help to lead our Sunday service of worship. Let’s show them our support as we gather with them and each other as the people of St. Mary’s United Church of Christ.
We are pleased to welcome Rev. Laura Blanco and her husband, Alex, to our church. While she is pursuing a call to new pulpit responsibilities, Laura will be working with our young people during the weekly Sunday school hour and will direct our Bell Choir for rehearsals following worship each Sunday during the Fall season. We are excited to have Rev. Laura participating with us and sharing her gifts with us in the weeks ahead.
From
the STEWARDSHIP
As we head into the final quarter of 2009, we are reminded that we are still carrying a large deficit in our church’s General Fund. While we hope for good news about economic recovery, we still have to face the financial realities of our current situation as the people of St. Mary’s UCC. As God continues to shower blessings upon us, we must still search our hearts to discern how God expects us to use and to share the gifts that have been entrusted to us. Now is the time that we need each other. Now is the time that your church needs you. Thank you for your continuing support of our church and its ministries.
In gratitude for all their years of
being an important part of our church life together, we will have an opportunity
on Sunday November 15th, to honor the members of the Mother’s Class
and to thank them for their legacy of dedicated service.
Over the years they have supported our congregation with the fruits of
their fund raising efforts, and most recently they donated $4500 to our Capital
Improvement Fund to help pay for last year’s Kitchen and Basement renovation
projects. A special Fellowship Hour
will be held following our morning worship and we hope that many of us are in
attendance to greet and thank these ladies who have given so much of themselves
to our church over the years.
St. Mary’s annual Fall Spiritual Retreat is scheduled for Saturday, October 17th. This activity will be held at the Aisling House, in Millers, MD from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Mark your calendar now and plan on attending this uplifting and spiritually renewing event. Lunch is included. Space is limited, so please call the church office as soon as possible, and make your reservation. There is a $10 registration fee. The deadline for reservations is Sunday, October 11th.
On
Sunday, October 25th, the Catoctin Association will meet at
Evangelical Reformed UCC in
This year’s Fall Clothing Drive will run during the month of October. Donations of clothing items can be brought to the church and left in the designated corner of the Vestry. In the wake of recent disasters, ongoing poverty, and economic hard times, our gifts of clothing items provide tangible evidence of our willingness to share with those in need. Thank you for your thoughtfulness in sharing with others.
On
Sunday evening, October 18th, Anna Rollins will continue to gather
those interested in attending our adult program called Food and Faith.
This is an opportunity to gather each month to share a meal and reflect
on faith issues facing us in the 21st Century.
The adult series called Living the Questions provides focus to our
discussions and all who are interested in being part of an open and honest
setting to safely explore real-life faith issues are encouraged to attend.
We begin with a Soup and
Stephen Ministers provide people
with one-to-one, Christ-centered care and support for as long as they are
needed. We are presently seeking anyone who may be interested in the
possibility of becoming a Stephen Minister and thus would be participating in
the upcoming
Join us the last Sunday of every month from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for an evening of fun & games. All kids in Grades K through high school are welcome. Bring a friend! A light snack will be provided. Contact Brian or Lisa, or the church office, for more information.
Join us Saturday, Oct. 17 at 4 p.m. for an evening of games, crafts, food, fellowship and a hayride (hayride leaves at 4pm). Costumes are encouraged. Each family is asked to bring a side dish or dessert to share. Drinks & main dish will be provided. Contact the church office for more information.
The 4th
Annual Benefit Gospel Concert will be on October 4, 2009 at 2pm at St. Mark’s
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: October 2, 2009 |
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