T H E P A R I S H N E W S
St. Mary’s United Church of Christ
Silver Run, Maryland
Volume XXXI September 2010 No 8 modified for the Web.
(Previous issues available: 2008, 2009, 2010)
Choir Resumes - September 8th
Faith Renewal Sunday - September 12th
Membership Anniversary Celebration - September 12th
Community Support Offering - September 12th
Children & Youth Sunday School - September 12th
Fundraiser - Street Light Fund - September 13th
Fundraiser - Sub Sandwich Sale - order by September 19th
Food and Faith - September 19th
Battlefield Tour - September 26th
Women of the Bible - October 3rd
“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?” In Luke 18, Jesus asks us this
timely and timeless question. In every age, and at every time, we in the church must be asking
the question of ourselves. Should Jesus come among us today, will he find this a place filled
with faith, or will our faith be lacking? Are we faith full; are we faithful; or are we faithless,
devoid of the faith necessary to be the church?
We start our program year in September with a Sunday that emphasizes the centrality of faith
in our being together. The faithful church is the church in which faith is the foundation that unites
us into a common body. We gather in the name of Jesus Christ because of our faith. Faith in Christ
does not mean that we all agree upon every point of doctrine. That which we believe about our faith
may vary from person to person and may even vary over time for us as individuals as we grow in our
personal faith. But faith in Christ means that for us, Jesus Christ is the center of that which we believe,
that which we trust, that to which we are committed with our whole heart. Faith can be planted and
nurtured. It can be tested and sometimes even lost. But it can also be regained and renewed and revitalized.
As the people of St. Mary’s United Church of Christ, we begin this program year with
our commitment to the centrality of our faith that unites us. On Sunday, September 12th, we will
celebrate “Faith Renewal Sunday.” But let not our celebration obscure our continuing call to faith
renewal. As Christian disciples, as followers of Jesus, we are encouraged and exhorted to make
faith renewal a life-long commitment. We are
called to a faith that grows and develops and is shared. Faith is what it’s all about. Let’s get
together to share our faith!
Grace and peace, Dick
FAITH RENEWAL SUNDAY
Our fall season begins with Faith Renewal Sunday on September 12th. Everyone is encouraged to
gather for a traditional worship service beginning at 10:30 AM when the sacrament of Holy Communion
will be served in the pews. This year’s Member Anniversary picture will be taken immediately
following the service and Table Fellowship will be served after worship downstairs in the Fellowship
Hall. Again this year, regular Sunday School classes will begin on this Sunday with adult classes
and the Confirmation Class meeting at 9:15 AM and children’s classes meeting at 9:30 AM. We hope
that all will take this opportunity to nourish faith and renew our commitment as we begin this
new program year together.
MEMBERSHIP ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
On September 12, 2010 members of St. Mary’s celebrating their 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 60th and greater church membership anniversaries during the 2010 calendar year will be recognized and honored during the worship service. A group picture, to be taken following the service, will be presented to each honoree. Please plan to attend and join in thanking these folks for their many years of faithfulness to St. Mary’s.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT OFFERING
As part of our observance of Faith Renewal Sunday on September 12th, we will be receiving a special
offering for our Community Support Fund or what we used to call “Gifts for the Needy”. As a source
of funds for those in need and other worth while community projects, this fund has enabled us to
reach out directly to the people of our surrounding community with help and hope in their time of
need. Pew envelopes can be used on that Sunday to make your contribution. Thanks to all of you who
are willing to share to help meet the needs of others in our community.
From the Stewardship Committee
From the information provided by our church treasurer, we note that by mid summer our General
Fund is running a deficit of nearly $9,000. While fund raising events are planned for the fall season,
our church continues to rely upon a strong base of financial support through your donations to our
General Fund. As we return to a new program year and especially in these times of economic
uncertainty, please keep in mind how much your church depends on you to continue the God
given ministries entrusted to us. Let’s make this
September, a time to not only renew our faith, but also renew our commitment and loyalty to St.
Mary’s United Church of Christ with our monetary support. Thank you for your continuing generosity.
Pastor Scott will be leading confirmation classes for interested youth who are in middle school and older
who would like to explore church membership. Classes will begin on Faith Renewal Sunday,
September 12th, at the adult Sunday School time of 9:15 AM. We will meet in the Conference Room.
For information about our confirmation program, contact Pastor Scott or the church office.
CHILDREN & YOUTH SUNDAY SCHOOL
Beginning Sunday, September 12th the Children & Youth Sunday School will begin a new program year. Classes will start at 9:30 am and end at 10:15 am. Children Age 3-Kindergarten will meet in the Preschool room upstairs, and students in Grades 1-5 will gather downstairs. Youth not involved in the pastor’s Confirmation class are invited to meet in the Sanctuary for a worship music clinic coordinated by Paul Webster. Please join us for the beginning of an exciting and fun-filled Sunday School year. For further information please contact Stacy or Sunday School Superintendent, Nancy.
Choir rehearsals will resume on Wednesday, September 8th starting at 7:30 PM. We welcome back our returning choir members and invite new voices to join with us in this ministry that adds so much to our worship life together.
On Sunday evening, September 19th, Pastor Scott will resume our adult program called Food and Faith. This will be an opportunity to gather each month to share a meal and reflect on faith issues facing us in the 21st Century. 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 will begin with a Soup and Sandwich type meal at 6:00 PM and end by 8:00 PM. Hope to see you there.
We will be updating the service personnel prayer concerns for the September 5th bulletin. Please notify the church office of names that are to remain in the bulletin or of names to be added.
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 Stephen Ministry training which would take place in 2011. If interested, please ask for a Stephen Ministry packet/application from the church office and then return the completed application to a Stephen Leader or to the church office by November 14th. For more information, please contact one of our Stephen Leaders: Pastor Scott, Steve, or Dorothy Ellen.
Women of the Bible
MARK YOUR CALENDAR--SUNDAY, OCT. 3, 2010, @ 3 PM The Evangelism & Spirtual Life Committee is
very excited to have scheduled a performance by ANITA GUTSCHICK, of WOMEN OF THE
BIBLE in our Sanctuary. Anita is known in the Baltimore-Washington area for her stage work and
has worked professionally in video, film and radio. Active in her church, she has served as a deacon, is
trained as a Stephen Minister, and has participated in Bible Study Fellowship. Anita developed
WOMEN OF THE BIBLE IN 1995 and through God's calling it has become her most passionate
vocation. God's grace has allowed her to share the messages of biblical women with tens of thousands
of Men, Women and Children across the United States. The program has a balance of humor and
serious content and appeals to BOTH Men and Women. The gospel message is vividly presented
through Anita's performances. Tickets will be sold in advance beginning September 1st for $10.00 each. Contact the Church Office 410-346-7977.
Light Refreshments will be served following the performance, during which time you will have the
opportunity to meet and speak with Anita.
Battlefield Tour
Due to popular demand, Nancy Householder has scheduled another tour of the Gettysburg
Battlefield. This will be on Sunday, September 26 from 1:30-5:30pm. We will meet at the church
at 1:30 and carpool to Gettysburg and around the battlefield. We will be eating dinner at
Pickett's Buffet afterwards. There is no charge for the tour, but everyone does have to pay for
their own dinner. This will help her to practice
for her future job as a Licensed Battlefield Guide. There will be a sign up sheet in the
Vestry in September, for those who want to attend. If you have any questions, see Nancy.
FUNDRAISER - Sub Sandwich Sale
The next Stewardship Committee fundraising event will take place
during the month of September. We have
planned a Shultz’s Delicatessen Fundraising Project. Please plan to participate to help us
raise money for the General Fund (operating expenses). Our goal is to raise at
least $500.00! Let’s join together and make this fundraising effort as successful as the pizza sales in March!
We will be asking members to participate by selling subs and sandwiches. Order forms will be available
in the Vestry after worship on Sept. 5th and 12th so you and your family can begin asking friends,
relatives and co-workers to purchase sandwiches. All orders and payment (in form of a check
payable to St. Mary’s UCC) must be turned in after worship September 19th. No late orders
will be accepted.
Delivery will be Tuesday, September 28. All orders will need to be picked up between 6:00-7:30 PM in
the downstairs social hall.
If you have any questions, please contact Wanda or Tommie.
Join us to raise money to support the street lights lining Rt. 97 in Silver Run and Union Mills. Date: Monday, 9/13 Time: 6-8:30 PM (doors open at 5:30 PM) Join us to raise money to support the street lights lining Rt. 97 in Silver Run and Union Mills. Place: Bud's at Silver Run Cost: $25 per person in advance Includes: beverages, heavy appetizers, and desserts
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Email: office@stmarysucc.org Page last updated: September 8, 2010 |
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