News
Dear God, today is our child’s first day of school, a happy, excited, scary day. We pray that N’s teachers will be generous, wise and gracious. We pray for N’s classmates, so that true friendships may be found for all. Especially we pray for N. Keep her safe and well. Open her heart and mind to a world of learning, and may this be the first of thousands of days in which she knows the depth of your love and the constancy of your care. We pray in Jesus’ name, AMEN.
-- from Changes: Prayers and Services Honoring Rites of Passage
Advent e-Devotions
Writers of all ages from Christ Church, St. Luke’s, Worcester, and beyond are contributing in providing an Advent resource to help all of us in focusing, each day, on the season. Daily meditations on the day’s scripture arrive in email to inspire our thinking and prayer as we await the coming of Christ. If you haven’t yet signed up and would like to receive e-devotions, please email Jane Griesbach (Frontierproductions@charter.net). If you’re not ready for another daily email but would like to read what is going out, daily meditations are archived online at http://edevotions@posterous.com, where there is also the opportunity for comment and exchange.
Help In Haiti
Following a catastrophic earthquake that struck Haiti’s capital, Port-au-Prince, on January 12, Episcopal Relief& Development is reaching out to the Diocese of Haiti to both address immediate needs and prepare for long-term rehabilitation work. At least three million people are estimated to have been affected by the earthquake. Innumerable homes and major structures were destroyed. The Rev. Kesner Ajax, Executive Director of the Bishop Tharp Institute, said: “There is no Cathedral. The entire Holy Trinity complex is gone. The convent for the Sisters of St. Margaret is gone. The Bishop’s house is gone. College St. Pierre is gone.” Episcopal Relief & Development has disbursed emergency funding to the Diocese of Haiti to help meet critical needs such as food, water and shelter for those affected. As communication improves and recovery plans develop, we will continue to provide updates. We are standing ready to support the country’s ongoing recovery and rebuilding efforts in the days to come. Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori said in a statement on the earthquake, “Even under ‘normal’ circumstances, Haiti struggles to care for her 9 million people. I urge your concrete and immediate prayers in the form of contributions to Episcopal Relief & Development, who are already working with the Diocese of Haiti to send aid where it is most needed.”
Here’s how you can help today:
1. Pray for people devastated by the earthquake.
2. Give to help those most impacted by this disaster.
Your partnership is critical in protecting the people in Haiti who are in a very vulnerable situation. Without your help, our work to reach those in need would not be possible.
Please donate by going to the Episocpal Relief and Development Website:
https://www.er-d.org/donate-select.php
or mailing a check to:
Please make checks payable to:
Episcopal Relief & Development
Mail to: P.O. Box 7058
Merrifield, VA 22116-7058
Diocean Mission Trip
A team of sixteen will travel to Jimani, Dominican Republic, a community located on the border with Haiti, in late June 2011. They will stay at a Diocese of Dominican Republic conference center to lead, with Dominican Episcopalians, Vacation Bible School for children (many of whom are Haitian immigrants) and will participate in a building project in the nearby Diocese of Haiti. The ten-day trip will cost around $700 per person, though financial assistance is available. The team is looking for four more members who will participate in planning, missional training, prayer and fundraising in preparation for the trip: persons of all ages from high school on are encouraged to consider whether this is where God is calling you. For more information, contact leader Peter Swarr at rector@stmarksma.org.
Christmas Services
Christmas Eve – December 24
6 PM – Holy Eucharist II with Christmas Pageant
We invite our young people to participate in a modest-but-inspirational re-enactment of the nativity as the story of Jesus’ birth is told through the music and readings of the service. There are no lines to be learned or rehearsals required: please arrive at 5:45 to select your part as a character, animal, or angel and get into your costume.
9 PM – Holy Eucharist II with Christmas musical offerings
Christmas Day – December 25
9 AM – Holy Eucharist I
The First Sunday after Christmas – December 26
9 AM – Lessons and Carols with Holy Eucharist II
Our worship uses the beloved Lessons and Carols service, tracing the history of God’s salvation from the Creation story to the words of the Gospel.
New Adult Study Group
Beginning this Sunday, December 5, and continuing on December 19, January 2, 16, and 30, a group will meet at 10:30 AM, after church, to explore together the fundamental questions of faith: Who was Jesus? Who is God? What is salvation? etc. Each session will be introduced by a brief video of Marcus Borg, New Testament scholar and Canon Theologian at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland, Oregon, in discussion with a group of adults on that session’s topic, after which we will continue the discussion among ourselves. If you are interested in taking part in this groups but the after-church time does not work for you, let Pastor Molly know: if there is interest in it, a second group can be arranged in a different time slot.
