From the Rector
A Mother’s Day Thanksgiving
This Sunday is Mother’s Day. While there are faith-filled roots to this holiday, it is at heart a secular one. For this reason it is not included in the church calendar, and we don’t celebrate it as a feast day. We will mark it in our Prayers of the People, with a prayer of thanksgiving for all who have mothered us throughout our lives.
But amidst all of the celebration, it is important to remember that Mother’s Day (and Father’s Day too) can be difficult or painful for some in our midst. Families are complicated. Our relationships with family members, including parents, can be fraught with conflict, pain, abuse, regret, grieving, and so much more.
Recognizing this and holding all of these aspects together, I offer this prayer*:
To those who gave birth this year to their first child
– we celebrate with you.
To those who are in the trenches with little ones every day and wear badges of food stains
– we support you.
To those who experienced loss this year through miscarriage, failed adoptions, or running away
– we grieve with you.
To those who walk the hard path of infertility, fraught with pokes, prods, tears, and disappointment
– we walk with you.
To those who are foster moms, mentor moms, and spiritual moms – we need you.
To those who have warm and close relationships with your children or your own mother
– we celebrate with you.
To those who have disappointment, heart ache, and distance with your children or your other mother
– we sit with you.
To those who experienced abuse at the hands of your mother
– we acknowledge your experience.
To those who lost their mothers this year
– we sorrow with you.
To those who lost a child this year
– we mourn with you.
To those who lived through driving tests, medical tests, and the overall testing of motherhood
– we appreciate you.
To those who will have emptier nests in the coming year
– we rejoice and grieve with you.
And to those who are pregnant with new life, both expected and surprising
– we anticipate with you.
May God’s blessing be upon you, this day and always, in the name of Christ Jesus. Amen.
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
*Prayer adapted from A Mother’s Day Thanksgiving by The Rev. Jared Cramer
Outreach
The Lenten calendar food drive was amazing! The Outreach Committee can’t thank you enough for your generous support of Mt. Airy Net. Lucy Winston called the net to let them know we had plenty of food for the pantry and they came to pick it up. They were so grateful for our help and even took a Lenten calendar. They loved the idea!
Last December Sue Veres from Mt. Airy Net came to speak to us about what the Net does, what it needs and how it functions. One thing that really stood out was the need for breakfast and lunch items for children during the summer months. Many children in the area schools participate in a program to receive free breakfast and lunches throughout the school year. When schools ends for the summer, they no longer have these meals and we hate to think of these children going hungry. The Outreach Committee is planning a collection of breakfast and lunch items such as oatmeal, cold cereal, pop tarts, breakfast bars, juices, canned fruit, peanut butter, jelly, tuna fish, canned chicken, mayonnaise, lunchables, mac and cheese, soup, crackers, spaghetti o’s, and anything else kids would like. Jeannie Pellicier made a great “Wanted Poster” for this event. This collection will begin at the end of May through mid-August and every two weeks the food collected will be taken to Mt. Airy Net. Thanking you in advance.
Blessings,
The Outreach Committee
Finance/Stewardship
Replenish & Establish Project Annual Update
As the first year of St James’ 3-year Replenish and Establish Project draws to a close, we our grateful to all parishioners who have offered their financial support for this effort. On Sunday, May 26th at 9:30 AM, the combined outdoor service in our lovely Memorial Garden will include a special blessing of gratitude and thanks for the generosity and support of the St. James’ community. With a target goal of $185,000, the pledged amount is now $183,365 with 57 gifts and pledges received. Since last year we have added 1 new pledge and several parishioners have added funds to their initial commitment. All monthly R&E pledges are current and quarterly, semi-annual, and yearly pledges should be received by the end of May. For those who have not participated and wish to begin a pledge or offer a one-time gift, pledge sheets are available in the narthex for your use. Together we are planning for the future of St. James’!
Not everyone can make the same size gift,
but everyone can make the same size sacrifice.
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Office Schedule for the week of May 12.
Monday through Thursday, 10-4.
QUARTERMANIA VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!!
Our Quartermania fundraising event is only four weeks away on June 7th, therefore, we need several people to help post fliers at the local businesses by approximately MAY 24th—you may choose the area of town you prefer and it will only take 30-45 minutes to accomplish this easy task. Many hands will make light work—PLEASE VOLUNTEER!
If you would be interested in helping with postings or at the event itself, there is a sign-up sheet in the narthex or you may contact me, Marilyn Hancock, at Ladyzip2004@yahoo.com or 301-788-0136. Your help will be greatly appreciated!
Spring is here!—THINK St. James’ 13th Annual Basket Raffle & Silent Auction DONATIONS!!
Our big event will be held on both September 21st and 28th, but in the meantime, there is much to do to prepare and make this fundraiser a success.
As you begin your Spring cleaning, downsizing or even if you would like to “re-gift” holiday items you would like someone else to enjoy, please consider donating any items in good condition that may be suitable for men, women, or children of all ages. Some of our previous basket themes have been for babies, teens, teachers, pets, game/movie night, spa, jewelry, tea time, taco night, crab feast, sports memorabilia, fishing, golf, car wash/auto supplies, cooking, gardening, birding, crafts, tools, healthcare, exercise and inspirational. If you have questions about Basket items, please contact Joan Fader at 301-703-8787 or faderj1@juno.com.
Items for the Silent Auction would be those that would generate higher bids by themselves rather than as a part of a basket. Such items could include paintings, quilts, unopened perfume, fine jewelry or high-value gift certificates, and the like. If you have questions about the Silent Auction, please contact Mary Hutchins-Danna at 443-277-0505 or mhdslp@hotmail.com.
Marked BR containers will be in the narthex to receive your donations. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity.
Resiliency and Adverse Childhood Experiences
The Church of the Transfiguration located at 6909 Maryland Ave, Frederick, MD 21703 is pleased to present Resiliency and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) on Wednesday, May 15th from 6:00 – 7:30 PM in Memorial Hall. The powerful documentary, Resilience: The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope, explores the profound long-term effects of toxic stress, a condition that, sadly, affects many of the young children in our community and has a direct correlation to adult health problems such as mental health problems, heart disease, cancer and obesity. Discussion after screening the film will center on the scientific data of ACES and how that impacts us throughout our lives.
Join us for a FREE screening of Paris to Pittsburgh, a new film from National Geographic, produced by RadicalMedia in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies — narrated by Emmy® and Golden Globe® Awardwinning actress and activist Rachel Brosnahan (“The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”). This film is being offered through Interfaith Power and Light to draw faith communities together to inspire local community action to heal the climate for the benefit of all.
From coastal cities to America’s heartland, Americans are demanding and developing real solutions in the face of climate change. And as the weather grows more deadly and destructive, they aren’t waiting on Washington to act.
Learn about their incredible stories in Paris to Pittsburgh, and be inspired to create change in your own community!
We are excited to be hosting a screening of this incredible film
at St. James’ Episcopal Church, 1307 N. Main St., Mt. Airy, MD 21771
on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at 7:00 p.m.
We hope to see you there!
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2018 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you to pray on a daily basis for the needs and blessings of:
Marilyn Hancock
Ernie and Sharon Hansen
Mike and Chris Henyon (McKenna, Brenna, Kaley)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
| This week’s Commemorations (A Great Cloud of Witnesses, 2019, Church Publishing Group)
May 13 Frances Perkins, Public Servant and Prophetic Witness, 1965 |
| Lectionary readings for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, May 12, 2019 (Year C, RCL) Acts 9:36-43 Psalm 23 Revelation 7:9-17 John 10:22-30 |
