Dear friends,

Welcome to St. Mary's Episcopal Church!

Father Michael SingerYou may be looking for a warm, caring church home or you may simply be “passing through,” hungry for God’s word and sacraments. Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, we hope that the love of Christ will be seen and felt in your encounter with the people of St. Mary's.

We are a diverse parish with all kinds of people, programs, and activities, and we believe our church to be a place that respects the holiness of worship and the integrity of your mind. There’s a place, purpose, and ministry for everyone who comes through our doors!

We hope this website will give you a sense of who we are and what have to offer in the service of Christ’s Kingdom. Please feel free to contact us directly and please come and join us on Sunday!

In Christ’s love,

The Rev'd A. Michael Singer, Rector

This Week at St. Mary's:
 
  • Sunday, March 1st
    • Holy Eucharist - Rite I, 8:00 a.m.
    • Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10:00 a.m.
    • Mid-Lent Covered Dish Dinner, 11:20 a.m.  
    • Jr. & Sr. EYC Supper, 6:15 p.m.
    • A.A. Meeting, 8:00 p.m.
  • Tuesday, March 3rd 
    • Morning Prayer, 8:30 a.m. 
    • Prayer Shawl Ministry/Queen St. Deli, 2:00 p.m. 
  • Wednesday, March 4th   
    • Men's Prayer Breakfast, 6:45 a.m. 
    • Evensong/St. Cecilia's Choir, 5:30 p.m. 
    • Parish Supper and Lenten Program, 6:00 p.m.
    • EYC Jam Session, 6:45 - 8:00 p.m.    
    • Adult Choir, 7:15 p.m.
  • Thursday, March 5th 
    • Morning Prayer, 8:30 a.m.
    • Cherished Member Luncheon, 11:30 a.m.
    • Boy Scout Round Table, 6:00 p.m.
  • Friday, March 6th  
    • Stations of the Cross, 5:30 p.m.
  
LENTEN DEVOTIONALS are available on the tables in the narthex.  You are invited to take one home as you prepare to observe a holy Lent.  Devotions are in English and Spanish.  

THE BIBLE CHALLENGE:  Make 2015 a year to read some scripture each day.  A reading schedule that will take you through the whole Bible in the year is available in the Narthex.

ADULTS OF ST. MARY'S: Please consider supporting youth ministry at St. Mary’s by providing a meal for the EYC in 2015.  A sign-up sheet which lists available dates is posted on the bulletin board in the narthex.  Why not get a couple friends together and enjoy fellowship while offering this gift to the youth.  Thank you!!!
 
COUNTDOWN TO GLORY RIDGE:  Days to go!  The mission trip to Glory Ridge (August 2-8) is open to all middle and high schoolers.  Any adults interested in serving as chaperones for this trip should talk to Father Tom.  

ACCOUNTANTS NEEDED:  The Diocese of East Carolina is looking for individuals that are interested in applying to serve as Diocesan Contract Auditors in each Deanery.  This is part of an effort to help provide a more affordable solution for parishes to meet the audit requirements as set forth in the Canons of the Diocese of East Carolina.  Accountants are needed to help with parish audits, on a paid contract basis.  For more information, please call Bonnie Holton at 252-522-0885, ext. 229.   

NEWSLETTER:  Current copies of The Bell Ringer may be found on a table in the Narthex. 

MISSION TRIP TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC:  Do you feel called to go on a foreign mission trip?  Again this year a team from St. Mary's will return to Mosovi, Dominican Republic.  At our partner parish, Divina Graci, we will offer a Vacation Bible School and paint the church.  The team will leave on July 15th and return on July 21st.  If you are interested, please contact Laury Sargeant or Father Michael for information.  

STATIONS OF THE CROSS: Come on Friday evenings during Lent at 5:30 p.m. for Stations of the Cross. The tradition of moving around the Stations to commemorate the Passion of Christ began with St. Francis of Assisi. The object of the Stations is to help the faithful to make a spiritual pilgrimage of prayer, through meditating upon the chief scenes of Christ's sufferings and death. It has become one of the most popular Lenten devotions, and is often performed in a spirit of reparation for the sufferings and insults that Jesus endured during His Passion.
 
WEDNESDAY EVENINGS THIS LENT:  Join us on Wednesday evenings during Lent.  We will gather in the church at 5:30 p.m. for Evensong.  At 6:00 p.m. dinner will be served in Moseley Hall with the Lenten program to follow.  The RenewalWorks Committee will provide a brief overview of how the Episcopalian RenewalWorks Program operates, the prescribed format our group went through, and the results of the parish-wide survey from last summer.  Format will be videos, entertaining and informative presentations, and an outside speaker on the last night.  The program for March 4th is a brief video from RenewalWorks on What We Can Individually and Collectively Gain From RenewalWorks followed by a facilitated discussion.    
 
Changing the World – One Pair at a Time:  Soles4Souls is a Nashville-based charity that collects shoes from the warehouses of footwear companies and the closets of people like you. The charity distributes these shoes to people in need, regardless of race, religion, class, or any other criteria. Since 2006, Soles4Souls has delivered over 19 million pairs of new and gently worn shoes. The shoes have been distributed to people in over 125 countries, including Kenya, Thailand, Nepal and the United States. We are very excited to partner with this wonderful organization for our 5th shoe drive.  It is so easy for anyone to help give hope, simply by giving a pair of shoes!  From February 18th until  March 29th, please bring in and donate new and gently used shoes.  Drop-off containers are found in the office wing and in the Narthex.  If you have any questions, please contact the church office at (252)523-6146.  “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” Romans 10:15

 MID-LENT COVERED DISH DINNER:  The Fellowship Committee invites you to attend a covered dish dinner on Sunday, March 1, 2015.  The dinner will get underway in Moseley Hall at 11:20 a.m.  Paper products, eating utensils and drinks will be provided.  All are invited to the meal and we ask that you bring a LARGE dish to pass.  Bring a friend to church and ask them to stay for the meal.  We hope to see you at Sunday dinner!
 
PENNIES NICKELS, DIMES AND QUARTERS:  Much of the clean, fresh, drinking water many people in the world need is right under their feed but they don’t have access to it.  Not having access to clean water, women and girls especially may have to walk several miles every day for that water.  Yes, this Lent we ask for your pennies, nickels and quarters for clean water.  Churches in the Diocese of East Carolina are asking you to pitch in with your change.  At the end of Lent all monies will be collected and sent to Episcopal Relief and Development for safe water projects.  Please be generous in your response.

FLOWERS AT EASTER:  Flower offering envelopes for Easter flowers are located on a table in the Narthex.  Your donations will be used by the Altar Guild to decorate the church for Easter.  Your gift can be used to honor someone or remember a departed loved one.  Please return your envelope by March 31, 2015 so names will appear in the Easter bulletin.  Your generosity is appreciated.  

THE CHERISHED MEMBERS AND FRIENDS DINNER will be held on March 5th at 11:30 a.m.  All retired individuals and their friends are invited to attend.  Those planning to attend are asked to sign-up on the appropriate sheet in the Narthex or contact the Parish Office.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

 
 
 
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