SAINT MARY'S EPISCOPAL The Messenger · 1 Saint Mary’s Church Road Abingdon, MD Phone:...
Transcript of SAINT MARY'S EPISCOPAL The Messenger · 1 Saint Mary’s Church Road Abingdon, MD Phone:...
Summer at St. Mary’s...Then and Now
SAINT MARY'S
EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
August 2020 The Season of Pentecost
The Messenger
Inside this issue:
St. Mary’s Then
and Now
1
Vestry Notes &
Usher/Cleaners &
2
A Letter from
Father Julian
3
Birthdays and
Anniversaries &
School and Pantry
Donations
4
Sunday School
News
5
Transition Notes,
Women of St.
Mary’s
6
Notes from the
Bench
7
Welcome One 8
Then Now
Amazing how much has changed over the past few months! Here’s a look back some past summer
fun we’ve had at St. Mary’s. And a few pictures of what is going on right now.
VBS 2015 Little Free Library
Lemonade on the Lawn 2018
Rummage Sale 2018
Church Entrance with Social Distance Guideposts
Rummage Sale Cancelled
This month’s vestry meeting
covered in detail the issues
regarding re-opening the
church. Usher and cleaning
protocols were distributed and
discussed. There will be a
team of three people per
service who will be responsible
for the ushering and cleaning
duties. The vestry will be performing all these duties for
the month of July. When we
move to two services (8:00 and
10:15) in August we will need
volunteers to help with each
service. Please consider
volunteering to help – sign up
is easy via our website!
Approval was given for
installing a new keyless access
system (which will include a
video cam and intercom) for
the Parish House. Financially
speaking, income has been
steady. Many are paying their
pledges via bill pay or online
giving. We are halfway through
the fiscal year and pledged YTD
income is at 50% of budget.
The shop had been our reliable
florist for almost 20 years and
it was sad to see it gone. While
searching for a new one, the
Altar Guild teams have been
using garden flowers each week
and it is working well.
Last week we discovered
Flowers by Lucy on Emmorton Rd. and they will be able to
arrange our vases for $36.00,
the same as we paid Mrs.
Flowers. Sallie Parker is calling
the donors on our list to
The Altar Guild began
functioning again when services
resumed in the church in June.
Sadly, we are without our
longtime member and friend,
Carolyn Mitchell, who passed
away in May. She was a
dedicated servant to the Guild
as well as to the entire parish
and will be greatly missed.
During the course of the
pandemic shutdown, Mrs.
Flowers, Inc. was forced to
close and unable to reopen.
explain the situation and to see
if they are still interested in
doing their Sunday. Times have
changed and not everyone is
back in church yet, so don’t
feel obligated to donate. For
more info, call Sallie 410-838-
3677.
July Vestry Notes
Flowers for the Altar
Ushering and Cleaning as we Regather
We will teach each volunteer
the protocols for ushering and
cleaning. An electronic signup
is available on our website. If
we are unable to fill all
volunteer positions, we will be
required to reduce the
number of church services as
we are required to meet
standards set by the State of Maryland and the Diocese of
Maryland.
Your willingness to volunteer
for these ushering and
cleaning tasks will ensure we
can continue to be together as
a congregation.
In order for the congregation of
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church to
regather, it is imperative that we
all, as able, participate in ushering
and cleaning the church after
service.
We will be continuing with ONE
service through September due to
lack of volunteers.
Sign up by clicking the link to the
right, or on our website, or call
the office!
We Need YOU!
Page 2 The Messenger
Where We Stand
Page 3 The Season of Pentecost
Based upon some comments recently made, I thought it might be helpful to clarify where we stand regarding transition,
as well as Mother Meredith’s role.
Last fall we began what is typically referred to as the “Self-Study” or “Discernment” phase of transition. This is typically
the longest phase of the process. We are invited to delve deeply into our past and present to gain some clarity as to
who ware as a congregation and what we are called to do as we move forward into the future in both calling and
partnering with a new rector.
As stated many times, our focus is on the twin questions of Identity (Who are we? Who is my neighbor?) and Vocation.
We engaged in a number of exercises to begin to get at some answers. Among those were graveyard walks, timeline
exercises, story sharing and the CAT (Congregational Assessment Tool).
All too often congregations rely on subjective tools to garner opinions. Whereas these tools have a time and a place,
they are not the most helpful tools for clergy transitions. The CAT is objective and gives us a snapshot or an x-ray of
the congregation in a moment of time. It moves beyond subjective data to information about us benchmarked against
congregations which have a highly focused mission and an engaged membership. We received our assessment in January
and the transition team made plans to present the finding to the congregation in two congregational meetings. The first
meeting was held at the beginning of March with a second meeting scheduled for mid-March.
Then COVID 19 hit and with it in person gatherings. And our process came to a grinding halt for two months. The
transition team began meeting via Zoom after Easter to make plans for moving forward in the new normal. We decided
to move forward using Zoom.
The second congregational meeting was held in the beginning of May. Zoom cottage meetings were scheduled from Mid
May through the end of this month. The purpose was to delve deeper into the CAT by means of a focused
conversation around four topics: change, conflict, diversity and mission.
The next step is for the transition team to compile the rich feedback we received. Once that is done, we will share the
insights gained with the congregation. I expect that this phase of the process will take us through the fall. The transition
team will need to determine if further conversations are needed.
At this point, I anticipate that a profile should be complete by the end of the year. The Search phase should start after
the New Year with a call issued sometime in the spring of 2021. I will remain with you until a new priest is called.
Mother Meredith is our long term supply priest. Just a reminder, my position is part time consisting of two Sundays a
month and two days a week. Mother Meredith is filling the Sundays Father Don covered and is available for a pastoral
emergency. She is not the new rector and I am not leaving—yet.
COVID 19 has thrown a wrench it much of what we do and you might feel at times that this process is taking forever.
Normally, an interim time is 15-18 months. We needed some time to deal with the trauma of Fr Allen’s departure.
COVID cost us an additional three months. However, we are back on track and the end is in sight.
Gratefully,
Fr Julian
CAAs reach out to low-income
individuals in their communities
and work to address their
needs through a comprehensive
approach.
They develop partnerships with
other community organizations,
involve low-income clients in
the agencies’ operations, and
administer a wide range of coordinated programs designed
to have a measurable impact on
poverty.
The Harford Community
Action Agency, Inc received a
large donation of pantry items
on July 15th thanks to all the
“Stay Put Pantry” food and
hygiene items we collected.
Thank you to everyone who
contributed to this great cause.
Want to learn more about the
Harford Community Action Agency? Click the logo!
August Birthdays
Stay Put Pantry
August Anniversaries
John & Martha Nichols
David & Judy Whitaker
Lee & Stephanie Jones
Fran & Pam Butler
Ann & Ed Weaver
Page 4 The Messenger
8/1 Sandee Carlson
8/5 George Pfeiffer
8/6 Michael Diem
8/10 Dagmara Duruamaku
8/10 Ruth Mewborn
8/16 Dick Schwanke
8/17 David Whitehurst
8/19 Sandy Kern
8/21 Robert Childs
8/22 Francis Butler
8/23 Michael Duruamaku
8/23 Adam Paye
8/24 Glenn Weaver
8/29 Pamela Butler
School Supply Donations
Help the Women of St. Mary's
support the Harford County
Education Foundation as they
"Stuff the Bus" and provide
"Tools for Schools" This year, during the month of
August, the Women of St. Mary's will collect school
supplies and money for school
supplies and technology to be
donated to the Harford County
Education Foundation. This
organization supports Harford
County Public Schools teachers
and students in many
ways. Read all about it
at https://harfordeducation.org/
and like their Facebook page.
Even though students will be
attending school "online" for the
first few months of the year,
some students will be attending
"Learning Stations" located in
some schools. Many of these
students may need supplies in
order to complete their work.
School supplies (see list below)
can be left in the box that will
be put outside the Parish House
door on Sunday, August 2, 9,
16, 23, 30 from 8:45 - 11:15 am.
If you prefer to donate money,
checks payable to the Women
of St. Mary's may be given to
Gabbie Taylor, Beth Hunsinger,
or Ana Jakse or sent to the
church office. Please note
"school supplies" in the memo
line. In early September, we
will write a check from the
Women of St. Mary's and take
it, along with the school
supplies to the Foundation
Office in Bel Air.
Thanks for your generous
support of the many school
students who need help with
supplies and technology,
especially in this challenging
year.
Pencils
Pens
Paper - looseleaf Folders (with and without
brads)
Backpacks Personal care items - tissues,
hand sanitizer
New and used books
Binders - 3 hole, 3" Hard case and zipper pencil
cases
Glue sticks
Index cards
Crayons
Colored pencils
Washable markers
Graphing Calculators
Composition Books Arts and crafts supplies
including scissors
Sunday School News: Nina Mullenax, DRE
Page 5 The Season of Pentecost
We are now several weeks into the summer and we are now slowly coming back to church though
somewhat at a distance (6ft) and wearing our lovely masks! It is a wonderful feeling to be able to worship in
Gods house again and to see some faces of my St. Mary’s family. We are beginning to celebrate life again
ever so slowly but moving in that direction! Hope is alive and we are getting through this difficult time as
His light is guiding us there and will see us through to the end when we will be with loved ones, friends and
finally worship altogether to celebrate our risen Lord!
"I am making all things new” (Rev. 21:15)
Update: Easter Chocolate Candy Due to Covid 19, our Lenten Project with "We Cancerve Movement" had to be cancelled with a lot of
donated Easter chocolate candy and activities for the bags kits to be determined how to use them. After
talking to Grace, we have decided to keep the activity donations to jump start our Easter bags kits for next
year as well as the wonderful coloring pictures that will be attached to the bags next Lenten season. Grace
and I met this week and she picked up all the candy to be used in “Brunch” bags to be taken to a foster
home for teenage girls. Remember this quarantine may be even harder for those in a shelter who may not
be able to go anywhere else except the room they are living in, or foster care where you might have to be
separated from others. Grace and her team recently found out that many children in these situations do
not get many opportunities for fun snacks and decided what a treat Easter candy would be this year! The
Good Lord had an alternative reason for all of that chocolate candy! https://www.wecancerve.org/ “Bringing
swift solutions to children in sad situations because happiness shouldn't have to wait!”
Sunday School Startup ( More info to come in early September!!)
We are developing an in person protocol for Sunday school to begin on Sunday, September 20!
Sunday school teachers for 2020-2021:
Pre-K – Kindergarten – Tracey Hollis Middle school – Bob Wallace
4th -5th - Giulianna Wallace High school – Kimberly Ercole
Stay Home Stay Connected Stay Church
New Door System in the Education Building
Page 6 Newsletter Title
Due to a couple of late starting
groups, all Cottage Group
meetings will be completed by
the end of July. In all, the
Transition Team contacted 125
congregation members. Nine
groups consisting of about six
to eight members per group
were formed for an average
participation of 55-65
congregation members across
all the groups. There were five
separate discussion topics
exploring our perspectives on
change, conflict, diversity and
mission for each group for a
total of 45 Cottage Group
meetings.
Transition Team
Crest Lock, Co. is currently
installing a video doorbell
system on the front door of
the Education Building. This will
give the office and the
counsellor a way to monitor
and converse with who is at
the front door.
Keyless entry will also be
engaged in the next month.
This will allow us to keep data
on who enters and exits the
building and increase our
security by eliminating the
circulation of keys. More
information on this system and
how it effects those who have
keys will follow. Please keep
your eye on the Messenger and
emails to be alerted.
Welcome One Emergency
Shelter News
The Women of St. Mary’s has
continued to support the
shelter as they remained
closed. We missed our last two
times and have sent them two
checks for $150.00. Our next
date is September 10th and it is
still not known when the
clients will be allowed back or
if we will feel safe in going back to serve. Time will tell. It is a
wonderful service and very
rewarding to those who go.
As you might be aware, I love
to compose and arrange
music...and this consumes much
of my time. Especially when
I'm commissioned as I was by
performing ensembles and
soloists before the onset of the
COVID-19 pandemic. I enjoy
sitting at the Kawaii grand
piano or the Rodgers organ in my home and spending time
just improvising...mostly on
hymns, and transposing them
to all keys. Transposition and
improvisation are both key
aspects for any real organist to
utilize whenever and wherever
the need arises. I remember
one moment as a professional
accompanist for a New York
soprano cantor – we had only
15 minutes prior to the
concert to talk the music
through because traffic had
delayed her arrival. As she
walked on-stage for one set,
she whispered, “Transpose this
one down a third – it's too
high!” Well that did not phase
me one bit because I had
learned her music by memory
and the transposition fit right
in! And not every organ in
churches across the globe will
have Transposer buttons for
accompaniments that are either
too high or too low for a
soloist or choir to sing
comfortably and sound great,
and there is not always music
available at ones fingertips for
filling in a minutes time or
longer after a homily or special
prayer as requested by the
priest just before the service
starts. The American Guild of
Organists espouses high ideals
of transposition and
improvisation, and my
membership with them would not be meaningful without
regular practice in those areas.
So...that is what I do with
particular attention to the fact
that my Adult Choir wants me
to audition for Certification
with those two areas figuring
heavily in my overall grading.
After I have sat and transposed
or improvised on a hymn tune
that I have chosen for one of
the upcoming weekly services, I
sometimes sit at my computer
and write down what I at that
time consider to be a suitable
look-a-like arrangement of what I played. Although this
may be labeled Improvisation, it
is really an arrangement, for a
true improvisation is done only
in the spur of the moment and
is unwritten. Since there is
currently NO hymn singing at
St. Mary's, I have endeavored
to create an interesting
composition based on those
selected hymn tunes and do
eagerly play them on those
Sundays. Sometimes I hear soft
humming...and THAT is great. I
feel that hymns ARE prayers,
and pieces on hymns when
played with praise and
thanksgiving to our great and
loving God are just that as well!
What do I do with the music
afterwards? I have arranged
much into “books” that are
available for sale on a
publisher's website. Do I
compose secular music? Of
course! Even lesson pieces for
students like Dakara Bon,
Amelia Hollis, Kat Parker, Jim
and Rita Gribbell's
granddaughter Sophia, and
more. I am composer-in-
residence for the Brandywine
Brass, Delaware's premiere
brass quintet that has
performed over a hundred of
my arrangements in all venues
during the last 3 years. My
arrangements have been
published through Tara, Cimarron Music Press,
BVDPress, A.K. Brass Press,
Sheet Music Plus, and Robert
King Library in the United
States and Spaeth / Schmid -
Brass Wind Notes serving
Germany and the United
Kingdom in Europe, and Sheet
Music Press. They have been
performed by Capitol Brass,
Atlantic Brass, Empire Brass,
Johannes Brass, soloists from
the New York Philharmonic,
San Francisco City Chorus and
the Old First Presbyterian Church (Both of San Francisco,
CA), for Brazilian concert
organist Jonatas Andrade, for
A.N.I.M. (in Kabul Afghanistan),
and by the local Brandywine
Brass Quintet. How many
pieces have I composed and
arranged? To date, the count is
approximately 2,142 piece. I'd
say that's pretty prolific! I even
wrote our own wedding
processional and recessional
back in 1977. Many of my
arrangements have been
premiered not only by our
wonderful St. Mary's Adult
Choir as well as the Festival
Choir of St. Andrew's in Lagos,
Nigeria.
I thank the Holy Spirit deeply
for the inspiration given me to
be a composer. Music might
not make me wealthy, but it
has made me rich in friends
across the world and in song
on my lips and hands and feet.
The song of my soul as I praise
my generous and loving God. I
am told by our daughter
Giulianna that as I lay near
death in the Christiana Care
shock-trauma unit, that I
whispered the words to our
hymns – Praise, My Soul, the
King of Heaven, Amazing
Grace, Abide with Me, and
more. I do believe that I have
been called to this amazing and
full lifetime of music. And to that I say, Praise God from
Whom ALL blessings flow!”
Notes from the Bench by: Robert Wallace, II
Page 7 Volume 1, Issue 1
Director of Music, Robert Stephen
Wallace, II
1 Saint Mary’s Church Road Abingdon, MD
Phone: 410-569-0180 E-mail: [email protected]
Website: stmarysharford.org Facebook: stmarysabingdon
SAINT MARY'S
EPISCOPAL CHURCH
A place where the Gospel thrives!
Remember that the parking lot
bins are for clothes, shoes and
linens only. Do not deposit
household items in the bins and
do not leave anything outside
the boxes.
Thanks for your
cooperation. Let's hope that
next year we will be able to
resume many of our usual
activities!
As you all know, the annual
September Rummage sale has
been cancelled this year.
It has been decided that we will
NOT be holding a parking lot
furniture sale this fall.
Therefore, we WILL NOT be
able to collect and store
furniture of any kind. If you
have items to donate, please
consider sending them
elsewhere.
Rummage Cancelled and No Furniture Sale