What’s Happening
become our new organist/choirmaster. He was selected after a committee headed by Joo Hooi Albritton spent many hours interviewing and auditioning several outstanding candidates for the position. As some of you may recall, Jacob was our guest organist several weeks ago. Jacob begins at St. Mary’s on Pentecost Sunday, May 27!
May is Rally Month! - Beginning on Sunday, May 6, all ministry areas (acolytes, altar guild, ushers, etc.) will host tables in the foyer of St Mary’s Hall. You will be able to talk with members of each ministry and learn more about how you can serve the church and your community using your unique God-given gifts.
The purpose of Rally Month is to recruit you, as members of the congregations, to the various ministry opportunities, invite you to the appropriate training events and begin to place members in those ministries.
The goal is offer up all of our sign-ups or pledge cards of time and talent at the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday, May 27, at both the 8:00 and 10:00 am Celebration of the Holy Eucharist.
COFFEE HOUR UPDATE – We still need volunteers from the congregation to host the 10 a.m. coffee hour. Listed below are some common questions about hosting coffee hour:
1) What does it mean to “host” coffee hour? Hosting simply involves supplying the food. This can be done in one of two ways. The first is to purchase food on your designated Sunday and drop if off in the kitchen by 10: a .m. The second option is to make a cash contribution in the amount of $30 and food will be purchased for you and served on your designated Sunday.
2) How do I sign up? The best way to sign up is to call or email Judy Messier at the church office. Or, you can look for the sign-up sheet during the 10 a.m. coffee hour and add your name to the list. You will then be reminded through the e-Pistle email the Thursday before your designated Sunday.
3) Why don’t you need hosts for the 8 a.m. coffee hour? Those who attend the 8 a.m. service indicated that they would like coffee only; no food is necessary.
4) What about the coffee? The church purchases the coffee. If you would like to make a contribution toward the cost of the coffee, please contact the church office. You can call the Church Office at 251-1660.
Additional questions? Please contact either the church office or Ginger Doherty (ginger.doherty@verizon.net), Fellowship Chairman.
ALTAR FLOWERS – Dates are still available in 2012 to donate altar flowers in honor or memory of a loved one. You can check the “Altar Flowers” book located in the narthex to see which dates are available. The cost is $75. A check can be left in the office or placed in the collection plate. Please note on your check “flower donation” and the date you have chosen. Because the Flower Guild is totally self-supporting, we also welcome donations of ANY amount. This money is used to provide flowers for receptions, special occasions, etc. Your support of this ministry is greatly appreciated!
E-MAIL AND “E-pistle” – HELP US KEEP IN TOUCH WITH YOU! Please Update Your Information! – St. Mary’s is increasingly using e-mail to communicate with members. Please let the church office know if your address or e-mail changes! We have many instances in which only one member of the family has an e-mail address on file. We would be happy to add additional family members to the Thursday “E-pistle” and other correspondence if you let us know. Also, if you have any information you would like to be included in ‘The E-pistle”, it should be sent to Judy in the Church Office. Contact the church office at 251-1660 or churchoffice@stmarystampa.com
Magazines Requested for Sunday School - The Sunday School program is collecting used and unwanted magazines for use in art projects in Sunday School. If you have any unwanted magazines to contribute (especially Christian magazines), please drop them by the church office or leave them in the box in the narthex. Thanks!
Help Faith Café - Polly Nelson, a St. Mary’s parishioner, helps Faith Café provide a little extra for the homeless individuals we serve, by bringing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to be distributed on the Fridays that St. Mary’s is responsible for the café’s operation. If you can assist her in this endeavor, by making sandwiches, or by donating peanut butter, jelly, bread, or sandwich bags, you would be helping the café’s mission immensely. Please contact Polly if you can help. 805-2219 or pollys35@gmail.com.
NEED TO SCHEDULE OR PLACE AN EVENT ON THE CALENDAR? So that we can keep track of what’s going on when and where, we ask all parish organizations, groups or individuals to complete a Blue Sheet before we can schedule and place an event on the calendar. The Blue Sheet is available in the church office or you can contact Judy at 251-1660.
ARE YOU (OR IS SOMEONE YOU KNOW) IN NEED OF COUNSELING? Tracy Hampton is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist serving the parish of St. Mary’s Episcopal Church and School. Her office is located off the church narthex in front of the Nursery room. If you need information about counseling, please contact Tracy Hampton at thampton@rocketmail.com or 504-4830.
