- This Week at St. Mary's
Come join us
for a joyful and faith-filled
experience of community!
Sunday, January 29
We will only have 3 services this Sunday
8:00am, 10:00am and 6:00pm.
The Rev. Michael Burke will be our preacher.
The office will be closed Monday, January 30 and Tuesday, January 31 for Mental Health Training.
Click below to see the candidates for Vestry, Deanery, Diocesan Convention and Meier Lake:
Please click below to see our Annual Report Booklet:
Annual Meeting is being held Sunday, January 29 in Waldron Hall following our 10am service.
Study the Bible: Grow in Your Faith!
Kerygma Returns!
In February, two Kerygma courses give you the opportunity to read the New Testament in community, where you can bring your questions, wonderings and faith as we learn and grow together!
Kerygma: Discovering the Bible - The New Testament gives an overview in 15 weeks of the story of Jesus and the early church and key themes for our Christian faith. It is ideal for folks new to the Bible, and great for those looking for a review or overview. This is the second part of the Discovering the Bible course. The Old Testament was offered in the fall, and will be offered again in the fall of 2012. If you are a returning Kerygma student, all you need to do is show up! If you are interested in joining the course, speak with Ted in person, via e-mail Ted@Godsview.org or at 563-3341. Space is limited. Classes are Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30 pm, starting February 1.
Kerygma: The Gospel of Mark - Jesus: Powerful, Courageous and Trusting is an eight-week study of the Gospel of Mark. Participants should come with a basic knowledge of the Bible, from a course like Kerygma: Discovering the Bible or equivalent. We meet on Tuesday nights from 7:00-8:30 pm, and beging February 7. To sign up, speak with Michael in person, via e-mail Michael@Godsview.org or at 563-3341.
Almighty and everliving God,
source of all wisdom and understanding,
be present with those who take counsel
for the renewal and mission of your Church.
Teach us in all things to seek first your honor and glory.
Guide us to perceive what is right, and grant us both the courage to
pursue it and the grace to accomplish it; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
The Prayer for a Church Convention or Meeting, BCP p. 818
Annual Meeting and Raising Up Leadership
The St. Mary's Annual Meeting will be held on
Sunday, January 29th. There will be an 8:00 service, and a 6:00 pm service that day, with a main service at 10:00 am.
The all-congregation meeting will follow, at about 11:20 am. Lunch will be provided.
At the Annual Meeting, we will be electing:
- members of the Vestry (the spiritual and organizational leaders of our church),
- delegates to Deanery (the gathering of South Central Alaska Episcopal churches (held in Seward in early May) and Diocesan ("statewide") Convention (held October 4-7th in Fairbanks)
- our St. Mary's Creative Playschool Administrative Council, and
- Representatives to the Board of Directors of the Meier Lake (Episcopal) Camp and Conference Center.
A full description of the positions, qualifications, and terms of office are here {link to Discerning Ministry booklet} or available in the "Discerning Ministry 2012" booklet available on the counter in the church narthex ("gathering area").
As a member of the St. Mary's community, you are being asked to help discern whom God may be calling to ministry in our church family. Look around you. Whom among us do YOU recognize as having the gifts and heart needed by the Church today? Is it yourself? Is it another as well?
To place names into consideration for nomination, forward them to the Rector (Michael@Godsview.org ) or any member of the Vestry. Nominations are also permitted "from the floor" at the time of the Annual Meeting, held this year on Sunday, January 29th, following the combined 10:00 a.m. service. For more information, you may alos contact our Rector at 563-3341, or our Senior Warden Mike McCormack at mmccorma@gci.net .
Thank you for contributing to the life and mission of St. Mary's by discerning your choices! In your prayers this month, pray for our parish, the candidates for ministry, and all of the Church.
2012 Discerning Ministry pgs 1-10
2012 Discerning Ministry pgs 11-12
Children's Chapel
Children’s Chapel and Church School are back!
Happy Epiphany to all! Children’s Chapel returns to the 9 am and 11:30 am services for children aged 3 to 10. Children head out after the collect of the day with the crucifer to our Children’s Chapel downstairs where our adult leaders meet them. Parents, especially those new to St. Mary’s, are welcome to come and sit in the Parents Circle and observe the children’s worship. Then everyone returns for Holy Communion.
Our Church School classes take place Sunday during the education hour, from 10:30 am – 11:20 am. Pre-Kindergarten meets in Room 4 with Sarah Smith and Shelby Wilson; Kindergarten in Room 2 with Neb Forsyth and Karol Libbey; Grades 1 and 2 in Room 5 with Bruce Neeno and Peggy Sewell; Grades 3 and 4 in Room 3 with Bob and Nancy Dawson; and Grades 5 and 6 in Room 1 (also the Children’s Chapel) with Alice Smith, Marcia Myers and Leon Getz. (For youth in grades 7 and up, see the “Youth Corner”.) Thanks so much to our teachers and Children’s Chapel leaders who give so much to our community! And thanks to you, parents, for the privilege of nurturing your children in our Christian faith!
Toddler Town and Nursery Town welcome our youngest members!
For our youngest members of St. Mary’s, we have two special places for you! Nursery Town is downstairs to your right at the end of the hall. Our nursery workers will welcome your child with open arms and care for him or her while you worship and participate in education and fellowship.
Toddler Town is on the first floor, to your left as you enter in Waldron Hall, across from the kitchen. There, our Toddler Town caretakers will play with and care for your children alongside you, or while you worship or participate in education and fellowship. But know how much we value your children’s presence among us as a sign of Christ’s love and life in our midst! Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me… for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs.” Mark 10:14
Christian Dream Work Group Starting at St. Mary's
In Cay's Room from 10am to 12pm, and continuing the first and third Saturdays of the month, a Christian Dream Work Group will meet here at St. Mary's. The first four sessions are open to anyone interested in learning about working with their dreams as part of their Christian faith journey. We are reading John Sanford's Dreams: God's Forgotten Language and viewing Bob Haden's video Dream Workshop DVD Series. You can order Sanford's book from Amazon.com or Barnesandnoble.com.
If you have questions, please speak with Ted at 563-3341 or Ted@Godsview.org.
- Announcements
2011 Vestry:
Outreach -Heather Hall
Adult Education - Rachel Mason
Pastoral Care - Jeanne Ryan
Youth Ministry - Terri Watts
Worship - Dede Allen and Tom Bradley
Community Building - Christina Talbott-Clark
Children's Ministry - Susan Burch
Early Childhood - William Theuer
Stewardship - Val Baffone
Junior Warden - Bob Bradley
Senior Warden - Mike McCormack
Meier Lake Board of Directors - Liz Rockwell
Building the Church
See Michael's article on the
Rector's Page