Click “Read More” to read the transcript of Paul’s presentation on the stations he and his son carved. The accompanying photos were taken by Carl Davaz.
Stations of the Cross
The Epiphany Banners: A Cooperative Approach
In 2014, Donna Brown, Lynda Christiansen, and Carolyn Gates responded to a call from the Liturgical Arts Committee to design and create banners for the season of Epiphany. The Greek word epiphaneia means appearance or manifestation, and it refers to the manifestation of Jesus to the world
Click “Read More” to read the entire article and see the photos.
The Sacred Art in our Sacred Space
St. Mary’s has quite a collection of art in its building. Some of the pieces are memorial gifts from parishioners, and some are gifts of thanksgiving from members, or groups like the Altar Guild or Quilter’s Guild. But this project details those art pieces that were commissioned and designed specifically for St. Mary’s. Some are permanent installations, but others are seasonal and appear only once a year.
In September, I began a project of gathering information about these pieces of art, which included the liturgical occasion or inspiration for the piece,
Click “Read More” to read the entire article.
Personnel Changes
A Book Discussion about The Overstory
This fall, Beth W and Allison P will facilitate a discussion of the book The Overstory by Richard Powers, a favorite they’ve each read at least once, in hopes of gathering in community around a story of interconnection and coexistence of nature and the human spirit.
Read the details by clicking “read more.”
Showing Up For Each Other
June Vestry Report to the Parish
Hopelessness or Hope
April Vestry Report to the Parish
Easter: The Beginning of the Journey
In the midst of this journey, Jesus takes bread, blesses it, breaks it, and gives it to his disciples, saying, “This is my Body.” He nourishes them for the road ahead. And he continues to nourish us, sustaining us through the ups and downs of faith and life—through tears and laughter, sorrow and rejoicing, fasting and feasting, suffering and renewal, death and life.
Click “Read More” for Bingham’s entire article.
March Vestry Report to the Parish
We are excited to publish the year’s first monthly vestry report to the parish. We began our new year as a vestry—and the Lenten season—with our annual retreat in Florence, beginning Friday evening, March 6 and ending Sunday, March 8, 2025. We welcomed four new members—Jessica Barnhart, Aimee Lodge, Tim Williams, and Court Wirth—and spent the first evening getting to know one another over a delicious meal prepared by our senior warden, David Turner. Afterward we played a fun team-based game involving “spies” using code words to prevent assassins from ending the game!
Read the full report by clicking “Read More.”
Observing a Holy Lent
The forty days of Lent are modeled on the Jesus’ 40 days in the desert, preparing himself for ministry. We take these 40 days to prepare ourselves for the central moment of our faith: Easter.
Lent is a time to intentionally draw closer to God.
Many people “Give Up'“ or “Take On” habits or things as a Lenten discipline.
We have created an article to help you think through observing a Holy Lent. Just click “Read More.”
The Dangers and Beauty of the Desert: Lenten Thoughts
Jesus faced real physical and spiritual dangers while out in the harsh desert environment. Mark succinctly recounts these dangers when he says that Jesus was tempted by Satan and was with the wild beasts while out in the desert. Jesus also encountered beauty in the protection and comfort he received during this sojourn. The same is true for us.
Click “Read More” to read Bingham’s entire article about Lent.
Isaiah's Promise - A Rich Banquet for All
One of the things I do, in addition to coordinating volunteers for Saturday Breakfast, is serve as a lector for the 9:30 service. My November 3rd reading was Isaiah 25:6-9. As I prepared, I realized that we all deserve this promise from Isaiah:
Read Dick’s reflection on Isaiah by clicking “Read More.”
That's My Farmer Fall Fundraising Meal
We're excited to announce the date for the annual "That's My Farmer" fundraising dinner. We hope that you will join us on Monday, October 14th, and take home one of the delicious dinners prepared by Party Downtown chefs Tiffany and Mark. The participating CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) farms donate meats and vegetables, and Party Downtown creates an amazing 3 course menu to share with you all.
Click "Read More" to read more about the dinner and its history!
Education for Ministry (EfM)
EfM, Education for Ministry, is a college level, adult-learner course designed to increase the lay person’s knowledge of the Bible, the history of the Christian church, and the history of the Episcopal church in particular. It is held in a seminar format, with groups ranging from 6-12 people. The first year is a study of the Old Testament—it’s history and the environment in which it was written. Some of what the course entails is a look at the ancient sources of the Bible. The second year is devoted to a study of the New Testament, again looking at the history of its writing and the environment from which it came. The third year looks at the whole history of the Christian church (The name of the text is The First 3000 years of Christianity). The fourth year concentrates on the history and development of the Episcopal Church and dives into a look at some of the other faith traditions around the world.
Mary Magdalene in the Gospel of John: A Case of Textual Suppression?
The women of St. Mary’s are excited to announce a can’t-miss opportunity to hear from Dr. Elizabeth Schrader Polczer, a theological scholar who happens to have been baptized right here at St. Mary’s. On Sunday, August 11, 2024, St. Mary’s will host Dr. Schrader Polczer in the sanctuary at 3:30 PM. Cost will be $20 or a sliding scale fee. She will talk on her research into Mary Magdalene and her findings after researching early Christian copies of the Gospel, especially John chapter 11.
Dr. Schader Polczer is a graduate of Duke University, and her groundbreaking research has uncovered new evidence about Mary Magdalene. Her peer-reviewed articles have been included in the Harvard Theological Review (2017) and other prestigious publications.
Read more about this exciting event by clicking “Read More.”
How We Live: A Reflection on Pentecost
We make much ado about Christmas. Even after stripping away all the hoopla that the secular world has piled onto our Feast of the Nativity, we celebrate the birth of Jesus in myriad ways, not least of which is giving unearned gifts to the people we love, commemorating the ultimate unearned gift to the entire world, that of Jesus himself. The Day of Pentecost, on the other hand, though listed along with Christmas as one of the Principle Feasts of the Church Year, draws much less attention. This is unfortunate, for the gift of the Holy Spirit is critical to our lives as Christians.
Read Sharon’s full reflection on Pentecost and the Holy Spirit by clicking “Read More.”
