The long awaited renovation of the church sacristy will begin June 8.
How does this impact you?
Click “read more” to read all about it!
The Pentecost Streamers
On May 24, the church celebrates the Feast of Pentecost. It occurs on the 50th day after Easter, and commemorates the descent of the Holy Spirit. The Biblical narrative describes a mighty rushing wind and tongues as of fire that rested on all those gathered. Once a year the parishioners of St. Mary's experience the descent of the fire of the Holy Spirit in the Pentecost streamers designed and constructed by Judy Alison.
Click here to read about the artist and the streamers.
The Narthex Tapestries
Earth Day is April 22, a day we demonstrate support for protecting the world that our God created for us. This world is the subject of the two tapestries in the Narthex, based on the text of the Canticle, O all ye Works of the Lord, bless ye the Lord : praise him, and magnify him forever.
Click “Read More” to read the full article and see the pictures of the tapestries.
The Loveridge Altar
One hundred and twenty-nine years ago on Easter Sunday, April 4, 1897, the altar that now stands in our chapel was dedicated as a gift to the Parish by Fr. Loveridge and his wife. Fr. Loveridge was the Rector at St. Mary's, and also the carver of this beautiful piece of liturgical furniture. It has had quite the journey. It was installed in the original church at 7th and Olive (pictured above), then moved to the second St. Mary's church at 7th and Charnelton, then to our current church at 13th and Pearl, then to the parish of St. Thomas, then to the Triangle Lake Conference Center, before finally coming home again to St. Mary's.
Read all about this piece of Sacred Art by clicking “Read More.”
St. Mary Statue
On March 25, the church will celebrate the Feast of the Annunciation when the Angel Gabriel told Mary she had been chosen to be the Mother of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. It is therefore appropriate that the Statue of Mary, carved by Les Breidenthal, is the next article in the Sacred Art in our Sacred Space project.
Click “Read More” to read about our statue of Saint Mary and the artist, Les Breidenthal.
Paul Buckner's Presentation about the Stations of the Cross
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.”
