Parish News & Events

Weekly Announcements, News and Events

Church News for Sunday July 18, 2010

MEN'S BREAKFAST! Guys, we're meeting for Men's Breakfast Thursday morning, July 22, at 7:30 AM. We'll celebrate the Eucharist, be treated to breakfast by some of the women of the Church, and set up tents and tables for the Tour of Homes. We would really love some young backs to help us old guys. But young or old, come out and enjoy Men's Breakfast.

FROM THE RECTOR: My dear friend Curtis Almquist, monk and fellow-hiker extraordinaire, will be visiting me, my family, and our parish as part of his sabbatical time. Curtis is transitioning from being the Superior of his order to just a plain old monk again. Curtis has offered to lead us in an adult retreat Friday Evening, August 6th, through Saturday noon, August 7th. He's entitled the retreat "Waiting for the Dawn". He says, "We will consider how to live with the questions, how to cultivate patience amidst the changes and chances of life." Refreshments and nursery care will be provided. The Friday evening session will be 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM. The Saturday morning session will be 8:30 AM to Noon. Attendees are encouraged to be at both sessions. Pray for the Spirit to come.

INQUIRERS' CLASS: Fr. Rick is doing a series of classes called “Inquirers’ Classes”. This is a course of instruction intended to prepare adults and older teens for confirmation or reception into the Episcopal Church. We will meet for about 50 minutes beginning at 9:00 AM each Sunday morning continuing through September 5th. Our main objective will be to introduce participants to the Episcopal Church and prepare them for confirmation or reception on the occasion of the Bishop’s visit, Sunday, September 26th. Please let Fr. Rick know if you are interested by calling the office or emailing him at rick@stmaryofthehills.org.

THE BIBLE FOR BEGINNERS: The Wednesday Study Group will spend July and August working with Donald Griggs The Bible From Scratch: The New Testament for Beginners. This class is especially designed for beginners who need to learn the very basics of the Bible. If you don’t know Matthew from Revelations or how to navigate your way through chapter and verse this study may be for you. No previous knowledge is necessary. Bring a bible or we will provide you with one. And bring your questions. The class begins Wednesday, July 7 and continues through August. We’ll meet at 1:00 PM. But remember there is a noon Eucharist on Wednesdays which you might enjoy attending. You may also bring a bag lunch and visit for 10 or 15 minutes before the class begins.

YOUTH RETREAT: There is going to be a FANTASTIC youth retreat at Valle Crucis Conference Center on July 31st - August 1st. Please contact Katy for more details. You don't want to miss this one! Parental permission sheets are in the office.
BABY SHOWER FOR KATY ABRAMS: Faisuly Scherer, Laura Coston and Natalie Bovino are hosting a baby shower for Katy today from 1:00-3:00 PM in the Parish Hall. All women of the church are invited.

VESTRY NOMINATIONS: It's time to nominate members to serve on the vestry for the term beginning on January 1, 2011 and running through December 2013. If you wish to nominate someone, please make sure that that person is willing to serve before submitting his or her name. There are nomination forms, listing the qualifications for vestry members in the foyer and in the office. Please have your nomination forms turned in no later than July 25th.

RECTOR’S COUNSEL ON THE COMMON CUP: If you are concerned with drinking wine from a common cup I recommend you don’t. I further recommend you don’t dip your bread into the wine (intinct). The Church decided centuries ago that reception of the bread of the Holy Eucharist constitutes a full communion. In other words, you receive all of Jesus in the eucharistic bread. We also use real bread which does not “dip” well. So consider simply receiving the bread as your full communion, cross your arms over your chest to signify you aren’t receiving the wine and stay at your communion spot until the person on your left has made his or her communion.

TOUR OF HOMES PATRON PARTY: The Patron Party for the 52nd Annual Tour of Homes will be Thursday evening, July 22nd from 6:30-8:30 PM at the home of Mary Bost and Michael Gray. Tickets are $150.00 per person.. Checks should be made payable to St. Mary of the Hills, memoed for Patron Party. No reservations will be accepted without payment by check or cash. The tickets are limited to the first 150 people and include one ticket to the Tour of Homes on Friday, the 23rd of July.

TOUR OF HOMES TICKETS ON SALE: Tickets for the Tour are $25 each and are now on sale in the church office and in the Blowing Rock Visitor's Center.

THE GOLDEN NEEDLE: Please turn in items by Wed., July 21st for the Golden Needle to Jane Milner, Iris Caldwell, or the volunteer office. Leave your name, price of materials and care of item if possible. Thank you so much- we are receiving beautiful hand made pieces. Iris Caldwell, Chair.

BAKE SALE: Please bake an item(s) for our Tour of Homes Bake Sale. Your homemade baked goods may be dropped off in the parish hall on Thurs., July 22nd by 3:00 PM. Please wrap your items decoratively, but we ask that you do not use foil. Also, please let us know what the baked goods are so we can label and price them accordingly. Your contribution will be greatly appreciated! For questions, please contact Greta Wilson at the church office.

CHILDREN AND FAMILY EUCHARIST AND POTLUCK Sunday, July 25 at 4:30 PM. This is a fun, informal, and mobile eucharist for our younger children and their families but older siblings and, indeed, everyone is welcome. We'll be wondering and celebrating the Holy Trinity.

PARKING: Because of our limited parking, we strongly urge you, if you are able, to PLEASE park at the Blowing Rock School and leave our parking lot available to those who cannot make the trek to the school or other more distant parking. Chief Brown said his officers will be instructed not to tow cars or issue citations to cars parked on Chestnut Drive during our Sunday morning services so if the lot is full and you cannot safely walk the distance you may park on the street as long as you do not block driveways, stop signs or fire hydrants.

ALTAR FLOWERS: Please remember that giving monies for altar flowers is a wonderful way to recognize or memorialize special people and occasions. Fifty dollars is the recommended amount. The sign up sheet is in the parish hall and envelopes are on the back of each pew.

COFFEE MINUTE AND THIRD SUNDAY BRUNCH: We need everyone's help. Please grab a partner and sign up to do a coffee minute or a Third Sunday Brunch. There are sign-up sheets in the parish hall. Many thanks!

General Announcements

PARENTS! If you are bringing your child to Sunday services and need to help them focus, there are several fun options in the foyer. Books, puppets, and felt play kits are available for your child’s enjoyment, as well as the play bags with activities for Pre-K to Elementary age youth. The play bags have been updated recently, so encourage your child to take another look.

Winter weather policy: Church services will always be held since the Rector can walk to church! But please don’t take any chances on icy or snowy days, and use your own judgment in deciding to attend. Sunday School and other Sunday activities are sometimes canceled so please call the office to find out.

Parking suggestion for the able-bodied: When you arrive at St. Mary’s on Sunday mornings, please remember that many of our members have trouble walking long distances to church. We can always use the school parking located on Morris Street or the parking lot just off Laurel Lane (just below the Legion Hall). Please be considerate of those who need to use the parking lot.

Church office hours: The Church office is open on Sunday from 7:30 AM to 3:30 PM and Monday through Thursday 9:00 AM to 5 PM. Phone messages are picked up several times a day on Friday and Saturday. If you have a real emergency, contact the Priest or the Administrative Assistant. Announcements and names for the prayer list should be in the office before noon on Wednesdays. The bulletin is printed on Wednesday afternoon.

Lipstick concerns: Please help us to preserve our beautiful Eucharistic linens by removing or blotting your lipstick before you take communion. Lipsticks tend to be a damaging agent to these fragile fabrics. The Altar Guild greatly appreciates your continued cooperation.

St. Mary's Newsletter: We would like to encourage those of you who have a computer to sign up to receive the newsletter by email. This will save us time and money when producing the newsletter. The cost of paper and postage will be saved as well as the time it takes to fold, staple and stamp them. We would greatly appreciate those of you who would be willing to do this. A big thank you to Iris and Buddy Caldwell for folding, stapling and stamping 220 newsletters!

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