Parish News & Events

Weekly Announcements, News and Events

Church News for Sunday February 28, 2010

On Sunday, March 14, 3:00 PM at St. Mary of the Hills, Blowing Rock, Dain and Constance Perry will host the viewing of the one hour documentary, Traces of the Trade, followed by an hour conversation with the Perry’s. Dain and nine cousins spent five weeks in 2001, filming Traces of the Trade, about their ancestors, the DeWolf family of Bristol RI, the foremost slave-traders in American history. While following the steps of the Triangle Trade, from Bristol to Ghana to Cuba, they explored the impact of slavery on America and its ongoing legacy. The film premiered at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, aired on PBS in 2008, and was nominated in 2009 for an Emmy award.

Dain and his wife Constance both retired early to allow time to travel the country screening the film before civic, school and church groups and facilitating conversations on racial reconciliation. Over the years they have conducted screenings over 135 times, in 24 states and 75 cities, before over 10,500 people.
They are both active in the Episcopal Church. Constance is currently on the Standing Committee of the Diocese of Massachusetts and Dain has served on the vestry at their church, Trinity Church, Copley Square, Boston. They were married in 2006, live in Charlestown, MA, and have an adult son.

The public is welcome and child care for infants through six years old will be provided.

MARCH NEWSLETTER is available here!

ADULT SUNDAY SCHOOL: During Lent, we will be using "No More
of This"-A Christian Peace Witness and Invitation to Act. There will be DVD presentations by Christian peace advocates, scriptures and discussions. Please join in.

LENTEN PROGRAM: Lift Up Your Hearts!: Learning to Believe in the 21st Century On Fridays in Lent, beginning February 19th, we will gather at 6:00 PM in the Sanctuary to walk the Stations of the Cross. At 6:30 we will enjoy a simple meal of soup and bread prepared by a group member. From 7:00 to 8:00 Fr. Rick will lead a course in learning to believe again. We will explore ways to re-engage our hearts in belief and worship. We will look at strategies and techniques that can help us restore wonder and awe to our spiritual lives. Come to one or all of these sessions. Come to any part of any session. Walk the Stations, share the meal, or work the study, or do it all. Please let the office know (295-0531 or rick@stmaryofthehills.org) if you might participate so we can have plenty of soup ready.

EARLY COMMUNION CLASS: Fr. Rick will be offering a series of Early Communion Classes on Wednesdays in Lent beginning February 24. They are intended for 3-5 graders and parents are encouraged to attend. We will meet from 5:30-6:15. This time worked well for our last class. We will learn about Baptism, the Lord's Supper, the parts of the Eucharist and have fun doing so. On Easter morning there will be recognition of those children who complete the class. Please let me or Greta know if you and your child (children will be attending).

PANAMA DESSERT PARTY! If you have been to Panama or are interested in finding out about our next trip, or just want to have some desserts in Lent, come to the church on Sunday evening, March 14, at 6:30. We'll have a very short (20 minute) slide celebration of our last trip, share some info and hear what you have to say regarding a possible trip in the spring of 2011, and prepare for a visit from Glenda this spring. Come join us. If you need child sitting please let Fr. Rick know.
ECW NEWS: Our first 2010 meeting is Tues., March 2nd, beginning with social time at 6 PM, then dinner at 6:30 PM and a short meeting and program at 7 PM. Please bring soup, a salad, bread or dessert to share. Susie Morgan will be doing the program for us, borrowing from a program by the Rev. Jeanne Finan called "Take Back Your Time: Sabbath Keeping." You will leave with some "tools" on how to breathe, be still and to take time for yourself, all necessary to help you fill your "tool box" with strategies in your growth with God. All women are welcome.

HOSPITALITY HOUSE NEEDS OUR HELP: Every day people in our community face eviction, utility cutoffs, heating fuel shortage and prescription medication needs. Watauga Crisis Assistance Network (WeCAN), a program of Hospitality House, offers help to community members who find themselves in these situations. Often, such assistance ultimately prevents an individual from becoming homeless.

Recently, the agency has seen an increased demand for crisis assistance and homelessness prevention and there’s no relief in sight. Since this and other programs of Hospitality House are funded through private donations the agency needs individuals, faith communities and civic groups to get involved. Call Jill Kuykendall, director of development, at 828.262.3461 to learn how you can help.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING: Every Tuesday at 10:00 AM, we meet in the church library. Everyone is welcome. Please join us for prayer and fellowship. See Betty Green if you have any questions.

PRAYER SHAWL MINISTRY AND SEWING GROUP: Every Tuesday at 1:00 PM, our knitting/needlework group will meet with the sewing group at the church where yarns, needles and instructions will be given to those who want to knit or learn to knit a prayer shawl or sew anything else. Call Jane Milner with any questions: 828-295-4410.

EASTER FLOWERS: Envelopes for Easter flower donations are in the pews. Please print your memorials or thanksgivings on the envelope and place in the offering plate or the church office.

VALLE CRUCIS CONFERENCE CENTER: On Friday, March 12th, Rev. Jeanne Finan will be leading a program titled "A Patchwork of Prayer". The cost if $35 and includes lunch. Call Tom at 828-963-4453 to register or for more info or email him at: vccc@highsouth.com.

There are so many different ways we can pray. Come away for a day in the beautiful mountains of Valle Crucis and experience a taste of a variety of prayer forms: Praying with beads; praying with icons; Ignatian prayer; centering prayer; breath prayers and more. This day welcomes those who are just beginning their practice of prayer as well as those for whom prayer is already their way of life

The Rev. Jeanne Finan serves as the Rector of St. John’s Episcopal Church in Asheville. She also leads retreats and offers spiritual direction. She is the author of Remember Your Baptism: Ten Meditations (Cowley Publications).

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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