El Salvador 2008 Mission Trip - Registration Deadline December 9

St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick and St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Newton are planning a joint mission trip to El Salvador in May 2008. This trip builds on the experiences of a prior trip that three people from St. Paul’s and St. Mary’s made to El Salvador in June 2007, as well as St. Mary’s historic relationship with Santa Maria Virgen in San Salvador.

The 10-day trip will include opportunities for worship and fellowship at Santa Maria Virgen, a tour of important historic and religious sites in El Salvador, and a work project contributing to the needs of the church and community in El Salvador.


Courtyard of our sister parish Santa Maria Virgen


Mission team visits Oscar Romero historic site


Episcopal Relief and Development constructing a new church, community center, and clinic in rural El Salvador

Due to constraints at our host parish in El Salvador, this trip is limited to twelve people, six each from St. Mary's and St. Paul's. If St. Mary's does not fill its six slots, the empty slots will go to people on the waiting list for St. Paul's. If you would like to go on this trip, please let Paul Pyzowski (617-331-3446, paul@pyzowski.com) know as soon as possible, and in advance of the trip kick-off meeting on Sunday, December 9, 7:30PM, at St. Mary’s.

For more information on this trip, please see:
http://st-marys-episcopal.org/News/2007/11/el-salvador-mission-trip-meeting.html

For background information on previous St. Mary's mission trips to El Salvador, please see:
http://st-marys-episcopal.org/News/2007/09/test_4623.html

Request for Nominations for Vestry

The Vestry's Nominating Committee is asking for nominations for new members to join the Vestry for a three-year term beginning in February 2008. If you would like to nominate someone for Vestry, please contact either of our Wardens, Mary Lou Kilmon and Paul Pyzowski, either in person or by email (mkilmon@gmail.com, paul@pyzowski.com).

The Vestry functions as a board of directors that oversees the spiritual, pastoral, and operational aspects of St. Mary’s. It is composed of the rector and seventeen members of the congregation who have been elected at the parish annual meeting at the end of January. The seventeen members include a Senior and Junior Warden, Treasurer, Clerk, Superintendent, and twelve Vestry members, with four members elected every year for three year terms.

Vestry members are expected to attend and participate in the Vestry meetings held once a month at St. Mary's.

The Nominating Committee will present a slate of candidates at the Annual Meeting following the 10AM service on Sunday, January 27 2008

Special Music for Advent and Christmas 2007

St. Mary's will observe the season of Advent with several special music services. On Sunday, December 2, the SWEA Choir (Swedish Women's Choir), directed by Eva DiLascio, will sing traditional Swedish carols for the First Sunday of Advent at the 10 a.m. service. The SWEA Choir will be joined by members of the St. Mary's Choir in a joint anthem, "Dotter Sion," sung in Swedish to a tune by G.F. Handel.

On Sunday, December 9, the Adult and Junior Choirs will lead a Service of Advent Lessons and Carols at 10 a.m. The scripture readings for the service are a series of Old and New Testament lessons which outline the story of salvation, beginning with the Creation in Genesis, moving to the prophets' foretelling of the Messiah, and culminating in the Annunciation and Birth of the Savior. Interspersed with the readings are hymns and carols which illuminate the scripture texts. Guest musicians Deborah Fabisiewicz, harp and Andrea Bonsignore, oboe, will accompany the choirs for this service.

As we move closer to Christmas, on the Third and Fourth Sundays of Advent, we will hear musical selections from the "Christmas Oratorio" by J.S. Bach, and Vivaldi's "Gloria," sung by section leaders in the choir.

On Christmas Eve, the Junior Choir and young people from the congregation will present a Christmas pageant, "People, Look East," during the 5 p.m. service. Lessons read by the youth will be interspersed with Christmas carols sung by the congregation and Junior Choir. If you would like to participate in the pageant, please speak to Lucille Rossignol or Kirsten Johnson.

The 11 p.m. Christmas Eve service will begin with a musical prelude at 10:45 p.m. The Adult Choir, accompanied by a brass quartet, will sing the Christmas Cantata by Daniel Pinkham, a well-known Boston composer who died a year ago, in December 2006. Please plan to join us for these festive services for Advent and Christmas.

Women of St. Mary’s Annual Christmas Party

All women are invited to join the Women of St. Mary’s at the annual Christmas Party on Tuesday, December 4th at 6:30 p.m. in the parish hall. After the potluck supper, there will be carols and a yankee swap. Please bring a wrapped present ($5-$10) to put in the swap.

We will also be collecting items for the children at Rosie’s Place. Of particular need are presents for the older children ages 10 – 14. Gift cards in $10 and $20 amounts from Target, Old Navy, and Marshalls are very much appreciated as well. Wrapping paper & ribbons will allow the mothers to wrap the items themselves. A signup sheet is on the bulletin board.

Calendar for November 25 - December 2

Calendar for the Upcoming Week
Sunday, November 25
9:45am Childcare
No Church School
11:00am Coffee Hour
Monday, November 26
8:00pm AA (6:30pm newcomers)
Tuesday, November 27
7:30pm Vestry Meeting
Thursday, November 29
6:30pm Junior Choir
7:30pm Adult Choir
Sunday, December 2
8:00am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase
10:00am CGS I & II
11:00am Intermediate Class
Middle School Class
11:00am Coffee Hour
12:00pm Christian Formation Meeting

Pictures from Food 'n' Fancies

El Salvador Mission Trip Meeting December 9

The kick-off meeting for our El Salvador 2008 Mission Trip will be held in St. Mary's Chapter Room on Sunday, December 9, at 7:30pm. Please see the attached document for additional information.

El%20Salvador%202008%20Information%20Sheet.pdf

Please direct questions to either Mark McKone-Sweet (781) 801-3586, mark.mc-s@comcast.net) or Paul Pyzowski (617-331-3446, paul@pyzowski.com)

Food'n Fancies Bazaar - Saturday November 17

FOODS'N FANCIES BAZAAR will be held on Saturday, November 17, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
We invite everyone to take part in our annual church fair, as volunteers and customers. Partake of handmade crafts, delicious home-baked foods, the Vermont cheddar cheese wheel, an array of white-elephant items, festive plant terrariums, raffles and the Silent Auction. Enjoy a homemade soup and sandwich lunch in the Chapter Room. Use this opportunity to do your Christmas shopping early. Invite your friends and neighbors to attend. And remember, all proceeds support our outreach ministries and countless in-need.

Sunday, November 18 at Saint Mary's Church & Upcoming Info

Sunday, November 18 - 25th Sunday after Pentecost
8:00am Holy Eucharist - Celebrant & Preacher: The Reverend Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
10:00AM Catechesis of the Good Shepherd I & II
10:00am Holy Eucharist - Celebrant: The Reverend Gwen Buehrens
Preacher: C. J. Coppersmith
11:00am Intermediate Class
11:00am Middle School Class
11:00am Christmas Pageant Meeting
11:00am Coffee Hour

IMPORTANT VESTRY NOTE: The Vestry Meeting Date for this month has been changed from November 20 to November 27

UPCOMING EVENTS
SAVE THESE DATES -
December 2 - ADVENT I - Holy Eucharist & SWEA Choir at 10am followed by a Swedish Reception
December 4 - Women of Saint Mary's Christmas Potluck Dinner at 6:30pm

Holiday Toy Drive for Rosie's Place

Can you help? - Another opportunity for St. Mary’s to participate in The Holiday Toy Drive for Rosie’s Place.

Rosie’s Place has 240 children on their list this year. We provide 4 NEW toys per child and they (along with wrapping paper) are distributed to their mother/guardian who wraps these toys for their children, thus providing a happy Christmas for both mother who has the great pleasure of giving to her own child and child who receives the magic of Christmas. While shopping for children on your list, would you consider buying extra gifts for the precious children of Rosie’s Place? We are mostly in need of toys for children 4-10 years old and the cost of the toys should be about $15.



As you might be aware, since it founding by Kip Tiernan in 1974, Rosie’s Place has provided a safe and nurturing environment that helps poor and homeless women maintain their dignity, seek opportunity and find security in their lives. Rosie’s Place currently is home to 50 women, living in 4 homes. In addition, RP provides advocacy for countless additional women for whom these toys are earmarked for. Rosie’s Place relies solely on the generous support of individuals, foundations and corporations and does not accept any city, state or federal funding. The toys can be dropped off in the narthex of the church. Please drop them off by December 9 when they are to be sorted and put in a “store” for the women THANK YOU!!

Weekly Update for November 11, 2007

Schedule for Sunday, November 11
No CHURCH SCHOOL (Veteran’s Day)
8:00am Holy Eucharist - Celebrant & Preacher: Peter Chase
9:45am Childcare
10:00am Morning Prayer - Preacher: Rabbi Ronald Weiss
11:00am Coffee

FOODS’N FANCIES UPDATE - CAN YOU HELP ON SUNDAY AFTER THE 10:00AM SERVICE?
This Sunday after the service we would like to have the youth of the parish and any adults to bring all Foods’n Fancies related items from the attic to the parish hall and stage. As they say, "many hands make light work". - Mav Tornesello

MEETING THIS SUNDAY OF TABLE CAPTAINS & WORKERS FOR FOODS’N FANCIES BAZAAR
There will be a meeting of table captains and workers after the "move from the attic". We need to brief you all about the bazaar. Hard to believe its only a week away. Hope to see you all there!!!

INFORMATION SESSION FOR EL SALVADOR MISSION TRIP IN 2008
Sunday, November 11 at 7pm
Please come and join us on Sunday, November 11 to hear about the joint mission trip to El Salvador in 2008. We will be teaming with our neighbor St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Natick. Meeting starts at 7pm. To RSVP or for more info - contact Paul Pyzowski at paul@pyzowski.com.

SILENT AUCTION
Search your attic, basement, jewelry box and closets for antique jewelry; furniture; paintings; prints; glassware; silver, gold and pewter items including dishware and unusual objects of value; rugs in good condition and rare books. The Silent Auction runs throughout the bazaar. For more information on Foods’n Fancies or the Silent Auction, contact Lynn Farnell at 617-969-4659 or Mav Tornesello at 617-823-8300.

ATTENTION ALL WOMEN! SAVE THIS DATE - TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4
Please join us on Tuesday, December 4 at 6:30pm for the annual WSM Potluck
Dinner Christmas Party. More info to come.

Retreat at Parish of the Messiah, Saturday December 8

Our neighbor, the Parish of the Messiah in Auburndale, has invited interested members of St. Mary's to a retreat on Saturday, December 8. The retreat is titled "Living Water for Deep Thirsts".

"When our bodies are thirsty, we take care of that need with something to drink, and we are satisfied until thirst returns. However, our minds, our hearts, our spirits know other and differing thirsts – deeper thirsts that demand more than a refreshing drink. We experience those deeper thirsts personally, and we also recognize many kinds of unmet spiritual thirstiness all around us.

"One rich image in sacred tradition is the promised gift of ‘living water’ – a gift that will truly satisfy those deeper thirsts.

"We will share a day together

- To reflect upon those deeper thirsts we and others experience

- To contemplate this gift of ‘living water’ and its richness of meaning – for others and for ourselves.

"We will help each other to discern and to receive the refreshment that comes from many holy wells.

"All are invited to be a welcome part of this day’s journey – parish members, friends, and those who are spiritual seekers."


A light breakfast and beverages will be provided. Bring a brown bag lunch.

Retreat Leader: Paul F. West, DMin Candidate, Episcopal Divinity School

To Register:
Phone: 617 470-1928 Or
Email: paul.west2@verizon.net

Time and Place:
Saturday, December 8, 2007
9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Parish of the Messiah
1900 Commonwealth Avenue
Auburndale, MA