Christmas Pageant

Note: This video is unedited, and includes bumps, background noises, non-ideal lighting, and intermissions. It is approximately 45 minutes in length. Also, this is the first time putting video on our website - please let us know if you are having problems viewing it.

Twas the Night Before Christmas

Especially for those who cannot be with us on Christmas, here are a few photos of St. Mary's before Christmas Eve services.

We wish you all a Merry Christmas and a happy holiday season!

Services on December 23 and 24

Sunday, December 23 - Fourth Sunday of Advent
8 & 10am Holy Eucharist - Peter Chase
Childcare and Church School as Usual

Monday, December 24 - Christmas Eve Services
5pm Christmas Eve Service - Christmas Pageant
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.

11pm Christmas Eve Service
The 11pm. 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.

Christmas Pageant Practice

Food 'n' Fancies Update

The updated total of funds raised from Food 'n' Fancies last month is $10,107! The proceeds will go to St. Mary's outreach efforts. Thank you to everyone who contributed, and to the Women of St. Mary's for organizing this wonderful event.

A Special Thanks to the Newton Fire Department

In gratitude for their labors over the past fifteen years and on behalf of Saint Mary’s, Peter Chase presented the Newton Fire Department with an HDTV for the main fire station on the corner of Commonwealth and Washington Street. Thanks to all at St. Mary's who helped to make this gift possible.

On Saturday, November 24th at 9:30pm the Newton Fire Department arrived with two engines, fire chief, police and a host of firefighters. Every year the fire department comes two to three times for false alarms, but this time it was real. The burner in the furnace malfunctioned and a steady stream of oil caught fire. Fortunately the smoke in the furnace room became so thick as to extinguish the fire. Smoke had filled the hallways, offices and sanctuary. We are lucky there was no damage as the firefighters were rapid in their response placing large exhaust fans to remove the noxious fumes.

Coming two days after Thanksgiving I was especially grateful to the men and women of the fire department who work so valiantly to protect our historic church. I have seen them here at 3:00am in January when an ice storm took down electrical wires and 5:00pm on a holiday afternoon when wind and sleet set off the alarm.

We are very thankful for our firefighters!

Reminder About Pledge Envelopes

Following tradition, church envelopes for 2008 will be available in the narthex on Christmas Eve to those who have returned their pledge cards. Please use this reminder to send in your pledge card by Sunday, December 16 if you would like your envelopes on Christmas Eve. If there are any questions, please contact Mary Green at (781) 237-9973 or tdmdgreen@verizon.net.

Photos from the Second Sunday of Advent: Advent Lessons and Carols

Thank you to our Adult and Junior Choirs and especially Kirsten Johnson, for a wonderful service of Advent Lessons and Carols. Also, thank you to guest musicians Deborah Fabisiewicz, harp and Andrea Bonsignore, oboe.

Ways to Give Back this Advent Season (2)

With the cold weather fast approaching, please remember those who are less fortunate. Again, this year, we will be collecting new hats, mittens and gloves for adults and children during the advent season. These will be donated to the Massachusetts General Hospital's Shelter for the Homeless. They are most grateful for your generosity.

The Mitten Tree is located in the Parish Hall at Saint Mary's.

Gift to the Newton Firefighters from St. Mary's Parish

Dear Parishioners,

On Saturday, November 24th at 9:30pm the Newton Fire Department arrived with two engines, fire chief, police and a host of firefighters. Every year the fire department comes two to three times for false alarms, but this time it was real. The burner in the furnace malfunctioned and a steady stream of oil caught fire. Fortunately the smoke in the furnace room became so thick as to extinguish the fire. Smoke had filled the hallways, offices and sanctuary. We are lucky there was no damage as the firefighters were rapid in their response placing large exhaust fans to remove the noxious fumes.

Coming two days after Thanksgiving I was especially grateful to the men and women of the fire department who work so valiantly to protect our historic church. I have seen them here at 3:00am in January when an ice storm took down electrical wires and 5:00pm on a holiday afternoon when wind and sleet set off the alarm.

In gratitude for their labors over the past fifteen years and on behalf of Saint Mary’s, we will be giving them a new HDTV for the main fire station on the corner of Commonwealth and Washington Street. At present they have to supply their own TV set which is not in the best of shape, but they do have cable. If you would like to donate to this Christmas present from the Vestry and people of St. Mary’s it would be greatly appreciated. Please donate from $5 to $50. Please make check payable to Saint Mary’s Discretionary Fund and indicate on check that it is for Newton Fire station by December 23rd.

Thank you.

Peter Chase

Poinsettias for Advent

We plan to carry on the tradition at St. Mary’s of decorating the altar with poinsettias during Advent. Parishioners are invited to purchase plants, perhaps in the memory of loved ones, which may be taken home after Christmas services. Please send a contribution of $15.00 per plant to the Church office before December 18. Checks should be made payable to “St. Mary’s Altar Guild.” (Please DO NOT put in offering plate).

Photos from the First Sunday of Advent: Swedish Sunday

Thank you to the SWEA (Swedish Women's Educational Association) Choir for once again gracing St. Mary's with both traditional Swedish music and refreshments on the first Sunday of Advent. The SWEA Choir performed traditional Swedish carols at the 10am service, and joined members of the St. Mary's Choir for one anthem. Coffee hour included traditional Swedish treats as well as our children showing the Advent wreaths they made during Sunday school.


SWEA Choir


The lighting of the Advent wreath


St. Mary's Advent Wreath


Sunday school children making Advent wreaths for home


Swedish specialties

Ways to Give Back this Advent Season (1)

Please consider volunteering at the Salvation Army’s Miracle Kitchen in Framingham on the first Thursday of every month. St. Mary’s is responsible for preparing and serving a dinner to 60 to 100 people. Dinner preparation starts around 4:30 p.m. and is served at 6:00 p.m. Clean up is usually completed by 6:45 p.m. You can volunteer for the entire session, part of a session, a single session or every month. Anyone over the age of 12 is welcome. We have a good time and our guests are very appreciative. Please call Andrea Gordon at 781-237-6668 for further information.

Good News: November 28, 2007

The Good News from November 28 is available for download here:

Good%20News%202007-Nov-28.pdf

This issue includes Peter Chase's sermon from the last of Pentecost, Sunday of Christ the King.