a letter from clergy; he was stating that this movement of...in addition to flat maggie’s summer...
TRANSCRIPT
MAGGIE'S CROSSS A I N T M A R G A R E T ' S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H
A Letter FromThe RectorBY FATHER TODD R. DILL+
What is Your Ministry?
Most people, when they hear the termminister, immediately think of clergy,or someone who is ordained into a churchleadership position. And while thisconnection is technically correct, it doesnot fully express what the church meanswhen it talks of the ministers of the church.
IIn our Prayer Book, the Catechism asks thequestion, “Who are the ministers of thechurch”? The answer is very important. The ministers of the Church are laypersons, bishops, priests, and deacons.(BCP pg 855). Notice the list, and noticewho is listed first on that list. The laity ofthe Church comprises the largestcomponent and most important ministersin the Church. On any given Sunday, SaintMargaret's has three clergy present forworship, while it has 400 lay persons inattendance! The overwhelming reality ofthe Church is that the vast majority ofpeople and ministry is accomplishedthrough the men, women, and children thatcomprise the lay ministers of the church.
400 people can do vastly more than three,and the Church needs to get serious aboutthe calling of all of its ministers into faithfulservice. My point is this: we have fourorders of ministers in our Church, and themost important of them is you.
So I would like you and your family toponder something as we begin a newacademic year together at SaintMargaret's.
It can get very busy in a short time for all ofus, and I don’t want you to forget yourChurch as you begin your commitmentsanew this year. What is your ministry? Towhat is God calling you to do with yourunique gifts? What ministry of Jesus willnot happen the way that it should if youdon’t pursue your ministry and reveal yourspiritual gifts? At your baptism, you weregiven the gift of God’s Holy Spirit, in orderthat you might live into those gifts to buildthe Kingdom of God.
What are those gifts? How can you usethem inside of the Church, and moreimportantly, outside the Church? I inviteyou to spend some time in the comingweeks pondering these questions with yourfamily. Jesus has not chosen you to join aclub, but to join His movement, and ourLord has equipped you for ministry for thismovement. Jesus is building HisKingdom, and He invites each of us on thisjourney as we minister together in His
IN THIS ISSUE
Prayer is the nearestapproach to God
Singing His Praises: AWorship Leader'sLearnings
Walk By Faith, Not By Sight
name. I was told a great truth yearsago from a friend of mine who also happensto be a member of the clergy order. He saidthat there is no ministry without a minister. He was not speaking exclusively aboutclergy; he was stating that this movement ofJesus, this revolution of Jesus, only happenswith the faithful actions of His ministers.
You and I have been called together at SaintMargaret’s in order that we might doministry together. What is yourministry? What is God asking you to dofor Him? What gifts has He given you toprepare you for that ministry?
I will be in prayer for this parish as weponder these questions together. I believethat the world can change with theactions of people who passionately followour Lord. It is my hope and prayer that SaintMargaret’s is a placed filled with suchpeople. God bless you and keep you!
Fr. Todd+
September 2019
What the worldneeds now...BY FATHER LITO SANTOS+
For all who can remember, Burt
Bacharach and Hal David gave us
the words:
"What the world needs now is love, sweet
love. It’s the only thing that there’s just
too little of what the world needs now is
love, sweet love No not just for some but
for everyone."
Violence, death, hatred and fear
dominate our days. Politicians
use their all too public forum and
position to spit out unkindness that
bring forth division. The news outlets are
suspect and bereft of truth. The public
needs to sift through the mud and hope
to find valuable gems in the less than
truthful reports. It is painful to reflect on
the low dredges of the times we live in.
Questions ofFaithBY DEACON ERIC GRUBB
Who wrote the Bible? Fr. Todd wrote in the newsletter a few
months ago about how the Bible is not
one book but many. The Bible is a library
that contains books of many different
genres written over thousands of years.
Some books we know exactly who the
author is like many of the epistles written
by St. Paul. Others like the book of Job
we have no information on the author.
We need leaders of integrity who can lift
high the values and morals of our time.
We need reminders that we should not
abandon the good that is inherent in
our lives. We need simple and gentle
invitations to rationality, civility and
respect. Maybe the all too popular idols
of our culture would remember
to pause and revert to expressions of
what we truly need and deserve.
In these very times of heightened
tension and struggle we need, more
than ever, to come together as one,
unified, and strong. We should
encourage one another to be
courageous, determined and brave as
we cover one another in prayer.
Remember that the unity of believers
through the power of Jesus Christ,
is a force to be reckoned with. In faith,
we know that it’s hard to tear apart
a band of faith filled believers. If we let
the love of God permeate out daily lives,
we surely can’t be easily broken.
Saint Paul encourages us on: “Let all
that you do be done in love.”
1Corinthians 16:14
So, at first glance, the answer to our
question may be simple. Who wrote the
Bible? Many different people some known
and some unknown.
The answer, however, is not so simple
because as we hear proclaimed on
Sundays after each reading of Scripture,
“the Word of the Lord.” The books of the
Bible are written by humans but are also
identified as the Word of God. The
Scripture’s authorship is both human and
divine. In the Book of Common Prayer,
there is a small catechism— a brief outline
of the Christian faith organized in a Q & A
format—that explains this human and
divine authorship. The catechism reads,
“We call them the Word of God because
God inspired their human authors and
because God still speaks to us through
the Bible” (BCP Pg. 853).
The Bible was written by ordinary
people who were inspired by the
extraordinary God who wants to
reveal Himself— make Himself known
— to all people, even us today. If you
are interested in diving deeper into
the topic of the Bible and inspiration, I
would recommend starting with
Anglican bishop N.T. Wright’s book,
Scripture and the Authority of God:
How to Read the Bible Today.
“Let all that you do be done in love.”1 CORINTHIANS 16:14
Fr. Lito+
Deacon [email protected]
Youth SpotlightBY ELIZABETH PFEIFER
ASSISTANT TO THE RECTOR FOR YOUTH MINISTRY
EYC will meet every Sunday for the rest of
September: 8th, 15th, 22nd, and 29th. All 6th-
12th graders (and friends) are invited to join us.
EYC meets from 5-6:30 with a complimentary
dinner provided from 6:30-7.
EYC had our Fall 2019 Kick Off on August 25th. We introduced our
6th graders and new members to EYC and our love of silly games,
icebreakers, God, and a decent amount of laughter and general
noise. It was great to see so many new faces (and familiar ones).
If your youth was not able to make it to our first meeting, we
hope they will join us at one of our next gatherings.
The middle school fall overnight to Camp Canaan is Oct 5th-6th
and the high school fall retreat to Boone is Oct 11th-13th. More
information out in mid-September on those events.
Stay informed about EYC happenings by signing up for EYC Text
Updates (quick reminders about upcoming events). Text “stmyouth”
to 94033 and reply “yes” to opt in. To cancel, send STOP to 94033.
Sunday School ReminderSt. Margaret's has revamped our youth (6th-12th grade) Sunday
School class for 2019-2020 with the goal of facilitating education
and discussion between teens and their parents on tenets of the
Christian faith and how our beliefs can be seen and impact all
aspects of our life. This class will be led by Father Todd and
Elizabeth and parents and their teens will engage in a multitude
of topics and activities during our time together. While geared
towards teenagers and their families, this class will be open to
all adults of the parish. We will gather in the Youth Room from
10:15-11:00am beginning Sept 15th.
Annual Blessing of the Backpacks
Contact Elizabeth at: [email protected]
Sunday SchoolBY CATHERINE CHINTALA
ASSISTANT TO THE RECTORFOR CHILDRENS MINISTRY
Welcome back to a new school year! I am so excited to start Sunday School classes again and
see all of the children of St. Margaret’s! If you have not
done so already, make sure to check out the bulletin
boards next to the office. In addition to Flat Maggie’s
summer adventures, there is a lot of great information
posted to let you know what is coming up for the school
year.
We will follow The Gospel Project curriculum again this
year, and we have some exciting changes to our lessons
and activities that I think the children will really enjoy!
Sunday School will resume on September 8th at 10:15 am
in the Rainy Day Room for all children 4 years of age
through 5th grade.
Please take a few minutes to register your child(ren)
online:https://stm.breezechms.com/form/SundaySchoolRegistration2019
We are looking to fill a few teaching spots forSunday School. We are looking for 2 adults toteach twice per month from September 8 –March 1. Volunteers always teach in a team, andall lesson plans and materials are provided eachweek. Lesson plans and teacher study guides areprovided in advance, so you do not need to be aBible expert to teach! This is a wonderful way toget involved at St. Margaret’s and impact thelives of the children of our parish! If you areinterested, please contact Catherine:[email protected]
Mark your calendars….Club 4/5 is back! OnSunday, September 8th we will host our specialclub just for 4th and 5th graders from 12:30-2:00pm in Parish Hall. Come for a pizza lunch,followed by fun games, activities & fellowship!
Sunday School "Field Trip" planned. OnSunday, September 29th our Camels and LionsSunday School classes will have a “field trip”during the Christian Education hour to the nave.During this time they will learn about the AcolyteMinistry at St. Margaret’s as well as ways thechildren and youth of our parish can serve duringworship. Parents are welcome to attend!
HOLY COMMUNION CLASSES: We will offer Holy Communion classes for grades 1-4 on October 6,13, 27, with a communion celebration on November 3. Attendance atall 3 classes is mandatory, with at least one parent present. (NOTE: Oct20 is a Family Teach Day) Classes will take place during the ChristianEducation hour. *Please note registration is required for this class andit will be capped at 12 children. A youth class for grades 5 and up will also be offered this fall Theyouth class will be 3-sessions, taught by Deacon Eric on Sundayafternoon prior to EYC. Classes are set for Sept 15, 22 and 29.*Registration required to attend. A signup link to RSVP in StM Connect will be active soon forregistration. Enrollment will be first-come, first-serve. For those not able to attend in the Fall, a Spring session will be offered.Be on the lookout for more details soon.
For any questions regarding Children's Ministry at St. Margaret's: please contact Catherine at:
Week of ServiceSept. 24-28
We are expanding our annual day of service into awhole Week of Service and we hope you will joinus! The goal is to get all of us into our communityto serve others and spread God's love. There are projects scheduled each day and youcan sign up online using this SIGN UP GENIUSLINK: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0f4eaba7283-week.
Most all projects are kid-friendly unless otherwisenoted. We may add one or two more projects so,keep checking back. If you prefer paperenrollment, please complete a form on theOutreach table and place in the marked folder! Questions? please contact Traci Scott at [email protected] or Jennifer Jenkins at [email protected].
There are projects scheduled each day:
Tuesday, 9/24 11:00 am & 5:30 pmmeal prep, 11:00 am StM kitchenUnion County Community Shelter mealserving & clean up, 5:30 - 7:00 pm
Wednesday, 9/25 9:00 am - 2:00 pmServe community meal at Galilee MinistriesKairos cookie packaging, 11:00 am StMkitchenFIFC first aid kits packaging, 11:00 am StMparish hall
Thursday, 9/26 5:00 - 6:30 pmServe meal at Common Heart’s class forpeople in poverty and their mentors at NewCovenant Baptist Church in Monroe.
Friday, 9/27 10:00 - 11:00 amprepare backpack snacks for students atSouth Providence Schoolassemble essential packs and food to put in the Little Free Pantry
Saturday, 9/28 9:00 am - 2:00 pmwork in Common Heart’s food pantryyard work at Galilee
Sunday, 9/29 THANK YOU lunch after 11:15 am service
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
BE STILL C e n t e r i n g P r a y e r a t S t . M a r g a r e t ' s
Centering Prayer meets on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday ofeach month in the prayer room from 1:45- 2:30 pm.
Centering prayer offers us the time to pause amid our busylives to “be still and know that I am God” (Psalm 46:10).
Whether you are looking to deepen your spiritual life, curiousabout Christian prayer, or are simply looking to rest in thepresence of God, we hope you will join us.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact DeaconEric at [email protected]
FOR OURSENIORADULTS:
MORE SINGERS NEEDED!Registration remains open for allchildren ages 4 through 8th grader toparticipate in one of our children's choirs.
Junior choir is for all kids ages 4 through1st grade. Rehearsal is on Wednesdaysfrom 4-4:30 in the choir room. Children'schoir is open to everyone in 2nd through8th grade. Rehearsals are on Wednesdaysfrom 4:30-5:30.
Please use the links below to sign up:
https://stm.breezechms.com/form/juniorchoirsignup201920
https://stm.breezechms.com/form/childrenschoirsignup201920
ALL WOMEN WHO ARE MEMBERS OF St. Margaret’s AREAUTOMATICALLY PART OF THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN (ECW). THE EXTENT TO WHICH A WOMAN IS INVOLVED IN AN ORGANIZED ECWACTIVITY IS UP TO HER.
OUR MISSION is:To offer every woman at Saint Margaret’s Episcopal Church anenvironment of support and encouragement, education andopportunity for ministry by providing fellowship, communicationresource materials and outreach to our church, our nation & theworld.
Please consider becoming a part of the new circle groups forming thisfall. CLICK HERE for more information.
Wednesday, September 11thoffsite at Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens
If you have never seen a 10 footglass orchid, monstrous pitcherplants or Venus fly traps -you won’twant to miss the SAGES outing onSeptember 11th at Daniel StoweBotanical Garden, 6500 New HopeRD, Belmont, NC.
Join the group inside the receptionarea at 11:30am to tour thegardens and marvel at hundreds ofawe-inspiring art pieces of Seattleartist, Jason Gamrath tucked inamong the garden’s live plants.
Bring your own box lunch anddrink and plan to picnic inside orout. Tickets are $12.95 (paid at thedoor.) Easy to follow directions areavailable at www.DSBG.org.
Please RSVP to 704 543-6299 so wewill know to wait for you or...CLICKHERE to RSVP electronically.
MEN'S FELLOWSHIP S e p t e m b e r 2 1 s t a t 8 : 0 0 a m
The church year has started and the Men’s Breakfast is starting as well. Our first meetingwill be Saturday September 21st in the parish hall at 8:00AM. Sessions last 1.5 hours andbreakfast is provided.
The overriding theme for this semester is to attempt to understand our spiritual life in termsof God’s law versus mankind’s law. Our first session will be an interactive lecture on theReformation led by Mason Alexander. Hopefully, that session will give us a start inunderstanding mankind’s issues.
Please RSVP to this announcement by CLICKING HERE. As always, breakfast will be served but we need a headcount to plan accordingly.
Rector
The Reverend Fr. Todd R. [email protected]
Senior Assistant to the Rector for Pastoral Care
The Reverend Fr. Lito [email protected]
Assistant to the Rector
The Reverend Deacon Eric [email protected]
Director of Music
Mara [email protected]
Executive Assistant to the Rector
Joanie [email protected]
Assistant to the Rector for Youth Ministries
Elizabeth [email protected]
Assistant to the Rector for Preschool Ministries
Dana Plate’[email protected]
Assistant to the Rector for Finance & Accounting
Denise [email protected]
Assistant to the Rector for Children’s Ministry
Catherine [email protected]
2019 Vestry Janet Mills, Senior Warden
Amy Gorman, Junior Warden
Phil HejlLinda Jensen
Chris CoxJulie Jenkins
Terry AndersonMike MurphyDensel White
Warren McDonald, Treasurer
9/4 Bible Study with Father Todd begins, 10:00 am
9/4 Confirmation Class begins, 7:00 pm
9/5 Thursday Night Bible Study begins, 6:30 in the Youth Room
9/8 Club 4-5, 12:30-2:00 pm in the Parish Hall
9/10 Bible Study with Father Lito begins, 12:30 pm
9/11 SAGES offsite at Daniel Stow Botanical Garden, 11:30 am
9/13 Buy Your Priest a Beer Night, 7:30 pm at Dream Chasers in Waxhaw
9/14 DOK Monthly meeting, 9:30 am
9/14 Altar Party training, 10:00-11:30 am
9/15 DOK new member installation, at 11:15 service
9/16 Bible Study with Deacon Eric begins, 7:15 pm *Whole Foods Community Room in Waverly
9/17 Centering Prayer, 1:45 pm in the Prayer Room
9/21 Men’s Monthly Fellowship Breakfast, 8:00 am in the Parish Hall
9/21 Knots of Love monthly meeting *Group meets on the third Saturday of each month
9/22 New session of StM 101 begins
9/24-28 StM WEEK OF SERVICE
September Calendar
10/19 Maggie's Market Holiday Craft Fair
10/20 Parish Fall Fellowship Picnic, 5:00 pm at Marvin Efird Park Barn BBQ, Line dancing, family fun & smores by the campfire
11/17 St. Margaret's Day Parish Cook out after the 11:15 service