St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter Page 1 of 3

Tuesday Prayer and Healing Service now

in 20th Year Each Tuesday morning for the last twenty years, faithful parishioners have gathered for prayer, seeking peace and healing for themselves and others. Leadership is shared, and each meeting includes Scripture and a short devotion or thought provoking story focusing on peace and healing. . This lay-led group creates the prayer list used for Sunday Morning Prayers of the People, based on parish needs and requests. You are invited to join this steadfast group, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00, every Tuesday, for a quiet respite from the busyness of the day. At the end of the service the group often continues the fellowship at a local restaurant. You are invited to be a part of this ministry.

TIME FOR MERRY MARKET PLANS It’s time to begin thinking about Merry Market, our fall bazaar. We always need items to sell, and faithful workers never fail to come through with beautiful, clever, arty items, and always tasty baked goods. This is our big fundraiser for outreach. Last year was a banner year and all the proceeds went directly to needs in our community. The Monday crafty group will meet September 9, (delayed one week due to the Labor Day weekend). Join us for encouragement and good ideas for Merry Market projects.

SEPTEMBER CALENDAR OF EVENTS Every Tuesday Morning – Healing & Intercessory Prayer, 11:00 a.m. Sept. 1 – Fr. Dan Mannen, Preacher/Celebrant Sept. 7 – Men’s Breakfast, 9:00 a.m. Sept. 8 – Coffee and Contemplation following worship service Sept. 9 - Crafty Monday (Delayed one week due to Labor Day weekend) 10:30 a.m. Sept. 15 -Vestry Meeting, following morning worship - All Are Welcome! Sept. 15 – Celebration Brunch-Table on the Green, 11:45 Sept. 27– Articles for October Newsletter are due. See Phyllis Olson. FYI: Coffee and Contemplation - every other Sunday for four sessions, beginning Sept. 8

Sept. 2 - Samantha Parsons Sept. 20 - Bill Lindner Sept. 23 - Martha Ragland Sept. 25 - Connie Windham Sept. 28 - Elizabeth Ann Mannen Sept. 30 - Valerie Doolittle Sept. 30 – Phyllis Olson

Sept. 5 – Brenda and Bill Yarish Sept 17 – Ellen and Fr. Stephen Becker

Our friend, Koa Aina, now resides in Lenoir, NC, with grandparents, Rosalie and Jeff DeMarchi. He begins pre-school this month.

Saint Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church September 2019 Newsletter

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter Page 2 of 3

ST. MM HOSTS DIOCESAN COUNCIL

Dear Parishioners, St. MM hosted the monthly Diocesan Council meeting on August 22, 2019. The Rt. Rev. Sam Rodman, Bishop Diocesan, and The Rt. Rev. Anne Hodges-Copple, Bishop Suffragan, and twenty members of the council enjoyed Holy Eucharist together before convening in the gallery for the day’s business meeting. Many council members shared kind comments regarding how simple, homey and comfortable our church felt. We are grateful to the Diocese for such an honor to host the meeting. Thank you to all church members who contributed to the success of the meeting. It was a good day for St. MM.

Bob Rinaldi,Bob Rinaldi,Bob Rinaldi,Bob Rinaldi,

Diocesan Council MemberDiocesan Council MemberDiocesan Council MemberDiocesan Council Member

Fr. Moses pays St. MM a visit

On August 11, St. MM was honored by a visit from The Rev. Moses Matonya, our friend from Tanzania, along with Tally and Jessie. Jessie completed her mission trip to Tanzania in July. Sadly, Tally was unable to go this year due to health issues. We can look forward to Jessie’s report on the mission work including a presentation created by a professional videographer who went with her to Tanzania this summer.

MOVIE/PIZZA NIGHT WILL RESUME OCTOBER 17, 4:30 P.M. WE’LL DISCUSS OUR PROGRAM FOR THE COMING YEAR.

Reflections from your Vicar: A favorite verse that was assigned in one of our Gospel readings this past summer is the one where Jesus says, “Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom.”1 This verse is meaningful to me because people of faith in every generation have faced challenges that were fearful and overwhelming. But even if fear threatens to invade our hearts, we are given spiritual resources to overcome it. It has been said by some theologians that the command to“Fear not” was a major theme in the proclamation of the gospel,”2 and that’s because fear goes hand-in-hand with doubt, which is the opposite of faith. The Lord gave the prophet Isaiah words of comfort and faith when he addressed a troubled and disheartened generation as he proclaimed, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine.”3 Isaiah’s intimate way of speaking for God reminds me of how Jesus addresses his own disciples as he called them his “little flock.” It was personal, it was powerful and it was reassuring. So whether we are “…passing through the waters . . . or through the rivers . . . or through the fire”4 we are given promises from God that will strengthen us in fearful times. And in one way or another, those promises remind us that our heavenly “…Father has been pleased to give us the kingdom.”

1 Luke 12:32

2 Pope John Paul II is the among this group of theologians

3 Isaiah 43:1b

4 Isaiah 43:2

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter Page 3 of 3

Charlotte practices for the anthem

Ellen and Phyllis enjoy the coffee hour

Pete and Steve in the counting house, counting all the money (The queen was in the parlor, eating bread and honey….Oh, that’s another story!!!)

Kaelynn, Holden, and Niko We love our beautiful kids!!!

Lin and Bill Lindner

If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll wind up somewhere else. Yogi Berra As you get older three things happen. The first is your memory goes, and I can’t remember the other two. Sir Norman Wisdom When I was a boy the Dead Sea was only sick. George Burns Never argue with stupid people, they will drag you down to their level and then beat you with experience. Mark Twain

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church 1145 Seven Lakes Drive, Seven Lakes, NC

PO Address: Box 456, West End, NC 27376 Telephone: 910 673 3838

Website: http://stmm.dionc.org Email: stmarymag2@aol.com The Rev. Stephen Becker, Vicar Newsletter Editor: Phyllis Olson

A Mission of the Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina

Vestry Members Senior Warden –Kim Doolittle Junior Warden – Skip Ragland Brenda Yarish, Jim Grigerick, Jane Fisher, Pete Olson, and Bob Rinaldi Treasurer- David Poisson