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Tim Burgess continues to regularly renew our St.

MM sign on Seven Lakes Drive. Thanks, Tim.

May Vestry Meeting Held via Zoom The following bylaw was adopted unanimously by the Vestry at the May 18th meeting: The Vestry of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church in accordance with NC Diocesan Canon 33.1 hereby incorporates the use of remote technology to facilitate the ability of the church to conduct monthly Vestry meetings during periods when it would jeopardize the health of members to meet in person. *** A virtual Morning Prayer was held May 24, followed by a virtual fellowship time with 31 in attendance. Bob Rinaldi served as Zoom facilitator. Due to its success, other such meeting will be planned. Watch for info via E-notes. The Vestry will explore possibilities for virtual meetings including Zoom worship time, Zoom Coffee Hour and a Zoom Bible study group.

JUNE CALENDAR OF EVENTS

Weekly prayer services continue via email and phone – See related article, page 2 June 15, 3:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting Via Zoom - (third Monday of each Month) - All Are Welcome! Contact Bob Rinaldi if you need instructions for joining the meeting. June 27– Articles for July Newsletter are due. Contact Phyllis Olson.

May 31st - Day of Pentecost.

Due to “Shelter in Place,” now called “Safer in Place” Phase 2, church

gatherings have been suspended until further notice.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY June 4 - Dodie Lynn June 10 - Jessie Mackay June 13 - Henry Fisher June 18 - John Sapp June 20 - Crystal Fravel June 27 - Bette Hanham

June – 10 – Phyllis and Jean-Charles Marion June – 16 – Teeny and Fred Thompson June – 23 – Carol and Tim Burgess

Saint Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church June 2020 Newsletter

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Military Mission in Action installs a ramp

for Christa Burgess Christa Burgess is home following an extended hospital stay plus a time in rehab. Using metal components, MMIA-Southern Pines, delivered and assembled the ramp in less than a day. MMIA generously provided the components and volunteer labor. However, donations to help replace ramps such as this one would be greatly appreciated. Cash donations can be sent to the Southern Pines office allowing them to purchase ramps to have on hand. Any donation will be appreciated, no matter how small. Contact: Carina Provencher Office Manager MMIA-Southern Pines Office: (910) 603-5999

HEALING SERVICE UPDATE

The Healing Service group continues to "meet", although in a very different manner. We try to continue to pray for the entire world as all people continue to grapple with the fallout from the global pandemic. One of the members suggested that we all try to set aside the eleven o'clock hour as the time we all pray from our individual spaces each morning and in this way we are all united in prayer. While it may not always fit all of our schedules to do so, many of us make a concerted effort to follow through with this suggestion and find comfort in knowing that others are doing the same. We also share information to be used updating the prayer list. This list is sent out via email on Monday evening or Tuesday morning for members to use during the week. While we miss seeing each

other in person, it truly is comforting to know that we are all doing our small part to continue the Healing Service tradition of St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church. We look forward to the day we can all greet each other with open hearts and arms in person! If you would like to receive the Healing Service prayer list please contact Valerie at ValerieDoolittle@gmail.com to be added to the email list. Also, if anyone would like to add a prayer request or make known good news and blessings, please contact Valerie.

Living to His Glory The choices before us as we face the disappointments and heartaches of social distancing can be positive or negative. Yet God has a plan to use everything that comes into our life, even our sorrows, to make something beautiful. Paul tells us in his letter to the Ephesians that we were created “to the praise of His glorious grace” (See Ephesians 1:6,12,14).

The purpose of God’s grace bestowed upon us “in the Beloved,” is not only meant to make us his children, but also reveal something of His beauty in us. Paul makes this point again when he wrote, “For we are God’s handiwork” (Ephesians 2:10). Therefore let us make a choice each day to live for his glory, no matter what comes our way.

Yours in Christ,

On a humorous note:

This past month our Church celebrated the feast of the Ascension. For those who wonder what that feast day is about: It’s the day when Jesus started to work from home.

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FILE PHOTOS

2014 Pete and Phil install our sign on Rte. 211

Healing service, 2015 Phyllis, Ardith, Carol and Dona

Fr. Moses, Tally and Jessie, August, 2019

Grace and Hollis, 2014

Bob Preparing for Coffee and Contemplation, 2014

Lindsay Douglass, 2008

Lindsay is a 2020 graduate of Pinecrest High School and will attend Appalachian State College in the fall. Congratulations, Lindsay. It’s been fun watching you grow.

SAFER IN PLACE, PHASE 2 “Safer in Place” has its limitations but also provides opportunities for creative, productive time. Andrea Schmidt is learning to play the harmonica, self-taught using an instruction booklet. She is also experimenting with new watercolor painting techniques. Dale built a foot bridge, named Pap’s Bridge, over a creek at their daughter’s home in Pinehurst.

Grandson, Giuseppe, on Pap’s Bridge

Connie Windham plays golf with her son, Matt, and spends time on Zoom, including a Yoga class. She’s baking lots of artisan bread, focaccia being the specialty. She’s also making French macarons, long on her bucket list. Barb Keiffer is playing tennis as often as possible and making necessary trips to Walmart. Linda and Bob Rinaldi have been doing spring planting and gardening. They can’t visit granddaughter Ella but stay connected via Zoom. Bob is reading lots of books and playing golf twice

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a week. Linda is being creative in the kitchen baking biscotti, cookies and cakes. Phil Cox is working in his office four days a week then traveling to their property in Charlotte where he gardens. He recently, while digging, discovered three boulders which he exposed to create an impressive rock garden. Lin is enjoying semi-retirement, relaxing and reading.

Phil’s rock garden Photo by daughter Amanda Fr. Bob Brown and Jean are in place at their senior residence, enjoying reading, long walks and Zooming with their daughter, Cynthia, who lives in Alabama. Christa Burgess is happily home from her hospital/ rehab stays, catching up on missed TV shows and enjoying her cats, Chablis, Riesling, and Mistoffelees.

TELL HIM SO If you hear a kind word spoken Of some worthy soul you know, It may fill his heart with sunshine

If you only tell him so.

If a deed, however humble, Helps you on your way to go,

Seek the one whose hand has helped you, Seek him out and tell him so!

If you heart is touched and tender

Toward a sinner, lost and low, It might help him to do better

If you’d only tell him so!

O, my sisters, oh, my brothers, As o’er life’s rough path you go,

If God’s love has saved and kept you, Do not fail to tell men so!

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The following humorous items were copied from the internet, no credit given: You only need two tools: WD-40, and duct tape. If it doesn’t move and it should, use WD-40. If it moves and shouldn’t, use the tape. Everyone seems normal until you get to know them. If you woke up breathing, congratulations! You have another chance!

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 –Skip Ragland Junior Warden – Bob Rinaldi Charlotte Kennedy, Jane Fisher, Pete Olson, Phyllis Marion and Julia Poisson Treasurer- David Poisson