In the words of our former Deacon, the Rev. Tom Duplessie, “Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!”!!! Bishop Thomas Brown celebrated Eucharist at both services on May 12 to a church full of joyful parishioners.

We enjoyed a robust week of worship, prayer and fellowship.

VESTRY HIGHLIGHTS – meeting March 10, 2024

• We received a detailed treasurer’s report to include first quarter income of $21,020.39 from our endowment funds.
• Elaine Bielenberg will begin selling Hannaford cards during coffee hour in the hopes it will boost our sales. We earn 5% of the value of the cards.
• A Building Use Policy (for outside groups) was approved.
• Kristen Burkholder shared her journey in the Diaconate process. She will likely complete most of her course work by September 2024 and will serve a 6-12 month internship at St. John Baptist, Thomaston.
• Voted to purchase a new computer for the office and also for the Parish Hall for running zoom and other media.
• Vestry Ministry Assignments/liaison were made as follows:

Outreach – Cindy Frost

Creation Care – Ruth Heffron

Music – Craig Watson

Hospitality – Kathy Sticht

Newcomers – Roy McAlpine

Education – Roy McAlpine

Altar Guild – Linda Parsloe

Communication – Chris Urick

Pastoral Care – Barbara Briggs+

• The commissioning of new vestry members will take place on Sunday, May 19 during the worship service.
• Barbara+ shared some recent and new strategies in the search for an organist or music director.

(for businesses affected by the January 2024 coastal storms)
 

The Outreach Committee continues to collect funds for this extremely important local initiative, and you can be part of our final gift to the City of Belfast by writing a check to St. Margaret’s with the words “Keep the Faith Fund” or “5th Sunday Plate Offering for March” in the memo line. Please put your donation in the pate offering during any church service in March, or drop it off to the church office. Many thanks to those of you who have so generously donated already!

Works by parishioners or from their personal collections are welcome.
Deadline for submissions is April 10, 2024. Contact Betsey Feeley (323-4191 or betseyfeeley@gmail.com) with questions or to confirm participation.
You can drop off your work in the office or the Parrish Hall.

Belfast/Searsport WindowDressers, serving Waldo County, is accepting orders now for window inserts. These low-cost inserts save you money on fuel bills, increase your home’s comfort, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Volunteer labor keeps the cost of inserts low and anyone needing help covering costs can get up to ten, pine inserts at no charge. Anyone interested in getting inserts this year is encouraged to sign up soon at https://windowdressers.org/sign-up-for-inserts/ . Anyone needing an older insert repaired can sign up online as well. There will be a “rewrapping” workshop in Searsport this October and the workshop to produce new inserts will take place in Belfast in November. Questions? Call (603)380-6266 or send an email to belfastwindowinserts@gmail.com .

St. Margaret’s will hold several services to mark Holy Week from Palm Sunday, March 24, through Easter on March 31.

Worshippers are asked to gather in the church parish hall, 95 Court St., by 9:45 a.m. on Sunday March 24 to receive palm fronds and participate in an opening prayer.  They will then be led outside by the Rev. Barbara Briggs for a short procession into the church for the service, which will include a dramatic reading of The Passion. 

Maundy Thursday, March 28, will be observed with an informal Middle Eastern meal at 6 p.m. in St. Margaret’s parish house, 95 Court St.  Participants are asked to bring a simple item such as nuts, hummus, dried fruit or pita bread to share at the Agape dinner.  The meal will be followed by Eucharist and optional foot-washing, symbolic of  Christ’s servanthood in washing the feet of his disciples, and a brief service in the church for the Stripping of the Altar and start of the Easter Vigil.

Good Friday’s service at St. Margaret’s will be at 6 p.m. to accommodate those who are employed during the day.

St. Margaret’s will join with other Mid-coast Episcopal churches on Saturday March 30 for an Easter Vigil service and celebration at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church in Thomaston at 7 p.m. The sermon will be delivered by the Rev. Paul Briggs, Interim Rector of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Camden.

Easter Sunday, March 31, will be celebrated at St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church at two festive services at 8 and 9:45 a.m.  This will mark the return of two Sunday morning services that will continue every week until November.