No – that is not a typo! Souper Bowl Sunday has long been a tradition at St. Margaret’s – one that lapsed in recent years, but is up for revival!
Before we go home from church to settle in at home to watch the game, or attend a Super Bowl party where we will enjoy a variety of dishes from chili to chicken wings to chips and dip, let us think about those whose homes have been ravaged by fire or war, or those who live locally and rely on our local Food Cupboards or the Soup Kitchen.
On February 9th a soup tureen will be on the table at the back of church and will be handed around during the Offertory for donations to the World Central Kitchen and the GBAM Food Cupboard.
We are decorating candles in adult forum this Sunday! (February 2). This Sunday is the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, aka known as Candlemas. At this time, we commemorate the presentation of Jesus and the purification of Mary in the Jerusalem Temple, as well as the occasion of Simeon and Anna meeting Jesus. By the 7th century, Candlemas included lighting and blessing candles, procession and singing the Nunc dimittis. We have plenty of candles, large and small, to decorate. If you have scissors to cut the colorful sheets of wax, please bring them. Emily will bring some extras.
“Chris is looking for folks who might be interested in leading the singing of the Psalm and Canticle during 9:45 morning prayer services. If you’ve never done it before, he can teach you and would be happy to work with you when your schedule allows to prepare you in advance. See Chris after any service he’s playing or reach out via email at [email protected] for more information.”
“Do you play an instrument and would like to help out during Sunday services every now and again (or more frequently)? Please reach out to Chris after any service he’s playing or reach out via email at [email protected] for more information.”
All undesignated checks and cash in the collection plate will be used for Outreach. The Outreach Committee appointed the GBAM Food Cupboard as recipient of our 5th Sunday collection.
Matt Markiewicz ([email protected], 603 832-4388) is St. Margaret’s representative on the Food Cupboard Board along with representatives from Unitarian Universalist Church of Belfast, First Baptist Church, Belfast United Methodist Church, River Sangha, Church of St. Francis, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, First Church, and Belfast Area Friends Meeting. Parishioners can volunteer to assist with distribution on the week that St. Margaret’s is scheduled (on a rotational basis). Please speak with Matt if you would like more information on the Food Cupboard.
If donating financially, please make checks payable to St. Margaret’s Church with “5th Sunday” or “Food Cupboard” in the memo line. We will continue to accept donations for the next few Sundays. Thank you! Your Outreach Team
To commemorate the Feastday of St. Francis, our annual blessing of the animals will take place outside the church on Sunday, October 6th at 11:15AM. Please bring your pet for this special blessing.
It has been such fun exploring so many different options for music leadership at St. Margaret’s, and we have finally made it official:
Chris Donley will serve as our director of music and our seasonal adult choir director. He will work with the liturgy team and the rector to shape our worship throughout the year and call together a choir for Advent and Christmas. He will also teach us how to sing the psalms! You all sing so wonderfully together for worship, and I am really looking forward to growing with you in song. Chris will be our principle organist, playing twice per month.
Davide Delano will serve as an assistant organist, playing at least one Sunday per month and accompanying the choir.
Ruth Gelsinger will also serve as an assistant organist, and will play at least one Sunday per month.
The Hymnal Lift Every Voice and Sing is a collection that was published in 1993 by the Church Hymnal Corporation as a supplement to The Hymnal 1982. It contains 234 hymns and songs, and thirty-six selections of service music for the Holy Eucharist. The music is drawn from the following genres: Negro spirituals, traditional and contemporary gospel songs, adapted Protestant hymns, missionary and evangelistic hymns, and service music and Mass settings in both traditional and gospel styles.
We currently own about fifteen copies, and we would like to purchase 50 more so that the entire congregation can have access to this wonderful and joyful collection of liturgical music. To do that, we need to raise $1,250.
If this is exciting to you, please make your donation by September 15 with LEVAS in the memo line of your check, and let’s get singing!
Diners and their guests attending St. Margaret’s Indian Potluck Supper Saturday, July 13, may find themselves confronted with new foods, new flavors, new spices, even new beverages. Organizers Chris Urick and Nan Cobbey promise to provide recipes for dozens of dishes — curries, chutneys, stir-fries, sweets, vegetarian fare, dals, rice preparations, but also some favorite Indian drinks — yogurt-based lassies and aromatic almond drinks. Email Chris for Aloo Gobi (a cauliflower dish), Shervedar Chukander (beetroot with onions and tomatoes), Cardamom Butter Chicken, and Chana Dal. Email Nan for Saag Paneer (a Spinach and cheese dish), Madhur Jaffrey’s Crusty Potatoes with Ginger and Garlic, Renu’s Lemon Rice with Peanuts and a Kerala-Style Red Shrimp Curry.For a more extensive list, explore the Food Network’s “46 Delicious Indian Recipes Everyone Should Master.” Here’s a link: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/photos/indian-recipes . That article explains how to make a yoghurt-based Lassi flavored with rosewater and spices, and a Thandai, a drink made from ground almonds, poppy seeds, cardamom, fennel, pepper, saffron and rose petals. The Indian potluck is open to all. Price of admission is a dish to share, Indian-themed or not. Dinner starts at 6 p.m. Come earlier if your dish needs to be reheated or arranged. Non-cooks are invited to bring along some ice cream or other purchased offering. We encourage you to invite a friend or neighbor to enjoy our hospitality.
