Traditionally, parishioners and friends of St. Margaret’s have donated to the Christmas Flower Fund to memorialize a loved one, commemorate an occasion, or offer a thanksgiving. There are Christmas Flower offering envelopes on the back table, which you can place in the Sunday collection plate or mail it into the office, 95 Court St., Belfast, ME 04915. We’d like to receive your donations by Wednesday, December 21st (with clear instructions on how your gift should appear in our Christmas Eve leaflet. We look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus with you this Christmas, and together, remembering the true meaning of Christmas.
The November Knit-a-thon broke attendee records and much fun was had along with lots of knitting, food, chat and laughter. The impromptu fashion show at 5 PM showcased the knitters amazing talent and abilities. The fundraiser brought in $1,768 (and still counting), which will be shared between two of our local agencies that assist people with heating their homes: Waldo CAP Fuel Fund and the Waldo County Woodshed.
Many thanks to all who made it a delightful and tremendous success, and to St. Margaret’s for providing such a wonderful space!!!
Busy knittingQuilted afghan door prizeSara and Jilliann – the organizersSara models her latest knit dress at the impromptu fashion show
St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church invites you to the season of Advent and Christmas.
Advent Holy Eucharist at 9:30 in the church every Sunday.
Advent education series: Waiting with Expectation” Sessions begin at 10:30 in the parish hall. No prior knowledge is required.
Nov 27 The Annunciation With Deirdre Good and others
Dec 4 Waiting in the midst of suffering With Kristen Burkholder
Dec 11 The Visitation With Barbara Briggs
Dec 18 Signs of Hope St. Margaret’s
Christmas Eve Holy Eucharist with choir at 8:00PM in the church.Christmas Day “Come as you are” Holy Eucharist at 9:30 AM in the church. An all-request Christmas carol service you can attend in your pyjamas.
In a little village in the Burgundy region of France live some 100 monks from all over the world and from many different church traditions. In beginnings of ecumenism and the excitement people were feeling in the 1960s, young people began showing up at the monastery church wanting to pray and visit with the Taizé brothers. In order to make the prayers more accessible to their visitors, the brothers began composing simple texts, (inspired by the Bible), set to simple 4-part harmonies that could be chanted for minutes at time.
Since then, Christian communities all over the world have used their repertoire for prayer.
We are offering such an occasion tonight, Tuesday Nov 1st, at St. Margaret’s in Belfast, 95 Court St.
We are hosting Taize: this kind of praying together is marked by simple chants built from verses of Scripture, prayers, candle-light, icons, readings, and a period of silent prayer. It lasts just over a half hour.
6:15 PM Gather with Kristen in the sanctuary to learn the chants
7:00 PM Taize service
The church lights are somewhat dimmed. Candles burn by the altar. A beautiful icon is on the altar.
People enter in silence and sit quietly wherever they feel comfortable and then the singing begins. After a brief Bible passage is read, the people gathered sit in silence to reflect and pray. The prayer ends with more singing, and people are free to come and go at their leisure.
Come to this service regardless of where you’re at spiritually. You are welcome as you are.
Here is a taste of some of the kinds of simple chants we’ll be doing:
Join this community knitting group for a Knit-a-Thon on Saturday, November 12 from 8AM-8PM. All funds raised will go to the local Fuel Assistance Program. Potluck – bring a dish to share. Have your friends and family sponsor you as you knit, crochet or sew together.
A parish church is a unique kind of organization. It is not like other non-profit organizations and it is neither a private residence nor a business. It does, however, have rules for the conducting of business within it. Episcopalians call these guidelines the Constitution & Canons Together with The Rules of Order For the governance of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America otherwise known as The Episcopal Church. You can find these online at Constitution & Canons (generalconvention.org)
We are always learning from our faith about the difference between ownership and stewardship. From a faith perspective, we don’t own anything. All of it has been gifted to us by God. We are, in fact, more stewards than owners of everything we have. This is even more true of our beloved St. Margaret’s Church—its property and its buildings and all its physical contents. I have copied and reprinted here some of what our national canons say about this.
“Title I, Canon 7: Of Business Methods in Church Affairs Sec. 3. No Vestry, Trustee, or other Body, authorized by Civil or Canon law to hold, manage, or administer real property for any Parish, Mission, Congregation, or Institution, shall encumber or alienate the same or any part thereof without the written consent of the Bishop and Standing Committee of the Diocese of which the Parish, Mission, Congregation, or Institution is a part, except under such regulations as may be prescribed by Canon of the Diocese.
“Sec. 4. All real and personal property held by or for the benefit of any Parish, Mission or Congregation is held in trust for this Church and the Diocese thereof in which such Parish, Mission or Congregation is located. The existence of this trust, however, shall in no way limit the power and authority of the Parish, Mission or Congregation otherwise existing over such property so long as the particular Parish, Mission or Congregation remains a part of, and subject to, this Church and its Constitution and Canons.
“Title III, Canon 9, Section 6a part 2 2. For the purposes of the office and for the full and free discharge of all functions and duties pertaining thereto, the Rector or Priest-in-Charge shall at all times be entitled to the use and control of the Church and Parish buildings together with all appurtenances and furniture, and to access to all records and registers maintained by or on behalf of the congregation.”
What this means is that we are fully responsible for the well-being of both the congregation (people), and its physical property while having ownership of neither. One of the responsibilities of the rector is to ensure that we do this work together.
In other words, 1. we are to respect the dignity of every human being and, 2. nothing can be lent out, sold or given away without consultation with the rector, and for some things, without consultation with the vestry, and in other cases, without the permission of the bishop and standing committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine.
After a COVID hiatus, the women of St. Margaret’s are bringing back their traditional English high tea. The tea and bake sale will be held on Saturday, November 5 from 11-2 and all are welcome.
The parish house at 95 Court Street will be transformed into a charming English tea room for the event, with scones and cream, tarts, cucumber finger sandwiches, cake and a pots of steaming tea, all served on fine china.
The bake sale features tables laden with breads, pies, cakes, cookies, jams and jellies, while a Jewelry Boutique offers refurbished jewelry that is perfect to gift or keep for yourself. A silent auction offers a variety of items and gift certificates.Tickets are $15 for the tea and all proceeds will benefit community service organizations. FMI call St. Margaret’s office, 338-2412.
The Rev. Barbara Briggs and Fr. Nathan March joined together to bless pets from parishioners of St. Margaret’s and St. Francis of Assisi on October 4th, Feastday of St. Francis of Assisi.
The Rev. Canon Michael Ambler will be with us at both services to preach, and at a forum between services will talk about the work he is beginning in Laos. He says, “Laos is a gorgeous country of mountains and rivers, of orange robed monks and iridescent green rice paddies.
It’s also the most heavily bombed country in the history of the world. The bombs were ours: during the Vietnam War, we dropped nearly 300 million bombs on Laos. 30% of these failed to detonate, meaning that they’re still there. Teams of technicians work across the country finding bombs so that land can be used safely. I have started Restoration Laos to fund one team that would not otherwise have existed. One village at a time, one school yard at a time, we are at last bringing the Vietnam War to an end for the people of Laos.
You are invited: learn more, support the team, and if you like, come to Laos with me!” To learn more, visit www.restorationlaos.org, or come to the forum Sunday morning at 9:15.
Beginning in October, we invite you to join us at noon on the second Thursday of the month for a Celtic inspired time of Common Noonday Prayer. This service is gently connecting with God and all created beings, and provides space for scripture, poetry, music, prayers and reflection. It will not last longer than 30 minutes so that you can receive the gift of a prayerful pause in the midst of your daily round without burdening the rest of your day.
