In a day full of prayer and celebration, the Rt. Rev. Sean W. Rowe, bishop of Northwest Pennsylvania and bishop provisional of Western New York, was elected to be the 28th Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church. Click here to follow link to full article.
The much anticipated booklet on the history of our parish church, and in memory of Ron Whittle, our unofficial Historian, are now available! On Sunday they will be on the back table in the church and at the Annual Meeting. They will also be available in the office. A donation of $5 per copy is requested.
The Rev. Barbara Briggs will be formally installed as rector of St. Margaret’s by Maine Episcopal Bishop Thomas Brown at a service at the church on Sunday, May 8, at 3:30 p.m. All are invited, and a reception will follow.
Sunday, April 3: Barbara’s first Sunday! our new Rector will be celebrating Eucharist and preaching. Sunday, April 3: Women of St. Margaret’s meeting, 11AM Sunday, April 10: Palm Sunday – One service at 9:30AM Thursday, April 14: Maundy Thursday – Liturgy with Foot Washing, 7PM and Stripping of the Altar, 9PM Friday, April 15: Vigil at the Altar of Repose, 11AM (Sign up to participate for an hour) Friday, April 15: Good Friday liturgy, NOON Saturday, April 16: Easter Vigil at St Thomas Camden, Barbara Briggs Preaching (time TBA) Sunday, April 17: Easter Day, 8AM and 10:15AM services with coffee hour Sunday, April 24: COFFEE HOUR RESUMES EVERY WEEK BETWEEN THE SERVICES Sunday, May 8: Installation of our Rector with Bishop Thomas Brown, 3:30PM (followed by a reception) Sunday, May 15: Ministry Fair during coffee hour
In light of this week’s changed CDC guidelines regarding masking and the increasing rates of COVID transmission rates in Waldo County, the Vestry has affirmed the following changes to our protocol at St. Margaret’s:
We recommend that all people wear masks in church (those who have a leadership speaking role can remove their masks while performing their role).
We will maintain a list of those in attendance.
Why these changes? In a nutshell, this past week the Federal CDC began recommending that allpeople, both unvaccinated and vaccinated, wear masks in indoor settings where COVID transmission rates are “substantial” or “high.” Waldo County presently is classified as “substantial.” The Maine CDC is following the federal guidelines.
We encourage you to look at these two links for background information, which will help explain the rationale.
Our baptistry window, previously installed next to the last pew, has been restored and now hangs behind the font on full display from inside and outside of the sanctuary.
Maundy Thursday, April 1 at 7:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist/Spiritual Communion, concluding with the stripping of the altar.
Good Friday, April 2 at 7:00 p.m.The Good Friday Liturgy from the Prayer Book, including the reading of the Passion Narrative from the Gospel of John.
The Lighting of the New Fire, April 3 at 7:00 p.m.This will not be the full Easter Vigil, but simply the first part of the Vigil, including the lighting of the new fire and paschal candle, the chanting of the Exsultet, and the first proclamation of the Resurrection.
Easter Sunday, April 4 at 9:30 a.m.Holy Eucharist/Spiritual Communion with Baptism of Amber Marie Wagner (Jeanne’s granddaughter).
All St. Margaret’s services will be on zoom. The Lighting of the New Fire on Saturday evening will be done outside, weather permitting. If we are outside, all are welcome to attend in person, masked and physically distanced. If the weather does not permit, we will hold this indoors exclusively on zoom with only the several leaders present in person. We will announce the outside/inside decision in next Friday’s News from the Pews. Zoom links to all the St. Margaret’s services will appear in a special e-news edition next Wednesday, as well as next week’s News from the Pews.
The Vestry will soon appoint members of the church to serve on a Rector Discernment (Search) Committee. That committee will do the primary work and discernment necessary to enable the Vestry to fulfill its responsibility to call a priest who will bring the gifts and skills best suited to lead and serve us in our ministry in the future.
Please download and complete the attached form and return it to chruch office by November 6th.
