Journey with Us Through Holy Week!

Palm Sunday (3/28/2021): Procession of Palms begins on Hoopes Court at 8AM and 10 AM.*

Holy Monday (3/29/2021): Evening Prayer Service at 7PM.
Holy Tuesday (3/30/2021): Vespers Service at 7PM with Carol Weisel and Linda Gibeck.

Holy Wednesday (3/31/2021): 10 AM Eucharist Service.

Maundy Thursday (4/1/2021): –7:00 PM, service with music. Stripping of the Altar to follow, as we mark the way Christ’s garments were stripped from him before the crucifixion.

The Night Watch begins after the Stripping of the Altar. To participate, call the church office at 410-287-5522. Watches are in 1 hour increments, feel welcome to sign up for more than 1 hour.

Good Friday (4/2/2021): 12PM Good Friday Service with music (no Eucharist).

Easter Sunday (4/4/2021):
Sunrise service at the river, 6:30 AM Eucharist. Music by Rick Waterhouse. Chairs provided.
8 AM & 10 AM Eucharist service with music by Joel Alarcon, Alex Bi and the virtual choir.*

*Reservations are required for these in-person 8 AM & 10 AM services.

Live stream is offered for all in-person services

We are eager for the first year’s bloom of crocus in our newly established Thompson Memorial Crocus Lawn! Last fall, we planted 10,000 crocus bulbs in our historic churchyard.

Some observant eyes spotted crocus blooming close to the bell tower’s left side, and a handful near the Balog family’s gravesite. Others have appeared smack in the middle of the graveyard about halfway between the Vestry house and the gravel drive.

Please realize that first year bulbs typically bloom after more established ones, so it may take a few more days of warmth and sunshine before more emerge. Right now, the blossoms are quite delicate and sporadic but in subsequent years the crocus bulbs will multiply, so the springtime display of blossoms will be quite spectacular!

Patience is a virtue…especially in gardening!

Our Virtual Choir sounds amazing!

We heard so many positive comments about last week’s version of “Holy, Holy, Holy” we thought you might like to hear it again!

We encourage you to listen to this beautiful hymn and visit our YouTube channel to hear more from our Virtual Choir. Each Sunday we play their newest hymn during our Offertory and then embed it in our weekly recorded Sunday Services.

Alex Bi, their talented Choir Director, is the creative, musical genius who began the Virtual Choir early in the pandemic. The choir members sing from the comfort of their homes and send in their recordings to Alex. He mixes their voices together, orchestrates and arranges the background music, and we benefit from this harmonious effort.

We all miss singing in church, but the committed and talented work of this group is a lovely and unique alternative for us during this time. We think this group deserves a standing ovation!

Carol Weisel, Elizabeth Torregrossa, Rick Waterhouse, Amanda Summers Marr, Barbro & Wayne Pollock

Dawn Rodenbaugh, Donna Boyd, Mary Neureither,Joy & Ron Himmel, Judy Coudon and Alex Bi!

If you want to join in, Alex or Carol Weisel will guide you through the easy process. You can call in the church office and submit your name for more details (410-287-5522).

Rick Waterhouse!

For a number of years, 8AM parishioner, Rick Waterhouse, played the guitar and sang a Communion song during our 8:00 Sunday morning worship services. This Lenten Season, Rick is once again sharing his talent with the parish.

Last week he played, sang and recorded, “Get Behind Me Satan” and this week sings, “Acceptable in Your Sight”. You can hear his original music on our recorded Sunday services.

 

We anticipate a glorious Easter celebration in our sanctuary this year, so our Flower Committee is starting to plan their altar and church flower decorations.

At this time, we seek donations to help offset the costs of flowers and materials.

The  Easter flower envelopes are now in the church. If you do not have an envelope and wish to donate, you may donate online or mail a check in any amount made payable to St. Mary Anne’s and marked “Easter Flowers”.

Be sure to include the name(s) of those you would like to remember, honor or for whom you are thankful. In order to have names included in the Easter bulletin, please respond by Monday, March 29.

 

We are happy to report that the COVID positivity rate in Maryland is in decline thanks to a combination of vaccines and safe protocols.

Although the Cecil County Health Department allows up to 50% capacity in churches at this time, we continue to maintain caution and limit our attendance. However, our current limit will now increase to 30 at each service, and we hope by Easter to revise this limit assuming numbers continue to improve.

Be assured, we intend to continue with our safe protocols for the foreseeable future. Those protocols include masks, hand sanitizers and social distancing. We also have the HVAC air purification system in place. We work to keep our worship safe for you and your family.

To make a reservation, contact our church office at 410-287-5522 or office@stmaryanne.org. As we have found over these past few months, some forget to make a reservation. We encourage reservations but do not want you to miss church if you plan to attend.