Rooted in the past, reaching for the future
Wow…What a weekend!
Yesterday’s Old Fashioned Picnic at Coudon Farm had well over 150 attendees and was lots of fun! Good food, face painting, pony rides, an animal petting zoo, a pie table, ice cream and best of all, terrific fellowship! Thank you to the entire Coudon family for this parish gift!
And today! A baptism at 8:00AM! The Altar Guild blessing! Sunday School registration! And…Sundae Sunday to top it all off! Wow!
Promise in Sight is in urgent need of donations of large suitcases for carrying medical equipment to Nicaragua for the January 2017 medical brigade. Promise in Sight is an organization of volunteer eye care professionals that makes an annual trip to Nicaragua to provide vision care and surgeries procedures to those who do not have access to vision care. Our mission committee has donated funds on behalf of the church; and several parishioners have participated with this organization, and have generously donated used eyeglasses and suitcases in the past. Suitcases can be left in the Parish Hallway, near the bench. Thanks!
The ECW has a number of fun activities planned for this fall. Save the following dates!
Fall Planning Meeting: September 24th at 9:00AM in the Parish House.
Women’s Retreat: Saturday, November 12th; 9:30-7:00PM; details to follow–stay tuned!
ECW Annual Soup Dinner: Tuesday, November 29th, 6PM
Christmas Cookie Walk: Saturday, December 8th, 10AM; details to follow!
Have you ever wondered what journey God has planned for your life and whether you are on the right path? This is the question that Education for Ministry (EfM) is meant to assist in answering.
Each year there is reading on a piece of our tradition, i.e. the Old testament, the New Testament; Church History & the Church Today. EfM also brings people together in Christian community and love which is unique in our family. Biblical principles are brought into our lives and culture today, and through Reflection, our past, present and future as God’s Children are examined.
EfM is a program developed and administered through the University of the South at Swanee, Tennessee. While there is a cost to the program, St. Mary Anne’s has always believed that money should not be an impediment to participating in the program. Scholarships are available for anyone interested in being part of a very special program.
St. Mary Anne’s EfM group is set to begin on October 6th at 6:30PM in the Vestry House.
With the start of the new school year, SMA turns its focus to a new school year of Christian Education for both children and adults. We call it “Formation” and have “Adult”, “Child” and “Youth Formation” programs. Part of this formation programming involves Confirmation lessons for both young and mature adults.
Confirmation is a mature public affirmation of faith and a commitment to the responsibilities of Baptism. According to our faith we believe that in the course of Christian development, those baptized at an early age are expected, when they are “ready and prepared”, to make a mature public affirmation of their faith and a commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptism. This affirmation and commitment is made in front of the bishop; during which, they receive a laying on of hands. Many young adults participate in Confirmation, but adults of any age are also encouraged to participate.
So how does one get “ready and prepared”? We have study materials and also provide mentors to help. The next Confirmation, in front of our new Bishop, will be scheduled for early next year. If you are interested, please notify Fr. John.
