WE WELCOME THE REV. ALLAN MCCASLIN THIS SUNDAY: Please help us welcome The Rev. Allan McCaslin, rector of Holy Cross, Valle Crucis, as he celebrates and preaches at both services with us this Sunday.
FROM BISHOP JOSE MCGLOUGHLIN: I am thrilled to announce a very special evening event with our Presiding Bishop, The Most Rev. Michael Curry. On Wednesday, June 26 at 6 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church in Asheville, I will host and facilitate a conversation with Bishop Curry talking about his new book, The Power of Love.
The diocese is equally excited to collaborate and partner with Malaprop's Books, one of the only independent bookstores in Asheville. All tickets are available online through the Malaprop's website and include limited regular seating and a book with the purchase of a ticket. There will be a signing following the conversation.
I hope as many of you who can will join me for this wonderful gathering. I'm confident you will find your hearts renewed and will be inspired to follow the Way of Jesus and to act as ambassadors of His love.
GOOD FRIDAY OFFERING: On Good Friday, offerings are invited from across The Episcopal Church to support the four dioceses in the Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East. Funds are used to promote peace and mutual understanding through pastoral care, health care, and educational programs throughout the region. Please make your check out to St. Mary of the Hills and write Good Friday Offering on the memo line of your check. Thank you.
PRESBYTERIAN EPISCOPAL CAMPUS MINISTRY (PECM)-Our local churches support the campus ministry at ASU by providing meals for the Tuesday evening meetings. Gigi Poole is coordinating the meal for March 19. We need a coordinator for April 9. Please contact the church office to help. We need cooks and several people to deliver the meal to Third Place in Boone.
CHURCH LOST AND FOUND: Come one, come all! We place all lost items in the first closet on the left as you enter the foyer. Please check and see if any of these items (including glasses!) belong to you. If the items have not been claimed before April 1, they will be donated.
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN (ECW): Andy Sicard will do a program called The Many Hats of a Park Ranger on Tuesday April 2. The meeting will start at 6:00 pm with a spring pot luck supper; the program will start shortly after. It should be a lot of fun! Please come out and join us. Men are welcome too.
RISE AGAINST HUNGER: Save the Date: APRIL 7th! We will join with members of Rumple Presbyterian and Faith Bridge United Methodist Churches and the ASU Campus Ministry students to Rise Against Hunger (formerly known as Stop Hunger Now). We will package 15,000 meals to send to help feed people who are hungry. The event will begin at 3:00 pm at Blowing Rock School. Come join the fun and fellowship with some of our sisters and brothers in Christ and help feed the hungry.
BAGS OF HOPE: The Outreach Committee will resume the in-gathering of non-perishable foods for Bags of Hope. These contributions for the remainder of February and March will be for the Hunger and Health Coalition. You may find the bags with the grocery lists attached in the Foyer. Please return to the Foyer.
A SIMPLE GESTURE
Sharing Food in our Community
1 in 4 Children in the North Carolina High Country do not get enough to eat on a regular basis. Sadly, Watauga County has been designated the 3rd poorest county in our state. Many children and families have to choose between medicine, meals, or putting gas in the car. Is there a way for the citizens of the High Country to become a key source of food for its neediest? We think so!
A SIMPLE GESTURE is a door-to-door food collection program that helps to provide a steady supply of food for the neediest people in our region. It can provide thousands of meals, allowing our food banks to think strategically about ending the cycle of hunger.
Here’s how it works:
SIGN UP on the Hunger and Health Coalition website (HungerandHealthCoalition.com) to receive a green recyclable grocery bag, which we will deliver to your home, school, church, or business.
SHOP – Each week when you go shopping, buy one extra non-perishable food item and bring it home and put it in your green bag. A colorful tag on the bag will provide a list of the most needed items, such as oatmeal, canned veggies, and peanut butter.
THEY PICK UP – On a designated day every other month, a volunteer will pick up the bag, leave another one in its place, and take the filled one to the Hunger and Health Coalition food pantry. Email reminders will be sent prior to pick-up dates. If you live outside Watauga County or in a remote area where pickup will not be practical, you may bring your bag to St. Mary’s where we will arrange for your bag to be picked up.
THE 61ST TOUR OF HOMES IS ON ITS WAY!
Dear Church Family Members,
This invitation will be going out next month, so here is a preview. Please plan on joining us for a fun evening in an unusual setting. Who doesn’t like cars? There will be a cap of 250 attendees, so feel free to buy your “tickets” as early as possible. See office staff at St. Mary’s to secure your place.
Best regards,
Ron and Radie Armstrong, Tour chairs
St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Parish Annual Tour of Homes, 2019
OPENING DOORS FOR 61 YEARS
A Gala Event, Gearing Up for the 2019 Tour of Homes, will be held on
Thursday, July 11, 5:30-8:30 pm
The Chip and Monica Perry “Car Barn” at 298 Cone Road, Blowing Rock
Dress: cocktail, or vintage era attire, or automobile togs
Tickets: $75 per person, payable in advance through St. Mary’s office
Come, celebrate summer with a Carolina menu of special hors d’ oeuvres and libations, shag dancing (among others), live auction, silent auction, and entertainment by local artists. This charity event provides 100% of its proceeds through grants and monetary awards to area charities, human service programs, schools and job training. Please come, visit with friends, have a great time among a fine automobile collection, and be prepared to give generously to this long-established fundraiser.
PLEASE SAY “YES”!
The annual Tour Homes will need lots of volunteers to bake, price Timeless Treasure donations, make flower arrangements, man the sales tents, sell tickets, make and serve lunches, greet and assist guests at drop off points, transport guests to homes, haul bags of refuse and take down tents. If you are called to help, please say, “Yes” or just volunteer! The Lord loves a cheerful giver. Your time and energy are most needed and welcomed to make this Outreach fundraiser a big success.
Radie Armstrong
TIMELESS TREASURERS! We will begin picking up your items for donation this month, until the rooms for storage at the church are assigned. Just call Patty Patella or Gale Buchanan if you want to contribute early. Thank you to all who have already donated!
Patty (828) 719-8409 or Gale (828) 265-6791
*March 20, 27, and April 3, 10- 6:00 PM-Stations of the Cross and
6:30 PM-Soup supper and a discussion of Richard Rohr's Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life (books available for purchase in the office for $15)
*March 24 at both services-Corey Kundert, director of Presbyterian Episcopal Campus Ministry (PECM), will be our guest preacher at both services.
*March 31-We say good-bye to Mtr. Linda, our Interim Rector
*April 7 beginning at 3:00 pm-RISE AGAINST HUNGER –Blowing Rock School
*April 14 8:00 am and 10:10 am -Palm Sunday-(with incense at 10:10 am service)
*April 18 7:00 pm-Maundy Thursday service with the Stripping of the Altar-(with Incense)
*April 18-19-Vigil before the Blessed Sacrament-Parish Hall-begins immediately following the Maundy Thursday service and ends with the procession of the Blessed Sacraments into the church at 12:00 pm on Friday
*April 19 12:00 pm-Good Friday service
*April 20 8:30 am-Holy Saturday service
*April 21 EASTER DAY-(with incense at both services)
6:30 am-The Great Vigil of Easter service
10:10 am-The Day of the Resurrection service
*April 28 11:30 am-Parish Clean-up day and picnic
THIS WEEK’S CALENDAR
Sunday, March 17-The Second Sunday in Lent- Rev. Allan McCaslin, Guest Priest
8:00 AM Holy Eucharist
10:10 AM Holy Eucharist
Coffee Minute follows the 10:10 AM service
Monday, March 18
8:30 AM Morning Prayer and Daily Word
5:30 PM Outreach Committee meeting-Barrett Room
6:30 PM AA and Al-anon meetings
Tuesday, March 19
8:30 AM Morning Prayer and Daily Word
10:10 AM Prayer Shawl gathering-Library
Wednesday, March 20
12:00 PM Noon Eucharist
6:00 PM Stations of the Cross and Soup Supper with book discussion
6:30 PM AA meeting
Thursday, March 21
8:30 AM Morning Prayer and Daily Word
5:30 PM Vestry Meeting-Parish Hall
5:30 PM Loss Beyond Loss meeting-St. Mary Room
Friday, March 22
8:30 AM-12:30 PM Office open
Saturday, March 23
Church and office closed
Sunday, March 24-The Third Sunday in Lent- Cory Kundert, Guest Preacher
8:00 AM Holy Eucharist
10:10 AM Holy Eucharist
Coffee Minute follows the 10:10 AM service