Sunday, November 3^rd is All Saints Sunday, a great feast day in the life of the Church. We will celebrate All Saints at both of the morning Eucharists, and we will baptize two individuals into the life of Christ at the 10:10 liturgy. 

 

In the afternoon, a Solemn Choral Evensong for All Souls will be offered, with music led by our choir. At this service, we will read the names of our beloved family and friends who have died in the past year.

 

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St. Mary of the Hills Episcopal Church, Blowing Rock, will celebrate All Souls’ Day at 3 pm on Sunday, November 3rd, with Choral Evensong. All Souls’ is one of the most beautiful services of the church year, and commemorates all those who have died, especially those in the past year.

 

Music for this Evensong features The Communion of Saints by Edwards, plainsong Magnificat and Nunc dimittis and three of the most beautiful movements (Introit, Kyrie, and In Paradisum) of Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem - one of the most remarkably spiritual works of music in existence. Completed in 1947, the Requiem was dedicated by the composer to the memory of his father. In Duruflé’s own words, ‘This Requiem is not an ethereal work which sings detached from worldly anxiety. It reflects, in the unchangeable form of Christian prayer, the anguish of man facing the mystery of his last ending…[and in the] In Paradisum, the ultimate response of faith to all the questions, with the flight of the soul toward Paradise.’

 

Guest organist for this service will be Dr. Joby Bell, popular throughout the High Country for the breadth and virtuosity of his performances. The choir of St. Mary of the Hills sings Evensong monthly except in the winter months and, under the direction of Music Director Dr. James Bumgardner, has frequently studied with the most-acclaimed conductors of Anglican choral music in the U.K. Everyone is truly welcome; come and remember “Those we love, but see no more.”

 

For more information on services, events, or musical happenings, please call the church office at (828) 295-7323, or follow us on Facebook @ StMaryoftheHillsEpiscopalChurch or MusicfromStMaryoftheHills.

 

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Would you like to give back to your community but don’t have extra volunteer hours in your day?  The Bread of Life Program consists of five teams that prepare ONE MEAL a month for the folks at Hospitality House (our local homeless shelter).  Currently, we have teams preparing meals on the Fourth Sunday, the First Sunday, the Fourth Tuesday, the Second Tuesday and the Second Thursday. You would work with another volunteer to help prepare either a veggie or salad or main course and bring to Hospitality House for dinner.   If this sounds doable for you and/or your partner, please email Susie Morgan at morgansb@appstate.edu.

 

 

All Saints Day and All Souls Day are marked by the Church each year on November 1^st and 2^nd, to remember and pray for all those who have died. Among those remembered are the great and lauded ones of our faith tradition, the ordinary and sometimes forgotten, and our beloved family and friends. Join us on Sunday morning at 9:00 in the Barrett Room for a conversation about all the saints of God.

 

 

Emily Arbour and Jacob Smith, two of our choir scholars, will be performing in the Appalachian Opera Theatre’s production of Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II on November 8 at 8:00 pm and November 10 at 2:00 pm in the Rosen concert Hall. Chip Myers is the narrator. This will be a fun concert-style version of this popular German Opera with a very talented cast and orchestra. The cost is $10 for adults.

 

 

It’s Winter Foyer Group Sign-up Time! The groups of 8 traditionally meet monthly January-April at each other’s houses for a very simple meal, but the format can be whatever you choose.  Be creative! Winter months can be a challenge, so you can meet for dinner, lunch, brunch, etc.  This is the very best way to get to know your fellow parishioners and often form lasting friendships.  Sign-up sheets are available in the Foyer and Parish Hall.  Assignments will be sent by email.  For questions, contact Charlene Barham at 828-295-8536.

 

 

For the month of November, we are collecting groceries for the Hunger and Health Coalition. Please pick-up a paper grocery bag with a list of needed groceries stapled to it from the foyer.  Fill the bag with the needed items on the list and return the bag to the foyer.  All the bags will then be delivered to the Hunger and Health Coalition. 

 

 

 

Is there an important person or a significant event happening in your life? Is there an upcoming birthday or anniversary you would like to honor? Sponsoring the flowers placed at the altar each week is a great way to offer thanks for life’s many gifts. Many dates are still available for 2019 as well as into 2020. Please contact Greta Wilson in the parish office for more information and available dates. 

 

 

As we share in the ministry of Christ’s body throughout Western North Carolina, consider serving in the leadership of our Diocese. Nominations are presently being accepted for Executive Council, Standing Committee, General Convention Deputies, Trustees of the Diocese, and Trustees of the University of the South. You may nominate yourself or someone else – more information is available at https://www.diocesewnc.org/convention-nominations. These are exciting ways to connect with our siblings in the broader Episcopal Church. 

 

  CALENDAR

 

Sunday, November 3 – All Saints’ Sunday

8:00  AM Holy Eucharist

9:00  AM Rector’s Forum 

10:10 AM Holy Eucharist and Holy Baptism (with Incense)

3:00  PM Solemn Choral Evensong for All Souls

(with Incense)

 

Monday, November 4

8:30 AM  Morning Prayer and Daily Word

6:30 PM   AA Meeting-Parish Hall

 

Tuesday, November 5

 8:30 AM  Morning Prayer and Daily Word

10:00 AM  Prayer Shawl Gathering-Library 

 

Wednesday, November 6

 8:30 AM  Morning Prayer and Daily Word

12:00 PM  Noon Eucharist

12:30 PM  Chinese Art Class with Sue Wilders-Barrett Room

 6:00 PM  Support Mtg.-Library

 6:30 PM  AA Meeting-Parish Hall

 

Thursday, November 7

8:30 AM  Morning Prayer and Daily Word

6:30 PM  AA Meeting-Parish Hall

 

Friday, November 8

Office closed for Diocesan Convention

8:30 AM  Morning Prayer

 

Saturday, November 9

Office closed

 

Sunday, November 10 – Twenty-second Sunday after Pentecost

8:00  AM Holy Eucharist

9:00  AM Rector’s Forum 

10:10 AM Holy Eucharist 

 

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*November 1-All Saints’ Day

*November 2-All Souls’ Day-Commemoration of All Faithful Departed

*November 3-All Saints’ Sunday Services

                          8:00 AM Holy Eucharist

                         10:10 AM(Holy Eucharist & Baptism with Incense)

*November 3-at 3:00 pm-Solemn Choral Evensong in observance of

All Souls (with Incense)

*November 8-Office closed for Diocesan Convention which runs

through *November 9

*November 28-Thanksgiving Day Eucharist—11:00 AM

*November 29-Church and office closed