Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Grace to you and Peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ!

We sit at the threshold of a number of exciting things picking back up at Saint Mary’s. Scouting picks back up its programming with the first event on September 1^st, Youth Programming is kicking off on September 13^th, Mercer Hall is nearing its completion, new forum discussions will be announced shortly, outreach ministry ideas are stirring, Compline is being offered with the intention of expanding, and I have a few more ideas about incorporating digital platforms into our ministry profile. Lots of things are going on here in our church. It seems entirely appropriate that we just had a joyful celebration of Saint Mary our identity with her this past Sunday. It was a joy to celebrate our life together this past week, and it is an even greater joy to look ahead at the vitality that is unfolding. This is indeed a beloved and faithful community through which we experience and share the Good News of God’s love with words, community, and experiences.

Yours in Christ!
Robert+

Dear Friends,

I am considering adding an additional digital service to our worship profile. One aspect of this consideration is stepping outside of the typical inclusion of a homily or sermon and instead responding to a question. If you have questions that have been stirring for you about church history, theology, Christian ethics, liturgy, or other aspects of church life or ministry, please send those to me by email. If this idea comes together, I will get more information out soon. In the meantime, sharing your questions with me will help me get to know you better, plan formation topics, instigate conversation, or help form a new way of holding worship. My email address is: robert@saintmarysavl.org. I look forward to hearing from you.

Robert+

The Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 23

Altar Flowers remind us of the beauty of God’s creation.

Mass Servers: (8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.) Celebrant  and Preacher – The Rev. Dr. Robert Wetherington, Deacon – The Rev. Anthony Sgro, Ed.D. (11:00 a.m.) Servers – A. Bynum, A. Maynor; Lectors – S. Parker, T. Sawallisch; Ushers – the Bynums; Hospitality –; Counters – P. Presley, R. Hathcock (Vestry persons of the day)

Click here for this week's Bulletin Insert.

Click here for our seasonal Service Bulletin.

Lectionary readings, Lectionary study resources

Compline is now offered every other Sunday at 7pm. The next date is Aug. 30. If you are interested in leading this lovely service on an alternate Sunday, please let Fr. Robert know.

Special Musical Offering on September 6, both for the 11am service and a special 4pm Evensong: A quartet from Gallus Camerata will join us to offer sung liturgies in honor of The Blessed Virgin Mary with pieces selected to reflect the sanctity of the parish namesake and to celebrate the upcoming Feast of the Nativity of Mary. There is a sign up to contribute to the reception after Evensong. Flyers can be found HERE.

But Who Do You Say That I Am?, Jen Norton, Fine Art America (https://fineartamerica.com/featured/but-who-do-you-say-that-i-am-jen-norton.html)

Jamey, Colin, Keylani, Matt, Will, Anthony, Gus and Jean, Hayes, Derek, Tom, Melinda, all those deployed in harm’s way at this time, Paul, Ryan, Taunya, Julie, Joanne and Family, Bryce and Family, Brian & Devon and Family, Margaret, Mary, Brendan, Bill & Debbie, Julia, Hanna, Gigi, Huston, Sam, Kent, Andrew and Family,  Jane, David, Carol, George, Susan, Kevin, Linda, Mike, Kathy, Gideon, Maurice, Edith, Taylor, Karl, Florence, Stephen, Ellen, Trish, Diann, Nellie, Sharon, Susan, Nicki, Sandy

Prayer for Bishop Search:  Almighty God, giver of every good gift: send forth your light and your truth, that they may lead us in discerning who we are as Christ's church now, and who God is calling us to be in our next season of shared ministry; so guide the hearts and minds of those who shall choose a bishop for this diocese, that we may receive a faithful shepherd, who will care for your people and equip us for our ministries; through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Kitchen Angel Request:  If anyone has left dishes in the kitchen, please take them home with you by Sept. 6 or they will be donated.

Compline is now offered every other Sunday at 7pm. The next date is Aug. 30 for this peaceful and meaningful service. If you would like to lead it on an alternate Sunday, please let Fr. Robert know.

Special Musical Offering on September 6, both for the 11am service and a special 4pm Evensong: A quartet from Gallus Camerata will join us to offer sung liturgies in honor of The Blessed Virgin Mary with pieces selected to reflect the sanctity of the parish namesake and to celebrate the upcoming Feast of the Nativity of Mary. There is a sign up to contribute to the reception after Evensong. 

ECW meets every 3rd Tuesday. The next meeting is September 15 at 6:30pm.

Out of Office Notice: The Parish Admin will be out of the office 8/24-9/7. Volunteers will be in the office a few hours daily.

Intercession List: If you would like to add someone to our prayer list during the next two weeks, please email Fr. Robert (robert@saintmarysavl.org) so that he may include the names at the next service. The names will be printed in the bulletin/inserts after 9/7.

Updates to our website (saintmarysavl.org) include a printable monthly calendar and a link to the newsletters. 

The Landscape Survey is now launched and ready for you. Please use the button below to take the survey. Your responses will help us discern who we are and the qualities we hope for in our next Bishop. We want to hear from as many people from our diocese as possible and we are grateful for your feedback and time. 

If you have any questions, please email BishopSearch@diocesewnc.org.

The Bishop Search Committee

We are excited about our EYC kick-off on September 13 at 6pm! 

We are looking forward to a new year of weekly meal and fellowship gatherings, occasional outings, and service-learning projects. If you would like to volunteer, have an event our youth and families might be interested in, questions or ideas, email me! colin@saintmarysavl.org

Colin Rice

Ministry of Hope

The MINISTRY OF HOPE serves women at the Western Correctional Center for Women - they are mothers, daughters, sisters, family, & community members. Learn more about what they do and how you can help HERE. Also see flyers highlighting ministries of spiritual companionship and spiritual parenting education. 

Opportunities for Diocesan Ministry

In preparation for our Diocesan Convention, the Nominating Committee of the Diocese of WNC hopes to be able to present a full slate of nominees for open positions on Diocesan Committees. Please see the list of openings and a brief description for each committee HERE.  If you have interest or questions, please contact Jonathan Stepp, Nominating Committee Chair at jonathanstepp7@gmail.com, or any member of the committee: Jim Bowden, St. Peterby-by-the-Lake/Denver; Christine Longoria-All Souls/Asheville; Bill Hasskamp-St. James /Black Mtn; Perry Hildreth - Holy Communion/Ashe Co.; Joslyn Schaefer - Grace/Waynesville

Asheville Buncombe Community Christian Ministry (ABCCM)

ABCCM has many ways you can help to provide individuals an opportunity to grow, mature and express their faith through fellowship and service for the joy set before us in Christ.  You can learn more  HERE.  ABCCM operates seven ministries that provide emergency needs and longer term efforts to help individuals heal and be restored. You can be a part of this. CLICK HERE 

Each One Teach One Through Food, Inc. (E1T1)

Click the button to see what is happening in our community of faith of Western North Carolina.

Subscribe to the Diocesan Newsletter here.

Bishop Transition Webpage

Opportunities for Diocesan Ministry

In preparation for our Diocesan Convention, the Nominating Committee of the Diocese of WNC hopes to be able to present a full slate of nominees for open positions on Diocesan Committees. Please see the list of openings and a brief description for each committee HERE.  If you have interest or questions, please contact Jonathan Stepp, Nominating Committee Chair at jonathanstepp7@gmail.com, or any member of the committee: Jim Bowden, St. Peterby-by-the-Lake/Denver; Christine Longoria-All Souls/Asheville; Bill Hasskamp-St. James /Black Mtn; Perry Hildreth - Holy Communion/Ashe Co.; Joslyn Schaefer - Grace/Waynesville

Young at Heart Camp, August 25-27

Also don't miss the Sunset Paddling Tours, Fridays 6-8pm and Snorkeling Tours, Saturdays 1-3pm from June through mid-September. 

Learn more about The Episcopal Church

The Episcopal Church mission and ministry priorities rise from the work done at General Convention. See the depth and breadth of the work in which our church is involved HERE.

Episcopal News Service shares stories of faith lived and prayers offered.

The EPISCOPAL PUBLIC POLICY NETWORK (EPPN) is a grassroots effort of The Episcopal Church’s Office of Government Relations to educate, equip and engage individual Episcopalians in federal public policy advocacy, guided by the resolutions of the General Convention and the Executive Council.