Dear Siblings in Christ,

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

This weekend promises to hold several sacred moments. On Saturday, we remember the faithful witness of Saint France of Assisi as we bless the animals who are companions to us and reminders of our capacity to love and be loved. We will dedicate our existing chapel to the North side of the church to Saint Frances and reveal holy icons and a holy relic of Saint Frances that have been donated to the prayer life of our church and community.

On Sunday, we get to gather with our brothers and sisters from Saint Mark’s and Saint Paul’s so that our shared worship is a reminder of our shared identity as disciples of Christ. World Communion Sunday is a shared practice that reminds us that we are part of one body with one mission under the banner of Christ Jesus. We may be drawn to different expressions of prayer, worship, and leadership, but they are all expressions of the same shared faith. I hope to see you on Saturday and Sunday on this joyful weekend. Rain or shine, this will be a blessed time for all of us.

Yours in Christ,

Robert+

Saturday, Oct. 3 at 9:30 a.m.:  Saint Francis Day liturgy for the Blessing of the Animals and Dedication of the Saint Francis Chapel

Oct. 4 at 8:00 a.m. The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost, and at 11:00 a.m. World Communion Sunday

Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God in thanksgiving for our 25th wedding anniversary by Tony Sciara and Jill Vargo.

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.) Altar Servers  – O. Goolsby, S. Bullock; Lectors – J. Leichte, M. Rippon; Ushers – the Hathcocks; Counters – K. Osteen-Cochrane, R. Frue(Vestry persons of the day)

8:00 a.m. 18th Sunday after Pentecost bulletin insert, 11:00 a.m. World Communion Sunday bulletin

Click here for our Seasonal Bulletin.

Adult Forum on October 4 and 11 at 9:30a.m. is about Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), a ministry approach that catalyzes local change and development by discovering and mobilizing existing internal strengths, relationships, and spiritual gifts that come together in effective ways when preparing for and addressing disasters, with guest facilitators.

Lectionary readings, Lectionary study resources

Compline - every Sunday at 7p.m.

Farris, Michelle, Linda, Richard, The Reed Family, Ken, Randi, April, Cynthia, Tom, Josh & Jennifer, Jamey, Colin, Keylani, Matt, Gus and Jean, Hayes, Derek, Melinda, all those deployed in harm’s way at this time, Arlene, Paul, Ryan, Taunya, Julie, Joanne and Family, Bryce and Family, Brian & Devon and Family, Margaret, Mary, Brendan, Bill & Debbie, Julia, Hanna, 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.

Donations of Goods:  Please check with the Rector or Sr. Warden before bringing donations of goods to the church outside of items requested by the church or a ministry of the church. We appreciate your generous hearts and need to be able to first consider our ability to use and honor your donations. 

Youth Group meets every Sunday evening from 5-7:30 p.m. More info is in the Youth Ministry section. 

Compline is every Sunday at 7:00 p.m. We welcome all interested in participating and in leading this meaningful service to complete the day. If you would like to lead, but are unfamiliar with the service, contact the Parish Administrator.  

This Saturday, October 3 at 9:30 a.m.! Blessing of the Animals and Dedication of the Saint Francis Chapel in observance of this feast day.  We will meet on the green and process to the chapel for the dedication and pet blessing.

Adult Forum on October 4 & 11 at 9:30 a.m. is about Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD), a ministry approach that catalyzes local change and development by discovering and mobilizing existing internal strengths, relationships, and spiritual gifts that come together in effective ways when preparing for and addressing disasters, with guest facilitators.

World Communion Sunday is this weekend, October 4 at 11:00 a.m. – We welcome our ecumenical brothers and sisters to worship with. There will NOT be a coffee hour after the 11am service. 

Support Crop Hunger Walk on site with hosting a hospitality stop on Sunday, Oct. 4, from 2:30-4:30 p.m.

Mercer Hall Painting Party, Saturday, Oct. 10, 4-6:00 p.m.! One of our Scouts is organizing 2 shifts to paint the walls of Mercer Hall on Saturday, Oct. 10.  Scouts will paint the first coat in the morning which will be dry and ready for the second coat at 4:00p.m. Please help us in our final stages of renovation to Mercer Hall.  The sign up form is on the white board in the chapel.

ECW’s next meeting is Oct. 20 at 6:30 p.m.  ECW meets every 3rd Tuesday.

Name Tags: The first batch of name tags has arrived; they can be found on the white board. Saint Mary’s name tags are available to members for a cost sharing portion of $7.00 each. Please print your first and last name, and preferred name on a sign-up slip.

Saint Mary’s “Merch”! Show your love for Saint Mary’s with merchandise with our shield on everything from water bottles to t-shirts, and everything in between. Visit: https://articlesofreligion.com/collections/st-marys-asheville 

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

Greetings,

This week I want to focus on the books we have in our lending library on Saint Francis of Assisi and Franciscan spirituality. This seems especially timely with his feast day coming up this weekend and the blessing of the animals on Saturday at the Church. Franciscan spirituality is a way of living a Gospel centered life through simplicity, humility, and a deep reverence for all creation. Francis focused a lot of his movement on the incarnation: believing that God chose to become human out of pure love to be close to creation, not a fix for human sin. Our lending library at the Missioner's Corner is full of books that can deepen our spirituality and our daily walk with Christ. Check out the treasure located there. 
--Brother John

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 their programs here. Also see the flyer highlighting their ministry of 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

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

Subscribe to the Diocesan Newsletter here.

Opportunities for Diocesan Ministry

Nominations are due by October 9:  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

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.