We are having a Mercer Hall Painting Party, this Saturday, October 10, from 4-6:00p.m.!

We are in our final stages of the Mercer Hall renovation and can use your help putting the final coat of paint on the walls.  

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.

 Icons come to us from the eastern branch of Christianity. They are not viewed as  paintings, but rather are considered windows into heaven.  The holy person depicted in the icon reflects the presence and light of God. 

Icons are created using an ancient technique of layering paint from darks to lights so the image of the holy person emerges and light of God shines to us from within the person depicted.  Many hours are required to create an icon since the layering of paint needs time to dry and new lighter shades of color are added.  Icons are considered to be written because they are seen as a visual expression of the good news of the Lord Jesus. 

A reliquary icon has been created and donated to our new St. Francis Chapel.  The icon is mounted on the brick wall and is of Saint Francis of Assisi.  

In the right bottom corner of the icon is a small circular container called a reliquary.  The reliquary contains a small relic of Saint Francis. Our relic was distributed from a special division of The Vatican and presented to a Franciscan Mission in Ohio in the 1950's. The relic was given to St. Mary's Church this spring by the Sisters of Saint Clare's Monastery in Cincinnati Ohio.  Our office holds the official certificate of authenticity issued by the Vatican for this relic.  

The placement of the remains of a saint in a church goes back to the early Christian movement. The early followers of Jesus placed tiny remains of a holy person that had died in their worship areas (Usually embedded in the altar or a sacred image) as a way of remembering the person and as a way of inspiring the faithful to persevere and strive to follow the way of Jesus. Relics of the saints can be found in Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglicans churches. 

Our relic comes from the tomb of Saint Francis.  After Francis's death in 1226, his followers hid his body in a tomb donated by a local family.  This tomb was discovered in 1818 and was verified as the final resting place of Francis of Assisi. When his tomb was opened, it contained some coins from the 12th century, a few beads, his habit, bones, and the naturally decayed body (dust).  This dust was collected by Vatican officials, placed in small reliquaries, and sent to all Franciscan Missions around the world to be placed in their chapels.  Some of the dust was kept for future missions to be distributed when requested.  Our reliquary contains a small speck of this dust collected in 1818.  

Churches of the Anglican Communion (including the Episcopal Church), view relics as the following:  "A relic is a tangible reminder of the life of a holy person that strove to  live the way of Jesus. The relic is to inspire us to also live a holy life and strive to follow the way of Jesus."  

As you view and venerate (honor) our new icon of Saint Francis, may your prayer simply be "Lord make me an instrument of your peace."  Our new St. Francis Chapel is open during normal church hours as a quiet sacred space for prayer and reflection.

Oct. 11, The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, bulletin insert

Altar Flowers are given to the glory of God in loving memory of the parents of Joni Lawler.

Mass Servers: (8:00 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.) Celebrant and Preacher - – The Rev. Dr. Robert Wetherington (11:00 a.m.) Servers - H. Teahan, J. Weikel; Lectors -E. Wetherington, A. Maynor; Ushers – the Bullocks; Hospitality -; Counters -R. Sacrison, A. Maynor; (Vestry persons of the day)

Click here for our Seasonal Bulletin.

Adult Forum 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, Matt, Gus and Jean, Hayes, Derek, Melinda; all those deployed in harm’s way at this time, Stacie, Kevin, Arlene, Paul, Ryan, Taunya, Julie, Bryce and Family; Brian & Devon and the Gurley Family, Margaret, Mary, Brendan, Bill & Debbie, Julia, Hanna, Huston, Sam, Kent, Andrew and the Blankinship Family, Jane, David, Carol, George, Susan, Kevin, Linda, Mike, Kathy, Gideon, Maurice, Edith, Taylor, Karl, Florence, Bob, Melissa, 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.  

Adult Forum 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.

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

Middle School Retreat is October 23-25.

Dedication Sunday Celebration, October 25 – After the 11 a.m. service, we will have a potluck lunch.  Bring your favorite dish! Please sign up on the whiteboard to let us know how many to plan for and what you will bring.

All Saints/All Souls remembrances:  Please submit by Monday, Oct. 26, names of loved ones you’d like remembered on All Saints Day, November 1, to the parish office.

Diocesan Convention is November 7 at Lake Logan.

High School Retreat is November 20-22.

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. 

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.