Saint Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church

Anonymous 4 - Amanda (Death Like an Overflowing Stream).mp3

February 2010 Newsletter

SUNDAY CLERGY SCHEDULE
A JOYFUL DAY WITH FR. MOSES OF February 7- Epiphany 5 Fr. Thompson
TANZANIA February 14 - Epiphany Last Fr. Thompson
On January 3, St. Mary Magdalene Church February 17 -Ash Wednesday Fr. Thompson
enjoyed a visit from a very special friend, Fr. February 21 - Lent 1 Fr. Brown
Moses Matonya, of Tanzania. Fr. Moses February 28 – Lent 2 Fr. Brown
serves as host when our “missionaries,” Tally
Bandy and Jessie MacKay spend their FEBRUARY CALENDAR OF
summers working in the school in Tanzania. EVENTS
Tuesdays – Healing & Intercessory Prayer,
Our congregation was blessed by the joy Fr. 11:00 a.m.
Moses brought as he shared his enthusiasm MANNA – First Wednesday of each month
for the work to which he has been called. He (See Mercedes Herdrich for info on how you
serves as Dean and Principal of Msalato can help)
Theological College in Dodoma, Tanzania. February15 -7:00 p.m. Vestry Meeting – (Third
Monday of each month) All are Welcome
Seventy parishioners and guests participated February 13 - 10:00 a.m., & February 25 –
in the worship service, followed by a 1:00 p.m. Choir Rehearsal
fellowship hour and a book signing. February 26 – 6:00 p.m. Lenten supper and
program

Celebration of 30th Anniversary Begins

Happy Birthday St. Mary Magdalene

On January 10, following the worship
Fr. Moses signs a copy of his book, Real
service, St. Mary Magdalene Church began a one
Power, for Jean Hemlstetter.
year celebration marking thirty years in existence
Lori Fischler is next in line.
A new banner was hung over the entrance to our
church, and the congregation and guests enjoyed
a fellowship hour with a special cake. The
Church was begun in 1980, in Troy, North
Carolina, by a few enthusiastic individuals, led
by Bill and Bette Hanham.

Jessie MacKay lovingly calls St. Mary

Magdalene, “The Little Church That Could,” and
Lindsey and Jack Douglass enjoy the party Tally Bandy adds, “The Little Church That
too. Could, and Did.”
More celebrations will follow throughout
the year, 2010.

Look for pictures on page 3.

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter Page 1 of 6


THE DEACON’S BENCH
In his book, With Burning Hearts, a
Meditation on the Eucharistic Life, Henri
Nouwen relates how the apostles used the
sharing of the Eucharist as the way to carry out
their mission of spreading THE WORD of Jesus
to all they knew and met. The following
passage, for me, is how we can be encouraged to
continue our walk with Jesus as we live our
Eucharistic life.
“And why should anyone who knows us well
suddenly believe us when we return from the
Eucharist? That is the reason why it is not just
the Eucharist, but the Eucharistic Life that makes
the difference.
Each day, yes, each moment, of the day, there is
the pain of our losses and the opportunity to
listen to a word that asks us to choose to live
with these losses as a way to glory. Each day,
too, there is a possibility to invite the stranger
into our home and to let him break the bread for
us.
The Eucharistic celebration has summarized for
us what our life of faith is all about, and we have
to go home to live it as long and as fully as we
can. And this is very difficult, because everyone
at home knows us so well: our impatience, our
jealousies, our resentments, and our many little
games. And then there are our broken
relationships, our unfulfilled promises, and our
unkept commitments.
Can we really say that we have met him on the
road, have received his body and blood and
become living Christs? Everyone at home is
ready to test us.”
Alleluia, alleluia, Let us go forth in the name of
Christ.
Peace to you all from your servant in Christ’s
name.
Carol
St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter
LENTEN PROGRAM SET
This year our Lenten Program will
involve exploring The Catechism. The Book of
Common Prayer Catechism is a series of
questions and answers about the beliefs, theology
and practices of the Church (BCP pp. 845 cf). It
has 18 sections and our investigation of them
will be led each week by our clergy.
The instruction and discussion of The
Catechism will follow our customary light
Lenten supper each week. Please mark your
calendars and reserve Thursday, February 25,
March 4, 11, 18, and 25 for your Lenten
devotional time at Mary Magdalene Church.
PAROCHIAL REPORT NOTES GAINS
Each year the National Church as well as
the Diocese of North Carolina requires that every
congregation submit a form called The
Parochial Report. It is a two part report which
logs the Membership, Attendance and Services
of the Reporting Congregation as well as
Stewardship and Financial status of the
congregation.
A copy of the report is filed in the office
and may be reviewed by any member of the
church. A brief summary indicates that total
increases in membership were 8 persons;
decreases were 3, with total communicants of 67
(up from 55 in 2007 and 62 in 2008). Easter
Sunday attendance was 76. Average Sunday
attendance was 49. There were 28 private
communions of the sick last year. Our Operating
Income was $65,618, and total Revenues were
$86,649.
Page 2 of 6
 help us? Any questions, call Fr. Bob. Please
call or email Fr. Bob and say ‘yes’.

Celebrating our 30th Anniversary

HELP NEEDED 1980-2010
Each year the Episcopal Church
headquarters in New York City asks each
parish and mission to file a report of their
activities for the year. Included in the
information we are required to give is the
number of active church members in good
standing who are duly registered on our rolls.
To be counted we need a Letter of Transfer
from your previous church asking for your
transfer to Mary Magdalene. We can help you
only if you contact us and tell us your
intention to transfer and then give us the Our beautiful cake was specially made
name and address of your former church. We for the occasion. (L to R: Fr. Fred, Co-
will do all the rest. Thanks for your help Founder, Bette Hanham, Fr. Bob, and
Deacon Carol)
HELP WANTED
There is a position open in the church that you
may want to consider filling. The vestry needs a
Secretary for a one year appointment. The job
description: attend each vestry meeting (once a
month, third Monday @ 7 P.M.) and record the
minutes of the meeting. Type the minutes
(church computer available for this task, if
wanted), copy (12) them and distribute in vestry Madelyn & John Zded,& Carol
mail slots in the office at least one week prior to Whalen
the next meeting. If you can do this for the year When Jack and Carol Whalen’s great-
2010, please contact Fr. Bob or Fr. Fred ASAP.
granddaughter, Madelyn, cooed during
Next meeting is Monday, February 15th.
the worship service, parishioners
glanced about and smiled, feeling very
HELP NEEDED blessed to have the little one in our
presence.
Brenda Yarish is our designated Parish
Administrator. Her duties include daily mail
pick-up at the West End Post office, sorting
the mail and opening it, contacting the Vicar
each time correspondence appears important
and/or time sensitive, keeping the office
looking orderly, and addressing and mailing
church correspondence as necessary.

Brenda is presently in Florida and will be for

several more weeks. We need a replacement
for her so that the work of the church can
continue smoothly and efficiently. Can you

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter Page 3 of 6


Our 30th Anniversary banner will be displayed
above the church door throughout 2010.
St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter
VESTRY PLANNING SESSION
HELD
The vestry gathered on Saturday, January
10 for an intensive first step in developing a
PLAN for the future of Saint Mary Magdalene
congregation. The vestry was assisted by the
presence of several others from the congregation.
The session was led by Ed Matthewson, former
Vicar’s Warden and a long-time businessman.
With a vested interest in SMM and with planning
experience in the business world Ed was an
excellent choice to lead us in this venture.
Ed presented the vestry with a
hypothetical goal; to travel from Seven Lakes to
Albuquerque, New Mexico. That goal is not
unlike our stated goal (mission) to grow to be a
parish by the year 2013. He then led us as we
explored the various things needed to be
considered in such a venture; travel by what
means (car), what roads to take, how many miles
per day, cost of gas, motels along the way, who
would we take, when do we want to arrive, etc.
This exercise demonstrated to all present the
absolute need for a PLAN of action. We were
exhausted by this intense travel planning so we
took a break for some coffee and donuts and
home-made crumb cake.
After the break, we turned our attention
to brainstorming about all the things we would
like to see happen and be considered as we travel
the road to parish growth. The following list
includes those items mentioned that morning.
What are your thoughts? Do you want to add
anything to the list? We encourage you to
brainstorm and write down your list of likes and
thoughts. We are in this together and the more
participation we have from everyone the more
sound and sure our travelling together will be.
The List
Younger Advertise
element… SMM
Children Publicity
Page 4 of 6
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St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter Page 5 of 6

VESTRY PLANNING SESSION - Continued

This was as far as we could travel that day in

January. At the vestry meeting three days later it
was decided that we should establish a Standing
Committee on Planning. The vestry members
change each year and the need for planning is a
continuing and long-term activity. Therefore
creating a permanent (standing) committee
seemed appropriate. Vestry also decided that the
three clergy (Fr. Bob, Fred and Deacon Carol)
ought to form the basic membership. They were
charged with inviting additional members as
seemed appropriate and necessary. That is where
we are at this writing. The clergy are developing
a list of potential additional members to serve on
this long-term committee.

We ask your continued support in our road to

growth, asking that you include your vestry and
this Standing Committee in your daily prayers.
We know what Jesus has told his church, Go
into the world baptizing all people…and teach
them all I have commanded you to do. That is
our Albuquerque. Now we must PLAN how to
get there.

Items for the March newsletter may be sent to Phyllis

Olson: Deadline, Feb. 24.
phyllisandpete@gmail.com

St. Mary Magdalene Episcopal Church Newsletter Page 6 of 6