Connect Ministry

Connect is a ministry of Meditation and Prayer that meets the first Wednesday of every month at 7PM, usually in the Upper Parish Hall. Everyone who attends brings a vegetarian food offering, a volunteer brings a reading (for meditation), and we each bring a prayer intention which is combined into one set of prayers that we keep for the remainder of the month. In other words, Connect is Fellowship, meditation and prayer. Our meditations are often more spiritual than religious. For the regulars, Connect forms an important element of a spiritual life.

Connect began in 2006 as part of a newcomer’s ministry. Some of its original members had just finished an adult confirmation class who wanted to continue to meet, and so we have continued for 12 years. For more information, or if you are interested in meeting with us, contact its convener, Paul Seaton (seaton.p@gmail.com)

Foam Free Baltimore Rally

The mood of the crowd in the City Hall plaza appeared energized as if still waiting for the main event to begin, The Foam-Free Baltimore Rally.  Imagining more adults, what I saw and heard instead were the sights and sounds of lots of students. 

Some might have been working out their jitters before addressing the crowd.  Others were readjusting their colorful signs.  Mount Royal Middle School science teacher Mr. Cook brought a bunch of his students for a civics lesson combined with science.

One student who spoke described the health hazard of heating up leftovers in Styrofoam packing in a microwave.  His choice of words was very effective as he described how the polystyrene (a likely carcinogen) can melt onto the food.

Let’s hope the City Council shows the courage to get the bill passed!  Consider giving your council person a call, or sending an email in support of a Foam-Free Baltimore.  More in today’s front page of The Sun.

Stations of the Cross

Through Lent we will walk and pray the Stations of the Cross on Fridays at 7:00 pm at Memorial.

The spiritual devotion of the Stations of the Cross is a pilgrimage through time and space through which the pilgrims encounter Christ by experiencing the Passion of Jesus by following the path Jesus took from his condemnation by Pilate to the place where his body is laid in the tomb. This is the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Sorrow or pain which leads one to Jesus' death on the cross to prepare pilgrims to embrace the joy of the Resurrection. There are fourteen historic stations, resting places along the way. Eight of these stations are based on Gospel passages the other six are based on traditional extra-Biblical events associated with the final day of Jesus' life. An example of the former “Simon of Cyrene is Compelled to Carry the Cross” and the latter “Veronica Wipes Jesus' Face.” 

The Stations of the Cross used at Memorial were originally created by members of the congregation, including: Dale Balfour, Jeanine Baker, Joshua Batten, Anne Clewell, David Clewell, John Clewell, Judith Paris, and Paul Seaton, participating in a workshop lead by John Seeley in April 2000. These Stations of the Cross attempted to present the imagery of the events along the Via Dolorosa in a manner which would make them relevant in contemporary society, by using modern images and objects which in themselves are charged with meaning to enhance the immediacy of the experience of following the path. They sought to expand the pilgrimage by including imagery relating to the span of Jesus' ministry to show that Jesus' ministry was leading him on his way to the cross.  

Castlebay at Memorial

Castlebay weaves together the heritage of New England and the Celtic lands. Julia Lane and Fred Gosbee love traditional music and blend history, legend, and experience into their personable performance style. Julia’s ethereal soprano voice and Celtic harp blend with Fred’s rich baritone and dexterity with guitar, fiddle, and tin whistle into an unforgettable musical journey.

Monday, February 26, 2018

7:00 p.m.

Memorial Episcopal Church

1407 Bolton Street, Baltimore

Suggested donation: $20

Castlebay has performed regularly in Baltimore for nearly two decades at house concerts hosted by Wendy Shuford. Please join us in welcoming them back to Baltimore during their 2018 East Coast Tour.

The view from Bolton St.

Click on the picture above to cycle through the gallery

Dear Friends:

Thank you to the many parishioners who “showed up” not only for church on Sunday but also for the Annual Meeting.

In a meeting that lasted a little under an hour, we accomplished a lot!

• Approved the minutes from last year’s Annual Meeting.
• Reviewed our Listening Hearts Guidelines.
• Heard briefly from lay leaders about Stewardship, Buildings and Grounds, Finances, and Social Justice. For full details about these areas, along with the many other 2017 initiatives, please click here for our 2017 Annual Report.
• Patted ourselves on the back for the 2017 fiscal year that ended on 12/31/17 slightly in the black. To view the 2017 reconciled budget, click here.
• Scrutinized the budget for the coming year and heard about some of the Vestry and Wardens’ expectations for 2018. View the 2018 budget here.
• Bid a fond farewell and offered thanksgiving for our three departing Vestry members, Amy Krulak, Bev Sanderson, and Monty Howard, who also concludes a long tenure as Junior Warden.
• Nominated and voted in the new Class of 2021 Vestry: Fred Demers, Bill Roberts, Daviedra Sauldsberry, and Bill Wells.
• Nominated and elected our Diocesan Convention representatives: Lois Eldred (delegate) and Alice Peake (alternate).

Following the meeting the new Vestry convened briefly and elected officers for the 2018 term that will conclude at the end of January 2019:

Senior Warden:                Beth Casey

Junior Warden:                Bill Roberts

Treasurer:                         Paul Seaton

Registrar:                         John McIntyre

Following all this activity we gathered upstairs for a splendid soup and bread lunch that was catered by our Hospitality Committee under the leadership of Amy Krulak. A big thank you to all who contributed to this.

As you all heard last week during our Annual Meeting discussion, there is much to accomplish in 2018! And we can’t do it without you; do plan to SHOW UP this Sunday, too.

I will close with a thank you to the many folks who’ve stepped up to help during our Rector’s bereavement leave. I’m happy to inform you that he will be back with us on Sunday, February 11! I know we are all looking forward to having Reverend Grey and his wonderful family worshiping among us again.

Beth

Beth Casey, Senior Warden

Shrove Tuesday - February 13, 6:00 pm

On Tuesday, February 13, from 6-8 pm we'll celebrate Shrove Tuesday along with Brown Memorial (sometimes called Fat Tuesday) with pancakes and sausage in Upper Farnham Hall. At the end of the evening a somber test of dexterity and speed will determine the holder of the coveted "Pancake Race Champion" title. Memorial holds it for now...but Brown Memorial is coming for our title!

Ash Wednesday Services

Ash Wednesday is February 14 this year. We will have a 7:00 am service in the sanctuary with imposition of ashes as well as the 7:30 pm Tri-Church service with combined choirs from Memorial, Brown Memorial Presbyterian Church, and Corpus Christi Roman Catholic Church. This service will also include imposition of ashes. Please mark your calendars and we look forward to seeing you there.

In addition we are hosting the West Baltimore Ecumenical group Lenten series on Wednesdays, starting on Ash Wednesday, February 14. Every Wednesday in Lent we will gather at 12:00 noon for a brief service with rotating celebrants and preachers from the member churches. After the service there will be a luncheon in Upper Farnham Hall featuring Soup and Sandwiches. 

West Baltimore Ecumenical Lenten Series

The West Baltimore Ecumenical Lenten Series returns to Memorial this year. 

The series will begin at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, February 14. After the service there will be a Soup and Sandwich luncheon in Upper Farnham Hall. The call has gone out for Welcomers and other helpers, but if you have time and would like to volunteer to help us host - please contact the office.

These services tend to have lively preaching and are certain to expand your circle of neighbors in Baltimore. We heartily recommend giving one a try if you can make the time. The full rotation of celebrants and preachers has not been finalized yet, but will be coming soon.  

Diocesan Advocacy Day in Annapolis

It is again that time of the year...the Maryland legislature is in session. And, again, we have the opportunity of engaging in the Diocesan wide Day of Advocacy in Annapolis. We hope there will be a big turnout from Memorial.

At least three of the priority areas of our Justice work at Memorial will be a formal part of the Day's agenda: Creation Care, Bail Reform and Education. I have the opportunity to speak at lunch about Strong Schools Maryland, Memorial's Team of Ten and invite those not yet engaged across the diocese to form or join a Team of Ten. Ten Episcopal congregations already have a Team of Ten, being well represented among the 100 Teams of Ten currently meeting monthly across the state.

The details of the day follow as spelled out by The Rev. Kathy Shahinian, our wonderful Deacon for Policy in the diocese.

5th Annual Maryland Episcopal Advocacy Day
Thursday, February 15, 8:30 am-2 pm
Miller Senate Office Building, West I & II Reception Room
11 Bladen Street, Annapolis

Learn about the legislative priorities, participate in discussions on important issues, meet with legislators, and gather in fellowship with other Maryland Episcopalians. 
The event is FREE to attend but please register beforehand. You can register by going to this link...https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeeVoJabgSd0vOjjW3p_fy488MX8R5IWzvD7hCYPU3QMgZhvg/viewform... Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

The day begins with registration and continental breakfast at 8:30 am, followed by topic briefings and break-outs by district. Speakers will introduce and discuss legislative priorities. Participants may also attend meetings with legislators, observe house or senate proceedings, and attend hearings in various subcommittees.  

Note: Attendees will need a photo ID to gain access to the State House and Senate office building. 

SMART Recovery Meetings

Starting Monday, February 12, Laura Byrne will be hosting SMART recovery sessions every Monday night from 6:30-8:00 pm. SMART stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training and it is designed to help the process of recovery from addiction. For more information, please see the flyers below or go to www.smartrecovery.org.