Each year, the St. Michael’s Altar Guild decorates the church with white and red poinsettias, given by parishioners in memory of or in thanksgiving for friends and loved ones. After the Christmas season, these beautiful plants are delivered to the sick, the home-bound and bereaved parishioners. Won’t you join us in continuing this tradition? Each tribute is $15. Proceeds go to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund.
Deadline: Sunday, Dec. 15
Please note the age group designations and sign up your child to participate in the Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist on December 24, 10am. Children in Beckwith Choir will sing but may also sign up to participate in the Pageant (more Choir information to come from Melissa). Volunteers will be needed for each age group for the Rehearsal and Service (please sign up below only if you can volunteer for both shifts).
Rehearsal will be held on Sunday, December 22, 11:30-12:30 in the nave. All children should be picked up from Sunday School immediately following the service to be fitted for costumes before rehearsal. Please proceed downstairs to the Common Area outside Room 8 where you will be directed to fit and label your child's costume. Parents will then drop their child with volunteers in the Nave for rehearsal. There will be a Coffee Hour for adults in the Parish Hall during rehearsal from 11:30-12:30.
On December 24th, all participants should arrive promptly at 9:00am to the following rooms:
**Please note: the doors to the church will remain locked until 9:00am.
3-year-old Sunday School class - Animals/Sheep - Parish Hall
4th/5th Grade Townspeople (Assistants for little ones) - Parish Hall
Angels (4-year-old Sunday School class - 3rd grade) - Youth Room
Shepherds (4-year-old Sunday School class - 3rd Grade) - Adult Ed Room
1st Grade Main Characters (contacted separately) - Library
3rd-5th Grade Readers - Conference Room
After helping your child into costume, all adults may proceed to the Nave to be seated for the service. Children will remain in costume for the remainder of the service (a brief, chaotic interlude following the pageant will allow children to dismiss to their parents). Costumes should be returned following the service.
We cannot wait to share in the joy of Christmas with your precious children and families!
Please contact Caroline Birckhead, Director of Children's Ministry, with any questions or concerns.
cell: 919-632-0338
Feast of St. Nicholas | Family Event
Thursday, Dec. 5 | 5:30-7 p.m.
Please join us for a family meal, fellowship and fun as we learn about St. Nicholas! Families will share a meal together, wrap gifts for children in need, make an Advent Wreath, and hear the story of St. Nicholas (with a surprise visit!). Each child attending should bring an unwrapped gift.
Please RSVP by Nov. 29.
Twenty one local agencies were on hand to share about the critical work they do, feeding, housing and caring for those in need. Our Virtual Gifts of Grace web page will be live until Dec. 8, so if you cannot attend, you will still be able to donate below. If you donate online you will receive printable cards by Dec. 15, to send to recipients.
We have a limited number of seats available, so don’t hesitate to sign up!
Scholarships are available upon request–email Robin Kennedy.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
6:00 - 7:00 p.m.
Reception with Shauna Niequist*
7:00 - 7:15 p.m.
Welcome and Evening Prayer
7:15 - 8:15 p.m.
Keynote Address
Q&A
*Please note: Shauna Niequist's books will be available for purchase that evening, but there will not be a book signing.
Shauna Niequist
ABOUT SHAUNA
Shauna Niequist is the New York Times bestselling author of Cold Tangerines, Bittersweet, Bread & Wine, Savor, and Present Over Perfect. She grew up in Illinois and studied English and French literature at Westmont College in Santa Barbara. As an author and blogger, Shauna writes about the beautiful and broken moments of everyday life — friendship, family, faith, food, marriage, love, babies, books, celebration, heartache, and all the other things that shape us, delight us, and reveal to us the heart of God. She is married to Aaron, and they live in New York City with their sons, Henry and Mac.
Western NC Relief | November 2024
The first three pictures are from the load-in activities on Saturday morning Nov. 16. We had numerous volunteers that helped load six vehicles, including 3 pickup trucks (one with a box trailer) and three SUVs! We departed for Episcopal Church of the Epiphany at 11:30 a.m. Church of the Epiphany (in Newton, NC) serves as a resource bank receiving donations that they forward on to other Episcopal Churches in the mountains that supply and goods directly to impacted people.
Twelve volunteers drove out (two per vehicle), arriving at that church at 2:30 p.m., where we were greeted by four volunteers from Church of the Epiphany and also another nearby Episcopal Church -- Church of the Ascension, located in Hickory.
These photos show the unloading process at Church of the Epiphany. Based on feedback received while there and the next day via text, the Diocese of Western NC is extremely grateful to St. Michael's for coordinating and delivering these much needed supplies and "looks forward to partnering with us" in future missions that may be needed for years to come.
In addition, St. Michael’s collected $7,590 in donations to the Helene Relief effort in WNC. Father Oscar Rozo, who serves as the Missioner for Latino Ministries at Church of the Epiphany is extremely grateful for our generous donations!
We have weekly 40 to 45-minute small group gatherings. Each “circle” has 7 to 12 people, and is facilitated by St. Michael’s small group leaders. We read and reflect on the gospel readings for the upcoming Sunday, talk about life today, engage each other, and pray. Most sessions are virtual (Zoom) but all groups schedule some “in-person” meets as well. New participants are requested to attend at least 8 sessions. Participants enjoy fellowship and sharing scripture and life together in a small group.
Day and Time Options for Reflection Circles
Mondays at 9 a.m.
Tuesdays at 10 a.m.
Mondays at 7:30 p.m.
Tuesdays at 7 p.m.
Wednesdays at 10 a.m.
Groups plan to start around the week of Sept. 8. Contact Sam Taylor and let him know which group you are interested in. Don’t see a time that works for you? Please let us know a time that DOES work. If we have enough interest, we will form a new group.
It is time to register for the 2024-25 program year!
Use the form below to sign up children birth-5th grade
Back to School Sunday
August 25 | During the 10 a.m. service
Please bring school supplies for the children of Episcopal Farmworker Ministry! Look for the red collection bin in the breezeway!
Students of all ages are invited to bring their backpacks to the 10 a.m. service for our annual Backpack Blessing. Following the service, we will kick off the new school year with Kona Ice and a Children’s Ministry Fair in the outdoor breezeway.
Receive a Blessed Backpack tag.
Meet Sunday School leaders.
Learn about our Chapel and Sunday School curriculums.
Register for Choir and meet Choir directors.
Learn about our Choir curriculum.
Shop for gifts at the Canterbury Shop Sidewalk Sale!
Donate school supplies for children in need.
Dear Parishioners and Friends of St. Michael’s,
On behalf of the ECW, we would like to extend our deepest appreciation for the numerous ways in which this church community supported the ECW Garden Party & Auction over the past few months. Without your encouragement, participation and support, the event would not have been nearly as successful!
We are so thankful for the St. Michael's staff members who assisted behind the scenes, for all the volunteers who pitched in before, during and after the event, for the over 300 Garden Party attendees (and many more who were there in spirit) and for all the donors who made financial and/or in-kind donations to benefit CASA's King's Ridge. Thank you!!!
We are still in the process of calculating expenses and determining proceeds, but we can confidently share at this time that we have well-surpassed our goal of $20,000! We look forward to sharing the grand total raised for CASA's King's Ridge just as soon as we have that information available. In the meantime, we are continuing to connect auction item winners with respective auction item donors, so be on the lookout for email communications over the next week.
Thank you once again, St. Michael's! We are incredibly grateful.
Claire Duff
Chair, ECW Ways & Means
Elizabeth Harrell
Chair-Elect, ECW Ways & Means
VBS
Passport to Bethlehem
Sunday, June 23 | VBS Kickoff | 5-6:30 p.m. Family dinner provided
Monday, June 24-Thursday, June 27 | 9 a.m.-12 p.m.
Thursday, June 27 | 11:30 a.m. Closing service in the transept for families.
Three-year-olds–4th graders are invited to participate.
$25 per participant
Parent Commitment: 2 volunteer sessions
Honor a loved one with a brick paver—paving the way to our beautiful labyrinth.
Perfect for a birthday, graduation, Confirmation, Mother's Day, or Father's Day.
Acknowledgement cards are available.
$60 per brick. Mail your check to St. Michael's (1520 Canterbury Rd., 27608; Att.: Ann Garey)
You may include up the 3 lines—20 letters/spaces per line.
Email Ann Garey if you have questions (garey@holymichael.org)
The 2023 St. Michael's Youth Missionaries are raising money to provide shoes for the children at Holy Cross Anglican School in San Pedro, Belize. Money raised will be used to purchase shoes that will be sent down to Belize with the 2024 mission team. The 2023 Youth Missionaries are working directly with the school to purchase the size and style of shoes needed.
There are three ways to donate:
Use the QR Code below.
Use this giving link.
Make out a check payable to St. Michael's and add "Kicks for Kids" in the memo line.
Place cash or check in an envelope labeled "Kicks for Kids" in the offering plate on Sunday.
Deadline to donate is Feb 29. Thank you for your support!
Kahle van Staveren, Ellery Ferguson,
Bayliss van Staveren, Baker Ferguson,
Richard Kennedy and Connor Jordan
Reflection Circles
Reflection Circles are “virtual" weekly small group gatherings. Each “circle" has 8 to 11 people and is facilitated by St. Michael’s small group leaders. We read and reflect on the Gospel readings for the coming Sunday, talk about life today and pray— all in a 45-minute Zoom conference call. Folks participating have enjoyed the fellowship and look forward to sharing Scripture and life together with a small group. Several groups are ongoing
We have found:
Reflection Circles foster connection for parishioners who no longer live close by, but remain interested in being part of this community.
Folks new to St. Michael’s can plug in quickly.
People can easily connect from the beach or the mountains.
People like being efficient — a lot of connection can happen in 45 minutes, with no travel time.
Small groups are about community. People miss you when you aren’t there.
We are offering five group times and can add more if there is demand.
Day and Time Options for Reflection Circles:
Monday 9 a.m.
Monday 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday 10 a.m.
Tuesday 7 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m.
Let Sam Taylor know if you have questions or are interested in joining a group (908-399-5566). If you don’t see a time that works for you, please let him know what DOES work. If there is enough interest, we will form a new group.
Centering Prayer Group
St. Michael’s centering prayer group meets by Zoom Tuesday mornings at 9 a.m. After a brief opening, we do centering prayer (silent) for 20 minutes. Then we read and discuss a book related to this topic. There is always time for personal sharing and everyone is welcome. Please come and try it with us.
What a fun day of entertainment, food & fellowship
as we gathered to announce our 2023 Senior of the Year—Debi Radisch!
We thank Debi for all of the OWLS planning this year—outings, lunches & speakers.
If you have any ideas for 2023-24 OWLS agenda, contact Holly Gloff .
The Rev. Mary Davila, and members of Christ Church, invite St. Michael’s parishioners to join them on a pilgrimage to Atlanta and Alabama.
Highlights include:
National Center for Civil and Human Rights in Atlanta
Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site Visitor Center
Tuskegee Airman National Historic Site in Montgomery
National Memorial and Museum for Peace and Justice
Cross the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, just as many did on March 7, 1965
National Voting Rights Museum
Holy Eucharist at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church
Plus much more!
The details including itinerary, costs*, transportation, accommodations, terms & conditions are outlined in thie brochure below.
*The final price depends upon the number of participants. Space is limited; register below For questions or additional information, contact: Mary Davila, Assistant Rector, Christ Church.
