THANK YOU!

What a meaningful Palm Sunday, Holy Week and glorious, beautiful Easter celebration we had at St. Margaret’s! It was a busy time for the entire parish, and each you of had a big part in making it all happen.

In the space of 9 days, beginning with the Cemetery Family Memorial Service through Easter Sunday, Fr. Isaias, Debbie McGee, the choir, acolytes and readers prepared for 12 services; the vestry ordered a portable sign to alert passersby to our special schedules; the Altar Guild made palm crosses, polished the silver and brass, and reset all appointments in the sanctuary, nave, and narthex several times (special shout-out to Fal for her magnificent flower and palm arrangements); Susan Isherwood, the choir and our guitar group (welcoming Michael T.) had much beautiful music to prepare; Bill S. made the beautiful cross for Good Friday that is now on our lawn, and Jane provided the white drape; our Buildings& Grounds team arranged for the replacement of all light bulbs in the nave, giving the interior of the church a brighter, more welcoming presence for Holy Week and beyond (special thanks to Bill F. for braving the heights to install the new bulbs, and to Brian H., Dan McG., and expert consultant Bob P.); and Barbara A.and her team organized all the details for yet another successful Easter Egg Hunt and Party.

Although our congregation is small in number, we share the strong bond of Christian faith. Supporting each other and working tirelessly and closely together takes prayer, intention, thanksgiving and forgiveness. The number of hours spent behind the scenes were enormous. I honestly feel the promise of hope, restoration and renewal as we enter the Easter season.

The 40 days of Easter have begun. We are bold to proclaim, “Alleluia! The Lord is Risen. The Lord is Risen, indeed, Alleluia!”

Thank you so much for all that you do as members of St. Margaret’s.

 ~ Jane Ames

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2019 ALTAR GUILD ARCHIVE

APRIL - This year, the celebration of the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ falls on April 21. Palm Sunday through Easter is the busiest time of the year for clergy and Altar Guild members. Preparations for this most glorious day begin on the Friday before Palm Sunday when we get together to strip and clean the palms (taking away all the loose strings) and make Palm Crosses to distribute on Palm Sunday. This process is a lot of fun, as we all try to remember how to fold the palms correctly. You are invited to join us in the conference room on Friday, April 12, at 1 p.m.You’ll learn a skill and have a good time doing it.

On Maundy Thursday, April 18, beginning at 6:15 p.m.all members of St. Margaret’s family are invited to a Potluck Supper. As in the past, we’ll each take our pots and serving dishes home to clean so we can all be on time for the 7:30 Eucharist and Foot Washing.

Help is always appreciated on the Saturday morning before Easter, as we prepare our church for Easter. Your assistance is needed any time after 9 a.m. to help us set up pew candles, wrap the Easter plants and prepare the Sanctuary for our beautiful worship services.  Thank you one and all!

~ Jane Ames

JANUARY 2019 - Preparing for Christmas worship at St. Margaret’s is always a very busy time for our Altar Guild members, especially on the Sunday before Christmas when we have the traditional “Greening of the Church.” This year, because of a tighter schedule, we had one hour to decorate before our new Korean congregation began their noontime service. All congregations and Will Shaw worked together beautifully to prepare our church for the celebration of the birth of our Savior. A huge thank you, filled with much love, to ALL who joined together in this special pre-Christmas gift to our amazing and wonderful St. Margaret’s Church.

A big thank you also to all who gave donations for Christmas flowers. The poinsettias surrounding the altar truly exemplified the beauty of this blessed event.

Have you ever noticed that we have two liturgical seasons (Advent and Lent) where there are no flowers in the sanctuary? These are considered seasons of penitence in preparation for Christmas and Easter. We have now moved into a celebratory mode. So, beginning on Epiphany (Jan. 6) and up until Ash Wednesday (March 6), we’ll resume our tradition of giving flowers to enhance the natural beauty of the liturgy. You can give flowers in honor of someone, in thanksgiving, or in loving memory of someone. You’ll find a sign-up sheet in the Narthex that makes it easy to pick a Sunday that works for you. Thank you again to every member of the St. Margaret’s family for doing your part to make our church a place of beauty, connection, hospitality and welcome for all.

On behalf of the Altar Guild, may everyone enjoy a blessed, happy and healthy New Year.

 ~ Jane Ames

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** 2018  ARCHIVE - ALTAR GUILD **

ALTAR GUILD NEWS - NOVEMBER 2018

December is always a very busy time for Altar Guild members, and every parishioner is invited to help make St. Margaret’s Church a most beautiful place of welcome.

Here are some dates to mark on your calendar:

Dec. 16 (Sunday)
The Annual Greening of the Church will immediately follow the 10 a.m. service. We will need strong men and boys for this event. Decorating the church with the pine roping is always a challenge. How did we do it last year? Pictures never seem to have the answers, but when the process is completed, we hear, “It looks great, even better than last year!” Wreaths will be put on the inside windows of the church and on all entry doors. Red bows will be placed on the outdoor wreaths only. We put up a Christmas Tree in the Narthex, and our children love to help decorate it. There will be additional needs for many hands!

A light lunch, prepared by our Altar Guild members for all of our hard-working church angels, will be served in the undercroft.  

Dec. 23 (Sunday)  
Immediately following the 10 a.m. service, our Christmas “angels” are again needed to help the Altar Guild to quickly prepare the sanctuary and place the poinsettias before the Korean congregation arrives. 

Envelopes for Christmas Flowers are available in the Narthex. Please indicate whether your donation is given “in memory of” or “in thanksgiving for” your loved ones. Your Christmas Flowers offering may be placed in the offering plate or mailed to the church along with names and intentions. Please make checks payable to St. Margaret’s Altar Guild.  

Christmas Eve services are at 4 p.m. (Family Service) and 10 p.m. (both with music). Christmas Day is at 10 a.m. (spoken)  

 ~ Jane Ames, Altar Guild Directress

ALTAR GUILD - MAY 2018

Easter Sunday was five weeks ago, but did you know that we are still in Easter season until Pentecost on May 20? That day, it’s traditional to wear red and do the readings in several languages, recalling the Holy Spirit coming down to touch people of every nation.

What were your memories of Easter Sunday? Didn’t our church look beautiful? Tulips, hyacinths, daffodils and lilies surrounded our altar as we celebrated the Risen Lord. Thank you to our Altar Guild and those who became “members for the day” for their help in making that possible. Special kudos to Fal Gibson for doing the flower arrangements for the altar and throughout the church. Fal also enabled all of us to take part in our traditional Flowering of the Cross.

Sunday, May 13 is Mother’s Day. Envelopes are available in theNarthexif you would like to give flowers “In Thanksgiving For” or “In Loving Memory” of your loved ones. You may also send the information directly to the church with your donation. The deadline for names to be printed in our Sunday bulletin is Monday, May 7.

Are you interested in finding out more about our Altar Guild or Flower Guild? We would love to have you be a part of this ministry! Please speak to an Altar Guild member or to Fr. Isaias.

~ Jane Ames

*** And a little note from Christie ...

Buenos Días Señoras y Señores!

Muchas gracias for the beautiful garden basket I won as a raffle prize on our April Diocesan Altar Guild trip to the marvelous, historic Trinity Church, Wall Street! This was an answered prayer – because no sooner had I said to myself, “I would love to start garden- ing!” when God heard, and provided. The Lord never ceases to amaze!

Thank you so much, Jane, for your untiring work, dedication and love for the Altar Guild, the altar and the Lord. You are an inspiration. It was a joy to learn so much history about Trinity Church and its sacristy. Thanks also to our dear St. Margaret's family who continues to be patient with me as I learn more about Altar Guild service. God’s abundant blessings to all!

~ Christie