From the Priest–in–Charge:

I would like to thank everyone for making this time of transition such a blessed time. I sense a renewed spirit awakening at St. Mary’s as more ministries are emerging, more people are giving of their time, more heartfelt moments of fellowship are experienced and a clearer vision of what and who St. Mary’s can become among ourselves and in our community.

Easter season is a time for renewed hope and a time to share our visions and desires of how St. Mary’s can make a difference in our lives and those for whom we extend a helping hand of hospitality. Fr. Lyle Martin left us with a great legacy of service to the community with his vision of Joseph’s Coat thrift store and Food Pantry. With a renewed commitment to this ministry we can make a real difference for the people in Washington County.

We had a wonderful ecumenical Good Friday celebration with the Ministerial Association. We are blessed to have so many gifted spirit filled neighbors such as Gregg Miller of the Ft Calhoun Presbyterian Church and Shirley Schmidt of the Congregational Church– the church that first welcomed the Episcopalians to Blair in 1882!

Easter Season is a time to dream – to dream how we can help the Kingdom of God become more manifest in our midst, how we can create a more loving environment, what gift we may have that can make a difference by being called forth and entrusted to the Spirit of God. It is a time where we can reflect on whether we are being faithful stewards of all with which God has blessed us, as a Prayer for Various Occasions say: Heavenly Father, whose blessed Son came not to be served but to serve: Bless all who, following in his steps, give themselves to the service of others; that with wisdom, patience, and courage, they may minister in his Name to the suffering, the friendless, and the needy; for the love of him who laid down his life for us, your Son our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Alleluia!

St. Mary’s Mission:

Blanket’s for Sudan

Jill Frahm has organized a ministry of providing blankets for Fr. Daniel Kuot and his mission to the Sudan. There is a box in the Narthex next to the stairs where we are collecting blankets young and old, new or used. Our aim is to provide Fr. Daniel with 100 blankets for him to take to the Sudan.

Jill is researching Darfur for a speech project at Midland’s College and after contacting Rev. Daniel he agreed to come and give a presentation at Kimmel Theatre Tuesday, May 2^nd at 4:30 on Darfur and the genocide in Sudan. Rev. Daniel is the leader of the project "Sudan Mercy", which delivers emergency relief aid to the Sudanese.

November Turkey Dinner

During this season of Easter St. Mary’s has decided to resurrect our ministry of the Turkey Dinners. We have had two volunteers to graciously step up and agree to chair this event: Ann Hutchson and Pat Steinke. As we get closer to November we will be looking for people to help make this once again a successful event and a much anticipated ministry in our community.

UTO Ingathering

Twice a year we are asked to gather in the offerings of thanksgiving for the many blessings in our everyday lives – for good weather, happy times, job opportunities or unexpected visits. These offerings are then combined with the offerings of thousands of other Episcopalians to become the United Thank Offering, a ministry that reaches needs around the world. The Spring UTO Ingathering is scheduled for Sunday May 21^st. You will find the Blue Boxes in the Narthex in which you can place your coins. If you need any other information please see our UTO Chair Rhonda Case.

Craig W., Betty R., Veda Mae, Jenny, Thelma, Mary J., Sue A., Gaye M., Tracy O., Jack, Joanne, Paul and his family, Fritz, Wilma, the family of Bill Wilson, Bob and Ellen Snow, Bishop Joe Burnett, Fr. Daniel Kuot and his ministry to the Sudan.

Pastoral Care

Fr. Mark’s office hours will generally be from 1-4 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, but he may also be found in the office at other times. If pastoral care is needed at anytime, please call Fr. Mark in the office 426-2057, on his cell phone 706-1846 or at home 597-0736.

Vacation Bible School

Summer is fast approaching and it is time to plan for our annual Vacation Bible School. St. Mary’s is looking for someone to chair this event and for volunteers to help make this a joyful time for our youth. Please consider if you are being called into this inspiring ministry.

Daughters of the King

The Daughters of the King are studying the book Speaking for Ourselves. All are welcome to join them at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday nights. Each section of the is self-contained so it is alright if you are not able to come every Tuesday.

Meal & a Movie

Every Wednesday evening St. Mary’s is having a Meal & a Movie night beginning with a potluck dinner at 6:00 followed by a movie which usually begins around 6:45. During Lent we have been watching the Via Media program on what it means to be an Episcopalian in today’s world and this series is scheduled to conclude on Wednesday May 3^rd. We will continue with the regular Movie time on May 10^th with the movie "The Mission". The following Wednesday, May 17^th will be the last Spring session. During the summer we will have the Meal & a Movie on every first Wednesday of the Month.

Welcome Dinner

On Saturday May 20^th St. Mary’s will have a welcome dinner for the Rev. Mark Norris, our Priest-in-Charge. The dinner will be held at the McWilliams estate on Country Road 10. Please come and welcome Fr. Mark to St. Mary’s

Pentecost Picnic

St. Mary’s will once again celebrate the Day of Pentecost with our annual Picnic. This year Pentecost falls on June 4^th, so mark your calendars and join us for fellowship.

High School Graduates

Blair High School honors their graduates on Mother’s day as St. Mary’s also does bypresenting them with a Bible. This year we have three graduates Austin Cornett, Kylie Thallas and Zach Van Gestel Congratulation and God’s blessings!

Sunday School

Sunday school is held every Sunday at 9:45 a.m. for children up to the sixth grade. The theme this year is "A Godly Plan." A special thanks to Nicole Cloudt who has made this a fruitful ministry.

Prayer Chain

Thanks go to Nan Smutko for volunteering to update St. Mary’s Prayer Chain, our Calling Tree and our Hospitality List. If you would like to be on the Prayer Chain please let Nan know. If you would like to help in St. Mary’s Hospitality Team, providing meals for the Ministerial Association meetings at St. Mary’s, for families grieving the loss of a loved one, and other special occasions please let the office know your interest.

Women’s Health Month

The month of May is Women’s Health Month. The Nebraska Health & Human Services has provided us with a ‘Roadmap for Life’ brochure which can be found in the Parish Hall next to the bulletin Board.

Day By Day

The new Forward Day by Day (May/June/July) has arrived and is in the Narthex. Day by Day is a wonderful daily devotional with a scriptural reading and a meditational reflection. If you desire please take one home with you.

Treasurer

Lori Wolff has volunteered her skills and has agreed to become St. Mary’s Treasurer. We give thanks for all the skills and talents found in the congregation and for those who give their time so generously to make St. Mary’s so fruitful.

Dime Dinner

A special thanks to Susan Steinke and those that helped her to make this Youth Group Dime Dinner fund-raiser a success. This event raised over $100 for the Youth!

Vestry Meeting

The next vestry meeting will be held in the library on May 24^th at 7:00 p.m.

Spiritual Bouquet

In the night that was dark,

Made fiery by the furies of love

- Oh blesséd moment! -

I left without being noticed,

All the doors of my house closed for the night.

Secure and in the dark,

On the secret staircase, stealth

- Oh blesséd moment! -

And darkness protected me,

All the doors of my house closed for the night.

In the delicious night,

In privacy, where no one saw me,

Nor did I see one thing,

I had no light or guide

But the fire that burned inside my chest.

That fire showed me

The way more clearly than the blaze of noon

To where, waiting for me,

Was the One I knew so well,

Ion that place where no one ever is.

Oh night, sweet guider,

Oh night more marvelous than dawn!

Oh night which joins

The lover and the beloved

So that the lover and beloved change bodies!

In my Chest full of flowers,

Flowering wholly and only for Him,

There He remained sleeping;

I cared for Him there,

And the fan of the high cedars cooled Him.

The wind played with

His hair, and that wind from the high

Towers struck me on the neck

With its sober hand;

Sight, taste, touch, hearing stopped.

I stood still; I forgot who I was,

My face leaning against Him,

Everything stopped, abandoned me,

My worldliness was gone, forgotten

among the white lilies.

Ministry Schedule – May 2006
Date	Acolyte	Eucharistic Minister	Lector	Greeters
May 7	Thomas Wolff	Zach Case	Sharen Lemen	John & Imogene Lutz
May 14	Kodie Thallas	Pat Steinke	Zach Case	Norma Panek & Caron Peters
May 21	Zach Van Gestel	Bill Smutko	Iantha Wessel	Kathy Frahm
May 28	Josh Breslow	Bob Luikens	Mabel Aronson	Bill & Nan Smutko
June 4	Kasie Thallas	Renee McWillams	Helen Wilson	JoEllen & Kaitlyn Coon
June 11	Zach Case	Jan Kolb	Clare Cowing	John & Imogene Lutz