Sandy Neck Cottage

Barnstable Harbor

A Note from Father Michael

Dear Saint Mary’s Family and Friends,

Grace and peace to you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ! I am excited to begin our journey together at St. Mary’s and to see where God is calling our community to live out our faith.

Charles and I, along with our dogs Henry and Freddie, moved to Barnstable in mid-June and have enjoyed settling into the community. I want to thank Dorothy Savarese and Peter Scarafile and the Search Committee as well as Marian Ferguson, Rob Parke, and the Vestry for their incredible hospitality throughout the transition process. I want to also thank Father Scott Bellows and the Saint Mary’s staff for their love and care of you during the interim period, as well as their warm welcome and support of me over the last few weeks.

We have many opportunities planned over the summer to gather and to get to know one another, and I am especially looking forward to gathering around God’s table to celebrate the Eucharist with you.

I have trust that God’s words to Jeremiah pertain to Saint Mary’s and our upcoming shared ministry: “For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD…for a future filled with hope.” May you have a Happy Fourth of July!

Faithfully yours,

Father Michael

Farewells and New Beginnings

What a special weekend! Thank you all for helping us send-off and celebrate Father Scott. All of your thoughtful contributions helped us convey our collective gratitude for all he has done in his short time with Saint Mary's. We include below a few excerpts and photos from this special weekend.

A Farewell Note from our Senior Warden, (presented this past weekend) to Father Scott:

The time has come to say goodbye and to thank you, Scott, for all you have given to St. Mary’s. Your gifts are abundant: pastoral, liturgical, vocal, spiritual, administrative, professional, theatrical — the list goes on and on. As our Interim you have excelled; you leave the parish for Michael strong —in faith, in formation, in finances, and in friendship. We cherish you for all you are and all you have done with us.

We have gathered for you a basket of thank you letters, individual expressions of what your ministry has meant to each of us. Treat them like a box of chocolates, savoring each one. In my opinion, they should not be devoured all at once. The basket holds more for tomorrow and the next day.

In addition, in your honor we have placed in the parish gardens a teak bench to commemorate the months you have been with us. It will afford each of us the opportunity to sit with you in spirit, to reflect, and to treasure the memories of our time together.



The first plaque on it reads:

To the Glory of God and in

Thanksgiving for the lives of

Eva E. And G. Ross Bellows

The second plaque reads:

Given in thanksgiving for the ministry of

The Reverend Scott P. Bellows

Interim Rector of St. Mary’s 2022-2024

Priest, Friend, Teacher, and Beloved Disciple of Christ

Prayer for Rev. Scott Bellows

Written by Amy Crocker

6-30-24

God, we pray for the Reverend Scott Bellows, our faithful interim rector.

We give thanks for his steadfast service, the kindness of his eyes and words.

Angelic voice, devilish wit, Scott has it all and has blessed us with both.

We give thanks for his presence in each of our lives and in our community of faith. He came to St. Mary's at an anxious time, and through the depth of his pastoral personality and solid preaching, has moved us from strength to strength. We will miss him. Lord, we ask that You bring him rest, renewal and all good things. And please, love and bless Scott as we do.

Amen

Meet & Greet Sessions

There are still some slots available for the Meet & Greet sessions at parishioner's private homes as well as some we are offering in Walden Hall. Thank you to all of our hosts. We look forward to these more intimate gatherings to get to know one another Click here to see a list of the available sessions and sign-up for a session.

Coming Events

July 4th Parade Plans

You are invited to join us for the annual Barnstable, West Barnstable 4th of July Parade. This year we will be marching in the parade en masse to show our community spirit and to announce the arrival of our new Rector. We will provide small Episcopal flags and American flags for people to wave.

Here is what you need to know:

• We need you to show up the morning of July 4th wearing your red, white and blue, ready to march and celebrate.
• The parade starts at 9:00 AM sharp!
• Please Note! They close main street through the village for parade preparation so please approach the church from the West on the 4th.
• We will assemble at Saint Mary's around 8:00 AM and then walk together to the County Courts Complex in the Village.
• Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather!
• If you want to park at the County Complex nstead of the church lot you should look for our group gathered behind the Barnstable Comedy Club in the Registry of Deeds parking lot off of Railroad Ave. Please note! sometimes it is difficult to find parking and access to the County lots on parade day.

Father Michael's First Weekend Presiding will be July 6 and 7

This is a Taize Weekend. If you haven't attended Taize before this may be the perfect time to try something new. There is a lovely reception held following the Taize service each month. All are welcome!

Ice Cream Social

We hope you will join us on the patio on July 7, following the 10:00 AM worship service. We will be celebrating the official arrival of Cape Cod summer and our new Rector and his family. Exciting times!

All are warmly welcomed!

Saint Mary’s Parish-wide Barbecue -- Wednesday July 24th --

5pm until dusk

Please plan to join us for a parish wide gathering. Hamburgers, veggies, and hotdogs on the grill with grill. Bring a salad or dessert to share. Lemonade and sodas will be provided. In addition we’ll have lawn games (Cornhole, and bocce), bubbles, and chalk for sidewalk art. Celebrate summer, our new Rector, the gardens and mingle with friends from all three services.

Please wear your name tags! Please let us know you are coming by emailing Allison

by Sunday July 21st.

Lutheran and Episcopalian Friends

We continue to build our collaboration and friendship with the First Lutheran Church in West Barnstable.

Our next Friends Meeting is today, Tuesday, July 2 at 6:00 PM at the First Lutheran Church. All are welcome to attend.

You are also invited to participate in the following regular meetings at First Lutheran Church:

• Tuesdays - Silent Meditation Group meets at 12pm 
• Wednesday Nights - Sacred Journey (Via Sacre) Worship Service. Potluck Supper at 6:00 PM and Worship at 7:00 PM

Learn more about everything that is happening at First Lutheran Church by visiting their website.

Voices From Our Parish



Creation Care Corner by Pastor Russ

On a bright, sunny Saturday last month, a crowd of people gathered at Craigville Beach, not for a day of fun in the sun, but to express their support for Offshore Wind Power. Since I live just a quarter mile from the beach, I drove over to see what it was all about. The rally was co-sponsored by the Cape Cod Climate Action Network and the Sierra Club. A variety of organizations had set up tables in the parking lot with posters and handouts explaining why they support wind power for Cape Cod, including the Sierra Club, Cape Light Compact, Mothers Out Front and the Union of Concerned Scientists. As I drifted from table to table, I spotted Susan Starkey, a member of the Unitarian Church of Barnstable, who coordinates Faith Communities Environmental Network (FCEN). St. Mary’s is a supporting member of FCEN, which meets monthly in the St. James Room. Michelle Sgarlat from St. Mary’s, an active environmentalist in her own right, was also at the rally. Community leaders included State Senator Julian Cyr and Barnstable Town Councilor Gordon Starr, who spoke on the importance of wind and solar energy. They explained the urgency of shifting away from fossil fuels to stop climate change and roll back pollution in our communities. Massachusetts has amazing wind resources offshore that can help drive our transition away from fossil fuels.

FCEN’s Susan Starkey addresses the crowd

FCEN’s Susan Starkey addresses the crowd

A Summer Art Gallery

The Saint Mary's Art Committee welcomes our new rector with an exhibit of all kinds of art made by parishioners and their families -- photos, paintings, and crafts of all kinds. Please be sure to take a look at some of the beautiful creations mounted in the Walden Hall hallway.

Monthly Creation Care Sheet

Another member of our Creation Care Ministry, Amy Crocker has shared these monthly creation justice action ideas or reflections that corresponds with the liturgical/seasonal calendar Click here for the July ideas.

Pastoral Care Column

Warmer weather means we are all more active outside. This month your Pastoral Care team is sharing an article on:

Arthritis, the Do's and the Dont's. Click here for the full article from the Mayo Clinic.

Aging Gracefully By Pastor Russ

Nearly 60 years ago, when I was a young seminary intern serving a church in Milwaukee, I had a chance to join demonstrators led by a priest named Father Groppi, calling for open housing in that racially segregated city. It was a highly volatile situation. African Americans joined by white supporters had marched for weeks through all-white neighborhoods, where they were met with rocks and curses by angry white crowds. When I asked for permission to join the marches, my supervising pastor responded that the congregation had taken no position on open housing, and if I wanted to protest, I would have to do it without my clerical collar. I would have no support from my church. I was young and enthusiastic, and joined the marchers that night. I marched alongside a frail Roman Catholic nun, Sister Angelica, who saw my nervousness and tried to reassure me:

“There’s nothing to worry about, she said; “I’ve been marching with the protestors for weeks and nothing has happened to me … except for the rock that hit me in the head.” Needless to say, I was not reassured! But I was very young, with my whole life in front of me. Taking a stand on a controversial issue was scary. Today, at the ripe old age of 82, my perspective has changed. A case in point: I have twice spoken before the Barnstable Town Council in favor of offshore wind power, in a room filled with angry residents from Centerville and Osterville who were opposed to the new wind farm south of the Vineyard; and while no one called me names or hit me with a rock, it was a tense moment as I and a handful of wind power supporters were surrounded by twenty or more angry opponents. The older I get, the more comfortable I have become in such situations. In the words of David Brower, the late Executive Director of the Sierra Club:

"At my age, they can't do much to hurt me. I have a new freedom.

They can't change my career, I've got it made…

Young people don't have this liberty.

They've got years ahead of them, families, need for income.

They can't alienate themselves too much from the system.

I say to people my age, 'You have this freedom. Please use it.

You've had a role in whatever's happened to the earth, and it hasn't been that good. You now have a role in doing something about it.

There are so many of us… more and more of us…. You've got to sound off.

The older you are, the freer you are, as long as you last’."



An Op Ed Piece from, The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, Presiding Bishop of The Episcopal Church

"Christians view themselves differently than others view them. It is time to

change that gap. Our commitment to being an inclusive church is not based on

a social theory or capitulation to the ways of the culture".

Click here to read the full commentary.

Volunteering and Outreach

In-reach Volunteer Opportunities

Hosts Needed for Lemonade on the Lawn

After the 8:00 AM once a month

After the 10:00 AM every Sunday - contact Hub Mathewson for more information and see the sunroom bulletin board to sign-up.

Thank you!

Seeking Angels for Angels Treasures

Angels' Treasures is seeking volunteers for support in our wonderful little shop. It does not need to be a time consuming commitment . Even a 2 hour shift 2 times a month could be very helpful. There are many ways you can help. We need sorting, pricing, arranging displays, assisting customers, and checkout. Training will be provided. Please contact our Shop Manager, Janis at jumschlag1@gmail.com, 508-362-9519 or stop by the shop anytime between Wednesday and Saturdays from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM if you are interested in becoming an AT Angel.

Thank you!

Angels Treasures is on Facebook!

If you are on facebook please take a peak at our Angels' Treasures Facebook page. We will try to keep the feed fresh with photos and information highlighting the constantly changing inventory. Please check out our Facebook Page Here: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553985862261

Please LIKE OUR LIKE It, FOLLOW us and SHARE it with friends near and far. We will not be selling items online yet but we will be marketing them to help spread our reach. Thank you for helping us with this mission.

FAIR-Board - Seeking FAIR Board Members

Financial Assistance in Re-entry on Cape Cod (FAIR) is a spinoff of St. Mary’s that aims to help men and women get back on their feet after their release from imprisonment. Many individuals in this situation have financial challenges involving such issues as regaining their drivers’ licenses, paying fines, and making initial rent payments. FAIR (www.faircc.org) offers low-interest loans to such individuals – loans that can make a significant difference to their lives and greatly reduce the chance that they will return to prison. We offer the loans with the understanding that recipients’ monthly repayments will ultimately help others in the same situation resume their lives after incarceration.

The non-profit, founded in 2020, is expanding its ability to assist prospective clients. To enable that, we seek new board members who can help the organization identify and interview loan candidates, organize fundraising, and liaise with partner non-profit organizations, among other items. In addition to participation in specific tasks, board membership involves a monthly meeting. Importantly, it provides an opportunity to give individuals second chances – chances that can be life-changing.

If you’re interested in helping us, please contact Jud Phelps, FAIR’s Co-President, at

marshset@comcast.net or 508 364-9035.

Saint Mary's Garden Committee News

The gardens are rolling into summer bloom. The hydrageas, shasta daisies, pinks and missouri sundrops are all thriving. The rose garden is slowing down but, the tiger lilies are filling in along the perimeter in brilliant sunny splendor. Our Kitchen Garden is coming along nicely too. We have harvested basil already and the greens may be ready for us to donate to Faith Family Kitchen soon. The new blueberry bushes are covered with berries and seem to love the damp boggy soil. If you have a minute, please stroll over to see what else is growing in the Kitchen Garden.

We had another unexpected expense with our irrigation system switch failing but Vetorino's were very quick to respond. We could not do any of this without the faithful dedication and hard work provided by the Garden Committee. Thank you all for your committment!

More volunteers needed!

Our next Garden Work Day is scheduled for July 13th at 9:00 AM.

We could really use more help keeping the gardens looking their best.

We also have a Garden Committee Meeting Scheduled for Monday July 15th

at 4:00 PM.

The Gardens are for ALL and All are ALWAYS welcome!

Out-reach Volunteer Opportunities

Amazing Grace Camp - Volunteers Needed

Amazing Grace Camp's mission is to nurture healthy and positive futures for children from Cape Cod and southeastern MA affected by incarceration. They seek to break the cycle of family incarceration by empowering these Amazing Kids for success.

One of the ways they do this, is by providing a camp experience each year. Any child (age 8-11 at the time of camp) affected by a family member’s incarceration, is eligible to participate.

Volunteers - Camp Support Needed:

About The Opportunity: 

Interact with our amazing kids during morning, afternoon, or overnight shifts the week of camp, held at the YMCA's Camp Burgess-Hayward in Sandwich, MA. Minimum of three 6 hour shifts during the week of camp, preferably a shift during all five days of camp, plus a full training session on the Saturday before camp begins. Completion of online training modules will involve 4 to 6 hours which can be spread out over time. Additional training options will be offered, including an evening mentor forum and orientation.

Who we're looking for: 

Mentors are mature, responsible volunteers who provide unconditional love and guidance to children in a residential camp setting. Minimum age of 18 years; ability to communicate well with children (age 7-11) and co-workers. You will provides supportive companionship to the campers and provide supervision of an assigned group of campers, ensuring each child's safe participation in the program's activities. The work requires a significant amount of walking over uneven, hilly ground, stooping, bending, kneeling, standing and some light work and lifting; vocal and written communication, hearing and visual acuity. Application, background (provides 2 references) check and interview process required, along with satisfactory results of CORI and SORI background checks.

For more detailed information on becoming a Camp Mentor please click here.

Calling all local singers and performers!

We are looking for local talent to perform in a concert, to benefit Amazing Grace Camp!

We have some talent in our congregation at St Peter’s, but we would love to expand and add some new voices in our cause! The Amazing Grace Camp is a program started at St Mary’s Episcopal to provide free camperships to kids with one or more parents incarcerated.

It’s a great cause and we hope to make enough money to pay for a campership: ($1000)

Come sing with us! Tentative date: Saturday late in Sept. or in Oct.

For more info call Linda Martin: 508 364 5437.

Habitat For Humanity - Kayak Raffle – 

The Annual Kayak Raffle is back! Enter for your chance to win this hand crafted, one of a kind, cedar strip kayak. Volunteer John Amirault has been hard at work this winter crafting another beauty. He’s calling this one the Armed Forces Kayak and it’s dedicated to his Kayak Wingman Bill Witmer. Tickets are on sale now at both ReStore locations in Yarmouth and Falmouth and online by clicking HERE. Help us build more affordable homes for local Cape Cod families! 

Community Events

Book Signing And Read Aloud

July 27 at 1:00 PM - Barnes and Nobles (2nd Floor), Hyannis

You are invited to join Saint Mary's parishioner, Jean Cibrowski Fahey, PhD for a book signing and read-a-loud of her award winning children's book, I'll Build You A Bookcase. In this charming picture book, children and their caregivers work together to build home libraries and discover the magic and wonder of reading books.

Announcing the Cobb’s Hill Concert Series

The Unitarian Church is celebrating its new Steinway Model B Grand Piano

by offering 6 concerts of classical music starting in July and running through December 2024. Click here for a complete list of all the concert performers.

The first concert is July 6 at 5:00 PM featuring:

James Rosenblum, piano; Tim Paek, cello; Jean Huang, violin; Sam Kelder, viola: E. Dohnanyi String Serenade op. 10; J. Brahms Piano Quartet, op.25

Tickets are $25 each or $125 for the 6 concerts in the series

tickets are available here or at the door.

Supporting Our Church

Bishop-elect Whitworth's ordination and consecration 

will take place on Saturday, Oct. 19 at 11 a.m. at Trinity Church in Boston, with The Episcopal Church's presiding bishop, the Most Rev. Michael B. Curry, as chief consecrator. She will be seated as the 17th bishop diocesan of the Diocese of Massachusetts the following day, Sunday, Oct. 20 at 5 p.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. Paul in Boston.

Legacy Giving

1891 Society members help grow our endowment which in turn, supports Saint Mary’s community outreach, contributes to key programs and protect the church from unanticipated adverse financial circumstances. Most importantly, the commitment from members of the 1891 Society, empowers future generations of Saint Mary's parishioners to make visible the extraordinary light that comes from God.

In each monthly newsletter, we plan to hear from current members of the 1891 Society about what becoming a legacy donor to Saint Mary's has meant to them personally.

Recognizing Our 1891 Society Members

A Note from Roger Boocock:

When we retired to Cape Cod in 1999, it was natural for Helen and me to join St Mary’s. We were married at St Mary’s in 1960, where her mother had been active, her uncle had been Senior Warden and our oldest daughter was baptized. For Helen, it was home. For me, Saint Mary’s seemed to be a key member of the Barnstable community. As a Headmaster of various independent (private) schools I had become impressed with the importance of strong institutions in their communities. I wanted to attend St Mary’s. That is why I pledge each year as much as I can, and contributed to the recent renovation. After Helen died, I wanted to continue the tradition of support. And what a nice church to be part of, everyone so welcoming!

There is another, important reason for my continued interest in helping St Mary’s thrive. It is the work of this church exemplified by the activities of the Outreach committee. 5% of my

pledge goes to this effort by our parish to help those in need. For me one of the most powerful teachings of Jesus, was to “love your neighbor as yourself” which I take to mean, among other things, to help those less fortunate. The Outreach committee meets three times a year to respond to requests from charities doing just that, helping others.

St Mary’s was instrumental, for example, in starting Amazing Grace, which gives children of

incarcerated parents, a summer camp experience. Members here have volunteered to be there for these children, as well as donating funds. The church continues to support this meaningful effort. A list of charities the Outreach Committee has supported is below.

The 1891 group is dedicated to reminding us that bequests and other forms of financial support are available to ensure that St Mary’s continues to serve our community with worship and helpfulness.

Roger Boocock

Charities recently supported and funded through the Outreach Committee:

• Amazing Grace
• Hands of Hope
• Mass Audubon of Cape Cod
• Friends of the Cape Cod Vet Center
• Youth Outreach & Hospitality Action Team of the Nauset Interfaith Association

Please click here to read the Vestry minutes from the May 9, 2024 meeting. Please note that minutes are not published until approved at the subsequent Vestry meeting.