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. 

February Bible Study

Special note - due to illness Vaughn's series will begin on Sunday, February 25. 

February 18, 25

Carl Soderstrom is leading a discussion of “Hebrew Scripture Wisdom Literature including Proverbs, Ecclesiasties, and alas, Poor Job.”

March 4, 11, 18, 25

Vaughn is leading The Challenge of Paul. An Appealing or Appalling Apostle.

The View from Bolton Street

Our Funeral Liturgy teaches us that 'for us, in death life is changed, not ended.'  I can tell you all that I have certainly felt my life 'changed' over the last few weeks with the unexpected loss of my mother, Laurie Maggiano.  A big part of that change has been all of you. Your cards and phone calls, emails and texts, have offered significant comfort to our family in a difficult time.  And that doesn't even mention the food! Memorial continues to live into its reputation as a community that cares about its people and goes far out of their way to take care of them.

I have long felt it is incumbent on clergy to model good behavior for their parishioners - in times of celebration and in times of great loss. Which, right now, means taking some time apart to ensure that I am able to get all of my mother's (and father's and grandfather's) affairs in order and come back to you ready and able to preach and teach the Gospel.  Thank you for your support, your understanding, and your faithfulness in this moment. 

Those of you who have lost both parents, especially those who have lost them young, are aware of the mental, physical and spiritual toll that it takes.  Please do keep us in your prayers.  I look forward to being back with you this lent.  

Grant, O Lord, to all who are bereaved the spirit of faith and
courage, that they may have strength to meet the days to
come with steadfastness and patience; not sorrowing as those
without hope, but in thankful remembrance of your great
goodness, and in the joyful expectation of eternal life with
those they love. And this we ask in the Name of Jesus Christ
our Savior. Amen.

Chili Night to benefit Mt. Royal Elementary

Come out on February 7th from 5-8pm to join community members, students, families, teachers and our school PTO for a night of good food, fun and help us raise money to send our 6th grade students to Northbay Adventure Camp for the 12th year.

About the event: Chili (Traditional and Vegetarian) will be offered as well as hot dogs, biscuits, corn bread and baked goods.

Event Details: MT. ROYAL CHILI FUNDRAISER

When: Feb. 7th, 5-8PM

Where: The Mt. Royal School Cafeteria, 121 McMechen Street Baltimore, MD 21217

Cost: $10/pp (kids under 12 eat free) / $1.00 drinks, baked goods and raffle tickets. Enter to win prizes from local merchants and restaurants

Tickets sales: In person from Marjorie Forster at church on Sunday or by calling her at 410-523-4339 or online via: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/3205375

For those that cannot attend or wish to make a monetary donation, we’ve also setup a You Caring Donation Page: https://www.youcaring.com/mtroyal6thgradestudents-1040225

Pot Luck Luncheon plan and sign up for Annual Meeting

This Sunday after the 10:30 service we'll hold our Annual Meeting where the important business of the parish will be conducted - the gathering and eating of excellent food! There will also be some actual business to conduct - you can find more information about that here.

Amy Krulak, chair of our Hospitality Committee, is organizing the luncheon this Sunday and needs your help to make it truly a Memorial event - by bringin something delicious to share. The plan is for a simple soup and bread lunch, so you don't necessarily need to do much cooking. If you would like to bring something to share, whether it be a tried-and-true family recipe or just something you grabbed at the bakery, please contact Amy by Friday afternoon and find out what is still needed.

We look forward to seeing you at Annual Meeting - and tasting your special dish!

Annual Meeting Agenda

Please plan on staying after the 10:30 service this Sunday to participate in the Annual Meeting. Reverend Grey+, still on bereavement leave,will not be in attendance, but the officers of the church will do a short presentation outlining highlights of 2017 and goals for 2018. We will present the 2018 budget, approved by the Vestry at its December 2017 meeting; we'll also vote on Vestry members for the Class of 2021 and Diocesan convention delegates for 2018.

A simple soup and bread lunch will follow our meeting - all are invited! If you would like to contribute to this lunch, please contact Amy Krulak amykru2002@yahoo.com to sign up. 

Look late Friday in your email for a message from us that will contain a link to the 2017 Annual Report and the meeting minutes for our Jan 2017 Annual Meeting. We are hoping many of you will have time to review both of these documents in advance of Sunday. (Our first order of business Sunday is to amend and/or approve last year's minutes.)

In an effort to live up to a 2018 goal set by our Social Justice Creation Care team we will be going paperless to the extent possible for these two handouts this Sunday. This means we will only have paper copies of the Annual Report and 2017 Annual Meeting minutes if you email the office directly and request them. We encourage you otherwise to print out your own copies, or to download to your own electronic device and bring that with you to the meeting.

Click here by 2pm Friday and request your own hard copy of the Annual Report and the 2017 Annual Meeting minutes. 

Finally: do you wonder if you're a voting member? Here's the definition:

• You are 16 or older.
• You have contributed spiritual and financial support to the church in the past year.

This applies to most people reading these words right now, so WE PLAN ON SEEING YOU THERE!

Sincerely,

Beth

Beth Drummond Casey, Senior Warden

410-790-8820

Annual Meeting 2018

Sunday January 28, following the 10:30 service, we will hold our Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting, if you've never been, is an essential part of the life of the parish. We heartily encourage everyone to attend.

At the meeting we will:

• Review 2017 - we've managed to pack an awful lot into just one year. The actual list of accomplishments and foundational work done this year will surprise you, guaranteed. 
• Look forward to 2018 - we're not content to rest on the laurels from a successful 2017. Rather much of the foundational work that was done will lead directly to 2018 goals and we need interested and engaged people to join in and help ensure that those goals are met.
• Approve the 2018 Budget - Paul Seaton, our treasurer, David Clewell, Dale Balfour, and all of the Vestry have been working hard for months now to figure out how best to use the time, talent, and treasure we all entrust to the church. If you've ever been curious how we allocate resources, this is the best time to find out.
• Vote for the Vestry Class of 2021 - At annual meeting we will say goodbye to some members of the Vestry as they finish their commitment, but we will also say hello to the new members of the Vestry Class of 2021. 

In addition there will be a luncheon, coordinated by Amy Krulak, who sends this message:

Please contact Amy Krulak, amykru2002@yahoo.com, if you feel moved to bring a soup, bread, salad or dessert to our fellowship before the Annual Meeting Sunday January 28.  It makes it easier to do the work of celebrating where our community is and where we are going in the coming year when our bellies are full and we are fed.

Thank you for your support of each other and our work together.