Come Worship With Us At St. Gabriel's!
The Rev. Geoffrey Piper, Rector
Welcome to St. Gabriel's Church, serving Marion, Mattapoisett, Rochester... and beyond. Our seaside locale brings us both year-round and summer parishioners who gather for worship, fellowship, study, and outreach. We hope that your virtual visit will lead to a real one. It is our privilege to welcome you.
Our 9:30 Services Have Begun!
Our summer worship schedule hss changed! Our Rite 1 service will continue in the Chapel at 8 a.m. every Sunday through the summer. The Rite 2 service will begin at 9:30 a.m. beginning Sunday, May 30th, on Memorial Day weekend. See you there!
Four Tuesdays in June: Meditation Workshop Begins June 8th
A workshop opportunity to draw closer to your hidden heart's desire. Open to the public; facilitated by The Rev. Cynthia Bell.
"Prayer enlarges the heart until it is capable of containing God's gift of Himself." (Mother Teresa)
Meditation is the practice of opening our mind and spiritual energy to the God connection. On these four Tuesdays we will meet to understand how we can encourage a deeper relationship with a loving God right here, right now.
Meetings will be held on June 8, 15, 22 and 29 for an hour between 7pm - 8pm. We will meet in the Library at St. Gabriel's Church on the corner of Front and South Streets in Marion, MA. This is a workshop gathering. Each session will allow time for instructions and practice with a group of fellow committed pray-ers. Participants then continue to practice what they have learned in their own homes. Each week's lesson builds on the one before it. Come and see. The world says, "Go, go, go." Meditation says, "Calm and connect."
- June 8: First meeting: explanation, learning and practicing a few basic techniques to be used over and over throughout the program.
- June 15: Second meeting: learning to become more in touch with yourself; dealing with mental distractions; using a mantra.
- June 22: Third meeting: guided meditation; using our power of imagination; journal writing; bringing scriptures to life.
- June 29: Fourth (last) meeting: Spiritual reading; life as a journey; living in the present moment.
Baptism In the Harbor, Sunday, June 13th
On Sunday, June 13th, we will hold an outdoor Baptism and Eucharist service on the shore of Sippican Harbor at the home of Faith and Charlie Paulsen, 2 West Drive, Marion, on the east side of the harbor. Why not invite friends to this fun, faith-filled, and warm-hearted gathering of lovely people so they can get a taste of God's presence and ministry at Saint Gabriel's Church? All are welcome! This outdoor baptism and eucharist on June 13th will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by a pot-luck all parish picnic on the grounds. Each household should bring along a dish sufficient for 8-10 servings to share. Participants with last names that begin with the letters: A - F, please bring along a salad or side dish G - K, please bring along a dessert K - S, please bring a main dish or casserole (sandwich fixings fit in this category, too) T - Z please bring bread or rolls and butter/spread Please car-pool if you can to save on parking spaces. Also, we are looking for volunteers on June 13th... - to help with the food service setup and cleanup portions of our parish picnic; - to help set up and oversee outdoor lawn fun & games for our youngsters after lunch. Please phone the parish office (508) 748-1507 if you can help with this, and we'll connect you with the other helpers.
Summer Youth Project - June 24-27
Please print, complete, and submit our registration form (PDF format). We are still recruiting middle school and high school teens for a local long-weekend service project with neighboring parishes in New Bedford. We will be collaborating with other teens and youth leaders from our deanery, and will be bunking in for three nights at Grace Episcopal Church downtown. Karen Hotte, Susan Poyant and I will be helping to organize and lead the St. Gabriel's contingent. Additional adult chaperones will be needed. Stay tuned for more information.
Vacation Childrens Activities
Sunday School is completed for the Spring... But it is our joyful plan to have something engaging for all our elementary and preschool kids each Sunday morning beginning June 20th. Remember, God is not on vacation over the summer, and regular worship is a wonderful tune-up for our hearts, minds, and spirits.
Planks Thanks!
Following a lead gift of $5,000 in memory of June Hiller Carr, over $15,000 has been donated toward our $23,000 goal of residing the courtyard. This important initiative complements the good work that has already begun to renovate and restore the courtyard and memorial gardens. Funds will be used to replace our weary, peeling wooden siding in our central courtyard with durable, low maintenance, and attractive cement/fiber siding. Every parish family is invited to "purchase a plank" over the next several weeks. If each household were willing/able to contribute $75. to this courtyard project, we would see major and lasting improvements completed before the summer is over. Larger gifts are certainly welcome, as are gifts of any amount. The important thing is that we all, who call this our parish home, take our fair share in helping to maintain our facility and to carry on the church's good work in this community. Checks should be mad out to Saint Gabriel's and annotated for "siding project." Thanks, faithful and generous saints!
Choir Notes
The Senior Choir's last Sunday before their summer break is June 6. From June 13 through the first weekend in September, the summer music program will offer opportunities for soloists, small groups, and anyone interested in presenting music at the Offertory during our 9:30 services. Intergenerational Choir Sundays will be held on June 13, July 18 and August 22. All ages and abilities are welcome to join in singing on these Sundays. Come for a short rehearsal 30 minutes before the service (10:00 on June 13, 9:00 on all other Sundays.) We'll learn a short, simple piece to present for the Offertory that Sunday. The more the merrier! Also, if you are interested in singing or playing a solo or small ensemble piece on any summer Sunday, please contact Director of Music Leslie Piper at lesliepiper@msn.com.
Adult Formation Classes
For adults interested in joining the parish and/or being received into the Episcopal Church Two meetings are scheduled: Wednesday, June 30, 7-8 p.m., and Sunday, July 18, after the 9:30 service. If you plan to attend one or both sessions, please email gtpiper55@verizon.net or call the rector at the office: 508-748-1507.
Gardens-By-The-Sea
Reserve Friday, July 9th, for our annual Gardens-by-the-Sea luncheon and garden tour. More information will be forthcoming. We will be donating the proceeds to local and global mission and outreach. Volunteers are always needed, as well as donated baked goods, plants, and other items. Contact the office for more information or to volunteer.
Our Current Schedule
| Worship Rite I | 8:00 AM | Sunday |
| Worship Rite II | 9:30 AM | Sunday |
| Childrens Activities | 9:30 AM | Sunday |
| Nursery | 9:30 AM | Sunday |
| Worship in Chapel | 7:30 AM | Wednesday |
| Bible Study | 8:00 AM | Wednesday |
| Women's Bible Study | 11:00 AM | Wednesday |
Our Easter Celebration
This year St. Gabriels Church celebrated Easter with an outpouring of music, spring flowers, organ, the Eastern Ocean Brass Ensemble, timpani, Handbell Choir, Chancel Choir, Cherub and Junior Choirs. See our video clip below:
Mission Trip to El Salvador
Saint Gabriels sent seven parishioners on a mission trip to El Salvador, June 20 - 29, 2009. We deeply appreciate all of the prayers and support that we have received from parishioners and others, making this trip possible. Thank you for keeping the team members in your prayers for a safe, healthy and successful trip. View our trip blog at: http://elsalmissiontrip.blogspot.com
