It is now time to remove all Christmas decorations from our churchyard. Our deadline for removal is January 15. We will dispose remaining decorations after that date.

To maintain the historic integrity of our churchyard, we respectfully remind everyone that artificial flowers and decorations, other than flags or fresh flowers, are not allowed.

Fr. John baptized our newest member of the parish, Baby J. J. (Joel Jr.) Alarcon, at a private baptism celebration on Sunday, January 3 at 3:PM in our sanctuary. His parents, Joel and Shelly Ray, along with their children and the baby’s grandparents, participated in the beautiful service.

Alex Bi provided the service music but we shouldn’t have been surprised when our Director of Music and his talented wife sang a beautiful Spanish lullaby to their new son. Father John and Karen are blessed to be the Godparents to this sweet baby.

We now have a Baptism banner to decorate our altar during Baptism celebrations and to use each year when we celebrate the Baptism of our Lord (this Sunday).

The dove represents the Holy Spirit. We read in Matthew 3:16, And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him.

Father John dedicates this banner to parishioner Andrea Pugh. Her love for God, our church family, and community, is demonstrated by years of committed effort and enthusiasm.

As a member of St. Mary Anne’s for approximately 38 years, Andrea served our parish in many leadership capacities, such as Jr. and Sr. Warden; Superintendent of Sunday School; and Chair and Treasurer of ECW. She served on almost all church committees, and is also an EfM graduate.

Currently, she is the Parish Treasurer, Altar Guild Directress, and a worship leader. In both the parish offices and at the altar, Fr. John and our parishioners rely on her wise counsel and invaluable assistance.

She has contributed her leadership and administrative gifts to the Diocese too, most recent as both a Treasurer and Board of Director’s member of the Children’s Home Foundation

Andrea, a North East resident since the age of 7, currently resides in Elk Neck with her husband Mike. She is retired from the University of Delaware. She is the mother of three grown children, nine grandchildren and one great grandchild.

The community benefits from her gifts as well. Andrea is a member of the Women’s Civic League of North East. She is currently the Chair of Friends Foundation of the Cecil County Public Library, and past member and Chair of the Cecil County Public Library Trustees. Andrea and her husband Mike both played instrumental roles in the planning and fundraising of the new County library.

Thank you Andrea, for your love and longstanding commitment to our Lord, our church and community.

Karen Schaeffer designed and stitched the fabric banner.

Dear Parishioners,

Bishop San sent his pastoral directive on Wednesday in which he authorized Diocesan churches the ability to worship with ten or under parishioners beginning this Sunday. The Bishop gives each rector the discretion to make the decision to allow up to 10 worshippers in the church if we choose.

The Vestry and I believe this ten person limitation is disheartening and precludes a significant number of parishioners from meaningful in-person worship. Therefore, we decided that until the Bishop allows a larger gathering, we will remain closed for in-person worship and proceed as we have for the past few weeks.

Like the Bishop, we remain concerned about this virus and care about your safety; especially since, the virus positivity rate is rising in our county.

We will record our services and continue to post them to our YouTube channel. I will also record a Wednesday morning prayer service during this time. I pray you understand this course of action.

Let us pray that the vaccines will thwart this virus, those affected will return to good health, and we will soon worship together. I will keep you updated about any changes.

Blessings,

Fr. John