THE
MISSION OF ST. MARY’S-ON-THE-HIGHLANDS
St. Mary’s mission is to serve God by proclaiming the Gospel of Jesus Christ within the Parish and into the world by worshipping in the Anglican tradition, by faithfully administering the sacraments, and by ministering to the spiritual, emotional, and physical needs of our Parish family and our community.
ST. MARY’S VISION STATEMENTS
St. Mary’s will …
• be a resource parish to its neighborhood and the Diocese, engaging in shared ministry and offering hospitality.
• adopt an organizational structure that is mission driven, responsive, and accountable.
• offer a wide range of worship and educational experiences that draw people closer to Christ.
• identify improvements to its facilities that will fully support its programs, ministries, and community relationships.
• embrace a program of continuous stewardship of its time, talent, and treasure to connect us to Christ and to each other.
MARY’S!
From our Rector
One of my favorite images Jesus uses to describe the Kingdom of God is a great banquet. The Gospel of Matthew describes the host as determined to make sure his guests enjoy the feast. The invited guests come from different walks of life; the master even sends his servants out to bring in people from the roads and byways. This image tells me a lot about what the church should be and what St. Mary’s aims to be for anyone who visits.
I hope you will come and witness what God is doing in the midst of this historic and diverse community. There is a place for you, and your gifts are needed. The invitation begins with God and extends to the entire parish family of St. Mary’s on the Highlands.
Yours in Christ,
Getting to know you
Our congregation has worshiped, served, and prayed together for over 135 years. Whether you are new to our parish family or have worshiped here for decades, St. Mary’s leadership wants to know you better. If you have a question about any matter, a pastoral need, or would simply like to visit, please call or email our staff, clergy, or lay leaders. We will be excited to hear from you!
This booklet provides an overview of life at St. Mary’s. To receive detailed information about St. Mary’s history, future plans, ongoing ministries, and upcoming events, please visit the parish website:
www.stmarysoth.org
If you would like to receive communications from St. Mary’s, including our monthly newsletter, The Messenger, please contact the parish office or sign up on the website:
www.stmarysoth.org/enews-subscribe
SERVICE TIMES
Sunday Worship
8:00 AM Holy Eucharist
8:45 AM Fellowship Breakfast*
9:30 AM Christian Education for All Ages*
10:30 AM Holy Eucharist
5:00 PM Holy Eucharist with string ensemble
*September-May
*Nursery
Morning Prayer
8:40 AM Monday-Friday (September-May)
8:40 AM Wednesday (June-August)
WORSHIP
In worship we praise God, remember and give thanks for God’s goodness, and offer our lives and labor in the service of God’s Kingdom.
Sacraments
According to The Book of Common Prayer, sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain means for receiving God’s grace (page 857). Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist are the two principal sacraments. Episcopalians celebrate other sacramental and pastoral rites, including Confirmation, Marriage, Burial, and Anointing of the Sick.
Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body, the Church. In Baptism, we are joined to Christ forever. Baptism occurs on appointed feast days throughout the year. Please contact the parish office to begin preparation for Baptism.
The weekly celebration of Holy Eucharist is central to Christian worship. Baptized persons of all ages are invited to receive Holy Communion.
Confirmation happens at our Bishop’s annual visit to the church. St. Mary’s offers confirmation classes each year for both youth and adults.
Our clergy and parish staff assist with Marriage and Burial plans.
Clergy and lay pastoral caregivers regularly visit, pray with, and serve Communion to those who are unable to attend worship.
Worship ministries
Every Sunday, over sixty people serve as greeters, ushers, youth acolytes, readers, chalice bearers, singers, musicians, intercessors, and as members of the Altar Guild and Flower Guild. These ministries are open to all members of our parish and include group or one-on-one training.
MUSIC
Through hymnody, choral and instrumental music, and informal worship gatherings, St. Mary’s congregation and choir seek to praise, honor, and glorify God in prayer and song.
The St. Mary’s Choir
The St. Mary’s Choir is vibrant and thriving, and always welcomes new members! Made up of both professional and volunteer adults, the choir performs at the 10:30 a.m. service year-round, as well as during major feasts, concerts, and special events. The anthems performed by the choir span many periods, including Renaissance motets, pieces from the Anglican tradition, and works by contemporary composers. The choir has performed major choral works, often with orchestra, and has traveled to and sung in the United States, England, and Europe.
The St. Mary’s Angel Choir
The young people of St. Mary’s opportunities begin with the Angel Choir for 4-year-olds to 2nd graders. The Angel Choir meets for six rehearsals before Christmas Eve and sings at the 3:15 PM Christmas Eve Service, and for six rehearsals before Easter morning and sings at the 9 AM Easter Morning service.
The St. Mary’s Choristers
Beginning in 3rd grade, the St. Mary’s Choristers offer an opportunity to learn about music in worship through the Royal School of Church Music’s Voice for Life Program. The Choristers will sing with the St. Mary’s Choir on select Sundays and at special events throughout the season (September-May). The program is open to girls in 3rd-12th grades and boys from 3rd grade until their voice changes.
The St. Mary’s Handbell Choir
Handbells are a great opportunity for those who consider themselves ‘nonsingers’ or for those unable to commit to weekly Sunday services. The handbell choir will perform music several times a year (September-May) and is open to high schoolers and above.
The Music at St. Mary’s Series
The series includes concerts, services, and special events each season. Be sure to attend many of these events and invite a friend!
CHILDREN’S CHRISTIAN FORMATION
St. Mary’s invites disciples of all ages to participate fully in parish life and ministry.
Children of all ages are always welcome to worship at St. Mary’s on the Highlands. Participation in worship helps even the youngest children connect with the liturgy. Quiet activities are provided on clipboards, which can be found in baskets in the narthex and the connector.
Nursery
Nursery is available for infants and toddlers during the 9:30 education hour and the 10:30 and 5:00 worship services. Our youngest members are cared for by an experienced and trained staff so that parents can fully participate in worship and study.
Children’s Worship
At the 10:30 AM worship service, there are two children’s worship offerings: Kids’ Word (3K through 5K) and Children’s Chapel (grades 1-3).
Kids’ Word: Children will have free play and a brief time of scripture and songs before joining their families in worship during the Peace.
Children’s Chapel: These 1st through 3rd graders begin the service in church with their families. After the Gospel reading, the children are led out to participate in a children’s liturgy in the chapel. Prayers and songs are shared before returning to their families during The Peace.
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd
We offer Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to help develop your child’s spiritual understanding of Jesus Christ in age-appropriate ways from three years old through sixth grade. This program has served as a model for many Episcopal churches across the country. We are dedicated to enhancing the quality, creativity, and standards of this program for future generations. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd offers a creative and innovative method for the religious development of children. It is based on the Bible, the church’s liturgy, and effective teaching practices. Children gather in the Atria, located in the Drennen House, in rooms furnished with simple yet beautiful materials and resources that they use.
CHRISTIAN FORMATION FOR YOUTH
St. Mary’s is dedicated to strengthening the Body of Christ through our 4th through 12th-grade students. We believe in creating an environment rooted in Biblical study of the life of Christ and open dialogue about how Christ’s life influences our daily lives, families, and friendships. We have a committed team of leaders, parents, and volunteers who develop and plan studies, mission work, fellowship events, and more—all aimed at deepening the faith of our youth.
The mission of the Youth Ministry of St. Mary’s on-the-Highlands Episcopal Church is for students to grow into their Baptismal Commitments ‚”to know Christ and be able to follow him.“ (BCP page 859)
Through different programs and offerings, we hope to shape our Youth Ministry around these five pillars:
• Gospel Centrality – faithfully proclaiming the good news of God’s unconditional love for sinners through Christ.
• Theological depth through expository, biblical teaching – equipping students with a biblical worldview.
• Relational discipleship – pursuing all facets of ministry in the context of caring relationships with students.
• Partnership with parents – educating, equipping, and collaborating with parents in the discipleship of their kids.
• Intergenerational integration – including students among all the generations of the church.
Club 456 / Grades 4-6
During the Christian Education program year, 4th, 5th, and 6th graders participate in Level III Catechesis of the Good Shepherd curriculum for Sunday School. Club 456 meets monthly for fellowship and service activities.
EYC / Grades 7-12
During the Christian Education program year, Jr. High and Sr. High classes meet in the Youth area. EYC meets twice a month for fellowship and service activities.
ADULT CHRISTIAN FORMATION
St. Mary’s on the Highlands purposes its Adult Christian Education program to equip the saints for ministry by transforming the lives of its parishioners, orienting them, through sound teaching and collaborative engagement, toward the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Sunday classes (September through May)
St. Mary’s offers a variety of classes for adults at 9:30 AM on Sunday mornings ranging from topical lecture series to book studies and informal, conversationbased gatherings.
Weekly Bible studies
During the academic year, Men’s Bible Study (Tuesday, early morning) and Women’s Bible Study (Wednesday, mid-morning) meet weekly to reflect on Scripture and to share prayer requests.
Education for Ministry (EfM)
EfM is a four-year course designed by the School of Theology at Sewanee to give all members of the Church an opportunity to study the Bible, the history of the church, and Christian ethics. St. Mary’s EfM groups meet during the academic year, September through May.
Guest speaker series
Throughout the year, especially during the Lenten Season, St. Mary’s invites guest speakers to teach and preach on Sunday morning, or to offer communitywide lectures during the week.
Small groups
Groups of parishioners meet throughout the year in small groups to pray, worship, study, and enjoy fellowship. Small groups are lay-led and are open to all members of our congregation.
OUTREACH
St. Mary’s actively supports many ministries in our parish, in our community, and beyond, always seeking to answer God’s call to help those in need.
In our parish
Outreach Committee: Lay leaders and staff who support and oversee our congregation’s many serving ministries and Outreach giving.
On-Call for Outreach: A group of parishioners who wish to be contacted by email whenever a need for volunteers arises in our community.
St. Mary’s GED Program for Women: A year-round education program for women studying for their GED. Childcare is offered free-of-charge to participants. Parishioners provide meals, donate lending library books, give to the program’s college scholarship fund, and may serve as tutors and mentors.
Hope Tree: A Christmas gifts ministry where parishioners purchase gifts for individuals and families who are served by our community ministry partners, many of whom are adults and elders.
In our community
Brother Bryan Mission: A ministry for men who seek economic, emotional, and spiritual support. Parishioners serve as mentors and host a yearly graduation ceremony for program participants.
Episcopal food assistance ministries: Parishioners collect supplies for and volunteer at feeding programs in St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church (St. Andy’s Pantry) and St. Mark’s Food Pantry.
Episcopal Place: Affordable housing and supportive services for disabled adults and elders. St. Mary’s clergy provide Eucharist monthly. Parishioners visit residents, participate in an annual fundraiser cook-off, Gumbo Gala, and host a birthday party.
Highlands United Methodist Meal Ministry: Four days a week HUMC prepares and serves a hot meal and a sack lunch to those in need. St. Mary’s provides volunteers for its breakfast service on Thursday mornings.
OUTREACH, CONTINUED
Glen Iris School Partnership: St. Mary’s volunteers service as room parents are our local neighborhood school. We offer support to the students and their families through various other projects and programs.
Horizons School Partnership: A community-based educational program for young adults with disabilities. Parishioners provide hospitality and host social events and excursions for our Horizons School neighbors.
In our diocese and beyond
Camp Ministries: Youth and adults give, volunteer, collect supplies for, and provide meals for our camp partners. Sawyerville Summer Camp provides a day camp experience and learning program for children in Hale County. Special Session is an overnight camp for adults with mental and physical disabilities. Camp McDowell, our diocesan camp and conference center, offers a traditional summer camp, Environmental Center, farm school, folk school, and other special opportunities.
Disaster Relief: St. Mary’s supports Episcopal Relief and Development, which provides disaster relief and ongoing support to communities in the United States and many other nations. We also participate in relief efforts organized by the Diocese of Alabama.
Haitian Ministries: St. Mary’s supports Lespwa Timoun Nutrition Clinic in Croixdes-Bouquets, Haiti, and the initiatives of our Haiti non-profit partner, Light from Light.
Kairos Prison Ministry: An ecumenical ministry for building Christian community inside prisons. Parishioners lead weekend retreats at Elmore Correctional Facility and participate throughout the year in the larger Kairos community. We also provide cookies, notes of encouragement, and meal donations for prison residents.
St. Martin’s in the Pines: A continuum-of-care residence for elders. St. Mary’s clergy provide monthly Eucharist. Parishioners visit and care for residents in many ways.
Amistad Mission-Cochabamba, Bolivia: We partner with Amistad Mission to provide nurturing Christian family environments for vulnerable Bolivian children to grow to independent adulthood and to strengthen families in crisis to establish loving and stable homes. Parishioners make an annual trip to visit the children in our adopted “casa” in Villa Amistad.
PASTORAL CARE
Through our caring ministries, St. Mary’s parishioners share Christ’s love with one another.
Care in times of need
Pastoral Care meetings: A group of parishioners meets regularly to review our congregation’s prayer list and to provide notes, visits, and meals, as needed.
Freezer Ministry: Home-cooked casseroles and soups are kept in a freezer at the church. Any member or our community may take a meal to share with a friend in need.
On-call ministries: Through St. Mary’s Meal Ministries and On-Call for Outreach, parishioners receive updates when needs arise within the congregation for food or other support.
Care for individuals and families
Clinical Pastoral Care: A licensed therapist provides counseling services to individuals and families who are part of or related to our community.
Parish Visitors: Members of our congregation visit monthly with those who cannot attend worship and other activities. Parish visitors also work with our ministry partners at Episcopal Place and St. Martin’s in the Pines.
Ministry to new arrivals: A gift and a meal are provided for individuals and families who have recently received a child into their home.
Care for the Soul
Spiritual Direction: St. Mary’s connects parishioners with spiritual directors, trained and gifted listeners who offer support and guidance for the life of faith.
PARISH LIFE
Through informal gatherings for fellowship, encouragement, and service, we strengthen our relationships with one another and build up the Body of Christ.
Women of the Church
We invite all women of the parish and their friends to participate in fellowship and service opportunities offered throughout the year by Women of the Church, including bi-monthly lunch gatherings.
Men of the Church
From informal gatherings to community-building outreach events, Men of the Church welcomes all St. Mary’s men to participate in this open fellowship group.
Cursillo
Cursillo is a three-day spiritual retreat at Camp McDowell. It is an opportunity to grow in faith, to explore the teachings of Jesus, and to experience a loving and caring Christian community with others. After completing a Cursillo weekend, participants become part of their parish’s Cursillo group, which gathers regularly for fellowship and mutual support.
Daughters of the King
The Order of the Daughters of the King (DOK) is a group of women dedicated to prayer, service, and evangelism. St. Mary’s DOK chapter meets monthly and is always receiving new candidates.
Creative Arts Ministry
This ministry meets weekly to create special items that are blessed and delivered to members of our parish. These items have included baby blankets, prayer shawls, prayer squares, prayer beads, cards, and notes that can be taken to parishioners who are sick or grieving, babies at their baptism, and our friends at Episcopal Place.
Parish Life Events
Throughout the year, we host parish-wide fellowship events for people of all ages, including weekly Mahjong games, book studies, St. Mary’s Night at the Baron’s, an annual women’s retreat, newcomers’ events, and more! A Parish Engagement Committee exists to plan, support, and organize these events.
STEWARDSHIP
Stewardship is the Christian practice of sharing God’s gifts. The generosity of parishioners and friends allows St. Mary’s to be a resource parish to our neighborhood and the Diocese of Alabama, in keeping with our vision.
Members of our parish are encouraged to pledge annually, which allows the church’s leadership to establish a budget.
Pledge gifts, and other donations, may be made in a variety of ways:
Online
Giving online is safe and secure. Those who wish to give may do so on our website, through the ChurchLife app on any mobile device, or via text. Please visit www.stmarysoth.org/give/, or contact the parish office at (205) 933-1140 to learn more about how to give online.
During worship
Check or cash donations are placed in the offering basin during worship and are securely handled following the service. Please indicate in the memo line of your check what your donation is for (ie, “Pledge gift,” “general donation,” “Christmas offering,” etc.).
Gifts of stock
It may be to your advantage to donate stock that has appreciated in value to St. Mary’s rather than cash. Doing so entitles you to claim a charitable deduction in the amount of the current value of the donated stock on the day the stock is sold. You will also avoid paying taxes on the appreciated value of the donated stock. St. Mary’s pays no capital gains tax when the stock is sold. Prior to making a stock gift to St. Mary’s, please contact the parish office at (205) 933-1140.
vimeo.com/user33989830 1910 12th Avenue South • Birmingham, AL 35205 (205) 933-1140 • parishoffice@stmarysoth.org
Office hours: M–F, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM www.stmarysoth.org HELPFUL LINKS
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The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama: www.dioala.org The Episcopal Church: www.episcopalchurch.org