tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41544804060918777612024-03-12T17:56:21.166-07:00Saint Mary's ChurchAn American Catholic CommunityBishop Robert Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264379235175793061noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154480406091877761.post-20905078857835013412021-11-26T21:08:00.003-08:002021-11-26T21:11:56.967-08:00Advent 2021 Update<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180;"><b><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;"><img alt="Wreath, Pine and Berry, Advent Candle Holder -" height="200" src="https://g.christianbook.com/dg/product/web/f400/735292.jpg" width="200" /></span></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="color: #800180;"><b><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">"This is my command—be strong and courageous! </span></b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><b><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">Do not be afraid or discouraged. </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #800180; font-family: inherit;"><b><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-size: 16px;">For the </span><span class="small-caps" face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="font-size: 16px; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: small-caps; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal;">Lord</span></b></span><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><span style="color: #800180;"><b> your God is with you wherever you go.”</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, "Noto Sans", sans-serif, Arial" style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit; font-size: 16px;"><i>Joshua 1:9 (NLT)</i></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">If you would have told us at the dawning of Advent in 2019 that a global pandemic would derail the worship and missional life of our little parish-in-formation for the better part of two years, I don't know that anyone who worshipped with us would have believed you. My guess is that many of us can say that concerning many aspects of life. Work and school, relational and in the interior life... not much has gone unaffected by the COVID pandemic. As we now move into another winter with this disease surging and dropping in fits and starts, the time has come to embark on a new year with a new sense of purpose, a new direction, and with clear intent.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Since September of 2014, our family (and, since 2017, our parish) has been privileged to call Aspen Trace in Bargersville our home for worship, and to form deep friendships with many residents over the years. When I got the call in March of 2020 that the facility was going on COVID protocol, I - like so many others - believed we'd be gone a few weeks... perhaps a month... surely, back in time for Easter. It wasn't until Pentecost of 2021 that we returned, and by early August, a mere two and a half months after returning, prudence required us to step away again in order to ensure that the residents were as safe as possible. While we had hoped to return to Aspen Trace again, it has become clear that, for the foreseeable future, worshipping together in a health care facility (be it Aspen Trace or any other) is an untenable proposition. Therefore, Saint Mary's will be making an intentional transition over the next several months as we seek out God's will for our church plant, and make decisions concerning our future.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: inherit;">Please join us in prayer as we ask God for guidance in the next phase of our parish life, and keep watch on this space over the coming weeks and months as we share the journey with you.</span></span></p><p><span face="system-ui, -apple-system, Segoe UI, Roboto, Ubuntu, Cantarell, Noto Sans, sans-serif, Arial"><span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span></p>Bishop Robert Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264379235175793061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154480406091877761.post-25342243027368268982021-09-01T10:55:00.001-07:002021-10-04T10:59:52.031-07:00COVID Restrictions<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtGyYOL1LbDbl7xG1drlTS6FhbJClW72XAvD1JTVDIjGQ0ekFQHWeSeSDL03MoTkwAbEaZqtbp-I_9jBAp_eykK1J0V5UIfsGQnbmEhCcp1FBy98j5zqcepK7nE5rpAFevJzlSDrXN2MpVG1gVHtD67hbVXm2CqyHS1Z0R2wguph2J1ouQ4tNzdp7c=s1280" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgtGyYOL1LbDbl7xG1drlTS6FhbJClW72XAvD1JTVDIjGQ0ekFQHWeSeSDL03MoTkwAbEaZqtbp-I_9jBAp_eykK1J0V5UIfsGQnbmEhCcp1FBy98j5zqcepK7nE5rpAFevJzlSDrXN2MpVG1gVHtD67hbVXm2CqyHS1Z0R2wguph2J1ouQ4tNzdp7c=s320" width="320" /></a></div>At this time, we are currently experiencing COVID restrictions that make it impossible for us to meet in person at Aspen Trace. Unfortunately, this means that public worship is suspended until further notice. We will update our site when public worship resumes.<br /><br />For sacramental or pastoral needs in the meantime, please contact us through the CONTACT button or at our parish phone number.<p></p>Bishop Robert Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264379235175793061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4154480406091877761.post-33619331833126830892021-06-15T08:44:00.005-07:002021-06-15T09:34:46.843-07:00<p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Welcome to Saint Mary's Church! </b></span></div><div><span style="font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i><b><span style="color: #6fa8dc;">Deo Gratias!</span></b></i></span></div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: medium;"><div style="text-align: center;"><b>We are grateful that you are here.</b></div></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for visiting our website. Perhaps you are visiting town and looking for a place to go to Mass this weekend, or maybe you live here and are looking for a new Church home. You might be returning to the practice of your faith after a period of absence, or you may find yourself interested in learning more about Jesus Christ, or what it truly means to be his disciple. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><i>No matter where you are in the journey, we are glad to welcome you with open hearts and arms.</i></span></div><div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Our vision for Saint Mary's is the formation of a community of believers in Jesus Christ who seek to follow him faithfully, with deep love, and abundant hope. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">This means seeking to discover the Kingdom of God - not just in some heaven beyond our vision - but <b>here, now,</b> at work in our world today. We hope to be a community that serves those who are underserved, neglected, or even abandoned by our society, and to show them the Good News of Jesus Christ. We also conscientiously choose to be a small community where relationships are nurtured as we walk the journey of faith. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">Does this appeal to you? Does the song of our hearts resonate with yours? If so, perhaps Saint Mary's is a place for you. </span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-size: large;">God is calling... let's answer that call <i>together</i>.</span></div></div><p></p>Bishop Robert Lyonshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10264379235175793061noreply@blogger.com