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2021 05 16 Ascension Day Bulletin
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St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Bonita Springs is announcing its call to Father Ryan A. Wright as its 5th Rector. Father Wright will celebrate Holy Eucharist and preach for the first time at St. Mary’s the weekend of July 3 and 4.
Father Wright, 44, will be the youngest rector in the parish’s history. He is a native of Naples who has lived in Southwest Florida most of his life, most recently with responsibility for Church of the Epiphany in Cape Coral and St. John’s Episcopal Church on Pine Island. He is credited with growing those two diverse churches to their present state of health from previously precarious conditions.
A graduate of Stetson University in Deland, FL, and The General Theological Seminary in New York City, Father Wright came to Christ as a young adult and uses his experience as an “unchurched” youth “to break through people’s preconceived notions of what it means to be part of the church. Paramount in encountering the unchurched and churched alike is to speak truth with an absence of judgment,” he says. His pastoral experience ranges from programs for the bereaved and terminally ill to years in college ministry; he hopes to bring all that work to bear at St. Mary’s.
“I look forward to working with St. Mary’s to grow the parish in every way—spiritually, in pastoral care, in outreach to the larger community and in numbers,” he said.
St. Mary’s Senior Warden Robert Foltz described Father Wright as “a real people person, full of energy. He will be a great asset to the parish and to the community.”
Brian Cleary to be ordained as Deacon
It is with great joy we announce that Brian Cleary will be ordained as a Deacon at St. Mary’s Church, Bonita Springs on June 12 at 11 AM.
This is the next important step as Brian travels God’s path to be ordained a Priest.
More details will follow.
MAGNIFICAT
Starting at 9:45 AM on the 5 Sundays of May, our cantors will sing lovely Marian Hymns before Holy Eucharist.
Please plan to tune in early if attending online, and to arrive and be seated early if attending in person,
St. Mary’s Library Feature Books
- The April-May Book List features new books in the library for April and May.
- Stop by to see the ongoing display for our Labyrinth, then follow the sign to the left of the church entrance to have a walk on the real thing.
NEWS FROM PENNYWISE THRIFT SHOP AT ST. MARY’S
PENNYWISE THRIFT SHOP
9801 Bonita Beach Road
Bonita Springs, Florida 34135
Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10am to 3 pm
Slides to the right showcase our shop –>
Thank You Message to PennyWise Volunteers
A drone filmed aerial tour
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
filmed by parishioner Charlie Baker
THE ASCENSION: The Exaltation of Christ
From the Gospel according to St. John (Chapter 16:7) we read: “Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate (Holy Spirit) will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you.” With these words, spoken to his disciples, Jesus foretells of two post resurrection events that they will eventually experience: his ascension into Heaven to be “exalted at the right of God”; and the coming of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost. The first of these events comes 40 days after Christ’s resurrection on Easter, and it is always a Thursday (indeed sometimes referred to as Holy Thursday); the second comes after 50 days; but both are celebrated on a Sunday. The Feast of the Ascension is one of the universally celebrated feasts of our faith, the others include Christmas, the Passion (Good Friday), Easter, and Pentecost. Observance of Ascension is thought to be apostolic; meaning it is traceable to the very beginnings of the Early Church. Additionally, it is part of the Paschal Mystery along with Christ’s Passion, Death, and Resurrection. By no means, therefore, an
About St. Mary’s Episcopal Church
St. Mary’s Episcopal Church brings a wide variety of people with diverse backgrounds together for a spiritual journey. We welcome all visitors and encourage newcomers to join us for a welcome reception to meet our other members and the church leadership. Here at St. Mary’s, we have plenty of opportunities to worship and attend fellowship gatherings, special events, and volunteer events.
