View our Music at St. Margaret's brochure for 2007-2008

Schedule
Worship is at the very heart of St. Margaret’s. We celebrate three services of Holy Eucharist each Sunday. At every service we welcome visitors of all ages, share God’s peace warmly, sing enthusiastically (except at 7:30am, which has no music), and respond to the liturgy with energy. We generally use Rite II, except for the 7:30am service which normally uses Rite I. All of our Sunday services are held in the church.

• 7:30am Holy Eucharist, Rite I
• 9:00 and 11:15am Holy Eucharist, Rite II

On the Third Sunday of every month, we use contemporary music led by guitar, percussion and wind instruments and often feature our children’s choir, the Spirit Singers. On other Sundays our adult choir or Motet enrich our worship under the leadership of our full-time music director. Children’s Chapel takes place in the chapel in the Administration Building during the first part of the 9:00 and 11:15am services. Children join their families at the Peace in time for Communion. Coffee Hour and Education for all ages takes place between services.
On Wednesday mornings we celebrate the Holy Eucharist at 7:00am in the Chapel in the Administration Building.

Baptisms
Holy Baptism is full initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ’s Body the Church. For the earliest period of Christian history, baptism has been the gateway into membership in the Christian church. Along with Holy Eucharist, Baptism is one of the two great sacraments of the church. The Baptismal liturgy is the outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace of becoming a member of the Body of Christ.

How do I go about being baptized in the church?

Upcoming dates for Baptism:

The Day of Pentecost, May 11 at 9 & 11:15am.

July 13 at 9 & 11:15am
Please contact The Rev. T. Stewart Lucas to schedule a baptism.

The pre-baptism workshop will be held on Saturday May 10 from 10:00am-12:00pm.

Spiritual as well as administrative questions can be answered at that time.

When does baptism take place at the church?
The service of Holy Baptism normally takes place in the context of the Holy Eucharist on Sunday morning or a Major Feast Day. Holy Baptism is especially appropriate at the Easter Vigil, on the Day of Pentecost, on All Saints’ Day or the Sunday after All Saints’ Day, and on the Feast of the Baptism of our Lord (the First Sunday after Epiphany).

Weddings

"Marriage is intended by God for their mutual joy, for the help and comfort given one another in prosperity and adversity and, when it is God’s will, for the procreation of children and thei -The Book of Common Prayerr nurture in the knowledge and love of the Lord. “

One of the most challenging and rewarding of human relationships, marriage is meant to be lived out in a community of faith where we can support and nurture one another as we seek to grow in love, forgiveness, justice, and compassion. By choosing to be married at St. Margaret’s Church, we invite and encourage you to be supported by and committed to this church community now and in the future. If you live out of town, we will invite and encourage you to find a community that will support you in your life together.

Marriage at St. Margaret’s is performed within the tradition of the Episcopal Church. Only the "Celebration and Blessing of a Marriage” as contained in the Book of Common Prayer may be used as a liturgical form for the service and the final decision relating to all elements of the service rests with the St. Margaret’s clergy person who will serve as the officiant. To assure the uniqueness of each service and the participation of the couple in the design and execution of their wedding service, each couple is asked to specify:

• the readings and/or lessons they desire,
• whether or not they desire the Holy Eucharist,
• what music (hymns, processional and recessional music, soloists, etc.) they would like incorporated
  and a number of other particulars relating to the conduct of the service. These determinations are not terribly time-consuming and they can be explored in consultation with the clergy and/or the Wedding Coordinator.

If you would like to be married at St. Margaret’s, please contact a member of the clergy or the church office to receive more information.

Funerals
When someone we love dies, we want to say goodbye in a proper, fitting way. While we mourn their death, we also yearn to celebrate the life they shared with us. The Episcopal liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds its meaning in the resurrection. The liturgy, therefore, is characterized by joy, in the certainty that “neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

This joy, however, does not make human grief unchristian. The very love we have for each other in Christ brings deep sorrow when we are parted by death. Jesus himself wept at the grave of his friend. So, while we rejoice that one we love has entered into the nearer presence of our Lord, we sorrow in sympathy with those who mourn. At St. Margaret’s we strive to recognize all these pastoral needs as one we love approaches death as well as at the time of death.

What do I do when someone I love is dying or has died?
The death of a member of the Church should be reported as soon as possible to the clergy of St. Margaret’sl Church. When a family member is approaching death, it is often helpful for the clergy to be notified. There are many lovely ways to pray with a dying loved one and your clergy can help you do this.

What do I do once my loved one has died?
The hospital or hospice or nursing home will make arrangements for the body to be transported to the funeral home or cremation society. If you need help finding a funeral home, please consult the clergy for advice. Once the body is at the funeral home, the funeral director there will help you with the obituary notice and care of the body for burial or cremation.

We have prepared a document to help you plan your own funeral or make final decisions about the celebration of a loved one’s life. The clergy are always available to help you make these important plans. Contact the church office to receive one of these packets or download the document here.

FUNERAL PLANNING (PDF)
FUNERAL READINGS (PDF)

NOTE: PDF documents require the free Adobe Reader.

Altar Guild
Most gracious Father Who has called me Your child to serve in the preparation of Your Altar, so that it may be a suitable place for the offering of Your Body and Blood;

Sanctify my life and consecrate my hands so that I may worthily handle those Sacred Gifts which are being offered to You.

As I handle holy things, grant that my whole life may be illuminated and blessed by You, in whose honor I prepare them, and grant that the people who shall be blessed by their use, may find their lives drawn closer to Him Whose Body and Blood is our hope and our strength, Jesus Christ our Lord. AMEN.

The National Altar Guild Association Prayer
by The Rt. Rev. E. Don Taylor, Vicar Bishop of New York City

The altar guild of St. Margaret’s is a wonderful group of very dedicated women and men who work diligently behind the scenes to make sure that everything is in place for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and other special services. The guild meets regularly as a group to make preparations in advance as well as to have a time of fellowship and prayer in community. On a rotating basis the members launder and care for the altar linens, polish the silver and brass, set out the wine and the bread, prepare the candles and set up for Sunday and weekday services.

 

Flower guild

The flower guild provides a very important contribution to the worship experiences at St. Margaret’s Church. Guild members create floral arrangements for Sunday worship services. The special decorations during holidays are all designed and arranged by the Guild.

Each Sunday during the year, except during Lent, parishioners may donate funds for altar flowers as a memorial for loved ones or in celebration of special events. Donors are encouraged to contact Ruth McDaniel, Parish Administrator, at 410-974-0200 to indicate which day(s) they wish to contribute.

The Flower Guild is eager to welcome new members. No previous floral design experience is required, and novice arrangers are paired with experienced designers as they learn. In addition, it would be impossible to prepare the church for Christmas and Easter without the assistance of many parishioners who are not Guild members!

Serving on our Flower Guild is an opportunity for you to enhance our corporate worship as we glorify God. If you are interested in joining us, contact Mollie Benz Flounlacker, Flower Guild Chair.

 

Choirs and Bands
When in our music God is glorified…it is as though the whole creation cried, “Alleluia!”
- Fred Pratt Green

In the last two years, the music program at St. Margaret’s Church has grown exponentially in parishioner participation, upgrade of facilities, and acquisition of a new grand piano. Currently, over one hundred twenty different people (children, youth and adults) regularly participate in the musical life of the church, with approximately one hundred providing either sung or played music and the remainder providing either logistical or supervisory support.

The music program at St. Margaret's Church is deepening in its spiritual contribution to the worship and fellowship of the church. It is growing to reflect the diverse tastes and musical accomplishments of the parishioners. And it is playing a key role in bringing new members into the congregation and giving opportunities for ministry to others. The well being of the program has been successful through relying on the shared vision of the Clergy, Vestry, Music Director and the generosity of the parishioners.

The Music Program at St. Margaret’s begins with a return to our regular schedule of Worship Music on September 9. The Motet Ensemble opens the year and will continue to sing at both the 9:00 a.m. and the 11:15 a.m. services on the Second Sundays of the month. This 15 voice ensemble is looking to expand its numbers slightly with the addition of one bass, one tenor, one alto and two sopranos. Because vocal blend is essential with the repertoire, it is necessary to audition for one of the positions. The repertoire will remain with the same focus: Renaissance and Baroque music with occasional forays into music by the Romantic composers.

The Motet Ensemble rehearses Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m.

The Third Sunday Band received rave reviews for the band’s enormously successful explorations of Bluegrass and Celtic music last spring. They will continue this year in addition to a new batch of original contemporary worship songs and hymns. By the way, if you haven’t yet purchased your copy of “You Are Creation”, the band’s second CD, they are available from any of the band members or in the music office. Visit their website at www.thirdsundayband.org.
The Band regularly rehearses on Thursday evenings from 8 p.m. until 10.

The Chancel Choir anchors both the first and fourth Sundays of the month, singing a variety of music from traditional Anglican anthems to Gospel music. This choir is open to all who enjoy singing and auditions are not required. We would like to see an additional four basses, three tenors, and two second Sopranos join the current twenty four members of this choir. The Chancel Choir rehearses Thursday evenings from 7:15 p.m. to 9:15 p.m.

The Spirit Singers will contribute music to the services on the fourth Sundays. The Spirit Singers are composed of children in Grades 2-6. Children in Grades 2 and 3 make up the Blue Group. Children in Grades 4 through 6 make up the Green Group. Children in the upper grades who wish to increase their musical skills may take a proficiency test to join the Red Group. Requirements for Red Group participation include extra rehearsal time, the ability to read music of increasing complexity, and willingness to sing descants on hymns on fourth and second Sundays as scheduled.
All groups will meet together on Mondays from 4:45 p.m. to 5:10 p.m.
The Red Group will continue on with rehearsal to 5:30 p.m.
Cantors for the Psalms and occasional services are scheduled with Larry Heacock. If you are interested in this ministry, please contact James Fitzpatrick in the office.

Everything you always wanted to know about church music but were afraid to ask

Our music director, James Fitzpatrick, recently hosted the Sunday adult forum and facilitated a lively discussion.

Read his remarks here.

Concert Series  

View our Music at St. Margaret's brochure for 2007-2008

St. Margaret’s Concert Series regularly features exciting performers and groups from around the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Several groups from the Annapolis area have also performed at St. Margaret’s. In the past we have featured a guitar and piano recital by James Woolwine. Carolyn Surrick brought two members of the internationally known “Ensemble Galilei” to St. Margaret’s for a Mother’s Day concert. The Third Sunday Band gave a concert to a packed house. The nationally known folk artist Bruce Hutton came to our Parish Hall with a program using a variety of hand made musical instruments and a delightful repertoire of song known and new. Fiona Vidal-White sang a series of whimsical songs for children as well ast a return engagement of LYRA, the Russian vocal ensemble from St. Petersburg. Watch the website for announcements about future concerts.

Other Music
Pianists for Children’s Church are needed for the first, second, and fourth Sundays. They are scheduled with The Rev. Stewart Lucas.

A variety of instrumental music is available to parishioners who play instruments. Those interested in forming an instrumental ensemble, please contact James Fitzpatrick at the office.