The Vestry will hold its August meeting on Thursday, August 19th at 6:30 PM in the Parlor.

The Pastoral Care Committee will hold its August meeting on Thursday, August 19th at 3:30 PM in the Parlor.

The honor paid to St. Mary, the Mother of Jesus Christ, goes back to the earliest days of the Church. Two Gospels tell of the manner of Christ’s birth,  and the familiar Christmas story testifies to the Church’s conviction that He was born of a virgin. Mary was the person closest to Jesus in His most impressionable years, and the words of the Magnificat, as well as her humble acceptance of the divine will, bear more than an accidental resemblance to the Lord’s Prayer and the Beatitudes of the Sermon on the Mount. Later devotion has claimed many things for St. Mary which cannot be proved from Holy Scripture. What we can believe is that one who stood in so intimate a relationship with the incarnate Son of God on earth must, of all the human race, have the place of highest honor in the eternal life of God. A paraphrase of an ancient Greek hymn expresses this belief in very familiar words: O higher than the cherubim, more glorious than the seraphim, lead their praises, alleluia (Lesser Feats and Fasts, p. 294).

St. Timothy’s School is an Episcopal preparatory school committed to educational excellence and the emotional, physical and spiritual growth of children in an environment where traditional Christian values are emphasized. The Junior Kindergarten through Eighth Grade school has limited openings for the 2010-2011 school year. For more information, please contact the Director of Admission, Mrs. Cathy Clement, at 781-0531 or cclement@sttimothys.org.

The first day of school for our parochial school is Wednesday, August 18th. Please keep the children, teachers and parents of St. Timothy’s School in your prayers as they begin another year. The calling to bring children up with knowledge, and particularly the knowledge and love of God, is a great calling and a ministry we are proud to fulfill.

The Adult Bible Study will resume on Wednesday, August 11th at 7 PM in the Parlor. Clarence Bunting will lead us through The Gospel of Matthew.

Saint Michael’s Conference is a week-long educational conference for high school and college students. It is held in West Hartford, CT each year at the beginning of August. Today fourteen of our young people and Betsy James will leave for the Conference that is directed by Father James. Please pray for them this week that they may have safe travels, an inspiring and renewing time of worship, learning and fellowship and return to us with new love of Christ and His Church. We much appreciate Freddie Martin volunteering to chaperone the group to West Hartford. The young people attending are Claire Connaghan, Emma Elsea, Meredith Elsea, Olivia James, Sam James, Amy Lewis, Meghan Lord, Maggie McDaniel, Ryan Searcy, Katherine Sholtis, Erin Smothers, Sara Smothers and Vaughn Vreeland.

Our clients’ children need your help! We will be taking in-kind donations of new book bags, clothing and school supplies (notebooks, pencils, markers, etc.) or monetary donations towards the purchase of these items through August 2nd. This year’s goal is to assist 100 children ranging in age from 4 to 17. Currently we only have 10 book bags and minimal school supplies. By donating to this cause, you will help a child be better prepared to succeed during the school year. The giveaway will take place on Thursday, August 5th from 5 to 7:30 PM at North Raleigh Ministries.

According to research, there are many consequences, both mentally and physically, for food insecure children as this directly affects their development. Aside from the obvious physical effects of food insecurity, these children are more likely to miss school days and have behavioral problems. Food insecurity can also lead to depression, obesity, anxiety and memory problems later in life. North Raleigh Ministries Backpack Buddies program is dedicated to stopping food insecurity by providing food for 40 children each week. You can help by donating items such as individual snack items or cans of fruit. This program especially needs donations of 100% juice boxes and shelf stable milk. You can also help by making a monetary contribution. When the donations of these specific items fall short, we are forced to purchase them. Thank you to everyone who has helped with this program!

You’re invited to North Raleigh Ministries’ First Annual Fundraiser, “Purses, Pumps and Pearls”, on August 28th from 8 AM to 1 PM at the Plantation Point Shopping Center (Suite 109; located off of capital Blvd. and I-540). Shop for over 2,000 new and gently used handbags, pumps and pearl jewelry. Tickets cost $3.

Become part of this event by donating your new or gently used purses, pumps and pearls and by volunteering. Call 919-785-9911 or send e-mail to info@pursespumpsandpearls.com for more information. A container has been placed in the Narthex for your donations.