THE MESSENGER News from our church community
July 2026
Beloved, As summer unfolds, Barnstable Village comes alive with familiar traditions, neighbors reconnecting, and visitors discovering the beauty of this place we are blessed to call home. This month, we look forward to celebrating the Fourth of July with the annual Barnstable Village Parade. Whether you’re marching with St. Mary’s, cheering from the sidelines, or simply enjoying the festivities, I hope you will take time to celebrate the gift of community and the freedoms we cherish together. We’re also delighted to open St. Mary’s gardens as part of the Cape Cod Hydrangea Festival on July 11.
GREETINGS FROM FR. MICHAEL
WEEKEND SERVICES
SATURDAY 5:00 PM
SUNDAY 8:00 AM & 10:00 AM
SUNDAY 10 AM LIVE-STREAM
Continued on page 2
GREETINGS FROM FR. MICHAEL, continued
Our grounds are a place of quiet beauty, prayer, and hospitality, and we look forward to welcoming many guests who may be visiting our campus for the very first time. The return of the Summer Jailhouse Jams concert series on the courthouse lawn is another reminder of how vibrant Barnstable Village becomes this time of year. I hope you’ll come out, enjoy the music, and spend time with friends old and new. This is also an exciting season in the life of St. Mary’s as we prepare to welcome two new members of our staff. The Rev. Alec Vaughn will join us as Curate at the end of September through the Diocese of Massachusetts Strategic Curacy Program. I sent an initial email announcement to introduce him to the congregation, and you will learn more about Alec elsewhere in upcoming newsletters and on social media. I know you will enjoy getting to know him in the months ahead.
We also look forward to welcoming Edward Poston as our new Music Minister when he begins in mid-August. With Alec and Edward joining our dedicated staff, our ministry team will be complete, and I am deeply grateful for the gifts each person brings to our shared life. Wherever this summer finds you, traveling, welcoming family and friends, or enjoying the slower rhythms of the season, I pray you will find time to rest, delight in God’s creation, and remain connected to this wonderful parish community. I look forward to seeing you throughout the summer.
Faithfully,
Cover photo: Kinnet Ehring, Bill Babcock, and friends enjoy their Gala Auction win “Take Me Out to the Ball Game” hosted by Judy & Peter Scarafile at a Hyannis Harbor Hawks game where Kinnet threw out the first pitch!
Michael+ strapped on a leaf blower to help in the garden in anticipation of the Hydrangea Festival tour guests.
2
Musing From the Rectory By Charles Calhoun
It comes as a surprise to many Episcopalians that Kenyon and Bard and Hobart William Smith colleges are “Episcopalian”, at least in their foundation, although everyone seems to know that Sewanee (The University of the South) falls in that category, even if it’s less “Episcopalian” than it was a generation ago, given an increasingly secular student body. And who knew that two Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs) are Episcopal foundations – one thriving, the other just having declared bankruptcy? If you didn’t know this sort of thing, it means I’ve failed! Ever since Michael was a student at General Theological Seminary more than a decade ago, I’ve worked as a communications consultant for Colleges & Universities of the Anglican Communion (or CUAC – which in India is pronounced “quack,” as a duck might say).
Headquartered at the Episcopal Church Center in Manhattan – a short walk from the UN – CUAC is a global network of 160 institutions, large and small, which have some historic connection to the Church of England or the Episcopal Church, often thanks to some 19 Century missionary. th Much of CUAC’s networking takes place through conferences, lectureships, student and faculty exchanges, online seminars, and – here’s where I come in – by way of a quarterly online newsletter, Compass Points . Below you can access and read our most recent issue. Please do let me know if you’d like to be added to the subscriber list. (No charge!) Any religious organization that can include among its leaders an expert on Voltaire and one on urban insects must be doing something right!
3
Pastoral Care Resources
Angels’ Treasures Launches LoveLocal “Perk Partner” Program
Is it possible to sleep too much? By: Roberta Cannon, RN
To increase business and awareness of St. Mary’s thrift ministry, Angels' Treasures has become an official “Perk Partner” with the Cape Cod non-profit, LoveLocal which supports and advocates for small businesses. Perk Partners promote local shopping by offering special discounts for lovelocal card members. This is our first year we are participating in this initiative and are excited to welcome new community members through the program. Perk Cards are $30 and offer discounts perks at over 120 local businesses. Card members will receive 20% off one item of their purchase at Angels' Treasures. Do you feel lucky? One parishioner will win a FREE lovelocal Perk Card. Stop by the shop and enter your name in the drawing. The winner will be drawn on Sunday, July 26 during fellowship hour.
Many studies have been done about the effects on our bodies and mind when we are not getting enough sleep, but is there such a thing as getting too much sleep? The answer is yes and no. “People are different in that there are some who function well on five or six hours of sleep, and those who need more,” said Karin Sloan, MD, a pulmonary medicine specialist at Cape Cod Hospital. “Adults sleep between eight and nine hours per night, which is ideal. But it tends to decrease a bit as we age and, at 65 and over, people typically get seven or eight hours per night. Read the full article: The St. Mary’s Pastoral Care Ministry shares this story from Cape Cod Health News that offers helpful information on the benefits of sleep.
How to purchase a lovelocal card 2026
4
St. Mary's Episcopal Church is proud to announce the launch of our new online store, where you can find a varied selection of clothing and accessories adorned with our cherished church logo*! From cozy sweatshirts and stylish collared shirts to adorable child-sized tees and snug hats from top brands like Adidas, North Face, Columbia and others. There's something for everyone in the family. Wearing “branded” attire helps build awareness of our church. Did you know, that according to some industry statistics: ✅ The average promo T-shirt is worn 4.32x per month ✅ That generates about 365 impressions per month (every time someone sees it) ✅ Keep it for a year and you’re looking at roughly 4,380 impressions from ONE shirt Embrace your faith and community spirit with our beautifully embroidered or screen- printed items, and help us continue sharing our mission of service and love. St. Mary's Online Store is powered by Queensboro.com If you have questions about the store or products, contact Lynda Anello via email at lynda.anello@stmarysbarnstable.org. St. Mary's Launches Online Store Featuring Church Swag
Peter Scarafile is wearing a lightweight easy wear polo shirt with logo.
5
*logo color is limited to black and white
Lessons From The Garden
Miss the Daffadils? Meet Joe Pye By Hilary Godin
After we retired and became year-round residents on the Cape, my husband, David, and I had the pleasure of experiencing, for the first time, the drifts of daffodils blooming in spring in St. Mary's gardens. The meadow then transformed later in the summer by the towering pink domes of Joe Pye Weed providing a pollinators’ feast. Actually, Joe Pye can be found throughout all areas of the garden at this time of year. Joe Pye Weed ( Eupatorium aka boneset) is considered one of the most beneficial native perennials in the eastern United States. Blooming in late summer, its mauve-pink flower clusters attract a variety of pollinators. Its nectar provides an important food source at a time when many other flowers have finished blooming. How did it get the name Joe Pye? According to the Hitchcock Center for the Environment in Massachusetts, Joseph Shauquethqueat was a prominent Mohican leader and healer who lived in Stockbridge.
He is widely regarded as the historical namesake of the native wildflower Joe Pye Weed. Because Native people living in communities alongside European settlers often adopted English names or aliases for trade and official business, he became
known to settlers as "Joe Pye." But why is it called a "weed"?
From my research, I learned that early European settlers often used the word weed to describe unfamiliar native plants that grew vigorously in the wild. The term didn't necessarily imply that the plant was undesirable or troublesome—only that it was a wild species outside the cultivated crops and garden plants they were accustomed to growing.
Right: Joe Pye Weed grows in all areas of St. Mary’s garden at this time of year.
7
Member Highlights is a special feature to introduce you to fellow St. Mary’s members through short Q & A formatted stories.
Member Highlights
Meet Becky McClenahan
Q: How long have you been a member of the church, and how did you choose St. Mary's as your faith community? A: We’ve been at St. Mary’s for 26 years. I’ve been in the Episcopal Church my whole life. My great-grandfather started seven churches in South Carolina, where I grew up. During my gap year between high shool and college I participated as an International Christian Youth Exchange Student in Germany. I also married into a spiritual family; my husband Bob and his family had close connections to St. Mary’s and St. Andrews, as his grandfather, Rev. ZeBarney Phillips, was a former priest-in-charge at St. Andrews and also preached at St. Mary’s. We vacationed in Yarmouthport when his family was here and moved permanently in 2000 and made St. Mary’s our home church. We have two children, Amanda and Ted, who are also a church members. Bob passed away last March. Q: You have been involved in activities at St. Mary's. Share your super power skills with us and tell us what you've been doing. A: I have been involved in many different activities and groups over the years including the Holly Fair, Buildings & Grounds, Greeting, and Garden Committee.
Becky McClenahan
I also facilitated National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) meetings that are held at St. Mary’s and supported by the church. I am currently in the Books & Breakfast group with people who are like family. It is a spiritual and supportive group and means so much to me. My superpower is creativity, particularly in crafts and gardens, even though I can’t get out in the garden like I used to (I’ll be 80 this month!). Another passion of mine is early childhood education. I have a play porch, I love to create wreaths and fairy gardens and even had a fairy exhibit at Sturgis Library. My mother had five children and ran a daycare center and when I was growing up and she inspired me. She was full of joy, wonder, and curiosity. I loved her, she was a saint.
8
Member Highlights
Q: Which church season or holiday is your favorite and why? A: Advent and Epiphany because they are the start of something new and you have to wait patiently with joyous expectation for it. And, although it is not a season, I really enjoyed the church Gala In Bloom in May. Attending was the most fun I’ve had in over a year. It was great chatting with two other widows and spending time with my daughter. I am so glad I went! Q: You are invited to a potluck, what are you bringing? A. I don’t bring anything to potlucks anymore. I enjoyed being involved throughout the years, but I’m in the season of my life now where I’m accepting help from people who make my life easier. I have more limitations now and a good friend reminded me that it really is okay to ask and accept help. However, I do have a signature breakfast item, Curried Deviled Eggs, that I contribute to the Thursday morning breakfast meetings when it is my turn. Lately, I’ve been occasionally inspired to also bring Southern roasted pecans!
Becky tends blooming kitchen gardens at her home in Barnstable.
Becky’s Signature Curried Deviled Eggs
9
July Birthdays
Happy Birthday to all St. Mary’s July babies! If we have missed yours, please reach out and let us know.
Rebecca F. McClenahan, July 19 Elizabeth Whitmore, July 22 Robin Greene, July 24 Holden Ramage, July 25 Maureen Tempesta, July 25 Dick Corsini, July 26 Jeannie Stokinger, July 26
John Alden, July 1 Lois Fink, July 3 Paul LaPine, July 3 Jane Freeman, July 9
Deborah Lippard, July 10 Margot Critchfield, July 13 Cathy Harris, July 13 Matt Hoyt, July 16
Sally Cameron, July 28 Janis Umschlag, July 28
St. Mary’s Vestry
Officers (Term through 2027) Senior Warden: Keith Harris Junior Warden: Jane Martin
Clerk: Suzanne Brock Treasurer: Lallie Lloyd
Staff The Rev. Michael J. Horvath, Rector Lynda Anello, Communications Director Becky Vaus, Parish Administrator Kathleen Macdonald, Office Assistant Lisa Nurse, Financial Coordinator Janis Umschlag, Thrift Shop Manager Glenn Lungarini, Facilities Coordinator
Members: Dick Cryan (2028)
Stephen Whitmore (2028) Arlene Antonicelli (2028) Sue Davy (2027)
Pastoral Emergency? Call our Confidential Pastoral Care Line
Jean Fahey (2027) Louise Koch (2027) Tom Moon (2026) Sarah Nixon (2026) Jean Larivee (2026)
508-318-6646
Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 5 Page 6 Page 7 Page 8 Page 9Made with FlippingBook - professional solution for displaying marketing and sales documents online