Saturday, August 14, 2021

Weekly News from the MDI Partnership


Thursday, August 12, 2021

Weekly News from the Parishes of
St. Andrew and St. John,
Church of Our Father,
& St. Saviour

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Worship With Us IN PERSON 

By design, there will be Holy Eucharist offered on each side of MDI every Sunday in the parishes of the Partnership.

Sunday, August 15

8 am at St Andrew by-the-Lake: Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
Preacher: The Rev. John Burton


10 am at Church of Our Father: Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
Preacher: The Rev. John Burton
Deacon: The Rev. Mary-Carol Griffin


Dave Dawson will be singing this Sunday at 9:30 a.m. Please come early to hear Dave. 

10 am at St. John the Divine: Lay led Morning Prayer
Officiant / Homilist: Stephen Mahoney
Note: Worship this week will be indoors and therefore masks will be required.


10 am at St. Saviour's: Lay Led Morning Prayer with Choir
Officiant / Homilist: Linda Foster


You are invited to attend church on Sundays at any of the Episcopal parishes, including St. Mary's (Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10 am) with the Rev. Stephen Muncie or at St. Jude's (Holy Eucharist at 10 am) with the Rev. Dr. William Hague.  

For the complete worship schedule in the Episcopal churches of MDI through September please visit: 
https://mdi-episcopal.org/calendar/ 

Masks are required indoors to protect the most vulnerable: younger children,
the immunocompromised, and others who have not yet been vaccinated. 

Pre-registration and social distancing are not required.
Holy Communion will be offered in one-kind only (Bread).
Coffee hour will be held outdoors and canceled in poor weather.


Online Worship Resources
The Episcopal Church on MDI has returned to in-person worship in all four Island parishes. For those unable to attend in-person services at this time, Online Worship is available this morning at St. Luke's Cathedral in Portland and at Washington National Cathedral:

Worship at 10:00 am with St. Luke's Cathedral, Portland (Livestream)

Worship at 11:15 am with Washington National Cathedral (Livestream)


If you are interested in being a lay leader of Morning Prayer or becoming a lay preacher on Sundays,
please contact Mother Holly and the parish administrator of your church. 
 

On Wednesdays IN PERSON
at Church of Our Father at 8 am

Using the readings appointed for the day in the Book of Common Prayer, we will have a service of Morning Prayer or Holy Eucharist every other week.
The next service of Holy Eucharist midweek will be on Wednesday, August 25 with the Rev. Holly Hoffmann.

Assisting at Services
We are in need of support for our worship services: Greeters/Ushers, Lectors, Intercessors, Altar Guild, Coffee Hour/Lemonade on the Lawn Hosts, and officiants for Morning Prayer.If you would like to help at any of our services, please contact the parish administrator of your church. Thank you!
Pastoral Care
Holy Communion: If you are unable to attend an in-person worship service and would like Holy Communion brought to you, please contact the church office (contact information is at the bottom of this email). We will arrange a time for the clergy or Eucharistic Visitors to bring the Sacrament to your home or hospital bedside.

Hospital Visits: If you or a loved one is in the hospital, please let Mother Holly know. She is glad to come visit you in the hospital or call you during your stay. 
IMPORTANT NEWS and DATES!
The Celebration of the Life of
Eleanor R. Batchelder
Saturday, August 14, 10:00 AM
St. Saviour's Parish
Summer Organ Series at St. Saviour's,
Second Concert this Friday at 12:15 pm! 

The annual organ-recital series at St. Saviour's has resumed. The concerts take place on the four Fridays of August; they start at 12:15 and last for about an hour. There is no charge for admission, but we do request donations in support of the Friends of Music at St. Saviour's. This year we are asking for all persons attending to wear masks.

The performing-artists are:

August 13: Daniel Pyle (St. Saviour's, Bar Harbor ME)
            joined by Elena Kraineva, viola d'amore

August 20: Julia Morris-Myers (St. Paul's, Centreville MD)

August 27: George Bozeman (First Congregational, Pembroke NH)

 
Please note that the St. John's office will be closed through August 23.
Preparing for the 202nd Convention of the Diocese
"Go forth with hope and grace"
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. Hebrews 4:16 NRSV

The 202nd Convention of the Diocese of Maine will take place online on Saturday, October 23. Time TBA. All information will be posted to the convention page of the diocesan website as it becomes available. Please contact Canon Barbara Martin with any questions.
 
NOMINATIONS FOR DIOCESAN OFFICES ARE OPEN 
Please prayerfully consider whether you may be called to serve in any one of the open leadership positions listed below. Click on the link to learn more about each one.
    
Please use this form to nominate yourself or someone else. Submissions are due September 15.
 
SUBMIT A RESOLUTION
Resolutions are now being accepted! All submissions will be reviewed by the Resolutions Committee, and if the resolution involves a change to our governing policy, it will also be reviewed by the Committee on Canons.

Any parishioner of a congregation in Maine, a member of a recognized diocesan body, or member of the Bishop's Office may propose a resolution.
  • Resolutions must be titled and include the name and contact information of the submitting person/body.
  • Standard Resolution language is required: all clauses begin with the word "RESOLVED:" if there is more than one clause, the words, "AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED" appear at the beginning of a new clause.
  • Read through the guidelines on the form before submission to ensure that you include all required information. 
We're accepting resolutions now! Please use this form to submit your resolution. Submissions are due September 1.
 
Update Your Zoom!

Zoom regularly pushes out new versions of their desktop client and mobile app to fix bugs, add enhancements, and address security concerns.

Zoom pushed out a new update on Monday, August 2nd. If you haven't updated your Zoom, consider this your reminder to do so!

Click here for more information and to select the download you need (PC, Mac, Linux, mobile).

Youth & Family Formation


Children's Faith Formation at Home on MDI
Brad Berry and Chris Krenicki of Church of Our Father send home materials to support faith formation at home monthly for elementary and middle school aged youth. If you would like to receive these materials or be notified when in person events are happening here for youth in this age range, please be in touch with the parish office. Contact information is at the bottom of this email. 

Pray, Play, Connect: A Fun and Prayerful Space for 6th-12th Graders across the Diocese
Summer registration is now open for Pray, Play, Connect LIVE! Click here to register! The last event  in August is at Camp Bishopswood in Hope on the 29th from 1-4 pm. All youth graduating 5th-12th grade are welcome! If you haven't participated in a diocesan youth event, this is a great opportunity to check one out. FMI: The Rev. Sara D'Angio White, Canon for Youth Formation here.

Let's Talk About It: Compline + Conversation for 9th-12th graders
Fourth Sundays from 7:00-8:30 pm Click here for the ZOOM LINK 
Youth have jumped right in and engaged on difficult subjects, such as school violence and racism. Adults are welcome; contact Sara D'Angio White here.

Summer Finale Day for Youth, Individuals and Families, Sunday, August 29 at Camp Bishopswood
Finale, a day-long diocese-wide program for individuals and households. There will be free diocese-wide programming during the day on Sunday, August 29, including an opportunity for youth completing 5th to 12th grades to break-off during the day- details here. Optional camping is available on both Friday and Saturday nights. Swim, boat, hike, rest, lunch and worship on scenic Lake Megunticook. Diocesan programming is only provided on Sunday, but everything Camp has to offer is available all weekend long. Scholarships are available - we want this to be accessible to all families! FMI: contact Sara D'Angio White at sdangiowhite@episcopalmaine.net.


Adult Formation
 
Contemplative Prayer: How About Adding a Group Contemplative Prayer experience to your spiritual life this summer?
Mother Regina Christianson and the Rev. Dr. Jenny Reece are gathering those who have or would like to learn a centering prayer practice every Friday at 1:00 p.m. at the Oranbega Retreat Center in Orland, Maine, starting on Friday, June 18. Beginners are always welcome, as are the more experienced, so long as they have "beginner's mind"!  If you are interested please call or email Jenny and she will give you directions to Oranbega. 207-952-2363.
Participation via Zoom will be available for those who live too far away to come to Orland for an hour on Fridays. To receive a link, use the above contact info. May your summer be richly blessed with prayer and meditation!
 

 Ignatian Retreat in Everyday Life
The Ignatian Spirituality Partnership of Maine invites you to practice the Spiritual Exercises in Everyday Life with a retreat beginning in early October 2021 and running through June 2022. It's for people who live in or near Maine, and there are options that would permit someone to be fully remote.Find out more and apply at IgnatianME.org or contact Jane Hartwell or the Rev. Holly Hoffmann. Space often fills up, so apply soon.
 
Monthly 'Peacebuilding Online Project' launches August 1st: Join the wider church for this series
 
Episcopal Peace Fellowship (EPF) will host a series of online, 1-hour presentations the first Sunday of each month starting in August on different aspects of and approaches to peacebuilding, both with others and within ourselves. They will meet via Zoom at 4:00 pm. Hear inspiring voices, learn, and discover resources for going deeper. The first offering on Sunday, August 1 is Being the Church in a Fearful Time. Explore all the Peacebuilding Online Project options through January 2022 here.
 
Green Team Summit: An Immersive Virtual Summit on Healing
Join Faith in Place, an ecumenical organization committed to caring for the Earth, from September 12-14 for a 3-night immersive and interactive, online journey into healing.

Faith in Place believes our environmental and social crises are rooted in disconnection. During this summit, you will explore ways to heal our connection with our land, body, mind, spirit, and community.
 
REGISTER HERE

From walking through vividly green wetlands in Shawnee National Forest, to touring a farm, and gathering in a racial healing circle, this virtual Summit will honor our interconnectedness and inspire our environmental work through healing. Learn more here.
Mother Holly's Office Hours
Sunday as scheduled and where needed
Monday at St. John's
Tuesday at St. Saviour's
Wednesday at Church of Our Father
Thursday where needed and sermon preparation

She is happy to schedule an appointment if you would like to see her!
Call the parish office or E-mail her


For pastoral emergencies, call her at 207-244-8144
and leave a message,
if you do not reach her immediately.

 
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT . . .
Weekly Sermon & Services with Bishop Brown
If you missed the homily that Mother Holly offered on Sunday, August 8 during Morning Prayer at St. Saviour's, you can watch a recording of it by visiting the MDI YouTube Channel or clicking here.

Other events during the Bishop's visit the weekend of August 6-8 have been recorded and are available on the MDI-Episcopal YouTube channel. 
The video of the Celebration of New Ministry to be posted soon.
Support the Church  
To facilitate stewardship, the Diocese of Maine has launched an online giving resource at no charge to the parishes. The Diocese will transfer the funds you give to your church or summer chapel using this online payment system. Simply select your church and set up your one-time or recurring gift or establish automatic weekly or monthly donations to the parish, either charged to your credit card or to your personal checking or savings account. You can also name your gift in memory or honor of someone through this site in the memo section. Congregation names begin with their town; chapels begin with "Chapel" followed by town and chapel name. Click here to visit the online giving portal of the Diocese.

As always, the church accepts other forms of donations. Contact the church office if you would like to request pledge envelopes for the future. 
Donate to Your Church
AND, AS ALWAYS . . .
Fun & Fellowship
 
St. Andrew and St. John has music available on their website by Stephen Byers Sampson at any time. You may go to their website by clicking here  then click on the Music tab on the left side of the page

Devotional Materials to Support Prayer at Home 

  • Teen Simple Daily Devotional https://d365.org/ This resource is used by teens across the country. It walks you through simple daily devotionals (sort of like meditations). You could use it any day, to strengthen you on your faith journey.
  • Forward Movement has the daily office (morning prayer, noonday prayer, evening prayer, or compline) on the Forward Movement Daily Prayer website.
  • There is also a daily podcast, A Morning at the Office, with various people leading the prayers and reading the scripture lessons for the day.
  • The popular daily devotion Forward Day by Day is posted each day online, and it too is available as a podcast.
  • Hardcopies of the Day By Day readers are available by contacting the church office or stopping by when the parish office is open. 
Community Resources
 
Everybody Eats Free Community Meal is a project whose goal is to provide free, healthful and wholesome meals to the Ellsworth community. Visit their Facebook page at
 https://www.facebook.com/Everybody-Eats-A-Free-Community-Meal-568143769902367/.
Open Table MDI
 exists to inspire strong, loving, and inclusive communities by bringing people together to share in nourishing food.  For more information visit their website here
AA recovery groups, online and in person, in Downeast Maine can be found by clicking here
An AA group meets in St. Saviour's Parish Hall in small groups Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at noon, and on Saturdays, Mondays, and Wednesdays at 7 pm. 
Urgent Message about email, phone and text scams. 

Neither the Rev. Holly Hoffmann nor any member of the church staff or leadership will solicit gifts, specifically gift cards, via email, phone or text directly. Neither will we ask if you are "free now" and request only an email or text response.  Always check the actual email address from the sender to see if it matches Mother Holly's email and do not respond to the email, text or call.   Please report these emails as phishing/scam attempts and block the sender or caller from your inbox or phone . If you are in doubt, or need more information, please contact the parish office. We will return your call.
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