Worship With Us IN PERSON Masks are required indoors to protect the most vulnerable:
younger children, the immunocompromised, and others who have not yet been vaccinated.
Coffee hour will be held only outdoors and canceled in poor weather.
Pre-registration is not required, and social distancing is encouraged.
Holy Communion will be offered in one-kind only (Bread). Sunday, September 5 8 am at St Andrew by-the-Lake: Holy Eucharist Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Regina Christianson 10 am at Church of Our Father: Lay Led Morning Prayer Officiant / Preacher: James Kitler 10 am at St. John the Divine: Lay Led Morning Prayer Officiant / Preacher: Ted Fletcher
In good weather, worship at St. John's will be outdoors and masking will be optional. In poor weather, we will be indoors and masked.
10 am at St. Saviour's: Holy Eucharist
Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
Preacher: The Rev. Dr. Regina Christianson
Deacon: The Rev. Mary-Carol Griffin By design, there will be Holy Eucharist offered on each side of MDI every Sunday in the parishes of the Partnership. You are also 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.
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, September 8 with the Rev. Holly Hoffmann. | | | Assisting at Services We are in need of support for our worship services: Acolytes, 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! | | | Please Wear Your Name Tag Remember that wearing your name tag at worship is helpful to each other, Mother Holly, supply clergy, and to visitors! If you would like a new name tag, contact your Parish Administrator. | | | 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. | | | REMEMBERING THOSE IMPACTED BY HURRICANE IDA Please keep all those who are affected by Ida in your prayers and the first responders who are helping every day.
"The road to recovery will be long, but I am certain of our strength and resiliency," wrote Bishop Morris Thompson, Diocese of Louisiana, in a letter posted on the diocesan website.
On Sunday, August 29, sixteen years after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, Hurricane Ida made landfall in the same region. This Category 4 storm brought flooding and damaging winds that caused a loss of water to hundreds of thousands and a loss of electricity to over 1 million people. Click here for up to date information. Episcopal Relief & Development is working closely with the Diocese of Louisiana and other regional partners in what will be a long-term response. If you wish to make a donation to Episcopal Relief and Development for Hurricane Ida, please visit the website of Episcopal Relief and Development: episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-relief
 | | | REMEMBERING THE PEOPLE OF HAITI We remember the people of Haiti as they recover from the devastating 7.2 magnitude earthquake on August 14. The Episcopal Church has a long presence in Haiti and the Diocese of Haiti with over 92,000 members is the largest diocese in the Episcopal Church. Over 1,400 people have died, over 25 health clinics have been destroyed, and Tropical Storm Grace has brought torrential rains, flooding, and landslides, which have made rescue and relief efforts more challenging. If you wish to assist the people of Haiti, please visit the website of Episcopal Relief and Development: episcopalrelief.org | | | A PRAYER FROM THE PRESIDING BISHOP ON AFGHANISTAN:
Eternal God, hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan. There is a profound humanitarian crisis. Countless people, mostly women and children, are now fleeing and vulnerable. The lives of many are now endangered. The hopes of many are forgone. Send your Spirit, Lord, to rally the resolve of the nations of the earth to find pathways to save human lives, protect human rights, and to resolve the hardships of those seeking refuge, asylum, and safety. Hear our prayer for the peoples of Afghanistan. This we pray as followers of Jesus, the Prince of Peace. Amen.
The Most Rev. Michael Bruce Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
The Episcopal Church
NOTE: For the many people who have asked how they can support The Episcopal Church's efforts to resettle and provide direct assistance to Afghans seeking special immigrant visas, please visit episcopalmigrationministries.org/give. | | | IMPORTANT NEWS and DATES! | | | | In Memoriam
A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, September 3 at 10 a.m. at Church of Our Father for Gail Reeves, who died August 23.
A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, September 4 at 1p.m. at St. John's Church for Chuck Scott-Henderson, who died June 23. | | | | Reflection: A Letter from the MDI Clergy
as read in church last Sunday, August 29, 2021
Dear Good People of the Episcopal Parishes of Mount Desert Island,
MDI Hospital released a statement on Friday (8/27) pleading with Maine community leaders and citizens to do all that we can to halt the spread of the coronavirus. The letter shared that there were more than a dozen positive cases here at MDI Hospital just this past week. At least three places of business in Southwest Harbor closed their doors as of Friday due to Covid exposure. Closures have also occurred in Bar Harbor and Northeast Harbor.
We are in a new time within this pandemic. The delta variant presents new challenges to us. Even if vaccinated, we have now learned we can transmit the virus to others and we can suffer with long term ailments due to exposure to the coronavirus.
The MDI Covid Task Force re-instituted our weekly meetings, and we are discussing measures that will support the health and wellbeing of our community in this new chapter.
As the clergy of our faith community, we are committed to following the recommendations of our public health professionals by masking while indoors in public, keeping social distance whenever possible in public settings, and practicing good hand sanitization. We, along with our bishop, continue to encourage everyone to be vaccinated against Covid-19. We urge us to do all that we can to halt the spread of this deadly and damaging virus and to protect the most vulnerable among us, including children, the immunocompromised, and the unvaccinated.
The letter from MDI Hospital shared that as hospitalizations increase across the state, there are fewer ICU beds available for those who become sick with the virus and for those who need the specialized health care of ICU for other reasons. On Thursday, Dr. Nirav Shah, Director of the Maine CDC, shared that of the 332 total ICU beds in Maine, only 34 remained available for new patients that day. Imagine needing the care of the ICU and being told that no beds anywhere in the state are available.
MDI Hospital implores the citizens of our Island community to continue our cooperation and collaborative partnerships that have kept our community as safe as we have been so far during the pandemic. They encourage us to employ mitigation strategies for the virus such as "vaccination, masking, distancing, and avoiding large gatherings and crowded situations."
With compassion and care for every person, we can work together and do all in our power to "reverse this troubling trend for our region" and reveal the compassion and care of God for all people.
Faithfully,
The Rev. Dr. William Hague
The. Rev. Holly Hoffmann
The Rev. Stephen Muncie | | Be a part of the Diocesan Convention Virtual Choir
| | You are invited to sing in a virtual choir presenting music during the 202nd Convention of the Diocese of Maine "Go Forth with Hope and Grace" on October 23! We welcome singers of any age to participate including those who aren't church members.
Soon after signing-up, you will receive a confirmation email with detailed instructions. Each singer should register individually. Recordings will need to be submitted by September 27. | | | One of our virtual choir videos (above) from last year's convention has received more than 9,300 views...be a part of this year's contribution to the 202nd Convention! | | | | | 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.
Adult Formation
Bible Study with the Rev. Stephen Muncie on Wednesday mornings resumes in September. Email Father Steve, if you are interested in learning more.
BTS: Climate Solutions & Spiritual Leadership: A Conversation with leaders from the All We Can Save anthology An online event featuring Dr. Katharine K. Wilkinson in conversation with Heather McTeer Toney and Mary Anne Hitt, and artwork presented by Madeleine Jubilee Saito. Thursday, September 9, 2021 • 7:00pm-8:15pm (Eastern) Program Fee: $15. We have unlimited scholarships available for this event. If you would like to participate but cannot afford the fee, we invite you to go ahead and select the "$0 - I'm participating with a scholarship" option on the online registration form. This event is a celebration of All We Can Save, an anthology of writings by 60 women* at the forefront of the climate movement who are harnessing truth, courage, and solutions to lead humanity forward. 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! | 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.
| | | 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 a sermon offered by Mother Holly, you can watch a recording of it by visiting the MDI Episcopal YouTube Channel.
Other events during the Bishop's visit the weekend of August 6-8 have been recorded and are available on the channel as well.
The video of the Celebration of New Ministry to be posted soon. | | | Episcopal Bishop Mandates Vaccinations For Clergy and Diocesan Staff
The Episcopal Diocese of Maine is mandating that all of its diocesan staff and clergy must be vaccinated for COVID-19 by the end of September. Bishop Thomas Brown says the decision was reached after consulting with several other spiritual leaders ...
Read more
www.mainepublic.org
Mother Holly has been fully vaccinated since April, when her age group became eligible to receive the vaccine in Maine. | | | | Preparing for the 202nd Convention of the Diocese | | | "Go forth with hope and grace" | | | | | Support Your 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. | | | 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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