Worship With Us IN PERSON
NEW Service Schedule
Sunday, November 28
First Sunday in Advent
MDI Combined Worship (10:00 am) 10 am at Saint Saviours: Holy Eucharist
Celebrant and Preacher: Rev. Holly Hoffmann
Deacon: The Rev. Mary-Carol Griffin You can always look to the online calendar to see the service schedule: https://mdi-episcopal.org/calendar/
Covid Precautions Masks are required indoors to protect the most vulnerable: younger children, the immunocompromised, and others who have not yet been vaccinated. Pre-registration is not required, and social distancing is encouraged.We will be keep a list of those who attend services, should contact tracing become necessary. Holy Communion will be offered in one-kind only (Bread). If you or a close contact tests positive for Covid, please let Mother Holly know so we can support you in your recovery and communicate with the community as necessary about their possible exposure to the virus while maintaining confidentiality and pastoral privacy.
Using the readings appointed for the day in the Book of Common Prayer,
we will have a service Holy Eucharist.
On the first Wednesday of the month, we will use a Rite I liturgy. | | | Please Wear Your Name Tag to Church 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. | | | Assisting at Services We are in need of support for our worship services: Acolytes, Greeters/Ushers, Lectors, Intercessors, Altar Guild, 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 Requests 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. | | Thanksgiving Prayers
This Wednesday's celebration of Holy Eucharist at Church of Our Father observed Thanksgiving. Please enjoy this service as a part of your holiday. |  | |  | Tonight faith leaders and people of faith from several different religious traditions in the Greater Portland (Maine) area will come together in gratitude. Join us for this worshipful celebration — to sing, to pray, to celebrate the gift of being neighbors and friends, and to give thanks.
https://zoom.us/my/hopegateway
Meeting ID: 533 469 2118
To log in by telephone: 929-205-6099
Meeting ID: 533 469 2118
Facebook Live access: https://www.facebook.com/HopeGateWay/ | | Southwest Harbor's Quietside Cafe and Ice Cream Shop will be offering both free to-go and in-person Thanksgiving meals on Nov. 25. Traditional Thanksgiving meals will be offered from noon to 3 p.m. at its location on 11 Seal Cove Road. The restaurant will not be taking reservations as it will be on a first come, first serve basis. | | | | IMPORTANT NEWS and DATES! | | | | St. John's Office temporarily closed
Please be aware that Michele, the SASJ Parish Administrator, will be away now through December 5. | | | | November 28 at 10 am: Island-wide Worship Our next shared, island-wide Episcopal worship service will be on Sunday, November 28 at St. Saviour's. | | November 28: Christmas Gift Cards for Local High School Students The parishes of Church of Our Father, St. Andrew and John, and St. Saviour all participate in the outreach ministry which provides $50 Gift cards at the holidays to local island students in need. The students are anonymous to us and selected by their counsellors. If you are a parishioner at any parish and would like to donate a $50 gift card (or money towards it), please contact Pat Samuel by e-mail or by phone (see your copy of the church directory for e-mail address or number). Also, Church of Our Father is providing some funds for the gift cards from their 2021 Outreach funds. Thank you for thinking of these students! ANY LOOSE PLATE CASH OR DESIGNATED CHECKS PUT IN THE OFFERTORY PLATE THIS SUNDAY AT THE ISLAND-WIDE SERVICE WILL SUPPORT THIS PROJECT. November 28: Advent Wreath Making at St. John's at 2 pm  Gather outside at St. John's at 2 pm on the first Sunday of Advent to make Advent wreaths with real candles and fresh greens. Hot cider to be served. This is a great activity for people of all ages! Consider inviting a young person in your life to join you in making advent wreaths to mark the weeks to Christmas Day. Questions? Contact Dianne McMullan or speak with Edie Stanwood. Cost is $10 if you need a wire candle ring, $5 for candles, $0 if you have both. Come join the fun! Slow down. Quiet. It's Advent. Coloring Calendars Jay Sidebotham coloring calendars will be available at all churches on Advent 1. In years past, people have found coloring this creative calendar a relaxing way to center themselves and slow down during this season of preparation for the birth of Jesus Christ. | | | December 1: Personal Wreath Orders Due If you would like to purchase a homemade wreath for the holidays for yourself or others through ECW, the cost will be $22 for a single with a bow, $30 for a single with additional decorations, and $30 for a double with a bow. This is a fundraiser for ECW (Episcopal Church Women). Please contact Sue Olson (info. in parish directory) before Wednesday, December 1, then mail your check to Church of Our Father. Please be very clear in your note enclosed with your check and write "ECW Christmas Wreaths" in the Memo Line.
The form to enclose with it is accessible by clicking here! | | | December 12: Christmas Cookie Ministry There are two opportunities to donate cookies to fill tins for folks in our community who are homebound. We need both bakers and helpers! Fully decorated cookies will be brought in on December 12, the 3rd Sunday of Advent. Contact Pat Samuel or Gail Leland to volunteer to help bake or deliver (see the church directory). Please contact Pat, Gail, or Mother Holly if you have someone you think should receive a tin from any of the three parishes. | | | Concerts! SAVE the DATES:
December 4 Acadia Choral Society, St. Saviour's 7 pm
December 5 Acadia Choral Society, St. Saviour's 3 pm
December 12 Harborside Trio, St. John's 2 pm
December 17 Bagaduce Chorale, St. Saviour's in the afternoon
| | | | Christmas Worship Schedule on MDI
Christmas Eve, December 24
4 pm Church of Our Father, The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
4 pm St. Mary's, The Rev. Stephen Muncie
7 pm St. Saviour's, The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
9:30 pm St. John's, The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
Christmas Day, December 25
10 am St. John's, The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
10 am St. Mary's, The Rev. Stephen Muncie | | | | Covid Task Force Update Our Covid Task Force of the Episcopal churches of MDI have started meeting regularly again due to the increase of cases in Maine. We reviewed our protocols: - Masking is required for all, regardless of vaccination status at all indoor gatherings
- Social distancing will be marked within the worship space of all our churches
- We will keep a list to assist in contact tracing should that be necessary
- Refreshments will be only served outdoors (as has been our policy)
- Ushers, take care to encourage masking when entering the building and maintaining social distancing, especially during the distribution of Communion
| | Booster Vaccine Doses:
The latest from the Maine CDC: "The U.S. CDC recommends that some individuals who received the Pfizer vaccine get a booster dose. This includes those who are 65 years and older, residents in long-term care facilities, and people ages 50-64 years with underlying medical conditions. People ages 18-49 with underlying medical conditions and those ages 18-64 at increased risk for COVID-19 exposure and transmission may also receive a booster. For more information, see this FAQ. To find a booster dose of the Pfizer vaccine, find a vaccination site offering the Pfizer shot."
Read the complete information at the Maine CDC website: https://www.maine.gov/covid19/vaccines | | | |
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.
Episcopal Maine Youth of all ages are gathering online
| | All youth grades 6-12 are invited to join a fun and prayerful online space each month! The next meeting for this age group is Monday, November 18 at 6:30 pm.
No registration needed! Youth can just click here to join via Zoom to spend time getting to know one another, playing some games, and praying together. | | High schoolers and young adults (21 and younger) are also invited to gather for conversation and prayer online.
They can cick here to join on Zoom on the first Monday of each month. The next meeting is Monday, December 6 at 6:30 pm. The group will talk about current events, their faith, God, and everything in between - wherever the conversation goes!
Questions about either of these monthly gatherings? Please contact the Rev. Cn. Sara D'Angio White. | |
Adult Formation
Bible Study with the Rev. Stephen Muncie The Wednesday Morning Bible Study has resumed. If you would like to be added to the class mailing list please send Fr. Steve an email here: Email Father Steve. Contemplative Prayer Group: 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! If you intend to come to Orland in person, please call or text Jenny at 207-952-2363 for the schedule, as the meeting will be Zoom only on the weeks when she is absent and Mother Regina is leading the group. | | 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 . . . | | | | New Worship Schedule Starting in November:
9 am at Church of Our Father
11 am at St. Saviour
4 pm at St. John the Divine (moving to 5 pm for the summer months)
This schedule allows Mother Holly to worship with you in a celebration of Holy Eucharist all but one Sunday a month while keeping her Sunday schedule manageable across the three parishes.
Our shared, island-wide Episcopal worship services with St. Mary's and St. Jude's will be on the 4th Sunday of the month at 10 am during the program year in different churches that can host larger worship services. We will continue to have a lay-led prayer services but now only once per month and on a predictable schedule because of the new service times: 1st Sundays of the month will be Morning Prayer at 9 am at Church of Our Father 2nd Sundays will be Morning Prayer at 11 am St. Saviour's 3rd Sundays will be Evening Prayer at 4 pm St. John the Divine All other Sundays will be services of Holy Eucharist, and Mother Holly will be the celebrant unless otherwise noted. You can always look to the online calendar to see the service schedule: https://mdi-episcopal.org/calendar/ | | Volunteer for Upcoming December Diocese-Wide Worship Service!  This is a call for volunteers to participate in the December diocese-wide online worship service. The service will be broadcast on YouTube and Facebook on Sunday, December 26th.
If you or your church have not yet participated in a diocese-wide online worship service, this is a wonderful opportunity to do so. Participating is easy: attend a volunteer meeting to learn more about the process and the liturgy, and then record your part (on your webcam or smartphone) and send it in.
If you are interested in participating in the December service, please email Director of Communications Katie Clark at your earliest convenience. | | | | 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 | | | Warning 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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