Friday, February 11, 2022

Worship Schedule, News, & More from the MDI Partnership!


Thursday, February 10, 2022

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 and ONLINE
Sunday, February 13, 2022

Holy Eucharist*
9 am at Church of Our Father

Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
Deacon: The Rev. Mary Carol Griffin

 * = At the time of the service, we will live stream to YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MDIEPISCOPAL

Morning Prayer
11 am at St. Saviour's, Bar Harbor

Officiant: Linda Foster
Wifi expansion is still in process so this service will not be streamed. 

Holy Eucharist*
4 pm at St. John the Divine 

Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann
 
 * = At the time of the service, we will live stream to YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/MDIEPISCOPAL

We will return to singing at St. John's by singing the TaizĂ© Song and the Final Hymn starting this Sunday!


You can always look to the online calendar to see the service schedule:
 https://mdi-episcopal.org/calendar/

Worship services will be held even in the event of snow.
Make good decisions for yourself on whether to drive in to church 
or not.
Midweek Holy Eucharist on MDI
Wednesdays 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 Holy Eucharist.
On the first Wednesday of the month, we will use a Rite I liturgy.

Covid Precautions:

If you are exhibiting any of the symptoms of Covid,
please choose to attend a service online. 

Everyone masks indoors.
Wear a medical-grade mask (double mask, if using cloth).
Medical masks are available at all churches. 
Socially distanced seating.
Communion in one-kind, Bread only.
Sanitize your hands prior to receiving Communion. 
Contact tracing sign in for visitors and guests.


God bless you for keeping our church, our community, 
and our loved ones safe.
 
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.
Weekly Sermons and More
Sunday, February 6th Sermon:
(live streamed from St. John the Divine)
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAbW5jIB00M

Sermon by the Rev. Holly Hoffmann on the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany February 6, 2022 at St. John the Divine, Southwest Harbor, ME. "Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?" And I said, "Here am I; send me!" (Isaiah 6:1-8) and "Then Jesus said to Simon, 'Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people.'" (Luke 5:1-11). Sermon begins at 2:12.
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!
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.
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. 
IMPORTANT EVENTS and DATES!
Shared Faith Café:
Every Tuesday at 11:30 am - Noon
 
Connect with familiar faces, make new friends, and visit with people who are away from MDI for the winter months! 

Join Mother Holly and others in your faith community on Zoom for a cup of tea or coffee you brew in the comfort of your home. We will meet for 30 minutes once a week through the months of February and March.
Click here to join the Zoom.
No passcode needed.


Circles of Caring:
Every Wednesday at 5:30 pm - 6:30 pm

 
As the pandemic continues, a number of us have been feeling a lack of connectedness. There's an opportunity for anyone in the Partnership to join a " Circle of Caring" where you can connect with others. Please feel free to extend this invitation to anyone you think would be interested. The groups are fluid, no necessary commitment, just a opportunity to "see: friends, meet new ones, and reach out to others.
 
If you are interested but unavailable for this Wednesday's Zoom, let Pat and Roger Samuel know. You can contact them by emailing click here.
February 12: Evening Music Concert at 4 pm

St. Saviour's Episcopal Church is pleased to announce that its series of chamber-music concerts, "Evening Music," continues on Saturday, February 12 at 4:00 pm. Members of the Baroque Orchestra of Maine will perform a program of music for violin, cello, and harpsichord by Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi, played on period instruments. Violinist Heidi Powell will be joined by harpsichordist Daniel Pyle playing one of Bach's six sonatas for violin and harpsichord. These works were probably the best-known of Bach's compositions during his lifetime, and were held in high esteem continuously from the time of their composition in the early 1720s, unlike much of Bach's music. A sonata for cello by Vivaldi will be played by Max Treitler, and all three musicians will join together to play two sonatas for violin and basso-continuo by Bach's contemporary Handel.

 

The concerts are presented in the sanctuary at St. Saviour's, at 41 Mount Desert Street in Bar Harbor. Admission will be free, but donations to the Friends of Music at St. Saviour's are requested. The building is fully accessible to all; and all members of the audience are required to wear face-coverings.

Future concerts scheduled will be as follows:

March 19 — Daniel Pyle, harpsichord, playing Bach's Art of Fugue

April 23 — Harmonie Universelle, playing chamber music with flute

May 21 — Baroque Orchestra of Maine

June 18 — Baroque Orchestra of Maine

Further information is available by writing to St. Saviour's at music@stsaviours.me, or at https://www.baroqueorchestraofmaine.org/

February 20: Forum on Restoring Sovereignty to the Wabanaki

The Racial Justice Council and Committee on Indian Relations of the Episcopal Diocese of Maine invite you, on February 20 at 2:00 pm, to a public forum in support of "An Act Implementing the Recommendations of the Task Force on Changes to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Implementing Act" (LD 1626).

Maulian Dana, Ambassador of the Penobscot Nation, will be the keynote speaker. Bishop Thomas Brown will offer the opening prayer. The forum will take place via a Zoom Webinar, hosted by Christ Church, Gardiner. 

If passed, the bill will restore to the Wabanaki tribes their inherent sovereignty over the territories in which they reside. Maine is the only state in the nation which blocks such sovereignty. (Learn more about sovereignty here in this document from the Committee on Indian Relations.)
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE FORUM ON FEB. 20
 
We hope you will join us to become better informed about this act, and to learn what you can do to promote passage of LD 1626!

Read these recently published messages of support from members throughout the diocese:
February 23 and 24: 
Community Read Invitation on MDI
The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a changing world
 
The MDI Partnership with St. Mary and St. Jude's is hosting an online screening of the film Mission: Joy Finding Happiness in Troubled Times. This series is open to anyone, so this is a great opportunity to invite a friend to participate in a church community event! Simply forward them this email. 

Read the Book
1. Join the community and read the book upon which the documentary is based: The Book of Joy: Lasting happiness in a changing world. 

Sherman's Maine Coast Book Shop in downtown Bar Harbor has copies of this book in stock for $26. It is also available on Amazon ($20) Audible.com (1 credit or $24) and on Kindle ($15) and Barnes and Noble Nook ($15) and in Large Print ($25).  Mother Holly has also received a donation of a few books, so be in touch with her if finances are a reason you might not participate. 

Discuss the Book
2. A book discussion will be held Thursday evening on February 24 over Zoom at 7 pm. Click here to join the Zoom. An in-person book talk will be hosted by Church of Our Father on Wednesday, February 23 at 9 am in their Parish Hall following the 8 am service of Holy Eucharist. Please email Mother Holly if you would like to attend. (limit to 20 people, masked and socially distanced)   
 
To watch the sermon where Mother Holly introduces this opportunity, CLICK HERE
IMPORTANT NEWS
Covid Task Force Update

Our Covid Task Force of the four Episcopal parishes of MDI meet biweekly.

We will continue: 
  • Masking 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 of attendees at services to assist in contact tracing, should that be necessary
  • Refreshments will be only served outdoors (as has been our policy)
  • Ushers will take care to remind people of masking when entering the building and maintaining social distancing, especially during the distribution of Communion
  • The celebrant will either mask during the celebration of the Eucharist or cover the elements being consecrated so as to not unknowingly transmit the virus 
  • Continue to promote other online opportunities for worship such as at St. Luke's Cathedral, the National Cathedral, and monthly diocesan pre-recorded services
  • Limit congregational singing (specifics to be determined at the parish level by the priest based on the particular context and in discussion with the Music Director and wardens)  
  • Offer a streamed, in-real-time option for attending worship wherever possible (currently only Church of Our Father and St. John's have this capacity; St. Saviour's is soon to have this capacity)
  • The clergy request that all mask during visits to parishioners' homes for the safety of all. 
  • Encourage people to not cluster or block exits following a service so that those who want to exit swiftly may do so.
  • Promote the option of attending the Wednesday 8 am service of Holy Eucharist at Church of Our Father where social distancing is easily maintained. 
Note: Full vaccinations expected, unless medically prohibited. 

We will extend precautions to include: 
  • Move all parish meetings and gatherings online (for example, vestry and parish meetings). Small groups from inside the parish and outside the parish may continue to meet in person and follow our Covid protocols
  • We will not hold island-wide worship in January and February so as to not gather in as large a number at this time. 
  • Encourage booster shots, as the medical community now considers this a part of being "fully vaccinated." 
February 19: Bar Harbor Regency COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic: First, Second, Third and Booster Doses Available

Mount Desert Island Hospital is offering a vaccine clinic in the lobby of the Bar Harbor Regency, on Saturday, February 19. Moderna, Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and boosters will be available. Pfizer is the only vaccine currently authorized for children ages 5-17. If you plan to receive your first dose at the Regency, you will need to find accommodations for your follow-up doses at another location. Book your appointment here: https://www.mdihospital.org/covid-19-vaccine/


Age 5+ eligible to schedule COVID-19 vaccination, Age 12+ eligible for booster

COVID-19 vaccination and booster shots are available by appointment at the Community Health Center, Cooper Gilmore, and Trenton Health Center.

The Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine is the only vaccine currently authorized for children ages 5-17. Everyone age 12+ is eligible for a booster shot. You must be 5 months past your second dose of Pfizer/Moderna or 2 months past your first dose of Johnson & Johnson to receive a booster dose. If you would like to schedule a COVID-19 vaccination or booster, please call one of our vaccination sites below or check our Bar Harbor Regency Clinic calendar. COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are also available by appointment at local pharmacies in Bar Harbor, Southwest Harbor and Ellsworth.

Call now to schedule your vaccine or booster (Pfizer/J&J):
Cooper Gilmore Health Center: 207-288–5024 17 Hancock Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Community Health Center:  207-244–5630 16 Community Lane, Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
Trenton Health Center: 207-667–5899 394 Bar Harbor Road, Trenton, ME 04605

** Get free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests **

1) Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order 4 free at-⁠home COVID-⁠19 tests. 
The tests are completely free. Orders will usually ship in 7-12 days.


Order your tests now so you have them when you need them: https://www.covidtests.gov


Project ACT 
2) Additional Free Tests can be ordered for those living in some communities in Hancock County. Search by Zip Code: https://www.accesscovidtests.org

Growing in Faith
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. 


Connect with other Episcopal Maine households walking the path of faith via this private Facebook group. Our team will provide curated resources, and we will be resources for one another.

 
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, February 21 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, March 7 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 on Wednesday mornings at 10 am.  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. Beginners are always welcome, as are the more experienced, so long as they have "beginner's mind"!  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. If you intend to come to Orland in person, please call or text Jenny at 207-952-2363 for the schedule (or if you need directions), as the meeting will be Zoom only on the weeks when she is absent and Mother Regina is leading the group.
An Invitation to Pray

.David Janssen. Email questions to  here to "start to pray". Sign up for a time slot that isn't yet taken. You will receive an automatic reminder to let you know your prayer time is coming. Find prayer guidesClick hereJoin them in praying 24/7 for Church and regional renewal, transformation, and awakening. Tony Sousa, Senior Warden of Church of Our Father in Hulls Cove, encourages churches in our diocese to become involved.  is a nondenominational effort to renew Christianity in New England. Transformation Northeast
Praying Compline in the Diocese
Monday-Friday at 8 pm 

A core community at the Cathedral of St. Luke, Portland have been praying the service of Compline together for sometime. They would now like to invite anyone in the diocese to come and pray with them! Follow this Zoom link to join them Monday through Friday at 8:00pm. They look forward to meeting you as they end the day in prayer together.
Prayers of the Parishes
We pray for the victims of the recent natural disasters around the world.
We pray for all essential services personnel, the first responders and healthcare workers affected by the pandemic.

Church of Our Father 
Please let us know if we don't have your birthdate or anniversary date to celebrate! shalomcoof@gmail.com
Birthdays:
February 19  Mother Holly Hoffmann
February 19   Steve Biggers
February 23  Ken Linscott
February 29  Mary Leland-Hopkins 
 

Anniversaries:
2/14  Frank Gray and Ada Hatch
 
St. Saviour

We pray for Yolanda Ferrari, Cheryl Kolodziej, Julie Grindle, Geoff Schuller, Eleanor Raynes, Howard Brush, John Stewart, Ruth Westphal, Gretchen Westphal, Lucy Triplett, Gail Leland, Christopher Lebida, Christopher Walls, Linda Carman, Mary Smith, John Fibiger, Ray McDonald, Emily O'Connor, Sarah Cleaves, Nicholas, Janet Flood, Rachel, Mimi, Charlie, Sarah B., Dickie, Alex, Penny Ayer, Arletta Sullivan, and Anne Cleaves.   

Please let us know of any updates.

Please let us know if we don't have your birthdate or anniversary date to celebrate!  info@stsaviours.me
Birthdays:
February 10 Diane Zito
February 11 Marsha Lyons
February 12 Alan Pappas
February 13 Mary ellen Sharp
February 14 Gail Leiser
                        Lisa Tweedie
February 15 Pat Buccello
February 19  Mother Holly
February 21 Susan Blaisdell
February 24 Joshua Bloom
February 28 Scott Allen 
Anniversaries:

None at the moment. Are we missing yours? 
St. Andrew and St. John

We pray for Mary Ann Mahoney, Liz, Edie Stanwood, Susan Buell, Elizabeth Ward, Bunny Watts, Anne Wetzel, Paul Haertel, Chuck Bradshaw, Ted Bromage, Jean Storace, Spencer Ervin, Geoff Schuller, Doris McCorison, Gail Leland, Michael Shook, Joyce and Jim Risser, Loretta Schmidt, Theresa Mitchell, Fred & Dollis Sprague, Sara Winchenbach, Richard Ramsdell, Dorothy & Jim Clunan, Bill and Barbara Loveland.


Please let us know if we don't have your birthdate or anniversary date to celebrate!  sasj@mdi-episcopal.org
Birthdays:
February 16 - Zachary DaCosta
February 19 - Candace DaCosta
February 19 - Mother Holly
February 24 - Michael DaCosta
Anniversaries:
February 14 - Glenn Milligan and Michele Daley
 
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 on Zoom or in person, 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 . . .
$$   No Frills Oil Discount  $$
No Frills Oil gives a discount to all Episcopalians for a private home: 8 cents off the cash price. Inquire directly with No Frills and contact Andrew McMullan, Junior Warden of St. Andrew and St. John, with questions. 
Support Your Church
Online Giving
To facilitate stewardship, the Diocese of Maine has an online giving site 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 or click the button below. 

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
Stewardship: 
If you haven't returned your pledge card, please do so now.
If you did not receive a pledge card and would like to, please contact the parish office.
 
Stock Gifts 

Gifts of appreciated stocks are greatly appreciated and can have significant tax advantages. (Please consult your tax advisor for details.) To make such a gift to your church, please follow the following procedures: 

For Instructions for giving to Church of Our Father, click here. 

For Instructions for giving to St. Andrew and St. John, click here.

For Instructions for giving to St. Saviour's, click here.

AND, AS ALWAYS . . .

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
 
AA recovery groups, online and in person, in Downeast Maine can be found by clicking here.

Downeast Community Partners DCP brings community resources together to help people in Washington and Hancock counties achieve self-sufficiency and a better quality of life. Our Housing division helps people maintain safe, affordable, energy-efficient housing (including heating assistance through the THAW program). Our Transportationdivision staff travels over a million miles each year, helping people get to medical appointments, senior food programs and other important services. Helping Hands Garage helps people buy affordable roadworthy vehicles. Friendship Cottage in Blue Hill offers an Adult Day Service Program. Our Energy Services division provides a variety of services to prevent hunger, hypothermia, and homelessness. At Home provides services to assist seniors aging in place. Everybody Eats! provides a free community meal each week to Ellsworth area residents. Our Early Care and Education program provides Head Start, Early Head Start, Pre-K and Childcare services to local families. Our Supportive Services division provides support to individuals and families working to make changes in their lives.  Nurse Bridging and Maternal and Child Health services provide caring nurse support to families with infants and small children. Peninsula Free Health Service provides free medical care to the uninsured on the Blue Hill Peninsula. https://www.downeastcommunitypartners.org

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

Westside Food Pantry Distribution of vouchers at St. John the Divine in Southwest Harbor occur on the first Sunday (12:00-2:00) and third Sunday (12:00-1:00) of each month from November through April and beyond, if necessary. We invite you to visit the facebook page where you will find periodic announcements and information about the Westside Food Pantry.  Please visit the page at: https://www.facebook.com/WestsideFoodPantry and like it.

 
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.
MDI Episcopal Website
MDI Episcopal YouTube
Email
The MDI Episcopal Partnership 

St. Andrew's and St. John's
PO Box 767
Southwest Harbor, ME 04679
GPS Location: 315 Main Street, Southwest Harbor, Maine 

207-244-3229       Email the Parish Office    http://standrewstjohn.blogspot.com

St. Andrew's and St. John's parish office is staffed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays from 9 am to 2 pm. 

Church of Our Father 
P.O. Box 186
Hulls Cove, Maine 04644
GPS Location: 91 State Highway 3, Bar Harbor, Maine

207-288-4849      Email The Parish Office        https://www.churchofourfather.org/


St. Saviour's 
41 Mt. Desert Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609
207-288-4215   Email the Parish Office
      www.StSaviours.me

St. Saviour's Parish office is staffed Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from noon to 3 pm, and Tuesdays from 8 am to 4 pm.


The sanctuary and parish hall of all churches are accessible.


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