Join us for worship

Worship Reminder from the Parishes of St. Andrew and St. John, Church of Our Father, & St. Saviour   Join Us for Worship: Sunday, March 20, 2022 Sunday services of Holy Eucharist will be livestreamed to our YouTube channel at the time of the service: https://www.youtube.com/c/MDIEPISCOPAL   Morning Prayer 9 am at Church of Our Father Officiant: Brad Berry click here for the bulletin Holy Eucharist 11 am at St. Saviour's, Bar Harbor Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann click here for the bulletin Holy Eucharist 4 pm at St. John the Divine  Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann click here for the bulletin   You can always look to the online calendar to see the service schedule:  https://mdi-episcopal.org/calendar/ ************* If you are looking for other online worship, please visit (click on church name):  St. Luke's Cathedral at 10 am The National Cathedral at 11:15 am     To support prayer at home, we will distribute this order of service. Many thanks to the Rev. Stephen Muncie and the parish of St. Mary and St. Jude for sharing this resource with us. Worship at Home: Fifth Sunday in Lent   A Service of Readings and Prayers for when we are unable to attend worship.   The Greeting and Confession   To the Lord our God belong mercy and forgiveness, because we have rebelled against him and have not obeyed the voice of the Lord our God by following his laws which he set before us.    -Daniel 9:9, 10   The Lord is full of compassion and mercy: Come let us adore him.   Let us confess our sins against God and our neighbor. Silence may be kept.   Most merciful God, we confess that we have sinned against you in thought, word, and deed, by what we have done, and by what we have left undone. We have not loved you with our whole heart; we have not loved our neighbors as ourselves. We are truly sorry and we humbly repent. For the sake of your Son Jesus Christ, have mercy on us and forgive us; that we may delight in your will, and walk in your ways, to the glory of your Name. Amen.   Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us all our sins through our Lord Jesus Christ, strengthen us in all goodness, and by the power of the Holy Spirit keep us in eternal life. Amen.       The Lessons   The First Lesson   Isaiah 43:16-21 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old. I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself so that they might declare my praise.   The Response   Psalm 126 In convertendo   1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, * then were we like those who dream. 2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, * and our tongue with shouts of joy. 3 Then they said among the nations, * "The Lord has done great things for them." 4 The Lord has done great things for us, * and we are glad indeed. 5 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, * like the watercourses of the Negev. 6 Those who sowed with tears * will reap with songs of joy. 7 Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, * will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.   The Second Lesson   Philippians 3:4b-14 If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death, if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.   The Gospel Lesson   John 12:1-8 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."     The Apostles' Creed I believe in God, the Father almighty,     creator of heaven and earth; I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.     He was conceived by the power of the Holy Spirit         and born of the Virgin Mary.     He suffered under Pontius Pilate,         was crucified, died, and was buried.     He descended to the dead.     On the third day he rose again.     He ascended into heaven,         and is seated at the right hand of the Father.     He will come again to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit,     the holy catholic Church,     the communion of saints,     the forgiveness of sins     the resurrection of the body,     and the life everlasting. Amen.      The Prayers Prayers are offered for the whole world; for those we love; for the sick and the suffering; for those working to respond to the pandemic, especially all health care workers, physicians, nurses, emergency responders and support staff, and for scientists, researchers, and leaders of governments; for the poor, the homeless, and the uninsured; for the dying and the dead; for those who mourn; and for our communities, friends, and neighbors, and for other prayer concerns.   The Lord's Prayer Our Father, who art in heaven,      hallowed be thy Name,      thy kingdom come,      thy will be done,          on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread. And forgive us our trespasses,      as we forgive those          who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation,      but deliver us from evil. For thine is the kingdom,      and the power, and the glory,      for ever and ever. Amen.   The Collect of the Day Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of the world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.   Prayers of the People   God of compassion, you give water in the wilderness and call dry bones to dance. Hear us as we pray for all who are in need.   For the Church: that we may be instruments of hope to all who are bear the burden of loss and despair; God of mercy…. Save your people.   For people of other faiths; and all who seek the truth. especially for our Muslim friends and neighbors as they begin Ramadan: that together we may witness to God's loving-kindness; God of mercy…. Save your people,   For Michael, our Presiding Bishop; Thomas, our bishop; and for all who serve the Church, especially for the parishes of Mount Desert Island: that God will fill us with wisdom, humility, and love; God of mercy…. Save your people.   For an end to war and violence throughout the world; especially for the people of Ukraine; for all refugees; and for wise and just political leadership in every land: that God will lead the human family to peace and goodwill; God of mercy,…. Save your people.   For healing within families: that God will heal the wounds of words and deeds so that families may support one another with tender-hearts; God of mercy... Save your people.   For all who are suffering for the Gospel: that God will strengthen them and help them to offer faithful witness to Christ; God of mercy... Save your people.   For those who must fast every day; for the hungry, the homeless, and the oppressed: that they may know justice on earth; God of mercy…. Save your people.   For the gift of a new beginning: that God will transform our fears into hope, and our selfishness into love, God of mercy... Save your people.   For all who face prejudice and discrimination: that God will heal their wounds and strengthen our commitment to respect the dignity of all people; God of mercy…. Save your people.   For those the Church has injured or offended; and for those we find it hardest to love: that God will forgive our wrongs and resentments; God of mercy….  Save your people.   For those who are sick; especially those suffering from the pandemic; for the safety of all health care workers; and for the hospitalized and the homebound; God of mercy….  Save your people.   We pray for our family members, friends, and neighbors:   At Church of Our Father we pray for those on our prayer list.   At St. Saviour's Parish we pray for Gregory Berube, Connie Brush, 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.   At St. Andrew & St. John we pray for 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 & Barbara Loveland.    I now invite you to offer your own prayers for those in any need or trouble……(silence)…. God of mercy…. Save your people.   For Cassidy Murray, Preston Kenney, and all who have died; and for all who weep and mourn; God of mercy….  Save your people.   We give you thanks for the people and families of our parish, for the special blessing of children in our lives, and for the presence of our visitors and guests today; God of mercy... Save your people.   Concluding Collects   O Dear Lord, three things I pray: to see you more clearly, to love you more dearly and follow you more nearly, day by day. Amen. (St. Richard of Chichester)   Creator God, you prepare a new way in the wilderness and your grace waters the desert. Help us to recognize your hand working miracles beyond our imagining. Open our hearts to be transformed by the new thing you are doing, so that our lives may proclaim the extravagance of your love for all, and its presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.   The Divinity School, Vanderbilt University ("Reprinted from Revised Common Lectionary Prayers, copyright © 2002 Consultation on Common Texts")   For the Human Family O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 815)   For Those We Love Almighty God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come, knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 831)   Let us bless the Lord. Thanks be to God.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit, be with us all evermore. Amen.    2 Corinthians 13:14     View this email in your browser or Click "view entire message" at the bottom if your browser does not display the whole message. 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. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Forward

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

Thursday, March 31, 2022 Weekly News from the Parishes of St. Andrew and St. John, Church of Our Father, & St. Saviour View this email in your browser or Click "view entire message" at the bottom if your browser does not display the whole message. Join Us for Worship: Sunday, April 3, 2022   Morning Prayer 9 am at Church of Our Father Officiant: Brad Berry Holy Eucharist 11 am at St. Saviour's, Bar Harbor Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann Holy Eucharist 4 pm at St. John the Divine  Celebrant: The Rev. Holly Hoffmann Sunday services of Holy Eucharist will be livestreamed to our YouTube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/c/MDIEPISCOPAL You can always look to the online calendar to see the service schedule:  https://mdi-episcopal.org/calendar/ If you are looking for other online worship, please visit (click on church name):  St. Luke's Cathedral at 10 am The National Cathedral at 11:15 am 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.  Our Covid protocols will be followed: Vaccinations expected, unless medically prohibited Everyone masked indoors Socially distanced seating is available, not required Communion in one-kind, Bread only Outdoor coffee hour, weather permitting Sanitize your hands prior to receiving Communion.  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, March 27th Sermon: (live streamed from St. Saviour's)   Sermon by the Rev. Holly Hoffmann Lent IV March 27, 2022 at St. Saviour, Bar Harbor, ME. "But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.' But the father said to his slaves, 'Quickly, bring out a robe--the best one--and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!' And they began to celebrate." (Luke 15:1-3, 11b-32). Sermon begins 4:00. Assisting at Services We are in need of support for our worship services: Acolytes, Greeters/Ushers, Lectors, Intercessors, Altar Guild, Flower 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.  News Sacred Spaces and Thin Places: A Conversation with John Bell   Pastor Rob Benson, of the Bar Harbor Congregational Church, and the Rev. Holly Hoffmann engage with John Bell of the Iona Community in a conversation about creation care, Celtic Spirituality, and Acadia National Park. (Interview held on Monday, March 28, 2022) To learn more about the Iona Community, visit: https://iona.org.uk Holy Week and Easter Services on MDI Palm Sunday 4/10 9:00 am - Church of Our Father  10:00 am - St. Mary's-by-the-Sea  11:00 am - St. Saviour's 4:00 pm - St. John the Divine    Holy Wednesday 4/13 5 pm Taize Prayers, Church of Our Father    Maundy Thursday 4/14 5 pm Holy Eucharist, St. John the Divine   Good Friday 4/15 Noon, St. Mary's-by-the-Sea    Holy Saturday 4/16 Noon, Prayers by the Tomb, in the public cemetery beside St. Saviour's    Easter 4/17 10 am Festive Easter with Brass, Holy Eucharist, St. Saviour's 10 am Holy Eucharist, St. Mary's-by-the-Sea 4 pm Holy Eucharist, St. John the Divine Upcoming Events and Dates Invitation to a Holy, Prayerful Lent  Stations of the Cross Wednesdays, following the 8 am worship service until noon   at Church of Our Father Building off the strong tradition of praying with the Stations of the Cross at this parish, individuals are welcome to pray the Stations of the Cross in small groups or individually during this time. Prayer devotionals will be provided.  Thursdays, at 4 pm at Church of Our Father praying the stations in community   Thursdays: Music and Meditation  12-12:30 pm at St. Saviour's  During the season of Lent, St. Saviour's will offer a weekly series of programs of Music & Meditation. They will take place on the six Thursdays in Lent from 12 noon until 12:30. Each service of Music & Meditation will include a welcome and introduction by a member of the clergy, a period of music (about 20 minutes) for reflection and restoration, and some closing prayers. The music will be offered by the musicians of the MDI parishes, including Tony Sousa, Bill Merrill, Deborah Govenor, and the Dr. Daniel Pyle.    April 7 Dr. Daniel Pyle  Labyrinth Walking Meditation St. Andrew's by-the-Lake, 1374 Tremont Rd, Seal Cove, ME 04674   The labyrinth will be available for individual prayer now through Holy Week and Easter. Open 10-Noon every day. Contact Pamela Smith or Katharine Thompson with questions (contact information is in our 3-parish Directory). April 6: Easter Memorial Flower Form Due It's time to order your memorial flowers for your church altar.  Click here to download the order form. Return the completed form to your church office by April 6. April 6: Outreach Meeting   The Outreach, Evangelism, and Mission committee meets every first Wednesday at Church of Our Father after 8 am worship. Please join us Wednesday, April 6! We conclude by 9:30 am, so people can attend the 10:30 am Bible study led by Fr. Steve Muncie over Zoom. If you need to attend an OME meeting by Zoom, contact Mother Holly the day before the meeting.  April 9: Preparing Palm Crosses On Saturday, April 9th at 10 a.m., a small group of volunteers will meet in St. Saviour's Parish Hall to prepare palm crosses for Palm Sunday. No experience necessary, masking required.  If you are interested in joining this little workshop, please let Sue Blaisdell know by email (click here) or phone (number is in your directory). All are welcome. Come join the fun! April 9: Spring Clean Up Day at Church of Our Father Our Spring Cleanup will take place Saturday, April 9, with a rain date of Saturday, April 23. Please join us in caring for our building and grounds! Save the date and stay tuned for more details.  April 12: The Past as Prologue: Emerging in this Moment   Panel Discussion (online) Tuesday, April 12th 3:00 pm Online Offered by the Episcopal Parish Network (formerly known as CEEP) Join this panel discussion for a virtual gathering of leaders from across the Episcopal Church for a lively mix of history, theology, and strategic reflection. Together they will explore what the church's pandemic experience in the 14th century might suggest about the church's witness today. What might be new, enlivened or emboldened in the church's witness for our own day? How do we imagine theology, liturgy, and ecclesiology will be transformed in the coming decades because of what we are living right now? Panelists include: Jessica Brown - Counseling Psychologist; Assistant Professor of Counseling and Practical Theology, Samuel DeWitt Proctor School of Theology, Virginia Union University; Richmond, Virginia Robert Flanagan - Interim Priest, Diocese of New York; Adjunct Faculty, General Theological Seminary; Author, Courage to Thrive: Finding Joy and Hope in the Midst of Mental Health Struggles; Bridgewater, Connecticut James Harlan - Canon Evangelist, Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia; Newport News, Virginia Click here to register. April 24: Island-wide Shared Worship   Island-wide worship on the fourth Sunday of the month will resume April 24. This service will be held at St. Saviour's at 10 am.  Loose plate collection at this service will be offered equally to "Episcopal Relief and Development" and "Save the Children" to support the humanitarian efforts for those living in the Ukraine. Please see below in the "Outreach" section for more information on these organizations.  If you would like to donate by check, simply make the check payable to "Episcopal Relief and Development" or "Save the Children," and we will mail your donation with a note from our four parishes.     April 27: Book of Hope Community Read & Discussion    Following our experience with the documentary film Mission: Joy and the book Book of Joy, those gathered for the book discussions this week decided to continue this series by reading the Book of Hope: A survival guide for trying times by Jane Goodall and Douglas Abrams. Join us for continued conversation on Joy and Hope on Wednesday, April 27 at 7 pm on Zoom. Click here to join the Zoom meeting at this time.   May 14: Register for Spring Training 2022 Spring Training 2022 - Featuring a Conversation with the Bishops of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont Saturday, May 14 9 am -12 pm  Online Join us for a morning of conversation, prayer, and learning. Participants will attend two workshops of their choice, as well as engage in a conversation between our own Bishop Brown, Bishop MacVean-Brown of Vermont, and Bishop Hirschfeld of New Hampshire.    Workshop topics include:  Creative Church Fundraising Planned Giving Welcoming Children (Back) into the Pews Environmental Justice Justice for Indigenous Peoples Ministry of the Diaconate Presenters include: The Rev. Sara Gavit The Rev. Cn. Sara D'Angio White The Rev. Jenny Reece John Maddaus Heather Sylvester The Rev. Kris Conley Cn. Terry Reimer Click here to register for Spring Training Outreach News Ways to Support Those Suffering from Violence in Ukraine Continue to pray for Ukraine and those in danger.  Collect for Peace from the BCP: Almighty God, kindle, we pray, in every heart the true love of peace, and guide with your wisdom those who take counsel for the nations of the earth, that in tranquillity your dominion may increase until the earth is filled with the knowledge of your love; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  Members of the Partnership parishes gathered in the first week of the month to discuss Outreach projects for the spring. There was a strong desire to focus our energies on promoting organizations that are helping those living in the Ukraine. Two organizations that are being recommended are:   Episcopal Relief and Development is working closely with Anglican agencies and ecumenical partners to meet the urgent humanitarian needs of Ukrainian refugees in Europe. People quickly packed up and fled Ukraine to safety and are now in need of basic supplies and will need long-term support. Your contribution to the Episcopal Relief & Development International Disaster Response Fund will help provide clothing, food, water and other items. For more information on this organization, including instructions on how to give, visit: www.episcopalrelief.org or call 1.855.312.4325 Save the Children: UKRAINE CRISIS RELIEF FUND Ukraine's children are in grave danger of physical harm, severe emotional distress and mass displacement. Save the Children is concerned for children caught in the middle of armed conflict, forced from their homes in freezing temperatures, and exposed to injury, hunger and cold. Your donation to Save the Children's Ukraine Crisis Relief Fund can help provide children and families with immediate aid, such as food, water, hygiene kits, psychosocial support and cash assistance. Together, we can protect children in crisis. For more information on this organization, including instructions on how to give, visit: https://www.savethechildren.org   A helpful resource for evaluating charitable organizations is Charity Navigator: https://www.charitynavigator.org   Bar Harbor Food Pantry for 2022 The BH Food Pantry Facebook page says they now are in considerable need of jams, jellies and cooking oil. There is a collection basket by the entrance of the nave at St. Saviour's and Church of Our Father. Thank you for your care of those living in need within our community. FELLOWSHIP Circles of Caring: Every other Wednesday (other than third Wednesday of the month) at 6:30 pm - 7:30 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 an opportunity to "see: friends, meet new ones, and reach out to others."  If you are interested in attending, contact Roger Samuel by emailing click here or call him by phone (number is in your directory). Covid Task Force Update   Our MDI Covid Task Force meets regularly to discuss our protocols. Updates: An area (not the whole worship space) will be marked off for Social distancing for those who want to sit in an area designated for this seating arrangement We will no longer keep a list of attendees at services to assist in contact tracing.  At meetings of the church (ex. Vestry and including choir) and those who use our buildings (like AA), masking will be encouraged but not required. (All vestry meetings on MDI have the option to be attended via Zoom.) Masking will continue to be required for indoor worship and large public events for all people in attendance.  Note: Full vaccinations expected, unless medically prohibited.  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 the third Monday of each month! The next meeting for this age group is Monday, April 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 click here to join on Zoom on the first Monday of each month. The next meeting is Monday, April 4 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.   All 6th-12th graders invited to an overnight youth retreat!   For the first time in two years, Episcopal Maine Youth will gather in person for an overnight retreat - and we want any and all 6th-12th graders to be there!  Our Youth Retreat will take place April 29 - May 1 at Camp Bishopswood in Hope, Maine. Read more or register now to join us for a weekend of fun, friendship, and some Jesus thrown in for good measure! We'll even do some community service, giving back to Camp Bishopswood as part of their larger Work Weekend. Are you a young adult or adult interested in volunteering? Please get in touch with the Rev. Cn. Sara D'Angio White to see if the fit is right for you! Adult Formation Bible Study with the Rev. Stephen Muncie on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 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. Summer Study at Yale Divinity School: June 6-10 on Zoom https://summerstudy.yale.edu/classes This program is open to anyone interested in theological education. There are no prior educational requirements necessary to participate. Courses can count towards continuing education requirements for some clergy. Participants receive a Yale Certificate of Completion at the end of the course week. Courses are not for academic credit, but can count towards continuing education requirements for some clergy. Participants receive a Yale Certificate of Completion at the end of the course week. All courses are offered exclusively online via Zoom. Yale Divinity School's Summer Study program is open to the public, and all are welcome.  The Center for Continuing Education at Yale Divinity School provides opportunities and resources for churches, clergy, and laity to foster the knowledge and love of God in their communities. The Center makes available the theological resources of YDS —events, lectures, programs, instructional resources, publications, and more—to enable and enrich ministry and lay learning. These resources are intended to support faith formation, religious education, and personal and professional enrichment.   https://divinity.yale.edu/continuing-education   Results of the "Jesus in America" National Study "Jesus in America" is a national study conducted in a partnership between The Episcopal Church and Ipsos and just released this month. The research found that while the majority of Americans polled believe Jesus was an important spiritual figure and want equality in society, it also showed Christians are not necessarily practicing what Jesus taught, and Americans feel judged when talking about their beliefs. Continue reading about the study and view the results online. Learn how depression affects those who live a life of faith   The course "Grace and Depression" with Bishop Robert Hirschfeld is available on Church Next - either for individuals here or a course for groups here. Depression is real. It can touch anyone -- even a bishop in The Episcopal Church. Mental illness is often stigmatized in our culture and in the Church, but it doesn't have to be. In this course, Bishop Robert Hirschfeld reveals his own journey with depression, how it affects his life, how it makes him feel, and how living a faithful life of prayer and finding medical care have made depression an experience he can live with. He reminds us that in the exhausting darkness of depression, God remains with us. 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: April 5       Charlene Bullard April 6       Steve Miller April 10     Joan Tukey April 21     Marilyn Kitler April 23     Kylie Parsons April 24     Kate Berry April 26     Liam Patrick Higgins April 30     Joanne Sousa Anniversaries: Please let us know if yours isn't here!   St. Saviour We pray for Gregory Berube, Connie Brush, 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: March 30 Robert Cameron   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: April 1 - Stephen Mahoney April 6 - Margaret Fletcher April 11 - Edie Stanwood April 13 - Susy Clark Ogden April 22 - Ezra Halkett April 22 - Diane Krueger April 25 - Bunny Watts April 29 - Henry Goodwin Anniversaries: April 19 - Jim and Mary Vekasi A Prayer for Ukraine from Archbishops Justin Welby & Stephen Cottrell Invitation to Pray Daily for the Ukraine at 8 pm  In early February, the Archbishop Sviatoslav Shevchuk of Ukraine invited Ukrainian Catholics to pray the rosary for peace at 8 pm (read story here). This prayer invitation has spread globally and taken any number of prayer forms. Join with others around the world praying for peace at 8 pm.  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 . . . April: Women's History Month at the Southwest Harbor Library  Mother Holly, KC Burton, and Marsha Lyons (and perhaps other parishioners, too!) have artwork on display at the Southwest Harbor Library as a part of an observation of Women's History Month. The theme of the show is Hope and Healing. The art show will be open throughout the months of March and April.  https://swhplibrary.libcal.com/event/8912936 Participate in General Convention Hearings - Happening Now + April/May!  The 80th General Convention will convene in Baltimore in July 2022. The Convention is the Episcopal Church's governing body, making decisions about: Worship, authorizing new liturgical materials and deciding about revision of the Book of Common Prayer Programs and policies in areas such as racial justice, congregational and diocesan vitality, and Christian formation The Church's stance on issues such as the economy, poverty, war, health care, violence, climate change, racism, and human rights. The budget of the Episcopal Church The Convention works by adopting resolutions. Legislative committees have begun meeting to review resolutions assigned to them.  All Episcopalians, and all members of the public, are invited to register to attend or testify at online hearings on resolutions being considered for the 80th General Convention of The Episcopal Church. Some important notes to help you plan your participation: Online hearings are being scheduled for April 30-May 21. Committees will meet throughout the winter and spring. Resolutions can be found on the General Convention Virtual Binder. More than 100 resolutions have been submitted so far, and one way to narrow your focus is to browse the list of Committees. Select a committee whose topic is of particular interest to you, then view the resolutions assigned to that committee. Anyone can observe a meeting of a legislative committee and/or testify at an online hearing. Registration in advance is required. The Legislative Committee Calendar lists upcoming meetings and hearings; additional meetings will be posted as committees schedule them with the General Convention Office. Links for "more info" on the Legislative Committee Calendar will take you to the sign-up page to observe or testify.  There are two types of Legislative Committee meetings: deliberation and hearing. Only those listed "Video - Open Hearing" are available for members of the public to testify. Members of the public can opt to attend and observe hearings, but will not have the option of speaking unless they change their registration to testify prior to the meeting. If the meeting is listed as "Video - Ctte Deliberation Only - No Testimony," members of the public are invited to request to observe the meeting. To testify, you must indicate a specific resolution. The time allocated to each witness may be limited to as little as one or two minutes, so prepare your remarks carefully. An Invitation to Pray: Transformation Northeast 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. 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 AND, AS ALWAYS . . . $$   No Frills Oil Discount  $$ 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. If you would like to set up automatic payments for your pledge, 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 (cash, check, etc.). 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. 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. 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 Tuesdays from 10 am to 1 pm If you need to be in touch with the Parish Administrator, email or call and leave a message anytime. The sanctuary and parish hall of all churches are accessible. Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list. Forward to a friend