The Parish of
St. Mary and St. Jude
|
 
ADVENT: ARRIVALS AND ANTICIPATIONAdvent is the Latin word for "coming" or "arrival." In the Western Church the season of Advent has been used as a time of preparation for the coming of the Christmas feast season, better known as the "Twelve Days of Christmas," which starts with the "Feast of the Nativity on December 25th. And so, during Advent, the church prepares for this time of the first coming of the King and anticipates the second coming of the King. In that vein of preparation or anticipation I have decided on an experiment in December. We are going to try something new, which is actually something old, in getting ready for Christmas. On the Sundays which would normally be Morning Prayer services, we are going to follow the Morning Prayer "liturgy of the Word" with Eucharist. This way, we are able to enjoy the full Anglican tradition of Morning Prayer service, and also receive the nurture of communion in this time of preparation. Although this sounds like a lot for one morning, I anticipate that the combined service will take no longer than a regular Eucharistic service. On the Sundays which would normally be Eucharistic services, there will be no change. When Thomas Cranmer, the Archbishop of Canterbury, penned the first Prayer Book in 1549, he intended to emphasize the major points of the Reformation in the worship service. Among the points that he wished to promote was that the laity be allowed full access to the holy table at communion, and that communion become the primary service on Sunday. Additionally, to supplement the Eucharist, both the laity and priests were encouraged to observe the monastic offices of Matins, Morning Prayer, and Vespers, Evening Prayer, daily. As life turned out, things did not work quite as Cranmer intended. Morning Prayer became a fixture of Sunday worship for large portions of the Anglican Communion, and it even became what we now call "the liturgy of the word" in communion services when the Eucharist was celebrated. Anglicans certainly did gain greater access to communion, but they did so in a style decidedly different from that of Roman Churches. So, in order to honor both the intention of our Prayer Book founder and to offer the invitation to Christ's common meal weekly, we are going to do a very Episcopal thing. We will do both. In fact, for most of the history of the Episcopal Church, when Communion was celebrated, Morning Prayer preceded it. In this form Morning Prayer is called "ante-Communion" or the "before Communion" and serves as the liturgy of the Word. In that way, a very Episcopal and traditional way, we get all of the unique Anglican things like the Cranmerian Prayers and the Canticles, while also getting communion. It will be interesting to be both traditional and new. May God bless your preparation for the season of Christmas, and join us at the 10:30 services on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Sundays of December for our preparation and experiment. Faithfully yours in the holy season, Reverend David J. Lucey DATES TO NOTE ON YOUR CALENDARS: December 4 & 11 5PM Adult Education: Advent Traditions, followed by soup and salad at 6PM December 18 Vestry meets at 3:30PM 5PM Greening of Church and Potluck Supper December 22 10:30AM MP Rite I with Pageant as liturgy of the Word & HE Rite I Children's Party, Mitten Tree December 24 4PM Family Service: Lessons and Carols (Winter Chapel) 10:30PM Prelude & 11PM Festival (Stone Church) December 25 One service at 10AM: Holy Eucharist Rite II Feast of the Nativity January 12, 2003 One service at 9:30AM followed by the Annual Meeting of the parish. ADVENT TRADITIONS Join the Rector for two Wednesday nights in December, the 4th and the 11th, at 5:00 P.M. in the Parish Hall to explore our Church's Advent traditions. It will be a whirlwind tour from the 4th century to now. Then, join Katherine and David at the Rectory for soup, salad, and dessert at 6:00 P.M. Katherine will provide the soup and you can bring the salad and dessert. Beverages will be provided. On Wednesday the 18th there will be a party for the Greening of the Church and a Pot Luck supper. Plan to join us for all three of these events this December. FROM THE WARDENS Sally Merchant and Martha Bucklin We wish to send greetings to every parish member and friend in this season of bustling activity and moments of quiet reflection. Thinking back over the year 2002, we enjoyed countless opportunities for fellowship and growth as a parish family. It is our prayer that every one of you was a witness this year to services that moved you, and that you were provided a chance to reach out to another parishioner or to be warmly greeted by one of us. Our parish family is spread this time of year across the nation and the world, but our ties to Northeast Harbor, Seal Harbor, and Mount Desert Island will remain strong and continue to pull us together in worship and friendship. Please accept our best wishes for a safe winter and a wonderful holiday season. We look forward to being together soon. ANNUAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JANUARY 12 There will be a coffee hour and annual meeting in the Parish Hall after the 9:30 service on Sunday, January 12th. Please plan to attend. Important budget issues and nominations will be discussed and voted on. Proposed slate: Senior Warden, Sally Merchant; Junior Warden, Martha Bucklin; Treasurer, Dooney Iselin; Clerk, Maude March; Vestry one year: Lauri Fernald, Anne Kellett, Sheila Smallidge; Vestry two years: Alan Gregory, Sandi Myers; Vestry three years: Dr. Michael Dennis, Bernard Hamilton, Charles Tyson. BE AN ANGEL by Jennifer Mitchell Once again, our parish will sponsor an "Angel Tree." This program was established to provide gifts for Mt. Desert families who need help buying gifts for their children. The school nurse identifies the families, asks the parents if they would like to participate, then determines what the children want or need. What results is a little tree in the back of the church hung with tags that identify these gifts -- six year old boy needs winter boots, size 5 -- and the like. Some gifts are very essential winter clothing, some are more whimsical, like a coveted Barbie doll. To be an Angel, just take a tag from the tree, get the specified gift, and return it to the tree unwrapped by 12/15/02. This will give us time to sort, wrap, and deliver the gifts for Christmas. If you would like to participate, but would rather make a donation, that is fine too. There are several large gifts being requested this year (bikes, etc.) so we can pool resources for those. Just mail your check to the church office, be sure to identify it as Angel Tree, and we'll do the rest! Thank you for your help with this outreach ministry. Your gift will surely brighten the season for a neighbor in need. SONGS OF THE HEART Sixth in a series of "Profiles in Ministry" When Jackie Agnese was a young girl growing up in Bar Harbor, going to Sunday School was just like brushing your teeth. It's what you did. Well, maybe not twice a day, but regularly. She remembers loving it. All her friends were involved in the church and for eight years, Jackie sang with many of them in the St. Saviour's Junior Choir. Time passed, and in 1954, Jackie and Henri Agnese were married at St. Saviour's. They moved to Northeast Harbor and established a beauty salon. They worked the seasons for fourteen years, Northeast Harbor in the summer and Palm Beach, Florida in the winter. Then in 1968, they made Northeast Harbor their permanent home, where they raised their three children and Jackie joined the Parish of St. Mary and St. Jude. Three years later she became Superintendent of the Sunday School and gave heart and soul to that ministry for nine years. The typical young family in those days had from three to six children, so Sunday School classes were big. She remembers having 38 students and ten associate teachers. Attendance was always good, because the children loved the chance to earn the Sunday School pins Jackie and her associates awarded. Sunday School was only the beginning of Jackie's many ministries. As a member of the Episcopal Church Women since joining the church, she has helped organize and serve at church suppers, fairs, and festivals. At annual church fair time, Jackie would appear in the beauty salon and ask her Episcopalian customers for donations. They were always very generous, contributing a total of $9,825 over the past seven years. Jackie has served on the Vestry and the Stroud Outreach Committee. She is currently a member of the Altar Guild, and this past summer helped make a revitalized summer fair a grand success. She also gives of her time and talent to the Nursing Home Visitation Program, helping residents follow the liturgy, and providing comfort and conversation. Jackie has managed to perform these ministries, raise a family, and work with Henri in their hairdressing business. She is also a bit of an evangelist, having persuaded Henri to take part in church activities. He will be the first to admit how much he enjoys cooking at parish breakfasts and picnics, and helping with the annual greening of the church on Christmas Eve. I asked Jackie if among all her other ministries she had sung in the St. Mary's choir. "Oh, I can't sing a note," was her reply. I reminded her about her participation in Junior Choir. "Yes," she said, "but it didn't matter if you couldn't sing." Perhaps what truly matters is not the voice but the heart. Charlie Tyson CELEBRATION OF NEW MINISTRY It's official! The Reverend David James Lucey is the Rector of the Parish of St. Mary and St. Jude. At 4:00PM on Sunday, November 10th, more than 100 parishioners, visiting clergy, and friends participated in a beautiful service at St. Mary's-by-the-Sea. The new ministry of David Lucey was celebrated with pomp and ceremony. The liturgy was thoughtfully and lovingly prepared by David. Bishop Chilton Knudsen celebrated Holy Communion and delivered the homily substituting for David's former Bishop who fell ill and was unable to attend the service. Visiting cantor, Alan Paddle, anchored a choir bolstered by voices from St. Saviour's and accompanied by organist Frank Lendrim. Following the service, those present enjoyed beverages, hors d'oeuvres, and a delicious buffet dinner prepared and served by the ECW and other volunteers. November 10, 2002 will be remembered as an event of importance to the parish, and that is as it should be when one considers the depth of commitment and responsibility required of the Rector. WEB SITE JUDGED A LULU! At the recent Diocesan Convention, the annual LuLu Awards for excellence in communications were announced. St. Mary and St. Jude won the award for best web site. What the judges didn't know is that it was also instrumental in bringing us our new Rector. A TEXT WORTHY OF REFLECTION The Stewardship Committee
It is nearing year end and many members of our parish family have not yet responded to the recent spate of communications about the church's financial needs. If you have not already done so, consider what God has given you and bring forth your first fruits in gratitude. Pledge cards for 2003 should be in the mail and in your hands shortly. Pledging is not only a help to the budget committee in estimating income, but it is also a good self-measure of your own spiritual commitment. Please consider prayerfully the financial commitment to the parish you are willing and able to make in 2003, and return your card promptly. Thank you and God Bless you. SAL'S QUESTION OF THE MONTH Should we wear name tags at St. Mary's and St. Jude's? From time to time this question comes up and we never act upon it. So let's have your thoughts. Should we wear name tags: in church? at meetings? at social events? on outreach ministries? All of the above? Some of the above? None of the above? Please send your comments after prayerful consideration to the Senior Warden either by e-mail at salmerchant@acadia.net, or by snail mail: 24 Easy Street, Mount Desert, ME 04660. SAL'S MUSIC PICKS OF THE MONTH The Senior Warden's suggestions for good listening this month are Brian McKnight's Bethlehem, 1998, on the Motown Record Company label, and from the Narada Collection Series "Narada Christmas Collection Volume 2," 1992 on the Narada Productions, Inc. label. |
Home | About Us | Calendar | People | Ministries | Vestry at Work
Lectionary's | Newsletter | Getting Involved | Links | Contact Us
The Parish of St. Mary and St. Jude
P.O. Box 105, Northeast Harbor, Maine 04662 Tel: 207/276-5588 Fax: 207/276-3220