The Parish of
St. Mary and St. Jude
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR:Balancing Act, or Being Balanced? We are about to enter into Lent. Our images of this part of the church year vary widely from non-existent, to negative, to over the top self abasement. There are many variations in between. So I join with priests and ministers all over the world who try to shape this part of the church calendar in a way that will help us grow in faith, love, and service in Christ. What I think Lent is about is our health-spiritual, physical, and mental; and it's impossible to really separate any of these three conditions from each other. What is also apparent is that our health and well being in any of these areas isn't accidental. Oh, certainly we won't live forever, and external factors have an influence. But there is a big difference between performing a "balancing act" and being "balanced." And it is up to us to access the benefits of being balanced. I was reminded of this point this past week. During that week the finely tuned existence of my family was thrown into turmoil. In a five-day period Colbert (13) got an ear infection, George (3) came down with pneumonia, and my wife Katherine contracted a strep throat. We found quickly that what we thought was balance in our lives was really a balancing act. Somehow we had been able to get everything done for each week-school, hockey, basketball, Girl Scouts, church . . . . Add in the three dogs and the cat and you might well guess just how precarious our hold on all of this was. Why had things gone so crazy? Why were we all getting sick. There wasn't enough space in our lives for being close to each other or close to God. We were spending all our energy just getting by. We live in a country and a world out of balance. That isn't just a special criticism for this time and place. It has been a contention of the church since its beginnings that this condition just is. Humans live out of balance. The signs of imbalance in my house were physical illnesses. And these diseases follow humans wherever they are. The signs of this condition in the world at large are war, strife, and contentiousness. And these signs are just as universal. Lent is a time for getting into balance once again. It is a chance to make space and connect with God through your family, your friends, and your church. It is a chance to heal by getting back into balance-something we will be working on and reminding ourselves right here at St. Mary and St. Jude. If you're in town, join us on Sundays. If you're out of town, seek out Christian community where you are. And may our Lord Jesus help you transform your balancing act into balance. Faithfully yours in the Lenten season, David Rector's Forum Starting in March and continuing into April (March 2, 9, 23, 30, and April 6, 13) there will be a series of Rector's Forums held at 9:30 A.M. in the Winter Chapel. The subject of this inaugural forum will be "The Christian Response to War," and the first session will be "The Just War Theory, and the United States, Case Against Iraq." During these sessions we will explore the various traditions that have been part of the Church's long history and we will give room to explore our country's current state of affairs. The Rector will be joined in this enterprise by two distinguished career Foreign Service Officers, Moorhead ("Mike") Kennedy, who has special insight from his experience as a hostage in Iran, and James Clunan, who has specialized training from the United States' War College. The presentations and their accompanying discussions should prove lively and timely. Come join us and invite your friends. Service Sharing On Sundays March 9 and March 16 the congregations and clergy of the parish of St. Mary and St. Jude and the congregation of the Union Church will share their Sunday traditions together. First, at Saint Mary's Winter Chapel, we will host the Rev. Mac Bigelow and his congregation at the 10:30 A.M. service. Mac will be the preacher as we celebrate a service of Morning Prayer with Eucharist. The very next Sunday we will be the guests of the Union Church at the Abbe Chapel in Seal Harbor at 10:00 A.M. The Rev. David J. Lucey will preach in a service of the congregational tradition. These services have always been welcomed and loved by both churches. Plan to be a part of community worship in a broad sense. Stroud Fund Reaches Out The Dr. Morris W. Stroud, III Fund, one of our church's endowments, is designated to support and aid projects and undertakings "deemed worthy in the area of human need stemming from the context of Christian ministry as expressed in the work and worship of the Church." Principally, the focus of this work is to better life on Mount Desert Island. The Stroud Fund Committee meets quarterly to review referrals and requests for funds. If you know of a local organization that might qualify for a grant, please have them send a written request to our parish office. Members of the Stroud Committee are: Chuck Bucklin, Barbara Iselin, Alan Gregory, Dorothy Clunan, Jackie Agnese, Ellen Kappes, Sr. Warden Sally Merchant and Rev. David Lucey. In Touch with the Diocese Do you receive the Episcopal Diocese of Maine's newsletter, the DioLog? Editor Heidi Shott, Diocesan Communications Officer, does a fantastic job of letting folks know what goes on at the Diocesan level that pertains to our lives. Go to the diocese's web site, www.diomaine.org, and take a look at the current issue. If you like what you see, you can sign up for the DioLog on-line. Most of us are not aware of how our parish helps fund the work of the larger Episcopal Church. It's gratifying to know what our diocesan contribution is doing statewide and nationwide. It makes you proud to know that we are a giving and living part of doing Christ's work in the world. Duct Tape or Prayer? We hear talk today of preparing ourselves for war and possible terrorist attacks on America. The government, through the media, is suggesting that Americans "be ready" by stocking up on water, food, plastic sheeting, and duct tape. I suggest that within each of us we possess a far more powerful defense. Prayer! Join me in praying for patience and reason, a strategy born not of fear but of hope. Sally Merchant Be a Clean-Up Angel Lately, the winter chapel has been getting a workout from boots and shoes, as large quantities of snow and dirt are tracked in. We wish to thank Jackie Agnese, Kathy Suminsby, Sandi Myers, Karol Hagberg and other Clean-Up Angels who have been mopping and sweeping after each service prior to our regular week day cleaning by Lois Leavenworth. Please do your part to keep our church neat and clean. Be a bit more conscious of what you might be tracking in. And, while we're on the subject, please help us gather up the church bulletins for recycling instead of leaving them in the pews. Be an angel and drop yours on the entry table on your way out, unless you're planning to take it home. Thanks! Millinocket Awed by Outreach The diocese reports an outpouring of food and money from parishes all over the state for those in Millinocket suffering as a result of the Great Northern Paper Company bankruptcy. Seven big and small trucks and vans caravanned to Millinocket through blustery winds and snowy weather on February 12th. St. Mary and St. Jude contributed over $500 in cash and boxes of food all neatly packaged by the Girl Scouts and delivered to the pick up point by Kathy Suminsby. The Reverend Lance Almeida, who coordinated the outreach efforts in Millinocket, writes: Thank you all so much for all you did to get the food delivered to Millinocket yesterday. We are really awed by the amount that you brought. Thank you also for the careful boxing of the food. We are all very touched by the generosity and kindness we felt yesterday. |
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The Parish of St. Mary and St. Jude
P.O. Box 105, Northeast Harbor, Maine 04662 Tel: 207/276-5588 Fax: 207/276-3220