The Parish of
St. Mary and St. Jude
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR, DAVID J. LUCEY INVITATIONS: HOLY OFFERINGS I have received some very kind invitations to meet people in Northeast Harbor. Some of those invitations have been for sails, some just for a chat and refreshments. But the generosity of those meetings always makes me think about how to do the same thing, personally and for the church. And they make me think about how invitations are extended in the first place. My three year old George does this sort of thing naturally. In fact, George has become something of an unofficial Goodwill Ambassador for Northeast Harbor. Whenever he is out and walking in the village he says "Hi" and waves to everyone walking nearby; or he calls out to someone trailing a boat, "nice boat;" or he shouts "cool skateboard" to a teenager zooming by. And when these people see a 3' 6" little boy with a smile on his face and a sense of wonder in his eyes they cannot help but respond. They recognize immediately that he is offering them a chance to play with him, or talk to him, or say "Hi" back. George had a chance meeting not long ago that caused me to think about invitations even harder. He and my wife Katherine were sitting on the bench at the corner of Main Street and Kimball Road contemplating the ice cream they had just enjoyed. A person walked by with a dog and George was off the bench immediately to pet the dog. The dog responded by licking George's face, probably to get the ice cream still generously smeared on his cheeks. The dog walker started talking to George and Katherine and it came out that George lived in the rectory and was the son of the new rector. That information prompted the walker to cordially explain to the two of them "that's nice, but I lost my faith." Hearing that story caused me to think about all the chance encounters I have where once people find out I am a priest, they volunteer their current spiritual condition. All I have to do is to say I am a priest, or have them see me in my collar and they tell me things like the dog walker did. Part of me thinks that they are inviting me into their lives, or they are looking for me to invite them into my life, if even for a minute. They somehow feel outside and want to be inside again. I believe this because they could just as easily say "it's nice to meet you," and leave it at that. Instead they tell me something about themselves. The question in these encounters remains how to say hello back to them in a way that really says come on in or come on back‹something that engages them like the smile on George's face, or the wonder in his eyes, or the ice cream on his cheeks. Jesus had a natural sense of invitation. Look at who he invited into his life‹tax collectors, sinners, harlots, centurions, lepers, children, and others -- folks who often felt uninvited or unwelcome in religious places. And these people came. If that is what Jesus thought was important to do, I think we should too. So this summer as you arrive, I will be looking for ways to do just that: invite you in to something‹to this church, to this community, to this life of being with God. And I will be asking those who are in church how to do this better and how to do it as a church. Invitations are holy offerings. Faithfully yours, The Reverend David J. Lucey, Rector RECTOR'S FORUMS RESUME In an effort to establish an open and ongoing dialogue between the rector and parishioners, and to build closer relationships within our community, the rector has planned a summer series of hour long get togethers Sunday mornings between services beginning at approximately 9:10AM. The format will vary each Sunday but will include adult education, feedback from parishioners to determine needs that should be addressed, and discussion of contemporary issues. This past winter's Rector's Forums were well-attended, lively, and enriching. Location and weekly topics to be determined. Guests welcome! Please call the Parish Office for details. TREASURER'S REPORT Total income for May was $9,269, very close to budget, but only 68% of expenses for the month of $13,622. That means our net ordinary income was -$4,353, and for the year to date it stood at -$32,827. That is a big deficit, especially in a year where some parishioners have really stretched to help out. The fact is, we are just about where we were last year at -$31,028. Of course, this has led to a lot of tight payrolls and vendor payment postponements, and we wonder how to have people understand. Our Parish expenses are bare-bone, but we have the four buildings that we keep open, a small roster of people that we pay, and business expenses which we must incur. The thing that is lacking is incomeŠincome from wider participation in the pledging and annual giving process. For instance, only 70 parishioners in our membership of 350 actually made pledges this year. Now, some contribute through plate offerings over the summer, but never enough to cover our obligations. To belong to most membership institutions in most communities, one must pay dues. It's automatic. Your church, however, depends on the generous and grateful hearts of its members. Consider your blessings. Assess your gratitude. And let your generosity become automatic. CHILD CARE FOR CHURCHGOERS Something new has been added! The Rector has arranged for child care every Sunday from 9AM to Noon for moms and dads who have young children and would like to attend either the Rector's Forum discussion series from 9:10AM to roughly 10AM Sunday mornings, or the 10:30 Sunday service, or both. Christy Roix will be responsible for the Child Care program. She is an educator at the Mount Desert Elementary School with specialized training and experience in the special needs of young children. The program is available to parishioners of both St. Mary's and St. Jude's. Children may be dropped off at St. Mary's Winter Chapel, 5 Kimball Road, Northeast Harbor. For more information about this program or for answers to any questions you might have, please call the Parish Office at 276-5588. EXPECT TO BE HUGGED AND NOT SQUEEZED: A REPORT ON STEWARDSHIP Many people associate stewardship with intense, uncomfortable fundraising, but your stewardship committee interprets our commitment in the broadest sense of the word: the care and maintenance of our membership, our properties, and our obligation to reach out to others. Our goal is to welcome newcomers to the church and make certain that the established members continue to feel appreciated and needed. If you have drifted away from the parish, please take the time to revisit us. Our new rector brings an intelligent message, a deep spirituality, and an eagerness to communicate. You will enjoy his liturgical skills. In the tradition of welcome, we invite you to participate in our functions which this summer will include some educational gatherings focused on the architecture of our buildings, our history, and our plans for community-wide projects, e.g. cooking meals in the winter chapel, freezing them, and making them available for individuals and families who are in need. It would be disingenuous of us not to admit that we have financial obligations. We are suggesting a palatable increase in pledged amounts and will be strongly encouraging seasonal attendees who historically have not been asked to pledge to consider offering at least a prorated contribution based on their annual giving. We are also carefully monitoring the condition of the stone chapel. Working in diligent conjunction with the Building and Grounds Committee, we anticipate a current evaluation in the near future with the hope that we have a year or more before additional work is absolutely required. Our new leadership needs time to organize and prioritize our responsibilities to the parish. Many thanks to those of you who contributed to the rehabilitation of that building; it is now available for services in all seasons. Most importantly, please call upon me or any other member of the vestry if you have comments or suggestions. Blessings to you... Michael Dennis, M.D., Co-chair, Stewardship Committee ST. MARY'S CARES On Sunday June 15th, eleven volunteers from St. Mary's visited Sonogee nursing home to bring the residents a service of Morning Prayer. Led by Kathy Suminsby, there were readings by Phoebe Milliken, Jim Clunan, and Sandi Myers who also delivered the homily. Sarah Fraley played three hymns on the piano. Dorothy Clunan, Nancy and Ann Stanley, Diana Lucey, Charlene Stewart and Lynda Tyson helped residents follow the service in their notebooks. It was clear that the service was meaningful to all present. Residents participated in their own way -- some simply tapping their feet to the music, others actively reciting the psalm and responses. Members of St. Mary's, many of them first time volunteers to the Nursing Home Program, witnessed first hand how comforted the residents are by familiar hymns, scripture readings, and the attention of those ministering to them. To volunteer for this monthly ministry, please contact Kathy Suminsby at 276-5498. Discover how important a gift it is to be a channel for God's love through your presence and caring. HARBOR HAPPENINGS Congratulations and best wishes to Colbert Lucey who graduated from Mount Desert Elementary School on Monday, June 16. Colbert is the oldest child of Father David and Kathryn Lucey. Although he joined the 8th grade class "already in progress" last fall, he became an integral part of their group. Colbert will attend Saint Mark's School in Southborough, Massachusetts in the fall. Congratulations (and much love) to our son Michael (Bucklin), who graduated from Mount Desert Island High School on Friday, June 13. Michael will major in Marine Transportation Operations at Maine Maritime Academy in the fall. This program leads to a U.S. Coast Guard third mate's license, unlimited tonnage, and the possibility of Michael being ship's captain one day. Our family credits the wonderful influence of Mr. Bayard Roberts for helping Michael develop his love and respect for the sea. Michael has worked the last several summers aboard Bagpiper with Mr. and Mrs. Roberts. Robert Fernald is at home at Long Pond recuperating from extensive and, thankfully, successful surgery. Jean reports that an excellent doctor at Massachusetts General Hospital cared for Robert. Recovery will take time and his pain is substantial but a full recovery is expected. For this we are all grateful. Bob and Jean and their family appreciate our concern and our prayers. Kathy Suminsby continues to heal and gain momentum following her back surgery last month. There is very little that can keep Kathy down. This is fortunate for all of us in our parish as I personally do not know how we could make "it all" work without her! Father David, Kathryn, Colbert, Carolyn, Dianna, George, and Virgina Lee are taking family time in South Carolina this week. We hope they return refreshed and ready for a busy Northeast Harbor summer season. Our parish family is mourning the loss of two special ladies, Connie Rossi and Diane James Orr. Words cannot express our sadness at their passing. On June 6th Sally Merchant attended her 20th Colby College Reunion in Waterville, Maine. She serves her classmates as Head Class Agent and Reunion Gift Chair, Class Secretary and Treasurer, she writes quarterly columns for the Colby Alumni Magazine, and is now on the Alumni Fund Committee. This year, her class far surpassed its goals for both total raised and classmate participation. At a dinner for about five hundred alumni and friends, Sally was honored by the Alumni Association for her service to the College with a prestigious Colby Brick Award. This was a distinction she hoped to achieve later in life, so was thrilled to receive it early on. I look forward to hearing from you. Please share your news good tidings or any known need for our parish family's thoughts and prayers. My loving regards to each of you. Martha Bucklin, Junior Warden ANGELS WANTED It is time to replace the worn-to-a-frazzle vacuum cleaner at St. Mary's. Angels interested in paying for or helping to pay for this much needed, unbudgeted item are encouraged to call Kate at the Parish Office: 276-5588. Thank you , thank you. ANGELS FOUND Thanks to the generosity of two parishioners, St. Mary's now has a sound system capable of recording the rector's sermons as well as piping music into the chapel. Details on duplicating and availability are being worked out. More info to come. MERRILL SMITH ANNOUNCES RETIREMENT Long time St. Jude's Sexton, Merrill Smith, announced his wish to retire for health reasons effective July 1st of this year. The vestry will determine a suitable send off for Merrill, but in the meantime when you see him, please be sure to thank him for his years of loyal service. The parish will continue to search for and advertise the position of Sexton to fill needs at both St. Jude's and St. Mary's. Referrals to the Parish Office will be most welcome and greatly appreciated. EXPERIENCE THE WARM 'N FUZZIES Do you like warm fuzzy feelings? Who doesn't! You have a wonderful opportunity to experience just those feelings when you participate in the Sunday service as a lay reader, chalicer, or as a member of the Altar Guild. Lay reading is like storytelling. You are telling the wonderful story written by a prophet or disciple. The Altar Guild takes only a half hour a week and you can pick your own time on a Saturday or Sunday after service. Sitting among the congregation, you will gaze at the altar you helped make beautiful and feel accomplished. Perhaps the ultimate glow is helping the priest administer the sacrament as a chalicer. It takes only a short time to be trained yet it's a very special ministry that rewards you for a lifetime. Hurry to the phone and give Kate a call: 276-5588. Sandi Myers, Altar Guild |
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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