The Parish of
St. Mary and St. Jude
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR, DAVID J. LUCEY LIVING INTO CHANGE Living into change is the theme of Lent, just as change is the theme of life here on Mount Desert Island. Change is happening rapidly in this place and in the surrounding environs. But how do we live into that change? Do we just let it happen to us, do we resist it, or do we embrace it? One change we are experiencing on this island is the shift in the population's age to an older grouping, especially the fifty and above group. Part of that subset is comprised of people from other parts of the country choosing Mount Desert as their year 'round home. These older residents, whether new to this place or long time inhabitants, come bearing gifts: among them experience, maturity, wisdom, and more flexible time schedules. The new residents, especially, are looking for community - a way or ways to be part of this island, to enjoy its richness, to create an environment in which to continue growing. Although this type of community is different than the one we enjoyed in the past, it brings challenges and benefits. Challenges arise when the type of church we used to be no longer fits the needs of the people who come. Certainly, the mission of reconciling all people to God in Christ remains the same. But what kind of church do we become? Well, instead of traditional Sunday school programs we might take a page from the Acadia Senior College and provide "Sunday School for Adults." Instead of youth groups, we may be looking for Senior Groups. The possibilities for "living into" the change are legion. One sure thing about it is our own struggle to find an identity within it. Another sure thing is that new year 'round people are here searching for meaning in their lives and for a community of people to share that meaning with. Could that not be a community of people who claim a relationship with the living God? Lent is that penitential season which falls between Christmas and Easter, and which many of us would like to ignore. It is now upon us. I suppose Lent weighs so heavily on us because its primary purpose is to remind us that we are in need of redemption, or better yet-transformation. By whatever name we approach this season, however, it is a reminder that we constantly need to change our orientation in life to be an orientation toward God - a living God whom we can encounter every day. This reorientation process, or process of change, is life long. Reorientation from our own pursuits to God's takes constant vigil, exercise, and discipline to accomplish. We have to live into this change daily, and we are especially conscious of the need to do so during Lent. Does the same principle of reorientation toward what God requires of us apply to reorientation to what change in our secular world requires of us? I think so. The Bible stories and the traditions of the Church tell us there are new life, new opportunity, and new hope in change. We are not faithful to this wisdom when we just let things happen to us, wring our hands, and act the victim. This parish can be an example of life living into change. We have new circumstances and new realities all around us. We can deny them, or we can use our traditions of love and community to transform our lives, our parish, and our community. We simply need to see the life around us and incorporate it - very much like seeing God around us and moving toward Him. This Lent I will not be speaking to you about the normal sorts of Lenten exercises. Rather, I will be asking how we prepare to live into the changes that Jesus has called us to: a revitalized community, a renovated building, and a transformed life. Yours in Christ, David+ SOWING AND GROWING: SEEDS OF CHANGE IN STE WARDSHIP, EVANGELISM AND PARISH DEVELOPMENT THE FIFTH ANNUAL PROVINCE I CONFERENCE We would like to send at least three parish representatives to this conference on Friday, March 26th and Saturday, March 27th. In just four years, attendance at this Conference has grown from one hundred and sixty to more than three hundred participants. This year the conference team will be covering basic skills in stewardship, evangelism, congregational development and planned giving. A brochure featuring conference highlights is posted on the bulletin board. Last year, Fr. David, along with Dooney Iselin and Alan Gregory attended and found it to be an informative, inspiring and uplifting event. To find out more, please see the Rector or call the Parish Office anytime during the week. NEW HOPE FOR PERISHIONERS* It is not just that the days are occasionally a tad bit warmer and some ground areas are beginning to thaw; there is a sense of immense vitality in your parish. Anyone participating in the services, the forums, and outreach programs has a palpable appreciation of new cohesiveness, cooperation, and creativity. In its leadership role your vestry is focused on serving the community, building our mission, deepening individual values, calling forth the best in people, and facilitating encounters with our God and Creator. At the vestry meeting on February 11, significant progress was made in a number of areas:
Michael Dennis, M.D. Senior Warden *Although I have not yet convinced Webster's to introduce this word, it refers to someone who is spiritually depleted and may not understand the potential relevance of our faith in his/her life. They need to know that God IS available for them 24/7. It is nothing more than the ministry that our Lord and Savior calls upon us to perform on behalf of our fellow humans. RECTOR'S FORUMS : FOOD FOR THOUGHT During January and February, the topics for the Rector's Forums have centered on the character of our parish and the nature of our parish community. In anticipation of the upcoming Congregational Development effort described below, our Rector, it seems, is getting a head start on identifying some of the foundational issues we need to address as parishioners in order to determine directions for our future. Topics all of us should be thinking about include: Who are we as individuals and as a community? What are some of the "Silent Killers" that inhibit community building, participation, and attendance? Silent killers are the things we do, intentionally or unintentionally, that exclude or drive people away. They are silent in that we never hear about them from the disaffected. What does "Growth" mean, and do we want it? In this forum participants expressed their personal hopes and fears about growth and change. Many interesting insights and perspectives were revealed over the past two months and will be factored into the Congregational Development effort. Three important observations, however, deserve mention here.
FULL PARISH CONGREGATIONAL DEVELOPMENT MEETING This meeting is in response to the parish's stated desire to work on a clearer-sense of direction and mission, and to create a vision for the future of the parish and its use of the stone church. The Vestry invites and encourages all parish members to attend. Everyone's perspective is valued and necessary. Details about sign up, food, and preparing for the meeting are at the end of this message. This meeting will be the first of-a group of congregational development meetings to be held over the next six months in which the-Rector and the parish will together be working on: improving the life of the parish as a-community of faith-and as an organization, and working to reach greater clarity about the use of the parish's buildings, including the stone church, the relationship between the year-round and the seasonal congregations, and other issues that will emerge as we do our work together. To help us with this work, the Vestry has contracted with the Reverend Melissa Skelton, one of the Diocese of Maine's Congregational Consultants and Rector at Trinity Church, Castine,-to act as facilitator and consultant to the process.- Melissa is an experienced consultant who has worked with churches, non-profits, and companies on improvement, planning, and development of all kinds. What does Congregational Development mean? In the simplest terms it means increasing the health and faithfulness of a parish.- It will move us in the direction of whatever the parish decides is important and can focus its energy on in a productive way. That could be anything from dramatic membership growth, to building a stronger, more closely-knit community, to dedication to a particular outreach mission. Congregational Development assumes that the parish is already engaged in the mission of the church, which is "to restore all people to unity with God and each other in Christ."- It also assumes that all parishes can improve how they engage in that mission, and that from time to time a parish-might have special new areas of emphasis given its parishioners' particular gifts and the moment of history within which the parish finds itself.-- As we get into the work, we're all going to learn more about where the parish is and what its potential areas of improvement might be. The process itself has a way of uncovering issues and activating response, so what-happens won't-be as linear as we might tend to think. This is not a lock-step process. We learn as we go and act based on the learning. WE URGE YOU TO PARTICIPATE The first meeting will be held on Saturday, March 20th from 9:00 AM-to 3:00 PM in the Parish Hall at the Winter Chapel. If at all possible, please make your commitment to attend now. And please sign up now to let us know that you are coming. Call Kate at the office or use the sign-up sheet on the church bulletin board or at the back of the church on Sundays. After you sign up, you will be given a survey to fill out so that the Reverend Skelton can get a sense for how to structure the meeting. We need your survey back in the parish office no later than Friday, March 12th. Lunch on the 20th will be provided. See you there! PERSONALS GREAT GRANDPARENTS! Jackie and Henri Agnese became great grandparents on February 11th. Cheryl's daughter Anna gave birth to a baby girl. "Kaylin" weighed in at 7lb. 5oz. AWARD WINNER An article in The Islander reported that Isabel Stanton, of the Mount Desert Elementary School, was awarded a $100 Savings Bond from Rotary Club member, Nancy Corliss recently. The Island Rotary Club held an Island-wide Art Contest for students 8-12 years old. The students were asked to use specific art materials to create a poster that demonstrated the Rotary's ideal of community and individual service. Isabel's drawing, which showed a caring person visiting a nursing home resident, has been submitted as an entry to the International Rotary Art contest, which is part of the 100-year celebration of the founding of Rotary International. VALENTINES: AUTO DELIVERY What a treat for parishioners who drove to church on a frigid Sunday, February 15th, the day after Valentine's Day. They departed church to discover a beautiful, hand made Valentine greeting on the windshield! A happy contingent of Sunday school children slipped with quiet excitement out the side door during the 10:30AM service to adorn parked cars with a wish for love. I will personally keep my special Valentine in my car as a reminder that these young Saint Mary's children will always be a part of our lives and we of theirs. Sally Merchant |
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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