The Parish of
St. Mary and St. Jude
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR, DAVID J. LUCEY COURSE CORRECTIONS Last month I talked about how one of the first signs of real spring in Northeast Harbor is man made - Main Street becomes one way leading into town on the day that Daylight Savings Time goes into effect. It is a bit disorienting to me in the first few days after the changeover to remember that I cannot back out of my driveway, turn right, and head up Main Street and out of town. I have to adjust my course to meet the new restrictions ordered by the governing authorities, the Town of Mount Desert, and the practicality behind the change that a lot more people are beginning to come to town at this time of year and we need to accommodate that flow. Now, a number of things might happen if I did not correct my course. I might meet a policeman and be cited for my violation. Worse, I might collide with an oncoming car. Or, I could get lucky and avoid both situations, at least for a while. But by sometime in June, I am certain I would have to deal with the consequences of disregarding the signs provided and the need to change course. And after all, a minor course correction in a small village is certainly not a major imposition or inconvenience. Life in Christ requires course corrections too. And unless we make these corrections we are at the risk of the same sorts of calamities that a driving error might cause. Certainly ignoring the signs that changes are needed can be tolerated for a while. But sooner or later, the momentum for change means that we must address the signs or face big problems, possibly even a car wreck. Even a perfunctory reading of the Bible will show that the participants in God's story often try to ignore the signs. Moses tried to talk God out of calling him to lead the people of Israel. He thought he could ignore who he really was. King David thought that because he was king he could literally get away with murder and adultery without consequence to himself or his nation. The last King of Judah, Zedekiah, thought he could ignore the empire of Babylon and the prophets of God. And even in the early church there were people who thought they could resist welcoming non-Jews into the church and the changes that were necessary to allow them to belong. Some who ignored the need to correct their courses simply got ticketed and some were involved in car wrecks. But the faithful, like Moses, David, and Peter, corrected their courses and we enjoy the fruits and wisdom of their efforts. Some course changes are dramatic but many are small. In the initial meetings with our Congregational Development consultant, Melissa Skelton, we have discussed the signs that God seems to be planting in front of us and what new routes those signs might be asking us to take. Most of the changes that we have discussed are small-reinvigorating old ministries, sharpening our sense of invitation and welcome, and simply identifying our God-given gifts and paying closer attention to how we use them. We know that there are signs pointing to the need to change. But before we adopt any changes, we understand that watching and listening to the world around us and to God, and thoughtful processing of what we see and hear are important. The changes to be made must be the right ones. During the summer we will be trying some new things, following new directional signs, and feeling our way gently and carefully down new paths, adjusting as we go. Some of the "new routes" may be adopted, and some may be discarded. Just remember, while we are tweaking and testing, to hold all things in prayer so that we might honor God in the changing and the keeping. Yours in Christ, David+ A message from the Senior Warden, Dr. Michael T.B. Dennis GRANDFATHERS' WISDOM Both my grandfathers, uncomplicated subsistence farmers, provided ample advice to my generation. One was inclined to be tendentious and laconic with observations like: "some marriages are like mixing mud and ice cream. It doesn't help the mud, but it surely ruins the ice cream." The other tended to profound pronouncements: "All change is not progress, but change is inevitable and must be guided." Wardens' Council: As we reflect on the factors that affect our parish, it is clear to your vestry that we must be vigilant, cognizant of our traditions, yet proactive in meeting the changes in our environment. As an example, the demographics of the island and the parish are changing. One need only look around the adjoining pews to observe that we are missing large numbers of potential attendees from two generations. Returning those who have drifted away from our services or attracting others who have not found a spiritually fulfilled life elsewhere (or nowhere) is both a challenge and an opportunity. I plan to convene a Wardens' Council on two occasions during the remainder of this calendar year, bringing together the thoughtful suggestions of those who have previously served in that capacity. And thus help this vestry establish a balanced program correlating continuity with the past, a realistic evaluation of the present, and an intelligent projection of the future. Call for Volunteers: Your wardens have been quite active since assuming our roles in January. Sheila and I are aware that the seasonal surge which provides us significantly increased attendance and economic support and allows us a full time rector also perpetuates a parish structure more suited in complexity and scope to a much larger church. This puts considerable strain on those dedicated few who are willing to serve in volunteer capacities. As a result we are meeting with committees to encourage revitalization, adjusting some committee components, and clarifying reporting relationships so the vestry can fulfill its duty for fiduciary accountability and program overview. Please consider this a call to serve your church. Those who bear the burden throughout the year would greatly appreciate your involvement. For the coming summer months we need lay readers, greeters, ushers, individuals to arrange for lemonade and cookies, and volunteers to answer the phone in the parish office. Contact our parish office (276-5588) to sign up. If you have special talents, please do not hesitate to contact us with your proposals to put them to use. Stone Church Restoration: We are also, through our Owner's Agent, carefully assessing the extent of the work necessary to preserve the stone church for another hundred years. This has added some time to the deliberations and negotiations, but it is time well spent in order to guarantee our donors a thorough, yet cost effective program. By late June we should have a detailed scope of work and sequence of events for your perusal. Congregational Development: Your vestry has also approved in principle training a congregational development team to assist the vestry in its efforts to build the parish over the years to come. This is entirely consistent with the collective will of the parish identified by our survey this past fall for a vision to guide us into the next decades. Sheila and I have explored various options for this educational process and have suggested a two-week program in Deer Isle presented from August 9th to 20th - with a second term next summer. David Lucey, Charlie Tyson, and I have agreed to pursue this opportunity. My concern was that, as "outsiders," we should optimally be joined by at least one member of the substantial native community. Thanks be to God, Kathy Suminsby has signed on (how she does everything so well and so willingly is a miracle and a mystery). Your vestry and rector are working closely together - mindful of the richness of our past but eager to provide an expanding program of opportunities for worship and service of our Lord. Volunteer of the Month: The theme of this and previous articles has been service to the parish so I am instituting a Volunteer of the Month recognition in the Harbor Chart. This month's recipient is Henri Agnese who exercised his professional expertise in styling, along with some much larger instruments, to the trees and shrubs of the church grounds. Please thank Henri for making our properties more attractive. We may encounter mudslingers, but your vestry intends to keep serving high quality ice cream. There will be progress, but your vestry intends to guide - not just ride - the changes that will allow it. With much appreciation for the chance to serve, Michael THE TREASURER'S REPORT We have mailed 316 parishioners requests to make pledges to cover the cost of operating the parish in 2004.
Alan Gregory, Treasurer CONFIRMATION JOYS At 10:00 a.m. on Sunday morning April 25th, over 150 people gathered at St. Saviour's Episcopal Church in Bar Harbor to participate in an island-wide Episcopal service of the sacrament of Confirmation presided over by the Right Reverend Chilton R. Knudsen, Bishop of Maine. The parishes represented were St. Andrew and St. John from Southwest Harbor, St. Saviour's in Bar Harbor, Church of Our Father from Hulls Cove, and St. Mary and St. Jude. It was a glorious morning, cool but sunny, as the entrance in procession began and the combined choirs from the four parishes followed the cross and led the candidates and their sponsors into the church. Eleven teenagers and five adults, including our own Phyllis Partridge, were received by and were presented to the gathered congregations to renew their baptismal covenants, receive the laying on of hands, and to be filled more and more by the presence of the Holy Spirit. Bishop Knudsen's oversight set a tone of grace, substance, and love which permeated the whole service. It was especially meaningful that after the blessing of the Eucharist, the priests and Rectors of the four parishes distributed the communion together to the gathered faithful. St. Saviour's was a wonderful host, providing their glorious worship space and coordinating the efforts of the four parishes to make the service and the accompanying reception welcoming and holy. All of the parishes combined to make this event truly meaningful. In addition to musical contributions of the combined parish voices, led by Tom Wallace of St. Saviour's, musicians from Church of Our Father led the congregation and choir in one of their favorite anthems, a contemporary arrangement with guitar accompaniment. And the coffee hour reception was full of good food and drink contributed by the skills of the cooks and bakers of each church. For me, beyond the joy of the celebration itself there were two additional joys. The first was the realization that the "Church" on Mount Desert Island on a combined basis can be a powerful voice of witness to love. The second was a very real sense that this coming together of four separate church personalities and 150 individual personalities brought new energy, renewed spirits, and unexpected strength to those gathered. The Reverend David Lucey+ COMMUNITY NEWS by Martha Bucklin It is with enormous pleasure that I share news of the recent engagement of two dear parish friends. Robert B. Coolidge, long time beau of former Senior Warden Amy Bryant Smith, chose a spectacular spring day on Sutton Island at the site of the former "Old Schoolhouse" to propose to Amy. Amy, whose grandparents came over from Islesford to be married at that exact place in the early 1920s, gave Robert the answer he was seeking. Amy is certain that her mother and father, Marge and Donald Bryant, both of whom passed away within the last two years, are smiling down with approval and joy. Plans are being considered for an October wedding. Congratulations and much love to you Amy and Robert. Our parish family and our town mourn the loss of two dearly loved neighbors. Dorothy McFarland and Denny Jacobs recently left this life for, we are sure, a far better one. We extend our loving condolences to their families. Welcome to Gigi Phelps' beautiful new great-granddaughter, Hanna, who was born on April 12th to Gigi's granddaughter Jessica and husband Roger. Congratulations Phelps family, and welcome to the neighborhood beautiful Hanna. Patricia Scull is recuperating nicely from her recent surgery and long hospitalization. According to family members, she is doing incredibly well. Our thoughts are with you as you continue to get well, Patricia. Joan and Norman Coulombe are currently staying at the Courtland Rehabilitation Center in Ellsworth but are beginning to make plans to return to their home here in Northeast Harbor. In journeying through difficult times with Joan and Norman, Chuck and I have seen in action the remarkable people who are members of our town's ambulance service -- Kathy Suminsby, Jim Wilmerding, John March, and Rob Norwood -- each and every one a "blessing." Belated Happy May 22nd Birthday to our Junior Warden, Sheila Smallidge. I have had an absolutely wonderful time serving our church in various ways with Sheila. She is a great lady who is genuinely devoted to our parish and we are truly fortunate to have her. Vestryman Mark Bucklin, a junior at MDI High School, will be among those student interns making presentations to Jackson Lab Scientists, family and friends on May 27th. Mark will present the culmination of his work this year under scientist and mentor Michael Astle: "Mapping Loci Controlling the B Lymphocyte Proportions Using B6.129 Congenic Mice." There is slim chance Chuck and I will understand it all, but you can be sure we will be among those proud parents present. Maine Maritime Academy student, Midshipman 4/C Michael Bucklin is at sea aboard the Training Ship State of Maine. His 60-day training cruise includes stops at Vera Cruz, Mexico, St. George, Bermuda, Tampa, Florida, and San Juan, Puerto Rico. We will be happy to have Michael back home in early July. Spring has finally arrived here in Northeast Harbor. The flowering shrubs are spectacular, the bulb flowers passing by, and the grass green. The Bucklin family is graced with a robin family with three newly hatched babies in our barn. We look forward to the many reunions this summer of village and parish family friends. Please write to me or call if you have news to share. Love to all. Martha JULY WEDDINGS July 10: Christian Franklin Miller of Houston, Texas and Marguerite Hopson Miller of Houston, Texas at St. Mary's-by-the-Sea July 17: Michael Dana Roix of Northeast Harbor, Maine and Kerry Lee Kenney of Castle Hill, Maine at St. Mary's-by-the-Sea July 24: Philip Gardner Utsch of New York City and Margot Elizabeth van Bers Streeter of New York City at St. Mary's-by-the-Sea July 31: Roderick Clothier Kellett of Rosemont, Pennsylvania and Whitney Roberts Stengel of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania at St. Mary's-by-the-Sea (Banns will be published in the weekly service bulletins.) |
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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