The Parish of
St. Mary and St. Jude
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR, DAVID J. LUCEY Incarnational Living, Stewardship and Baptism Epicopalians claim to be an "incarnational" people. This description is a new way of saying we are sacramental people. This original label is another way of claiming that we experience God in history and in our lives in real and visible ways-in Jesus, in the Communion, in marriage, in ordained clergy, in bishops, in healing, in forgiveness, and especially in the community of the baptized. By the time you receive this Harbor Chart we will have celebrated the feast day of all baptized believers-the Feast of All Saints. Although we often think of this day as a honoring those individuals singled out for special mention-Peter, Paul, Francis, Benedict, Mary Magdalene, John Wesley, Harriet Ross Tubman and the like-it is also a time to celebrate our incorporation into the Church, for we are called saints too. We have been called out to follow the way of Jesus and that is a very high calling indeed. Our baptismal service contains in its prayers and blessings many theological views of what baptism is. Among the theologies emphasized are that we are anointed and "indwelt" by the Holy Spirit, that we have been cleansed of our sins, that we have died and been raised with Christ, and that we are new creatures before God. In our service we also proclaim that Baptism is primarily a beginning. It is the beginning of a lifetime of formation and a lifetime of incarnational living. Incarnational living means demonstrating in our very being-in our words and actions-that God is with us. Nearby in this issue is an article by Charlie Tyson, the Chair of our stewardship committee, where he talks about such incarnations of God's gift in the life of the parish. Charlie mentions people like Jean Fernald and Kathy Suminsby, the acts of giving like the meals made available to the sick and shut-ins, and the work of the Stroud Committee in distributing seed money for building up of community on this island through various charities and acts of assistance to individuals. This sacramental living shows that the people of this parish take their baptismal vows seriously and are following in the way of Christ. Because of this need to practice being like Christ, before baptism occurs, there needs to be preparation in what baptism is. That is why I ask parents of infants and adults who come to me seeking to be baptized how they are going to model Christian behavior and continue in the way. In shorthand that may sound like, "Where are you going to Church?" But the question is really much broader and deeper. Parents are a child's first and best initiation to Christ incarnate. Part of my ministry as a priest is to provide pastoral counseling to the family to enable them to faithfully make these meaningful promises before God, with integrity and understanding. To plan a baptism without planning the continuing education as formation, means that the child or adult is at risk of never experiencing the fullness of baptism. Certainly the child will be fully a part of the church, but to stop at the service alone is like buying a child hockey equipment and not getting him or her to the ice rink. They may be hockey players, but severely limited. Just like anything else worthwhile, Christian living requires practice, coaching, and performing to make the gifts effective. And that is what church communities are for. Saint Mary and Saint Jude is a training ground for saints. And baptism is initiation into this training. To ask people to live their vows by being fully involved in their churches is simply an invitation to the full life of Christ. To ask for anything less would be to cheat God and to cheat the person being baptized. So, come on in. Let's start the training for the creatures of this new creation. Let's fulfill our calling as Saints. Yours in Christ, David+ Reaching In/Reaching Out The enthusiasm and optimism that have characterized the meetings of our Stewardship Committee during the last few months are hopefully infectious. During late October and early November you will be receiving pledge cards for 2005 and letters of presumptive gratitude for your support. My purpose is not to repeat the information in other sections of this Harbor Chart but to emphasize that we are not a United Way or similar charitable organization with burdensome and embarrassing administrative costs. In fact, having just completed an exhaustive review of our financial picture, I can assure you that the parish is extremely frugal. Other than personnel and maintenance costs, we have few expenses thanks to the generosity of our volunteer parishioners in time and material contributions. As we grow in spiritual strength and numbers we should be able maintain this economic efficiency and extend our presence in the community. Can we realistically expect to grow, a concept that was exuberantly embraced during the March and July congregational development conferences? Demographic trends and future planning for the health of Mount Desert Island developed by the Department of Resource Economics and Policy in Maine and the MDI Tomorrow organization suggest that we can. Annual growth in the Town of Mount Desert is 6.7%. Growth in MDI summer population is at the rate of 12%. There are active initiatives to retain younger families through more affordable housing. The combination of population growth and movement within the Christian traditions indicate a positive environment. To capture our share, however, we must build a vibrant faith community supported by a dynamic spiritual program for all ages - especially the young people. We need warmth from the pulpit, a welcome smile at the front door, and a worship experience that provides a meaningful fulfillment of what God hopes from and for us. Warmth, welcome, worship. We can begin the process immediately by reaching in and reaching out. The "reaching in" in the title does not refer to dipping into your pocketbook (although that is not a bad idea); rather it suggests an inward contact with those who once worshiped with us. Our attendance could be increased by at least 20% if we were able to encourage those who have drifted away to reconsider their commitment to the parish. Ours is not a strongly evangelical community, but there cannot be any harm in expressing the fact that we miss them and would be very excited to see them return. Each of you knows someone in this category - please give it a try. We very likely have much to learn from their reasons for withdrawing, and in so learning, can make appropriate improvements. We also have the opportunity and resources to reach out - a necessary component of any vital organization with a long-term vision. This is where our development of mission is so important as we seek ways to expand the presence of the parish in the community and offer our resources in areas that reflect God's work. Capturing a greater portion of the population is not too different from fishing, and we have a Lure that has been tested over time. There is no doubt that Bible Study and other sponsored programs are critical, but every study on congregational development stresses that OUTREACH is the primary tool. The underlying requirement for these efforts in stewardship and growth through reaching in and out is a full-press participation by all of us in this parish. I was mulling over how to emphasize this point about participation when I received a message from a most unlikely source. Personally I find rap music distasteful and crude. Give me Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Glenn Miller. Please! But recently I was trapped in the checkout line in a store with a boom box in close proximity. The words were barely intelligible: "You ain't gonna grow/ If you stay in slo-mo/ You gotta take a part/ And speak from yo' heart." And yet, for purposes of this article, that's a wrap. With great appreciation for the opportunity to serve, Michael T.B. Dennis, M.D., Senior Warden Thanks Giving A few Sundays ago I heard a stewardship sermon that struck a chord. The preacher did not whine about rising costs and the need to meet an even bigger annual budget next year. He suggested that we give not because the church "needs the money," or out of a sense of duty or obligation, or as an example to others, or to be seen as generous, but out of gratitude. He said it had made all the difference in the world to his own giving and how he thought about it after stewardship had become for him an act of thanks. His sermon got me thinking about stewardship at Saint Mary's and Saint Jude's. Have we not received gifts we could give thanks for? Thanks for God's unconditional love. Thanks for the beauty of the natural world on Mount Desert Island that God has given us. Thanks for the spiritual nourishment, the sense of peace and closeness with God that our churches give us. Thanks for the volunteer ministries of the people of this parish whom our Senior Warden has been naming and recognizing this past year. Thanks for David's inspiring sermons and Rector's Forums, for Kate's untiring attention to the administration of the church, for Christy Roix's and Jean Fernald's dedication to Sunday school. For the members of the Altar Guild who beautify and set the Lord's Table. For the many volunteers who lovingly prepare and graciously serve countless lemonades on the lawn and pot luck dinners. For the prayers we say for each other. For the food and funds the church gives to the needy in our community. For Kathy Suminsby and other volunteers who give comfort to the elderly and guidance to the young. For the weekly sharing of our meeting space with AA. For the wardens and vestry who tend to the practical needs of the church. For all those generous benefactors, past and present, who have endowed outreach and maintenance, and who contribute annually to help us provide sanctuaries where all of us can come for respite and renewal. When you open your annual stewardship letter this fall, with its message that giving can also be life-giving, we ask that you reflect not only on the amount of your gift, but on the gifts you have received. We ask that you make your 2005 pledge in gratitude for them - joyfully, generously, and promptly. Thanks! Charlie Tyson for the Stewardship Committee Invitations & Announcements: Christmas Flowers: It's not too late to be planning for the holidays, and as always at Christmastime, the sanctuary of our Winter Chapel will be decorated with poinsettias, wreaths and seasonal greens. Traditionally the poinsettias are given to honor the memory of loved ones. In this issue of the Harbor Chart, you will find an offering envelope to be used for this purpose. The suggested contribution is $25.00. Please make checks payable to: Saint Mary's Flower Fund and mail or return it to the Parish Office, PO?Box 105, Northeast Harbor, ME?04662 by December 10th. Thank-you! Sunday, November 7th: Town Meeting style discussion on the Diocesan Convention and the Lambeth Commission Report. All are welcome to attend these informative discussions and presentations. Time: 10:30AM. Place: The Parish Hall (upstairs in the Winter Chapel). Sunday, November 7th: During the service there will be a dedication and blessing of the new communion vessels in memory of Lucy Smith. Lucy died on August 6th. Several family members and a few special friends will be attending and we hope you will be too. Two Thank-You Notes: Dear Robert and Amy, Thank you for sharing with all of us in church and at the reception the Celebration and Blessing of Your Marriage on Thursday evening, October 7, 2004 at Saint Mary's-By-The-Sea. Family and friends filled the old stone church, happy to participate in the coming together in Holy Matrimony of such beloved members of our Parish and our island. Both of you have given so much to our community over the past fifteen years, and you did so again on Thursday evening. You gave us the gift of being part of a beautiful ceremony; the gift of listening to the harmonious voices of Acapellago - and especially your voice Amy, and that of Jay Emlen, raised in joyful sound to the honor of God for one more time in our lovely old church; the gift of sharing your first Holy Eucharist as husband and wife, but the most important gift of all you wrought that evening was the coming together of everyone who was there. Truly we felt that we had come together as one community in love and respect, to honor and thank you both for the richness you have added to our lives throughout the years. We shall miss you both greatly, but wish you well in your new life in Tennessee. God bless you both. All our love, Dorothy How is someone chosen to be divinely blessed? The answer may be a mystery, but we know that we are and how it feels. October 7th began with glorious sunshine as we were joined by family and a few close friends on the amazingly beautiful Sutton Island. There we officially began our new life together as husband and wife. After a wonderful luncheon, a sail and rehearsal for the "main event," God showered us with his love at Saint Mary's-By-The-Sea. We were simply overwhelmed as we stood at the altar to affirm our devotion to Him and to each other in the presence of all of you who mean so much to us. It is hard to put on paper exactly how we felt that evening. Hopefully those of you who were there experienced some of those same emotions. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported us in so many different ways over the last fourteen years. We will never forget the celebration of our marriage on that magical night. Amy and Robert Volunteer of the Month How very timely it is to recognize the former Amy Smith for her multifaceted contributions to the parish and the community. Her recent wedding was the musical, emotional, and social event of the year, bringing together the people whom she has delighted with her voice and her dedication for decades. The warmth and patience of her spirit is reflected in her care for her children and was deeply moving as she nurtured her parents throughout their last years. Her devotion to our mail service is inspiring, and she will be sorely missed. I was always confident that a letter addressed to Mr. Stanley, USA, would somehow find its way to David - thanks to Amy. It was within our church structure where her talents had the opportunity to enrich our experiences with worship. She has been an anchor in the choir with a voice that must be soothing to the angels. In addition she has played a critical role in the church administration, serving on vestry and leading as snior warden during the turn of the millennium. To say that she leaves a vacuum is an understatement. She has been the cynosure of music in the community, and to hear that Acappellago the singing group may disband in her absence is not surprising. Her duets - especially with Sally Merchant in Pie Jesu - were masterpieces of the highest quality. We are left with wonderful and unique memories. Warmest wishes from all of us for your new life in Tennessee, Michael T.B. Dennis, M.D. |
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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