The Parish of
St. Mary and St. Jude
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A MESSAGE FROM THE RECTOR, DAVID J. LUCEY Confirmation and Manifestations of God. I have been addressing the sacraments of the Church as they relate to our common lives together. My reflections have, of course included personal examples, but more broadly I have been using the theological insight of our Book of Common Prayer 1979 both spoken and unspoken to set the structure for this series. One unspoken signal that the Prayer Book sends is the importance of Baptism and Eucharist by placing them first among the sacramental offices. Baptism is the way in which we enter the Church. Therefore, it is placed first. Eucharist is the way we are sustained in our Baptism. Therefore, it is placed second in order, and because it is an ongoing means of Grace, more of the Prayer Book is devoted to it. Supplementing Baptism is the sacrament of Confirmation (see the Prayer Book beginning on page 412). It follows Eucharist in order. And although it is not required, it is generally looked upon as the next broad step that almost all Christians will take in their faith journey. Many of us remember Confirmation as the prerequisite for communion. But since the General Convention of 1972, confirmation has been affirmed as not being required for communion. So, if Confirmation is no longer the "ticket" to communion, what is it? Well, the Prayer Book tells us that at some point after baptism, especially if baptism was done when the person was very young, Christians should make a "mature affirmation of their faith and commitment to the responsibilities of their Baptisms and receive the laying on of hands by a Bishop (page 412)." In other words, an invitation is being extended to those who have been baptized to seek and practice a deeper understanding of their faith and to do so under the discipline of the Bishop. Confirmation is something like when married couples seek to renew their wedding vows. They have lived their vows for many years and their vows are permanent. So, what does a renewal of those vows affirm? Well, the renewal is saying to the congregation that after having developed a living understanding of what love means, the couple wishes to express that understanding again, only with a deeper knowledge of what it really means. So to Confirmation: having developed a living understanding of God in consistent and loyal worship, an understanding of communion in consistent and loyal participation in the Eucharist, an understanding through practice of resisting evil, seeking Christ in all persons, and seeking after justice and peace, Christians kneel before the Bishop and promise to continue this life under the guidance of the church. Confirmation does what all the sacraments do. it acknowledges God's presence with certainty in the actions taken. It says God is present, or manifest, with us in this moment. No Christian can truly affirm these words without God's help and God's presence, and by doing this thing, we affirm that God is present. Confirmation is no longer a sacrament where there is a set timetable or a need to rush to get it done. By freeing Christians to receive communion by their Baptismal vows alone, the Episcopal Church now allows for maturity to find its own pace. That means some will come to this manifestation of God sooner than others, but that is as all relationships should be. Love takes its own course and so does the Holy Spirit. Yours in Christ, David+ Being the "Sinter" of Attention Too many of our young people, and even some adults, are looking for heroes in all the wrong places. The pristine achievements of Babe Ruth and Hank Aaron are being made a mockery by a new generation of chemically enhanced athletes whose behavior is atrocious and who are making historical comparisons impossible. It is a fact that 42% of the players in the National Basketball Association are convicted felons. We would exercise our commitment to Christian forgiveness if they set good examples. Instead many of them flaunt tradition and authority and feel they have made their mark because thousands wear their uniforms. And this is not just found in sports. Congress recently impeached a president whose main legacy - sadly, may be that he introduced an x-rated vocabulary to the kindergarten children of our Nation. Rock stars seem to think that somehow their music makes them statesmen who can inebriate an audience and then lead them to the polling booth. It is a time to refocus, for this is the impact of people who believe that they are the center of attention when, in fact, they are the sinter - that dross and slag left behind by the evaporation of fruitful waters. All of us can name real heroes, and each of us probably carries a few names in his or her heart. For me the true heroes are my fellow colleagues on your vestry, the members of our extensive committee organization, and others who work tirelessly, unselfishly, and joyously to carry out Christ's mission for our parish. It would be timely for us to spread the message that a true hero, whom we can shamelessly worship unfailingly, is among us whenever we gather together in moments of reverence. I am not aware that Jesus Christ requested a signing bonus when he accepted from His Father a contract, which must rate as the most demanding in all of history. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John have not recorded that Jesus did a little jive dance in the end zone when he resurrected Lazarus from the dead. He made no endorsements of products other than the Cross, our symbol of His sacrifice for our salvation. He wore no tattoos other than those left by the crown of thorns. He bore no body piercing other than the punctures of the Roman soldiers. Why not try to influence a shift from the chimerical and ephemeral to the real and enduring? As we begin a New Year, one could not find a better resolution. With all best wishes for the New Year and with much appreciation for the opportunity to serve, Michael T.B. Dennis, M.D. Senior Warden A Glass Half Full It's December 15, and the parish office has already received 75 pledge cards - half the number of pledges to annual giving targeted for 2005, more than we received for all of 2003. The Stewardship Committee's urgent request that all parishioners seriously consider pledging, the vestry's 100% commitment and 10% increase over last year's pledge total, stewardship letters, Harbor Chart articles, and the efforts of Sal Merchant's follow-up committee are bearing fruit. Thirty-five year 'round and forty seasonal residents have returned their pledge cards thus far - more than a trickle, less than a flood, yet a steady stream that, history tells us, will continue into 2005. We believe we're looking at a glass half full, for which we are truly grateful. You will remember that for 2005 the parish has three stewardship goals. First, to increase the number of parishioners pledging (145 pledges were made to the 2004 budget). Second, to increase the total dollar amount pledged by about 8% from $139,000 to $150,000. And third, to have all pledge cards returned by the end of 2004. (OK, so that last goal was a bit wishful.) In any case, we pray that your pledge, when it arrives, will be a gift from the heart - a joyful "thanks giving" for the gifts Saint Mary's and Saint Jude's give to you. And we pray that yours will be among the cards that fill the glass after the first of the year. Respectfully and gratefully, The Stewardship Committee Christmas Flowers: We want take a moment here to thank everyone who so graciously contributed to the parish's Christmas Flower Fund. Many thoughtful expressions were tenderly made in memory of loved ones who have died; some in thanksgiving for blessings received, and still others were offered in honor or recognition of someone special. Intercessory prayers were offered during the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day liturgies for the following: In Memory of: Horace and Valerie Bucklin · Madeline B. Rock · Edward and Annie Hodgdon · Paul L. Miller · Paul L. Miller, Jr. · F. Peter Jordan · Robert E. Suminsby · Jerome and Evelyn Knowles · Belle Smallidge Knowles · Bill Hocker · Stephen and Shirley Smith · Mary Billings Warner · Leslie Warner · Josephine Billings · Stanley Bright · Nicholas Bright · Marjorie Marks · Mr. and Mrs. Ray Foster · Adelma McGrath · John A. Foster · Scott Graves · Mary Johnsono Lawris N. and Bessie L. Graves · John S. and G. Pauline Fernald · Richard W. and Alice B. Sumpter · Jennie Blaisdell · Heman Blaisdell, Jr. · Esther Knudsen · Paul Bucklin · William Bucklin · Louise McIlhenny Roberts · Selina Roberts Ottum · G. Frazier and Evelyn Peckham · Blake Jackson Boyington · Margaret Fennelly Boyington · William R. Fennelly · Dennis M. Fogarty In Thanksgiving: Tanny Clark o Charlotte W. DePedroso In Honor of: Elizabeth R. Bright o The Reverend & Mrs. J. Mike Wheeler Kate Gile, Parish Administrator Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary: An Exciting Trip in Southeast Asia Recently we began looking for unusual ways to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary which takes place in June, 2005. Although we had traveled widely during our many years in the Foreign Service, we never got to Asia. Harvard's Mighty Mekong travel plan offer proved to be perfect. Even more so as John and Sylvia Constable - great friends - were slated to lead it. A long trip indeed. To follow the course of the Mekong from its origin in the Tibetan mountains to China's Yunnan province and south along the borders of Thailand, Laos, Cambodia to the delta in Vietnam, we traveled by planes, busses, jeeps as well as on various boats on the river itself. The trip was nonstop and strenuous indeed. We did it in company with twelve others and an exceptionally talented trip orchestrator who spoke all the languages and coordinated the many transfers necessary to accomplish the journey without delays. We visited Tibetan stupas, Buddhist temples, as well as ancient Khmer temple sites and, of course, the cities and towns in each country: Among them, Kunming and Li Jaing in China, Louang Prabang and Ventane in Laos, Bangkok in Thailand, Pnom Penh in Cambodia and, river villages in Vietnam, ending in Saigon a month later. We stepped into lands thirty years ago were rocked, their populations decimated by deadly and terrifying forces in the form of the Khmer Rouge and the fallout from America's war in Vietnam. We examined Buddhism up close and were touched by its peaceful, gentle influence on people who rather than looking for revenge have put the devastation and cruelty behind them and are now ungrudgingly at work creating better lives for themselves. Will we ever return to Asia? Who knows. We are certainly glad we took the journey. What an extraordinary education!! Mike and Louisa Kennedy Ecumenical Service: The Ecumenical Service, to be held at Saint Saviour's Church on Sunday, January 23rd at 9:30am, is an Island-wide event in which all the churches on the island participate. It is part of the "Week of Prayer for Christian Unity", held nationally since 1908 and is sponsored by the World Council of Churches in cooperation with the Franciscan Friars of the Atonement, Graymoor, New York. The theme of this year's Ecumenical Service is "Christ, the one foundation of the Church" (1 Corinthians 3:1-23). There will be an 8am service at Saint Mary's that morning, but you are all encouraged to attend the Ecumenical Service. Chapel Greening and Pageant: Members of the Parish decorated the Chapel on December 16th; the Nativity scene was reenacted the following Sunday. Participants were: Calli Mitchell as Mary, Diana Lucey as Joseph, Theresa Clark's son,Spencer, as Jesus, Margaret Fletcher and Mea Clark as angels, and William Fletcher as a shepherd. Hannah Vaux narrated the Christmas story. |
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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