Fish Tales JANUARY Thoughts from the Senior Warden

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1 JANUARY 2018 Fish Tales Episcopal Parish serving the Greater Bridgton Lakes Region since 1962 St. Peter s Episcopal Church 42 Sweden Road Bridgton, me stpetersbridgtonmaine.com Thoughts from the Senior Warden Happy New Year! Again (every 12 months?) we begin a time of change for St. Peter s Church. This year of 2018 will bring us a new Rector, New Vestry and a renewal of our daily religious life and mission. This year we will embark on a journey under the leadership of Father Daniel Warren. Things will change while much will remain the same. Let us all use the occasion to bring new ideas to our church which will guide us to a new era. I take this opportunity to say Thank You to Father George Westerberg, Father Timothy Parsons and our lay ministers Bob Vivian and Margaret Reimer for ensuring that St Peter s Service occurred on schedule. So onward and forward we go with each passing day renewing our faith in Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. 1 St Peter s Episcopal Church began as a summer mission in On September 8, 1974 St Peter s- by the- Lake held its first service of extended ministry. Since then, though it did not have a home of its own, the church has provided an Episcopal presence to summer and year-round residents of the Lakes Region by meeting in various locations including people s homes, Bridgton Academy and local churches of different denominations. The first service in St. Peters Episcopal Church on Sweden Road, Bridgton, was held on May 25, The building and its contents were dedicated and consecrated on June 1, 2008 Do not pray for tasks equal to our powers. Pray for powers equal to your task Phillips Brooks Memorial Garden Christmas Eve 2017

2 CHURCH INFORMATION St. Peter s Episcopal Church 43 Sweden Road (P.O. Box 134) Bridgton, Me OFFICE HOURS Monday, Wednesday and Friday 9:00 AM to 1:00 Emergency contact Sr. Warden Clark Lewis can be reached at: Or stpeters1700@gmail.com Holy Eucharist Sunday at AM Director of Music Evan Miller Vestry Senior Warden: Clark Lewis Treasurer: Eric Wissmann Members: Ingrid von Kannewurff Christine Molloy Fred Stewart Ray Turner Gary and Sara Rogers share a happy moment with their new grandson Austin at his baptism January 7 th January 14 th January 21 st January 28 th Bob and Norma Vivian and Barbara Marshall Pot Luck Lunch In-Reach VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

3 V Pat Bradshaw Kathy Bohr Elna Stone The Rev. George Westerberg Clark Lewis Mario Alcaino

4 This is the blessing given at the closing of the Eucharist of the 2010 Convention of the Diocese of Maine It is based on the words of Henri Frederic Ariel Life is short And we do not have much time To gladden the hearts of those who make the Journey with us So be swift to love And make haste to be kind. And the blessing of God Who made us Who loves us And who travels with us Be with you now and forever Thank you Jeanne Kobrock for sharing this beautiful blessing with us.

5 LESSONS FOR SUNDAYS IN JANUARY January 7th First Sunday after Epiphany Genesis 1: 1-5 Acts 19: 1-7 Mark 1: 4-11 Psalm 29 January 14th Second Sunday after Epiphany 1 Samuel 3: 1-10 (11-20) 1 Corinthians 6: John 1: Psalm 139: 1-5, January 21st Third Sunday after Epiphany Jonah 3: 1-5, 10 1 Corinthians 7: Mark 1: Psalm 62: 6-14 January 28th Fourth Sunday after Epiphany Deuteronomy 18: Corinthians 8: 1-13 Mark 1: Psalm 111

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7 St. Peter s Church Vestry Meeting November 19, 2017 Present: Senior Warden Clark Lewis, Treasurer Eric Wissmann, Ray Turner, Fred Stuart, Ingrid von Kannewurff, and Interim Clerk Christine Molloy Also present were Jan Boole, Barbara Collins and Joan Lewis The meeting was opened with prayer by Jan Boole JUNIOR WARDEN S REPORT: This report was given by the Senior Warden. The lights in the sanctuary have been changed. The silverware drawer in the kitchen collapsed because the silverware was so heavy. It has been redistributed. The drawer was repaired and there are now 100 pieces in that drawer, and the balance is in the bottom drawer. Ray Turner reported he had received a complaint that the fans have been on during the Sunday service. TREASURER S REPORT: Treasurer Wissmann reported that expenses for the first ten months were $1560 over budget. However, income for that period is $1800 over budget. Office supplies exceeded its budget by $ The Church Secretary Micki Bless will receive a small salary increase due to the Diocesan increase in the minimum wage. Eric explained that turkey supper money will be moved into the operating account, as well as the decorating and craft money and the Field Day money. Upon a motion made by Fred Stuart and seconded by Ray Turner, it was VOTED to accept the Treasurer s Report. The granite sign on Rt. 302 has been installed. Lighting still needs to be done. Flowers can be planted next spring. Ray Turner reported he never got the heating contract. He will follow up. DISCERNMENT COMMITTEE REPORT: Ingrid von Kannewurff reported that there seems to be two concepts regarding a priest s obligations within our parish. One group thinks the priest is for anyone and everyone, while the other group believes the priest serves the church, not the community. PLOWING AND SANDING: The contract has been awarded to a Lovell man who has done it before. He is charging $200 to plow, sand and shovel the walks

8 and emergency doors. The Senior Warden is planning to get some rocks removed to make plowing easier. NEW BUSINESS: The Diocese is advising that two services be held on Christmas Eve Day, which is a Sunday and one service on Christmas Day. The possibilities for St. Peter s on Sunday, the 24 th might be Morning Prayer at 10 a.m. and Lessons and Carols with Eucharist if Father Tim is available at either 4 p.m. or 7 p.m. On Christmas Day having Morning Prayer at 8 a.m. is a possibility. Nominating Committee: Clark will ask the Diocese for approval to lower Vestry membership to four members from six. Needing replacement next year is the Junior Warden, the Clerk and one member who as resigned. A question was raised regarding electing summer residents who could participate via Face Time through the internet. Living Local Joining God: Barbara Collins reported on last week s meeting. No new activity was planned. Stewardship: final pledges need to be in by December 3 rd. Do we want a Budget Committee or do we want the Vestry to prepare a budget with counsel from Bob Vivian and Tom Stone? The interim priest will be for 20 hours instead of 24 hours. We will not need to pay medical insurance or pension. However, it was suggested to leave the priest expenses as is in case we find one. Clark will contact committee chairs to see if they need money. Internet Website: Norman Nicholson is in charge of improving the website. His proposal will cost more, but it will make things easier for the secretary. Eric Wissmann says we need a new computer and has asked Norman to look into it. Extra money will be needed for software. In response to a question by Fred Stuart, Clark stated that a notice will be sent to The Bridgton News regarding the appointment of an interim priest, and two weeks before his arrival, a full blown article saying who he is and other pertinent information will be printed. Another suggestion by non-vestry member Joan Lewis was to the information to all parishioners active and inactive, and to publish it on Facebook also. Respectfully submitted, Christine Molloy, Interim Clerk

9 REVERAND TIMOTHY PARSONS Did you know that St. Peter s has two active groups that meet in the summer and all year round? The summer group is the Wednesday Kayaking folks that go to a different lake or river each Wednesday. They include the Halls, Williams, Lewis, Stones, Rogers, and other interested friends. The all year round group are the Friday afternoon bowling group who bowl for two hours and go out for pizza or salads later. They are the Lewis, Stones, Williams, and other friends or relatives. Are you bored? Need exercise? Need a social activity? Call any one of us for information. On another topic, is there any interested in helping to empty about four boxes of old church records? We have a dozen boxes on the shelves in the storage room at the left front of the church. Let me know. Tom Stone Timothy Hamilton Parsons was born in Boston, MA, and was raised in suburban New York, most notably in Upper Montclair, NJ. He attended Hoosac School in Hoosick, NY, and earned a B.A. in History at Gettysburg College where he was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity, the a cappella College Choir, and the men's Soccer Team. He earned an M.Div at Virginia Theological Seminary and a D.Min at Drew University. He served the Episcopal Church in the full-time parish ministry of 38 years in the Dioceses of Washington (D.C.), New York, Southern Ohio, Iowa, Newark and Central New York, having completed thirteen years at St. Matthew's, Liverpool. Tim retired in 2006 to the house that his maternal Great Grandfather had built in Norway in1894. He concluded seven years as parttime rector of St. Barnabas, Rumford, and now restricts himself to working as Sunday Supply. He is pleased to be associated with St. Peter's, Bridgton.

10 January 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday New Year's Day Eucharist Rev. Westerberg Vestry Meeting 11:00 Prayer Shawl Eucharist Rev. Warren Pot Luck Lunch Martin Luther King Day Eucharist Rev. Warren Annual Meeting Prayer Shawl Eucharist Rev. Warren Community Dinner Calendarpedia Data provided 'as is' without warranty