Words from the Well February 2019

Transcription

1 CHURCH OF OUR FATHER PO Box 186 HULLS COVE, MAINE Words from the Well February 2019 The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Bishop of Mae The Rev. John Allison, Rector The Rev. Mary-Carol Griff, Deacon Dear members and friends of our parish family, On February 2, The Feast of the Presentation, I celebrated the second anniversary of my ordation to the priesthood. Two years is not a long time and second anniversaries are not obvious markers with our culture, but the course of my regular yearly reflection on what it means to me to be a priest I ve been struck with a particular awareness of how I have been growg to my mistry and more broadly of how I understand my priesthood. the years leadg up to my ordation I read much about the theological underpngs of priesthood and this year I ve found myself drawn back to one essay particular. This essay, entitled Because Beset with Weakness, takes it title from Paul s Letter to the Hebrews (5:2), which reads it s entirety He is able to deal gently with the ignorant and wayward, sce he himself is subject to weakness. The author goes on the contrast the commonly accepted notion of the priest as one who is gifted with various abilities and aptitudes and is able to to use those the service of robustly buildg up the body of Christ with a more tempered, less obviously capable view of the priest as one who is acutely aware of his or her various imperfections and weaknesses and is as prone as anyone, perhaps more so even, to sufferg the plight of our human frailty. It s an terestg piece of writg but one that I wasn t so keen on fully acceptg. Like anyone, it s hard to fully live to and admit vulnerabilities and the need for help. More specifically, as a new priest the need to appear confident and capable rises to the surface much more readily than the admission of vulnerability and humility. The essay concludes by sayg that, To live this way is to live the paschal mystery of Christ weakness and love... He is not weak dealg with you, but powerful you. For he was crucified weakness; but lives by the power of God. For we are weak Him, but dealg with you we shall live with him by the power of God (2 Corthians 13,3,4). There is much paradox our lives as disciples and that paradox contues my vocation as priest. I ve been especially aware of that paradox this year as my ordation anniversary came on the heels of the unexpected death of Kathleen s brother and the not so distant death of her father last fall. These losses have been hard for our family as have the various complications of geographic distance as we attend to the closg of their personal affairs. Two thgs have been constant for me through all of this: first, the gentle tug of my various priestly responsibilities and pastoral concerns; second, and, I m learng most important, is the love of God that has been shown to us the many prayers and cards and phone calls that we have received from so many of you. Indeed, this has been a remder of just how subject I am as priest to the weakness and sufferg we experience our humanity and how God does not leave us alone that condition. In order to open myself to that Dive love, I must first admit that I can not do it on my own, without God s help and the help of God s people. We live a culture where self-sufficiency and pride often hders us from receivg what others have to offer and some ways, a priest is especially subject to that culture of self-sufficiency. What I have learned this year, as I reflect on my ordation, is that it s embracg my vulnerabilities that I m enabled to more fully live to my callg. You have all helped me to do that my time here and especially this time of healg that follows great loss. I thank you and I thank God for your mistry to me and to Kathleen and pray that we contue to grow together our call to love one another as God loves us. Faithfully, John+

2 2 Come Home For Supper is back! Look for the sign up sheet on the hallway bullet board then jo the fun startg Saturday, March 2nd! The suppers at various parishioners homes are a way for folks to become better acquated and to crease the feelg of community our island congregations through food, fellowship and fun! The sign up sheet is on the bullet board and the deadle to sign up for the March 2 supper is Sunday, February 17th! Men s Bible Study at St. Mary s NEH at 1 pm on Tuesday, February 12! If you are terested readg Romans as part of The Good Book Club study startg January, you may click on the lk <here>. This is a national study group and everyone is welcome to participate! Bar Harbor Food Pantry Sign up Volunteer list onle click below: signup.barharborfoodpantry.org Fr. John s Available Office Hours are: Tuesday, 11 am-2pm Wednesday, 9 am Noon Thursday, Noon-2 pm Friday, Noon-2 pm AND by Appotment Call or fr.jallison@gmail.com

3 Our ECW ladies havg fun makg their special Valentes! We wish you a day full of love and mercy on Thursday, February 14th! 3

4 4 CORRECT REPORT FOR Youth and Family Mistry 2018 All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the peace of your children (Isaiah 54:13) Mission Statement: To brg youth and families to a closer relationship with Jesus Christ and one another. Adopted February 2012 Youth and Family Mistry (Y&FM) is dedicated to growg not only our youth, but families as well, the love and knowledge of Christ. The committee is most appreciative of the many parishioners who have helped and planned and participated the various Y&FM events. What Blessgs and Great Joy Abound for Church of Our Father Youth and Family Mistry 2018 has been another year of change and growth for the Youth and Family mistry. With a focus on family we are so thankful to parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who have faithfully brought children to worship Each week the children jo us worship and have grown their understandg and participation. After the worship the children jo at the circle table where they attend a time of education and fun. Havg the children present the parish hall gives them a feelg of beg part of the church community and gives our church community an opportunity to be part of and witness what the children are learng. I especially love when we can be teractive with the congregation as a whole. It is the body of Christ at work! Chris Krenicki Education time has cluded Makg a booklet that looks at different aspects of our worship service and what they mean A series of lessons on Lent,Easter and Pentecost A variety of lessons based on the readgs or sermon on that Sunday An Advent study What we do Advent, an Anglican kids Workbook By Anne Kitch Mission opportunities cluded Learng about our sponsor children Mityana and providg fancial support so they can contue their education. Researchg and givg money to Compassion International Shoppg for and packg boxes for Operation Christmas Child Loadg Food Pantry donations Cards for folks on our prayer list and others we miss seeg at worship Providg assistance for those need at Christmas Highlights of the year clude Two baptisms Marley Nichols and Samaria Hudak A fall tra ride on the Downeast Express A family advent event cludg a craft, meal and a viewg of The Star Our year was capped off with a Christmas eve service full of the voices of children and a great showg of teens and young adults who have grown up our church family. God Is Good!!!! See next page

5 5 (Cont d from page 4) Hopes for the future Some hopes for the future: Interact with other MDI Episcopal youth as the ter church cooperation expands Play a role on some level the services Have an off-site event maybe summer Invite their friends to some of what we do Utilize new and spirg curriculum/ideas Encourage some to go to Camp Bishopswood there are funds the Dedicated for some coverage of expenses. Chris Krenicki Chair of Youth and Family Mistries

6 February 2019 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday January 27 Epiphany 3 10 am And Annual Meetg 28 Labors of Love & Newsletter articles and photos due 29 Fr. John away 30 8 am Morng Prayer & Fr. John away 31 Fr. John away February Epiphany 4 8 am & 10 am Fr. John 6 8 am Holy Eucharist & 9-12 Fr. John Election of the 10th Bishop of Mae 10 Epiphany 5 8 am & 10 am Fr. Tim Fleck here Fr. John 1-3 Men s Bible Study St Mary s 13 8 am Holy Eucharist & 9-12 Fr. John Epiphany 6 8 am & 10 am 11:45 am Vestry meetg Fr. John 20 8 am Holy 8 am & 9-12 Fr. John Epiphany 7 8 & 10 am 25 Labors of Love & Newsletter articles and photos due Fr. John 27 8 am Holy Eucharist & 9-12 Fr. John 28 March 1 2

7 Intercessory Prayer for our Friends, Family, Military, Prison Mistry, Diocese & Missionaries: Pray for Sean Killian, departed this life; for Geoff Schuller, Bill Krenicki, Isabel Cordova, Haji, Avila, Beth Kidder, Ga Farnsworth, Fr. Bob Raymond, Bill Kirk, Stacey Aust, Donna Cardillo, Cdy, Roger Evans, Carl Hatch, Christa Heiger, Ursula Heiger, Helen, Cameron Knable, Kim and Jean Lasater, Gary Lyons, Ronald Olson, Tony & Shawn Smoker, Bob Theriault, Lloyd Woods, Anne Zaslau, the Mistry of Hospice and the Bar Harbor Food Pantry. Our Military: Pray for those who serve the armed forces, of the USA. Prison Mistry: Pray for peace our prisons. February Birthdays 2/1 Nancy Salisbury 2/2 Ursula Heiger 2/8 Hayley & Maya Libitzki-McCabe 2/10 Isaac Higgs 2/12 David Hawkes 2/13 The Rev. John Allison 2/14 Aggie Sawyer 2/19 Steve Biggers 2/23 Ken Lscott 2/29 Mary Leland-Hopks Anniversaries 2/2 The Rev. John Allison Celebrates his ordation as priest 2/14 Frank Gray & Ada Hatch (Please let Muffet know if we may add yours) Diocesan Cycle of Prayer 3 February ~ Epiphany 4 The congregations of St. Andrew s, Millocket and St. Thomas, Wn. For all prayerfully preparg to participate the Convention to Elect the Tenth Bishop of Mae. 10 February ~ Epiphany 5 The congregations of Christ Church, Norway and Trity (Lutheran), South Paris. For all those mistries of teachg and Christian formation. 17 February ~ Epiphany 6 The congregations of St. Margaret s, Belfast and St. Andrew s, Newcastle. For all church musicians and choirs 24 February ~ Epiphany 7 The congregations of St. Alban s, Cape Elizabeth and St. Nicholas, Scarborough. For the sick and those who care for them Anglican Cycle of Prayer Sunday, 3 February 2019 Pray for the Anglican Church of Burundi, The Most Revd Mart Blaise Nyaboho - Archbishop of Burundi & Bishop of Makamba Sunday, 10 February 2019 Pray for the Anglican Church of Canada, The Most Revd Frederick Hiltz - Primate of the Anglican Church of Canada Sunday, 17 February 2019 Pray for the Church of the Provce of Central Africa, The Most Revd Albert Chama - Archbishop of Central Africa & Bishop of Northern Zambia Sunday, 24 February 2019 Pray for the Iglesia Anglicana de la Region Central de America.,The Rt Revd Julio Murray Thompson - Primate of IARCA & Bishop of Panama

8 Church of Our Father : Sunday 8 and 10 am Wednesday 8 am (followed by light breakfast) Words From The Well February 2019 IN THIS ISSUE P. 1-2 Fr John Allison P. 3-5 News/Announcements P. 6-7 Calendar/Birthdays/Anniversaries/Prayers CHURCH OF OUR FATHER P.O. Box 186 HULLS COVE, MAINE Office ShalomCOOF@gmail.com (GPS location: 91 State Hwy 3, Bar Harbor)