Words from the Well of Church of Our Father October 2018

Transcription

1 Church of Our Father P O Box State Highway 3 Hulls Cove, Maine ShalomCoOF@gmail.com The Rt. Rev. Stephen T. Lane, Bishop of Maine The Rev. John Allison, Rector The Rev. Mary-Carol Griffin, Deacon Words from the Well of Church of Our Father October 2018 Dear members and friends of our parish family, I have been most gratified over the past few months by the enthusiastic response to the Sunday scripture discussions I ve been leading between the two Sunday services. It started small from an opportunity I saw to delve more systematically into Mark s Gospel (our primary Gospel text in lectionary year B). I thought it may interest a few souls who were willing to arrive an hour early for informal discussion, but it has steadily grown to a fairly regular group of people. What I find most rewarding about this is that, outside of some general contextual information I might provide, the discussion is carried equally by all of those present. We share our various contact points with the Good News of Christ and our experience of scripture is enlarged along with our understanding of the varied nature of the Body of Christ as present in our worship community. I look forward to these discussions because we learn from one another. As I ve been reflecting on this experience over the last few weeks, I ve been thinking about how I approach scripture, both in terms of how I approach scripture when preparing a sermon and how I approach scripture in prayer. While the two approaches are interdependent and complement one another to some extent, I m also aware of the different tools I take into reading scripture at different times and in different seasons of life. While I do not always seek to consciously employ different ways of reading scripture, I am aware, in reflecting on my own process of reading scripture that I bring to the table different tools depending on the task at hand. So, what do I mean by, different ways of reading scripture? Partly growing out of the ancient rabbinical tradition, the Church Fathers taught what are generally referred to as the Four Senses of Scripture, essentially four methods of interpretation from which we can approach Holy Scripture. The first approach is through the literal sense; we deal primarily with the historical context of the scripture and seek to understand it s meaning within that context. We do a certain amount of this in our discussions on Sunday when I provide information concerning the historical details of Mark and its composition. This is an important perspective to cultivate and our engagement with the text is certainly enhanced with such knowledge, but, were we to stop there, our reading would be quite limited. The second approach calls on us to seek an allegorical understanding of the text; how does it point us to the person and ministry of Jesus Christ? In our Sunday discussions I sometimes direct us to this perspective by asking the question, where is the Good News in this reading? Sometimes, though far from often, the answer is obvious in a Gospel text. When dealing with the Old Testament, the answer may be more obviously elusive. Whatever the case, we must continually remind ourselves that scripture points us to the truth of Christ and seek to understand how a particular text is pointing us in that direction. The third approach asks us to consider the text in a moral or ethical sense; how does the reading call us to repent and change the way we live? This is likely a highly individualized question and allows us to meet the text in the particularities of our individual lives. That said, there may be occasions when we ask this question collectively, as a parish or as a community. The point is that scripture calls on us to act the repent, to reorient our lives to the God in Christ. (cont d on pg. 2)

2 2 (cont d from pg. 1) Finally, the fourth and final approach, what in many ways may be the most difficult, calls on us to contemplate scripture from what is called an anagogical perspective. This is the method of reading that perhaps most closely resembles prayer as its goal is to inspire in us a sense of our ultimate union with God in Christ. The ancient practice of lectio divina, or holy reading, is one method of cultivating this sense. I say this is perhaps the most difficult because its cultivation calls on us to put away our usual tools of the intellect and approach scripture from the heart, to approach scripture from the perspective of emptying ourselves of what we think we know and allowing ourselves to be filled with God s love as revealed in the scripture. For example, one method asks that we listen to a given passage several times, with much silence around each reading. In prayer we discern a word of phrase that draws us in and in silent prayer we allow that word or phrase to be an entryway for God into our hearts. The practice is simple on one level but its depth is profound in practice and my words here are not sufficient to fully describe its beauty. My point in describing these Four Senses of Scripture is that as we continue together on our journey of discipleship, we cultivate different tools that may help us to more fully engage our reading and hearing of God s Word. No one of these senses I ve described is superior to another. Each has its use and can be employed to open our hearts and minds to receive scripture in fresh and surprising ways. The methods as I ve described them may seem confining to some, but they call on us to do something that the early Church understood as essential: we must approach Holy Scripture with both intention and prayerful attention. Faithfully, John+ Thank you from Fr. John! Dear friends and members of our parish family, On September 22, during Bishop Lane s visit and with his blessing, the vestry presented to me, on behalf of the parish family at Church of Our Father, the gift of a home Communion kit. I am most grateful to accept this gift and pray that I may use it faithfully in my ministry to you. It is in Christ s presence at Holy Communion that we are most aware that we are one body in him, and I am humbled beyond words to bear his love in the bread and the wine. Thank you, John+ 2

3 Junior Warden s Corner October The month of September was productive for your Buildings & Grounds Committee. The trim repair and painting of the Church and Parish Hall have been completed. A special paint was found that was able to replicate the look of the stone sill under the Resurrection Window. The paint stains on that sill are gone. Most of the sod along the front grounds of the Church have been completed, with only about 150 square feet of sod still needed. Three projects that still need to be completed during October/November: 1. Repair the plaster in the church walls, especially in the Sanctuary. 2. Complete the tree work at the Church and the Rectory. 3. Repair the basement foundation drain located behind the Thrift Shop The Holy Order of Rakers and Cleaners will meet Saturday morning, October 27 th at 8:30 to noon to rake leaves, wash windows and fall clean the interior of the Church buildings. We hope you can come and help. Blessings, Tony Sousa The Men s Group The Men s Group will meet on Monday, October 15th at 6 pm for dinner and a slide presentation by Bill Krenicki on Glacier National Park. Come enjoy fellowship and enjoy Bill s presentation! ~ Tony Sousa Archiving Last month in the Parish newsletter, parishioners were made aware of an offer by the former Diocesan Archivist, Elizabeth Estey to come and discuss and train us in archival methods. Two parishioners have expressed interest in assisting with this project be more are welcome! Archiving at Church of Our Father has been more active and less active over the years with the most recent major activity ceasing in the Spring of 2017 largely based on minimal interest in our parish. It is not certain whether it should be resumed, but what materials at hand are in fireproof file cabinets or yet to be filed in boxes out of the damaging influence of water. Perhaps of greatest interest is the presence of any archival materials that many of you may have in your possession off site. This would have occurred if you were active in one of the church groups and were the record keeper. Some materials should be held forever. Contact Brad Berry or Father John now to find out more about the project. The training, if held, could be in October. 3

4 4 A truly splendid time with our Bishop! Weeks of hard work went into this absolutely fabulous dinner and meet with the Bishop! Well done to Joanne and ALL! 4

5 5 Confirmations, blessing of our new Cross, a sermon to beat the band this service had it all! We wish Gretchen and Bishop Steve a truly blessed and wonderful retirement and we will miss them! 5

6 6 Many enjoyed a wonderful evening at Kebo Friday, October 5th. The YWCA sponsored their annual Women of Distinction award ceremony. Our own special Carol Johnston was named the 2018 Woman of the Year---Yay Carol, so well deserved.! 6

7 Testimonial October, I come before you today with a final report of sorts and gratitude. As of the day after Labor Day, I had the last infusions at Cancer Care of Maine in Brewer. It has been a long journey starting a year ago June 5, 2017 when I was diagnosed with HER2+ (right) breast cancer at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. I do have the BRCA2 gene as do my son, daughter and a granddaughter. This information has its positive side because knowledge is power. Fortunately, I was selected to participate in a clinical trial at DF where I ve been a patient since 2003 thanks to Dr. Ed Benz. At the time I was dealing with three prior melanoma surgeries. Visiting Steen at the Brigham as he d had a surgical procedure, I found Ed sitting on Steen s bed. This gave me the opportunity to ask Ed to connect me with someone at DF to monitor my melanoma. By the time Steen was discharged, I was connected with Dr. F. Stephen Hodi, who received all my prior documentation via the nurses station at the Brigham. Dr. Hodi felt I had been well taken cared for thus far and would see me when he got back from his honeymoon in Hawaii. As with many of our physicians, they become our friends. Dr. Hodi s first child was born on Steen s 80 th birthday. Later they had a set of fraternal twin boys who distracted his daughter who was obviously precocious. Dr. Hodi is a researcher as well having developed two drugs to battle metastatic melanoma. I had a total of twelve whole body PET/CT scans at DF. In 2006 two lymph nodes lit up (melanoma) one each in the pelvic and femoral/inguinal areas. The oncological surgeon, Dr. Huang, in Bangor stated, this is major, major surgery. This was done at the Brigham in Boston. Then two years later, looking for melanoma still, a triple negative breast cancer was found in my left breast. I am so grateful to these scans for early detection of the cancers I ve had. Again, surgery at the Brigham followed by protocol DF chose for me in Bangor and Ellsworth. I ve known Dr. Benz for a few decades being associated at MDIBL. Many of you here at CoOF have the privilege of knowing Dr Benz as well. We folk have a special connotation ~ FOE - Friend of Ed s. To mention a few in our congregations are ~ my husband Steen, Tony Sousa, Joanne Sousa s son-in- law, Andrea Horner, Mary McEnroe, Kate Berry, and maybe others. Just an example of this wonderful man Dr. Ed Benz humanity occurred not too long ago when I received an from Mary McEnroe. She stated her needs for a good neurosurgeon in Bean Town. For me, the answer was so simple so I responded immediately and forwarded her to Dr. Benz who at the time, was flying back home from England. Ed contacted his secretary. Now this was a Wednesday and this is important. Next day Mary was notified of an appointment at DF with a world-renown, Dr. Benz description, surgeon for Friday. This surgeon was due in Italy for meetings, but cancelled, seeing Mary instead. After tests done that Friday at DF, surgery was performed on Monday; Mary was home by Wednesday. It took only one week from Mary s request to successful surgery. How fortunate several of us are FOE s. Ed is humble, physician first, great administrator, 18 years President/CEO of DFCI, wonderful sense of humor, brilliant mind, and now serves as Trustee at MDI Hospital as well. Dr. Benz has touched many lives here at Church of Our Father. Back to my clinical trial at DF last summer, I received two drugs, one with chemo attached for six infusions three weeks apart. Prior to my second set of infusions, my breast oncologist at DF, Dr. Beth Overmoyer, examining me saying she could NOT find the tumor. What great news. I consulted my neighbor, Dr. Derry Roopenian of JAX to explain the treatment I was receiving. He drew a diagram and noted beside it Eats Tumor. Yes, that is exactly what these infusions did. I did have a lumpectomy December first as mandated by the trial protocol ~ totally free of any cancer. Targeted therapy! Getting to Florida only two weeks later than normal, the adjuvant treatments continued with a nineteen-day course of radiation and twelve infusions of Herceptin and Projetta at three-week intervals ending September 5th. In addition to a very successful clinical trial there were no significant side effects That is the medical part of my treatments. There is an equally important part ~ prayers. I want to thank all who have continued to pray for me during these past many months. I have taken my name off the active prayer list as I consider others need prayers with their current needs. I thank this church, all the members who have held me close in prayer, and the countless other prayer chains. The occasional reports I made to my family and friends during this journey were entitled ~ Medicine and Pray. They go hand in hand and I thank you all for your marvelous support of me. Thank God. Janet L. Meryweather 7

8 October 2018 Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Sept. 30 Pentecost 20 8 am & 10 am Fr. John 3 8 am & Breakfast 9-12 Fr. John 4 5 9:30 am Acadia Senior College here Thrift Shop open Wedding reception HCS 3:30-6 Thrift Store open 7 Pentecost 21 8 am & 10 am Mthr. Kathleen Killian here 8 Columbus Day Office Closed Fr. John 1 3 pm Men s Bible Study at St. Saviour s 10 8 am & Breakfast 9-12 Fr. John 3:30-6 Thrift Store open Thrift Shop open final day Memorial Service at HSC 14 Pentecost 22 8 am & 10 am 9:30 David Dawson on guitar 15 6 pm Men s Group Parish Hall Fr. John 17 8 am & Breakfast 9-12 Fr. John Fr John 20 3 pm Rev. Bob Landry Ordination at St. Andrew s Millinocket 21 Pentecost 23 8 am & 10 am 11:30 Vestry meeting 22 Labors of Love Schedule for November due Fr. John 24 8 am h & Breakfast 9-12 Fr. John :30 am to Noon Holy Order of Rakers! 28 Pentecost 24 8 & 10 am 29 Newsletter articles and photos for November due Fr. John 31 8 am & Breakfast 9-12 Fr. John Nov am Birch Bay Eucharist

9 Diocesan Cycle of Prayer 7 October ~ Pentecost 20 For the congregation of St. Dunstan s, Ellsworth For the Maine Council of Churches and all of our ecumenical and interfaith partners this World Communion Sunday 14 October ~ Pentecost 21 For the priests of the Diocese of Maine For civil discourse during a time of election 21 October ~ Pentecost 22 For diocesan staff and all who are preparing for and will attend, the 199th Convention of the Diocese of Maine 28 October ~ Pentecost 23 For the congregation of The Cathedral Church of St. Luke and for St. Elizabeth s Jubilee Center in Portland. For our sisters and brothers in common mission in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America on Reformation Sunday Thank you to all 11 who came to the Taizé Service on October 6! We hope to have more in the not too distant future! Perhaps other churches will share in the hosting of these. More to come! David Hawkes Intercessory Prayer for our Friends, Family, Military, Prison Ministry and Anglican Communion Pray for Nancy Salisbury, Fr. Bob Raymond, Bill Kirk, Stacey Austin, Donna Cardillo, Cindy, Roger Evans, Carl Hatch, Christina Heiniger, Ursula Heiniger, Helen, Cameron Knable, Kim and Jean Lasater, Gary Lyons, Ronald Olson, James Salisbury, Tony & Shawn Smoker, Bob Theriault, Lloyd Woods, Anne Zaslau, the Ministry of Hospice and the Bar Harbor Food Pantry. Our Military: Pray for those who serve in the armed forces, of the USA. Prison Ministry: Pray for peace in our prisons. Anglican Cycle of Prayer: Sunday 07-Oct-2018 Pentecost 21 PRAY for The Episcopal Church The Most Revd Michael Curry Presiding Bishop of TEC Sunday 14-Oct-2018 Pentecost 22 PRAY for The Church in Wales The Most Revd John Davies Archbishop of Wales & Bishop of Swansea & Brecon Sunday 21-Oct-2018 Pentecost 23 PRAY for The Church of the Province of West Africa The Most Revd Dr Daniel Sarfo Primate & Metropolitan, CPWA, Archbishop of the Internal province of Ghana and Bishop of Kumasi Sunday 28-Oct-2018 Pentecost 24 PRAY for The Church in the Province of the West Indies. Contact Info: Fr. John Allison, Rector, is for drop ins in the office: Tuesday, 11 am-2pm Wednesday, 9 am Noon Thursday, Noon-2 pm Friday, Noon-2 pm AND by Appointment: Call fr.jallison@gmail.com If you need Sr. Warden Mike Bullard, Call: or Jr. Warden Tony Sousa, Call: The best way to reach Muffet, is via ShalomCoOF@gmail.com. ANNIVERSARIES 10/7 Mike & Tricia Blythe 10/17 The Rev s John Allison & Kathleen Killian 10/18 Carroll & Gail Leland Birthdays 10/3 Mary McEnroe 10/9 Wendy Copson-Higgins 10/11 Gail Leland 10/15 Jean Evans 10/15 Pat Keller 10/17 The Rev. David Mills 10/25 Audrey Mills 10/28 Gail Reeves

10 CHURCH OF OUR FATHER P.O. Box 186 HULLS COVE, MAINE Office (GPS location: 91 Sate Hwy 3, Bar Harbor) Waste Not, Want Not Thrift Shop will close October 20, 2018 Come Buy and BUY Linens, Bedding CDs Books Jewelry and...glassware No electronics Many thanks for your support of this ministry at Church of Our Father. Church of Our Father : Sunday 8 and 10 am Wednesday 8 am (followed by light breakfast) Words From The Well October 2018 IN THIS ISSUE P. 1-2 Fr John Allison P. 3 Junior Warden/Parish Life P. 4-5 The Bishop s Visit P. 6-7 Parish Life/Testimonial P. 8-9 Calendar/Birthdays/Anniversaries/Prayers In memory of Robert Sweet