Extinction - St. Saviour`s

St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
Extinction
At one of our vestry conversations with the Bishop last month, he surprised some folks
by talking in some detail about what has been going on in other parishes in the Diocese:
specifically in several parishes in and around Augusta, and the parishes in The County
known as the Aroostook Cluster. What could these churches’ struggles have to do with
ours? What has Kennebec County to do with MDI?
A few years ago, five parishes in Kennebec County were struggling. All agreed that Augusta could not sustain five parishes indefinitely, but each parish had its own history, its
own gifts and strengths, and none of them wanted seriously to consider giving those up. St. Mark’s was the
old, traditional stone church in downtown Augusta, and its city-block campus of buildings supported many
local ministries and organizations. Because it was the biggest and most centrally located, some in the surrounding churches worried that any move toward cooperation would end with them being “swallowed up” by
St. Mark’s. For several years, the situation was what Bishop Lane described as a “staring contest.”
Then the vestry of St. Mark’s did something surprising. Looking at their resources and their options, they
voted to close up their church and worship for the winter at Prince of Peace Lutheran Church. By the next
spring, the congregation of St. Mark’s discovered that they had a lot in common with Prince of Peace, and
they decided to stay. They called the Pastor of Prince of Peace to be their Rector, and walked away from their
beautiful but impractical old downtown campus. The new shared ministry continues to grow and bear fruit.
The remaining parishes are still discerning how they are called to be the church in Kennebec County, but St.
Mark’s has shown them a fresh possibility.
A number of years ago, five parishes in Aroostook County realized that they were not sustainable as they had
been, and entered into a cooperative ministry known as the Aroostook Cluster: One priest and five deacons
served the five parishes, who agreed to a rhythm of Eucharist and Morning Prayer, with some service times
on Saturday or Sunday evening. More recently, two of these parishes, in Caribou and Mars Hill, decided
prayerfully that the most faithful way they could be the church was to close their parishes and bring the gifts
that God had given them to the three remaining parishes.
When asked what the Diocese had learned from these stories, the Bishop’s answer was quick: “We should
have started sooner.” By the time parishes are in financial or membership crisis, many options have already
foreclosed. Conversations started earlier, when congregations are healthy, are more likely to give birth to
new, creative ways of doing ministry.
I have a fancy printed fold-out map of the Diocese of Maine, dated 2004, which shows dots for seven congregations that no longer exist: some in small towns like Dexter, some in urban areas like Portland. Some have
closed, some have merged, and at least one, in Biddeford, has re-booted itself as a neighborhood social-services
center.
I have a blurry multiply-Xeroxed map of the Diocese from the late 1940’s, showing a dozen congregations in
north woods towns where it’s now hard to imagine that they ever could have survived. As many parishes and
altars as we have now on MDI, it’s shocking to remember that at one point there were also Episcopal chapels
on Knox Road, on Eagle Lake Road, on Sound Drive, on West Street in Bar Harbor, and on Gott’s Island
(thanks to Ed Garrett’s article “The Episcopal Church Comes to Mount Desert Island,” The History Journal of
the Mount Desert Island Historical Society, Volume III, 2000).
(cont’d on pg. 2)
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St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
(cont’d from pg. 1)
I don’t share these stories, and I don’t believe the Bishop shared his stories, to depress you with evidence
that the Church is dwindling and that our parishes are surely on the path to extinction. To me, these are
not stories of extinction but of evolution: individual organisms dying out when they can no longer survive
in a particular ecological niche, but at the same time other organisms growing and blossoming in new niches as they become available. Either way, life continues, even though it may not look much like the life that
came before. And that, of course, is the blessing and the mystery: new life is not possible without the death
of old life.
If that sounds kind of theological, it’s not a coincidence. Christ’s death on the cross looked to all the world
like extinction, but out of it comes abundant new life that looks nothing like the life that came before. If our
church is going to live resurrection life with Christ, we must trust him enough to die with him, too.
Feedback? I hope you will call or e-mail me to continue the conversation.
Yours in Christ, Tim
Another very special Summer Organ Series this year, ending
with a packed house for Julia Morris-Myers on the organ with
Jay Emlen, tenor. We even had a surprise visit from Bill
Czelusniak to hear the concert! Thanks to all our performers!
St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
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From the organ bench
August was a musical month at St. Saviour’s Church. On August 6th and 7th, the
parish hosted the Mt. Desert Summer Chorale, who performed beautifully before
large audiences each evening. Fridays, August 5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th, saw four
excellent organ recitals, concluding with a performance by St. Saviour’s former
Music Director, Julia Morris-Myers, the founder of the series ten years ago. Each
was well attended and enjoyed. Liturgically, in addition to the services with music
each Sunday, Bishop Stephen Lane held his visitation to all the MDI parishes at St.
Saviour’s at 5:30pm on Sunday, August 14th. Thanks are due to Marsha Lyons for
playing a beautiful harp prelude and to a “Festival Choir” gathered from St. Saviour’s, St. John’s, and St. Mary’s who diligently rehearsed and offered fine musical
leadership for the liturgy, despite extremely high temperatures. On Friday, August
26th there was a service with traditional Taizé chants in the Chapel.
September sees the beginning of a new music program year. The choir will resume singing at the 10am
service on Sunday, September 11th. After the service we will have a hymn sing. Please think about hymns,
familiar or new, that you would like to sing with others. Also on Sunday, September 11th at 4pm there
will be a community commemoration of the 15th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 attacks, which will
include musical offerings in various styles by local musicians. Over the course of the month, service music
will be changed as we say a bittersweet farewell to summer and hello to the beautiful, albeit brief, autumn.
St. Saviour’s is eager to welcome new singers
of any age or level of experience into our
parish choir and would love to hear from instrumentalists who might have an interest in
playing at one or more of our liturgies.
Information about our current music program and future plans is available from Mark
Johnson. (401-330-6787)
This was posted on our website by St. John’s where Mark was most recently!
Excerpts from a tribute to Mark on his last Sunday at St. John’s, Barrington posted on our website
comments!
Thank you, Mark, for the richness you have added to our worship during the past two years.
Thank you for writing soaring descants that lift our hearts and spirits.
Thank you for inspiring a corps of choristers to enjoy the discipline of excellence – and for the resulting unmatched blend of voices.
Thank you, Mark, for your evident and contagious love of the Liturgy and the Gospel.
Thank you St. John’s, for sharing these with us! We look forward to many happy years with Mark
and Jennifer!
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St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
St. Saviour’s Living Stones Planned Giving Testament
In a time when most churches in the United States are facing smaller congregations and shrinking
financial resources, creative and innovative approaches to raising sufficient resources are appropriate and
necessary. St. Saviour’s Church is blessed with a wonderful loyal congregation and beautiful and historic
church buildings. This church was generously founded by benefactors in the time of the wealthy summer
residents and great cottages. This time has passed but their legacy has blessed the congregation with a
beautiful church and Bar Harbor with one of its most historic and prominent landmarks.
Saint Saviour’s congregation wishes to sustain this magnificent center of worship open to the entire
community. Looking for financial support beyond the present church memberships, support from the
greater Bar Harbor community and beyond would be most welcome. One way to do this would be to
remember St. Saviour’s in your estate. Most of us set aside funds to provide for the uncertainties of later
life for such things as long term medical care and possibly a retirement home. Fortunately these options
are frequently not necessary and we may still leave a sizable estate. Many of us remember, besides our
families, favorite charities such as our universities, The Salvation Army, the Humane Society, etc. It
would be wonderful if people would also remember not only their own church, but perhaps the church of
their parents, grandparents, favorite aunts, uncles and friends. In my case, St. Saviour’s was the church of
the Harris Family in Bar Harbor including my father, aunts and uncles and my cousin. St. Saviour’s had a
great influence on all of their lives. It is one of the many reasons that I support St. Saviour’s Parish!
James E. Harris
Last month, The Living Stones Committee sent a mailing to St. Saviour’s members, offering information
about how to include St. Saviour in your estate planning, and asking that you let us know about plans that
you have already made to give to St. Saviour’s.
As of this month’s Voice deadline, the people listed below have let us know that they have provided for St.
Saviour’s in their estate plans or otherwise made gifts to the Endowment. We are quite sure there are
more, and we are checking our records for others who have already made commitments, so that we can
thank you and so that we can include you as members of the Living Stones Legacy Society.
Don and Joan Allen
Wesley and Lucinda Dudley
The James Harris Family
Rick and Gail Leiser
Emilie G. Mille
Mary and Robert Naftzger
Glenn and Nancy Tucker
Marilyn S. Voorhies
Diane and Frank Zito
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St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
Introducing our new Senior Warden, Jim Vallette
How long have you lived on MDI? and with whom?
I moved to MDI in January 1979, during my freshman year of
high school, when my Dad switched jobs from Boston to the Acadia
National Park Headquarters. My stepmom Myrna was with us too, and
my brothers Paul and Nathan were born here. My sister Jessica lived
with my Mom in Virginia. (I was born in Connecticut, and also lived in
Pennsylvania, Virginia, and New Hampshire growing up.) After graduating from MDI in 1982, I met my future wife, Eliza, the first day of college at American University in 1982. My family moved far away (to Nevada) but I kept coming back here, working summers on the M/Vs
Frenchman Bay and Acadian, and the Bay Lady II schooner, at the
Frenchman Bay Boating Company. After I started an environmental research career in Washington DC, I kept plotting my return. I finally
moved back in 1996. Six years later, I’m happy to report, I married Eliza,
then whisked her from Queens, NYC, to our present home. That’s when
we joined St.
Saviour’s. I consider myself a “Pan-Islander.” I’m fond of all the mountains, ponds, seashores, and villages. I
have lived all across the island, from the foot of Norumbega Mtn. to Salisbury Cove to Rodick St., Seal Cove,
Bernard, Clark Point Rd., and finally here in Seawall, SWH. I’ve lived in this house in Seawall since 1999, far
longer than any other place in my 51 years. After all that moving, I’m grateful that my roots, with Eliza,
grow deeper.
What jobs have you had and which did you travel the most for/and where?
My travels began in a circle - working the tour boats in Frenchman Bay - nearly 10,000 circles over
eight summers. I haven’t found a nicer place yet.
My travels widened when I started working for Greenpeace in 1986. I began tracking toxic waste,
first around the country, and then around the world. On my first big work trip, I drove through the midwestern US, taking pictures of landfills and incinerators, documenting illegal and otherwise unsavory
activities by the world’s largest waste management company. I went to the southern US, where we studied
and protested big new hazardous waste dumps proposed for communities of color in places like Baton Rouge
and Emelle, Alabama. As companies began exporting toxic waste across the seas, the trail led me farther
and farther away. We created a global campaign against toxic waste trade. It brought me to places like
South Africa (I was there the day Nelson Mandela was
.released from prison), Venezuela, Argentina and Central America. I even followed a truck carrying pieces of
the Berlin Wall — pieces made out of asbestos — to a landfill in the newly reunified Germany’s countryside.
My favorite places to visit were the smallest countries, places like Belize, Western Samoa, and Luxembourg,
obscure places that I loved to look at on maps with my grandfather in between cribbage games. At
Greenpeace, I worked with incredibly hardworking and fun people on every continent. And in 1994, we won
a global ban on the export of toxic waste.
Then I left Greenpeace, moved to MDI, and began my own non-profit organization, the International Trade Information Service. We researched lots of industries. We investigated smugglers of ozone depleting chemicals, tropical timber, and toothfish, all sorts of practices that undermine human rights, human
health and the planet.
At the same time, I was working part-time for the old Bar Harbor Times, satisfying a childhood
dream of working for a newspaper. I covered local sports and the Town of Bar Harbor.
(cont’d on page 6)
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St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
(New Senior Warden from pg. 5)
In 2005, I joined another non-profit educational organization called the Healthy Building Network (HBN),
where I’m the research director. Our mission is to make building materials healthy for everyone: from the
people who mine raw materials to those living around mines and chemical plant, to those who manufacture
the building products, the contractors who install products, housing residents, schoolteachers and children,
hospital patients and staff, workers who deconstruct buildings, and those who recycle or dispose of the
products at the end of life. The work is fascinating. It connects the dots between many of the issues and
industries I’ve researched before. It’s also inspiring: once we figure it out, and how it can be changed for the
better, we often see the industry respond. Building owners and retail stores change their specifications, and
manufacturers change how they make their products. Over a third of earth’s resources are used in building
and construction. We spend the vast majority of our time indoors. Yet until HBN came along, there was
very little common knowledge about the composition of building products and the impacts of those
products on people and the planet. It was considered to be industry trade secret information. It is a
privilege to have a front row seat to the ongoing transformation of how materials are made. I have learned
how an informed marketplace helps us all be better stewards and neighbors. Consumers have the power to
change how things are done, for the better. And it happens a lot more often than you might think.
What was the least fun for you?
I did odd jobs around the neighborhood while at American University. One was catering a private
dinner, solo. I learned a few things that day. One was to not talk to the guests, even if they are talking
about sailing around MDI. Another was: don’t grab a hot casserole dish out of the oven without
mitts. And a third was to never serve dinner from the right side of the guest.
Then why did you say YES to the Sr. Warden spot???
Eliza and I love the St. Saviour’s community. We are family. When your family asks you to help,
generally that’s what you do. While serving as the Parish’s treasurer for about 7 years, I watched other
Senior Wardens do their magic — Marilyn, Gail, and later, Pamela and Carmen — I really admired them.
I’ll be lucky to accomplish a small percentage of what they, and our long line of forerunners, accomplished.
When asked to consider becoming Sr. Warden, I talked with lots of people, prayed for guidance, and
decided to give it a shot.
For the first couple of months, I’ve been settling in and seeing what work comes to light. So far, a
couple of opportunities have emerged: I’m excited to be our representative for the Bar Harbor Food Pantry
(please remember to bring in spaghetti sauce this month and place it in the box at the Church entrance). I’m
also looking forward to working with you all to celebrate our upcoming Sesquicentennial. Just like Acadia
this year, I hope we can “celebrate our past and inspire our future.” We’ll have fun over the winter looking
at our history and envisioning the next 50 years. We’ll kick things off next July with the 150th anniversary
of our Parish’s first service.
I am sure there will be many other opportunities, challenges and joys ahead. I pray to keep an open
mind and heart to help our Parish overcome obstacles, move mountains, fulfill our mission, and celebrate
our blessings with God’s help.
Free Meals in our community.
Mondays from 3-6 pm Everybody Eats provides a free meal— in the Parish Hall of St. Dunstan’s
Church, 134 State Street , Ellsworth. Enjoy the fellowship and warm hospitality—ALL are welcome!
Wednesdays from 3-6 pm – Welcome Table - First Congregational Church - 2 Church St., Ellsworth
Thursdays Food for All at Holy Redeemer Church—21 Ledgelawn Avenue, Bar Harbor from 4-7pm,
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St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
Kids’ Care Free Meal Packaging Program is back!
When: Friday, September 30 from 6-8 pm and Saturday, October 1,
2016 from 9 to 2.
Where: St. Andrew’s Lutheran Church. 175 Downeast Highway in
Ellsworth. 667-7641. Contact Debbie Parlee 244-3094 if you can
volunteer for an hour or two or sign up in the Parish Hall.
What: We assemble packages of meals such as macaroni & cheese
or beans & rice that are then given to local food pantries.
Last September, in partnership with a number of churches and groups, they packaged a bit over
40,000 servings ($10,000). It would be great to do even more this year. Checks can be sent to: St.
Saviour’s Parish, 41 Mt. Desert Street, Bar Harbor, ME 04609.
They welcome donations, fundraising challenges, friendly competitions to see who can gather the most donations, bring the most volunteers.
They are a Thrivent Action Team and so Snacks and T-Shirts will be provided for all the workers on the
Friday, September 30th and Saturday, October 1st. Everyone is welcome. People can work either day for
an hour or two or for the whole event. This is a great event for high school students who are doing community service hours. Please pass this information along to any group, business or individual who might
be interested in being a part of this amazing project.
St. Saviour’s Bottle drive, Yard Sale and other donations brought in $1,212 to benefit this program!
Thank you all for your generosity!
Caregivers Support Group
The Caregivers' Support Group has been meeting twice
a month to offer a safe a supportive place for those giving care to loved ones in home, nursing home, hospital,
or elsewhere. It has been facilitated by the Rev. Jenny
Reece. She will be stepping back from this role in
October, so in September there will be two meetings at
which the group members can discuss the options for
ongoing meetings at St. Saviour's, or finding other
avenues of support.
The meetings are at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, September
14th and Wednesday, September 28th.
Group members are also invited to join other
congregation members and visitors in attending the
healing Eucharist service at noon on Wednesdays.
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St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
Fill in the blanks from the choices given
Throughout the Hebrew Bible, there were mythic patterns of the struggle between __ and __.
When and under whom did the Anglican Church originate? ___
and ___
The __ is viewed as the spiritual leader of the Anglican Community, but not viewed as being the '__' of it.
More than 50% of Anglicans live in ____.
List the last 3 presiding bishops of the USA. ____, ____, ____
The first Eucharist was ______.
Maine was part of the ___ Diocese until 1820 and became independent in ____.
The staff Bishop Lane carries (crozier).... use of this dates from ___.
Choices:
Chilton Knudsen
Pope
good
Frank Griswold
USA Archbishop of Canterbury
Africa
the 600s Henry VIII
Katharine Jefferts Schori
King
Last Supper
1534
Michael Curry
Northern
1947 Eastern
poverty
evil
When you complete this, let me know and I'll send the answers (so you can get your 100%!! )
Carmen Greene
September 11 at 4:00 PM there will be a
Community Gathering of Remembrance
and Reflection at St. Saviour’s to commemorate the fifteenth anniversary of
events of September 11, 2001, to recognize
and appreciate our local First Responders,
and to think about the ways our world has
been changed. Folks from College of the
Atlantic, the Abbe Museum, The Jesup Library, and the YWCA are expected to participate, offering reflections, readings, music, and prayers.
Video recordings of Fr. Tim’s sermons are now
available on St. Saviour’s website
(www.StSaviours.me) – the most recent posted on
the home page, and prior Sundays archived under
“Sermon Recordings” on the left-hand menu. If
you have to miss a Sunday, if you are away for the
season, or if you just want to listen again to try to
figure out what he was talking about, this is a
great way to stay in touch. You can also find the
sermons Tim+ preaches at St. John at
www.StAndrewStJohn.blogspot.com, and look for
“Sermon videos online” in the archive listing on
the left.
St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
Page 9
Vestry on Call and Scripture Readings
Date Psalm
1st Reading
brant/Preacher
9/4
139:1-5,12-17 Jeremiah 18:1-11
Killian
9/11 14
Jeremiah 4:11-12,22-28
9/18 79:1-9
Jeremiah 8:18-9:1
9/25 91:1-6,14-16 Jeremiah 32:1-3a,6-15
Vestry On Call starting:
9/2 Sharon Linscott
9/9 Wayne Parlee
9/16 Carolyn Reed
9/23 Debbie Parlee
9/30 Jim Vallette
2nd Reading
Gospel
Philemon 1-21
Cele-
Luke 14:25-33 Rev. Kathleen
1 Timothy 1:12-17
1 Timothy 2:1-7
1 Timothy 6:6-19
Luke 15:1-10 Rev. Timothy Fleck
Luke 16:1-13 Rev. Kathleen Killian
Luke 16:19-31 Rev. Timothy Fleck
288-9304
669-2721
288-9289
244-3094
244-3106
Milestones we celebrate at St. Saviour’s!
Baptismal Anniversaries
13
19
20
21
25
4
3
7
21
September Birthday Greetings
September
David Graham
Grace Tweedie
Donna Cameron
Les Brewer
Joyce Coston
John Walls
October
Marilyn Voorhies
Sierra Bloom
Joshua Bloom
1
3
6
9
10
18
19
27
28
30
10/1
September Marriage Anniversaries
Please let Muffet know if you do not see your birthday,
Baptism or wedding date here, we love to celebrate
with you!
Ruth & Dick Shepherd
Liane & Arden Peach
Marjorie & John Walls
Betsy Drake
Carmen Greene
Mary Smith
Donna McFarland
Beverly Frazier
Julie Grindle
Barbara Jeanne Purtell
Emily Graham
Leonard Young III
Hoyt Hamor
Nancy Place
Prayer List:
We pray for Sarah Flynn, Kimberly, Gretchen Lane, Mimi, George Swanson, Lydia Thayer, Bill, Emma,
Natasha, Herb and Linda Carman, Malcolm Hughes, Charlie, Sarah B., Dickie, Barbara Purtell, Wesley and
Lucinda Dudley, Tristram Colket, Larry Ziglar, Jeanne Judge, Sarah Cleaves, Anne Cleaves, Penny Ayer,
Pauline Hartin. (Please let the office know of any updates.)
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St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
ISLANDER PHOTO BY DICK BROOM (used by permission of the Mount Desert Islander)
On Monday, August 22 , a group of historians and descendants of Acadia National Park’s founders pose at St. Saviour’s
Church in Bar Harbor after reading speeches originally given 100 years ago at the opening of Acadia’s predecessor, Sieur
de Monts National Monument. They are, from left, Jack Russell, William Horner, Rev. Timothy Fleck, Charles Eliot Pierce
Jr., Ronald Epp and Steven Katona.
And construction has started on the old Parish Hall which was recently sold to Community Housing
of Maine to become housing for adults with developmental disabilities under the Local Solutions
Program! Find out more about the program at www.LocalSolutionsForMaine.org. We can’t believe
they did not keep the kitchen appliances! There will be no parking in that lot during the week, but it
is available on Saturdays (by permit) and Sundays.
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St Saviour’s Voice - Issue 179, September, 2016
St Saviour's Episcopal Parish
41 Mt. Desert Street
Bar Harbor, ME 04609
Telephone (207) 288-4215
email: [email protected]
web site: www.stsaviours.me
-Weekly
Services 
Morning Prayer
Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 am
Contemplative Prayer Fridays at Noon-Library
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Holy Eucharist
Sundays at 7:30 and 10:00 am
Wednesdays at 12 noon
The mission of St. Saviour’s Parish of Bar Harbor is to put Jesus Christ first in our lives, to spread
the Good News of salvation through worship, education and ministry, building on the gifts and
heritage of our congregation, and to provide a welcoming atmosphere of love and compassion.
The Most Reverend Katherine Jefferts-Shori, Presiding Bishop
The Right Reverend Michael Curry, Presiding Bishop Elect
The Right Reverend Stephen Lane, Bishop of the Diocese of Maine
The Rev. Tim Fleck, Rector [email protected]
The Rev. Kathleen Killian, Assistant Rector [email protected]
Mark Johnson, Music Director
Margaret Stewart, Parish Administrator [email protected]